Kirby Perkins was a Channel 5 reporter with a breadth of interests who especially loved politics and sports. The station’s “High Five” series of profiles has long celebrated high school athletes. But Kirby thought that academic performance should be equally honored. His efforts led to WCVB's "A+" series, highlighting students who achieved academically while overcoming some …
Continue reading Final Kirby Perkins “A+” scholarship awards given
Both House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Speaker Paul Ryan issued stirring calls to unity following the horrific shooting this week of Republican Congressman Steven Scalise and several others at an early morning softball practice in Virginia. At the same time, others, including former Speaker Newt Gingrich, are now blaming the Democrats, the media and …
Continue reading Free speech, incitement and civil discourse
I've written often that college students need to hear more, not fewer controversial points of view, that they need to learn how to function in the marketplace of ideas. That's what college is all about and how kids grow from being part of vigorous debate among the student body. Students shouldn't be protected by trigger …
First, President Trump is wrong on the facts. The Paris Accords did not treat the United States unfairly. Under the agreement, targets for greenhouses gases are voluntary, and every country can change how it will alter its plans for controlling carbon emissions. And, if its articulated goals are not met, there are no penalties for …
No, no, don't click off. President Donald Trump is good for one thing. He is challenging me to expand my vocabulary. How many new ways can I find each day to say ignorant, childish, incurious, narcissistic, malignant, erratic, dangerous, insensitive, capricious, backward? Take this morning, for example. Two of the more outrageous and aggravating stories …
Hillary Clinton's return on Friday to her alma mater (and mine), Wellesley College, was triumphant. Her speech was powerful. She was warm and down to earth, funny and inspirational. Except for a dozen or so ("lock her up") trolls on social media, she was enthusiastically received. In this blog, I've often decried life in the bubble, …
Continue reading Hillary Clinton at Wellesley College: the beautiful bubble
The sun shone brightly on Saturday's Beaumont Avenue block party in Newton, complete with kids, dogs, tee shirts and balloons. Setti Warren, the Garden City's two-term mayor, was announcing for governor in front of the house in which he grew up. The mood was warm; the mayor's message, visionary and upbeat. After his speech, some of …
It’s too early to talk seriously about Presidential impeachment. Increasing reports about apparent obstruction of justice or enrichment of Donald Trump's own and family businesses in violation of the emoluments clause are still at the fact-gathering stage, especially now that former FBI Director Robert Mueller has been named Special Counsel to investigate all things Russian. Building a case for impeachment …
Continue reading Impeachment, the 25th Amendment or neither?
Finally, some good news out of Washington. The Department of Justice has appointed former FBI Director Bob Mueller to be Independent Counsel to investigate all issues related to Russian intervention in the American election. Mueller has the latitude and resources to investigate President Donald Trump's relationship to the Russians, contacts between Trump campaign officials and …
If you tuned in late, you might think you were watching The Apprentice, just another episode of Donald Trump's "You're fired." Or you might think a time machine had catapulted us back to the infamous "Saturday night massacre," when embattled President Richard Nixon sacked Watergate independent prosecutor Archibald Cox, which prompted the resignations of Attorney General Eliot …
Marjorie Arons-Barron 