'Mississippi sheriffs wield a tremendous authority in the counties they police'
Opinion, comment and editorials of the day


'Mississippi "Goon Squad" didn't come out of nowhere'
Grace Elizabeth Hale at CNN
The torture of two Black men by white Rankin County, Mississippi, sheriff's deputies in the self-named "Goon Squad" was "horrific," says Grace Elizabeth Hale. But abuse under all-powerful Mississippi sheriffs "is not a new problem." Local law enforcement in the state grew out of wars against Native American tribes and the "slave patrols, loosely organized groups of white men set up to keep Black people in bondage." Many still treat "the law as a kind of personal power."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
'"Emergency" spending is out of control'
Eric Boehm at Reason
Emergency spending "has become a convenient way for lawmakers and presidents to hike spending — and add to the national debt," says Eric Boehm. Congress has authorized $12 trillion for emergencies in the last three decades. Half went toward addressing the Great Recession and the Covid-19 pandemic. Much of the rest went to "purposes that strain the definition of emergency" — one 2023 proposal was for replacing weather-forecasting airplanes — and should be "part of the normal budget process."
'New York's lawfare threat to democracy'
Washington Examiner editorial board
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
"New York Attorney General Letitia James is doing grave harm to our democracy," says the Washington Examiner editorial board. A court will "eventually throw out the $464 million civil fraud judgment against former President Donald Trump as a textbook case of selective prosecution." But in the meantime, this partisan prosecutor's willingness "to stretch the law to inflict financial ruin on those with whom she disagrees" is setting "a terrible precedent that will surely be built upon."
'Protecting our kids from abuse must be our highest priority'
Willie Wilson in the Chicago Tribune
Investigations show a "heartbreaking" amount of sexual abuse against students, says Willie Wilson. "How can a child learn if they are being abused by a teacher or staff member at their school?" Protecting kids should be the highest priority for elected officials and educators. Lawmakers should pass laws requiring schools to report improper teacher-student relationships; administrators must quickly hold offenders accountable. "Our children are the future, and we must protect them and provide them with a quality education."
Harold Maass is a contributing editor at The Week. He has been writing for The Week since the 2001 debut of the U.S. print edition and served as editor of TheWeek.com when it launched in 2008. Harold started his career as a newspaper reporter in South Florida and Haiti. He has previously worked for a variety of news outlets, including The Miami Herald, ABC News and Fox News, and for several years wrote a daily roundup of financial news for The Week and Yahoo Finance.
-
October 13 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Monday's political cartoons include Donald Trump's consolation prize, government workers during shutdown, and more
-
Can Gaza momentum help end the war in Ukraine?
Today's Big Question Zelenskyy’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles hints at ‘warming relations’ between Ukraine and US
-
The Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners being released
The Explainer Triumphant Donald Trump addresses the Israeli parliament as families on both sides of the Gaza war reunite with their loved ones
-
Could Democrats lose the New Jersey governor’s race?
Today’s Big Question Democrat Mikie Sherrill stumbles against Republican Jack Ciattarelli
-
‘Porsche’s luxury credentials are now hanging by a thread’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Trump’s deportations are changing how we think about food
IN THE SPOTLIGHT The Department of Labor’s admission that immigration raids have affected America’s food supplies reopens a longstanding debate
-
Trump DOJ indicts New York AG Letitia James
Speed Read New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted as Trump’s Justice Department pursues charges against his political opponents
-
Judge blocks Trump’s Guard deployment in Chicago
Speed Read The president is temporarily blocked from federalizing the Illinois National Guard or deploying any Guard units in the state
-
Gaza peace deal: why did Trump succeed where Biden failed?
Today's Big Question As the first stage of a ceasefire begins, Trump’s unique ‘just-get-it-done’ attitude may have proven pivotal to negotiations
-
‘Use as little plastic as possible’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
The party bringing Trump-style populism to Japan
Under The Radar Far-right party is ‘shattering’ the belief that Japan is ‘immune’ to populism’