'A deck stacked heavily on the side of polluters'
Opinion, comment and editorials of the day


'The U.N. has largely lost the confidence of youth climate advocates'
Michael E. Mann and Susan Joy Hassol in the Los Angeles Times
The selection of "a petro-state, the United Arab Emirates, to host" the COP28 climate summit was a "bad sign," said Michael E. Mann and Susan Joy Hassol in the Los Angeles Times. Climate activists were probably not surprised when negotiators dropped mention of "a 'phase out' of fossil fuels" from the meeting's statement. The COP process is "broken." We must "seize this moment" to fix it before the world barrels farther "down the road to ruin."
Subscribe to 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.
'Offering sliver of mercy'
Michelle Goldberg in The New York Times
Abortion ban exceptions are a sham, says Michelle Goldberg in The New York Times. That's clearer now after a Texas mother of two, Kate Cox, had to leave the state to get an abortion, even though doctors said her "much-wanted pregnancy was doomed due to a severe genetic disorder," and her "future fertility" was in jeopardy. Right-wing politicians "would rather inflict unimaginable suffering on women than relax the tiniest bit of control over their medical decisions."
'Intelligence collection is a political responsibility of the government'
National Review editorial board
Congress must reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, says the National Review editorial board. The long-standing statutory provision, which lets the government monitor non-U.S. citizens abroad to protect national security, could use some reforms. The FBI has an "alarming record of misconduct and noncompliance with FISA rules." But this is the only framework we've got. "We cannot afford to shut it down in a dangerous world until we have something better."
'President Biden has the perfect reason to bow out'
Albert R. Hunt in The Messenger
President Joe Biden has the "perfect" excuse to "bow out of the presidential race," says Albert R. Hunt in The Messenger. He can say he needs "to come to the aid of his troubled son, Hunter, who was just indicted for tax evasion." This would take "the punch" out of Republicans' "investigative witch-hunts" and cheer up Democrats "who are scared not only that Biden may lose but also that he might take them down with him."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
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.
-
May 26 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Monday's political cartoons feature Donald Trump's red tie, Hunter Biden's crypto lament, and one meaning of Memorial Day
-
3 tips for coping with financial stress
The explainer Feel more at peace in an unpredictable economy
-
Sudoku medium: May 26, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
Donald Trump's foreign policy flip in the Middle East
Talking Point Surprise lifting of sanctions on Syria shows Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar are now effectively 'dictating US foreign policy'
-
Elon Musk says he's 'done enough' political spending. What does that really mean?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION The world's richest man predicted he'd do 'a lot less' electoral financing moving forward. Has Washington seen the last of the tech titan?
-
'Organ donation is kindness'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
GOP megabill would limit judicial oversight of Trump
speed read The domestic policy bill Republicans pushed through the House would protect the Trump administration from the consequences of violating court orders
-
Home energy: Bills are up, efficiency is out
Feature The Energy Star program saves Americans billions of dollars, but the Trump administration plans to 'eliminate' it.
-
Trump lectures South Africa president on 'white genocide'
speed read Trump has cut off aid to South Africa over his demonstrably false genocide claims
-
'These businesses have appealed to generations'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Starlink: what Elon Musk's satellite soft power means for the world
The Explainer The rapid expansion of his satellite internet company has given Musk a unique form of leverage in some of the world's most vulnerable regions