The LuLac Edition #5, 425, August 28th, 2025

IS TRUMP

FDR

IN REVERSE?

 

 

 

There is no doubt that Franklin Roosevelt was one of the most consequential Presidents of the 20^th century. As a matter of fact he was rated in the top 5 of successful Presidencies and is remembered as a great one. But not everybody loved him. As a boy I remember friends of my parents throwing around charges that he was too powerful and made the country worse by his policies. Our working class family never saw that but a few others did.  The changes that Roosevelt enacted were geared toward making the country stronger. Sure he had flaws and I believe had issues with foreigners during the war but for the most part he did not harm. Like Trump is doing now, he tested the limits of his power. But he knew his limits and abide by the Constitution.

Donald Trump is also a consequential President. His idea of a Space Force as well as the development of the Co Vid vaccine is something to be recognized as helping the country. When he won election in November of 2016 I went on WBRE TV and said that as the first civilian President he had great opportunities to do well.  Like FDR he was a native New Yorker and wealthy man who would certainly be an alternative to our past leaders.

In his first term it was clear that he was a far cry from Roosevelt. His demeanor and cruelty was exhibited quickly and there was an expectation that he would pay a political price for that. But he didn’t. With indictments, sexual assault charges, a conviction, a well-funded campaign against him, he still won. He is consequential like FDR but what made him so is the acceptance by a new American public that his behavior and policies are just fine.

In a way, the consequences of his Presidency were broadcast to the American people and either through selfishness, incredulity or ignorance, they bought what he was selling. The generation of FDR’s people were united in raising one another up. A segment of the Trump generation wants to beat others down.

It is true that FDR inspired and Trump in effect conspired to build a coalition of grievance and downright hate. But it should be remembered that both  men  played to their political bases. Roosevelt and Trump were/are consequential because they were ratified by the citizens of this country. That reward came from a majority of the people. Roosevelt’s fate, nearly a century ago is already written in stone. Trump’s so far indicates that he is reversing many New Deal and Great Society programs that helped people get ahead. Trump’s success as a President or lack thereof will be decided by an America that is teetering between change for the good or a new America that is fast becoming unrecognizable.

Elections have consequences and Presidents are the recipients of those actions, for better or worse. 

Everyday though it appears that the Trump Presidency is not saving this nation but ruining it. FDR hired experts and people who knew they were serving the public good.  This administration has taken Steve Bannon's belief to tear the government down, not build it up like Roosevelt did. Where's the proof? 

Yesterday afternoon, all hell broke loose at the Center for Disease Control. An appointee of Trump's in the job for 30 days resigned due to the pressure put on her to rubber stamp orders that would be detrimental to public health.  The resignation letter stated this: Their desire to please a political base will result in death and disability of vulnerable children and adults. Their base should be the people they serve not a political voting bloc. More on this in future editions. 

But the point here is that every single day there is a reverse of what government is supposed to do.  This administration has always had been on the wrong side of many issues that people disagreed with. But the one thing normal people always revert to is that "health bis wealth". By this action yesterday it is apparent that Trump will be remembered for being the anti-FDR. History has judged Roosevelt for his flaws, they will judge Trump for his obvious disregard of the one thing a President is supposed to do: PROTECT THE PEOPLE, not make them sick with an attack on medical science. 

 

TERROR ATTACKS 

ARE WE SAFER OR MORE AT RISK?

 

Terrorism experts are warning that there might be higher threat levels in America since many experienced employees were let go or decided to retire since January. There was a great deal of experience as well as institutional knowledge that will be hard to replace. We have to remember that the attacks that were planned but thwarted happened not because of an elected official, but by legions of dedicated people who anonymously put their heads down and focus on their jobs.

 

O’DONNELL LAW

OFFICES HONORED

IN BEST

LAWYERS® 2026

 Attorney Catherine O'Donnell and Neil O'Donnell, the best of the best. 

O’Donnell Law Offices is proud to share exciting news from the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®—a year made even more special as the firm celebrates its 35th anniversary serving Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Neil T. O’Donnell has been honored as the 2026 “Lawyer of the Year” in Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs for Northeastern Pennsylvania, a prestigious recognition from The Best Lawyers in America. This distinction is one of the highest honors in the legal field, awarded to only one attorney in each region and practice area. Selection is based entirely on peer nomination and review, reflecting the utmost respect from fellow attorneys.

Neil’s recognition is a testament to his decades of dedication to justice, unwavering advocacy for clients, and deep commitment to the community. For more than 35 years, he has fought for injury victims and their families, securing life-changing verdicts and settlements while providing compassionate counsel.

Honoring the Entire O’Donnell Law Team

In addition to Neil’s honor, every attorney at O’Donnell Law Offices has been  recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for excellence in their respective practice areas: 

Cathy O’Donnell – Honored for her exceptional work in estate planning, estate administration, and elder law. Cathy has built a reputation for guiding families with compassion and clarity, ensuring their futures are secure.

Michael A. O’Donnell – Recognized for his outstanding advocacy in personal injury litigation. Michael combines a strong legal mind with a deep sense of empathy for his clients, following in the proud tradition of the firm while forging his own path.

