'Most Americans have never heard of the Office of Net Assessment'

Opinion, comment and editorials of the day

A general view of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
The Pentagon is seen in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 8, 2025
(Image credit: J. David Ake/Getty Images)

'The office that won the Cold War, RIP'

The Wall Street Journal editorial board

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'Alcohol warning labels may not be enough to change Americans' behaviors'

Simar Bajaj at Time

When "done correctly, warning labels are important — not necessarily as a transformative public health intervention but as public recognition of a product's harms and catalyst for further action," says Simar Bajaj. Even "calling for updated labels offers a useful spotlight, regardless of whether it alters drinking habits," but "changing behaviors demands much more." These "warnings, alongside a larger suite of regulations, such as higher alcohol taxes, will likely be the most evidence-based, cost-effective way to save lives."

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'As Azerbaijan plummets deeper into authoritarianism, will Trump respond as promised?'

Thomas Becker at Newsweek

The Red Cross "recently announced that Azerbaijan ordered it to leave the country. The United States and the rest of the international community must not sit idly by," says Thomas Becker. The Red Cross is the "latest casualty in Azerbaijan's purge of international non-governmental and media organizations that has sparked concern." Donald Trump "condemned the persecution and displacement of ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh," and he "should prove his words were more than an empty campaign promise."

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'The pandemic never ended'

Laura Weiss at The New Republic

Covid-19 "wasn't only about these beginnings, it's about the horrors we still experience today," says Laura Weiss. People "say 'during the pandemic' when they mean 'during lockdown,'" and this is the "product of ignorance and misinformation, coming from the top down." This is "about the health of a nation, and the world, and the lessons we could have learned." There "was a moment of solidarity, somewhere within the trauma." But "now, things couldn't feel more different."

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Justin Klawans, The Week US

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.