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Articles by Mark Cohen
Treating Crowd Violence as Normal Ignites France Again Original
France's current crisis isn't one problem. It's several problems feeding each other. Some can be fixed; others will be very difficult because it's late in the game. Success depends on understanding that every single one of them has to be addressed. Since late September of this year, student protests over school funding have spread nationally, with more than 6,100 arrests, most of them minors. Ask 10 people why, and you will get 10 answers. Some blame lenient courts and full prisons.
Nebraska Congressional Candidate and His Giant Dog Visit Ten Towns in One Day
Cohen and Solomon at the Nebraska State Capitol Candidate Concludes Day with Debate Against Cardboard Cutout of Incumbent LEMOYNE, NE, UNITED STATES, October 9, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Mark Cohen, the only independent in the race for the U.S. House in Nebraska’s Third District, visited ten towns in a single day on October 8th. Cohen made the trip with his Irish Wolfhound, Solomon.
Why We're Debating the Wrong Question About Iran Original
The debate over the war with Iran has become increasingly intense. This is understandable. Critics ask how much Iran's military and nuclear capabilities have actually been weakened.
Independent Candidate Mark Cohen Pushes Congress Reform
Skip to stories Breaking •Illinois Mom Charged With Murder in Death of 2-Year-Old Son•Maria Bartiromo's Next Moves After Fox Exit•The AI Era Is Here - Critical Choices Ahead•Illinois Mom Charged With Murder in Death of 2-Year-Old Son•Maria Bartiromo's Next Moves After Fox Exit•The AI Era Is Here - Critical Choices Ahead Illinois Mom Charged With Murder in Death of 2-Year-Old Son Star-Heraldupdated 1m agofirst covered Sep 5, 8:15 PM ET Read the original ↗ Independent candidate Mark Cohen is...
A Point of View: The Heart of a Retailer’s Brand
In a recent Robin Report podcast, I talk about the importance of physical stores. I also discuss the importance of presentation, condition, and behavior; notably, the need for stores to be neat, clean, and friendly, in addition to being properly assorted and stocked.
Victory in Iran Must Encompass Military, Ideological Wins Original
When War Is No Longer a Means but the End For more than two centuries, military strategy has rested on one simple assumption. As Carl Philipp Gottlieb von Clausewitz argued, war is the continuation of politics by other means. States wage war to achieve political objectives, and military victory comes when the enemy concludes those objectives can no longer be attained. Iran presents something fundamentally different.
The Domino Effect of the Iran War
Note: This report is a joint analysis from Mark Cohen and Phil Lempert on how surging energy costs are reshaping retail in every corner of the American marketplace. In meteorological terms, a “Warning,” whether it’s a flood warning, a wind warning, a tornado warning or a tsunami warning, means there is a possibility of a dangerous condition that may occur in the near term. In contrast, a “Watch” means to expect something bad that will quite likely happen in the very near term.
What Now? What to Do
What now? (Some might say more crudely, now, WTF?) You are a retail business executive. It’s the second quarter of 2026, approaching early May. You are finalizing your Back-to-School merchandising, marketing and expense plans. Whether actual back-to-school merchandise represents a meaningful business for you or not, it is the calendar portal to the ever-vital second half of your company’s year.
Coverage of U.S.–Iran Ceasefire Omits Much, Strikes Out
The Cease-Fire Illusion: What the Coverage Is Missing There are those who argue — perhaps not without reason — that a decisive outcome in the military operation against Iran would require a land invasion. But that view tends to overlook the extent to which the current gains, particularly at sea and in controlling critical infrastructure, can be consolidated and expanded without crossing that threshold.
What Makes Retail Leadership Excel
Let me start by completely disparaging the ridiculous and vapid comments made by Richard Baker following his defenestration at the hands of his hapless creditors. He said his actions in leading Saks Fifth Avenue and then authoring the company’s merger with Neiman Marcus to form Saks Global were intended to “save” the department store. As history has clearly revealed, Richard Baker could not run, let alone “save” a department store or any other retail enterprise if his life depended on it.
