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: Thinking about ‘War and Peace’ — all 1,224 pages of it

It usually takes me a day to tap out a rough draft of this column, and I spend the next morning wrestling it into publishable form. The other five days of the week I devote to novel-writing. Stephen King says we writers need to read to learn their craft: “If you don’t have time to read, ...

Opinion: A strange exchange; Civil War writ small

Scene: walking in Washington at dusk, looking around an old market neighborhood made new again. I’m coming from a book talk, searching the lively sidewalks for the Metro station. A guy sees my shop bag and asks what book I’m reading. I show him: “Uncharted: How Trump Beat Biden, ...

Opinion: Politics and the age of politicians

Democrats are deep in debate over the age of their older leaders. Some need replacement, according to younger Democrats who want to replace them. And in some cases, they are right. But these arguments turn toxic when they equate age with capability. Ageism is bad politics, especially when ...

Opinion: Return to Alcatraz? No, despite what Trump says

“The name of Napoleon,” said the French emperor Napoleon III, “is a program in itself.” The same is true of Alcatraz, or as President Trump put it in a Truth Social post announcing his intention to re-open the prison in San Francisco Bay, “ALCATRAZ.” In his post, Trump declared, ...

Opinion: The right ends, but the wrong means

President Donald Trump has identified real problems, but he’s abusing his power in trying to correct them. Perhaps the most frustrating thing about being a conservative critic of Trumpism is that you often start by agreeing with Trumpworld about ends while disagreeing about means. This ...

Opinion: Tariff target on roses makes no sense

May is usually the best month for florists, Mother’s Day being a big reason. But Donald Trump’s tariff war is raining pain on their bestselling season. Pierson’s Flower Shop and Greenhouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, expects customers to dial back on purchases because of higher prices ...