John Masters, Author at Deep Something

When Facts Fail: Political Psychology Meets Trump’s Epstein Files Debacle

July 19, 2025July 20, 2025 B. John 999 Views 0 Comments Trump, Hidden Brain, QAnon, Cognitive Bias, Epstein File, conspiracy

Ever wonder why some people refuse to change their minds even when presented with clear evidence? Scientists have discovered that our brains are wired to protect our beliefs, not seek truth.We see it in Donald Trump’s spectacular mishandling of the Jeffrey Epstein files controversy proves just how dangerous this psychological quirk can be, even for master manipulators.

For years, Trump expertly exploited this mental bias, convincing his supporters to dismiss investigations as “hoaxes” regardless of the evidence. But his attempt to brand concerns about the Epstein files as just another Democratic conspiracy has backfired spectacularly. Unlike previous scandals, this one taps into his base’s deepest fears about secret cabals and hidden power. Beliefs so central to their identity that when Trump dismissed their concerns, they turned on him instead. The result? The worst internal revolt of his political career, with major allies like Mike Pence and Elon Musk publicly breaking ranks.

This isn’t just political drama, it’s a real-time case study in how the psychology of conspiracy theories can eventually consume even those who try to control them. When belief becomes currency, losing trust costs more than any scandal ever could.

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Warriors for Justice: A Stoic Response to Robert Reich

July 18, 2025July 16, 2025 B. John 1114 Views 1 Comment methodism, Epictetus, Robert Reich, Pigliucci, Seneca, John Wesley

Your first thought might be: One more warrior is exactly what we do not need in this moment. The world feels overrun with conflict already. But what if the kind of warrior we need now is not one who fights for dominance or control, but one who stands calmly for conscience, who chooses clarity over chaos and courage over comfort? That is the kind of warrior Robert Reich wrote about — a woman on the front lines of immigration defense, who meets injustice not with rage, but with a quiet joy rooted in purpose. Her story holds a lesson as old as the Stoics and as current as the morning’s headlines.

This reflection is part of the ongoing “Stoicism Journey” series, which explores how ancient Stoic principles can offer clarity, strength, and moral direction in today’s world. Each piece connects Stoic thought to real-life challenges, often intersecting with faith, justice, and the pursuit of a meaningful life. In this installment, we respond to a story shared by Robert Reich, considering what it means to be a warrior for justice in dishonorable times.

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Patrimonialism: When the State Becomes a Business

July 14, 2025July 14, 2025 B. John 770 Views 0 Comments Resistance, Corruption, Authoritarianism, Constitutional Crisis, Trump Administration, Patrimonialism, Civic Engagement

Donald Trump’s second term has brought a dangerous shift in governance—what experts call patrimonialism, where loyalty and personal enrichment take precedence over law and accountability. This essay explores how this system threatens the foundations of American democracy, drawing on historical lessons, constitutional principles, and the growing resistance movements across the country. But it also offers hope—and a roadmap for action.

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Amor Fati: Love What Happens

July 13, 2025August 5, 2025 B. John 2126 Views 2 Comments Moral Clarit, Stoicism, Fate, Marcus Aurelius, justice, Resilience, Courage, Amor Fati, Hope, Serenity Prayer, Reinhold Niebuhr, Acceptance

In a time of political unrest, personal uncertainty, and social fracture, the ancient Stoic idea of Amor Fati — to love one’s fate — offers a powerful challenge. Not to surrender to injustice, but to meet it with clarity, courage, and compassion. This essay reflects on the tension between acceptance and action, drawing on Marcus Aurelius, the Serenity Prayer, and a timely conversation with Rev. Justin LaRosa to explore how we can live fully and faithfully in the world we have, not just the one we wish for.

