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Trump’s family policy

The animating beliefs of this administration range from dangerously wrong to head-spinningly crazy. Tariffs are in the first tranche, along with the myth that NATO has been ripping off the United States for decades, that immigrants commit more crimes than native-born Americans and that “He who saves his country commits no crime” (just to name four). The beliefs that vaccines cause autism, that fluoridated water is a public health threat, that threatening allies and neighbors enhances national security, and that taxing foreign holders of Treasuries would be a good way to solve the ...

What a privilege to be a firestarter

What a privilege it is to be a Fire Starter—to help others keep their own flame of life burning brightly. This thought came to mind when I received an email from Rani Brahmbhatt, a student at George Washington University, after a talk I had given. She shared her takeaways and closed the message with, “I hope to become a Fire Starter and build a successful career helping others as well!”  I first heard the term “Fire Starter” over two decades ago when I was introduced to speak at my first keynote presentation. I was nervous as I waited off stage. The person introducing me ...

Spring is a time to wait and see

Next week Kump Education Center will host two opportunities to think more creatively about the challenges of rural education. On Wednesday, April 30 at 7 p.m., we will host Dr. Deborah Stiles, a Randolph-born West Virginian and Fulbright Scholar. Dr. Stiles will lead a humorous presentation entitled “Elbows Up ?!?: A Conversation on Canada.” Everyone is welcome to join us for the First Friday Focus on Education meeting held May 2 at 4 p.m. in the Learning Lab for the purpose of considering new ideas for local schools. We do not pretend to have all the answers to the many ...

Upside down

When Lord Cornwallis handed his sword to George Washington at Yorktown, the British band played a tune, “The World Turned Upside Down.” This seems to be a fitting description of Donald Trump’s approach to the economic order. Tariffs, the price of gold, and other arcane ideas seemingly are on the table. It promises to be a repeat performance of Richard Nixon in August 1971. Except this performance will be somewhat in reverse. Nixon inherited a strained economic situation due to deficits and the inability to adjust the Gold System established during World War II, known as Bretton ...

Peter Navarro serves as President Donald Trump’s Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing. He is also a key player in the MAGA movement. It was Navarro who went to jail in July 2024 for his refusal to testify before the January 6 Committee; to say the least, he is loyal. But he is also the architect, along with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, of the tariff “war” which threatens to explode. He has attracted the ire of Elon Musk, whom he has described as a “car assembler,” not a “car manufacturer.” Musk retorted that Navarro is “dumber than a sack of bricks, but ...

The Golden Rule

I try not to write angry. As I’ve said before, this column is not just a place for me to spew an opinion. I really do try to use this space to take you behind-the-scenes into how I choose the stories I cover, analysis of the political actions of others, and tidbits of items I can’t fit into stories. But after bearing witness to the actions of the West Virginia Senate on the last night of the 2025 legislative session, I was pretty flabbergasted. I had already turned in last week’s column Saturday afternoon and had considered having my editors toss that in order to write a new ...