Today an old friend reprimanded me on Facebook for posting an editorial from the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The essay suggests that Donald Trump’s charitable foundation was likely used for frivolous things like buying a portrait of Trump for display in one of the Trump properties, to more serious infractions like donating funds to a Republican candidate running for an office in Florida.

(I’m no expert, but apparently those things are illegal for nonprofits. So – yikes.)

The essay was written originally for the venerable New York Times by Phillip Hackney, who is a former attorney for the chief counsel of the I.R.S. specializing in nonprofit organizations. The writer appears to be a knowledgeable source and I would unhesitatingly call the New York Times, along with the Plain Dealer, a legitimate news source.

But this is the era of “fake news,” as frequently proclaimed by the president. Right?

Well, I say:

How dare he?

These are news organizations that kept our country informed for over a century as our nation suffered through wars and natural disasters and tragedies. They’ve faithfully reported triumphs like the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of school segregation. They search for and hire dedicated professionals who sometimes put their own lives in danger to witness and write about what is happening in the world.

Yet, we’re supposed to believe, according to Donald Trump, that a majority of news sources, both in the U.S. and around the world, have gone rogue to attempt to coerce people to think badly of Trump and his administration?

Can’t trust ‘em.

New York Times? Washington Post (and COUNTLESS other publications)?  CNN, ABC, NBC and CBS? And those left-wingers at NPR and PBS?

Liars? Every damn one of them?

If you believe that . . . if you really, truly believe that . . . have you ever asked yourself why? What would all of these news organizations gain by banding together to lie about Donald Trump? Or about what’s happening with Congress or the NRA or our Mexican border, or . . . well, we can go on and on, can’t we?

I could understand it if, oh, let’s say just the Washington Post hated Trump for whatever reason. You’d have to dismiss that one paper as a fluke. I would.

But, my Trump-supporting friends and family, it’s not ONE newspaper. It’s not only CNN. Look at the numbers! Do you care at all that the MAJORITY of long-established news organizations are basically saying the same thing?

And do you honestly think anyone, and I mean ANYONE, is HAPPY that the Trump administration is even worse than what many people feared it could be before he ever moved to Washington?

I’m not. I would have been delighted to have made a mistake about his character and intent. What a relief that would have been!

But. I. Didn’t.

I’m not going to list all the reasons why I think Donald Trump may be the worst thing that ever happened to our country. If you voted for him and haven’t figured it out yet for yourself, then you’re part of the problem, too.

As I told my friend on Facebook, I will always wish her well. I sincerely mean that. I will continue to care for and love the handful of close friends and family members who are still deluded by this man.

But wake up and smell the coffee, folks. When all the legitimate news sources, around the world, agree on this subject, why are you wasting your time and misguided loyalty reading propaganda?

It takes a big person to admit they’ve been duped.  Forget about any idiot (yeah, there are idiots on both sides) who might enjoy gloating over your mistake.

I, for one, would just like to shake the hand of anyone ready to raise their hand say . . .

Yup. He got me for awhile. Now what can I do help turn this country back around?