On the day after Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey commuted his death sentence, halting his execution two days before he was supposed to die, Charles “Sonny” Burton sat in his wheelchair in a visiting room at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Ala., drinking a Coke and eating a Reese’s peanut butter cup.
He could not stop smiling.
“I’m feeling wonderful,” Burton told me.
Burton, 75, wore white sneakers a...
The article presents a stark picture of a deliberate, coordinated effort to subvert democratic norms, framed as a “full-on authoritarian takeover.” The core narrative hinges on a pattern of brazen disregard for established legal and political processes – court orders being ignored, the elevation of loyalty over competence – coupled with a concerted attack on the media landscape. This isn’t simply aggressive behavior; it’s a strategic deployment of influence, echoing historical patterns of conso...