Elections in the 21st century are no longer shaped only by campaign speeches, party loyalty, or TV debates. Increasingly, they are being shaped by something quieter but far more powerful: where people choose to live. Millions of Americans are relocating every year — for jobs, affordability, lifestyle, and values — and in doing so, they are redrawing the political map of the … [Read more...] about Why Where People Move Matters in 21st-Century Elections
Meet two sides of the antisemitic coin
by Christine Flowers I’ve received a few letters from readers over the past few weeks asking me why I keep writing about antisemitism. One was a simple question, with no negative intent. The others run the gamut between “stop carrying water for the Jews” to “anti-Zionism isn’t Jew hatred so stop it” to “you’re a two-note moron: abortion and the Jews.” That’s not … [Read more...] about Meet two sides of the antisemitic coin
Gay of Hormuz (Cartoon and Column)
And this is why we need $200 billion and more marines First, Donald Trump insults our allies and verbally attacks them. He tells them that they're not needed, he bullies them, and even threatens to invade one of them. Then, he starts a war, and he asks for their help. When they refuse, he says we don't need them anyway. And now, he says they're cowards for not helping him in … [Read more...] about Gay of Hormuz (Cartoon and Column)
HBO’s ‘The Pitt’ nails how hospital cyberattacks create chaos, endanger patients and disrupt critical care
Jeffrey Tully, University of California, San Diego and Christian Dameff, University of California, San Diego HBO Max’s enormously popular television series “The Pitt” is receiving plaudits for its realistic depiction of the trials and tribulations of health care in an urban emergency room. Now in its second season, which premiered on Jan. 8, 2026, the show follows Dr. … [Read more...] about HBO’s ‘The Pitt’ nails how hospital cyberattacks create chaos, endanger patients and disrupt critical care
BIPARTISAN CONDEMNATION FOR TRUMP’S “DISGUSTING” POST CELEBRATING ROBERT MUELLER’S DEATH
Vile? Disgusting? A reflection of a "sick" individual who happens to be President? Donald Trump has ignited a firestorm of bipartisan condemnation over his gleeful response to the death of former FBI Director and special counsel Robert Mueller. The former Vietnam War veteran led the investigation into into Trump, who later claimed he was exonerated. His reaction to … [Read more...] about BIPARTISAN CONDEMNATION FOR TRUMP’S “DISGUSTING” POST CELEBRATING ROBERT MUELLER’S DEATH
MAGA’s dilemma as Trump’s needless war continues
by Elwood Watson The undefined war the U.S. and Israel are fighting in Iran has reached its third week, with no signs of stopping. Social media continues to be dominated by riveting images of exploding oil tankers and refineries, alarmingly skyrocketing prices, and the remains of an annihilated Iranian elementary school. Leaders and military experts have provided no … [Read more...] about MAGA’s dilemma as Trump’s needless war continues
Overconfidence is how wars are lost — lessons from Vietnam, Afghanistan and Ukraine for the war in Iran were ignored
Plumes of smoke and fire rise after debris from an intercepted Iranian drone struck an oil facility, according to authorities, in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, on March 14, 2026. AP Photo/Altaf Qadri Monica Duffy Toft, Tufts University Wars are rarely lost first on the battlefield. They are lost in leaders’ minds ? when leaders misread … [Read more...] about Overconfidence is how wars are lost — lessons from Vietnam, Afghanistan and Ukraine for the war in Iran were ignored
More Forever Wars
Is this exactly what MAGA voted for? I drew a local cartoon today for the Fredericksburg Advance, which you will see Sunday. Since I don't usually draw a national cartoon on Fridays when I'm drawing for the Advance, consider this a bonus cartoon. You have heard MAGAts say, “This is exactly what I voted for” as you watch law-abiding immigrants being thrown into … [Read more...] about More Forever Wars
Targeting of energy facilities turned Iran war into worst-case scenario for Gulf states
A view of the liquefied natural gas production at the Ras Laffan facility in Qatar. Stringer/picture alliance via Getty Images Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Rice University The U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran took a dangerous turn on March 18, 2026, with tit-for-tat strikes on critical energy infrastructure that amount to the most … [Read more...] about Targeting of energy facilities turned Iran war into worst-case scenario for Gulf states
What Cesar Chavez Cost the Movement
by Matt Garcia His Crimes Against Women and His 'Too Big to Fail' Persona Created Immeasurable Harm Those who quote Shakespeare's Julius Caesar often mistake “Et tu, Brute?” as the dictator’s final line, as Caesar realizes his friend, Marcus Junius Brutus, has stabbed him. With vulgar Caesars dominating the news, from Donald Trump to Cesar Chavez, perhaps Caesar’s actual … [Read more...] about What Cesar Chavez Cost the Movement
How hatred of Jews became a common ground for Islamic terrorists and left-wing extremists, fueling domestic terrorism
