Featured Commentary category, Page 46
Elwood Watson: The creep of Christian nationalism
Historically viewed as a fringe belief system, Christian nationalism has become a considerable force in American politics, particularly as it relates to the current Republican Party. A new survey from Public Religion Research Institute and the Brookings Institution revealed more than 50% of Republicans believe the country should aspire to...
Kevin Frazier: Voters need to ask the right questions
“That’s the wrong question.” In the most recent season of “True Detective,” Jodie Foster plays a detective in Alaska. Her character has a knack for pushing other officers to ask better questions about the complex case in their hands. Unsurprisingly, it annoys the heck out of her colleagues. Also unsurprisingly,...
Jennifer Bertetto: Preserving access to public information from public bodies
When journalists emphasize the importance of the Sunshine Act, some people might think we’re seeking special favors or a particular privilege — that we’re looking for more ways to “get dirt.” Nothing could be further from the truth, and here’s why: The Sunshine Act is about preserving public access to...
Michael Reagan: Steve Garvey and the miracle in California
A miracle occurred last week in California’s U.S. Senate primary race. In a deep blue state where Democratic voters outnumber Republicans 2-1, Steve Garvey, the former L.A. Dodger star, ran against three Democrats and came in a close second to Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff. Garvey, a conservative Republican, finished behind...
Jerry Brown and Ernest Moniz: ‘Oppenheimer’s’ best performance — reminding us that we live in dangerous times
On Oscar night, millions will tune in to see whether the captivating story about the race to create the world’s first nuclear weapon will take home an armload of Academy Awards. As we watch, we must remember this: No matter who lands a golden statuette on March 10, we will...
Mark Weisbrot: The GOP wouldn’t be fit to govern, even if Trump were to leave
What is the Republican Party today? Any answer has to start with Donald Trump. He has a grip on the party that is perhaps unprecedented in the modern era, leading some analysts to see it as a cult of personality. Many Republican leaders and elected officials who do not like...
Would Reagan recognize today’s Republican Party? Absolutely.
President Ronald Reagan is remembered as one of America’s greatest presidents as he oversaw the end of the Cold War, creating an exceptional period of peace and an unparalleled economic boom. Simply put, his policies made America safer and Americans more prosperous. Today, he has an almost mythical place in...
Vicki Crawford: The women who stood with Martin Luther King Jr. and sustained a movement for social change
Coretta Scott King is often remembered as a devoted wife and mother, yet she was also a committed activist in her own right. She was deeply involved with social justice causes before she met and married Martin Luther King Jr., and long after his death. Scott King served with civil...
Tricia Wachtendorf and James Kendra: 2.5 million displaced by disasters in 2023 tell story of recovery in America and who is vulnerable
People often think of disasters as great equalizers. After all, a hurricane, tornado or wildfire doesn’t discriminate against those in its path. But the consequences for those impacted are not “one-size-fits-all.” That’s evident in the U.S. Census Bureau’s newly released results from its national household surveys showing who was displaced...
Robert A. Strong: Supreme Court rules it’s unconstitutional for state governments to decide on Trump’s qualifications
When the Supreme Court ruled on March 4 that former President Donald Trump could appear on state presidential ballots for the 2024 election, it did not address an idea that seemed simple and compelling when Justice Brett Kavanaugh raised it during the Feb. 8 oral arguments in the case: “What...
John M. Hammond: Reining in pharmacy benefit managers
Julia Maruca’s reporting of issues facing pharmacies should help bring more attention to the subject of prescription benefit managers’ (PBMs) inordinate influence in the pharmaceutical marketplace. I believe there should be more investigation into the vertical integration of PBMs, health care insurance companies, pharmacies and specialty pharmacies, and I submit...
Salewa Ogunmefun: It’s time to make it easier to vote in the birthplace of democracy
Presidential primary election years are unique because they offer the opportunity to get a state-by-state look at the different ways elections are run across the country. In real time we can compare how various election policies make it easier or more difficult for eligible voters to cast their ballot. A...
