Every time someone tries to defend the indefensible, it comes wrapped in the same two words: “Yes, but…”
“Yes, Trump is a fascist, but he stopped the illegal aliens from coming across the border.” “Yes, the ICE agent shot her, but she was about to run him over.” “Yes, the ICE agent shot her, but she did not obey orders.” “Yes, Esrati speaks truth to power, but he is so damn (annoying, brusque, crude, direct, evil, foul, gruff, fill in the blank).”
The “yes, but” is how we sand down atrocities until they fit in polite conversation. On Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, Renee Nicole Good was shot in the face by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. The “yes, buts” started immediately. This is not normal. It is not law and order. It is how you slide into a police state one “yes, but” at a time.

Dayton’s inauguration was full of energy, faith, and talk of safety, but the real test will be whether city leadership matches its words with action. From downtown fear narratives and developer subsidies to transparency, basic services, and neighborhood accountability, the contradictions were impossible to ignore. If Dayton is serious about change, it has to stop performing and start governing.

Congressman Mike Turner announces a downtown Dayton “safety” press conference without listing a time, place, or public access, continuing a long pattern of closed-door governance and security theater. As political leaders frame fear instead of fixing root causes like housing, mental health care, and transit design, Dayton’s real problem remains governance, not safety.

As 2026 begins, this post reflects on a year spent fighting government dysfunction, legal obstruction, and political cowardice in Ohio. From a pro se Supreme Court appeal and the growing push to end qualified immunity, to jail brutality cases, broken local governance, and the myth of economic development wins, the piece examines how fragmented jurisdictions, lack of accountability, and misplaced priorities continue to cost taxpayers dearly. It argues that affordability, consolidation, and constitutional accountability will define the coming political battles, both in Ohio and nationally.

Dayton spent $334K on two stainless-steel “Portland Loo” toilets that lock overnight, while hundreds sleep in cars with no legal place to park. Other cities have safe parking programs with restrooms, security, and services. Dayton could do the same. Here’s how.