The columnist suggests a series of books from local authors.

There must have been a point in the Robert Mueller hearings when the big thinkers of CNN and MSNBC curled up on the floor in fetal positions and began breathing into brown paper bags, trying to remain calm. Breathe. Collusion. Breathe. “Did not reach a determination as to whether the president committed a crime.” Breathe. […]

Throughout his testimony in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, and despite multiple efforts to divert him, former special counsel Robert Mueller was focused on just the two issues that were the topics of his official report: Russia’s interference with the 2016 presidential campaign and possible obstruction of justice by President Donald Trump. Both […]

My favorite Founding Father has gotten me into trouble recently. What’s worse, by many he’s not even considered a real Founding Father. Don’t panic: I’m not about to birth an illegitimate nation. But I am re-reading Thomas Paine, and I’m a fan. That’s tougher than being a fan of George Washington or John Adams, who […]

I want to put in a good word for partisanship. This might sound strange to some readers. I’ve written a lot about our problem with tribalism, including hyper-partisanship and political polarization. It was a major theme of my cheerily titled book “Suicide of the West. So I’m happy to concede that too much partisanship — […]

Your recent June 17 article about the results of Somerville’s town meeting deserves correction (“Somerville voters pass $565,275 municipal budget“). While the numbers are accurate, the story gives the reader a false impression of what is driving up property taxes. The amount approved at town meeting for the fire department plus stipends is still less […]