A woman gathers children as law enforcement responds at a Michigan synagogue after an assailant drove a vehicle into the building on March 12, 2026. AP Photo/Corey Williams Arie Perliger, UMass Lowell Every major escalation in the Middle East sends shock waves far beyond the region. In the United States, those shock waves arrive not as … [Read more...] about How hatred of Jews became a common ground for Islamic terrorists and left-wing extremists, fueling domestic terrorism
Trump’s warflation hurting everyone, including his supporters
Let’s rewind the clock a few weeks and revisit Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech, because one particular passage strikes me in hindsight as delectably delicious: “Gasoline, which reached a peak of over $6 a gallon in some states under my predecessor, is now below $2.30 a gallon in most states. And in some places, $1.99 a gallon. And when I visited the great state of … [Read more...] about Trump’s warflation hurting everyone, including his supporters
Trump’s Iran Like-Mindedness with a Former President
Twice on Monday, Trump claimed that he had spoken to one of his predecessors about the Iran war and that this former president told him privately that he wished he had been the one to attack Iran. At a lunch for Kennedy Center board members, Trump said, “I’ve spoken to a certain president — who I like, actually. A past president, former president, he said: ‘I wish I did it. … [Read more...] about Trump’s Iran Like-Mindedness with a Former President
Trump Claims Former President Praised His Iran War; All Four Deny Contact
President Donald Trump on Monday said he had spoken with a former U.S. president who privately expressed regret over not taking similar military action against Iran. Questions quickly arose about which former president he was referring to. However, aides to all four living former presidents later denied that any such conversation had taken place.During a White House press … [Read more...] about Trump Claims Former President Praised His Iran War; All Four Deny Contact
Trump’s Contradictory Policies
The Trump administration is promoting policies whose goals are in conflict, regarding use of fossil fuels, the elimination of renewable energy sources and war with Iran. Iran alone produces 3.5 to 4.5 million barrels of oil daily, amounting to 3.5 to 4.5 percent of the world’s oil output. This does not sound like much, but with the utilization of oil so tight, Iran’s production … [Read more...] about Trump’s Contradictory Policies
Iran’s ruling structure explained
People gather in a rally to support Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the successor to his late father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as supreme leader, in Tehran, Iran, on March 9, 2026. AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, File Eric Lob, Florida International University Iran’s new ruler is already a marked man. U.S. President Donald Trump has said Mojtaba … [Read more...] about Iran’s ruling structure explained
DID TRUMP’S GUT FAIL HIM ON THE US-ISRAEL IRAN WAR? INSTINCT, STRATEGY AND THE RISKS OF ESCALATION
Harry Cohen, the late founder and autocratic president of Warner Brothers, once said he had a way of judging whether a movie would be a success: "I have a foolproof device for judging a picture," he said. "If my fanny squirms, it's bad. If my fanny doesn't squirm, it's good. It's as simple as that." Donald Trump recently said the war will Iran will be over "when I feel it … [Read more...] about DID TRUMP’S GUT FAIL HIM ON THE US-ISRAEL IRAN WAR? INSTINCT, STRATEGY AND THE RISKS OF ESCALATION
Marco Rubio Literally Can’t Fill Trump’s Shoes
Secretary of State Marco Rubio can't fill Donald Trump's shoes. Literally. It seems Donald Trump loved a brand of shoes, gifted them to his advisors and many now feel compelled to wear them to work whether they like them or not. Rubio was then photographed wearing a pair of oversized shoes which set off a gleeful blizzard of social media derision. The New … [Read more...] about Marco Rubio Literally Can’t Fill Trump’s Shoes
Vicious Iranian regime getting what it deserves
By Christine Flowers Years ago, when I first started to handle asylum cases, I had a consultation with a man from Iran who managed to get tourist visas for himself, his wife and his two young daughters. This was 20 years after the Shah had been deposed and the Ayatollah Khomeini and his thugs had kidnapped Americans at our consulate in Tehran, and 16 years after Iran … [Read more...] about Vicious Iranian regime getting what it deserves
47 years of deep mistrust and misperception paved the way to war between Iran and the US — and complicate any negotiations
Trust between Iran and the United States was shattered long ago. Sean Gladwell, Moment/Getty Images Mehrzad Boroujerdi, Missouri University of Science and Technology It has been said that trust is like glass: Once it is shattered, nothing will ever be the same. In the case of the enduring hostility between the Islamic Republic of Iran and … [Read more...] about 47 years of deep mistrust and misperception paved the way to war between Iran and the US — and complicate any negotiations