Commentary

Longshoremen offload containers from the Queen B at Port Manatee in Palmetto, Fla., April 1, 2025. Businesses that had ordered the cargo on the vessel were doing all they could to get their purchases through U.S. customs before Wednesday, to ensure that they would not have to pay the new, higher levies. (Scott McIntyre/The New York Times)

Comment: Trading tariffs for global uncertainty

What the highest tariffs in decades could mean for U.S. maufacturing, jobs and the economy.

Longshoremen offload containers from the Queen B at Port Manatee in Palmetto, Fla., April 1, 2025. Businesses that had ordered the cargo on the vessel were doing all they could to get their purchases through U.S. customs before Wednesday, to ensure that they would not have to pay the new, higher levies. (Scott McIntyre/The New York Times)

Comment: Back bold plans to balance state budget without cuts

State lawmakers have proposed new revenues that fund schools and other work and make taxes more fair.

Comment: Federal funding cuts threaten fight against global disease

Diseases such as TB are easily treated. Withholding aid unnecessarily threatens lives around the world.

Comment: Proposal can ensure patients don’t get surprise bills

Legislation in Olympia would add emphasis to federal price transparency laws for hospital services.

Comment: Drug companies need to speak up about RFK Jr.’s FDA

With recent moves, companies are waking up to the fact that things are bad and could get worse.

Comment: Voters trumped cash in Wisconsin; keep it that way

Elon Musk’s $20 million to back a candidate failed. Strengthen laws to prevent campaigning by bribery.

Comment: Can we blame Mercator for Trump’s Greenland obsession?

To simplify his map, the cartographer drew Greenland as immense, when it’s smaller than Algeria.

Comment: An ‘impossible trinity’ of goals for Trump’s tariffs

Trump wants revenue, manufacturing and foreign policy wins; he can’t get all three, if any.

Comment: What two Florida congressional races could reveal

Even if the GOP keeps two House seats, slim margins could indicate how the midterms might go.

Comment: Hegseth isn’t unholding standards he vowed he would

Veterans are among the most critical of the Defense secretary for his lapse of security and protocol.

Comment: Here’s the good USAID did and what it won’t do now

It’s aid programs allowed people to move on during and after upheaval, as we would do for any neighbor.

Comment: Has U.S. laid out ‘unwelcome’ mat for foreign tourists?

Horror stories of detained visitors are adding to apprehensions regarding travel to the U.S.

on a black background - a white plaster figurine without a head with a sense of thoughtfulness. High quality photo

Comment: What’s most critical to ‘critical thinking’? History

Without a strong grasp of history, there’s no basis for comparing information, false or otherwise.

on a black background - a white plaster figurine without a head with a sense of thoughtfulness. High quality photo

Comment: State Senate Democrats’ tax plan built on fantasy

It takes chances with tax increases that could cost jobs and burden property taxpayers.

Comment: What does South County Fire owe Edmonds taxpayers?

A portion of aid car fees were to be provided to the city. What does this mean for the RFA vote?

Comment: Women shouldn’t stay quiet about menopause and more

Providers and women themselves must speak up to assure better care for a range of health issues.

Comment: Signal fiasco too big to be dismissed as a ‘glitch’

It’s clear that attack plans were shared in an unsecured group chat. Denial won’t change the threat posed.

Comment: ‘Adolescence’ should wake us to plight of boys

The Netflix series delves into how boys and young men have fallen for toxic role models on social media.

Comment: Governor should reconsider pulling fisheries expert

Gov. Ferguson, without explanation, canceled the reappointment of a Fish & Wildlife panel member.

Comment: Trump-onomics made sense to voters; less so now

The president’s trade war and other economic policies are wars of choice. He will own their effects.