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News From The States

This Week In Commentary

The best opinion pieces of the week: a wide range of perspectives and ideas from across the States Newsroom network.

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Questioning presidential candidates is harder than Gov. Reynolds seems to think

Commentary on interviewing presidential candidates in Iowa, hate crimes in Montana, attacks on LGBTQ and reproductive rights in North Carolina, congressional maps in Alabama, campaign finance overhaul in New Jersey, voter suppression in Ohio, higher education in Florida, and abolitionist John Brown in Kansas.

Daniel’s Law is bad for N.J. journalists — and everyone who wants government accountability

Commentary on journalism and government accountability in New Jersey, exoneree compensation in Louisiana, state politicians in Alabama, attacks on democracy in Ohio, GOP attorneys in Arkansas, bigotry in Wisconsin, the SAG-AFTA strike in Nevada, and women in politics in Tennessee.

GOP can’t go back to 2018 to dodge fallout of their abortion ban

Commentary on the Iowa abortion ban ruling, Canadian wildfire smoke in West Virginia, Democrats in Alabama, transgender rights in Kansas, the state legislature in Montana, open meeting law violation in Colorado, Indiana Child Welfare Act in Virginia, and the state budget in Wisconsin.

How the right’s phony patriotism is destroying America

Commentary on problematic patriotism in Wisconsin, political traditions in Alabama, losing Medicaid coverage in Kansas, veto override sessions in Louisiana, school vouchers in North Carolina, the Householder convictions and special interest corruption in Ohio, the 303 Creative case in Colorado, and state government in Nevada.

Arkansas lawmakers conceal a weapon against transparency in rushed, last-minute legislation

Commentary on unethical law practices in Arkansas, trans birth certificates in Kansas, GOP budgets in Wisconsin, Gov DeSantis in Florida, radical special interests in Ohio, juvenile justice in Louisiana, Republicans in Nevada, and open government precedents in Kentucky.

Abortion ruling heightens risk to judicial independence, balance of powers in Iowa

Commentary on abortion rights in rulings in Iowa and New Hampshire, transparency in New Jersey, threats of violence in Kansas, legislative sessions in Alabama, political endorsements in Indiana, and anti-environmental proposals in North Carolina.

“Look what WE did:” National extremists score with NC voter suppression bill

Commentary on voter suppression in North Carolina, voting rights in Alabama, school funding in Wisconsin, attacks on the pride flag in Kansas, attacks on the disenfranchised in Ohio, law names in Tennessee, the first national marine sanctuary in Alaska, and tax credits in Nevada.

Richmond’s post-graduation mass shooting reflects America’s gun violence epidemic

Commentary on American gun violence in Virginia, GOP campaign messaging in Iowa, conservative news outlets in Kansas, bipartisanship in Wisconsin, Pride month boycotts in Indiana, education budget chairs in Alabama, school lunches in Montana, and juvenile justice in Louisiana.

Happy Pride Month, Ohio. Creepy, bully Republican lawmakers are fixated on assaulting our community

Commentary on anti-LGBTQ laws in Ohio, failed education overhaul in Arkansas, food access in Montana, grocery tax in Alabama, conservatism in Georgia, state government in New Jersey, tax breaks in Nevada, and preparation for hurricane season in Louisiana.

Religious bullies in Kansas politics fantasize about being victims of the left. Don’t fall for it.

Commentary on the separation of church and state in Kansas, civil rights hero Arthur Madison in Alabama, democratic policy in Minnesota, attacks on abortion and gender-affirming care in Indiana, abortion initiatives in Missouri, the juvenile justice transparency bill in Louisiana, conservation policy in Nevada, and the Black Hills National Forest in North Dakota.

White nationalism is racism

Commentary on white nationalism in Alabama, book bans in Arkansas, school funding in Minnesota, GOP gubernatorial nominee Daniel Cameron in Kentucky, the film tax credit bill in Nevada, voting amendments in Ohio, pay raises for elected officials in Indiana, debt defaults in Wisconsin.

The enemies of progressive policy turned out to be Colorado Democrats

Commentary on the Democratic Party in Colorado, Title 42 in New Mexico, tax breaks in Nevada, GOP lawmakers in Ohio, immigration enforcement in North Carolina, legislative sessions in Iowa, Teacher Appreciation Week in Wisconsin, and sterilizing history in Alabama.