Why student debt relief isn’t elitist
Embarrassing admission: I have been watching the TV show “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.” I’m not, in general, a fan of the superhero genre; but after “Orphan Black” I’ll watch anything starring Tatiana Maslany.
A Texas federal judge makes an indefensible ruling
Mark Pittman, put on the federal bench in Fort Worth by Donald Trump, thinks that it’s just not constitutional to limit the sale of handguns to people age 21 and older. In an opinion issued Thursday agreeing with a gun group that sued to knock out Texas’ eminently sound prohibition on 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds from having pistols, Pittman writes that he can’t find an age cutoff in the sparse language of the Second Amendment.
Biden is right to fortify DACA, but America needs a legislative solution
There’s hardly been a more consequential law for immigration policy over the past several years than the Administrative Procedure Act, which has been used against both the Trump and Biden administrations to great effect by those charging that the federal government is making decisions capriciously.
Biden’s student loan wealth transfer
Another day, another great wealth transfer.
Forgiving student loans is a costly mistake
With Wednesday’s long-awaited announcement forgiving the debts of certain student borrowers, President Joe Biden hopes to give Democrats a boost in this fall’s midterm elections. Whatever the short-term political gains, the decision is a costly mistake.
The social anxiety of social media has celebrities ‘quiet quitting.’ Here’s why
Maybe we should start calling it social-anxiety media.
Red tape holding up renewable energy projects
Democrats at the state and national levels have embraced a slew of deadlines to hasten their goal of a renewable energy future.
Agriculture must go back to its eco-friendly roots
When I have trouble growing something, I ask my grandma.
Which dog breeds are the least healthy? These eight might top the list
All caring guardians want the same thing for our dogs: a long, healthy, happy life. But even with excellent care, certain breeds are more likely to have you trekking to the vet’s office than to the dog park. While all “purebred” dogs are predisposed to genetic conditions that cause discomfort and disability, one group stands out from the rest.
National call system for mental health crises is having its own crisis
The newly established 988 national hotline, a 911-style emergency call system for people contemplating suicide or other mental health crises, has hit a pretty major acceptance snag. The system is barely a month old, yet there’s already a movement afoot to boycott it.
Asian American history must be taught in schools
Between March 2020 and March 2022, there were 11,400 self-reported hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across the country.
Vaccines are safe. So why shouldn’t teens be able to get them on their own?
California teenagers should have the right to protect their health by receiving approved vaccines without parental consent or knowledge. But in many cases, they do not. State law allows minors ages 12 and older to consent to various reproductive and preventive health treatments, including abortions, vaccines for HPV and other sexually transmitted diseases and mental healthcare. But they are not allowed to consent to virtually all other vaccines, including for COVID-19, putting them at personal risk and adding another barrier to community disease prevention.
The way phones affect my students in the classroom has me worried about their futures
“We know TikTok is bad for us, but it’s better than the real world.”
Pence highlights how abnormal his party has become
There was a time, not that long ago, when it wouldn’t have been major news for a top Republican to say the party should respect law enforcement and cooperate with a congressional investigation. In that sense, the buzz over former Vice President Mike Pence’s defense this week of the FBI, and his suggestion he might be willing to testify before the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol, illustrates just how radical and lawless too many other Republicans have become in the Trump era.
Arrogant Liz Cheney and her White House fantasy crushed by voters
Shine up that “Profile in Courage” award — Liz Cheney and her massive ego will be along soon to claim it.
Irwin: Reading is FUNdamental
Ever since my mother bought the book, “Teaching Your Baby to Read,” I was destined to be a reader. I was the girl who every week brought home a big stack of books from the town library. Today, piles of books surround me at work and at home.
How schools can help save the world
As schools reopen around the country, they could take a page out of the “greatest generation’s” lesson plan — and help save the world.
A left-leaning 66-year-old searches for balance in unbalanced times
In the Orwellian universe in which we now marinate, that uncomfortable reality in which rumors seamlessly transform into facts, and disinformation invades our bloodstream like a mutant virus, I wonder what the proper balance is while cowering under the bed and wearing a helmet, face mask and noise-cancelling headphones.
Coming to the US shouldn’t be this hard
A Colombian family hoping to visit Disney World right now might have to wait more than two years to get their visas. The same goes for a Nigerian investor looking to close a funding round in Silicon Valley. Around the world, delays in visa processing are preventing scores of foreigners from coming to the U.S. — hurting the economy, sapping investment and undermining America’s image. Fixing the problem demands a more forceful and creative response than the U.S. government has mustered thus far.
With normal comments, Pence highlights how abnormal his party has become
There was a time, not that long ago, when it wouldn’t have been major news for a top Republican to say the party should respect law enforcement and cooperate with a congressional investigation. In that sense, the buzz over former Vice President Mike Pence’s defense this week of the FBI, and his suggestion he might be willing to testify before the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 assault on the Capitol, illustrates just how radical and lawless too many other Republicans have become in the Trump era.