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National Columnists

Telling truth is last on Democrats’ agenda

Recently in The Wall Street Journal, Neera Tanden, CEO of the Center for American Progress, a major foghorn in our nation’s capital for America’s left, explained “Why Democrats Won the Shutdown.” The most accurate declaration in the article is “fights tell the country a lot about what – and who – the fighters care about.” And, indeed, there should be no question what the Democratic Party is about. That is – to miss no opportunity to accumulate political power by fostering, as widely and as deeply as possible, a culture of government dependence in America. And ...

Conservative praise bothers European elites

Nothing bothers the European elite as much as American conservatives praising the European foundations of their shared, but threatened, Western civilization. Europeans especially resent having their social-welfare state system critiqued by upstart, crass Americans. Their pique only increases as they push back against the condescending American idea that the U.S. could possibly offer any constructive advice, much less help a more civilized Europe follow the “American model.” Americans, in turn, are worried that Europe is not just stagnating but is on a trajectory of permanent ...

They’re coming for your credit card

In a scene that perfectly captures the strangeness of American politics today, President Donald Trump, a billionaire and self-styled champion of American business was all smiles during an Oval Office visit from Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist and mayor-elect of New York City. For months, the two men traded the harshest of insults. Mamdani was a “communist” and “radical left lunatic”; Trump a “fascist” and “despot.” Yet with New York’s mayoral election over and cameras clicking, the insults were on hold. The men praised each other as “rational” and ...

Minn. fraud scandal should not have happened

Minnesota is now facing one of the largest documented government service fraud scandals in United States history. Under Gov. Tim Walz’s evidently unwatchful eye, federal prosecutors have estimated that approximately $1 billion in taxpayer funds have been siphoned from multiple state- and federally funded social service programs over the last five years. As of this writing, 87 individuals have been charged in connection with the scheme, with 61 convictions already secured and more charges continuing to be filed against these fraudsters. The bulk of the fraud scheme centers around two ...

US has tools to contain China, preserve global order

The United States is confronting an existential threat — but not the kind defined by ships on the horizon or missiles in the air. The danger instead stems from a waning sense of national purpose and a growing doubt about America’s global role. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the emerging geopolitical alignment linking China, Russia and Iran. This threat does not imply that China is preparing a direct attack on the United States. Rather, it reflects what will happen as America retreats from the world stage. Russia will expand its influence throughout Eastern Europe. China will ...

How to end Obamacare, improve coverage

Few people lie awake at night worried about the federal debt. So the Republicans’ plan to allow “temporary” COVID-19-era enhanced subsidies for Obamacare to expire because of their exorbitant cost won’t win many votes. It will save Uncle Sam money. A staggering 93% of premiums are currently paid directly by the federal government to the insurance companies, reports the Paragon Health Institute. But will it win votes in the coming midterm elections? No. Obamacare is an utter failure. It was supposed to bend the cost curve. But premiums for a family of five can exceed $50,000 a ...