The Trump years turned me into a firm believer in small federal government and stronger states’ rights. If some states really do govern better than others, then let them compete, let the results speak for themselves, and stop concentrating so much dangerous power in Washington.

Xavier Becerra now has the momentum in California’s governor race, with liberals rallying around him as the Democratic field begins to narrow. As Becerra rises and Tom Steyer fades, the fear of a two-Republican outcome from the jungle primary suddenly looks far less likely.

Sherrod Brown is now favored to beat Jon Husted in Ohio, a stunning shift in a race that looked nearly impossible for Democrats just a few months ago. If Brown flips this seat, Democrats will be in real position to take back control of the U.S. Senate, making Ohio one of the races that could change everything in 2026.

Natasha Cloud should be on a WNBA roster, and if politics are part of the reason she is not, the league should be ashamed of itself. The WNBA has built its identity as a socially aware, player-driven league, and its fans are not going to quietly accept a Colin Kaepernick-style situation hanging over what should be its most exciting season yet.

George W. Bush foreign policy was an epic failure, one we thought would stand as the worst of a generation and an all-time disaster for the history books. But the overall cluelessness of this Trump endeavor is making Bush look like Churchill — not because Bush was wise, but because this operation looks so shallow, impulsive, and badly managed.

The Dallas Wings look like the most improved team in the WNBA, with Azzi Fudd joining Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale to form what could become the league’s most dynamic backcourt. Add in frontcourt upgrades like Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard, plus a potential breakout from Li Yueru, and Dallas suddenly looks like a real threat to finish in the top half of the league.

The 2023 Aces, before Candace Parker’s injury, were the most talented WNBA team I had ever seen — and this Las Vegas roster may be even better. With A’ja Wilson still in her prime and an even deeper, more explosive core around her, the Aces look like a futures buy with historic upside.

TMZ opening shop in Washington may sound absurd, but absurd might be exactly what a protected and overmanaged political class needs. If a rougher, more shameless media presence helps expose hypocrisy faster and puts real fear of consequences back into public office, then it may do more good than a lot of traditional political reporting.

The market’s rise does not necessarily mean investors think everything is fine. It may simply mean they believe the worst-case outcome with Iran can still be avoided, and as long as that hope remains alive, money will keep chasing risk even while the real economic pain is only starting to build.

Tom Steyer has surged into the role of clear favorite in the California governor’s race following Eric Swalwell’s exit, with the billionaire now holding a commanding edge as the June 2 jungle primary approaches. In a state where money, name recognition, and media reach matter enormously, Steyer suddenly looks like the candidate everyone else has to chase.

The stock market is still acting like the Iran crisis can be contained, but that optimism is starting to look more like denial than confidence. Serious economic trouble appears increasingly likely, and the Trump administration shows little interest or ability to pursue the kind of meaningful diplomacy that could actually calm the situation.

I was wrong to support Eric Swalwell. The allegations, the collapse of support, and his decision to suspend his campaign all point to the same conclusion: whatever promise he may once have had as a candidate is gone, and in my view his resignation from Congress should be next.

If a Democratic president were losing a war after promising peace, facing an Epstein-related cover-up cloud, and spending a critical moment yukking it up in Miami, the media would be treating it as a full-scale national crisis. That double standard is the point: this administration is a historic failure, and too much of the media is helping normalize it.

In the NIL era, the clearest path to winning in college sports is no longer just recruiting talent — it is buying experience, toughness, and proven production. Great coaching and chemistry still matter, but more and more, men are beating boys.

Angel Reese to Atlanta already feels like the kind of move that could elevate both the player and the franchise. If the Dream are built around Reese, Allisha Gray, and Rhyne Howard, that is an elite big three with the talent and presence to contend for a title.

California remains an easy political target, but the attacks on its supposed collapse are often exaggerated and driven more by propaganda than reality. The state still offers an exceptional mix of economic power, innovation, culture, climate, and quality of life that critics routinely ignore.

South Carolina has all the momentum and the coaching résumé edge with Dawn Staley, but UCLA looks like the more complete team heading into the title game. The Bruins’ senior leadership, patience, and shot-making give them a real chance to withstand the pressure and find a way late.

Trump’s words are losing value by the day, meaningful now only to a shrinking base that still wants to believe the performance. For everyone else — including markets and foreign adversaries — the constant warnings, empty phrases, and made-up confidence have become more embarrassing than reassuring.

The consensus opinion is usually wrong or, at best, incomplete, and the reaction to Geno Auriemma after UConn’s loss to South Carolina is a perfect example. Short-term emotions got the best of him, but that does not justify the lazy group-think pile-on from critics whose shallow outrage pales in comparison to what he has accomplished for women’s basketball.

As a general rule, do not buy sports betting picks from touts. Even if you find one of the rare honest voices, the fees alone make an already difficult market even harder to beat, and the vast majority of the business is built on marketing, image, and selling false confidence to naive bettors.