Syndicated columns

I spent years preparing to dive into the deepest place on Earth. Only a handful of people have traveled into the depths of the Mariana Trench, nearly 7 miles below the ocean surface. As a geologist who studies these underwater mountains and valleys, this opportunity to descend into the deepest part of the deep ocean was nothing short of spectacular.

February is National Time Management Month, which feels almost ironic because if Americans were good at managing time, we probably wouldn’t need a reminder.

Long before I ever covered him as a reporter, the Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson Sr., whose death at age 84 was announced Tuesday, was already a giant in my world.

Despite “tariffs” being President Donald Trump’s favorite word in the dictionary, the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday yoinked his ability to use tariffs willy-nilly, prompting me to ask one serious question: When will I get my money back?

Critics from the right and left slammed President Donald Trump for posting a racist video on his social media on Feb. 5. The post was deleted, but it prompted some denouncements from across the political spectrum and put supporters back in the hot seat.

Attorney General Pam Bondi, in a congressional hearing room with some of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s survivors seated behind her, showed the world that finding justice for those survivors and holding Epstein’s wealthy friends and clients accountable doesn’t matter.

From Immigration and Customs Enforcement to Greenland and government shutdowns, the barrage of daily headlines is never ending, as are the daily headaches for those who want to stay in the know.

As a doctor rounding in the hospital, I see a lot of sick patients. And when things go south, and people’s lives are hanging by a thread, the first staff to react are the nurses. Especially in the intensive care unit, at a moment’s notice, the nurses will be doing CPR, giving lifesaving medicines and comforting family members. These ICU nurses just want to help others, and that is exactly what Alex Pretti was doing when he was needlessly killed by federal agents.

I was shocked and saddened to see that James Van Der Beek, the actor best known for lead roles in “Dawson’s Creek” and “Varsity Blues,” died of colorectal cancer on Wednesday at the age of 48, leaving behind his devoted wife, Kimberly, and their six beautiful kids. He announced his cancer diagnosis in 2024.

On Tuesday, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi endorsed Kennedy heir Jack Schlossberg to be the next leader of New York’s 12th Congressional District – because of course she did.

I once sat with Jimmy Lai on a remote Hong Kong beach as he told me the story of his life.

Gavin Newsom has a memoir coming out this month, “Young Man in a Hurry” – another heavy hint that he intends to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. To judge by some of the more fawning media profiles (Vogue describes him as “lithe, ardent, energetic, a glimmer of optimism in his eye; Kennedy-esque”), he’s practically already won.