Written

A water drop and ripples

Curious, the events that turn Valverde’s stomach.

By Justin Katz | September 2, 2021 |

Progressive Democrat State Senator Bridget Valverde (East Greenwich, North Kingstown, South Kingstown, and Narragansett) tweeted last night: Today’s headlines about the Texas abortion ban and SCOTUS’ failure to protect Texans’ reproductive rights turn my stomach. It is a fleeting comfort to think how lucky we are here in Rhode Island that we finally won the…

A water drop and ripples

It’s difficult to see what would turn Biden’s approval slide around.

By Justin Katz | September 2, 2021 |

Approval of Biden has crashed across multiple polls, as Nick Arama reports on RedState: On top of that, the latest Rasmussen numbers found that 52% want Biden to resign over the disaster of the Afghanistan withdrawal, while 39% disagree. But that wasn’t all. An even bigger number agreed with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) that Biden deserved…

Handcuffed resist fists

McKee takes a step toward lockdowns with new “quarantine and isolation executive order.”

By Justin Katz | September 2, 2021 |

Frankly, I intend to ignore Democrat Governor Dan McKee’s latest executive order, issued late yesterday, and make informed decisions for my own health and those with whom I come into contact.  All five of the “whereas” clauses — which are supposed to explain and justify this sort of resolution — are purely generic.  There is…

Hospital beds

Anyone feel like we’re watching the deterioration of our healthcare system?

By Justin Katz | September 1, 2021 |

It’s not an encouraging message when the state government starts sending out warnings to people not to go to emergency rooms unnecessarily.  The advice is always worthwhile, of course, but as the WPRI headline at the link puts it, the context right now ascribes it to “overcrowding” and “staffing shortages.” Naturally, the state Department of…

A water drop and ripples

Biden’s rhetoric is sleazy, lying snake-oil salesman stuff.

By Justin Katz | September 1, 2021 |

It’s getting pretty hard to take this stuff: President Joe Biden pointed to the U.S. competition with China as a reason for America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, in a speech on Aug. 31 declaring the end of the 20-year conflict in the war-torn nation. … “It’s about ending an era of major military operations to remake…

A water drop and ripples

An increase in veterans’ calls to a suicide hotline is terrible, but so was the baseline

By Justin Katz | September 1, 2021 |

This is horrible news to read, from Mike Brest of The Washington Examiner: Veterans placed more than 35,000 calls to the Veterans Crisis Line between Aug. 13 and 29, according to VA data provided to the Washington Examiner, which coincides with the time period in which the U.S. military and coalition forces were embarking on…

A blurry Google logo

The fall of conservative institutions is disappointing news.

By Justin Katz | September 1, 2021 |

It’s easy for factions to take pleasure in victory over their internecine opponents, but it’s not good news if, as Emerald Robinson writes on her Substack (via Instapundit), large swaths of what my MAGA friends call “Conservative, Inc.” have been bought out by big tech (emphasis in original): Meanwhile the funding of [National Review] now…

"Injustice Won't Be Postponed" sign

Investigating critical race theory in schools is like tugging on a thread into a murky cave.

By Justin Katz | August 31, 2021 |

Nicole Solas has been going through the results of her famous APRA requests and posting choice bits on social media.  Yesterday, for example, she posted a description of “readiness courses” offered by the state to help students make up for COVID-shutdown learning losses.  Here’s the key part of the description: The Readiness courses use student-centered…

A water drop and ripples

Polling data guru Nate Silver is right that COVID policy is ridiculous.

By Justin Katz | August 31, 2021 |

On the money:

A water drop and ripples

Treasurer Magaziner should stop using his office for political pronouncements.

By Justin Katz | August 31, 2021 |

Rhode Island General Treasurer Seth Magaziner just sent out a statement through his official spokesman and including the seal of his office: “Statement from Treasurer Magaziner Calling for Vaccine Requirement for Teachers and School Staff.” “With children across Rhode Island returning to school this week, we must take immediate action to protect them from COVID-19,”…