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Political Commentary

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March 18, 2021

How Mid-Decade Redistrictings Saved the Democratic House Majority By J. Miles Coleman

KEY POINTS FROM THIS ARTICLE

— Though new congressional lines are typically put into effect for election years ending in “-2”, four states adopted new maps at later points during this last decade.

— In North Carolina, Florida, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, Republican-friendly maps were thrown out mid-decade in favor of plans that were more amenable to Democrats.

— If those pro-Republican maps were still in place, there’s a good chance that House Republicans would be in the majority now.

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March 17, 2021

The Woke Awards by John Stossel

Oscar nominees were announced this week.

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March 16, 2021

Don't Force Workers to Join a Union by Stephen Moore

In 1978, when I was 17 years old, I worked as an usher at concerts and sporting events earning $2.25 an hour, the minimum wage. I had to surrender about 15 cents of this meager hourly wage to a union I was forced to join. I could never understand what a union was doing to help me since the company had the legal requirement to pay me $2.25. I was infuriated over the principle of this confiscation by labor bosses I had never met.

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March 12, 2021

Biden Moves Forward With Open-Doors Immigration Policy. Why? by Michael Barone

"BIDEN," say the young demonstrators' T-shirts, imitating his campaign logo, "PLEASE LET US IN!" The picture ran in The New York Times, but one wonders whether whoever paid for the tees got his money's worth, for President Joe Biden's administration seems determined to let in as many immigrants as want to come.

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March 12, 2021

Is a Cold War II with China Inevitable? By Patrick J. Buchanan

Today, the four premier leaders of The Quad -- the U.S., Australia, India and Japan -- conduct their first summit, by teleconference.

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March 11, 2021

2022 Gubernatorial Races: A Baseline By J. Miles Coleman

Aside from Maryland, no statehouses are initially favored to flip -- but surprises are surely coming.

KEY POINTS FROM THIS ARTICLE

— 38 states will see gubernatorial races over the next two years; Democrats currently hold 18 of the seats that will be contested while the GOP holds 20.

— Maryland, where popular Gov. Larry Hogan (R-MD) is term-limited, will be hard for Republicans to hold. With a Leans Democratic rating, the Crystal Ball expects a Democrat to flip the seat.

— We’re starting the cycle off with five Toss-ups: Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Not coincidentally, four of those gave President Biden very narrow margins last year.

— Democrats are clear favorites to retain governorships in three of the nation’s most populous states — California, Illinois, and New York — but they could be better-positioned in each.

— In the Senate, Sen. Roy Blunt’s (R-MO) retirement nudges that contest from Safe Republican to Likely Republican.

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March 10, 2021

The Real Experts by John Stossel

The vaccine rollout crawls forward. Most of us will spend weeks, or months, waiting.

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March 9, 2021

Red States Should Revolt Against the 'Blue-State Bailout' by Stephen Moore

Congressional Democrats are a runaway train with a drunk-on-power conductor in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. No matter how much evidence pours in that the economy doesn't need $1.9 trillion more in debt spending, the Pelosi locomotive keeps crashing down the track toward the financial cliff. Generations will have to pay for the joyride.

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March 9, 2021

The Emerging Existential Crisis at the Border By Patrick J. Buchanan

During a Democratic debate in 2020, the candidates were asked if their health care plans would cover "undocumented immigrants."

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March 5, 2021

Is There Any Reason to Think This Time Will Be Different? by Michael Barone

When public policies have produced disastrous results, and when alternative policies have resulted in immediate, seemingly miraculous improvement, why would anyone want to go back to the earlier policies? Is there any reason to suppose that this time will be different?

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March 5, 2021

Who Really Imperils the Republic? By Patrick J. Buchanan

"That attack, that siege" of the Capitol, FBI Director Chris Wray told Congress, "was criminal behavior, plain and simple, and it was behavior we at the FBI view as domestic terrorism."

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March 4, 2021

Virginia and New Jersey Governors 2021: A First Look By J. Miles Coleman

In blue states, Democrats could match milestones and break curses.

KEY POINTS FROM THIS ARTICLE

— Virginia Democrats are trying to win three consecutive gubernatorial races, a feat the party has not accomplished since the 1980s.

— Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D-VA) is the favorite for his state’s Democratic nomination, though he faces a diverse field.

— In a move that’s ruffled some feathers on their side, Virginia Republicans will select their nominee at a May convention.

— In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy (D-NJ) is poised to become the state’s first Democratic governor to secure reelection since 1977.

— Virginia’s open-seat race starts as Leans Democratic in the Crystal Ball ratings. New Jersey starts as Likely Democratic.

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March 3, 2021

Everyone Is Essential By John Stossel

Politicians have too much power over our lives.

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March 3, 2021

Climate Change Alarmism Takes Another Big Hit By Stephen Moore

Throughout the midsection of the United States in February, record frigid temperatures were inconvenient for those politicians who call global warming an "existential threat."

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March 2, 2021

Is Biden Reenlisting in the Forever Wars? by Patrick J. Buchanan

Thursday, in its first military action, the Biden Pentagon sent two U.S. F-15Es to strike targets of Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Iraqi militia just inside the eastern border of Syria.

February 26, 2021

Mask Pollution – Where are the Environmentalists? By Brian C. Joondeph

Masks are now a seemingly permanent staple of American life with no end in sight. Mask recommendations change like spring weather, from none to one to two or more, all based on flimsy evidence from the “follow the science” crowd.

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February 26, 2021

Partisan Strife Produces High Voter Turnout -- and No Big Boost for Either Party by Michael Barone

The last decade has seen a boom in voter turnout -- for both parties. Between the 2012 and 2020 presidential elections, total voter turnout rose 23%, with Democratic turnout up 23% and Republican turnout up 22%.

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February 26, 2021

Trump -- Once and Future King? By Patrick J. Buchanan

"I don't know if he'll run in 2024 or not. But if he does, I'm pretty sure he will win the nomination."

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February 25, 2021

Assessing the Impact of Absentee Voting on Turnout and Democratic Vote Margin in 2020 By Alan I. Abramowitz

KEY POINTS FROM THIS ARTICLE

— While the 2020 presidential election saw a record volume of absentee votes cast, not all states made it equally accessible.

— Eased absentee voting rules contributed to higher voter participation rates.

— With higher turnout, President Joe Biden’s performance still tracked closely with Hillary Clinton’s state-by-state results in 2016 — he just performed slightly better across the board.

— All told, the sharp increase in absentee voting in 2020 wasn’t disproportionately beneficial to either presidential candidate.

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February 24, 2021

Save the Rhino! By John Stossel

Today's environmental activists are so hostile to capitalism that they end up killing animals they want to protect.