Picture of Joel Mathis

Joel Mathis

Contributing Writer

Joel Mathis is a freelance writer who lives in Lawrence, Kansas with his wife and son. He spent nine years as a syndicated columnist, co-writing the RedBlueAmerica column as the liberal half of a point-counterpoint duo. His honors include awards for best online commentary from the Online News Association and (twice) from the City and Regional Magazine Association.

Is Tesla in trouble?
Elon Musk on a blue background surrounded by Teslas and charging points
Today's big question

Is Tesla in trouble?

Can Biden save Medicare?
An illustrated image of President Biden at the lectern holding defibrillator paddles
Today's big question

Can Biden save Medicare?

Can unbuilding highways undo the legacy of racism?
Highways in Texas
Briefing

Can unbuilding highways undo the legacy of racism?

The 'resurgence' of the stick shift
A gear stick
Briefing

The 'resurgence' of the stick shift

Why Fox News pushed Trump's bogus election claims
Rupert Murdoch.
Behind the scenes

Why Fox News pushed Trump's bogus election claims

A new Brexit agreement?
U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
Briefing

A new Brexit agreement?

Who is Vivek Ramaswamy, the new GOP presidential candidate?
Vivek Ramaswamy in Philadelphia
Profile

Who is Vivek Ramaswamy, the new GOP presidential candidate?

Putin's new nuclear era
A picture of Putin on a target covered in snow
Briefing

Putin's new nuclear era

America's ballooning debt
Money.
Briefing

America's ballooning debt

Why the Indian government is cracking down on the BBC
BBC logo.
Briefing

Why the Indian government is cracking down on the BBC

Why U.S. teens aren't getting their driver's licenses
Car key.
Briefing

Why U.S. teens aren't getting their driver's licenses

What are the 'unidentified objects' in the sky?
Air traffic control.
Briefing

What are the 'unidentified objects' in the sky?

The F-35 fighter jet's troubled history
F-35B fighter jet.
Briefing

The F-35 fighter jet's troubled history

Why BP is cutting back on its climate goals
oil barrels.
Briefing

Why BP is cutting back on its climate goals

Why America might ban Chinese ownership of U.S. farmland
Farming.
Briefing

Why America might ban Chinese ownership of U.S. farmland

Nikki Haley 2024?
Nikki Haley
Briefing

Nikki Haley 2024?

The U.S. gave Ukraine tanks. Are jets next?
Jet fighters.
Briefing

The U.S. gave Ukraine tanks. Are jets next?

Why are Americans moving south?
Moving truck.
Briefing

Why are Americans moving south?

Why (some) Republicans want a national sales tax
Shopping cart.
Briefing

Why (some) Republicans want a national sales tax

Why Turkey is blocking NATO's expansion
Turkey, Finland, and Sweden.
Briefing

Why Turkey is blocking NATO's expansion

Florida's debate over teaching Black history
A classroom.
Briefing

Florida's debate over teaching Black history

What 'green' air travel could look like
An airplane.
Briefing

What 'green' air travel could look like

Did sexism drive Jacinda Ardern from office?
Jacinda Ardern
Opinion

Did sexism drive Jacinda Ardern from office?

What China's decline means for the world
A crib.
Briefing

What China's decline means for the world

Why Western tanks might help Ukraine beat Russia
The Ukrainian flag.
Briefing

Why Western tanks might help Ukraine beat Russia

Why it's getting easier to fix your John Deere tractor
A mechanic.
Briefing

Why it's getting easier to fix your John Deere tractor

Should gas stoves be banned?
A stove.
Briefing

Should gas stoves be banned?

Why car sales are falling in the U.S.
Cars.
Briefing

Why car sales are falling in the U.S.

Should ancestry DNA be used to solve crimes?
A prisoner.
Briefing

Should ancestry DNA be used to solve crimes?

The North Korean nuclear threat, explained
Kim Jong-Un.
Briefing

The North Korean nuclear threat, explained

Can Twitter be blamed for the fall in Tesla's stock price?
Tesla's charging station and twitter bird
Opinion

Can Twitter be blamed for the fall in Tesla's stock price?

Why America's electrical grid is vulnerable to attack
electricity pylon
Briefing

Why America's electrical grid is vulnerable to attack

Why Russia is relying on Wagner Group mercenaries in Ukraine
Vladimir Putin.
Briefing

Why Russia is relying on Wagner Group mercenaries in Ukraine

America's declining life expectancy, explained
A flag.
Briefing

America's declining life expectancy, explained

Does Canada make assisted suicide too easy?
A Canadian flag.
Briefing

Does Canada make assisted suicide too easy?

Why the end of Title 42 could mean immigration 'chaos'
Trump and Biden.
Briefing

Why the end of Title 42 could mean immigration 'chaos'