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Articles by Mort Zuckerman
Can The ‘Daily News’ and ‘LA Times’ Survive Their Tronc-ing?
“When I’m out on assignment, people talk to me the way you talk to a cancer patient,” a reporter for the Los Angeles Times told The Daily Beast. “They say, ‘Are you ok?,’ in that kind of cancer voice.” At the New York Daily News, “people are fucking angry,” said a longtime veteran of the 99-year-old tabloid.
Mortimer B. Zuckerman: Jim Comey’s fateful mistake
The self-righteous James Comey has served his country badly. President Obama did not mention Comey by name in a recent interview, but Obama is justified in his criticism. “We don’t operate on incomplete information,” Obama told NowThisNews. “We don’t operate on leaks.
Mort Zuckerman: The intolerable Donald Trump
The prospect of millions of Americans voting for Hillary Clinton is causing some Trump supporters to lose their minds. Former Illinois tea party Rep. Joe Walsh posted on Twitter: "On November 9th, if Trump loses, I'm grabbing my musket. You in?" Walsh was bounced out of the house in 2012 after one term — showing the Illinois voters had good sense. But this stupid incendiary remark of his should be disowned and denounced by Trump himself.
The Intolerable Donald Trump | RealClearPolitics
The Intolerable Donald Trump The prospect of millions of Americans voting for Hillary Clinton is causing some Trump supporters to lose their minds.Read Full Article »
Mort Zuckerman: What Donald Trump is doing to America
The nightmare continues. I am revolted to hear someone brag about sexually assaulting a woman. I am especially revolted as a father of two daughters to hear it from a man who might be President, for that office uniquely depends on moral authority. First Lady Michelle Obama said she had been “shaken . . . to my core in a way I couldn’t have predicted.” She did not name Donald Trump and didn’t have to. She just went to the heart of the matter: “This isn’t about politics.
John McLaughlin: Knight of His Political Roundtable
John McLaughlin: Knight of His Political Roundtable | RealClearPolitics
The Affordable Care Act Isn't the Reason Hospitals Are Closing
Michael Abrams makes the claim ["Reverse Rural Hospital Decline," March 24, 2016] the Affordable Care Act is the seemingly only cause of hospital closures in recent years, yet he provides not one bit of evidence for his opinion. Yes, the act has created additional reporting measures, but that is not what is causing hospital closures. More likely, it is the changing demographics of rural America – population declines and an aging population.
Are the Media to Blame for Donald Trump?
Businessman Donald Trump has certainly milked the media during his 2016 presidential run. According to The New York Times, Trump has earned nearly $2 billion worth of free media coverage of his campaign; second to him, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has earned roughly $746 million. Trump's stunning media dominance raises questions about the role that the press has played in his rise to becoming the Republican front-runner.
Iran Missile Test Shows Need to Fully Fund GMD Ballistic Missile Defense
As Iran continues testing ballistic missiles designed to carry nuclear weapons ["Iran Tests Missiles Possibly Capable of Striking Israel"], the need to fully fund our ground-based midcourse defense, a ballistic missile defense system, has never been clearer. GMD has been in use for over a decade and has proven its trustworthiness with nine successful live-fire tests. However it continually needs to be updated in order to stay ahead of the growing threat.
Data Does Not Back Claims About Microbeads' Harm to the Environment
Your Feb. 17 article ["Microbead Ban Aims to Scrub Out Harmful Plastics"] does not include a balanced view including the cosmetic and personal care products industry's holistic perspective on the environmental impact of its products and it does not include input from environmental scientists. Rather, the story relies on information from activists and one cosmetic company speaking allegedly for an entire industry.
GOP Needs to Win More Women Voters to Succeed in 2016
With feminists stumping for Hillary Clinton and pundits pondering Bernie Sanders' strength with Democratic women, most of the focus on female voters in 2016 has been on the left. However, right-leaning and independent women will play just as critical a role in the outcome of the GOP primary and the general election. Topline polling numbers might suggest on first glance that GOP women and men don't have dramatically different preferences.
Chicago's Anti-Tobacco Bill Will Improve Both Health and Social Justice
Your article [Anti-Tobacco Bill Could Put Chicago's Eric Garners in Jail, Feb. 11, 2016] missed a very important point about Chicago's proposed tobacco control ordinance. The proposed ordinance actually provides improvements in both social justice and health equity value. Chicago's current law prohibits youth possession of tobacco, giving law enforcement authority to stop someone who looks younger than 18 for having or using tobacco.
