'Regret can be toxic'
Opinion, comment and editorials of the day


'This New Year's Eve, take a moment to appreciate your regrets'
Ryan Teague Beckwith at MSNBC
New Year's Eve "may as well be the day of regrets," as we've been "conditioned to look back on our actions and wonder what we should have done differently," says Ryan Teague Beckwith. But as we "spend this day reliving our past mistakes, it's important to remember that regret also has a purpose" as an "unavoidable aspect of the human condition." Regret is "only possible when you have the freedom to make your own choices."
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.
'Mexico's immigration crackdown mirrors the United States'
Ángel Escamilla García at The Progressive
The "concept of using Mexico as an arm of the U.S. immigration enforcement is not new," says Ángel Escamilla García. The "criminalization and persecution of migrants by Mexican authorities at all levels forced them to wander the streets." Mexico is being "pushed into treating migrants from other countries" in the "same way that the U.S. has treated undocumented Mexicans for decades," and is "allowing the same abuses of migrants that occur on the U.S. side of the border."
'Trump's tax cuts were good. A flat tax would be better.'
Steve Forbes and Stephen Moore at The Wall Street Journal
Making the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent would be a good start for Congress in 2025," but it's "time to take an even bigger step: creating a simplified flat tax for all," say Steve Forbes and Stephen Moore. Shrinking the "personal income and corporate tax rates to 15% would have huge economic benefits," and "America would suddenly have one of the lowest tax rates in the world, resulting in trillions of dollars of new capital flow."
'What critics get wrong about the Ivy League'
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Philip J. Hanlon at Time
Universities have become "scapegoats for both good and bad reasons," as "populist political leaders from both the far left and far right now target higher education as a common enemy," say Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Philip J. Hanlon. But the "value of higher education should be appreciated for more than winning awards and creating wealth but also for quality of life," and colleges "must address the ideological orthodoxy of political correctness which has diverted tolerance for original thought."
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
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
Book reviews: ‘Red Scare: Blacklists, McCarthyism, and the Making of Modern America’ and ‘How to End a Story: Collected Diaries, 1978–1998’
Feature A political ‘witch hunt’ and Helen Garner’s journal entries
By The Week US Published
-
The backlash against ChatGPT's Studio Ghibli filter
The Explainer The studio's charming style has become part of a nebulous social media trend
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Why are student loan borrowers falling behind on payments?
Today's Big Question Delinquencies surge as the Trump administration upends the program
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Why are student loan borrowers falling behind on payments?
Today's Big Question Delinquencies surge as the Trump administration upends the program
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
WHCA rejects White House press seating grab
Speed Read The White House Correspondents' Association objected to the Trump administration's bid to control where journalists sit during press briefings
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump sends more migrants to El Salvador jail
Speed Read Another 17 Venezuelan alleged gang members have been deported to a notorious prison
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'What is this Hungarian model they so admire?'
Instant Opinion 'Opinion, comment and editorials of the day'
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Law firms: Caving to White House pressure
Feature Trump targets major law firms tied to his past investigations
By The Week US Published
-
Venezuelan deportees: Locked up for tattoos?
Feature A former pro soccer player was deported after U.S. authorities claimed his tattoo proved he belonged to a Venezuelan gang
By The Week US Published
-
Rule of law: Are we in a constitutional crisis?
Feature Donald Trump defies federal court order to halt deportation flights to El Salvador
By The Week US Published
-
Trump 'not joking' about unconstitutional 3rd term
Speed Read The president seems to be serious about seeking a third term in 2028
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published