Category: Politics

Columns, Justice, Politics

Durham Report Condemns the FBI’s Russia Probe — But Don’t Expect It to Make a Difference

Below is my column in The Messenger, the new digital news platform created by Jimmy Finkelstein (the former owner of The Hill).  Finkelstein’s signature has always been balanced publications where all viewpoints are represented and objectivity remains the touchstone for reporters. That puts him at odds with the “advocacy journalism” model sweeping other publications. The start of the new platform is good news for many of us who believe that the media is facing an existential choice in the coming years. I am happy to be able to contribute to the rollout of the site and look forward to working again with Jimmy and my old Hill editors.

Here is the column: Continue reading “Durham Report Condemns the FBI’s Russia Probe — But Don’t Expect It to Make a Difference” →

Media, Politics

“Raw, Unanalyzed, and Uncorroborated”: Durham Releases Report on the Russian Collusion Investigation

I have columns out today on the release of the long-awaited report from John Durham on the Russian collusion investigation, including on the new Messenger site. However, I wanted to post the report itself below. As expected, it is a scathing indictment of the Clinton campaign, the FBI, and the media for one of the most successful political hit jobs in history. Continue reading ““Raw, Unanalyzed, and Uncorroborated”: Durham Releases Report on the Russian Collusion Investigation” →

Columns, Media, Politics

America’s State Media: The Blackout on Biden Corruption is Truly “Pulitzer-Level Stuff”

Below is my column in The Hill on the continued media blackout on evidence of influence peddling and corrupt practices by the Biden family. The coverage of the recent disclosure of dozens of LLCs and bank accounts used to funnel up to $10 million to Biden family members captured the growing concerns over a de facto state media in the United States. Under the current approach to journalism, it is the New York Times that receives a Pulitzer for a now debunked Russian collusion story rather than the New York Post for a now proven Hunter Biden laptop story.

Here is the column: Continue reading “America’s State Media: The Blackout on Biden Corruption is Truly “Pulitzer-Level Stuff”” →

Politics

The Golden State? Newsom Admits that California Deficit is Now Roughly $32 Billion

Recently, a witness at one of California’s reparations hearings demanded “where’s the money?” Gov. Gavin Newsom’s announcement that the state miscalculated its deficit by $10 billion seems to answer that question. As his reparations Task Force demands as much as $1.2 million per eligible black resident, Newsom recently balked at cash payments. After years of using reparations as a political issue and insisting that such payments are a moral imperative, many are pushing back that this bill is now due. A card will just not do. Continue reading “The Golden State? Newsom Admits that California Deficit is Now Roughly $32 Billion” →

Constitutional Law, Politics, Testimony

Turley Testifies on Censorship in Homeland Security Hearing

This afternoon, I will testify before the Committee on Homeland Security’s  Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability. The hearing at 2:00 pm is entitled “Censorship Laundering: How the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Enables the Silencing of Dissent.” It will be held in 310 Cannon House Office Building.

Continue reading “Turley Testifies on Censorship in Homeland Security Hearing” →

Politics

Newsom Sends a Card: California Governor Suggests that Reparations is More Than Just Money

For months, we have been discussing how Democratic politicians would deal with massive reparation demands after campaigning for years on such payments being a moral imperative. As proposals rose to as much as $5 million a person, Newsom went silent. Now, California’s Reparations Task Force has issued recommendations for reparation payments as well as a slew of other benefits for black citizens. Newsom has finally responded by what sounded like the common birthday card that reads “I couldn’t afford a present so I gave you this card instead.” With California billions in the red, Newsom appears to be sending up a trial balloon on offering heartfelt apologies, promises of reform, and no cash.

Continue reading “Newsom Sends a Card: California Governor Suggests that Reparations is More Than Just Money” →

Congress, Constitutional Law, Politics

Blinken Contest: House Committee Prepares to Hold Secretary of State in Contempt
Columns, Politics

The Trouble with Hunter: President Biden Repeats Claim that his Son Has “Done Nothing Wrong”

In the hilarious 1955 classic, The Trouble with Harry, a group of people in a small New England town struggle over what to do with a body that keeps popping up. In one scene, the character Capt. Albert Wilesa declares “Blessed are they who expect nothing, for they shall not be disappointed.”