No One Should Have to Give Up Faith in God to Embrace Family Planning
Early in my public health career, I learned an important lesson about faith and family planning. I had led a Philippine delegation to Indonesia to learn about that country's family planning program and how it saved mothers' and infants' lives and, in the process, also curbed population growth. We met with and learned from Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, two of the largest Islamic organizations in the world.
Is Single-Payer Health Care a Good Idea?
A major fault line has developed in the 2016 Democratic primary over health care. On one side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wants to build upon the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, claiming that an overhaul of the law would be too difficult and divisive. On the other is independent Sen.
Step Up U.S. Defense Against a Nuclear North Korea
North Korea's claimed test of a hydrogen bomb ("What North Korea's Nuke Test Means for the U.S.," Jan. 6, 2016) should put to rest any lingering hope that containment or negotiations can protect us from the world's most erratic rogue state. At this point, the only responsible path is to build up our defenses so North Korea cannot threaten our cities, no matter how many bombs and missiles it builds. Fortunately, our military has been preparing for this day.
Are Obama's Gun Control Actions Good Ones?
President Barack Obama formally announced on Tuesday that he will take executive actions on gun control in an attempt to thwart gun violence. The plan includes measures to expand background checks for buyers, increase funding for mental health care and add FBI staff members to process background checks.
Is the Paris Climate Agreement a Good Strategy?
This week, 195 nations came together in Paris and adopted a global agreement to combat climate change. The accord aims to keep global warming below 2 degree Celsius, with nations pledging to gradually reduce greenhouse gas emissions, among other goals. Wealthier nations pledged to provide financial and economic support to developing countries and those most affected by global warming to help them meet the climate goals and mitigate the damaging effects of climate change.
Was the Fed Right to Raise Interest Rates?
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised interest rates for the first time since 2006, bringing its years of zero interest rate policy to an official end. The Fed has maintained historically low interest rates, and engaged in other forms of unconventional monetary policy, since the financial crisis of 2008 and ensuing Great Recession in an attempt to boost growth and employment.
Clinton's Allegiance to Teachers Unions Is Bad for Students
The recent article, "Hillary Clinton Says Exactly What Teachers Unions Want to Hear," (Nov. 16, 2015) discussed Clinton's longstanding allegiance to national teachers unions. That allegiance is unfortunate: Teachers unions, including the American Federation of Teachers, have long thrown obstacles in the path of meaningful education reforms – protecting teachers at the expense of the students they teach.
Parents Won't Allow John Bel Edwards to Threaten School Choice in Louisiana
Education analyst and former policymaker Gerard Robinson offers welcome reassurance for parents and other school-choice fans that the election of Democrat John Bel Edwards as Louisiana's next governor likely will not undo the historic advances in school choice made under the leadership of Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal. ("John Bel Edwards Won't End School Choice in Louisiana," Dec. 1.) A point not made in his article is that Edwards opposed Common Core, a clear and present threat to free choice.
Fully Fund Ground-Based Midcourse Defense to Protect Against North Korea
As North Korea moves towards testing its nuclear weapons and long-range missile, Congress must ensure our nation is defended by fully funding our defenses against this threat ("US, South Korea pledge to strengthen combined defenses against North Korea"). America's Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system defends our homeland against long-range missile attack and has proven itself in successful nine live-fire tests.
Federal Sugar Program Benefits Wealthy Sugar Farmers and Burdens Consumers
A recent story that appeared on U.S. News & World Report claimed that the federal sugar program remains popular. But we beg to differ. The most recent vote in the House of Representatives made it clear that more and more lawmakers support reforming this costly program. During consideration of the farm bill in 2013, had only six of the 435 Members switched their votes, the sugar program as we know it today would have been repealed and replaced with significant, market-based reforms.
Is the Finalized Trans-Pacific Partnership a Good Deal?
While the House reels from upheaval in the Republican leadership ranks, the clock is ticking on the time Congress has to review the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, finalized this week, before voting on it. On Oct. 5, the United States announced it had concluded years-long negotiations and reached a final agreement with Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.
Are Daily Fantasy Sports Gambling?
If you've watched any professional sporting event over the last several weeks, chances are you've seen advertisements for DraftKings or Fanduel, two daily fantasy sports gaming sites. On these sites (and many others), players compete in day- or week-long fantasy sports games, winning (or losing) money depending on how members of their "teams" of real athletes perform on the actual field.
Gun Bans Aren't the Only Answer to America's Violence Problem
With New York State legislature laying down the law on gun control, and with the White House taskforce announcing similar measures, it is clear that the National Rifle Association isn't ruling this roost—at least at the state legislature and executive branch levels. The verdict is still out on Congress, however, given the NRA's heavy financial influence over the years.
