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A kids’ table for third-tier candidates?

Brian Boyle Los Angeles Times It took Marianne Williamson wading into bizarre references about New Zealand, the moon and the power of love for me to realize something: The GOP made the right decision in their own overpopulated primary on the road to 2016. Not in whom they chose, of course, but in how they chose. The recent two nights of Democratic debates have offered insightful policy discussions, fierce sniping and funny mic gaffes. But they’ve also only made one thing clear: It’s time to separate the contenders from the pretenders; it’s time for the real candidates to ...

Trump actually did the right thing, twice

Earlier this month, Donald Trump reversed two major decisions. He announced he would not begin mass deportations of those who are living in America illegally, which he previously threatened to do, and he pulled the plug on an attack on Iran The reversals stunned aides and allies alike. In both cases, Trump disappointed hawkish advisers and zealous supporters who had urged him to act. It’s easy to be skeptical or dismissive about Trump’s flip-flops. In both cases, he defused crises of his own making. In both, he avoided what would have been a humanitarian horror. In both, the ...

DACA will get its day in court just in time for 2020 election

In case you were harboring any doubts over the role immigration will play in the 2020 presidential campaign, the Supreme Court on Friday all but guaranteed it will be front and center next spring. The court agreed to hear an appeal of lower court decisions that barred the Trump administration from ending the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which protected from deportation people living in the country illegally after being brought here as children. It’s an immensely popular program with American voters, and even President Trump supported its aims before ...

We cannot turn away from border crisis

Like many people, I spent the weekend enjoying the beautiful weather — in my case, with my 4-year-old toddler and 8-week-old newborn. During late night feedings and naps, though, I also spent hours on social media. I shared happy pictures of my babies, but also, in a heartbreaking juxtaposition, pored over the latest news from the border. For those who haven’t read about it, multiple news outlets, from the New York Times to Fox News, reported that hundreds of children as young as 2 are being held in inhumane conditions. They are in overcrowded cells, without soap or ...

Obama administration’s ‘collusion’ on Iran

President Donald Trump did a wrong thing, then a right thing, then another right thing, then another right thing and a wrong thing in trying to keep the evil, conniving leaders of Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Of course, President Barack Obama had helped give these plotters a surefire means of achieving their Hiroshima-end: The hopeless Iran deal. Concerning their murderous Middle East ambitions and preparations for war, they received a Joe Biden-like hug. However, to the disappointment of much of Europe, profitably trading with the Islamists, Trump opted out of the deal. ...

Prosecuting Trump case a misnomer

During one of his debates with Hillary Clinton in 2016, Donald Trump threatened to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the former secretary of state if he were elected. “Lock her up!” remains a popular cheer at his campaign-style rallies. Trump’s loose talk about turning the Justice Department against his political opponents is one of his most outrageous norm violations. Given that fact, you would think Democrats hoping to succeed him would strive not to give the impression that they, too, would expect their Justice Department to target political opponents. But Sen. ...