Columnist

Burke: Lies, damn lies and weasel words; and how to spot them

Whether it’s advertising or a certain president’s statements, the intent is to avoid the truth.

Dowd: Networks cave, Trump profits and satirists feast

Trump may have thought he had won when Colbert was fired, but then an episode of ‘South Park’ ran.

Douthat: Israel’s cause is righteous; its war has become unjust

Israel’s choices in war have resulted in starving children; it must make a different choice.

Friedman: New York mayoral candidate needs a different slogan

Better yet, what he needs to do is be a convener of voices for peace, rather than a commentator.

Harrop: We should have taken Paine’s ‘Common Sense’ on Kennedys

What has hereditary succession gotten us but name plaques and a health secretary with a brain worm.

Douthat: If Trump doesn’t control MAGA, who will when he’s done?

He may insist he makes the decisions, but Trump reads MAGA first for much of what passes for policy.

Schwab: Is Epstein saga showing MAGA what Trump thinks of them?

In trying to divert attention from the scandal, Trump reveals it’s about what benefits him, not them.

Goldberg: A movie about the year American went fully beserk

‘Eddington’ is a rare story about covid that is as unnerving as living through the pandemic was.

Welch: State carbon auctions’ billions a costly climate illusion

Too little of the revenue is being used to reduce air pollution while costs are passed down to consumers.

Douthat: Who’s winning the latest world war?

America’s success has seen ebbs and flows in recent years, while China bides its time and builds strength.

Saunders: So what if cuts to public radio, TV were small potatoes?

Just because it alone won’t balance the budget, doesn’t mean that cuts weren’t justified.

Harrop: Will America ever recover from what Trump has wrought?

Pundits and psychiatrists can debate why. We need to answer whether we can restore what is being lost.

Schwab: Rosie O’Donnell, immigrants and other Epstein distractions

MAGA puts up with the outrages because empathy is reserved only for their own prejudices.

Dowd: Trump’s good-looking Cabinet making him look bad

Trump’s toadies are keeping the truth from him and making decisions on their own that dog the president.

Goldberg: Why Nebraska may make GOP pay for its awful bill

It will be tough for Democrats to win the Senate, but an independent union leader could tip the balance.

Saunders: Considering attacks from left, ICE agents must mask

It’s not ideal, but with physical attacks against agents up 700%, the precaution is understandable.

Tufekci: Link between flood warnings and people wasn’t there

What might have saved many in Texas was a NWS coordinator position eliminated in the DOGE cuts.

Tufekci: ‘Garbage in, garbage out’ behind AI’s Nazi meltdown

That Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot defaulted to internet hate speech is concerning. Our acceptance is scarier.

Harrop: Trump Country should brace for less federal disaster aid

Red states have been among the largest recipients of FEMA aid. Trump says he’ll end that help.

Schwab: Yes, your Medicaid’s gone but you can gloat over gators

What Trump is taking from the social safety net, he’s adding to the cruelty against working immigrants.