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Republicans face some big questions entering 2026

“Are the Republicans going the way of the Whigs?” During President Trump’s first term, this question was asked a lot. The answer then: No. But one year into his second term it’s worth revisiting the question, not so much because the answer is different this time, but because the question illuminates how much our politics have changed in the last decade. Just in case you forgot — or never knew — the Whigs were one of the two major American parties from the 1830s to the mid-1850s. We’ll return to them in a moment. A decade ago, the conversation about the Whigs ...

Another year, another $2 trillion in debt

Just two weeks after he was sworn into office, former President Ronald Reagan went on national television to address the American people about what he perceived to be a dire problem. It was the national debt. “The federal budget is out of control, and we face runaway deficits of almost $80 billion for this budget year that ends September 30th,” he said. “The deficit is larger than the entire federal budget in 1957, and so is the almost $80 billion we will pay in interest this year on the national debt.” By 1960 our national debt stood at $284 billion,” said Reagan. ...

Wish list would bring success in 2026

This past year was, in many ways, a pretty great and clarifying one. Let’s take stock of what happened when our government remembered whom it serves, as well as what unfinished business remains. Here, then, is my 2026 wish list. 1. Peace in Eastern Europe. The Russia-Ukraine war has gone on far, far too long. The Trump administration has exerted tremendous diplomatic effort trying to orchestrate a peace deal, which thus far remains elusive. A durable peace — one that halts the senseless slaughter on both sides, respects Ukrainian sovereignty and accommodates legitimate Russian ...

On immigration, citizenship, listen to George Washington

As news reports proliferate of multimillion-dollar — and possibly billion-dollar — fraudulent diversions of government funds involving Minnesota’s Somali immigrant community, it may be time at one year’s end and the next one’s beginning to take a longer look at America’s experience with immigration, and to seek the guidance of the first and one of its two greatest presidents. The Founding Fathers were aware that their new nation was gifted with vast acreage, but only 4 million people were counted in the first decennial Census in 1790. The Constitution’s first words, ...

Re-visiting recent past is guide to better future

“What’s past is prologue” wrote William Shakespeare in “The Tempest,” a thought profound enough to be engraved on the National Archives building in Washington. As America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, a blip on history’s ledger compared to many other nations, we would do well to re-visit even the recent past as a guide to what can provide us a better future. That’s because even though technology changes, other things do not. At the end of each year, I enjoy exploring the events of a century ago, a period in which my parents and grandparents lived. When ...

In 2026, let’s do better than in 2025

All in all, 2025 was a terrible year. Not because of the usual fraud, corruption and run-of-the-mill stories, such as Somali scams, political scandals or even street crime. No, it was a terrible year not just because of what happened, but what happened in response. It was a year of loss, with entertainment and sporting greats — including Robert Redford, Diane Keaton, Val Kilmer, Hulk Hogan, George Foreman and Gene Hackman passing away. These losses were compounded by the tragic murder of Rob Reiner (and his wife Michele) in their home, and — of course — the assassination of ...