Gerard Gaughan – Celebrated for his expertise in handling complex injury cases, Gerard is known for his meticulous preparation and steadfast commitment to achieving justice for clients.

Joshua Perry – Honored for his skill and compassion as both a registered nurse and attorney. Joshua brings a unique perspective to the courtroom, blending medical knowledge with legal advocacy to support clients in some of their most difficult moments.

These individual accolades highlight the depth of talent and dedication across the  firm, underscoring a shared mission of client advocacy and community service. 

Since its founding, O’Donnell Law Offices has remained committed to providing trusted legal counsel in personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, sexual abuse, workplace injury, and other serious cases. The firm proudly serves Luzerne, Lackawanna, Wyoming, and surrounding counties.

As the firm marks 35 years of service, this recognition by Best Lawyers® reaffirms the impact of O’Donnell Law Offices in both the courtroom and the community.

“We are honored to be recognized together during such a milestone year,”  said Neil O’Donnell. “This award is not just about one attorney—it reflects the  dedication of our entire team to serving our clients and our region with  integrity and compassion.”

About O’Donnell Law Offices

O’Donnell Law Offices is a Northeastern Pennsylvania-based personal injury firm with a reputation for excellence built over more than 35 years. The firm has been consistently recognized for its leadership, advocacy, and commitment to clients throughout the region.

Here's the link to their website. O’Donnell Law Offices Honored in Best Lawyers® 2026 - O'Donnell Law.

  

BRESNAHAN INTRODUCES RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING 90 YEARS OF SOCIAL SECURITY

 

Representative Rob Bresnehan (Photo: LuLac archives)

Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. announced the introduction of a resolution to commemorate the 90th anniversary of Social Security. The resolution recognizes the significant impact Social Security has had on ensuring dignity and financial stability for older Americans and reaffirms the House of Representatives’ commitment to preserving the program.

“For generations across Northeastern Pennsylvania and beyond, Social Security has been more than a program, it has been a lifeline,” said Rep. Bresnahan. “Social Security continues to support tens of millions of Americans annually, reflecting decades of hard-earned contributions. As we mark 90 years since the Social Security Act was signed into law, we honor the promise to ensure this and other vital programs remain intact, not just for today’s seniors, but for our children and grandchildren who will one day rely on them.”

Rep. Bresnahan was joined by Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Zach Nunn (IA-03), and Claudia Tenney (NY-22) in introducing the resolution.

The Social Security Act was signed into law on August 14, 1935, to provide economic security for elderly Americans. The legislation created a social insurance program designed to pay retired workers age 65 or older a continuing income after retirement.  

 

MEANWHILE DOGE CAUSED SOCIAL SECURITY HACK!

A new lawsuit is claiming hackers have gained access to the personal information of "billions of individuals," including their Social Security numbers, current and past addresses and the names of siblings and parents — personal data that could allow fraudsters to infiltrate financial accounts or take out loans in their names.

The allegation arose in a lawsuit filed earlier this month by Christopher Hofmann, a California resident who claims his identity theft protection service alerted him that his personal information had been leaked to the dark web by the "nationalpublicdata.com" breach. The lawsuit was earlier reported by Bloomberg Law.

The breach allegedly occurred around April 2024, with a hacker group called USDoD exfiltrating the unencrypted personal information of billions of individuals from a company called National Public Data (NPD), a background check company, according to the lawsuit. Earlier this month, a hacker leaked a version of the stolen NPD data for free on a hacking forum, tech site Bleeping Computer reported.

That hacker claimed the stolen files include 2.7 billion records, with each listing a person's full name, address, date of birth, Social Security number and phone number, Bleeping Computer said. While it's unclear how many people that includes, it's likely "that everyone with a Social Security number was impacted," said Cliff Steinhauer, director of information security and engagement at The National Cybersecurity Alliance, a nonprofit that promotes online safety.

"It's a reminder of the importance of protecting yourself, because clearly companies and the government aren't doing it for us," Steinhauer told CBS MoneyWatch. (CBS News) 

 

CONGRESSMAN ROB BRESNAHAN FACES SCRUTINY OVER MEDICAID VOTE AND STOCK TRADES

 

In case anyone hasn’t seen this, here is an investigative report from WNEP TV

 

 

FURTHERMORE 

REMEMBER 

IKE & JACK

AT CODORUS STATE PARK, SHAPIRO ADMINISTRATION UNVEILS NEW TOOLKIT TO HELP OLDER PENNSYLVANIANS CONNECT WITH THE OUTDOORS AND IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH 

Developed by the Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources, Aging, and Health, the toolkit gives caregivers, long-term care facilities, and community organizations practical strategies - including indoor nature guides, low-cost adaptations, and research on 10 proven physical and mental health benefits of outdoor recreation.

All of Pennsylvania's 124 state parks and forests are free and open to the public.

Today, members of the Shapiro Administration visited Codorus State Park in York County to unveil Connecting to the Outdoors as We Age: Pennsylvania's Rx for Nature - a new toolkit to help older Pennsylvanians connect with the outdoors and improve their overall health.

