For over 20 years, I’ve been writing vanguard commentary — tackling global issues long before they reached the mainstream. From social media and politics to sports and entertainment, my posts didn’t follow the headlines. They forecasted them.
You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who has published more informed commentary on a more eclectic array of topics than you’ll find on this blog — all written by Anthony L. Hall.
Here are 20 receipts from The iPINIONS Journal archive, one for each year of publication.
2005: UN’s Ineptitude in DR Congo
I was in the vanguard of those calling out the UN’s failure to stop genocide in DR Congo — as I did in “Genocide in DR Congo: Rwanda with a Vengeance” (April 6, 2005)
2006: Obama Phenomenon
I was in the vanguard of those hailing a relatively unknown Barack Obama as the Black JFK — as I did in “It’s TIME: Run Obama Run!” (October 24, 2006)
2007: Bush Cronyism and Civil Liberties
I was in the vanguard of those criticizing Republican abuses of power before Trump normalized it — as I did in “Bush Commutes Libby’s Sentence: Justice or Cronyism?” (July 3, 2007)
2008: America’s Ill-Fated and Unjust War in Iraq
I was in the vanguard of those decrying the Iraq War as a waste of blood and treasure — as I did in “The Iraq War: Five Years and Counting (Lost Lives and Wasted Money)” (March 20, 2008)
2009: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
I was in the vanguard of those bemoaning the intractable nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict — as I did in “Neverending Story: Territorial (Holy) War Between Israelis and Palestinians (in Gaza)” (January 9, 2009)
2010: LGBTQ+ Military Service
I was in the vanguard of those championing the rights of gays to serve in the military — as I did in “Gays in the Military: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repealed” (December 21, 2010)
2011: Trump as a Danger to Democracy
I was in the vanguard of those warning about the perils of voting for Donald Trump — as I did in “Trump for President? Don’t Be a Sucker!” (April 8, 2011)
2012: Marijuana Legalization
I was in the vanguard of those calling for the US to legalize marijuana — as I did in “Legalize Marijuana” (June 5, 2012)
2013: Decline of Journalism
I was in the vanguard of those bemoaning the corrupt and commercial state of journalism — as I did in “Tina Brown: Journalism Is Having a Very, Very, Pathetic Moment” (November 13, 2013)
2014: Social Media Harms
I was in the vanguard of those warning about the dangers of social media — as I did in “Facebook Friends? Try Facebook’s Guinea Pigs” (July 8, 2014)
2015: Climate Change Fatalism
I was in the vanguard of those bemoaning the reckless and feckless efforts to combat climate change — as I did in “Paris Talks on Climate Change to Avert an Apocalypse? Hardly…” (December 2, 2015)
2016: Evangelical Christians Supporting Trump
I was in the vanguard of those decrying evangelicals for selling their souls at the altar of Trump’s ambitions — as I did in “(White) Evangelicals Supporting Donald Trump Like Israelites Worshipping Golden Calf” (January 20, 2016)
2017: Trump Family Using Presidency to Enrich Themselves
I was in the vanguard of those exposing the Trump family as shameless grifters — as I did in “Trump, Jared, and Ivanka Forgoing Salaries Is Just Another Bait and Switch” (April 3, 2017)
2018: China Colonizing the Developing World
I was in the vanguard of those warning that China was colonizing the developing world with cash, not guns — as I did in “China ‘Colonizing’ Developing World Using Loans” (August 20, 2018)
(Note: Though written later, my 2024 iPINIONS on China’s threat logically extends my 2018 warning about China’s global ambitions. I presaged today’s tariff wars and cybersecurity crises by urging Washington to stop treating China as a trade partner and start dealing with it like a Cold War adversary. After all, China isn’t just competing — it’s laying digital mines on U.S. infrastructure like an enemy preparing for war.)
2024: China’s Cyberwarfare Poses Existential Threat
I was in the vanguard of those warning that China was not merely an economic competitor but an existential adversary — as I did in “FBI Director Warns China’s Hacking Poses Existential Threat” (February 2, 2024).
2019: Boris Johnson Presaging Brexit
I was in the vanguard of those tying Boris Johnson’s election to Brexit and Trumpism — as I did in “Britain Elects Boris to Make England ‘an Island Entire of Itself” (December 12, 2019)
2020: COVID’s Racial Impact
I was in the vanguard of those calling out the racial disparities COVID-19 exposed — as I did in “COVID-19 Exploiting the Legacies of Racism and Poverty” (April 16, 2020)
2021: Trump’s Lack of Regret for Jan 6 Insurrection
I was in the vanguard of those warning that Trump’s only regret was that his MAGA mob failed — as I did in “Trump Wanted His Rednecks to Look Like Brownshirts” (January 9, 2021)
2022: Celebrity Slap Heard Around the World
I was in the vanguard of those calling Will Smith’s Oscar slap Black-on-Black crime as entertainment — as I did in “Oscars Slapfest: Smith and Rock Steal the Show” (March 28, 2022)
2023: Biden Dooming Democrats and Damning His Legacy
I was in the vanguard of those warning Biden not to run for reelection — as I did in “Biden Announces Reelection Campaign. His Legacy Is Doomed” (April 25, 2023)
2024: The Faustian Bargain Between Trump and Billionaires
I was in the vanguard of those calling out billionaires for enabling Trump’s autocratic aims — as I did in “Trump Will Extort ‘Broligarchs’ to Become Richer than Elon Musk” (December 12, 2024)
BONUS: 2025 Preview
I have written too many commentaries on sports to count. But even since Lewis Hamilton’s debut in 2007, I’ve taken special pride in commenting on Formula One racing. But after he failed to win a record-setting 8th championship, I was in the vanguard of those urging him to retire. He didn’t. And, so I’ve been obliged to scold him for chasing that elusive 8th championship like an addict chasing the dragon – as I did in “Australian Grand Prix: Hamilton’s Ferrari Debut Goes Flat” (March 20, 2025)
Legacy Note: With over 5,600 posts spanning 20 years, I am easily the most prolific blogger on the most eclectic array of topics on the web. That makes The iPINIONS Journal an unparalleled archive of informed political and cultural commentary. Visit the ARCHIVES section in the sidebar or search by topic. You won’t find a more consistent, independent voice on world affairs.