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When killing becomes commonplace

“It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.” — Voltaire (1694-1778) Last week, when the Pentagon resumed its attacks on small boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean, the media barely noticed. The U.S. military has now destroyed 56 vessels and killed 190 persons. The killings began in September 2025 and have continued to this month. The attacks caused a stir a few months ago when one of the strikes disabled the boat at which the attack was aimed but failed to kill all the ...

Dear Annie: Reality check on a changing friendship

Dear Annie: I’ve been friends with “Mark” since high school, which was over 15 years ago. He actually feels more like a brother than a friend. But over the past year, there’s been a shift in him. He’s gotten deep, deep into conspiracy theories. Every conversation somehow turns into a rant about the government’s hidden agenda or the evils of the pharmaceutical industry. I brushed it off for a while, but it’s constant. It makes me not want to be around him. I’ve tried joking it away and even telling him directly it makes me uncomfortable, but he either doubles down or ...

How mental illness, homelessness and crime intersect

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’ve seen a number of stories lately about people who’ve been arrested for behavior that doesn’t seem to be criminal, but the behavior is odd. Some of these people are homeless, and I wonder if they are mentally ill and aren’t taking prescribed medication. — P.L.P. ANSWER: Mental illness often leads to behaviors that definitely seem odd. Behaviors like hoarding, which can be found by itself or with several different mental illnesses, often affect the individual but sometimes lead to risks for others who live with them. These behaviors can lead to interactions ...

What no one will tell you about the national debt (but I will)

The U.S. national debt just crossed a once-unthinkable threshold on the way toward breaking the record set in the wake of World War II: It now exceeds 100% of America’s gross domestic product. As of March 31, our publicly held debt was $31.27 trillion, while America’s GDP in 2025 was $31.22 trillion. This puts the ratio at 100.2%, compared with 99.5% when the last fiscal year ended Sept. 30. That 100.2% figure will likely climb, because the federal government is running historically large annual deficits of nearly 6% of GDP, which add to the debt. The final tally will depend on ...

Experts miss Trump’s enduring presence in American politics in Indiana races

Tuesday evening’s primary race in the Hoosier State once again proved that the press, both local and national, still does not understand the impact that President Donald Trump has on the electorate. Nor do they understand his enduring appeal, as Indiana Republican voters unequivocally sided with the challengers over those who voted down congressional redistricting last year. So far, the results from Tuesday’s primaries saw incumbent Republican state Sens. Travis Holdman of Markle, Jim Buck of Kokomo, Linda Rogers of Granger, Dan Dernulc of Highland, and Greg Walker all go down, and ...

Dear Annie: Drawing lines, finding peace

Dear Annie: My husband and I have been married for eight years, and every vacation we take somehow turns into a group trip. He used to only invite his brother or his parents, but now the expectation is basically that we travel as one big extended family. The problem is, I don’t enjoy these trips. His family is kind but overbearing. I feel like I can’t relax. They also bicker, constantly arguing about where to eat, what to do and who’s paying. I’m dying for a peaceful getaway with just my husband. I’ve hinted that I’d like a trip for just the two of us, but he says, ...