President Joe Biden has clearly taken Capt. Wilesa’s words to heart. In an interview with MSNBC, President Biden repeated the same mantra that he has maintained since the 2020 election when his son’s laptop revealed an array of possible criminal acts: Hunter has “done nothing wrong.” Continue reading “The Trouble with Hunter: President Biden Repeats Claim that his Son Has “Done Nothing Wrong”” →

Columns, Politics

Risky Business: Appearance of ‘Risk’ Manager Sends Oberlin Students into Frenzy over the Danger of ‘Risk Aversion’

Below is my column in the Hill on the recent controversy at Oberlin College where students are alarmed by the appearance of a risk manager on campus to address the costly lawsuits draining the school.

Here is the column: Continue reading “Risky Business: Appearance of ‘Risk’ Manager Sends Oberlin Students into Frenzy over the Danger of ‘Risk Aversion’” →

Media, Politics

“No Ties to You”: MSNBC Host Spins Possible Hunter Biden Charges In Rare Interview With President

Last night, President Joe Biden did what is a relatively rare thing. He sat down with an actual reporter ostensibly to answer questions. While earlier promising a “major press conference” for the media as a whole to ask him questions, Biden instead did a low-risk interview with MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle. In the interview, Ruhle briefly touched on the possible criminal charges awaiting Hunter Biden. Despite reports of a whistleblower alleging a bribery scandal involving the President, Ruhle assured the President (and the viewers) that the still unknown charges will involve “no ties to you.” Moreover, the interview is most interesting for what it did not address. It was a vivid example of what I previously called “the art of scandal implosion.”

Continue reading ““No Ties to You”: MSNBC Host Spins Possible Hunter Biden Charges In Rare Interview With President” →

Bizarre, Politics, Society

“I Don’t Have Any Words”: Trans Activist Simply Screams Into Mike at San Francisco Board Meeting

I recently wrote a column about how “American politics has become a matter of simple amplification.” This week, Lia McGeever vividly made this point at the San Francisco Board of Advisers by choosing to simply scream into a mike as her statement on a recent case. The Board has nothing to do with the case, but McGeever wanted the cathartic moment. Nothing says the age of rage as much as a primal scream session in a public board meeting. Continue reading ““I Don’t Have Any Words”: Trans Activist Simply Screams Into Mike at San Francisco Board Meeting” →

Academia, Politics

“A Prologue to a Tragedy”: History and Civics Scores Drop to Record Lows

This week, history and civics scores across the nation plummeted to record lows among eighth graders. Just 13% of students performed at or above the “proficient” level in U.S. history. It is the latest appalling report on our declining educational system — a matter that should be treated as a national crisis of literally historic proportions.  As discussed in prior columns, we are graduating students from high school who cannot proficiently read or do math.  School districts have responded by solving the problem by simply lowering standards and eliminating gifted programs.  Now we are producing citizens who know little about our history or our values.

Continue reading ““A Prologue to a Tragedy”: History and Civics Scores Drop to Record Lows” →

Media, Politics

National Police Association and Other Groups Sue to Obtain Audrey Hale Manifesto
Nashville Police Department

In March, Audrey Hale shocked the nation by opening fire at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee. The police soon acknowledged that they had a manifesto from Hale on why she took this inexplicable and horrific action. We all then waited for the release of the manifesto. We are still waiting. Continue reading “National Police Association and Other Groups Sue to Obtain Audrey Hale Manifesto” →

Columns, Media, Politics

Blinken’s Immaculate Conception Defense: Why Things Are Likely to Get Worse for the Secretary of State

Below is my column in the New York Post on the response of Secretary of State Antony Blinken to allegations that he was the original source for the Russian disinformation claim behind the Hunter Biden laptop. I wrote previously that Blinken is struggling to avoid the look of a “made man” who earned his bones in the Biden Administration. Things are now likely to get worse after a U.S. senator added an alleged false statements charge to Blinken’s controversies.

Here is the column: Continue reading “Blinken’s Immaculate Conception Defense: Why Things Are Likely to Get Worse for the Secretary of State” →

Constitutional Law, Politics, Supreme Court

Justice Barrett Gives Illinois Officials Until Monday to Respond to Challenge of “Assault Weapons” Ban

We recently discussed a federal judge enjoining the new Illinois law banning “assault weapons.” Now a gun shop in Naperville, Illinois has made it to the Supreme Court in seeking injunctive relief and Justice Amy Coney Barrett has given the proponents of the law until Monday to respond to the request.

Continue reading “Justice Barrett Gives Illinois Officials Until Monday to Respond to Challenge of “Assault Weapons” Ban” →

Res ipsa loquitur – The thing itself speaks