Breaking News

Opinion

Democrats get ready to rumble

National Columnists

A midterm election year is upon us, and that can mean only one thing: we have entered the realm of quickened speculation about the 2028 presidential election. On the Republican side, if President Donald Trump decides to abide by the Constitution in at least one respect, the nomination looks to be Vice President J.D. Vance’s to lose. Which leaves most of the tea leaf-reading to the Democrats, with a few gaggles of candidates eyeing a run. Congressman Ro Khanna and Senators Chris Murphy and Chris Van Hollen have telegraphed their strategy for winning support from the ...

Temptation to tax rich is understandable

National Columnists

There is something emotionally satisfying about watching a wealthy person call for higher taxes on people like himself. It feels civic-minded, even noble. A recent commentary by former Utah senator, Massachusetts governor and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney fits squarely into this tradition. Faced with a looming fiscal cliff, Romney concludes that entitlement reform is unavoidable and that higher taxes on affluent Americans must be part of the solution. Don’t be fooled, though. Yes, the status quo is unsustainable, and pretending otherwise is reckless. But taxing the rich ...

On immigration, citizenship, listen to George Washington

National Columnists

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, ...

Wish list would bring success in 2026

National Columnists

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 ...

Another year, another $2 trillion in debt

National Columnists

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. ...

In 2026, let’s do better than in 2025

National Columnists

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 ...