Israel-Hamas War’s Massive Destruction

The 21st century’s most brutal conflict and the laws of war.

Sinead O’Connor, 1966-2023

The Irish singer-activist is gone at 56.

Americans Becoming More Socially Conservative?

Gallup’s annual Values and Beliefs survey has some interesting results.

Barring Kids From Social Media

An odd set of Senators have a really bad idea.

Americans Don’t Live as Long as We Should

We’re falling further behind for many reasons.

Tabby Thursday

A little debt ceiling, a little higher ed, and other misc delights.

Blake Hounshell, 1978-2023

A brilliant journalist is gone at 44.

The free high-resolution photo of street, bicycle, asphalt, vehicle, hat, park bench, homeless, stockholm, packing, baby carriage, drifter, norrm larstrand , taken with an DMC-FS10 01/29 2017 The picture taken with 10.0mm, f/3.8s, 1/640s, ISO 80 The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. You may download, modify, distribute, and use them royalty free for anything you like, even in commercial applications. Attribution is not required. The free high-resolution photo of street, bicycle, asphalt, vehicle, hat, park bench, homeless, stockholm, packing, baby carriage, drifter, norrm larstrand , taken with an DMC-FS10 01/29 2017 The picture taken with 10.0mm, f/3.8s, 1/640s, ISO 80 The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. You may download, modify, distribute, and use them royalty free for anything you like, even in commercial applications. Attribution is not required.

Homeless Sweeps are Costly, Ineffective, and Immoral

Cities across the United States are taking the wrong approach to a crisis.

Election Reform Through the Back Door

Electoral Count Act reforms are “hidden” in the bipartisan budget bill.

From the “You Can’t Make this Stuff Up” File

That time the Nazis made a movie about the Titanic.

The Centrist Fantasy

Can moderate Republicans take back their party?

Fear and Resentment of a Changing America

A revealing comparison of Republican districts that deny and don’t deny the 2020 outcome.

Russia Bombing Civilian Sites Across Ukraine

Putin is committing war crimes in retaliation for an attack on a legitimate military target.

Bernard Shaw, 1940-2022

CNN’s original anchorman is gone at 82.

Trump Tipping Point?

As more details emerge about the documents he stole, defenders are falling away.

U.S. Kills Ayman al-Zawahiri, al Qaeda Founder and Leader

A precision drone strike on a balcony in Kabul took out a longtime nemesis.

Democracy Dies in Dumbness

Paywalls are not our problem.

Coffee Makes You Live Longer

Yet another study that confirms my pre-existing biases.

Yet Another School Shooting in America

Alas, it’s unlikely to change the policies that enable them.

Another Example of Primaries in Action

The Ohio GOP Senate contest.

Trump asks Putin for Dirt, Again

It’s okay to ask a war criminal for some political dirt on your opponent, right?

Some Thoughts on “Cancel Culture”

Thomas gets the ball rolling, and I take off from there.

Generals Say Afghan Exit Would Have Been Smoother Had Biden Listened to the Generals

Two unclassified after-action reports shine a new—if one-sided—light on the evacuation.

[Top Secret Clip Art] [Top Secret Clip Art]

Secrecy and Democracy

How do we know when our government is telling us the truth?

US Surpasses 900,000 COVID Deaths

Yet another grim milestone.

The Children Must Be Protected!

But from what? Comparing two stories from Tennessee that show our society’s contradictory impulses when it comes to “protecting the children.”

Stupid 2024 Fantasies

The silly season has commenced a mite early.

Violence Inequality

The safety gap between affluent, white and poor, minority communities has grown over the last three decades.

Sidney Poitier, 1927-2022

A pioneering Black actor is gone at 94.

Nick Kristof Ineligible to Run for Oregon Governor

Apparently, New York and Oregon are not the same place.

Harry Reid, 1939-2021

The longtime Senate leader is gone at 82.

Unilateral Disarmament on Gerrymandering

Democrats and Republicans are playing by different rules.

Battle for the Suburbs

There is a lot of anger out there.

Stu Scheller’s Sideshow

The convicted criminal has taken his shenanigans to court.

Afghan Airlift Tradeoffs

Humanitarian instincts rightly trumped security concerns.

US Retaliates Against ISIL-K

An unsatisfying first(?) response.

Terrorist Strike Hits Afghan Evacuation

Thirteen Marines and dozens of Afghan civilians are dead in a much-anticipated attack.

US Racing to Meet Withdrawal Deadline

The evacuation could soon become a terrorist target.

Sinema’s Filibuster Defense

It’s no better than Joe Manchin’s.

Coffee is (Mostly) Healthy Again

The indicators are pointing in the direction of caffeine being good for most people.

Peru to the Polls

A problematically wide-open election in difficult times.

Biden’s Christianity, Lincoln, and the Truth of Who We Are

Biden’s America is a place and idea in which the trappings of empire or glory are ephemera in comparison with perennial human relationships—families; friendships; communities; schools; neighbors; partners.

The Terrorist In The Mirror

There’s a word for people who use outrageous violence to terrorize.

Police Warned About Nashville Bomber 16 Months Ago

In hindsight, there were more than a few clues.

A Weird Re-election Pitch

Usually candidates don’t talk about how bad things are across the country while appealing to be re-elected.

Kosovo President and Opposition Leader Indicted for War Crimes

A reckoning for 2500 Kosovar Serb civilians who were slaughtered is at hand.

Americans Unhappier—and Happier—Than Ever

Fewer people are very happy and more are not too happy than any time in a longstanding survey.

Biden v. Kavanaugh

And a broader discussion of the ongoing Tara Reade story.

Chelsea Manning Released from Jail

The grand jury was disbanded, so there was no need to continue the coercion tactic.