Presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden are expected to attend the funeral of the Rev. Jesse Jackson on Friday at the House of Hope Church in Chicago — an event being billed as “The People’s Celebration” — following…
Man-made catastrophes devour possibility of ending hunger
A perfect storm of war, pestilence and budget cuts has dashed any hope of ending national and global hunger by 2030, anti-poverty advocates say. The United Nations set a goal in 2015 of eradicating global food insecurity by the end…
Presidential pardons: From prisoners to political supporters
Presidential pardons have long sparked debate in American politics, often reflecting the values and priorities of the leader in office. But under President Donald Trump, the use of this constitutional power has taken on a new dimension that blurs the…
A letter to Joe
Other than you being a former president of the United States of America and me being just one of the millions of Democrats who gladly voted you into that office, you and I have a good deal in common. I,…
As Biden faces cancer diagnosis, Trump family and MAGA hurl insults
It didn’t take MAGA world long to hurl insults and conspiracy theories after learning former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. While progressive and conservative politicians and pundits alike were quick to offer…
Under Biden, faith-based office bookended by COVID-19, war in Gaza
Among the achievements of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships during the Biden presidency, the fourth administration to have featured such an office, is its work with faith-based groups on the rapid distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and…
Biden commutations leave only 3 on federal Death Row
Two days before Christmas, President Joe Biden commuted the death sentences of 37 of the 40 inmates remaining on federal Death Row. The action follows an organized campaign by death penalty opponents — including some evangelicals — asking Biden to…
Ghost actions
Much has been made of President Joe Biden’s stepping aside in favor of Vice President Harris as the Democratic Party candidate for president. It’s a clear example of how powerful not doing something can be. Tons of ink and hours…
Regarding election 2024: Eight things I see
After a tumultuous and fascinating two months in American politics, here are some things I see as this election year moves into its final stretch. After the June presidential debate, Joe Biden’s candidacy was doomed. He was right to drop…
Authentic patriotism
Recently, my wife and I were glued to the TV, watching the return of the three U.S. citizens who had been falsely imprisoned in Russia. The hour was late, but we couldn’t pull ourselves away. It was a truly rare…
Passing the mantle: Lessons for today’s leadership transitions
Leadership transitions are critical occasions that call for insight, humility and wisdom. The choice to relinquish power and hand it to a successor has a big impact on continuity and legacy, whether it’s in politics, ministry or any other institution….
Blinded by their hatred of Biden, Arab voters cut off their noses to spite their faces
Polling data and widespread media coverage indicate the Biden-Harris Administration has a problem: Long a bastion of support and a key voting bloc for the Democratic Party, support among Arab-American voters for the party is the lowest since party identification…