Commentary
Editor’s Notebook: The waiting trap
Years ago, my wife read “Waiting” by Ha Jin. She reads more than I do, and whenever she finishes a book I ask her about the plot and the writing style, what she did and didn’t like, and what she thought of the ending. That time, she looked gloomy as she set the book down. […]
Commentary: Oil price shocks have a long history, but today’s situation may be most complex ever
The world is in the grip of an oil price shock. In just a few months, prices have risen from $65 a barrel to over $130, causing fuel costs to surge, inflationary pressure to rise, and consumer tempers to flare. Even before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, prices were climbing rapidly because of roaring demand and […]
Commentary: Bail bill would disproportionately harm Black Granite Staters
In the wake of George Floyd’s murder by the Minneapolis Police Department, New Hampshire’s political leaders made bold promises to address police violence and racial injustice. In the nearly two years since Floyd’s death, not only have politicians failed to deliver on their promises, they are actively pushing legislation to expand the incarceration of Black, […]
3-Minute Civics: Critical thinking and the pursuit of truth
When I was very young I committed a crime. I was at a store with my family and there was a display of a football game and I really wanted this particular football player figurine. So, I took it. My parents discovered that I had it when we were driving from the store, and I’ll […]
Commentary: Ukrainian refugee crisis could last years; host communities might not be prepared
More than 2 million Ukrainians – almost all women and children – have fled Ukraine since Russia invaded on Feb. 24. The sudden exodus of Ukrainian refugees is at a scale not seen in Europe since World War II. The migration of Ukrainian refugees has prompted a swift international and regional response, including everything from […]
Editor’s Notebook: The people you meet along the way
I didn’t really know Renny Cushing at all. We met once, years ago, because the editorial board on which I served was being honored for supporting the repeal of New Hampshire’s death penalty statute. I was an imposter at the ceremony – all of the important work was done by my editorial writing partner, Ralph […]
Commentary: Battles over book bans reflect conflicts from the 1980s
A conservative leader found fault with how “respect for our nation’s heritage” had been mostly stripped from the textbooks of public schools. “From kindergarten right through the total school system, it almost seems as if classroom textbooks are designed to negate what philosophies previously had been taught,” the conservative leader lamented. “[M]any textbooks are actually […]
Commentary: States advance anti-transgender agendas – a strategy by conservatives to rally base
Transgender girls in Iowa will no longer be allowed to compete in girls’ sports – the latest in a rash of anti-trans initiatives sweeping across the United States. On March 3, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law legislation that affects transgender girls and women wanting to compete in accordance to their gender identity. It comes […]
Commentary: Plastic pollution is a global problem – here’s how to design a treaty to curb it
Plastic pollution is accumulating worldwide, on land and in the oceans. According to one widely cited estimate, by 2025, 100 million to 250 million metric tons of plastic waste could enter the ocean each year. Another study commissioned by the World Economic Forum projects that without changes to current practices, there may be more plastic […]
Commentary: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has Kremlin battling for hearts and minds at home
Russian President Vladimir Putin is locked in a vicious struggle not only to subjugate Ukraine, but also to keep his own citizens united in support of Kremlin policy. But as Ukrainian fighters capture the admiration of the world in Twitter posts and TikTok videos, even the illusion of Russian unity is beginning to crumble. A […]
Editor’s Notebook: The news of the day
Long ago, as a front-page designer for a daily newspaper, I viewed newsworthy events in terms of the headline size they deserved. A typical lead story on a typical news day carried a 54-point headline, with carefully considered size increases signaling to readers that something truly significant had happened in their city or state, their […]
Commentary: Facial recognition disproportionately harms people of color, women
Facial recognition technology gives our government, companies, and individuals unprecedented power to track and log our every move – where we worship, seek therapy, visit a health care provider, protest, meet friends, and more. That is, when it works as advertised. While facial recognition technology is, at its core, a tool that allows governments to […]