'Mississippi sheriffs wield a tremendous authority in the counties they police'
Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
'Mississippi "Goon Squad" didn't come out of nowhere'
Grace Elizabeth Hale at CNN
The torture of two Black men by white Rankin County, Mississippi, sheriff's deputies in the self-named "Goon Squad" was "horrific," says Grace Elizabeth Hale. But abuse under all-powerful Mississippi sheriffs "is not a new problem." Local law enforcement in the state grew out of wars against Native American tribes and the "slave patrols, loosely organized groups of white men set up to keep Black people in bondage." Many still treat "the law as a kind of personal power."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
'"Emergency" spending is out of control'
Eric Boehm at Reason
Emergency spending "has become a convenient way for lawmakers and presidents to hike spending — and add to the national debt," says Eric Boehm. Congress has authorized $12 trillion for emergencies in the last three decades. Half went toward addressing the Great Recession and the Covid-19 pandemic. Much of the rest went to "purposes that strain the definition of emergency" — one 2023 proposal was for replacing weather-forecasting airplanes — and should be "part of the normal budget process."
'New York's lawfare threat to democracy'
Washington Examiner editorial board
"New York Attorney General Letitia James is doing grave harm to our democracy," says the Washington Examiner editorial board. A court will "eventually throw out the $464 million civil fraud judgment against former President Donald Trump as a textbook case of selective prosecution." But in the meantime, this partisan prosecutor's willingness "to stretch the law to inflict financial ruin on those with whom she disagrees" is setting "a terrible precedent that will surely be built upon."
'Protecting our kids from abuse must be our highest priority'
Willie Wilson in the Chicago Tribune
Investigations show a "heartbreaking" amount of sexual abuse against students, says Willie Wilson. "How can a child learn if they are being abused by a teacher or staff member at their school?" Protecting kids should be the highest priority for elected officials and educators. Lawmakers should pass laws requiring schools to report improper teacher-student relationships; administrators must quickly hold offenders accountable. "Our children are the future, and we must protect them and provide them with a quality education."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Harold Maass is a contributing editor at The Week. He has been writing for The Week since the 2001 debut of the U.S. print edition and served as editor of TheWeek.com when it launched in 2008. Harold started his career as a newspaper reporter in South Florida and Haiti. He has previously worked for a variety of news outlets, including The Miami Herald, ABC News and Fox News, and for several years wrote a daily roundup of financial news for The Week and Yahoo Finance.
-
How the brain changes during pregnancy
In The Spotlight 'Baby brain' has some scientific basis but not in the way we first thought
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
What 'day one rights' could mean for employees and their bosses
The Explainer Staff set to get protections from day one of a new job
By Marc Shoffman, The Week UK Published
-
What are the options for covering long-term care?
The explainer Nursing homes are expensive, but there are smart ways to start saving
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
Slain journalists are getting a one-of-a-kind memorial
In the Spotlight The memorial will be located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
'Musk could receive some attention from federal law enforcement'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
NYC Mayor Adams' administration may be in big trouble
High-profile defections and ongoing federal scrutiny have called into question how — and even if — the mayor of New York City can continue to govern
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Suspect lurked 12 hours at Trump course, fired no shots
Speed Read Ryan Routh, 58, did not have Trump in his line of sight when the Secret Service apprehended him
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump assassination attempt: do former presidents need more protection?
Today's Big Question Secret Service director says 'paradigm shift' needed after second Trump attack sparks calls for more resources
By The Week UK Published
-
'If this is a race, China has a commanding lead'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
How the far-right media bubble failed Donald Trump
By ensconcing himself in the comfort of friendly — and increasingly conspiracy-driven — media, the former president is stuck in a feedback loop of his own making
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Ohio governor slams attacks on Haitian migrants
Speed Read Mike DeWine condemned the conspiracies boosted by Donald Trump and JD Vance about immigrants eating people's pets
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published