Debra J. Saunders

Fellow, Chapman Center for Citizenship Leadership

Archives

Can Britain’s Trump Survive?

The parallels between American and British politics make many Brits nervous — especially when it comes to brash Prime Minister Boris Johnson and boastful former President Donald Trump.

Crack Pipes and Free Needles

Every well-intended public policy taken to an extreme leads to misery and dysfunction. A case in point is the Washington Free Beacon story on $30 million grant for “safe smoking” kits. According to the story, a Department of Health and Human Services spokesman said the kits would include pipes for users to smoke crack cocaine.”

Reading, Writing and Gender Bending

The New York Times is concerned about censorship in American schools. "Book Ban Efforts Spread Across the U.S." reads Sunday's headline. "Parents, activists, school board officials and lawmakers around the country are challenging books at a pace not seen in decades," the story reports. The story generally focuses on parents, but methinks the uptick in outrage has more to do with the books than the parents.

Youngkin Rips Off the School Mask Mandate

Newly minted Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed nine executive orders and two directives that, among other things, ended a mandate that state employees be vaccinated and a school mask mandate. He embraced the radical idea of allowing parents to decide if their children mask up in the classroom, effective Jan. 24.

Meltdowns on a Plane

Even if you haven't seen this particular video posted by ATL Uncensored, you've seen many like it -- a plane, an argument, a viral cellphone video of yet another in-flight confrontation.

Crime Reform Is Here. Do You Feel Safer?

Democrats are keeping their heads down. They spent years assuring the public that their so-called fixes would enhance public safety, that they were simply out to protect nonviolent offenders from overzealous law enforcement. Now I have to ask voters in blue cities and states: Do you feel safer?

Reporters, Question Yourselves

If you have any doubt about whether the White House press corps has a different standard for President Joe Biden than for former President Donald Trump, consider the press briefings that followed their first physicals as president at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Biden's physical occurred Friday.

Woke Math Won’t Deliver Equity

According to California's draft "Mathematics Framework," math is not just a "neutral discipline"; it also can be used to promote equity and "social justice."

Behind Virginia’s CRT Governor’s Loss

When you tell people that something they see right before them does not exist, you lose their vote. That's what Virginia Democrat Terry McAuliffe did as he campaigned for governor, and, no surprise, he lost. If Democrats continue on this course in 2022, they'll lose again.

Biden Border Policy: Criminals Welcome

Immigration advocacy had moved from shielding otherwise law-abiding undocumented immigrants to protecting undocumented immigrants with criminal records. It's happening again under Biden. That's not policy; it's recklessness.

Steele Dossier: The Lie Told Around the World, Again

When you think about it, the phony claim that, in 2013, former President Donald Trump cavorted with prostitutes in the Moscow Ritz-Carlton who urinated in front of him on a bed once used by former President Barack Obama and his wife was genius.

Seattle, Another Dysfunctional City

“Familiar faces” is a term used for Seattle’s prolific offenders in the criminal justice system, writes Scott Lindsay in Crosscut, where he considers how two candidates for city attorney would deal with these repeat offenders.

Biden’s Epic Fail at Unity

As a candidate, now-President Joe Biden said that if elected, he would bring the country together, heal partisan divisions and get things done. How's that working out?

Everybody Hates Facebook

Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen and Facebook itself share a vocabulary that reflects current sensibilities. They both talk about making Facebook "safe" -- as proofs of the social media giants' role in making America uglier pop up daily.

McAuliffe: Virginia Is for Lovers, But Not Parents

Former President Donald Trump hasn't been in office since January, and he doesn't live in Virginia. Nonetheless, Trump has become the biggest issue in the Virginia governor's race; it's a sign that Democrats know they could lose not only their hold on Richmond but also Congress during next year's midterm elections.