News

Snide comments vs. facts and figures

Thomas Mitchell

January 25, 2009 - 10:31 am

When I poked a stick at the hornet nest, making admittedly snide comments about the effectiveness of rallies, slogans and crude signs, there were dozens of comments appended thereto.

When I quoted at length from articles, speeches and commentaries that cited facts and figures, the reaction was silence. Why do you think that is?

Has the level of discourse in this country so deteriorated? Has the reading comprehension level so atrophied? Has the attention span so shortened? Are the passions so quickly dissipated?

President Donald Trump arrives on Air Force One, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, M ...

Trump: Kennedy Center to close for 2 years for renovations in July

By Michelle L. Price and Lisa Mascaro Associated Press

February 1, 2026 - 6:08 pm

President Donald Trump said Sunday he will move to close Washington’s Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for two years starting in July for construction.

A document with an email chain from Jeffrey Epstein illustrates the amount of redactions of per ...

Top Justice Department official plays down chance for charges arising from Epstein files revelations

By Eric Tucker The Associated Press

February 1, 2026 - 2:16 pm

Department officials said over the summer that a review of Epstein-related records did not establish a basis for new criminal investigations.

In this photo released by U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-TX, Adrian Conejo Arias and his son, five ...

5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and father return to Minnesota from Texas detention facility

By Jack Dura The Associated Press

February 1, 2026 - 1:15 pm

Images of the young boy wearing a bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack and surrounded by immigration officers drew outrage about the Trump administration’s crackdown in Minneapolis.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a joint press conference with Lithuania&# ...

Russian drone strike kills 15 in Dnipro as Zelenskyy says more Russia-Ukraine talks next week

By Volodymyr Yurchuk The Associated Press

February 1, 2026 - 8:52 am

The strike came days after U.S. President Donald Trump said the Kremlin had agreed to temporarily halt the targeting of the Ukrainian capital and other cities.

Trucks carrying humanitarian aids line up to enter the Egyptian gate of the Rafah crossing, hea ...

Gaza’s crucial Rafah crossing prepares for limited travel to resume Monday

By Samy Magdy The Associated Press

February 1, 2026 - 7:55 am

Israel’s announcement came a day after Israeli strikes killed at least 30 Palestinians including several children, according to hospital officials.

An order to release 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father from detention, which included ...

Judge orders ICE to release 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, his dad

By Geoff Mulvihill Associated Press

January 31, 2026 - 10:18 pm

A 5-year-old boy and his father must be released by Tuesday from the Texas center where they’ve been held after being detained by immigration officers in Minnesota, a federal judge ordered Saturday.

Costco’s $4.99 rotisserie chicken gets roasted in lawsuit. Here’s what they’re claiming

By Clara Harter Los Angeles Times

January 31, 2026 - 10:33 am

Costco’s famed rotisserie chicken is in a proposed class action lawsuit claiming that Costco falsely advertised that its birds were preservative free.