China uses individual and institutional corruption as a strategic weapon to weaken U.S. defenses, damage the U.S. economy, sap American morale and advance Chinese science and technology.
Alex Lear
Staff Writer
Alex Lear is a lifelong Mainer who has spent 25 years in journalism -- the first 20 as a reporter for newspapers in Damariscotta and Falmouth, then as Opinions section editor for the Sun Journal and now a digital producer with the Maine Trust for Local News. His long-running “Learics” column won first place in the Maine Press Association’s 2023 Better Newspaper Contest. He and his wife Lauren are kept young by their 9-year-old daughter Alaina. Send feedback and suggestions to Alex.
Froma Harrop: Democrats should look at the only partly cloudy side
While we can’t ignore the political storm system Democrats now face, weather does change. The clouds move on, and six months is a long time.
Elise Johansen: Why person-first employment policies are good for your organization
If the global pandemic has done anything for us, collectively, it’s made people realize they can leave something that isn’t working for them, even if that’s a huge move.
Katie Draeger: Gov. Mills’ resistance to LD 1626 is a perpetuation of Maine’s disgraceful history with tribal sovereignty
By rejecting this bill, Gov. Janet Mills preserves Maine’s strained relationship with native people, neglects to provide basic rights for the state’s tribes and leaves Maine behind the rest of the nation.
Leonard Pitts Jr.: It’s different when it’s your home
But I bet it’s also no picnic when it’s your uterus.
Rich Lowry: The shameful Supreme Court protests threaten the American order
These weren’t run-of-the-mill protests. No one doubts that demonstrations have an important role in showing popular support for, or passion around, a given cause. It’s different to go to the homes of the justices, which sends the unmistakable, inherently threatening message: We know where you live.
Rich Lowry: We need to take the fentanyl crisis more seriously
Something like 50 times more potent than heroin by weight, fentanyl is the perfect drug for producers and dealers. It’s easy and fast to make, and readily transportable.
Dan Ouellette: Brakey offers principled, courageous leadership to Senate
Our government is out of control. No matter who we vote for, most politicians end up supporting special interests over the Maine people — giving us more taxes, more mandates, and more intrusions into our personal lives. That’s why leaders like Eric Brakey are rare. Brakey puts principle over party, working with anyone to do […]
Lawrence Everett: ‘We must do something to end this insanity’
What are we doing? Those representatives from President Biden’s administration going to Ukraine, daring Vladimir Putin to use nuclear weapons, is the most reckless, stupid, idiotic, brain-dead stunt any elected official has ever done. Not since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis have we ever been closer to nuclear war. I remember how close we came […]