Think About It with Michael Leppert

The news was breaking about the leaked, draft opinion that was circulating at the U.S. Supreme Court. Early reports on the screen claimed this leaked draft would "overturn" the 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade. We didn't know much about this draft opinion until later, but based on the initial news, it wasn't immediately all that surprising to me. It was what I expected out of this court. However, after the details became more clear, the draft opinion is not merely a modification of the landmark case, or even a new definition of when "life" officially becomes "life."

No, this is a reversal, a gutting, an annihilation of a federally protected right that has been in place for nearly half a century. And apparently, it has the support of the five-justice majority needed to issue it.

This is not what I expected.

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I have felt for the longest time that America has begun to feel like a never-ending reenactment of Monty Python's classic sketch, "The Argument Clinic." The premise of the 1970 sketch is that there might actually be people who are simply looking for an argument and are willing to pay a pro to deliver one. Michael Palin and John Cleese expertly show how frustrating a so-called argument can be when contradiction is its only feature. First of all, the sketch is hilarious, but importantly today, it foreshadowed social media and contemporary politics fifty years ahead of its time.

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Imagine being the person in charge of recruiting a business to locate in the state. The shortlist of what Indiana wants from them includes modern, high-paying jobs for people who need them, the local investment a new headquarters or manufacturing facility requires, and of course, the tax revenue the business will create. So, what do virtually all new business recruits want from Indiana in return?

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On Thursday, the Republican National Committee voted unanimously to withdraw from the Commission on Presidential Debates. As reported by Reuters, RNC's chairperson, Ronna McDaniel said in a statement, "We are going to find newer, better debate platforms to ensure that future nominees are not forced to go through the biased CPD in order to make their case to the American people."

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So Cold the River is a real Hoosier horror. The book was another Koryta classic I discovered. It was only a New York Times Best Seller more than a decade ago, who knew? But the story is not just loosely connected to some random historic hotel that serves as some random thriller's setting. In many ways the book is about the French Lick Valley and its history, told through the vehicle of a creepy and believable ghost story. If you have spent much time there, as I have, you will likely agree that the two historic hotels and all that surrounds them is an area crying out for a ghoulish tale like this one to be told. Koryta was the exact right person to tell it.

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All jokes are offensive to someone, especially in the spit zone. The one thing that inevitably comes with great comedy is hurt feelings. It is sad but true. And it's only getting sadder. Of course, this leads to Chris Rock.

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The story that is told in the Oscar-nominated movie, "Belfast," is filled with wonder. It was for me anyway. Primarily because writer/director Kenneth Branagh masterfully connected me with nine-year-old "Buddy," a little boy who reminds me of me.

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There are two primary things that Russian President Vladimir Putin underestimated when he gave the order to invade Ukraine three weeks ago. The first one was the surprising strength and commitment to fight of the Ukraine army and its people. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has led a resistance that is truly inspirational.

This second thing almost certainly surprised Putin too.

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With the passage of House Bill 1296 by the Indiana General Assembly this week, which creates a "permitless" or "constitutional" carry framework for handguns in the state, Hoosiers have basically declared all guys "good." It's sort of a "don't ask, don't tell" policy for anyone in the state who would otherwise be allowed to carry a gun if licensing still existed. What I mean by that is that this bill slightly refines what state law will be in determining who can legally carry a gun, but eliminates the state's determination that any of those details are actually true. Why shouldn't we just assume that every eighteen-year-old is entirely compliant with the 34-page bill that defines his or her compliance?

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It has taken a week or two, but Americans have finally found a grievance we can all share together. Only the smallest, most disturbed group among us is having trouble rooting for the people of Ukraine in what appears to be a hopeless defense of their home.

Ask anyone around why Russia invaded their peaceful and sovereign neighbor–it is unlikely you will get a justifiable answer. Not around here. Not around any democratic nation on the planet.

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