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Physical, emotional toll of war

National Columnists

As the war with Iran has been going on for four weeks, 13 U.S. service members have been killed. Ohioans have been honoring the lives of three members of the state's Air National Guard who died in a refueling plane crash on March 12 while supporting Operation Epic Fury: Capts. Seth Koval and Curtis Angst, along with Master Sgt. Tyler Simmons, who was recently posthumously promoted to this rank. Local news stations in Columbus spent several days covering and highlighting the achievements of these young men who paid the ultimate sacrifice in serving their country. ...

Film captures exceptionalism of region, nation

National Columnists

It is rare to find a film today that captures the essence of a region, its people and the ties that bind them with a purity that excludes any outside influences. Yet that is exactly what NFL Films has done with "The Football Town," a unique production that brings to life the storied history of western Pennsylvania's tradition of football, faith, grit and community. It hits the mark beyond the story of football and manufacturing greatness and captures a region that celebrates its rootedness in community. And it shows how that community has humbly shaped the nation, thanks to ...

Republicans can win on health care affordability

National Columnists

For most of the last 40 years, pollsters have asked voters: Which party do you trust more on health care? The answer has been pretty much the same over this whole period. Voters trust Democrats more, sometimes by a two-to-one margin. When I've asked my Republican politicos why that is, the answer I typically receive is: Our party doesn't do health care. Then they crouch in the fetal position. Well, the GOP certainly better start "doing health care," because the issue of medical care access and affordability is front and center for American families. The Republican ...

Americans' thoughts on higher ed changes

National Columnists

A recent I&I/TIPP poll found that just 24% of Americans believe college degrees are worth the cost. Even among the college-educated, nearly half, 49%, said it wasn't worth the expense. Another 14% were unsure. This isn't an outlier. Over the last year, polls from Gallup, Pew and NBC News showed a significant majority of Americans have soured on higher education. It wasn't always like this. In 2010, 75% of Americans said a college education was very important, according to a Gallup poll. In 2025, the number had plummeted to 35%. For decades, popular culture has pushed ...

Fire victims struggle with inferno of regulations

National Columnists

Last year, California wildfires destroyed 13,000 homes. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced: "We are 100% committed to getting this neighborhood rebuilt again!" Gov. Gavin Newsom echoed that, saying his officials were "responding to it at scale, with efficiency ... addressing building codes, permitting issues, and moving forward to rebuilding." Great! It sounded like bureaucrats would get out of the way and let fire victims rebuild quickly. But no. Not when government bureaucrats are in control. More than a year later, fewer than 30 of the 13,000 destroyed homes ...

War creates illusion of control

National Columnists

In times of war, leaders often project the outcome they hope to achieve. Confidence can rally a nation, strengthen morale, and signal resolve to adversaries. Yet history reminds us that war rarely unfolds according to the plans or predictions of any single leader. The gap between projected outcomes and the complex, often obscured reality on the ground remains one of the defining features of modern conflict. Today, that gap is widening under what military strategists have long called the "fog of war." Recent statements from President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ...