“The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose,” Shakespeare warns in The Merchant of Venice. The line echoes the Gospel story of Christ’s temptation, where Satan quotes the Psalms to serve his own ends. It is a reminder that even sacred words lose truth in the mouths of the self-righteous. That came to mind this past week […]
Politics has always been a contact sport. But today the screaming and yelling we see from demonstrators in the streets, pundits in the media, and—most disappointingly—during congressional debate and in courtrooms across the country reflects something deeper than ordinary rough‑and‑tumble. It reveals a collapse of civility and the rise of undisciplined minds that have never […]
Over the past few days, I’ve found myself bewildered—though not surprised—by the hypocrisy, naïveté, and lack of self-awareness exhibited by many of our legislators and those inside the Governor’s Office. As the state’s budget shortfall dominates attention and agency funding requests come under scrutiny, the same old games are being played while the public remains […]
Words, when used precisely, can be instruments of truth. When they are used carelessly—or maliciously—they become weapons. Much of today’s public discourse illustrates that danger. When language loses precision, emotion fills the void, and hatred follows close behind. Take the phrase “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” It’s not a medical term but a rhetorical one—an accusation that […]
According to The Capital Sun, another conservation group has filed suit against the federal government, this time demanding that it finally designate “critical habitat” for the wolverine. The government, apparently, can’t begin to protect these rare northern carnivores until it first defines where they live. It’s a fair point—and one that might just apply to another vanishing […]
It seems to me that it’s far too easy to get caught up in news cycles and politics at every level. Being engaged and informed matters—it’s our civic duty—but these things are not the most important part of life. The story below captures my thoughts about setting priorities and remembering what really counts. When the final whistle […]
Why is the Idaho Republican Party so divided, even as it holds a supermajority in both chambers of the Legislature and the Governor’s office? That question was recently posed on Idaho Reports to former Governor Butch Otter and former Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General David Leroy—two of the most skilled retail politicians Idaho has ever produced. Along […]
C. S. Lewis, Natural Law, and Immigration Non‑Enforcement In Mere Christianity C. S. Lewis writes: “Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance.” Lewis assumes an objective moral law (the Tao) that orders personal life, social life, and life under […]
When I was a boy growing up in central Ohio, my father didn’t join the country club until my senior year of high school. That summer, I was playing Legion baseball when he asked if I wanted to take golf lessons instead. I told him no. Trying to persuade me, he said, “You can play […]
So tonight, I’m inviting every legislator to join with my administration in reaffirming a fundamental principle. If you agree with this statement, then stand up and show your support: The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.” Those words from President Donald J. Trump’s State of the Union address […]
Abraham Lincoln, often regarded as America’s greatest president, and F. A. Hayek, the Nobel laureate economist, lived nearly a century apart but were united by their championing of liberty. Both recognized the progression of Western Civilization—from Ancient Greece and Rome, through Jerusalem, the Magna Carta, the Enlightenment, and the Declaration of Independence. Each deployed language […]
Bishop Robert Barron has warmly praised Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s address at last week’s Munich Security Conference. He highlights Rubio’s remarks as a much‑needed affirmation of the Christian roots of Western civilization and of the spiritual bond between Europe and the United States. What Barron actually said: On X, Barron wrote that he was […]