Guns aren’t as good for self-defense as America thinks
A couple of hours before a young man shot an AR-15 rifle at former President Donald Trump, killing one bystander and wounding others, I had been finishing a column about gun violence as a public health threat. It was an eerie coincidence but not an unlikely one: More than 100 people die from gunshots on an average day in the United States.
Why Harris should pick former astronaut Mark Kelly as running mate
With the Democratic presidential nomination all but delivered for Kamala Harris, speculation has turned to who would best compliment her as the vice-presidential nominee. There are certainly several interesting possibilities but there is one who, like Harris herself, draws stark and strategic contrasts with the Trump-Vance ticket: Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona.
Pitted against Kamala Harris, can Trump tone down the racism and misogyny?
Vice President Kamala Harris is the highest-ranking female in U.S. political history and the first Black woman and Asian American to hold her post. The 59-year-old lawyer is a former U.S. senator and served as California attorney general and San Francisco’s district attorney.
Biden’s withdrawal decision shifts the election again
President Joe Biden has withdrawn from the 2024 presidential election, stepping aside in the race to best Donald Trump in a contest over the basic identity of this country.
Supreme Court ethics rules and term limits are good for democracy
President Joe Biden is reportedly pondering support for a legislative package that would enact ethics rules with the force of law on the Supreme Court, as well as some sort of term limits.
Want cheaper prescriptions? Start bargaining
President Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders wrote in a recent op-ed that there’s “no rational reason” why Americans pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs — almost three times more than their peers overseas, according to a recent analysis.
Biden’s decision to drop out is one of the most patriotic moments in a long life of service
I’m sure it doesn’t feel this way to President Joe Biden now, given the fighter he is, but stepping down was the right thing for him to do.
Secret Service director must answer for Trump near-assassination
Thomas Matthew Crooks should never have been able to get on a roof fewer than 150 yards from former President Donald Trump, let alone take several shots at him — almost killing him, wounding two rallygoers and murdering a third. The shot was an inch away from a national and international catastrophe, and the institutions tasked with securing the event must be held accountable.
The Supreme Court is a threat to American democracy
The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade was a wake-up call for Americans who had grown complacent about their rights and freedoms. The court’s decision was just the beginning of a series of rulings showcasing its alarming readiness to influence almost every facet of American life.
Federal debt: The ticking bomb in your wallet
If you don’t think the interest on the federal debt is a problem, try this quick exercise. Grab your pay stub for June and see how much you paid in federal income tax, then realize that over 75% of that was effectively your contribution to interest on the debt last month. No roads, schools, military or hospitals — just interest. Houston, we have a problem.
Irwin: Campus competition
A couple of decades ago, universities entered a new kind of competition. In addition to the academic programs, campuses were enhancing their living and recreation facilities. I still remember the first time I heard about the lazy river installed at Louisiana State University in 2017 that spelled out “LSU,” but they were by no means the only university that sought to woo students based on out-of-class amenities. Water parks, giant spa pools, aquatic basketball, etc. popped up at several large campuses. Predictably, there was also backlash from faculty and citizens, especially concerning these projects at public universities (see the NY Times opinion piece “No College Kid Needs a Water Park to Study”). Still, despite these amenities, students still come to universities to learn and to gain the credentials to make a good living, support their families, and contribute to the well-being of their communities.
I know what a true hillbilly is, and it’s not JD Vance
From the moment I learned about hillbillies as a child, I was entranced.
Senators’ push to investigate Justice Clarence Thomas is entirely appropriate
In sending a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland asking for the appointment of a special counsel to investigate Justice Clarence Thomas’ many undisclosed gifts as possible criminal ethics and tax violations, Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse and Ron Wyden are standing by their duty to protect the legitimacy of the federal government and the balance between the branches.
Right-wing politicos must relinquish their violent rhetoric
Sadly, political violence is as old as politics itself, around the globe and, yes, in the United States. However, the last decade has seen a marked increase, especially in the United States.
Assassination attempt will not be the end of leftist violence
Details are still emerging about the attempt to kill Donald Trump — about the shooter and how it was possible, and also what it says about America.
Despite Trump’s denials, he and Project 2025 are close
Project 2025 is the staffing and policy planning organization led by the Heritage Foundation. It published “Mandate for Leadership,” a 900-page document of policy recommendations, for the next Republican administration. Project 2025’s numerous unpopular conservative policy positions, such as its proposal to ban most abortion procedures nationwide, have come under fire.
Collective security works — NATO at 75 has been a success in keeping the peace
Overshadowed by the wonderings about President Joe Biden’s vigor was the actual purpose of the NATO alliance’s 75th anniversary summit in Washington last week. It marked three quarters of a century since Harry Truman hosted leaders of 10 nations from Western Europe, as well as Canada, to create a new, permanent defense pact in 1949.
Nuclear energy gets a much-needed boost
President Joe Biden, as you’ve no doubt heard, has had a rough few weeks. Yet last Tuesday, he signed a bill into law that could well prove transformative for America’s energy future. Here’s hoping — whatever happens in November’s election — that more progress lies ahead.
Congress can still do the right thing on bump stocks
Arecent Supreme Court decision striking down the Trump administration’s ban on bump stocks was a setback for public safety, but only a temporary one — provided Congress still has the courage to do the right thing.
It’s not just hype. AI could revolutionize diagnosis in medicine
The history of medical diagnosis is a march through painstaking observation. Ancient Egyptian physicians first diagnosed urinary tract infections by observing patterns in patients’ urine. To diagnose diseases of the heart and lungs, medieval doctors added core elements of the physical examination: pulse, palpation and percussion. The 20th century saw the addition of laboratory studies, and the 21st century of sophisticated imaging and genetics.