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.
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.
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.
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.
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”
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.
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.
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?’”
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”
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.
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”
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”
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”
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”
When hundreds of women gathered in San Antonio for Turning Point USA’s Women’s Leadership Summit, protesters assembled to denounce them and disrupt their conference. One speaker told protesters to be “obnoxious” and to “show your hate” as a man dressed as death chopped the air with a sickle. Another speaker said that they were just showing that the “hateful values” have no place in San Antonio as another man in a costume mimicked the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Below is an example of what happens when speakers feed this rage addiction. Continue reading “Protesters Swarm Pro-Life Speaker in San Antonio as Organizers Call for Them to “Show Your Hate””