Commentary

Comment: For Gen Z’s job hopes, we’re already in a recession

Those 20-24 face a jobless rate of 8.3 percent with little movement from officials to change that.

Comment: Polite but puzzled Canadians try to grasp bitter shift

Flummoxed by Trump’s ire and tariffs, Canadians brace for economic hardship forced by a one-time friend.

Comment: Speed limits aren’t a choice; nor should vaccines be

RFK Jr. is spewing childish libertarian nonsense in insisting vaccines are a ‘personal choice.’

Children play and look up at a large whale figure hanging from the ceiling at the Imagine Children’s Museum on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Comments: Trump cuts could starve nations’ museums, libraries

Gutting a museum and library agency could end grant funding and aid to communities’ centers of learning.

Children play and look up at a large whale figure hanging from the ceiling at the Imagine Children’s Museum on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Comment: Boost cost-effective care for disabled adults

Supported Living care improves the lives of families. It needs the state’s support from Medicaid.

Comment: County leadership focused on families, wellness

Roundtable discussions helped the council identify initiatives for families and health in communities.

Comment: Anti-vax culture war on mRNA may end up costing lives

False theories are discouraging research and prompting legislation to block valuable vaccines.

Comment: DOGE’s real goal is to privatize government services

And it will be red states and rural areas that will pay more for commercial service for mail and more.

Comment: Roberts had to chastise Trump for threat to judge

Calling for the impeachment of judges over rulings has a long history, and it’s why the chief justice spoke up.

Comment: ‘Forced joy’ is alienating employees and customers

Starbucks baristas must now doodle greetings on cups. It’s the wrong way to win engagement.

Comment: Have lawmakers forgotten they have constituents?

Some, particularly in the GOP, are begging out of town halls. Others are trying to limit initiatives.

Comment: How long can Musk count on being White House fixture?

With Musk’s popularity suffering from his DOGE cuts, his money may not keep him in Trump’s good graces.

Comment: Jury’s still out on economy, except for road report

Regardless of opinions on the eventual strength of the U.S. economy, getting there will be bumpy.

Comment: Learning costs of ignoring environment the hard way

EPA chief Lee Zeldin can’t flip a switch on protections, but we’ll lose precious momentum on climate.

Comment: What promise to ‘review the data’ could mean for health

Noncommittal responses from the FDA nominee show a willingness to follow Trump’s whims, not science.

FILE — Smog in the Manhattan borough of New York on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24, 1966. A century ago, a well-ventilated building could be a bulwark against disease, but with the arrival of COVID-19, when buildings could barely breathe, Americans gained a renewed appreciation for the health benefits of clean air. (Neal Boenzi/The New York Times)

Comment: What a loss of clean air rules could cost us

For more than 50 years, the rules have been a benefit to the economy as much as Americans’ health.

FILE — Smog in the Manhattan borough of New York on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24, 1966. A century ago, a well-ventilated building could be a bulwark against disease, but with the arrival of COVID-19, when buildings could barely breathe, Americans gained a renewed appreciation for the health benefits of clean air. (Neal Boenzi/The New York Times)

Comment: Cap on rent would work against better housing supply

The state doesn’t need price controls; it needs to help builders create a supply that eases costs.

Comment: County must balance needs for housing and habitat

A proposed policy for the county’s critical areas rules sticks with standards that are working well.

Comment: County’s veterans, others need mesothelioma registry

The disease, caused by asbestos exposure, can affect veterans and others. A registry would improve care.

Comment: Recession isn’t a certainty, but it would fit pattern

All but one GOP president had to deal with recessions. Trump seems keen to create conditions for one.