For UChicago Law, the Supreme Court tariffs case was a tale of two alumni
When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last month that sweeping tariffs imposed by the administration of President Donald Trump were unlawful, two Law School alumni found themselves at the center of the landmark decision-one as the business owner whose company challenged the tariffs, the other as a constitutional scholar helping argue the case. Rick Woldenberg, JD'86, is the CEO of the educational products company Learning Resources.
We're Witness to An Understated, Underestimated Iran Threat
A curious argument has appeared in recent commentary on the war. It gained renewed prominence when otherwise serious political leaders claim that no clear explanation exists for why the conflict serves American interests. The argument goes further, asserting that when President Donald Trump is asked for a rationale, he offers none; that his advisers offer none; and that no coherent justification has been presented. This claim does not advance debate — it prevents it.
Letter: Public employees keep New York state running
The Great New York State Fair has a little something for everyone and, often, a lot of things for many people.
Independent candidate for Nebraska's Third District: Don’t let the labels distract you
Politicians use labels to keep you from asking the right questions. Rural Nebraskans deserve better. kAmx E6249 <2C2E6] ~?6 E9:?8 x E6249 DEF56?ED :D 9@H E@ 76:?E — 9@H E@ >:D5:C64E 2? @AA@?6?E D@ E96J C624E E@ E96 HC@?8 E9C62E] ~?46 J@F F?56CDE2?5 >:D5:C64E:@?[ J@F D66 :E 6G6CJH96C6] x?4=F5:?8 :? A@=:E:4D]k^Am kAm%FC? @? 2?J 423=6 ?6HD 492??6=[ 2?5 J@F’== 962C E96 D2>6 A=2J3@@<] r2== J@FC @AA@?6?ED “D@4:2=:DED” @C “72D4:DED]” r2== J@FC ?6:893@C “H@<6” @C “56A=@C23=6]” uC:89E6? J@FC 2F5:6?46] %96?
Meditating on Missiles, Miklats, and Making Aliyah
The Iranian missile threat ended at 4:20 a.m., but not before the heavens shook from a blast. I climbed the three flights to my apartment, hoping to get some sleep, but that never happened. It was the twenty-third time in the past seven days that residents of central Jerusalem received a missile alert, warning us to prepare to enter a miklat, the communal bomb shelter, or a mamad, the safe room in an apartment that has one.
Retailing During Wartime - The Robin Report
The publicly stated explanation for this war, which is taking place between the U.S. and Israel in Iran, is the explicit intent to foment regime change. It’s anyone’s guess how this conflict will proceed or eventually end. Since World War II, regime changes have almost never succeeded as planned or anticipated. Not in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Yugoslavia, the USSR, Afghanistan, or Syria, to name just a few conflicts.
Tariff Chaos and the Widening Gyre
The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling against Donald Trump’s unilateral imposition of worldwide tariffs should have been a slam dunk. The peculiar delay in the Court’s ruling a was allegedly caused by a struggle between ideology and the integrity of the Constitution itself among the justices. Nevertheless, Trump’s “America First” April 2025 “Liberation Day” strategy, emboldened by repeated escalations, changes, and curiously granted exemptions, has now been deemed to be illegal by our highest court.
The Blogs: Fear, Denial and the Jewish-American Response to Jew Hatred
Jew hatred graffiti, Lake Merritt, Oakland, CA. Funny how planting feet and soul in the Promised Land can clear up one’s vision. On July 8, after witnessing twenty-one months of anemic responses to Jew hatred by Bay Area Jewish legacy organizations, I made Aliyah from Oakland, California. I had lived there through Jew hatred in Oakland schools, the City Council, and County Board meetings.
Global Silence Deafening Over Iran's War Against Its Own People
When Iran kills its own people, the absence of popular anger on the streets and campuses of the West is itself a form of noise — a silence speaking loudly. This does not mean, at the governmental level, there has not been determined and unambiguous condemnation of Iran.
