Constitutional Law, Courts

Wisconsin Supreme Court Strikes Down Race-Based Scholarships as Unconstitutional

The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down a state-funded scholarship program that awarded financial aid based on the race of college students. The Democrat-controlled court followed the precedent laid out by the United States Supreme Court in finding that Gov. Tony Evers and the state were violating the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution. Two of the most liberal justices, however, wrote a concurrence denouncing the bar on the use of race for such scholarships. If Democrats are able to pack the Supreme Court as demanded by many party leaders, this concurrence is an example of the likely changes that a packed court will bring in reversing anti-discrimination and other rulings.

Continue reading “Wisconsin Supreme Court Strikes Down Race-Based Scholarships as Unconstitutional” →

Academia, Politics

The ABCs of Educational Success: Arkansas Shows Continued Testing Improvements From Reforms

For years, I have been writing about the decline of public education in the United States. The political power of teachers’ unions led to bloated budgets as schools pursued ideological agendas over educational advancements. Despite massive budgets, scores of students in major cities have continued to plummet or remain at the same dismal levels. Now, Arkansas has shown what is possible if officials put education first. Scores in the state have soared after the implementation of reforms that many of us have advocated for years. It also shows that state governments, not the federal government, are critical to reversing our slide in educational performance as the Administration moves toward eliminating the Department of Education.

Continue reading “The ABCs of Educational Success: Arkansas Shows Continued Testing Improvements From Reforms” →

Academia, Politics

Tossed or Chopped? Hofstra Professor Faces Complaint Over Calling Colleague’s Remarks “Word Salad”

Calling Kamala Harris. Both Democrats and Republicans have often criticized the former Vice President for her propensity to create “word salad” responses to questions. Hofstra University Professor Richard Himelfarb is now under investigation for leveling the same criticism against a colleague’s remarks in a faculty meeting. After Himelfarb used the common term to criticize a colleague, Professor Santiago Slabodsky, chair of the Jewish studies program, he was hit with a formal complaint. Slabodsky has refused to drop his complaint even after Himelfarb apologized, saying that the comment discriminated against his accent, native language, and Latino identity in violation of Title VII.

In culinary terms, the question is now whether the complaint will be tossed or Himelfarb chopped over a simple “word salad” reference.

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Politics

Gay Power: California Certifies LGBT Companies for Preferential Treatment in Energy Contracts
The City Journal has an interesting article exploring California’s mandated preference for gay businesses in the energy industry. If the state hits its target, “LGBT-owned businesses” will receive $633 million in contracts. Putting aside the imposition of such agendas on companies at a time of rising energy costs, the certification process for being an LGBT business is astonishing.

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Criminal law, Politics

“The Impact was Devastating”: Chicago’s Cross Burning Found to be Set by Liberal, Anti-Trump Protester

After the Southern Poverty Law Center scandal of actually funding and encouraging racist protests, it appears that at least one individual has created his own orchestrated racist incident. In Chicago (where Jussie Smollett committed his infamous racist hoax), a burning cross was denounced by Mayor Brandon Johnson as a sign of the racism in society. Johnson, however, refused to address the fact that the cross burning was actually the work of an anti-Trump liberal student. University of Illinois senior Merlin Lu said it was never intended as a racist symbol, but the question is whether it could still be charged as a hate crime.

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Justice, Lawyering, Politics

“Stupid, Stupid, Stupid”: Justice Department Memo Further Tarnishes Record of Merrick Garland

Internal emails were uncovered recently that cast a new, negative light on Attorney General Merrick Garland’s record in targeting parents over school board controversies. The communications show that various Justice officials raised alarms over the effort pushed by Democratic allies and the National Association for School Boards. Career officials condemned the Biden Administration proposal by objecting that “If they do this, they might as well rename the damn thing the Anti-MAGA Task Force.” Continue reading ““Stupid, Stupid, Stupid”: Justice Department Memo Further Tarnishes Record of Merrick Garland” →

Politics

“By Any Means Necessary”: Candidate Struck from Alaska Ballot Over Alleged Democratic Dirty Trick

There is an interesting controversy in Alaska where an election official just disqualified a candidate over his name. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) is in what is considered a close race with Democratic former Rep. Mary Peltola. The seat is viewed as critical to the Democrats’ retaking power. The race was thrown into disarray when a retired teacher named Dan Sullivan, who had no connection to the GOP but did have connections to Democratic operatives, got on the ballot. The alleged dirty trick by Democratic and Peltola supporters would have split Sullivan’s vote through sheer confusion. Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher disqualified Dan J. Sullivan, putting an end to it this week.