Matt Smith, Darrin Kelly and Greg Bernarding: Seizing Western Pa.’s unique hydrogen opportunity
While proudly recognizing its industrial past — which helped to build our region and the modern world — Pittsburgh has emerged as a beacon of transformation primed to redefine America’s cleaner energy future. Think about it: President Biden’s plan to tackle climate change demands swift economy-wide decarbonization, creating and preserving...
Lynn Greenky: Publishing Taylor Swift’s flight information — stalking or protected free speech?
Jack Sweeney, a junior at the University of Central Florida, says the First Amendment gives him the right to publish publicly available information about the flight paths of private jets owned by the rich and famous — including Taylor Swift. Swift’s legal team — and many of her fans —...
Thomas Gilbert: Investing in Pa.’s outdoor economy
As every Pennsylvanian knows, and as those who visit or relocate here quickly discover, our commonwealth is blessed with abundant natural resources and outdoor recreation assets. With more than 86,000 miles of rivers and streams (second only to Alaska), Pennsylvania is one of the best places in the world for...
Dan DeBone: Shapiro proposal will fortify Westmoreland County transit system
The Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce recently hosted a joint press conference with Secretary of Transportation Mike Carroll, held to delve into a groundbreaking development that has the potential to redefine the public transit landscape in Pennsylvania. Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2024-25 budget proposal stands out as a pivotal moment, articulating...
Counterpoint: A false equivalence: Antisemitism on the right and left
Neo-Nazis recently participated in the Conservative Political Action Conference, one of the largest annual gatherings of Republicans, where Donald Trump has been the keynote speaker for the last seven years. While white supremacists, including Nick Fuentes, had previously been turned away from CPAC, this year they openly mingled with Republican...
Point: Time for US Jews to rethink their Democratic loyalties
I was a guest on a Dallas radio call-in program several years ago. One caller told me that after having given the matter considerable thought, he finally understood why most Jews were Democrats. “You vote for the Democrats,” he declared, “to show the rest of us that you’re not as...
Chris Heck: New federal paid leave policy efforts would benefit many
When Congress left session at the end of 2023, many potential areas for much-needed reform were left unresolved. One such area is the federal paid family leave policy. Last year was the 30-year anniversary of the passage of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which guaranteed protection for workers...
Cal Thomas: Congress wants to shut down? Dock their pay.
When the government shuts down the people responsible continue to receive their pay because they are considered “essential.” These include the president and members of Congress. It reminds me of when it snows in Washington (as opposed to the snow jobs we get all year from politicians). The guy on...
Joseph Regan: Act would help stop ambushing of our police
It’s never been more dangerous to be in law enforcement. In Pennsylvania and across the nation, ambush-style shootings of officers have become all too common. On Jan. 2, 2023, Brackenridge Police Chief Justin McIntire was ambushed while responding to an hours-long chase with a suspect who also shot and wounded...
Jonah Goldberg: Nikki Haley keeps losing — and revealing something important about Trump and Republicans
Celebrating his victory in the South Carolina primary Saturday, Donald Trump declared, “I have never seen the Republican Party so unified as it is right now.” It was an indisputable victory for Trump, particularly given that it was in the home state of his last remaining rival for the nomination,...
Elwood Watson: Women and the future of politics
It should probably come as little surprise that a majority of American millennial and Generation Z women identify as liberal. A Gallup poll released this month indicated the ideological gap between men and women across various generations has increased over the past few years and that young women today are...
Nathan Flood: It’s time for all Pennsylvanians to enjoy the digital age
For many across Pennsylvania, the easy access and availability of broadband technology and the ability to connect to the world from the comfort of our own homes or businesses are taken for granted. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case for everyone who lives or works in the commonwealth. In fact, in...
Michael Hiltzik: Disinformation is a public health crisis. Here’s how scientists and doctors are fighting it
In recent years, disinformation has seemed to be on an inexorable march across the scientific and medical landscape. Prominent politicians, up to and including the former president, have promoted useless drugs as supposed cures for covid-19. Partisan attacks on the safety and efficacy of covid vaccines have expanded into attacks...