The Blogs: The Story Guns tell about Israel and America
Guns are all over the place in the promised land. From my living room window, I watch a father pushing a stroller, his IDF assault rifle slung across his back. The gabbai (prayer service director) at a shul I visited packs a pistol while giving out Aliyahs (the honor of reciting the Torah blessing). Seated across from me on a Jerusalem bus is a woman, late 20s, with a holstered SIG Sauer P365 semi-automatic pistol tucked into her jeans as if a fashion accessory.
Saks Global: Another Trainwreck
Saks Global is Richard Baker’s next and maybe his final retail failure. Lord & Taylor, The Hudson Bay Company in all its various iterations in Canada and Europe, and now the monstrosity he recently created by putting Saks Fifth Avenue, Saks Off Fifth, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman together, teeters on bankruptcy. This recent disaster is the result of the company’s failure to make a required $100 million interest payment to lenders at year’s end.
Column: Invest in the U.S. Foreign Service, not more ammunition
Former secretary of defense and retired four-star Gen.
Illusions of Palestinian State Enable Violence
Symbolism Doesn't Build Institutions, Security Forces, or Economic Systems This writer was asked a seemingly simple but consequential question: "Is a Palestinian state actually possible — especially today, after the antisemitic terror attack in Australia?" It's a question too often answered with emotion, symbolism, or diplomatic slogans.
Holiday 25: Predicting Chaos
Every year numerous analysts, forecasters, pundits and prognosticators attempt to predict an upcoming holiday’s retail performance. Typically, modest increases in sales are forecast. But what is it about this holiday, Holiday 2025, that may turn out to be very different? What effect will sharply rising unemployment have on consumer spending? What effect will sharply rising retail prices, driven by Trump’s precipitous and erratic trade war, have on consumer spending?
A New CEO in a Turnaround Needs a Full Deck of Cards
Ideally, one would want a newly appointed Chief Executive Officer to enter their proverbial corner suite with a full deck of cards, all 52 in fact. In reality, of course, some have less than a full deck—either because their CV does not accurately portray their qualifications, their experience is limited, or they are merely succeeding someone for whom they have worked.
Wartime Recognition of Palestinian State Won’t Bring Peace
The recent sharp exchanges between French President Emmanuel Macron and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be a wake-up call. Macron’s dramatic decision to recognize a Palestinian state — announced in the middle of delicate cease-fire negotiations — was not diplomacy. It was disruption. For Hamas, still holding hostages and firing rockets, it was the perfect excuse to claim victory and walk away from compromise. Netanyahu’s outrage was predictable, but justified.
Token Recognition of Palestinian State Undermines Israel
France's, UK's 'Diplomatic Theater' Grants Hamas a Propaganda Victory; Undermines Israel's Right to Self-Defense The hard truth is that months of diplomatic maneuvering — through quiet American efforts — have failed. However, the major media, along with much of European public opinion, continues to focus on alleged Israeli "abuses," while ignoring the reality that Hamas has never negotiated in good faith.
Rigid Thinking Won't Bring Mideast Change, Peace
Mideast Change a Process, Not An Event, Mandates Flexibility Two issues now at the forefront of policy debate are whether the Palestinians should be afforded a state according to the two-state formula and whether there should be regime change in Iran. While such clear-cut narratives can be politically useful, they often block innovative thinking and preclude practical solutions. The debate over a two-state solution illustrates this trap clearly.
Netanyahu Visit Underscores Lasting Calm Is Illusory, Fragile
Netanyahu Returns to White House. What of the Future Policy Towards Iran? A Cease-Fire with a Complex Geopolitical Landscape as Its Backdrop. As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attended a dinner last evening at the White House with U.S. President Donald Trump, the essential focus of their discussions was the continuing war against Hamas and the urgent question of securing a viable cease-fire in Gaza.
