Blog

My running commentary on events: local, national, and international. Areas of special interest include Israel, Iraq, and dissidents in the Muslim world.

A Church. The State. And a Holy War.

March 17, 2023

by Heather Robinson

From The Free Press

A protester defends Calvary Chapel in December 2020. The church’s battle with Santa Clara County is headed for court this May. (Photo via Marci Dauer)


Calvary Chapel in Silicon Valley refused to close during the Covid...

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Damar Hamlin’s recovery is the New Year’s miracle America never needed more

January 28, 2023

by Heather Robinson

From The New York Post

Buffalo Bills fans cheer and support injured safety Damar Hamlin nearly two weeks after he suffered a heart attack during a Bills game in Cincinnati. Hamlin’s remarkable recovery has served as a rare...

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Comedian Modi: Laugh at yourself, and the world will laugh with you

December 28, 2022

by Heather Robinson

From The Jewish News Syndicate

Tel Aviv-born Mordechi “Modi” Rosenfeld believes in humor as a hedge against fanaticism, arrogance and inability to see the self—and sees a comic’s role as a watchdog of the powerful.

The comedian...

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Former Iraqi parliamentarian, supporter of peace with Israel, faces prison, execution

December 13, 2022

by Heather Robinson

From The Jewish News Syndicate

If they succeed to silence a former parliament member with “thousands of people” behind him, “no one will be able to speak for peace,” says Mithal al-Alusi.

Former Iraqi parliamentarian Mithal al-Alusi, a...

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Pal reveals Lee Harvey Oswald’s weird, paranoid life one year before killing JFK

November 20, 2022

by Heather Robinson

From The New York Post

In the summer of 1962, Marina and Lee Harvey Oswald were welcomed by the “Dallas Russians,” a group that included Peter Gregory, the father of Paul Gregory. Paul became friends with the couple...

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New York Jewish voters divided on governor’s race

November 4, 2022

by Heather Robinson

From The Jewish News Syndicate

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks at a “Westchester Stands United Against Anti-Semitism and Hate” rally at the Jewish Community Center of Mid-Westchester, N.Y., June 7, 2021. Credit: Lev...

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Meet Jan Broberg, the real double-kidnap victim from ‘A Friend of the Family’

October 14, 2022

by Heather Robinson

From The New York Post

“A Friend of the Family” recounts the story of how Robert Berchtold allegedly groomed Bob and MaryAnn Broberg and kidnapped and abused their oldest daughter, Jan. Peacock

 

When she was 9, Jan Broberg’s...

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Law named after my slain sister Kendra Webdale isn’t protecting New Yorkers enough: brother

October 2, 2022

by Heather Robinson

From The New York Post

Ralph Webdale Jr. lost his older sister Kendra in 1999 when a mentally ill man pushed her in front of a subway. Ralph and his family fought for the passage of Kendra’s Law, which forces mentally ill people to be...

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8 Afghanistan vets look back in anger — and pride — over America’s longest war

August 22, 2022

by Heather Robinson

From The New York Post

One year after the US pulled out of Afghanistan, former soldiers Florent Groberg (left), Pete Hegseth (center) and Amber Smith reflect on their time serving in America’s longest war. Getty...

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Quecreek mine disaster survivors reunite 20 years after ‘miracle’ rescue

August 6, 2022

by Heather Robinson

From The New York Post

The surviving members of the miracle “Nine for nine!” miners of Quecreek, Pa. — (l-r) Blaine Mayhugh, John Unger, John Phillippi, Ronald Hileman, Robert Pugh, Mark Popernack, Randy Fogle and Thomas...

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