Recent Commentaries

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The Frankl Factor
Drawing from his harrowing experience in a Nazi concentration camp, psychiatrist Viktor Frankl crafted a work of timeless insight, “Man’s Search for Meaning.” One message stands out: Forces beyond your control can take away everything you possess—except one thing, your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation. It’s a brilliant reminder—one we all need to hold onto...
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November 8, 2024
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An Unthinkable Loss of Faith
Donald J. Trump didn’t win the election last night; fear and loathing did. Justice, accountability, honesty, character and democratic values lost. If you repeat a lie often enough, the theory goes, people accept it as truth. That theory has become reality. Last night, a majority of American voters bought into the lie that the 2020 election was stolen, that the...
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November 6, 2024
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The Day After Today
After all the votes are counted, will the country stand united, committed to overcoming our differences, or will we continue to let division define us? This is a moment to reflect and decide who we want to be and what kind of country we want to build. We can’t allow ourselves to be drawn into anger, to see one another...
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November 5, 2024
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America’s Character
In the winter of 1777, twelve thousand soldiers, along with four hundred women and children, huddled in 1,500 log huts, faced a defining moment of adversity at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Battling bitter cold, hunger, and a lack of supplies, the Continental Army’s morale was dwindling, and many were ready to abandon the fight for independence. George Washington, as commander-in-chief, understood...
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November 1, 2024
Friday’s Commentary
Tomorrow, I’ll be posting a brief commentary—a 3 minute read—that I encourage everyone to review. It’s about adversity; it’s about courage; it’s about character. If it resonates with you or holds value, please consider sharing it. It will also be posted on X (formally Twitter): https://twitter.com/jimlichtman And Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jim.lichtman.75/ Respectfully, Jim Lichtman    » Read more about: Friday’s Commentary  »...
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October 31, 2024
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. . . Fear itself.
On March 4, 1933, at his first inauguration, Franklin D. Roosevelt stood before the American people and addressed a nation in crisis. He understood that his task was not only economic recovery but the restoration of trust and unity. With words that reached beyond the immediate moment, he offered a powerful call against the biggest enemy facing the country: “The...
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October 30, 2024
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To Serve the Common Good
Twentieth-century journalist Walter Lippmann’s enduring appeal lies in his staunch commitment to the common good—the idea that society can function in a way that benefits everyone, not just individuals or specific groups. It’s a concept that is as essential today as it was when he first explored it nearly a century ago. Lippmann—whose insights on democracy, media, and morality helped...
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October 28, 2024
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The Ethical Pursuit of The Good Society
Published in 1937, Walter Lippmann’s An Inquiry into the Principles of the Good Society feels especially relevant today, given the current state of politics. Lippmann was a standard-bearer of the hope for a better American society, and his insights on leadership and the moral compass that should guide public life are spot on. An astute observer of the political landscape,...
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October 25, 2024
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A Call to Trust, Unity, and Common Humanity
We live in a time of profound political divisions, more so than ever before. Fear, frustration, and anger dominate the national conversation from Trump rallies to pundit panels. Many of his supporters’ emotions come from real concerns about jobs, security, and social changes. These are significant issues deserving significant attention. In this moment of crisis, however, what concerns me most...
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October 24, 2024
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What America Stands For
We know the darkness—we’re living it—but what about the light? America’s moral conscience reflects our evolving values, shaped by both successes and failures. We’ve seen progress in Civil Rights, Women’s Rights, LGPTQ+ rights, but we’ve also faced dark chapters—slavery, the mistreatment of Native Americans, Japanese internment, McCarthyism, and Watergate. Each of these pivotal moments, both the triumphs and the trials,...
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October 23, 2024

Read Some of the Most Recent Articles
The Latest... And Often Greatest
Who Watches the Algorithm?
We are building machines that may soon judge, persuade, police, diagnose, hire, fire, and even help governments decide whom to trust. Yet we still have...
He Just Does His Job
I’ve been listening to and watching Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia for more than a year now: his speeches, his questions in Senate hearings,...
Why Donald Trump Has Pulled Me Back In—Again
Last August, I wrote that I was “stepping back from the chaos” of Donald Trump. I meant to write about his presidency only when his...
Scott Pelley Responds
During a contentious staff meeting at 60 Minutes, Scott Pelley spoke out sharply, criticizing the judgment and decision-making of CBS News editor in chief Bari...
The Clock is Still Ticking. But Now It’s Ticking for CBS
I began watching 60 Minutes when it premiered on September 24, 1968, when Harry Reasoner and Mike Wallace introduced a new kind of television journalism:...
God Has Chosen Donald Trump
At a Trump-backed Christian prayer rally on the National Mall in Washington on May 17, officially called Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise...