Dan Schnur

The original ethnic studies legislation that was debated in the State Capitol included numerous alarming examples of blatant antisemitism as well as a pronounced pro-Palestinian bias in its recommended materials.

It's worth noting that while Trump and Musk both harshly criticized Johnson's original deal, the final agreement looked a lot more like the demands of the tech mogul than the wishes of the incoming president. Almost everything that Musk had opposed – most notably a pay raise for Congress and various types of spending programs included to attract Democratic votes – was gone. (Also missing were proposed restrictions on Chinese investment that would have caused significant harm to his own business interests.) By contrast, Trump's ultimatum that the nation's debt ceiling be increased before he took office had evaporated into a toothless commitment for future action.

Gage Skidmore/ Flickr From the Center In a two-party system like ours, there will always be multiple factions vying for control of both partisan assemblages.

Since its inception, I have attempted to write this column as an independent analyst rather than a partisan advocate… My resolution this year is to be a better listener, especially of those with whom I disagree.

The first days of a new year are usually pretty light on the news, so this time of year is usually a good opportunity to take a step back for some broader reflection before the battle is joined. But 2025 has already begun with a rush.

The international condemnation that Israel has faced since last Oct. 7 has convinced at least one smart Israeli leader that the lack of a meaningful public advocacy strategy is no longer acceptable.

Los Angeles Fire Department/ Flickr From the Center Next week, we'll all be talking about Donald Trump's inauguration.

As we become more isolated from each other in our communities, as we spend more time with screens than with neighbors, it's not surprising that we would worry less about how our behavior impacts the lives of others.

More specifically, it may be helpful to look at the Trump who is moving back into the White House this week alongside the one who was elected eight years ago. When Trump first assumed the presidency, he had never held public office before and his inexperience was evident. He selected a team of advisors known for their ties to the Republican establishment, and quickly learned that they were not always committed to his agenda. He never developed reliable relationships with GOP congressional leaders, and frequently found himself at odds with Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell. And his lack of familiarity with the ways of Washington or the nature of a federal government bureaucracy often undermined his efforts to fashion public policy.

Even as we rejoice the return of the first few hostages, it is impossible to calculate how much we don't know about the embryonic ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.