Sister Dana sez, “So, the new year is here…”

By Sister Dana Van Iquity—

Sister Dana sez, “So, the new year is here, and you’ve already broken your new year’s resolution? Well, take my resolution solution, because it’s unbreakable: ‘I resolve to be the best me I can be.’ You can’t break that one!”

Trump’s manic, erratic, angry December 17 Address to the Nation was basically just a huge 18-minutes-long scream-a-thon: “it’s the Democrats’ fault”; “it’s Biden’s fault”; “it’s Obama’s fault”; “I was handed a bad economy”; “it’s the immigrants ruining our nation”; “I’m fighting a war on drugs and bravely attacking Venezuela”; not to mention, “I am busy building my $400 million ballroom!” 

Adding to that depressive nature of what should have been encouragement and pride in America, Dictator Donald installed very expensive (for taxpayers), permanent plaques essentially rewriting history, blaming past presidents, and just plain lying. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated, “President Trump’s speech last night showed he lives in a bubble completely disconnected from the reality everyday Americans are seeing and feeling.” 

On January 3, Trump claimed that he and the U.S. will “run” Venezuela, and he won’t rule out U.S. boots on the ground. That very day, Senator Scott Wiener called for Trump’s impeachment for his illegal invasion in Venezuela, stating, “This lawless coup is an invitation for China to invade Taiwan, for Russia to escalate its conquest in Ukraine, and for Netanyahu to expand the destruction of Gaza and annex the West Bank. Trump cares nothing for the human or economic cost of conquering another country—he cares only about enriching his billionaire donors.”

The awful news continues. Trump has moved to end Gender-Related Care for Minors, threatening any hospitals that offer it. This is a major attack on transgender rights! It’s an attack on transgender existence! The Trevor Project has done an extensive September 2024 study to find that anti-transgender laws cause up to a 72% increase in suicide attempts among transgender and nonbinary youth. Note that right before their “holiday break,” House Republicans had been working on advancing sweeping anti-trans bills. One of these would put doctors in jail for up to ten years if they provide gender-affirming care to minors—including prescribing hormone
replacement therapy to adolescents or puberty blockers to young kids. Three Democrats joined Republicans to pass the bill, 216–211. However, thankfully the bill is unlikely to pass the Senate because it cannot bypass the 60-vote filibuster threshold to become law. 

It was the latest attack of the Trump-branding machine, because Trump’s name had been swiftly added to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, just one day after its board (all members of which had been approved by Trump) moved to rename it. The Center was built as a living memorial to the 35th president, and it has been generally understood that the power to change its name lies with Congress. The expensive new DJT gold letters appeared without Congressional action. It has become obvious that any way he can slap his name onto a preexisting building, Trump will do so without hesitation.

Sister Dana sez, “So what’s next? The Trump Lincoln Memorial? The Trump Washington Monument? The entire Trump District of D.J.T. Washington, D.C.?!

But wait! There’s more: Trump has announced plans for a new class of military vessels bearing his name, unveiling what he called “Trump Class” battleships as part of a broader vision for a revamped American fleet. Sister Dana sez, “That’s great! Big boy battleships at $5 billion each!” 

We grew up learning in our civics classes that there were THREE branches of government, but with the modern presidency, we now learn that there are only TWO branches of government: the executive and the judicial—leaving the legislative branch as powerless and subject to Trump & Company rules. With fewer than 40 bills signed into law as of December 23, the House and Senate have set a modern record for lowest legislative output in the first year of a new presidency, according to data maintained by C-SPAN and Purdue University. Sister Dana sez, “Maybe if the Republican Congress spent less time supporting autocracy, while the Democratic Congress spent more time supporting democracy—and the two could possibly work together negotiating and compromising instead of acting as enemies—maybe more bills could be passed!” 

In the new year, several legal cases will come before the High Court. It used to be the Supreme Court, but now its overt leaning towards Trumpism takes away that title and makes it the Inferior Court. Three key cases will come before that Court: firing of federal workers, deploying the National Guard in blue cities, and the presidents’ tariffs. All will be in the spotlight. 

Over two million more potential Epstein documents have been uncovered. What? Were they all behind a hidden door somewhere that they had overlooked and suddenly came tumbling out? Or is this rather the same old style of delay and denial—until it all somehow goes away? Or, as the DOJ explains/justifies: “Due to the mass volume of material, this process may take a few more weeks.” Nevertheless, this all fails to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. And, by the way, is ANYONE in the Trump group showing the least bit of empathy for the true victims of the files? The young girls and women who were sexually abused?!  

Will Trump continue to investigate and indict his political enemies as part of his retribution campaign? Will he use his powers of pardoning in cases like the thousands of violent January 6 election deniers, crooks like former attorney Rudy Giuliani, and (unfortunately openly gay) disgraced
Congressman George Santos who committed wire fraud and identity fraud—who was set free after serving less than three months of his three-year sentence? 

The Trump Administration has ordered nearly 30 U.S. Ambassadors to leave their posts. Sister Dana sez, “That will do just wonders for our already sinking reputation with our allies and others overseas!”

Just days before OASIS, the glittery gay nightclub in SoMa, was poised to close, a surprise twist gave us a post-holiday miracle. Months after its announced closure, the Stevens Family came forward with a significant financial gift to OASIS ARTS, the nonprofit arm that is responsible for programming at Oasis, allowing its iconic and award-winning shows to continue—after their New Year’s Eve blowout blew us away. So, unfortunately Oasis must close for several months, but will return in all its glory to blow our minds once again!

I’m so thrilled that INDIVISIBLE NATIONAL has been among the groups spearheading huge anti-ICE demonstrations nationwide—including throughout the San Francisco Bay Area!

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., DAY is January 19. Celebrate this civil rights leader, even if Trump denies it’s a National Holiday!  

As we wrapped up 2025, we could sadly see that hate and extremism were on the rise in America. There were more than 1,000 hate groups last year vilifying others for their race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Hate crimes against Blacks, Jewish people, and LGBTQ Americans have increased across the U.S. This violence has no place in a just society. So, since 1971, the SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER has been fighting against hate and for equality and justice. https://www.splcenter.org/  

Sister Dana sez, “We must fight hatred in all its forms—although a teeny tiny bit of hate against Trump and his awful autocracy is okey-dokey with me!”  

Sister Dana Sez Words of Wisdumb from a Fun Nun
Published on January 15, 2026