Opinion Today: Counting votes in the biggest swing state, Jill Stein, and interest rates.

Updates from Times Opinion's blog.

View in browser|nytimes.com September 20, 2024 By David Firestone Deputy Editor, the Editorial Board In today's edition, we're offering some of our favorite entries that appeared this week in The Point, Times Opinion's blog. Our writers told you what they think about Pennsylvania's vote-counting system, the problem with third parties, and the Federal Reserve's interest-rate cut. Check them out below. Jesse Wegman on how Pennsylvania counts its votes → Gail Collins on third parties → Peter Coy on the Fed's interest-rate cut → Here's what we're focusing on today: Editors' Picks Illustration by The New York Times Guest Essay I'm the Governor of Ohio. I Don't Recognize the Springfield That Trump and Vance Describe. I was born in Springfield and have lived my entire life less than 10 miles from the city. Here is the truth about it. By Mike DeWine More From Opinion Guest Essay Dictators Die, but Their Legacies Live on Much Longer Fujimori's authoritarian streak lives on in Peru, even in those who claim to be against the former leader's political movement. By Fernando J. Loayza Jordán Jamelle Bouie The Donald Trump Guide to Civil Discourse "Their rhetoric is causing me to be shot at." By Jamelle Bouie Michelle Goldberg What Trump Did to the G.O.P., Musk Did to Twitter It's more toxic but less relevant than ever. By Michelle Goldberg Paul Krugman The Fed's Big Rate Cut Wasn't Political. It Was an Economic No-Brainer. The cut was "jumbo." The implications are bigger. By Paul Krugman Guest Essay I Worked for the Fed. The Interest Rate Cut Is Only One Step in a Larger Plan. The agency's bold decision to cut its policy interest rate significantly affirms its commitment to keep the labor market strong. By Claudia Sahm Guest Essay Covid Showed Us That the Truth Is a Matter of Life or Death I am deeply troubled by the growing distrust of science in our society, just at the time when its insights are most needed. By Francis Collins Guest Essay The Strange Afterlife of Tucker Carlson A year after leaving Fox News, Carlson has figured out how to exercise power and influence in less public ways. By Jason Zengerle Matter of Opinion What Springfield, Ohio, Is Really About Yes, we need a debate over broken immigration policies. But is this really it? 38 MIN LISTEN The Ezra Klein Show Israel vs. Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran — and Itself David Remnick discusses Israel's overlapping conflicts after nearly a year of war. 1 HR 16 MIN LISTEN Frank Bruni Why Can't Kamala Harris Just Say This? Here's a script with which she could explain her evolution. By Frank Bruni John McWhorter Why JD Vance Dropped Into My Inbox I used to think I knew him. History has proved me wrong. By John McWhorter Fadel Itani/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images letters The Deadly Pager Attacks in Lebanon Readers discuss the wave of attacks in Lebanon. Also: Donald Trump's golf outing; the state of bridges in America; the importance of voting. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. Games Here are today's Mini Crossword, Wordle and Spelling Bee. If you're in the mood to play more, find all our games here. Forward this newsletter to friends to share ideas and perspectives that will help inform their lives. They can sign up here. Do you have feedback? Email us at opiniontoday@nytimes.com. If you have questions about your Times account, delivery problems or other issues, visit our Help Page or contact The Times. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for the Opinion Today newsletter from The New York Times. To stop receiving Opinion Today, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018