January 2023

When we look at Brazil, it feels like we are looking through a window at the history of Latin America. The juntas, coups, assassinations, and authoritarian rulers trampling nascent democratic institutions… but this time, it is not a window we are looking through, but rather a mirror reflecting back on ourselves.

Why doesn’t legalized MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying) work for those who rationally choose to end life earlier rather than accept a prolonged experience devoid of dignity? Currently, ten states and Washington D. C. allow ending life with medical assistance. But all is not as it might appear as the laws are written. 

It seems many people are shocked that Bryan Kohberger – the alleged killer of four University of Idaho Students– was a graduate student in criminology. Well, I am not that shocked, and if you polled New York City cops, I’m sure many of them would not be either.

For years, cybersecurity experts have been warning that the technological infrastructure in the United States is seriously at risk. Now the FAA just showed us that consistency in the government’s technological infrastructure has serious issues that are years overdue for fixing. And while that may not be the end of the world, it could have a serious impact on millions of people.

Those are the words of Lanny Davis, the Clinton confidante and crisis manager, who wrote a whole book called Truth to Tell on how to handle a public crisis. Davis’ advice is the exact opposite of the approach of the Biden White House to date around the discovery of classified documents in his possession.  

The man who fatally shot 13-year-old Karon Blake shortly before 4 a.m. reportedly believed someone was breaking into cars and shot Blake to defend those vehicles from theft. Is the shooter likely to be able to claim defense of those cars as a justification for the shooting?

The Smerconish.com editor gives some context to her circus past, answers some of the most common questions about tightwire walking, and hopes she still has a job at the end of the day.

Since the New York Times broke the story about the fictitious Santos resume on December 19, almost all of the news coverage and statements by politicians have focused on how to punish Santos: Should Santos resign? Should there be an ethics investigation? A criminal indictment? Should he be expelled?

We have all heard this before, but it certainly applies to California’s seemingly intractable issue of reducing homelessness. Cities are being overrun, many millions are spent, and yet the numbers grow. Why? The issue is a complex societal issue dating back decades as the family unit started failing. It has gotten even more complicated in the 21st Century.

On December 15th, Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and Representative Troy E. Nehls (R-TX) introduced the bipartisan Trucker Bathroom Access Act. It just seems like basic human decency to me. Why did I have to wait 35 years for something like this?