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Opinion

FISA is not for illegally spying on US citizens

Editorials

The Washington Post America’s spy programs are complex, but the Fourth Amendment is simple. It says the government cannot collect and search through the private communications of United States citizens without a warrant. Congress is deadlocked on renewing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), and the Fourth Amendment points to a straightforward compromise. That is: Keep up overseas surveillance to protect U.S. national security, but require a warrant whenever the resulting database is used to look through a specific American’s communications. The ...

Abortion is not reproductive ‘care’

Letters to the Editor

Our Commonwealth Court decided that Pennsylvania taxpayers should pay for abortions for low-income Medicaid recipients. Susan Frietsche, executive director of the Women’s Law Project, called it a victory for “reproductive autonomy.” Gov. Josh Shapiro praised this new access to “reproductive care.” “Autonomy” implies self-reliance, not reliance on others for their support. In all cases, reproductive autonomy is best exercised before a child is conceived. “Care” is a perverted term for the governor to use in this case. A full 50% of the people involved in this ...

This is not how Americans are supposed to act

Opinion

In just the past two years, there have been three serious attempts on the life of Donald Trump. In July 2024, a would-be assassin fired multiple shots at Trump during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, wounding the former and future president and killing a member of the audience. In September 2024, secret service agents identified, engaged with, and later apprehended another hopeful assassin at Trump International Golf Club in Florida. And just days ago, gunshots erupted outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., as yet another deranged individual looked to ...

You’re doing it wrong: Pants-washing edition

Opinion

The article in The Washington Post pulled no punches. “You’re probably washing your pants wrong,” the headline informed me. “Here’s how to do it right.” As a woman and a parent, I am quite accustomed to being told that I’m doing something wrong, so, being thusly addressed, I did not immediately take umbrage. Perhaps The Washington Post is right, I thought. Perhaps, as is true with the way that I grocery shop, cook, feed and clothe my children, exercise, do my hair/makeup, walk, talk and breathe, there IS something wrong with the way that I wash my pants. Perhaps this ...

New treatment for heart issue requires thought

Editorials

Great progress has been made in treating aortic stenosis, a heart problem that reportedly affects at least 1.5 million Americans. In severe cases of aortic stenosis, calcium buildup has narrowed the opening of the aortic valve to the point where, if left untreated, can lead to heart failure and death. There apparently have been no statistics presented publicly about the prevalence of the condition to people in the six-county Southern Alleghenies region, or even statewide, but no doubt the condition has a local presence. It might be puzzling to some people why this topic has reached ...

Democratic party’s direction questioned

Letters to the Editor

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the current political rhetoric and actions of the national Democratic Party. While the party has accused the president of “lawfare,” the language being used suggests a troubling intent to weaponize the legal system against members of the current administration once they leave office. This approach is reminiscent of political instability seen in developing nations and has no place in our discourse. Furthermore, I am disappointed by the ongoing opposition to the president’s proposal to construct a formal ballroom. A proper venue for ...