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: Is Intel the first step toward a U.S. sovereign wealth fund?

When President Donald Trump announced in August that the federal government took an equity stake in Intel, he bragged that taxpayers had “paid zero” for part of a company now “worth $11 billion.” In reality, taxpayers paid plenty: $8.9 billion in subsidies with potentially more to come. ...

Opinion: Nominees lie; senators close eyes

What’s the point of Senate confirmation hearings? The testimony of nominees to judgeships and the Cabinet is too often evasive or deceptive. A majority of current senators seem perfectly willing to rely on shifty answers to their questions as an excuse to ignore their constitutional duty. ...

Opinion: Federal government defends torture again

While the public’s attention this summer has been drawn to masked ICE agents arresting folks without warrants, presidentially imposed sales taxes on goods emanating from foreign countries that have been invalidated by three federal courts, and the fruitless Kabuki dance between President ...

Opinion: The problem with ruling by emergency

No matter what dictionary you consult, the definition of “emergency” is never “a chronic situation that the leader of a country would like to address using powers not otherwise available to him.” This, though, is how the Trump administration tends to define the term. Treasury ...

Opinion: Blue U.S. starts to separate from red

It started quietly enough. MAGA Republicans put lunatic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in charge of the Department of Health and Human Services. He’s forced top scientists to leave and slashed research in cancer, autoimmune diseases and other health threats. Thanks to him, getting the updated COVID ...

Opinion: A masterpiece museum on the nation’s Mall

The first of September was a bright morning on the National Mall. We went to pay respects to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. On the top floor, we were greeted by Chuck Berry’s sleek red convertible. Nearby, Odetta sang “Oh, Freedom” at the March on ...