Insight

“Censorship always defeats its own purpose, for it creates, in the end, the kind of society that is incapable of exercising real discretion. … In the long run it will create a generation incapable of appreciating the difference between independence of thought and subservience.” —Henry Steele Commager (1902-1998)

Upright

“Nothing about the process to transfer power to former Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has been easy, but at the end of the day, nothing worth pursuing ever is. … For once, all of the dysfunction that festered behind closed doors has been exposed, and Republicans openly and painstakingly worked through it. If that was uncomfortable, it’s because Congress has forgotten how to govern. People on both sides spent [last] week mistaking debate for chaos, when actually, the House was finally doing its job. Unfortunately, it’s been so long since Congress had an honest conversation that no one recognized the healthy process for what it was. … Democrats have managed to avoid these difficult conversations for years, knowing that if they were forced to debate their agenda on the merits, they’d lose. But by avoiding scrutiny and transparency, they’ve created a dangerous environment where conflict, argument, and consensus-building isn’t natural — it’s alarming. Until that changes, conservatives realized, it will continue to have devastating consequences on a divided nation whose only hope is dialogue. … Americans have grown so accustomed to things being forced upon us that when we actually see the process functioning as it should, we panic.” —Tony Perkins

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

“How can eggs cost more than the whole chicken?” —Michael Harriot

For the Record

“Biden’s attempt to show he is doing something about [illegal immigration] reminds me of the idiom ‘closing the barn door after the horse has left.’ It’s too little, too late. … The great frustration for many is that the solution is simple, but not applied — finish the wall, deport those here illegally and charge those who have committed crimes while here and either deport or incarcerate them. Problem solved, but when politicians who have other agendas in mind are in charge, the problems are rarely solved and usually get worse. Even partially closing the ‘barn door’ now won’t help.” —Cal Thomas

“When Biden wanted to score political points during the House speakership debate, he scheduled a trip to Kentucky with Senator Mitch McConnell, pretending to show how bipartisan he is. But when Biden went to the southern border, he didn’t ask Texas Senator Ted Cruz or Attorney General Ken Paxton to be there with him. That would have risked a serious debate in public.” —Gary Bauer

Double Standards

“We all know that Trump is a liar and a thief. You know? We know that. So it’s not that big a jump to say that he obstructed and he lied. We don’t think that Biden is a liar and a thief, so we give him the benefit of the doubt.” —"The View" co-host Joy Behar vis-à-vis classified documents

The BIG Lies

“The greatest terrorist threat to our country comes from violent right-wing militia groups and their sympathizers, and Republicans in Congress just don’t care.” —Congressman Adam Schiff

“Did you know that ongoing exposure to NO2 from gas stoves is linked to reduced cognitive performance?” —Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

The Definition of Insanity

“I will likely run again [for Georgia governor].” —Stacey Abrams