A conservative law prof raised the common complaint about the lack of diverse political views in academia, which I figured was a complaint that has played out too many times for anything new to be said. I was wrong. A black prawf chimed in with a series of twits that included this: My own practice has always been to let students know I have views, where they can find them but that I will always…

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution protects the free exercise of religion, which makes it a pretty big deal, even if a lot of us aren’t particularly religious, don’t look to a deity to tell us how to live our lives and, frankly, think people who do are kinda bonkers and dumb, believing in some dead sky zombie. On the other hand, there’s science, and it tells us that COVID-19 can kill. We’re…

“Evening Ernie,” Francine’s voice crackled through the radio. “Evening Francine,” Deputy Ernesto Miranda replied. “Sheriff Roy’s got you on dispatch tonight?” “Norma Jean’s on maternity leave, so a few of us are covering for her. Could you handle a roadside distress call?” “You mean like a flat tire? Isn’t that Garage 66’s wheelhouse?” “The garage said they’re busy stripping two geolocation trucks for parts. Sheriff Roy wanted to know if you’d at least take a…

There were policies that got a rise out of the angry crowd, like keeping “illegals” from “shithole countries” away from our borders. But there was no screaming about the failure to execute enough people. If it didn’t happen, no one would care, no one would wrap themselves in a MAGA flag to argue whether Trump was bigger than Jesus. Executions just weren’t on the radar. So what happened? Last week, the Justice Department announced…

Looking through some of my past Thanksgiving posts provides some needed perspective for me. For many, this has been the worst year ever, between politics, COVID, the economy, education, riots and the culture war. And perhaps it is, at least for some. But what the past reminds us is that problems, suffering and misery have always been here, and if it’s your suffering, it’s the worst. But this is why we give thanks. Not for…