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” →

Academia, Free Speech

“She’s a … Professor!”: Albany Professor Arrested After Obstructing Pro-Life Display and Resisting Arrest

“She’s a [expletive] professor!” Those four words screamed by pro-choice protesters could well sum up the issue for the State University of New York at Albany after the arrest of sociology professor Renee Overdyke. At a recent pro-life demonstration, Overdyke unplugged an electric display to prevent students from expressing their opposition to abortion. She then resisted arrest. The question, which we have previously discussed, is where the university should draw the line in the conduct of faculty in preventing free speech. Continue reading ““She’s a … Professor!”: Albany Professor Arrested After Obstructing Pro-Life Display and Resisting Arrest” →

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” →

Columns, Constitutional Law, Politics, Supreme Court

Daily Condemnations with Al Franken: Former Senator Denounces John Roberts and the Supreme Court
YouTube Screengrab

This morning, Chief Justice John Roberts should get up, look into the mirror and declare “I deserve good things. I am entitled to my share of happiness. I refuse to beat myself up. I am an attractive person. I am fun to be with.” That mantra from SNL’s “Daily Affirmation with Stuart Smalley” seems appropriate after the former Smalley comedian (and former U.S. Senator) Al Franken declared Roberts a “villain” and his Court “illegitimate” in the latest attack on the institution. Continue reading “Daily Condemnations with Al Franken: Former Senator Denounces John Roberts and the Supreme Court” →

Columns, Criminal law, Media, Politics

Hunter’s Collapsing World: Why a Criminal Plea Could Now be the Best Option for the Bidens

Below is my column in The Hill on the hearing today in Arkansas involving Hunter Biden and his daughter Navy Joan. President Joe Biden and the First Lady have refused to acknowledge their grandchild and her father is opposing her using the family name. A court will now have to decide whether this child can call herself a Biden and whether her father can reduce his level of financial support.

Here is the column: Continue reading “Hunter’s Collapsing World: Why a Criminal Plea Could Now be the Best Option for the Bidens” →

Free Speech, Media, Politics

ABC News Censors Democratic Presidential Candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
ABC News

Before he was assassinated, Robert F. Kennedy declared that “hand in hand with freedom of speech goes the power to be heard.” That does not appear to be the view of ABC News, which censored his son who is now running for the Democratic presidential nomination. ABC objected to Kennedy’s views on COVID-19 vaccines, so it simply announced that it was preventing viewers from hearing those views to protect them from dangerous ideas. Continue reading “ABC News Censors Democratic Presidential Candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.” →

Columns, Media, Politics

Daddy Dearest: Hunter Forced to Appear in Arkansas in Fight Over His Child’s Name and Support

On Monday, Hunter Biden will finally make it to Arkansas. The Natural State is not a Biden family favorite but there is one thing that would ordinarily be an attraction: Biden’s daughter Navy Joan. In the Biden family, the four-year-old girl remains “she who must not be named” literally. Not only has President Biden refused to refer to her as a grandchild or even include a Christmas stocking with the other children, her father Hunter is fighting to prevent her from using the Biden name. Indeed, the only reason that Hunter is coming to the same state with his daughter is to seek to limit his child support. Continue reading “Daddy Dearest: Hunter Forced to Appear in Arkansas in Fight Over His Child’s Name and Support” →

Free Speech

Bar Ban: Indiana Owner Declares Anyone Criticizing Bud Light Will Be Thrown Out

We often discuss the twisted logic used on campuses where faculty and students will profess support for free speech while censoring or canceling others from speaking.  However, Fairfax Bar & Grill in Bloomington, Indiana, has taken this hypocrisy to a truly impressive level. The bar recently declared that it supports free speech so it will throw out anyone who criticizes Anheuser-Busch or BudLight for its campaign featuring transgender figure Dylan Mulvaney. Owner McKinley Minniefield told Newsweek “I won’t tolerate hate speech, and I think that’s where I draw the line.” It is that easy, you just declare opposing views to be hateful and then ban them from the bar. Continue reading “Bar Ban: Indiana Owner Declares Anyone Criticizing Bud Light Will Be Thrown Out” →

Constitutional Law, Courts

Federal Judge Enjoins Illinois’ Assault Weapon Ban

In a major victory for gun rights advocates, U.S. District Judge Stephen McGlynn has granted a preliminary injunction of Illinois’ ban on assault weapons and large capacity magazines. The decision comes after two other district courts ruled in favor of the law — sending this issue to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and potentially the Supreme Court.  These long-awaited challenges will test the Democratic calls for removing all AR-15s and similar weapons, including calls from President Joe Biden.

Continue reading “Federal Judge Enjoins Illinois’ Assault Weapon Ban” →

Courts, Media, Politics, Supreme Court

Alito: I Know Who Likely Leaked the Dobbs Decision

In a surprising statement to The Wall Street Journal today, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito says he has a “pretty good idea” who leaked a draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. He strongly suggested that it was someone who opposed the opinion and wanted to pressure the justices not to go forward with the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

 

Continue reading “Alito: I Know Who Likely Leaked the Dobbs Decision” →

Constitutional Law, Politics

Bagging “Jim Eagle”: 11th Circuit Upholds Florida’s Voting Reforms

It appears that “Jim Eagle” has flown the coop.

Yesterday, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit upheld critical provisions in Florida election law reforms, including provisions that Democratic politicians and pundits spent years misrepresenting as “a return to Jim Crow.” Many of these attacks were directed against Georgia, which was the subject of boycotts. However, other states passed similar provisions. In a majority opinion written by Chief Judge William Pryor (and joined by Judge Elizabeth Grant), the 11th Circuit found that the district court misconstrued the controlling precedent and made factual errors in its injunction of a few of the provisions enacted by Florida.

Continue reading “Bagging “Jim Eagle”: 11th Circuit Upholds Florida’s Voting Reforms” →

Academia, Constitutional Law, Politics

Destroying a Democracy to Save It: Robert Reich Calls for Blocking Trump from Ballots as a Traitor

Robert Reich, the Berkeley professor and the former labor secretary under Clinton, has been known for his increasing anti-free speech views through the years including characterizing the restoration of free speech on social media as tyranny. He now believes that former President Donald Trump can be barred from running for president in 2024 because he “committed treason,” according to a new column in The Guardian. The argument is entirely without merit, but that does not prevent the media from repeating this flawed but cathartic claim. Continue reading “Destroying a Democracy to Save It: Robert Reich Calls for Blocking Trump from Ballots as a Traitor” →
Criminal law, Free Speech, Politics

Antifa Attacks “Protect the Kids” Protesters Opposing Drag Show

A “Protect Texas Kids” protest this week was attacked by counter-protesters outside of the location of a planned drag show that would reportedly involve children. The incident was caught on videotape and shows how Antifa routinely, even cavalierly, resorts to violence to silence those with opposing views. Any doubt as to their association from their signature black outfits and tactics was dispensed by this picture clearly showing the Antifa flag. Continue reading “Antifa Attacks “Protect the Kids” Protesters Opposing Drag Show” →