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Joy in the Margins

July 11, 2025 B. John 1107 Views 0 Comments Gratitude, Resilience, Senaca, Grace, Meaning, Hope, Flamingos, Joy

“Joy doesn’t cancel out the heavy things, but it gives you little pockets of strength to carry on. Let it in, whenever and wherever you can.” Joy isn’t a finish line. It’s a companion. A weird, sometimes inappropriately timed companion. It shows up when you need it, not when you deserve it. In this reflection, I explore how small moments of joy can help carry us through the weight of the world, with a little humor and maybe even a rubber chicken.

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“Healing or Hiding?”

July 9, 2025July 8, 2025 B. John 915 Views 0 Comments Resilience, Personal Reflection, Emotional Integrity, justice, Wellness Culture, Moral Clarity, Michell C. Clark

What if the peace you’re chasing is actually keeping you asleep? In a world that rewards quiet compliance, true healing might look less like serenity and more like staying present, even when it hurts. This post explores why “wellness” without justice isn’t peace—it’s sedation.

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The Silence Between Us

July 7, 2025July 14, 2025 B. John 1073 Views 0 Comments Jung, Communications, Loss, Stoicism, Aurelius

This piece began with a line from Carl Jung I read, which surfaced something I hadn’t yet put into words: “Loneliness does not come from having no people around you, but from being unable to communicate the things that seem important to you.” Based on my reading in Stoicism, it seemed to fit with the thoughts of some of the Stoics. I’ve been thinking about what it means to remain engaged, to keep doing meaningful work, and still feel a growing distance from close friendships. This is a quiet reflection on that kind of loneliness, not isolation exactly, but a thinning of connection. A longing for the kind of relationships where nothing important has to be explained.

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Getting Back Up

July 4, 2025July 3, 2025 B. John 925 Views 0 Comments Routine, Marcus Aurelius, Transition

There’s a kind of quiet that doesn’t feel restful. It doesn’t come with peace, but with the absence of direction, of companionship, of the little structures that give shape to a day. I felt that type of quiet this past Wednesday. Not the calm kind I enjoy on my early morning walks, but something uneasy. An emptiness after the full rush of last week. Last week, I had a purpose. But then came Wednesday: quieter, aimless, still. No appointments. No Teams meetings. No urgent tasks. Just me, in a room that felt too quiet.

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No Longer as Predators, But as Pilgrims

July 3, 2025July 3, 2025 B. John 2622 Views 1 Comment medicare, Donald Trump, Social Security, United Methodist, SNAP, Mike Johnson, JD Vance, christian, medicaid

In the wake of a cruel and deeply unjust budget bill passed by the U.S. Congress, I feel compelled to speak out—not just as a citizen, but as a Christian, a United Methodist, and someone at retirement age who will soon depend on the very programs now under attack. This essay is a moral response to a political failure. It is a call to conscience. We are not meant to live as predators. We are meant to walk together, as pilgrims.

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Willing or Dragged: Cleanthes, Fate, and the Way of Alignment

July 1, 2025July 2, 2025 B. John 935 Views 0 Comments deVega, Islam, Stoicism, Pigliucci, Cleanthes, Judaism, Merton, Christianity

What if freedom isn’t about control, but about cooperation with the deeper order of things? Inspired by Cleanthes’ timeless Stoic insight, this essay explores how fate doesn’t force us—it invites us. Whether guided or dragged, the choice is ours.

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The Ballad of Rick’s Blazer

June 28, 2025June 28, 2025 B. John 922 Views 0 Comments fun, imagination, Goodwill, Sport Coat

Sometimes a Jacket Comes with a Story
When you’re in the middle of a weight-loss journey, your wardrobe becomes a revolving door—too big, too short, too baggy, and occasionally, just right. That’s how I ended up at the Goodwill store on Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa, where I found a blazer that fit me like it was tailored for this very moment. It wasn’t until I got it home, though, that I discovered it came with a little bonus: two concert tickets tucked neatly inside the inner pocket. Michael Bublé, Amalie Arena, February 13, 2019. Seats 5 and 6. And just like that, I had a mystery… and a man named Rick to thank for it.