By Michael Leppert
The Indiana Citizen
June 18, 2025
A quarter century ago, as a young bureaucrat, I had a disagreement with my bosses. Energy commodities markets were going through an historic price spike, and my agency set the final rates customers would pay. I wanted rates to mirror the market to send “price signals” to consumers and provoke a reduction in consumption. The bosses wanted to spread costs over a long period to mitigate “rate shock.” They feared the infinitely possible responses that could come from an angry public.
The bosses won, as bosses usually do, and we kept rates flat, and the public remained calm.
Governing has changed since then.
Last Thursday, June 12th, U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, was forcibly removed from a news conference being conducted by the U.S. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem. He was ultimately tackled and handcuffed before being released. Why? He wanted to ask Noem some questions, and there were no questions to ask her that she would have been able to easily answer, so her security detail overreacted early. Where? In Los Angeles, where Padilla is arguably far more important than Noem.
This wasn’t a mistake on Noem’s part or on her security detail’s part. It was purposeful theater. While Padilla was being restrained unnecessarily, Noem was saying this according to NBC News: “We are staying here to liberate this city from the socialist and the burdensome leadership that this governor and that this mayor have placed on this country,” referring to California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, both Democrats.
The Trump Administration is declaring war on state and local government in California. Or was Noem just trying to see what the reaction to that possibility would be?
On Friday, June 13th, Israel began firing missiles into Iran. As reported by Reuters, “The air war between Iran and Israel – which began on Friday when Israel attacked Iran with air strikes – has raised alarms in a region that had already been on edge since the start of Israel’s military assault on Gaza in October 2023.”
Israel claims the bombing was necessary to preempt Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Yes, this issue had been addressed during the Obama Administration when the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was signed, specifically to prevent it. President Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement during his first term and failed to craft a new nuclear deal with Iran to replace it.
Now we have a replacement: war. The U.S. has been working to avoid this conflict since the Reagan Administration.
Then, in the early morning hours of Saturday, June 14th, an assassin shot and killed Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman, D-Brooklyn Park, and her husband in their home. Earlier that morning, the gunman also shot and seriously injured State Sen. John Hoffman, D-Champlin, and his wife in their home. The assassin apparently had a list of other targets in his possession. As reported by the Minnesota Reformer, “According to an official who has seen the list, the targets included prominent pro-choice individuals in Minnesota, including many Democratic lawmakers who have been outspoken about their policy positions.”
As disturbing as these political assassinations are, the response from U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, is truly unfathomable. The day after the attacks, Lee posted pictures of the suspect on X with this commentary: “This is what happens when Marxists don’t get their way,” as reported by the New York Times. He reduced the horrific rampage to an “own the libs” social media strategy. The offensiveness of his post inspired Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minnesota, to confront him about the misuse of his “huge megaphone.” Smith commented that Lee was apparently surprised about being challenged. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, also commented that she plans to confront Lee about the post, specifically to inform him that “this isn’t funny.”
As of this writing, Lee has not apologized or even taken down the post. Like Noem’s “liberation” comments in California, this is the kind of behavior that is also intended to purposely inflame conflict.
These were three incredible events that immediately preceded the “No Kings” protests that were held in all fifty states on Saturday. The protests were in response to the military parade Trump organized for the streets of Washington on the same day. June 14th, once boringly known as “Flag Day,” was used this year to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the U.S. Army, and unofficially, the president’s birthday.
I often look back on my time in government, and secondarily, politics, and juxtapose the events of today with those. The turmoil of each day in modern America would have shocked the public I once served into that infinite zone of possibility that my old bosses rightfully feared.
This instability is simply unsustainable.
Michael Leppert is an author, educator and a communication consultant in Indianapolis. He writes about government, politics and culture at MichaelLeppert.com. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author only and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Indiana Citizen or any other affiliated organization.
