Opinion

Comparing U.S. drug prices to other countries: A more nuanced view

GUEST COLUMN, Melanie Whittington, Center for Pharmacoeconomics

President Trump recently signed a new executive order advancing a "most favored nation" (MFN) approach to drug pricing. The policy would link U.S. prices for certain medicines to those paid in other high-income countries — an idea that's gaining traction as frustration over higher drug prices builds at home.

At first glance, MFN may seem like a desirable and reasonable step: if Germany or Japan can pay less for a drug, why can't we? But comparisons like these, while politically appealing, are far more complicated than they appear.

Congress must reform the PTAB to protect small innovators

GUEST COLUMN, Russell Slifer, former Trademark Office undersecretary

The 119th Congress is in full swing, and one priority should be reforming the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) quasi-judicial patent review board.

The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) — originally intended to provide a streamlined process for reviewing patents — is increasingly being utilized to harm small innovators and deter investment in critical American industries.

Retrospect, lament, and a longing for lasting change

GUEST COLUMN, J. Basil Dannebohm

Shortly after the inauguration, mortified by Trump’s return to power, former pastor John Pavlovitz said, “For likely the third time, you had a chance to reject his vitriol, to condemn his criminality, to prevent his lawlessness, to denounce his bigotry — and you flat-out refused. More than that, you celebrated it.”

Since then, many of us have lost count of how many times Trump supporters have remained silent or outright celebrated the heinousness of his regime.

Recently Dr. Jacqueline Antonovich, a historian and professor at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Penn., observed, “Like many other historians, I cringe when I hear people saying, ‘This is not who we are.’ Because historically, it is who we are. Again, and again. I think it’s better to say, “This is not who I want us to be.” And then ask yourself what you can do to change that.”

Yes, this is what we voted for

L&T Publisher Earl Watt

It’s amazing how short our memories can be. Not too long ago inflation was rampant, egg prices were out of control, fuel was expensive, millions were flowing over an open border, the federal agencies were taking control without any input from the people, and America seemed to have lost its direction.

While the online trolls will criticize every move being made to correct the mistakes of the previous administration, they seem to have forgotten what Joe Biden and his supporters did when they had the keys to the kingdom.

Unworn dresses

THE POSTSCRIPT, Carrie Classon

I am finally moving my clothes back into my closet.

The back of my closet was the epicenter of the giant water leak of 2025, where the sprinkler pipe broke and flooded our condo. The leak was directly behind my sizable collection of dresses, and so all of those dresses — along with every other piece of clothing I own — have been stashed in odd places around the house.