Archive
Right Now, Trump Can Start a Nuclear War
Right now, Donald Trump could start a nuclear war on a whim, and no one could stop him. Under any circumstances, the prospect of nuclear war is terrifying, the deadly consequences irreversible. Yet with a single order, the president — any president — could effectively...
A Movement for ‘Sanctuary Campuses’ Takes Shape
With spring midterms on the horizon, this time of year is often stressful enough for college students. Yet for some students this year, the stress goes far beyond the normal pressures of tests and quizzes. For many immigrant students and their families, it's now an...
The President Is Fooling Himself. Is He Fooling Us, Too?
Some people who attain high public office grow in their position of trust. Some, however, just bloat. Bloat has been on spectacular display in the first months of Donald Trump's presidential tenure. He had a disastrous start, choosing a cabinet and staff mostly made...
Trump’s Claims Are All Wet
In OtherWords: March 8, 2017
Donald Trump has finally rolled out his proposal for how to spend our tax dollars. The short version? Lots more money for the military, lots of tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, and less for pretty much everything else. This week in OtherWords, my colleagues Josh...
Getting That Secure Feeling Yet?
Millions of Americans are feeling uneasy, disgruntled, and insecure. That message sounded loud and clear throughout our turbulent election year. The Trump administration's latest budget proposal isn't likely to change that. It comes down to this: lots more money — $54...
Getting the Brush-off on Health
The Republicans just introduced a new plan to "repeal and replace" the Affordable Care Act, or ACA — aka Obamacare. The rollout came after many members of Congress caught an earful from constituents trying to stop them. Although I’ve voted for people in both parties...
A Double Deuce to Working Families (and Math)
The political theater that passes for serious policy debate is about to run into an unfortunate reality as Donald Trump’s budget plan comes face to face with its arch-nemesis: arithmetic. It's impossible to cut taxes, increase spending, and balance the budget. That’s...
The Press Is Essential, Whether Presidents Like It or Not
The U.S. has a robust, free, and fair media. No wonder that makes Donald Trump angry. Trump has such notoriously thin skin that some have taken to calling him Trumplethinskin. His staff says he watches TV and reads the news obsessively, looking for praise for himself....
Magical Thinking on Health Care
Donald Trump, the amazing wunderkind of global luxury living — and now our nation's phantasmagoric, fast-charging president — is proving to be a legislative magician. In his campaign, Trump's number one promise was that he would "immediately" repeal the entirety of...
