Teen girls more hopeless, suicidal than teen boys, survey found — Recently, my news feed has included a steady stream about teen girls, feted as “social media influencers,” who committed suicide. …

Weakening defamation rules would also stifle citizen dissent — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently distanced himself from a bill requiring bloggers to register with the state and produce monthly reports on what they publish. That proposal, from a lawmaker allied with him, is much too limited for DeSantis’ ambition. Rather, the presidential hopeful seeks to undermine established legal precedent…

MAGA overuse may not be sound strategy — What if a political movement launched a disinformation campaign that didn’t gain traction beyond its core base? That’s possible as Republican presidential hopefuls, lawmakers and activists label everything they don’t like as “woke.” But a new USA TODAY/Ipsos Poll finds a majority of Americans are inclined to see the word…

Breonna Taylor’s death motivated look at violence, disrespect — The fallout of the 2020 Breonna Taylor killing by police, resulting from an invalid warrant, made clear that the Louisville, Ky. police department has serious problems in management and training. But a two-year federal investigation into the department exposed the depth of the bullying and overall disrespect toward citizens. Attorney…

Goal: a Christian-only nation with little acceptance of others — The recent 16-day outpouring of spiritual fervor at a small Christian college in Kentucky was a welcome reminder that religion should be a search for peace and purpose rather than a strategy for divisiveness and dominance. Christianity is too often used to force others — especially women, minorities, and LGBTQ…

Registration, monthly reports, fines in authoritarian proposal — If you want to write about Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis or other elected officials, bloggers would have to register personal information with the state or pay fines, according to a recently filed bill. Directly out of the Russian and Hungarian playbook to crack down on dissent, SB 1316 fits perfectly…

Even Gen Z Republicans endorse progressive goals for the country — Conservatives’ shrill attacks against social justice policies and racial and gender diversity are rooted in worry that they are losing control of U.S. culture and their own children, in particular. It’s a battle they are destined to lose as Generation Z for “Zoomers,” born after 1996, changes this country. Even…

Rulings reestablishing gun rights from the time of the nation’s founding — A Texas man pleaded guilty to violating a protective order and threatening his ex-girlfriend, their child, and a neighbor at gunpoint. Yet he should not lose possession of his guns, a federal appeals court ruled on February 2, 2023. Why not? Because it’s likely not what would have happened when…

Congressman uses spotlight to focus on working families — California congressman Jimmy Gomez attracted a lot of attention with his four month-old son, Hodge, strapped to his chest during days of votes to choose a House speaker. But he was perplexed that some people responded as if he belonged on a pedestal simply because he was a father —…