Upright

“The best thing we can do is uphold [gun] laws that already exist. None of this is to argue that simply because some people ignore laws, they are unnecessary or useless. It’s to argue that laws that almost exclusively target innocent people from practicing a constitutional right, and do nothing to stop criminals, are unnecessary and useless. The central problem in this debate is that Democrats believe civilian gun ownership itself is a plague on the nation, so it doesn’t really matter to them what gun is being banned or what law is being passed, as long as something is being ‘done.’ The other side believes that being able to protect themselves, their families, their property and their community from criminality — and, should it descend into tyranny, the government — is a societal good. They see gun bans as autocratic and unconstitutional, and, also, largely unfeasible. And they’re right.” —David Harsanyi

Political Futures

“Republican budget hawks would have more credibility if their passion and commitment didn’t seem contingent on — with some honorable exceptions — a Democrat being in the White House. … More important than what happens over the next few months is whether the party can nominate and elect a president in 2024 who, unlike Bush or Trump, is in sympathy with the fiscal conservatism of House conservatives. Ronald Reagan quipped that the deficit was big enough to take care of itself. Now, it’s big enough that no single high stakes battle or act of Congress is going to tame it. Fiscal hawks have to be in for the long haul.” —Rich Lowry

The BIG Lies

“I think the largest contributor to the debt ceiling, to our deficit, has been the Trump tax cuts.” —Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

“We’re also seeing American families breath a little easier again.” —Joe Biden

Non Compos Mentis

“How do we explain [Tyre] Nichols’ horrific killing, allegedly at the hands of police who looked like him? … One of the sad facts about anti-Black racism is that Black people ourselves are not immune to its pernicious effects. … At the end of the day, it is the race of the victim who is brutalized — not the race of the violent cop — that is most relevant in determining whether racial bias is a factor in police violence. … In short, racial animus can still be a factor, even when the perpetrators are all Black.” —CNN commentator Van Jones

“We recommend avoiding general and often dehumanizing ‘the’ labels such as the poor, the mentally ill, the French, the disabled, the college-educated. Instead, use wording such as people with mental illnesses. And use these descriptions only when clearly relevant.” —AP Stylebook

Race Bait

“As the only African born, not being on the Africa subcommittee is not just an elimination of a unique voice but an elimination of all the voices that have never been heard on a committee on the continent. It’s racist, xenophobic and discriminatory.” —Congresswoman Ilhan Omar

Hot Air

“There’d be no climate crisis if it wasn’t for racism.” —actress Jane Fonda