Opinion

NOTE: Please choose between the updated version that features an editorial about the Trump verdict, or you can stick with the original version that features a Biden editorial. In your budget lines, please write either:

• 053124_WEEKEND NATIONAL OPINION PAGE_UPDATE (with Philadelphia Inquirer editorial: "Yet another ignominious first for Trump")

or

• 053124_WEEKEND NATIONAL OPINION PAGE (original version with Chicago Tribune editorial: "The debates will be Biden's last chance") 

• EDITORIAL: Philadelphia Inquirer: "Yet another ignominious first for Trump," critical of former president in wake of his guilty verdicts. (If you have a locally written staff editorial that you need to get in, you can run it here instead of this national editorial – as long as it fits the available space of about 16.5 inches, not counting the 3-deck hed and 2-deck subhed.)

• CARTOON: Marshall Ramsey draws this year’s hurricane season: “Buckle up.”

• MIDDLE COLUMN: Jerry Davich of The Times of Northwest Indiana: “Soured by partisan politics, hatred is taking over nation.” Forceful lament of American division, fueled in part by cable TV, information bubbles and algorithms. (Feel free to replace this with local content, such as a local column or letters to the editor. It’s about 26 inches of text, not counting the 2-deck hed, sig and tagline.)

• BOTTOM COLUMN: Froma Harrop: “Masks off, everybody – well, not quite everybody.” Critical of anonymous speech, including student protesters wearing masks. 

• EDITORIAL: San Diego Union-Tribune: “Selflessness drove Walton to greatness.” His hometown paper touts basketball great Bill Walton’s influence on and off court. (If you want to replace this national editorial with a locally written staff editorial, go ahead. Just make sure your local editorial fits that space of about 16 inches, not counting 3-deck hed or 2-deck subhed.)

• CARTOON: John Deering draws dueling bumper stickers on a red and a blue pickup.

• MIDDLE COLUMN: Jonah Goldberg: “What's convincing voters economy is the worst ever?” Sharp analysis if public mood that isn’t partisan. (Feel free to replace this with local content, such as local letters to the editor or a local column. It’s about 26 inches of text, not counting a 2-deck hed, sig and tagline.)

• BOTTOM COLUMN: Mary White, Emory professor and former federal epidemiologist: “How to close glaring gap in Medicare for hearing aids.”

• EDITORIAL: Wall Street Journal: “Can a state stop travel for abortion?” skeptical that Alabama can impose its values beyond state lines. (If you want to replace this nationally themed editorial with a locally written staff editorial, go ahead. Just make sure it fits the space of about 17 inches of text, not counting the 3-deck hed and 2-deck subhed.)

• CARTOON: Michael Ramirez draws the world’s dictators as the Adams Family.

• MIDDLE COLUMN: Lara Williams of Bloomberg: “Flying is getting more turbulent, so airlines better buckle up,” citing research that turbulence is becoming more common because of the warming planet. (Feel free to replace this with local content, such as local letters to the editor or a local column. It’s 23 inches of text, not counting the 2-deck hed, quote box, sig and tagline.)

• BOTTOM COLUMN: F. Willis Johnson, United Methodist pastor and author in Ohio, writing for The Fulcrum: “The Olympics encourage democratic reflection.” 

Flagging the court

This week’s Pro-Con features two differing takes on judicial ethics, given the flap over Justice Alito’s flags.