Justin Katz

A young figure looks up the stairs in a shadowy building

The other day in RI, I saw the voters who weren’t there.

By Justin Katz | November 21, 2023 |

Mainstream ignorance of Rhode Island’s political opposition is a warning sign of an unhealthy and surreal political environment.

A man in a suit starts a fire against a government building

Politics This Week: RI Moves Further into Thugocracy

By Justin Katz | November 20, 2023 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz discuss the deteriorating civic structure of Rhode Island.

A water drop and ripples

I wouldn’t claim to have a direct solution for Rhode Island’s early intervention programs.

By Justin Katz | November 20, 2023 |

But I have to wonder: as these groups come forward demanding more money, is anybody — whether journalists or state agencies — investigating the services that are being provided, the mandates imposed on the providers, or the nuts and bolts of the organizations providing them? Such stories typically evince no trace of skepticism about the…

A water drop and ripples

A passing thought on Washington Trust’s recent troubles in Rhode Island.

By Justin Katz | November 20, 2023 |

Conversations related to the Washington Trust settlement with the government, requiring the bank to address alleged racial discrimination on its part, indicate two views or standards for handling blame in society. One side is convinced that somebody is to blame for the circumstances of life and that the job of society (particularly government) is to…

A water drop and ripples

For anybody who’s found it strange that the news media isn’t making it easy to find the new January 6 videos.

By Justin Katz | November 18, 2023 |

Here they are.

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.