When the pulpit merges with power, does the sword overshadow the Sermon on the Mount? Though I’m no longer practicing, I was raised Catholic. I went through the rituals—Baptism and Confirmation and confession and “eat no meat” Fridays, and I left because it was just too rigid. However, at its heart, Catholic doctrine was about love, mercy, humility, and salvation:...

Superman—America’s original superhero—once stood tall as a symbol of everything this country aspired to be. Superman—who embodies courage, decency, and fairness. Superman—who fights for the common good, especially those who can’t fight for themselves. What’s wrong with that? A growing movement now seeks to define which heroes—real or fictional—are acceptable, and which are not. They question who deserves legal defense,...

Once celebrated as the thoughtful author of Hillbilly Elegy, Vance’s rise to the vice presidency is a lesson in political transformation—and not for the better. I liked Vance 1.0—who once spoke with empathy and moral clarity about the struggles of working-class Americans. But the Vance–who jumped 4 points to 5.0—serves as the willing enabler of a presidency marked by grievance,...

It may seem obvious, but it couldn’t be more urgent: we need about a thousand Mr. Smiths in Washington right now. We need the idealism, yes, but we also need the pragmatism. We need leaders with the courage and character to stand up for what’s right. We need leaders who can turn vision into action and build a better, more...

Harvard University now stands at an ethical crossroads—not just for itself, but for every educational entity in the country. While I never attended Harvard, you don’t need a Harvard degree to see the deadly sword hanging over all of education. The moment universities start compromising their core values to appease an administration obsessed with control, they surrender more than autonomy—they...

Reading sportswriter Joe Posnanski’s book Why We Love Baseball, I was struck by his storytelling—one tale after another about heroes, flubs, and the improbable moments that define the game. His story about the Yankee Clipper, Joe DiMaggio—clearly one of the all-time greats—caught my attention. During the 1941 season, DiMaggio went on a remarkable hitting streak, ultimately recording a hit in...

Three U.S. Senators. Three Republicans. All support the Constitution and their conscience: Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, and Rand Paul of Kentucky—have shown that moral conviction and independent judgment can still find a place in public service. Lisa Murkowski has emerged as one of the Senate’s most principled voices. Following the January 6 attack on the U.S....

In recent years, many news stories have come under fire for misrepresenting or distorting facts, fueling public skepticism about the credibility of mainstream reporting. While I write commentaries—not straight news—I strive to ensure that my opinions are firmly grounded in verifiable facts. On June 7, I wrote a commentary titled A Day of Love—a Weekend of Force, reporting on the...

As President Donald Trump celebrated the 250th anniversary of the U.S. military, one soldier was under attack. At Fort Drum, New York, Maj. Erica Vandal glanced at her phone. A message from her mother: “Just heard about the Supreme Court ruling. That totally stinks! How are you doing?” The court had just allowed Trump’s ban on transgender troops to take...

Though I was much older than the audience for Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, I did watch his testimony before a congressional subcommittee. I came away inspired by his plainspoken common sense, quiet reason, and the values he passed on—kindness, honesty, respect, and the importance of becoming a person of character. In a time when volume often substitutes for values, Fred Rogers...