In the old days a political party had to win an election to keep its majority in Congress. So it rolled up its sleeves and went to work to convince people it was right.

Times have changed.

These days politicians roll up their sleeves and go to work on redistricting. Take a look at what’s happening in Texas. And California, Illinois, Indiana and New York. Redistricting is what matters, not convincing voters you’re right.

Here’s another problem: Back before he got elected Trump told folks he had a foolproof plan to lower prices – now he’s telling folks prices are plummeting. But they’re not.

To get elected Trump promised he’d drain the swamp but since he won his family business has been making deals in foreign countries to make millions. Trump landed in the swamp.

Years ago, on TV, Walter Cronkite, David Brinkley, John Chancellor, old-fashioned newsmen, spoke with level voices. You don’t see that much these days. Turn on the news, lean back in your chair, and what you’re most likely to see is hyped-up young men voices full of melodrama. It’s not news that matters these days. It’s the melodrama.

Up in Washington, we’re struggling with a multi-trillion-dollar deficit – but Secretary Sean Duffy, a former Fox News host, just announced a plan to spend millions to build a nuclear reactor on the moon. Does that make sense?

Politics has changed. The news media has changed. Plus, today fewer people read books, fewer people marry, fewer people go to church. What hasn’t changed?

One hard fact: Sooner or later the chickens are going to fly home to roost. And we’ll pay a price.

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Telling stories, in his memoir Carter Wrenn follows The Trail of the Serpent twisting and turning through politics from Reagan to Trump. Order his book from Amazon.