Opinion: Op-Eds
It wasn’t too long ago when the release of a tape that featured a candidate discussing paying for the silence of a former mistress would be the sort of scandal to end a political career. Instead, we have a president who has so frequently and aggressively breached norms, and potentially laws, that we’re becoming accustomed to the chaos.
I was dismayed when I learned that the world’s only male northern white rhinoceros, Sudan, died on March 19. Sudan was the last of a sub-species of the White Rhinoceros, which is listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s Red List of Threatened Species. Now, two female northern white rhinos are the last of their kind on this planet.
There’s nothing I love more than bragging about how great it is to be a Member or Congress in Southern California. Our community is home to some of our country’s brightest creators and innovators, and we remain a shining example of the power of progress and smart investments.
I went into the State of the Union address trying to keep an open mind. President Donald Trump spent the first year of his presidency spewing hateful ideas and promoting policies harmful to our democratic institutions and Americans. Still, I had hoped the president would take steps to unify our increasingly fractured nation. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
Zinke exempted Florida out of concern for its coastal economy. What about drilling in other states? This arbitrary decision-making will never stand up in court.