Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has described mental health as “the defining public health crisis of our time.” He has used his position as a megaphone to highlight how the country is doing and where it falls short, particularly in the treatment of young people who are suffering. It’s a complex topic worthy of discussion, and […]
Why mental health policy is personal and political Read More »
“You know why I love Donald Trump? He is the first one who says what everyone’s thinking.” Anyone who has covered Donald Trump through two presidential campaigns — one successful and one that ultimately flopped — has heard that explanation lots of times. I know I have. When asked exactly which out-loud thoughts resonated, answers
Many Americans really are thinking terrible things — and proudly saying them out loud Read More »
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina is a state on the verge. Of what? Well, that depends on whom you ask. Some residents are thrilled that the state seems to be politically falling in line with a bunch of its neighbors to the south, most recently with an abortion bill. Others, particularly those who felt protected
Is former battleground North Carolina becoming a Florida clone? Read More »
It was a scene both disturbing and expected: former President Donald Trump embracing one of the insurrectionists who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, with the intention of overthrowing the results of the 2020 election. Micki Larson-Olson was found guilty of a misdemeanor charge of resisting police as they tried to clear the
Sacrificing democracy to belong to a shrinking ‘club’ Read More »
Does this mean Democrats don’t have to be afraid anymore? You know what I mean. Though Democratic politicians and the party itself stand for certain values and policies, sometimes, when they promote and defend them in the public square, well, they do it in a whisper. This is despite the popularity of many of these
Will Democrats raise the volume on expressing what they believe in? Read More »
With Black women rising to prominence in politics, the arts and every field in between, it could be said that it is their moment in history. But dig deeper and the picture is far more nuanced. When expectations are high and mothers still counsel daughters to “work twice as hard” to succeed, what is the
Equal Time: How Black women, America’s invisible ‘saviors,’ can rewrite the narrative Read More »
Is healthy debate a thing of the past? You know, when people can disagree without being disagreeable, respect one another and work toward a solution that might involve compromise. You’d be forgiven for giving up on the concept or thinking it never existed, especially as discussions of what books should or should not be on
Fear should not be a deal breaker when debating tough topics Read More »
“I am your warrior. I am your justice. And for those who have been wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution.” And just to make sure everyone in the audience at the Conservative Political Action Conference and those watching at home got the message, former president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump repeated that last
Two visions of America’s past — and future Read More »
America is so invested in its exceptionalism that it sometimes seems to take any glance abroad as heresy. When even delving deep into America’s reality has become taboo for attention-grabbing politicians eager to whitewash the present and past, looking beyond our shores for both lessons and warnings is certainly a no-no. Me, I like to
There’s no escape from any country’s complicated history Read More »
When songwriters Peter Allen and Carole Bayer Sager penned “Everything Old Is New Again” decades ago, I wonder if they could have imagined the jaunty, oft-covered tune would one day be turned into a blueprint for some very dangerous doings. In 2023, turning to the past to find solutions for present challenges is taking the
When tuneful nostalgia turns toxic: The old days weren’t good for everyone Read More »
