La Colombe coffee Can SAve Our Nation

The recent news is very disturbing with Trump lifting sanctions on Russian oil when sanctions have been the only thing that has worked for Russia to keep their economy’s head above water. Of course, this will benefit Russia’s war efforts against Ukraine as well as provide a boost to Iran. Russia has been supplying Iran with weapons to kill American soldiers.

Trudy Rubin, Inquirer reporter in charge of writing about Ukraine, Iran and Trump’s starting the war with the Netanyahu, has brought about immense problems. We have inflation not to mention making NATO and the global picture unsafe. Trudy was in Kiev a month ago and saw first-hand how Putin is attempting to starve and freeze the Ukrainians during the winter months by attacking their infrastructure. They have already withstood what most nations could not withstand. Trump has not given aid to Ukraine and has called for the removal of Zelensky as the head of the Ukrainian government.

Trudy raises an interesting question that is the proverbial elephant in the room. If this is not treason, what is?

I have written before about a different way of making decisions that has led to the success of La Colombe Coffee which achieved greatness by an adventurer, Todd Carmichael. I invited Todd to speak to our Upper School community.  I believe he has the answer to the question that Trudy raised in a recent editorial in the Inquirer (October 14, 2026), “If this is not treason, what is?”

Todd uses a different kind of making decisions that enabled him to responsibly go on these adventures traveling with a sled on skis across the Sahara, crossing the great desert in the Southwest towing a sled on wheels as well as the first person to walk across Antarctica (the south pole) pulling a sled with provisions behind him.

He trained for these adventures by pulling a truck tire behind him through the streets of Gladwyne where he lived. But his wife, Lauren Hart, who always sang the national anthem before the Flyers games, was diagnosed with cancer.

Todd made decisions on adventures like these to address a different way to see how risky decision- making can be done in business and in everyday life particularly when there was a lot on the line. He carried a cell phone with him as he crossed the Antarctica and talked with Lauren every night after she went into remission. (Keep in mind that question that Trudy Rubin presents to us), “If this is not treason, what is?’

Todd made the point that he called Lauren every night and if the cancer was back (which was not predicted), he would stop his travel across the south pole then and there. He would then be airlifted out even if he was close to finish line that defined another success for him.

Recall something that was said by Trump in jest that now has more formidable consequences. During a contentious hearing in Manhattan regarding Trump’s taxes, Trump said,” I could shoot someone on Broadway, and suffer no consequences”. This was in the process of discussing what constitutes presidential immunity. The judge in the case was Judge Chinn. Humility has never been Trump’s strong suit. He tends to do as he pleases even when he knows that it is wrong.

But here is the decision-making question that Todd Carmichael would raise that produced great adventures and a thriving coffee company. Remember the words of one of my heroes, Trudy Rubin. What would Trump have to do to be convicted of impeachment and removed from office? Is treason to low a bar?