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Silent attacks on personal freedom

During the first Trump administration, the FBI quietly spent $5 million on Pegasus, an Israeli-developed software product known generically as zero click. Zero click permits the user to download the contents of another mobile or desktop device without tricking the user of that device into clicking on a viral link. When FBI Director Christopher Wray was confronted with evidence of this purchase in 2021, he stated under oath at a congressional hearing that his agents did not and would not use it; but they bought it because they wanted to understand how it worked. He claimed that it was ...

Our civilian-military bond is cracked

On Tuesday, TMZ published a story with a dramatic all-caps headline, “PETE HEGSETH BLEW BILLION$ ON FRUIT BASKETS, LOBSTER,” that was accompanied by a manufactured photo of the secretary of war surrounded by a bunch of plastic lobsters. The initial story was followed by several other “news” organizations repeating the claims. If you’ve never covered the military, or served in the military, or if you don’t have any family or friends in the military, this would appear to be a shocking story. But it’s not — not even remotely. It is a common practice for the Pentagon to ...

Trump’s stupidest Cabinet member is hard call but has clear winner

At a press briefing on Friday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth complained about a CNN report that the Trump administration had underestimated Iran’s ability to disrupt global oil traffic by closing the Strait of Hormuz. “Patently ridiculous,” Hegseth told reporters, adding — even as the strait’s blockage was proving to be Iran’s most powerful leverage in the war — we “don’t need to worry about it.” He also denied that the U.S. bombed the school where some 175 children were killed. Hegseth added that, as to CNN, “the sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the ...

Bernard LaFayette Jr. was a leader guided by love

When I read about civil rights activist and minister Dr. Bernard LaFayette Jr. passing away earlier this month, I thought about how almost all the heralded foot soldiers of the civil rights movement who were momentous leaders during my youth have left us. LaFayette’s passing comes in the wake of the death of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, a much more well-known figure, although LaFayette also worked on social justice initiatives in Latin America and South Africa. He was one who tirelessly labored behind the scenes, organizing voter registration drives in Selma, Alabama, which helped ...

Vivek might need a bit of education on Ohio colleges

Social media platforms can tempt politicians into hyperbole that doesn’t always match reality. It can tempt anyone to do that. So, Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy can perhaps be forgiven for wondering on Threads whether it is possible to eliminate the state income tax (the real question is, if we do, how do we pay for everything?), and suggesting the Buckeye State’s colleges and universities should be consolidated. “Look at the number of universities in our state. I love universities in Ohio. I want us to have the best universities,” Ramaswamy said, ...

Avery’s Law targets lousy dog owners

Ohio dog owners, take note. Avery’s Law is now on the books and dog owners who are negligent could be on the hook for their pets’ behavior. Avery’s Law is named for Avery Russell, of Reynoldsburg, who was 11 years old when she was severely injured in an attack by two vicious dogs in June 2024. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 247 in December and Avery’s Law took effect on Wednesday. The bill is designed to help prevent similar attacks. Avery’s Law: • Imposes criminal penalties on a dog owner if he or she negligently fails to keep their dog from committing, ...