Developed through a partnership between the Pennsylvania Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Aging (PDA), and Health (DOH), the toolkit provides practical strategies for caregivers, long-term care facilities, and community organizations. It includes guides for bringing nature indoors, low-cost facility adaptations, tips to overcome access barriers, and research highlighting 10 proven health benefits of outdoor recreation - from reducing stress and anxiety, to lowering risk of chronic disease, to improving memory, attention, and overall well-being.

 

List of Speakers:

Codorus State Park Manager Deanna Schall

DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn

Aging Secretary Jason Kavulich

Special Advisor to the Sec. of Health Dr. Robert Bonacci

Codorus State Park Environmental Education Specialist Renae Weidner

Friends of Codorus State Park President Frank Kozak

 

MEDIA MATTERS

WVIA RADIO NEWS

Here’s the team!

WALN

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

You'll hear the program Sunday at 6 on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on 1400 am The Mothership and 7:30 am on 105 The River.

 

THE LAURIE CADDEN SHOW

Tune in every Saturday morning at 9am for The Laurie Cadden Show on WILK FM 103.1 and AM 980 and 910. Laurie’s program has been a northeastern Pennsylvania mainstay every Saturday. Tune in to hear her insights and take on local issues as well as entertaining and informative interviews.

 

BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SUNDAY NIGHT SOCK HOP

 

BEATLE EDD’S FAB FOUR MUSIC HOUR

Tune in every week to the Home of Rock and Roll for a jam packed, unpredictable hour starting at 9am Sundays. Host Edd Raineri gives you facts and great music from the immortal Fab Four on ROCK 107.

 

THE LULAC TIME MACHINE

August 1955

70 YEARS SINCE EMMET TILL

Emmett Louis Till  was brutally murdered on August 28, 1955 by four white racist pigs who were later found innocent by a southern court. Till was an African American youth, who was 14 years old when he was abducted and lynched in Mississippi in 1955 after being accused of offending a white woman, Carolyn Bryant, in her family's grocery store. The brutality of his murder and the acquittal of his killers drew attention to the long history of violent persecution of African Americans in the United States. Till posthumously became an icon of the civil rights movement.

Till was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. During summer vacation in August 1955, he was visiting relatives near Money, Mississippi, in the Mississippi Delta region. Till spoke to 21-year-old Carolyn Bryant, the white, married proprietor of a local grocery store. Although what happened at the store is a matter of dispute, Till was accused of flirting with, touching, or whistling at Bryant. Till's interaction with Bryant, perhaps unwittingly, violated the unwritten code of behavior for a black male interacting with a white female in the Jim Crow–era South.

Several nights after the encounter, Bryant's husband Roy and his half-brother J. W. Milam, who were armed, went to Till's great-uncle's house and abducted Till, age 14. They beat and mutilated him before shooting him in the head and sinking his body in the Tallahatchie River. Three days later, Till's mutilated and bloated body was discovered and retrieved from the river.

Till's body was returned to Chicago, where his mother insisted on a public funeral service with an open casket, which was held at Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ. It was later said that "The open-coffin funeral held by Mamie Till Bradley[a] exposed the world to more than her son Emmett Till's bloated, mutilated body. Her decision focused attention on not only American racism and the barbarism of lynching but also the limitations and vulnerabilities of American democracy." Tens of thousands attended his funeral or viewed his open casket, and images of Till's mutilated body were published in black-oriented magazines and newspapers, rallying popular black support and white sympathy across the United States. Intense scrutiny was brought to bear on the lack of black civil rights in Mississippi, with newspapers around the U.S. critical of the state. Although local newspapers and law enforcement officials initially decried the violence against Till and called for justice, they responded to national criticism by defending Mississippians, giving support to the killers.

In September 1955 an all-white jury found Bryant and Milam not guilty of Till's murder. Protected against double jeopardy, the two men publicly admitted in a 1956 interview with Look magazine that they had tortured and murdered Till, selling the story of how they did it for $4,000 (equivalent to $46,000 in 2024). Till's murder was seen as a catalyst for the next phase of the civil rights movement. In December 1955, the Montgomery bus boycott began in Alabama and lasted more than a year, resulting eventually in a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that segregated buses were unconstitutional. According to historians, events surrounding Till's life and death continue to resonate.

An Emmett Till Memorial Commission was established in the early 21st century. The county courthouse in Sumner was restored and includes the Emmett Till Interpretive Center. 51 sites in the Mississippi Delta are memorialized as associated with Till. The Emmett Till Antilynching Act, an American law which makes lynching a federal hate crime, was signed into law on March 29, 2022 by President Joe Biden.

Emmit Till was a young man in the wrong place at the wrong time. His legacy as a true civil right martyr still lives on 70 years to the day of his death….and 70 years ago the number one song in LuLac land and America was “Ain’tThat A Shame” by Pat Boone. This tune is indicative of this time in America because it was a cover of the Fats Domino version. But because Fats was black and Boone was white, his rendition prevailed in pop culture at the time.  Here are the two versions.