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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 ...

Re-visiting recent past is guide to better future

National Columnists

“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 ...

Economist’s experience is wake-up call for Americans

National Columnists

Peter Navarro, who spent four months in federal prison for a contempt of Congress order over the Jan. 6 investigations and now serves as senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, said in an interview about his newest book, “I Went to Prison So You Won’t Have To: A Love and Lawfare Story in Trump Land,” that despite being convicted and jailed, he never broke. It is a sentiment he still carries with him today. The book is a vivid tale; he unpacks how he was a victim of a weaponized justice system while detailing his experiences in what he calls a flawed minimum-security ...

It’s nice to set family goals together

National Columnists

I don’t make New Year’s resolutions, but I do set goals. I take time to reflect on the previous year to look at what I’d like to build upon, what I’d like to scrap and what could use a tweaking in the new year. My husband does something similar. This year, instead of just setting individual goals I thought we could make family goals, too. It felt like another way to bring us together instead of operating in individual silos, each of us firing off in different directions. I wanted to see where our goals overlapped and prioritize those as family goals we all worked on together. ...