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Faith in news media tanking

In her 2021 book “Bad News: How Woke Media Is Undermining Democracy,” journalist Batya Ungar-Sargon argued that arrogance and addiction to political fashion has tanked Americans’ faith in the news media. There’s reason to think she’s right. Former National Public Radio editor Uri Berliner described NPR’s “unspoken consensus about the stories we should pursue and how they should be framed” in an essay disclosing that NPR’s editorial staff consisted of only Democrats. Berliner was promptly disciplined by his oh-so-devoted-to-the-First-Amendment bosses for writing the ...

Trump, Harris keep making promises

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris keep making new promises. Trump fans applauded when he said he’ll eliminate taxes on tips. Then Harris proposed that, too. Her audience applauded. Trump then proposed not taxing overtime. More applause. But narrow tax exemptions are bad policy. In my new video, Economist Allison Schrager explains how they create nasty, unintended consequences. “No one likes tipping,” says Schrager, “but all of a sudden, you’ll have to pay tips for everything. ... More people will be paid in tips.” I want lower taxes, but awarding specific exemptions ...

Democrats pay the price

There used to be a time when Republican elected officials and candidates shied away from talking about trans issues. They didn’t want to appear extreme or intolerant. Why bother wading into a fraught cultural issue when there were so many other things to talk about? Deferring to “medical professionals” or “the experts” seemed the easy way out. Now, though, Republicans have emphatically found their voice. Across the political landscape, GOP Senate candidates are hitting their Democratic opponents on their trans-radicalism and have them on the run, while the Trump campaign ...

Waves higher for Harris’ catwalk

Since crossing the Golden Gate Bridge running away from a wrecked home, I’ve taken to life on my own. I come and go as I please. I pursue plans and projects to my heart’s content and can hear myself think. Then when Girlfriend — my cat — came into my life, it seemed complete. The gray tabby seemed the perfect amount of company. She’s gone now, but she did see me through sickness and health. Now in the storm of election 2024, suddenly we’re subject to a political statement. Ohio Sen. JD Vance does not approve of us, good heavens! What to do? Take his cuts as a ...

The Black church and Generation Z

While perusing through updates on my LinkedIn page last week, I came across a post highlighting a thought-provoking feature from The New York Times’ national correspondent Clyde McGrady, who covers the influence of race and identity in American culture. The title of McGrady’s piece is “The Black Church Has a Gen-Z Issue: ‘They Don’t Come Into the Building Anymore.’” I thought about my recent columns on Gen Z and the church as I read his article. In February, I wrote about the “Gen Z Faith Pivot,” mentioning the 2023 revival at Asbury University in Kentucky. While I am ...

PRESS Act is needed now

Governments often chafe at the presence of a free press. The reason is simple: A robust and independent news media keeps a sharp eye on government and, when necessary, exposes abuse of power, corruption, incompetence and waste. Exposing such things depends, of course, not just on journalists but also on brave officials willing to sound the alarm about government misconduct. Even when their disclosures are clearly in the public interest, these whistle-blowers — or sources, in the journalistic parlance — often hide their identities to avoid punishment or retaliation. In this way, ...