Tax Farms for Their Use, Not Their Development
American Farmland Trust disagrees with the premise of the August 24 post "Farm Follies." In fact, it is the authors who are misguided – not the policies they criticize. Farmland is, and should be, valued at its use-value, not its development value. Farmland does not generate the same tax revenue, it is true. But farmland also does not demand the same community services as a developed property.
Exporting Natural Gas Is Good for the Economy and Environment
As David Brodwin correctly states in his July 16 article ["The Case Against Exporting Natural Gas"], our oil and gas abundance, powered by horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, has driven down energy costs. Restricting the export of natural gas, however, has stifled production – especially against the backdrop of recent downward price projections – and in so doing threatens the many benefits that have come with our energy renaissance.
Past & Present: Alexander Hamilton and the Start of the National Debt
On Sept. 18, 1789, the new secretary of the treasury, Alexander Hamilton, entered into negotiations for a temporary loan with the Bank of New York and the Bank of North America—the only two banks in the country at that time. The following February, the deal went through and the government borrowed $19,608.81. It was the start of the American national debt under the new Constitution.
Common Core Can Help Bridge the College Preparedness Gap
It's that time of year again where new high school graduates are preparing for their next adventure – their first year of college. It can be both exciting and scary, especially for first-generation college students. I should know, I was one of them. I had no idea what to expect. I didn't know which classes to select or how to acclimate to a new culture that I had never been exposed to. I thought I was prepared academically – but wasn't really sure. Would I be able to keep up?
Online Doctor Ratings Work
A June 12 post on U.S. News & World Report's Policy Dose blog ["Don't Yelp Your Doctor," June 12, 2015] skewered the rising popularity of online reviews in the healthcare sector. "Online Doctor Ratings Are Garbage," the title declared. "Patients are neither qualified nor capable of evaluating the quality of the medical services that they receive," the author argued. The argument is misguided. I know – I used to feel the way the author did. Then, we did some research.
Iranians Not So Eager to Accept a Nuclear Deal
As the June 30 deadline for the P5+1 negotiations with Iran nears, "Iranian Public Opinion Clashes With Supreme Leader on Nuclear Deal" [6/24/15] suggests that the Iranian people are so supportive of reaching a deal that the Iranian government would face severe public opposition if it fails to do so. New polling does indeed show that the Iranian people support reaching a deal along the lines of the Lausanne framework.
U.S. Has No Need to Build More Nuclear Weapons
On June 22, Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, called for a "national conversation about building new nuclear weapons." ["Top GOP Lawmaker: US Must Consider Building New Nukes", June 23, 2015] The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee is right to start a new conversation, but wrong about where he wants that conversation to go.
Are the Obamacare Wars Over?
The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a key portion of the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, ruling that tax subsidies provided to those buying insurance on the federal health exchange are allowed under the law. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the 6-3 decision, joined by Justice Anthony Kennedy and the four justices who compose the court's liberal wing, while Justice Antonin Scalia, joined by Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, dissented.
Can Scotland's Nicola Sturgeon Sell America on Independence?
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon didn't beat around the bush: Official Washington may still be cool to the idea, but America would have nothing to fear from an independent Scotland. Indeed, it would really be a win-win for all involved.
Give States Power Over Education Policy
"Centrist bipartisanship" evidently is Max Eden's gold standard for the making of federal education law. ("Everybody to the Right," June 2) On his scorecard, it was attained in 2001 with No Child Left Behind, and it gloriously returned with the Senate Education Committee's recent unanimous agreement on a slightly less intrusive follow-on named the Every Child Achieves Act. Unfortunately, when Washington insiders celebrate the lack of dissent, everyday citizens have every reason to worry.
Economic Intelligence - US News
By John Burnett | May 26, 2015 The decline of organized labor in the United States has been attributed to a number of factors, from the erosion of the nation's manufacturing base to an increasingly global workforce and new business practices that have altered the employee-employer relationship. But there is one factor that ... Read More TAGS: labor economy
Booming Beer Industry Is Driven by Consumer Choice
The May 27, 2015article "Just like foodies, beer geeks slake their thirst by hitting up the brewery next door" rightly points out that craft beer is growing exponentially because of consumers eager to try new brews and brewers excited to make new flavors, styles and labels of beer; however, there is a third reason for the explosion in craft beer.
Margarine Already Has Very Low Trans Fats Levels
The margarine category has led the food industry in reducing and, in the vast majority of products, eliminating partially hydrogenated oils, the source of trans fats, to offer healthier alternatives to butter. Therefore including margarine as one of the eight examples of foods with trans fats in the article "Thanks to the FDA Trans Fat Ban, You May Never See These Foods Again" [5/22/15] is very misleading.