Message of Trump’s Iran Strike: Stalling Doesn’t Serve Peace
Trump’s Bold Military Strike and Strategic Cease-Fire: Breakthroughs Challenging Global Leaders to Choose Real Peace Over Hollow Diplomacy The newly achieved cease-fire, brokered through American strength and strategic clarity, marks a potential turning point in the broader quest for lasting stability in the Mideast. It demonstrates that force, when used with purpose, can halt violence and open a path to peace. But the cease-fire is only the beginning.
Ethical Challenges Facing Prosecutors And Defense Attorneys In Ethical Challenges Facing Prosecutors And Defense Attorneys In White-Collar Cases
INTRODUCTION Good evening, I'm Mark Cohen, a founding partner of Cohen & Gresser LLP, a criminal defense attorney, and a former federal prosecutor who served in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York. I want to begin first by thanking the Dean, Professor Christian Johnson, the faculty and the Widener Commonwealth Law School for inviting me to speak here today.
Double-Standards on Antisemitism Only Cause It to Spread
French President Emmanuel Macron hosted a lunch last month for Secretary of State Marco Rubio and developer Steve Witkoff. While the formal agenda focused on Russia and Ukraine, it is hard to ignore the undercurrent of unease regarding France's positions on the Middle East, which have often stood in direct opposition to American and Israeli policy.
Kohl’s Latest Surprise: CEO Ashley Buchanan’s Termination
If Kohl’s were a cat that had nine lives, it used up life #8 on May 1, 2025, with Ashley Buchanan’s termination. But before I offer up any opinions about Kohl’s future, if in fact, it has one, I feel compelled to share my past history and insight into the company. And it’s personal.
Julien Chatelin's 'A Breathtaking' Exhibition Explores Fragile Landscapes in Transition
Publisher : Aperture 2024 | 144 pages Diana Markosian’s Father is an intimate and engrossing diaristic portrayal of estrangement and reconnection, recounted through documentary photographs, family snapshots, text, and visual ephemera. Diana Markosian: Father presents the photographer’s journey to another place and another time, where Markosian attempts to piece together an image of a familiar stranger—her long-lost father.
The impact of stress and mental health risks in your business and how to manage them
In this article, we explore the importance of proactive mental health management and the consequences of failing to address psychosocial hazards from a UK and Australian perspective. Severe consequences Health and safety: The number one risk for directors and officers For the second year, health and safety has been identified as the top risk for directors and officers globally.
Queer Lens: A History of Photography
Publisher : Aperture 2024 | 144 pages Diana Markosian’s Father is an intimate and engrossing diaristic portrayal of estrangement and reconnection, recounted through documentary photographs, family snapshots, text, and visual ephemera. Diana Markosian: Father presents the photographer’s journey to another place and another time, where Markosian attempts to piece together an image of a familiar stranger—her long-lost father.
2025 World Press Photo of the Year revealed
World Press Photo today announces the Photo of the Year and two finalists of the 2025 World Press Photo Contest, showcasing a selection of the world’s best photojournalism and documentary photography. The Photo of the Year winner for 2025 is a photo by Doha based Palestinian photographer Samar Abu Elouf, taken for The New York Times, of a young boy - Mahmoud Ajjour - severely injured while fleeing an Israeli attack in Gaza.
CENTER opens a new photographic exhibition space & learning center
Publisher : Aperture 2024 | 144 pages Diana Markosian’s Father is an intimate and engrossing diaristic portrayal of estrangement and reconnection, recounted through documentary photographs, family snapshots, text, and visual ephemera. Diana Markosian: Father presents the photographer’s journey to another place and another time, where Markosian attempts to piece together an image of a familiar stranger—her long-lost father.
What Can Retailers Do About Trump’s Tariffs?
The $8+ trillion retail industry is the backbone of the American economy and like all industries, success in retail relies on the presence of orderly strategies and planning disciplines. It’s difficult enough to accommodate the ever-changing landscape of consumer preferences and the recurrent disruptive effects of war, weather, pandemics, etc., but now add chaos and confusion to the challenges at hand based on the whims of a mercurial president.
