Commentary

FILE — Luzerne County Bureau of Elections officials and city employees sort through and count mail-in and absentee ballots, in the Luzerne County Government Center in Wilkes Barre, Pa., Nov. 4, 2020. Voting by mail is increasingly popular, but mail ballots are rejected far more often than in-person ones. In Pennsylvania and elsewhere, parties are battling over which ones to count — or not. (Robert Nickelsberg/The New York Times)

Comment: Doing the math of elections offers lesson in politics

Using population and election statistics, students get a sense for how math is used in government.

FILE — Luzerne County Bureau of Elections officials and city employees sort through and count mail-in and absentee ballots, in the Luzerne County Government Center in Wilkes Barre, Pa., Nov. 4, 2020. Voting by mail is increasingly popular, but mail ballots are rejected far more often than in-person ones. In Pennsylvania and elsewhere, parties are battling over which ones to count — or not. (Robert Nickelsberg/The New York Times)

Comment: Gavi, a global vaccine initiative, can save lives of kids

Urge your representatives in Congress to support its programs to increase access to vaccines around the world.

Comment: Why it’s getting harder to study, combat fake news

Critics are conflating fact-checkers’ work with censorship; but how misinformation is handled matters.

Comment: We’re still just guessing at health effects of cannabis

We don’t know how much is OK or at what potency. And that goes double for its effects on youths.

FILE — Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris speak over each other during the presidential debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Sept. 10, 2024. Trump repeatedly spread falsehoods about immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, during the presidential debate, and a flood of threats to Jamie McGregor, CEO of McGregor Metal Co., his family, and his business followed. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

Comment: Comparing Harris and Trump on crime and justice

A look at their records in office show wide differences in the policies they would likely pursue.

FILE — Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris speak over each other during the presidential debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Sept. 10, 2024. Trump repeatedly spread falsehoods about immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, during the presidential debate, and a flood of threats to Jamie McGregor, CEO of McGregor Metal Co., his family, and his business followed. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

Comment: Everett ballot measure could make housing crisis worse

Extending ‘rights’ to the Snohomish River would invite harmful lawsuits and won’t add to its protections.

Comment: Supported employment for disabled built by partners

Providing the benefits of inclusive employment requires the work of nonprofits, agencies and businesses.

Eco-nomics: As hurricane raged, Project 2025 heaped on denial

As Helene killed hundreds, the Heritage Foundation’s president described climate change as “weather.”

Comment: Trump has alread shown us who he is during a crisis

Whether a pandemic or a hurricane, Trump couldn’t resist lies and omissions, leading to further tragedy.

Comment: Efforts look to put Marysville schools on stable path

New interim leadership, its school board and the community can restore the school district’s finances.

Comment: Mass deportation not just cruel; it would be costly

Start with a low estimate of $315 billion in deportation costs, then add losses to taxes and the economy.

Comment: Past decision backs justices into corner on ghost guns

To rule gun kits as guns, the Supreme Court will have to abandon the textualism it used on bump stocks.

Comment: Why ‘Never Trump’ conservatives must vote for Harris

Even in ‘blue’ states, they don’t have the luxury of voting for a third-party candidate, as I did in 2016.

EDS.: RETRANSMISSION TO CORRECT BYLINE METADATA TO CAITLIN OCHS — People celebrate at the annual New York City Pride March in Manhattan on Sunday, June 30, 2024. The upcoming presidential election and laws threatening the rights of the LGBTQ community motivated many Pride attendees. (Caitlin Ochs/The New York Times)

Comment: Where Trump, Harris tickets stand on LGBTQ issues

Rather than platforms, consider the candidates’ past actions on LGBTQ rights and restrictions.

EDS.: RETRANSMISSION TO CORRECT BYLINE METADATA TO CAITLIN OCHS — People celebrate at the annual New York City Pride March in Manhattan on Sunday, June 30, 2024. The upcoming presidential election and laws threatening the rights of the LGBTQ community motivated many Pride attendees. (Caitlin Ochs/The New York Times)

Comment: For kids and fairer tax code vote no on I-2109

At the expense of families, voting yes would repeal a tax paid by only the state’s wealthiest individuals.

Comment: A protein-folding UW professor shows promise of AI

A Nobel award has highlighted AI-assisted work that could aid the development and efficacy of drugs.

Comment: An economist’s hard-headed take on disaster relief

Sometimes state-run insurance encourages homeowners to rebuild where they really shouldn’t.

Comment: Nation’s flood insurance system is badly broken

Hurricane Helene may have caused $250 billion in losses. All but $15 billion of that is uninsured.

Comment: Netanyahu’s plan for peace has to start at home

If there’s no place in leadership for Hamas and Hezbollah, there’s no room for Israel’s nationalist fanatics.

Comment: New Jan. 6 brief against Trump still faces challenge

Special counsel Jack Smith attempts to follow the Supreme Court’s guidance, but it gets the last word.