Need to better protect policy gains, anticipate attacks — This country dodged a dangerous situation with the 11th-hour bipartisan agreement on raising the debt ceiling. The right-wing House contingent was exposed as a paper tiger. And the House speaker faced the reality that he needs Democratic support to set policy and, maybe, keep his job. Yet, President Joe Biden…

They need to do more than echo right-wing talking points — A lot of Black Americans are conservative; holding tight to the faith, the caution and the self-determination that allowed generations to thrive in often-hostile environments. One political lesson learned: Support those who seem to understand the struggles of regular folks and want to help them. That has not been the…

One DeSantis effort to undermine press freedom stalls — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis did not launch his planned attack on press freedom, because conservative media pushed back against it. Several bills, proposed in February, sought to undermine state and federal laws that shield media in defamation cases. They ruled out reporting that reflect on a person’s character or past…

Inspiration in anti-Trump verdict, battle against S.C. abortion ban — Two groups of women — one focused on sexual assault, the other on abortion rights — recently offered inspirational examples of empowerment and support. One group was instrumental in the May 9 victory in writer E. Jean Carroll’s battery and defamation civil suit against former president Donald Trump. Carroll, 79…

Profiles in courage in Montana, Oklahoma on transgender rights — Like fragile damsels, GOP-controlled legislatures are declaring themselves offended by violations of decorum or by pointed speech — all the while making decisions which actually hurt others, such as transgender youth. At least 10 states have banned gender-affirming care for minors, and another 21 have introduced bills. In at least…

Book-banning leading to threats, cuts to centuries-old U.S. asset — A recent tweet by a Republican congressman is so startling that it was tempting to just write it off as a right-wing fever dream. Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana suggested that the nation’s public libraries be replaced by “church-owned” alternatives financed by taxpayers. “I’m going to help these churches get…

Tennessee, Kentucky tragedies hit home — In recent mass shootings, Tennessee and Kentucky governors lost close friends. It helped change their perspectives on the urgency of some gun-safety efforts in states with few restrictions. After the murder of six at a Nashville church school, Republican Gov. Bill Lee toughens gun background checks and asked the legislature…

GOP lawmakers expose their denial, weakness, desperation — The April 6 expulsion of two Black Tennessee lawmakers for joining, from the House floor, a peaceful gun-safety protest exposed so many troubling realities: Unwillingness of GOP lawmakers to address public demands for gun regulation after six deaths at a Nashville church school on March 27. Vindictive power by a…

Violations increase, state laws weaken in efforts to add workers — With America’s children behind academically and struggling mentally from pandemic consequences, some business and state leaders now push a dangerous policy: Weaken child-labor laws. More companies are violating federal protections passed 85 years ago, and state officials seek ways to allow minors to work longer hours, in more dangerous jobs…