Academia

The Turley-Wolfson Debate on Institutional Neutrality in Higher Education

I just returned from the University of Wyoming, where I debated the President of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) Todd Wolfson over the need for colleges and universities to maintain institutional neutrality. The debate was organized by the Steamboat Institute and was live-streamed. Given the interest in the debate and the polling results below, I am hopeful that we can prevail in this existential battle for higher education. Steamboat has now posted the debate in case you would like to hear the arguments on both sides of this issue.

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Academia, Politics, Society

Chicago Teachers Seek Billions in Special Session for “What We Are Owed”

The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) has long been one of the most radical labor organizations in the country from its insistence on teachers being subsidized in political protests to members praising the former Communist regime in Venezuela. Now, with the Illinois Federation of Teachers, the CTU is demanding yet another massive public infusion of money despite the dismal performance of its members in actually improving scores for Chicago children. They are calling for a special session and billions in more funding. Continue reading “Chicago Teachers Seek Billions in Special Session for “What We Are Owed”” →

Bizarre, Society

JPMorgan Executive Identified and Fired in Trash Can Viral Video

The viral video of a woman stealing a trash can and dumping its contents after the Knicks’ victory has led to her termination.  Angie Baez, 40, was the “Executive Director of Community and Industry Engagement for Card and Connected Commerce” for JPMorgan Chase. She was shown in a video dumping trash on the ground to steal a Knicks-colored trash can after the NBA Finals. JPMorgan apparently concluded that this was neither the publicity nor the type of Community Engagement they are seeking. Continue reading “JPMorgan Executive Identified and Fired in Trash Can Viral Video” →

Academia, Free Speech

Psychology Journal Under Fire for Retracting Publication Challenging Claims of Racism

We have previously discussed academic journals canceling publications that challenge the orthodox views of mainstream scholars. The latest such example can be found in the Journal of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists, which pulled the 2025 article of Arna Mitchell who questioned claims that psychology as a field is a tool of “white power.” The editors reportedly declared that such conclusions are “inconsistent” with the publication’s “values.” Continue reading “Psychology Journal Under Fire for Retracting Publication Challenging Claims of Racism” →

Constitutional Law, Courts, Politics, Supreme Court

The Burden of History: Justice Jackson’s Curious Call to Overturn Bruen
Columns, Constitutional Law, Courts, Politics

“F… Around and Find Out”: Philly D.A. Krasner’s Campaign Slogan Comes Back to Haunt Him
YouTube Screengrab

Below is my column in The Hill on the scathing rebuke of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner by the state Supreme Court. Krasner ran for reelection on the slogan “F–k Around and Find Out.” He just found out…

Here is the column: Continue reading ““F… Around and Find Out”: Philly D.A. Krasner’s Campaign Slogan Comes Back to Haunt Him” →

Uncategorized

Scottish Court Rules Against Biological Males Being Held in Women’s Prisons

There is a major ruling in Scotland where a court declared that it is generally unlawful to house a transgender biological male in a women’s prison. The decision follows the ruling of the top UK court that a woman is defined by her biological gender at birth. The timing is notable as we await a couple of transgender rulings from our own Supreme Court this week. The decisions also highlight the anomaly of police continuing to arrest people who object to transgender policies under the aggressive anti-free speech laws in the United Kingdom. Continue reading “Scottish Court Rules Against Biological Males Being Held in Women’s Prisons” →

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.

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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 LGBTQ 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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