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Columns/Opinion

Democrats’ can still untap anti-Trump Kryptonite

Twenty candidates lined up this week for the first televised debates of the 2020 election. The roster is maxed out, with senators, governors, mayors, and tech entrepreneurs all vying for the chance to take down President Donald Trump. There is indeed a Democrat positioned to do that. He boasts that mix of progressive bona fides, mainstream appeal and proven policy track record. But he wasn’t on the stage. It’s Jimmy Carter, of course. That’s not entirely a joke. The public perception of Carter is that he’s a one-term loser crushed by the weight of his own naive ...

Despite the threat do your job

I recently spoke at the Investigative Reporters and Editors conference in Houston. It was an honor to be invited, but I really wondered what I could say that would have any meaning for some, frankly, very impressive reporters and editors. So, I told our story. The Capital Gazette newsroom was attacked June 28, 2018. Five people died, six survived. Through the dedication of our staff, the support of our colleagues at The Baltimore Sun and across Tribune Publishing plus assistance from the University of Maryland and others, we continued to publish. We have been recognized for this ...

Shifting politics: A conservative case for carbon tax

Republicans have long been nearly united in their opposition to any comprehensive effort to reduce climate change. Part of the opposition is political: They may be making the calculation that, although voters are worried about the issue, actual carbon-pricing programs have not always fared so well at the polls. But a significant part of Republican opposition is philosophical: They are worried about opening the door to a centrally planned economy. For the sake of the planet — and their party — they need to let this go. This isn’t to say that Republican fears are irrational. ...

They’re kids. This is America

Children are suffering in migrant camps along our southern border. They are living in cramped, filthy conditions. Many are sick. Six have died since last year. These are children. They have done nothing wrong. How they got here shouldn’t matter. Whose fault it is that they’re here shouldn’t matter. They are here, and one of the wealthiest and most powerful countries in the world is failing to care for them in even the most marginally humane way. Read these descriptions from recent news reports from the border. Don’t skim over them, and don’t look away, because they ...

Anti-Trump crafters face decade-long unraveling

I’ve been crocheting since I was 10, when my Tita Lisa taught me the magic of granny squares. Fellow yarn nerds will understand the bliss of spending hours at Hobby Lobby or Walmart immersed in a sea of alpaca, mohair, angora, super bulky and super saver skeins for blankets, baby clothes, hats, headbands, scarves, bookmarks and potholders. Are you surprised? You shouldn’t be. Creativity and crafting transcend political ideology — or so you might think. This week, Ravelry.com, one of the internet’s most popular sites for crocheters and with a reported 8.5 million ...

Mexico is not now and never was the enemy

On a daily basis, President Donald Trump hurls threats at Mexico — close the border, levy new tariffs, arrest millions. But history shows it’s smarter to recognize our neighbor as a natural ally. During World War II, Mexico joined the United States in declaring war on the Axis, even though Germany was well-ensconced in Latin American markets. Mexico then supplied U.S. industries with more strategic resources than any Latin American country. This included copper for ammunition, ships and aircraft; mercury for explosives; zinc, cadmium, graphite and lead for other uses; and, most ...