National Columns

The Washington Post, beginning Nov. 1, 2019, will allow its syndicated columns to appear only in print. The columns will still be available as part of our e-edition newspaper online, but they will not be available as separate pieces on our website, ljworld.com. These columnists include George Will, David Ignatius, Michael Gerson and others. This does not affect other columnists like Leonard Pitts, Mona Charen, Connie Schultz and Mark Shields, who are not affiliated with the Washington Post.

Opinion: True tales of two opposite Americas — rich and poor

“The rich are different from you and me.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald I read two books in one weekend: “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson on Saturday, “Strangers” by Belle Burden on Sunday. They’re true stories, told well, about two countries, both inside America’s borders: Death Row ...

Opinion: Bad faith in the death penalty debate

“Botched” is a perfectly fine word for golf, cooking or home repair. It seems inadequate for the taking of a life, even the life of Christa Pike, a heinous murderer. In 1996, a jury found Pike guilty of the torture and murder of her Jobs Corps classmate, Colleen Slemmer. Pike was ...

Opinion: If Hegseth wants to get rid of the ‘weirdos,’ he should resign

Where did this guy come from? How did a TV personality end up leading America’s defense department, especially in a time of war? Donald Trump put Pete Hegseth in charge of the Department of Defense. It’s now officially called the War Department, but I’m not ready to go there. In one ...

Opinion: The central question of power

Behind this election’s dominant issue of affordability lies the record concentration of wealth at the top of America. The richest 0.001% of Americans — a handful of extraordinarily wealthy men — now control more of the nation’s wealth than at any time in modern history. To be sure, ...

Opinion: ‘When will markets react to debt?’ is the wrong question

Is the federal government’s history of enormous deficits proof that it can keep up the borrowing? Some people think so, and legislators sure act that way. Federal debt held by the public now equals the size of the annual economy — and is growing. Yet investors continue buying Treasury ...

Opinion: Trump’s own chatbot debunks him

Since President Donald Trump displays a ferocious disdain for any suggestion that he could be wrong about anything, I hope he will not try to consult the AI fact-checker he has unleashed against himself. Last week, the White House unveiled America.gov, a search tool it declared to be no less ...