Hot Takes No One Asked For

Thoughts of a Gen Exer

Writings and thoughts…

  • The Measure of a Leader

    I have worked for many leaders throughout my career, some exemplary and others profoundly ineffective. Early in my professional life, I encountered a leader whose influence I did not fully… Read more ⇢

  • Created Equal, Not Born Equal: A Constitutional Tension We Refuse to Resolve

    The American political experiment rests on a premise stated plainly in the Declaration of Independence: “all men are created equal.” The wording is deliberate. It does not say born equal,… Read more ⇢

  • Strong Families, Safe Communities:

    Reframing Family Connection as a Public Safety Infrastructure  By: Ann C. Tepoorten, Citizen Researcher |Volunteer Legislative Analyst | Advocate for Public Safety & Community Well-Being -Justice; the constant and perpetual… Read more ⇢

  • The sword, the shield, and the wound

    It is a question that haunts me. A word spoken in sermons, written in books, echoed in prayers — but what does it truly mean to forgive? For me, the… Read more ⇢

  • A Fate Worse Than Death

    Years ago, I was a staunch proponent of the death penalty. I believed in swift and final justice, believing it was the most appropriate way to render a debt to… Read more ⇢

  • My Dearest Zeal,

    Last week, I met my first grandchild—you. Even as I write these words, I can hardly believe them. In my mind, I am still that dorky 22-year-old, uncertain about life’s… Read more ⇢

  • Mental Illness and Public Safety

    Do individuals with mental illness belong in jail? Yes. However, this topic requires careful consideration. The American Psychiatric Association recognizes 450 distinct mental disorders, many of which have been extensively… Read more ⇢

  • Dear President Elect Donald Trump

    I want the freedom to restore the family as the centerpiece of American life; dismantle the administrative state; defend the nation’s sovereignty and borders; and secure God-given individual rights to… Read more ⇢

  • The Gift of Kash

    Sometimes, it’s hard to discern the path God has laid before us. The direction we should take and the reasons behind it are not always clear. When Mike and I… Read more ⇢

  • Dear Minnesota Legislature

    As many Minnesotans may not be aware, the 2025-26 Legislative Session begins in just a few days. Within the 648 chapters and nearly 2,500 pages of Minnesota Statutes lies content… Read more ⇢

Read more: The Measure of a Leader