Joseph Curl

Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff plot new Trump probe

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has spent the last three-plus years investigating President Trump, and each time, she's come up empty. Published April 7, 2020

Donald Trump might make ‘the woman from Michigan’ Gretchen Whitmer into Joe Biden’s running mate

President Trump has single-handedly thrust a mostly unknown politician into the spotlight -- and she might just wind up being Joseph R. Biden's running mate, bashing him relentlessly until Nov. 3. Published March 31, 2020

Americans try to keep sense of humor in face of coronavirus pandemic

Human beings, when faced with those desperate situations, often make a joke to ease the tension. Americans especially. But during these trying times of a worldwide virus spreading exponentially, of endless empty shelves in our local grocery stores, and of a creepy fear that it's all going to get a lot worse before it gets better -- is it still OK to crack a joke? Published March 24, 2020

COVID-19 in the U.S.: Doomsday numbers just don’t add up

Last week, when people in America used to leave their homes (remember that?), I was finishing up a big household project and stopped off at Lowe's (every project I do requires at least 17 trips to the hardware store). Published March 17, 2020

So much for Bernie Sanders’ secret weapon: Young people aren’t voting

For decades, political pundits and pollsters have talked about "the youth vote." The problem: The "youth" don't show up at the polls. Published March 10, 2020

Democrats pick old white people from ‘most diverse field’

It was touted as "the most diverse field of Democratic presidential candidates ever." Now there are three old white guys and an old white women atop the heap. Published March 3, 2020

Michael Bloomberg debate, Howard Dean scream worst campaign implosions

Everything was coming up roses for Michael Bloomberg -- until the billionaire made his first appearance last week at a Democratic debate. Published February 25, 2020

Are the Democrats headed to a contested convention?

Only two states have weighed in on the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, but already theories about a contested convention are swirling. Published February 18, 2020

Joe Biden presidential campaign breaks down (just like his campaign bus)

In a fantastical (some might say ironic) twist, one of Joseph R. Biden's campaign buses broke down in New Hampshire over the weekend and had to pull off to the side of the road. Published February 11, 2020

My last column ever — ever! — on Hillary Clinton. Promise.

Hillary Clinton lost to Donald Trump in humiliating fashion on Nov. 8, 2016. That's 1,183 days ago. And yet, nearly every day since Election Day, Mrs. Clinton is in the news: Appearing on "The View," hanging out with Jimmy Fallon, hawking a book with her daughter. Published February 4, 2020

Today’s reporters don’t even know the No. 1 rule of journalism

Shortly before a White House briefing call for the press on President Trump's impeachment trial on Saturday, deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley laid out the rules for participants in the media. Published January 28, 2020

Pathological liar Elizabeth Warren thinks presidential candidates should tell truth

The Massachusetts Democrat lied about being an American Indian, lied when she promised to serve her full Senate term if reelected in 2018, lied when she said her children attended public schools, lied when she said her father worked as a janitor, lied when she said she was fired for being "visibly pregnant." Published January 21, 2020

Robert De Niro doesn’t know how the Constitution works

Actor Robert De Niro, in case you didn't know, is also a constitutional scholar. Published January 14, 2020

Trump threats to destroy Iranian cultural sites way beyond the pale

President Trump's petty bellicosity can be amusing. When faced with even the slightest slight, Mr. Trump puffs out his chest like a cowardly schoolyard bully and blurts out the first thing that comes into his mind. Published January 7, 2020

Democrats know there’s zilch in Constitution about ‘impartial’ Senate

Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer recently took aim at Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for saying he will not be an "impartial juror" during the impeachment trial of President Trump. Published December 31, 2019

At Christmastime, George W. Bush was Santa, Obama was Scrooge

Every year, in the week between Christmas and New Year's Day, I think about George W. Bush. It was in that week each year for the eight years I covered him as a reporter that he gave me a spectacular gift -- and he knew it. Published December 24, 2019

Jim Comey Fox News interview most bizarre in history

There has never been such a surreal interview in the political world as the one that took place on Sunday between Fox News host Chris Wallace and former FBI Director James B. Comey. Published December 17, 2019

James Comey sits for most bizarre interview in history

There has never been such a surreal interview in the political world as the one that took place on Sunday between Fox News host Chris Wallace and former FBI Director James B. Comey. Published December 17, 2019

Howard Stern ‘goes there’ with Hillary Clinton, makes her look surprisingly lifelike

Humanizing Hillary Clinton is no easy task. She has no discernible sense of humor (her smile is often fake, her laugh contrived). She's a policy wonk in all the worst ways, deeply submerged in the boring machinations of government. And in one big measure voters sometimes use to pick their candidates -- "Who would you most like to have a beer with?" -- Mrs. Clinton would fall last on nearly every list. Published December 10, 2019