The Retail CEO’s Dilemma
The job of serving as a successful retail CEO carries responsibilities above and beyond those of leaders of less public-facing businesses.
2025: 100 years of the analogue photobooth
In 1925, 100 years ago, Anatol Josepho invented the first fully automated, coin-operated photobooth which he named the Photomaton. Stationed on Broadway near Times Square in New York City, over 250,000 Americans used the photobooth in its first year, paying 25 cents and waiting patiently for eight minutes while their photo strips developed. A game-changer for the world of photography, the photobooth would become ubiquitous in cities around the world.
A Requiem for the Hudson Bay Company
Question: What do Eddie Lampert and Richard Baker have in common? Answer: They have, are currently, or soon will be destroying everything they have had control over. Lampert singlehandedly killed nearly $50 billion in retail volume at Sears Roebuck, Kmart and Sears Canada. Now here comes Richard Baker. As you may have read, Baker has just sent Canada’s oldest corporation, The Hudson Bay Company, into bankruptcy. Seemingly from out of nowhere, a South Carolina based industrialist acquired HBC.
Eugenio Schmidhauser: Beyond the Malcantone
MASI Lugano presents the first museum exhibition dedicated to the photographer Eugenio Schmidhauser (Seon, 1876 - Astano, 1952). With a selection of around 90 vintage photographs and new prints from original glass plate negatives, the show in Palazzo Reali is an opportunity to rediscover a photographer who has always been viewed as playing a key role in shaping the image of tourism in the Ticino area.
The Retail Buyer’s Dilemma
I’m going to use a loosely analogous reference here to a classic game theory thought experiment known as the Prisoner’s Dilemma. In a nutshell, the Dilemma demonstrates that, in a set of adversarial or confrontational circumstances, everyone involved benefits from a mutually agreeable outcome, or not. There is urgency for every buyer to make plans now and deal with an arbitrary crisis of the moment.
End to Mideast War, Rebuilding Gaza Must Be Anchored in Reality
This week, Donald Trump faced a defining moment in his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and chose real concrete measures that break with past illusions of peace which have perpetuated further war.
Key Forces Reshaping Retail's Future
The convergence of geopolitical tensions, technological revolution, and changing consumer behaviors are creating strategic challenges and reshaping retail, all which demand immediate C-suite attention. Join Shelley and her roundtable of TRR contributors (Jasmine Glasheen, Mark A. Cohen, and Phil Lempert) as they discuss how to navigate unprecedented disruption and anticipate the short-term future.
Why AI succeeds where previous real estate ‘Disruptors’ failed
The truth is, most of these self-proclaimed disruptors got one important thing wrong: they thought real estate was just about transactions. But here’s what they missed – buying or selling a home is likely to be the biggest financial decision most Australians will ever make. It’s deeply emotional, incredibly complex, and people want someone in their corner who knows what they’re doing. But that doesn’t mean our industry isn’t changing.
Work from Home - Privilege or Imperative? - The Robin Report
As the pandemic has abated over the past several years, a pseudo-debate has emerged throughout many companies as to whether “working from home” policies should continue. I say a “pseudo-debate” because many employees believe that they have a consequential voice and vote in the matter. Like it or not they do not.
DEI: Courageous Efforts or Cowardly Responses?
Editor’s Note: This is the second part of a two-article point-counterpoint series on recent retail decisions about DEI. We are presenting two different views to explore the many facets of this polarizing issue. Most, if not virtually all, consumer-facing businesses, whether small, medium, large or overlarge, do business with diverse groups of customers. Diverse by virtue of race, color, religion, ethnicity, lifestyle, sexual orientation and political leanings.
Future-proof Real Estate Technology Solutions for Agents & Leaders
Here’s a shocking fact: at least one in three real estate businesses are copying and pasting at least some of the same information across different systems. Look around your office – if you’re running a typical residential agency, you’re probably using more than ten different tech tools. Commercial agencies? At least seven. And that’s not even counting basics like Outlook.
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