In today’s fast-paced news environment, it can be hard to keep up. For your weekend reading, we’ve started in-case-you-missed-it compilations of some of the week’s top USA TODAY Opinion pieces. As always, thanks for reading, and for your feedback.
— USA TODAY Opinion editors
1. Even if the Senate does not remove Donald Trump, this impeachment is far from a mistake
By David Rothkopf
“I would most emphatically suggest that undertaking the impeachment investigation was far from a mistake. Even with the deck stacked against a just outcome by a GOP leadership that has lost sight of the most basic ideals associated with public service, much good has come out of this process and might come out of it even in the event of an acquittal.”
2. Donald Trump impeachment trial: For Republicans, patriotism has left the Senate chamber
By Sophia A. Nelson
“I do not believe you can be both a patriot and be complicit in tyranny at the same time. It is not possible. The Republican House members and now, the Republican senators, are all intelligent and accomplished people. Perhaps, they are even good people. … In this moment, the Republicans have to choose: Save the republic or give cover to Trump? This nation is better than what the Republicans are showing us now.”
3. Family business: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle bolt for the exit. Can you really blame them?
By Howard Bragman
“So, imagine: You’re a member of the family business. Your family has been running it more than 100 years and distant relatives ran it for thousands of years before that. … Do you want 60 years of ribbon cuttings at suburban supermarkets, or do you want the life you’re seeing your new Hollywood friends living — … (including) a chance to shine a light on the ills of the world and give time and money to things you think will make a difference.”
John Bolton drops a bomb (Photo: Nate Beeler/Counterpoint/PoliticalCartoons.com)
4. Impeachment: Jay Sekulow bumbles the John Bolton witness question
By Chris Truax
“Let John Bolton testify. The damage to Donald Trump’s reputation, such as it is, has already been done. Taking Bolton’s testimony seriously and addressing it soberly, however, may alleviate some of the damage that has been inflicted on the body politic. … (If) Trump is not going to be removed from office by the Senate, it’s critical to America’s political health that the losing side feels that this trial has been conducted fairly.”
5. Trump administration cuts to Social Security disability benefits among the cruelest
By Rebecca Vallas
“Hardly a day goes by without the Trump administration finding a new way to slash the safety net. But its latest proposal — which would cut Social Security disability benefits by $2.6 billion over 10 years — is one of the cruelest. … Hundreds of thousands of people could lose benefits even though their condition has not changed.”
Impeachment marathon (Photo: Bruce Plante/Tulsa (Oklahoma) World/PoliticalCartoons.com)
6. Impeachment trial: Trump win shows anything can happen, even Senate conviction and removal
By Scott Dworkin
“It has never been the job of former President Barack Obama or House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to get Trump out of office. It has always been on us. But it all starts with believing that removal can happen at this trial. Because as resisters and all Americans have collectively learned in the past five years, it’s that anything can happen — and that surprises run in both directions.”
7. I’m the pro-life Democrat who confronted Pete Buttigieg. He’s pushing out valuable voters.
By Kristen Day
“I have been a registered Democratic voter since 1988. … (Former Mayor Pete) Buttigieg likes to talk about ‘future former Republicans.’ With his extreme stance on abortion, though, he is doing precisely the opposite: building an army of future former Democrats, disturbed by (President Donald) Trump but forced into a corner. These include several friends of mine. I don’t want to join them.”
You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to [email protected].
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