Perhaps you’ve noticed that recently there’s been a lot of vulgarity in places where it didn’t used to exist. At least not publicly. Politicians, especially, have been using language that would have had their mothers reaching for the soap and a paddle.
For example, vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance, in September 2024, called a podcast host a “dips—t”. Former Vice President Kamala Harris in September 2024, said “these mother———- are crazy” when speaking about the opposition. Trump Aide Steven Cheung told a reporter on social media to “shut the f—- up” after a report on troop deployment. Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania told Representative Matt Gaetz on X to “get your sh– together and do your job, bud”.
And, of course, there’s the Blasphemer in Chief, President Donald Trump, who according to my AI friend, “frequently uses profanity at rallies and in interviews. Recent examples include calling Kamala Harris a “s— vice president” at a rally in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. In June 2025, on live television, he used an “f-bomb” regarding the Iran-Israel conflict, stating, “They don’t know what the f*** they’re doing”. He also referred to alleged drug smugglers as “sons of b——-s” during a cabinet meeting.”
Whew!
Before I go on, I must confess that I myself often swear, those years in newsrooms and on sports fields no doubt contributing to my frequent use of expletives. Note that when I switched careers and wound up teaching teenagers in high school, it was almost painful to not be able to express myself in my favorite colorful terms. But I knew such language was simply inappropriate when my young charges were around.
Most of us grew up understanding that profanity had a time and place. Joining in a toast to one’s buddies in a bar? No problem. Sitting in a church pew, not so much. Slamming your finger in the door? Certainly fine. Having dinner with grandma? Nope. But today we seemed to have lost those swearing guardrails. In my TV days, an errant on-air swear would have had a news director apoplectic. Now, network anchors often repeat offensive verbiage previously spouted by others.
So what gives? I will rely again on AI: “The rise in public profanity among politicians is a calculated, multi-faceted trend driven by a desire for authenticity, the need to match a coarser cultural landscape, and the influence of social media, where emotional, high-engagement content is rewarded.”
Then there’s the strange idea that blunt language is seen as a sign of honesty, with politicians believing those snappy swear words make them seem less like the well-off, upper class folks they often are and more like you and me. However, such tirades might also make those potty-mouth politicians seem unhinged at times. So, perhaps judicial use of profanity should be considered.
Today, confrontational language is all the rage, and the general public is far less offended by rude remarks that not too long ago would have had those within earshot clucthing their pearls. Still, call me old-fashioned because I believe we should read the room before letting those colorful words fly.
And all of this reminds me of my book editors who, upon finding a four-letter word in a manuscript, would gently explain that if I just improved my vocabulary I might find more creative verbiage to express myself. So perhaps all those politicians need is a good thesaurus.
THE CASTLE
ANNE MONTGOMERY
Suspense/Thriller
Ancient ruins. Haunted memories. A ruthless predator. Can Maggie survive the ghosts of her past – and the monster hiding in plain sight?
When she returns to her job as a National Park Ranger at “The Castle”—a centuried-old Native American pueblo carved into an Arizona cliff—Maggie hopes the comfort of familiar ground will help her heal. Battling trauma and the grief of unimaginable loss, Maggie’s days are carefully measured, her life held together by the thinnest of threads.
But strange things are happening at the park. A mysterious child appears and vanishes without a trace. And a predator watches her every move, planning his attack.
With the help of friends, fellow survivors, and the land itself, Maggie begins to reclaim her strength. But the danger is closer than she knows, and soon Maggie will have to face a deadly threat… and her deepest fears.
Bookstores, libraries, and other booksellers can order copies directly from the Ingram Catalog.
Praise for The Castle
“A deftly written and riveting read from cover to cover, “The Castle” effectively showcases author Anne Montgomery’s genuine mastery of the Romantic Suspense genre.” – Midwest Book Review
“A slow burn thriller, mixed in with a touch of mystical realism…A true five-star experience!” – Sara Steven Chick Lit Central
“A beautifully considered, sumptuous novel from a skilled storyteller.” – SaraRose Auburn Writing & Reviews
“This is a novel about good rage, about channeling the injustices of the world around us and fighting to do some good with both words and deeds. Lucky for readers, it was penned by a maestra like Anne Montgomery, so that we got a tense, powerful novel in the bargain too.” – Jennifer deBie-Rosie Amber Book Reviews
“Ms. Montgomery manipulates uncomfortable subjects and dark suspense into a gripping tale with hints of romance and humor carefully guiding readers on an informative journey of survival and self-discovery.“ Tonya Mathenia InD’tale Magazine
“Soul-stirring. A brilliant book…Truly a masterpiece.” – Anu Menon Thought is Free Book Blog
“I was gripped from start to end.” – Katherine Hayward Pérez Just Katherine Blog
“Ms. Montgomery has an almost magical talent to draw the reader into the worlds she creates through her words. Her characters are interesting, vulnerable and strong. While describing the locations in which her books are set, she weaves history with vivid images, immersing the reader in a hard-to-put-down story full of history, beauty and mystery.” – Margaret Millmore Author
Author Anne Montgomery 