Should Congress End the NSA's Massive Phone Data Collection Program?
Last week, the House overwhelmingly voted to sharply curtail the National Security Agency's massive post-9/11 domestic surveillance program, setting the stage for a showdown in the Senate, where opinion is deeply divided.
How David Cameron Can Keep the U.K. in the EU
Having secured re-election, British Prime Minister David Cameron now must deliver a renegotiation of and referendum on Britain's membership in the European Union. Cameron has begun exploring the parameters of renegotiation terms. A briefing for the prime minister as he begins to tackle the issue could read something list this: Once again, congratulations on a resounding electoral victory.
UnKoch My Campus Is Showing How Money Can Buy Science
Peter Roff’s May 6 opinion piece, “The Attack Goes On,” fails to note the very real impact corporate money is having on education and policy debates around the country. He also seeks to cast UnKoch My Campus as an effort to stifle debate, which it is not.
2015 UK Election Labour Defeat Was a Triumph for Symbolic Politics
Labour Leader Ed Miliband, who stepped down on Friday after his party's crushing U.K. electoral defeat, should have seen it coming. For that matter, so should the rest of us. This, after all, was an election dominated by symbolism and identity, not economics or ideology. And Miliband, the man sometimes disparaged as bearing an uncanny resemblance to Wallace of "Wallace and Gromit" animated fame, never quite managed to get the image right.
Medical Device Tax Is Killing Jobs, Depressing Innovation
Chad Stone’s April 27 piece, “Medical Device Tax Misinformation,” is full of misinformation about the true impact the medical device tax has had on the medical technology industry. The reality is that jobs have been lost, new hires foregone and innovation diminished because of the tax. Stone cites a fundamentally flawed report on the tax by the Congressional Research Service.
Too Many Kingmakers, Not Enough Kings
As the U.K. heads to the polls this week, the future of the United Kingdom may very well lie in the hands of two women – neither of whom is actually running for a seat in the British Parliament.
Ukraine Crisis is a Geopolitical Game Changer That Weakens Russia
The Ukraine crisis is accelerating shifts in power. Russia is a net geopolitical loser; Europe is emerging stronger; NATO is starting to boost defenses; and China sees new openings. These changes are reshaping the international landscape. Russia’s invasion of Georgia in 2008 shocked the West, but its reaction was muted. Russian peacekeepers already patrolled the separatist areas of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
17 Years After Good Friday Agreement, Northern Ireland's Past Is Unresolved
In the new thriller “'71,” a young British soldier, sent to keep the peace in Troubles-era Northern Ireland, is separated from his comrades and quickly finds himself caught in the cross hairs of a motley crew of IRA factions and duplicitous, undercover British Army agents. It’s the early years of a conflict, which, on the surface, pitted Catholic nationalists who wanted a united Ireland against their Protestant brethren who remained “loyal” to the United Kingdom.
ALEC Has No Ties to Indiana Religious Freedom Law
Tying the American Legislative Exchange Council to the controversy du jour replaces bootstrap journalism with easy clicks. ["Last Call: Obama, Republicans Celebrate Kennedy, Dedicate the Lion’s New Den," March 30, 2015] However fashionable it is to accuse ALEC of perpetuating the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act, it is wrong to do so. A simple check of the ALEC website proves the organization has no policy or position on the topic. To paraphrase Edward R.
How Much Do 2016 Polls Matter Right Now?
A Qunnipiac University poll released Tuesday shows where former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stands against her closest potential 2016 presidential election competitors in three swing states. Monday, a Franklin Pierce University/Boston Herald poll showed the favorability of potential Republican 2016 candidates in the key primary state of New Hampshire. Last week, Public Policy Polling revealed where potential Democratic presidential aspirants stand in relation to each other in Florida.
Can Northern Ireland Burning Man Ritual Turn Sectarianism on Its Head?
Few dates on Northern Ireland's calendar are more fraught than the night of July 11, when loyalists across the still-divided province light towering bonfire pyres bedecked in anti-Catholic, anti-Irish imagery to celebrate the 17th-century victory of the Protestant King William III over the Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne.
Does No Child Left Behind's Testing Regime Work?
Members of Congress have been plugging away recently at reauthorizing No Child Left Behind, the 2002 version of the landmark 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which technically expired in 2007. House Republicans last month planned to bring a reauthorization bill to the floor, but pulled it at the last moment due to concerns from more conservative members and organizations. In the Senate, meanwhile, Sens.
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