Opinion and commentary on news, politics, culture, and policy impact.
The tax cut bill just passed by Congress and signed into law by the president is not perfect. But I voted for it because it will help working families and small businesses, give almost all Americans an immediate pay raise, and create millions of new jobs. But you don’t have to take my word for…
My recent columns have focused on the extremely poor educational outcomes for black students. There’s enough blame for all involved to have their fair share. That includes students who are hostile and alien to the educational process and have derelict, uninterested home environments. After all, if there is not someone in the home to ensure…
Should federal bureaucrats be able to reject trademarks for brand names that they consider “immoral” or “scandalous”? On Dec. 15, in In re Erik Brunetti, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit said “no,” ruling that the First Amendment leaves consumers to decide which brands are too offensive to buy—without help from lawyers in…
Eric Hargan is about to get a demotion, and he is just fine with that. The acting secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services is more than thrilled to go back to the position he originally held. President Donald Trump tapped him to lead the agency after Tom Price resigned when scrutiny of…
Recently, the House Financial Services Committee marked up a bill that would prevent Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, under certain financial conditions, from funding two affordable housing trust funds created by the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. Through that law, Congress authorized the Federal Housing Finance Agency to direct Fannie Mae and Freddie…
Most of the gifts exchanged at this time of year are opened on Christmas Day. But this time around, a big one arrived a few days early: the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. You’d never know that if you listen to the grinches in the so-called mainstream media, of course. They poured the usual amount…
For most Americans, the 23rd of December has no particular significance. But an extraordinary event happened on that day in 1783 in Annapolis, Maryland, that stunned the world. Gen. George Washington stood before the Continental Congress in Maryland’s State House and resigned his commission as the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. It changed the American…
Even before he was president, Donald Trump was clear about how he would prioritize putting constitutionalists on the courts. And now, at the end of 2017, we can see how his presidency is already having an effect on the courts. On May 17, 2016, then-candidate Trump did something unprecedented. He released a list of 11…
At the close of 2017, no less than seven prominent male hosts and editors of influential government-sponsored radio and television shows are out of work amid claims of sexual harassment. According to their accusers, the alleged Malevolent Seven are powerful pervs and creeps who’ve been running wild at NPR and PBS for decades, sponsored and…
On Dec. 20, in an unsigned, four-page opinion, the Supreme Court struck down a lower court order that severely burdened efforts by the Trump administration to end the Obama administration’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which has shielded certain younger illegal aliens from deportation. This is good news, a helpful sign that the Supreme…
Can great individuals affect the affairs of man? If they can, then Winston Churchill is certainly one of the greatest among them. In many ways, the new movie “Darkest Hour” is the perfect prelude to this summer’s much acclaimed “Dunkirk,” and not just in a literal sense, since “Darkest Hour” takes place just before that…
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act when signed into law will mean tax cuts for most Americans. Nevertheless, change—even good change—can bring about uncertainty. Retirees may be the most concerned about what the new tax legislation will mean for them, as most rely on relatively fixed incomes. But in fact, the Tax Cuts and Jobs…
“Pacific” means peaceful. But the ocean that bears that name doesn’t always live up to it. Ask any oceanfront resident who has weathered the damaging storms and waves that winter can bring. Combined with relentless tides, they can threaten homes by eating away the land underneath. How can oceanfront homeowners safeguard their property, even their…
Last week, a federal judge denied a motion from the Archdiocese of Washington for an injunction directing the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to accept and run the archdiocese’s advent advertisements on Metrobuses. The advertisements, which featured shepherds following a star, urged people to “find the perfect gift” by directing them to a website with…
According to New York magazine, Taylor Swift isn’t allowed to be happy having a successful year in 2017—or thank fans for wishing her a happy birthday. “I love you guys so much,” the pop singer shared on Instagram. “I couldn’t have asked for a better year, all thanks to you. Thanks for all the birthday…
Despite a solid year for investment returns, the unfunded liabilities of state and local government pension plans increased by $433 billion, the most recent estimate from the American Legislative Exchange Council shows. According to ALEC’s report—which uses more appropriate assumptions on investment returns than the plans use themselves—state and local governments’ unfunded liabilities now exceed…
Kudos to The New York Times—yes, The New York Times—for running an excellent, detailed story on the mass starvation and economic catastrophe taking place in Venezuela. As the Times notes, Venezuela has the largest known oil reserves in the world, yet is going through a starvation crisis exacerbated and hidden by its own government. Common…
Kim Holmes, author of the “The Closing of the Liberal Mind,” joins us today to talk about group identity politics, why the left shuts down debate, and how, over time, the left and the right have gradually switched places on a variety of issues.
Let us first agree on how not to celebrate Christmas: by standing in a Walmart check-out line. Let’s get our priorities straight. The spiritual takes precedence over the material, especially at Christmas. Barry Goldwater knew this as well as anyone. Here’s how the charismatic senator from Arizona, who sparked a conservative revolution, put it in…
With lawmakers poised to pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act—a sweeping tax reform package—many individuals and families will see very different tax bills come 2018 and beyond. In general, an overwhelming majority of Americans will pay less in federal taxes. So how will you fare under the GOP tax plan? Well, on net, most…