opinion

Evans: First Amendment Deserves Our Respect, Too

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As we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence 242 years ago on July 4, as we mourn the murders last week of five employees of the Annapolis, Md., Capital Gazette, four of them journalists, and as we think about the “fake news” accusations and slanderous “enemy of the American people” slurs that are hurled like stones at journalists, we should reflect on the important role they play in our United States and in protecting and preserving our democracy.

opinion

Evans: Trump Is Wrong About People’s Rights

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If you go out East this week and swing by places like Mount Vernon, Monticello and Montpelier, don’t be surprised if the soil has been disturbed over the graves of our Founding Fathers. Those founders of this beacon of freedom known as the United States of America surely have turned over in their graves following the weekend news from President Donald Trump. Randy Evans
STRAY THOUGHTS
Randy Evans is the executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council. He is a former editorial page editor and assistant managing editor of The Des Moines Register. Opinions are his own.

Des Moines Register

Tariffs Aren’t As Simple As Trump Believes

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The school year is finished, but whether we like it or not, Iowans have been sent to summer school this year. Randy Evans
STRAY THOUGHTS
Randy Evans is the executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council. He is a former editorial page editor and assistant managing editor of The Des Moines Register. Opinions are his own. Visit the Iowa Freedom of Information Council website at: http://ifoic.org/

The subject for our summer education: the economics of foreign trade and tariffs.

presidential politics

Presidential Primary Two Years Away But Heat Already On In New Hampshire

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Distant Dome is co-published by InDepthNH.org, which made this story available to IowaWatch, and Manchester Ink Link
The New Hampshire Presidential Primary may be two years away, but in the current political climate it is never too early to begin the groundwork for a run. March was a good example. During the month, President Donald Trump returned to New Hampshire for the first time since his election. He made two stops, one at Manchester Community College to unveil his program to fight the growing opioid addiction epidemic, and Manchester Central Fire Station where the “safe station” program began. Three days later Vice President Mike Pence was in the Granite State as the featured speaker at a program to tout the GOP tax reform/cut package passed last year.

opinion

A Better Way To Show Our Appreciation

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Mr. President, may I have a few minutes of your time? I would like to suggest an alternative to the big Veterans Day parade in Washington, D.C., that you asked the Pentagon to plan. I certainly appreciate your desire to honor the men and women in our armed forces who are serving our nation around the globe. I understand you want to show off the equipment our military has at the ready. Randy Evans
STRAY THOUGHTS
Randy Evans is the executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council.

public discourse

Why My Journalism Ulcer Works Overtime

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Last week was a time for setbacks in the United States. The only question is which setback was greater. Was it President Donald Trump’s standing in the eyes of the American people, with a book filled with fresh allegations about chaos inside his White House? Or was it American journalism’s standing in the eyes of the American people that suffered the most? Randy Evans
STRAY THOUGHTS
Randy Evans is the executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council.

opinion

Don’t Look At Sexual Abuse Through A Political Lens

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A long-ago newspaper article about Bill Clinton came to opinion columnist Randy Evans’ mind last week because of the controversy that exploded over the Washington Post disclosures about U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore.

Donald Trump

In Times Like These, We Need More Empathy

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When you look at the world around us — with its hatred and bitterness, with its disagreements and divisiveness — the quality most lacking today is empathy. We find it difficult, if not impossible, to put ourselves in each other’s shoes and see events and issues from their perspective.