Justin Katz

Mythical creatures press against two sides of a tower by the ocean

Politics This Week: A Need for Healthy Conflict to Right RI

By Justin Katz | November 13, 2023 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz discuss several indications of how oppositional politics would help keep Rhode Island upright.

A water drop and ripples

Hamas journalists raise (and answer) a classic question of journalistic ethics.

By Justin Katz | November 9, 2023 |

The other day, I wondered whether younger folks have any sense of how long-standing is the problem of the huge gray area between journalists within the Palestinian territories (and elsewhere in the Middle East) and the terrorist organizations they’re covering.  Whether or not they’re more like terrorist propagandists is a gray area the terrorists have…

Mail ballot envelope

The lessons of recent elections for RI Republicans remain clear.

By Justin Katz | November 8, 2023 |

Surprising absolutely nobody, Democrat Gabe Amo won the available Congressional seat in Rhode Island yesterday. For those who really get into local politics, the thrill of the bet in such races is predicting whether the Republican will come in closer to 30% or closer to 35%.  Gerry Leonard hit the 35%, so congratulations to him.…

A water drop and ripples

The media’s “X community” style guide is problematic.

By Justin Katz | November 7, 2023 |

Consider this tweet from WPRI’s Ted Nesi as an indication of the dehumanizing aspect of the fashionable “community” phrase: This politically correct practice allows 80 people to stand in for a “community” of nearly 20,000 people.  It’s careless identity politics, and it’s ideologically corrupt.  How do 80 people get to speak for 20,000?  Does Ted…

StopAntisemitism: Content warning ⚠️ - an elderly Jewish man has been killed by a pro Palestinian protestor who hit him over the head with a megaphone at yesterday’s Israel rally.

The logic of radical escalation is not difficult to understand.

By Justin Katz | November 6, 2023 |

If “genocide” on the other side of the world justifies defacing statues, vandalizing buildings, and shouting down speakers, it will justify violence.  

A water drop and ripples

Diossa’s grandstanding on Washington Trust is disqualifying.

By Justin Katz | November 6, 2023 |

While I’m catching up on noteworthy items I’ve had on my to-do list, I have to point out that General Treasurer James Diossa’s grandstanding talk about “evaluat[ing] the banking relationship and the state’s business with Washington Trust Company” ought to be disqualifying for him to continue holding his position.  I’ve offered my opinion on the…

A glowing child emerges in the midst of a crowd of crazed monsters

Politics This Week: Reality Begins to Peek Through the Madness in New England

By Justin Katz | November 6, 2023 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz find evidence across multiple issues that truth is beginning to break through Democrats’ wall of unity.

A water drop and ripples

Those using the government to target individuals always think they’re on the side of “the people.”

By Justin Katz | November 6, 2023 |

This tweet from Democrat Attorney General Peter Neronha is a little old, but I didn’t want to let it pass without comment in this space: The people who own property in the state have rights, too.  Many, probably most, of them are “people of this great state.”  The AG has to enforce the laws as…

A scared white, male college student with his mouth covered threateningly from behind

The University of Rhode Island isn’t exactly representing the spirit of Roger Williams in the Ocean State.

By Justin Katz | November 6, 2023 |

Although it no-doubt reveals my prejudices, if I were to rank Rhode Island’s handful of institutions of higher education on matters of freedom of thought, I’d expect Brown University — the Ivy League bastion of the elites  and producer of the likes of Aaron Regunberg and Tiara Mack — to top the list of badness. …

A water drop and ripples

Our first imperative is to figure out how to reconvince young Americans that learning how to think is desirable.

By Justin Katz | November 1, 2023 |

I believe in humanity’s ability to adapt and recover, but it typically comes at the expense of a lot of waste and pain.  I’m increasingly worried that we’ve cheated younger generations of the ability to think.  Not only are schools failing to teach it, but our emphasis on schooling has drawn many children and young…