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Travel Blog

The Glory of St. Pat’s

I am on my way back to New York this morning, where I will be discussing Rage and the Republic as this year’s keynote speaker at the Milton Friedman Dinner at the historic Union Club. I wanted to share a few photos from last week’s book event when I visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral. For those who have not done so, it is a glorious building. I rarely go to New York without popping into this masterpiece.

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Columns, Politics

Post-Platner Democrats Must Ask: ‘Are We the baddies?’

Below is my column in The Hill on the Democratic establishment and media rallying around Graham Platner. As Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has repeatedly stressed, Platner is needed for them to retake power. The allegations of domestic abuse, the Nazi tattoo, and other controversies are secondary to that single overwhelming goal. The question is, when they take power by any means necessary, what will they be other than the majority?

Here is the column: Continue reading “Post-Platner Democrats Must Ask: ‘Are We the baddies?’” →

Constitutional Law, Courts, Politics

“Dangerous Precedent of Censorship and Sanitization”: Judge Enjoins Removal of Slavery and Climate Displays

George Santayana famously said that those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. The same is true for judicial overreach. Those judges who yield to the temptation to counter policies that are not to their liking are likely to repeat such excesses of power. That is why the recent decision of U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley in Boston is so concerning. While there are good-faith reasons why some have objected to the removal of slavery and climate change exhibits from national parks and monuments, this is not about the merits but the authority to make such changes. Kelley’s recent injunction smacks of judicial excess rather than measured review. Continue reading ““Dangerous Precedent of Censorship and Sanitization”: Judge Enjoins Removal of Slavery and Climate Displays” →

Constitutional Law, Courts, Politics, Supreme Court

Drinking the Court-Packing Kool-Aid: Buttigieg Joins the Calls to Take Over the Supreme Court

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg apparently got the message this week that he cannot hope to win the Democratic nomination without promising radical measures, including the packing of the Supreme Court. After denouncing the current Court as “rogue” for not ruling as the left has demanded, Buttigieg endorsed the plan of Democrats like Sen. Elizabeth Warren to pack the Court to reverse adverse constitutional interpretations.

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Media, Politics

“It’s Just Me”: The New Hunter Biden Seems Strikingly Like the Old Hunter Biden

Hunter Biden is once again reinventing himself with the help of an ever-enabling media and the Democratic establishment. The media is full of reports that people are rediscovering Hunter and finding him strikingly honest and refreshing. In his pitch, he assures viewers that now “it’s just me” and not some team of advisers. The problem is that, for some of us who have been critics of the Bidens for decades, there is nothing new about the new Hunter other than a podcast audience. Continue reading ““It’s Just Me”: The New Hunter Biden Seems Strikingly Like the Old Hunter Biden” →

Academia, Politics

“Knock Them Out”: AAUP and Mellon Foundation Accused of Targeting Civics Centers

There is an alarming media report about an effort by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) to target civics programs with the help of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. It is only the latest accusation of political bias at the AAUP under President Todd Wolfson. I will be debating Dr. Wolfson on the value of institutional neutrality on June 23. Continue reading ““Knock Them Out”: AAUP and Mellon Foundation Accused of Targeting Civics Centers” →

Columns, Media, Politics

“Not Like Classic Abuse Allegations”: NYT Writer Tries a Classic Coke Pitch for Platner

Some people just like classic Coke. Others insisted on the original Reese’s recipe.  New York Times writer Jodi Kantor went on CNN to explain why Democrats can vote for Maine senatorial candidate Graham Platner despite multiple women coming forward to denounce him: this is really not the classic Me Too allegations that Kantor and others seem to prefer for outrage. Continue reading ““Not Like Classic Abuse Allegations”: NYT Writer Tries a Classic Coke Pitch for Platner” →

Free Speech, International

Merkel Receives the First European Order of Merit and Repeats Call for Crackdown on Free Speech

The European Union recently announced the first recipients of its new European Order of Merit, the organization’s highest award. The headliner was Angela Merkel, former Federal Chancellor of Germany, who indeed personifies the European Union for both her fans and her critics. For many years, some of us have criticized Merkel as one of the leading forces behind European censorship efforts that have eviscerated the “Indispensable Right.” Not surprisingly, Merkel called for more censorship and attacks on free speech to a thrilled audience of EU bureaucrats and globalists. Continue reading “Merkel Receives the First European Order of Merit and Repeats Call for Crackdown on Free Speech” →