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By Mike Smith, Las Vegas Sun, King Features
By Mike Smith, Las Vegas Sun, King Features
CAPTION

Opinion on video

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Punchlines: A comic spin on the news

Jay Leno
“The United States is sending its most powerful drone to Libya. That’s an awful long trip for Joe Biden.”
Jimmy Fallon
“Everybody’s talking about the royal wedding. And get this, apparently Kate Middleton is planning to do her own makeup. So aside from the castle, the jewels, the limousines, the mansions, the servants, and the butlers...she’s basically just like us.”
Jimmy Kimmel
“Trump said that Obama’s refusal to release his (school) grades are part of a pattern of concealing information about himself. Should the man with the most famous comb-over in the world, get to lecture anyone about covering up information about himself?”

Your opinion

On Religion

Will court curb religious freedom?
Notre Dame law professor Richard W. Garnett argues that the Hosanna-Tabor case will determine whether the Supreme Court will let government meddle in religion.
More
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Tweet corner: On Bernanke conference

National connections

Views across the USA
Read more: Tap into the nation's conversation, state by state
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On the Opinion podcast
Karen Ignagni, CEO and president of America's Health Insurance Plans, spoke to USA TODAY's Editorial Board recently about the effects that the new health care law has already had on insurance and care. Ignagni also talked about future changes as aspects of the law phase in over the next several years. Periodically check the podcast for updates and the new conversation.

Opinion multimedia

Video: Holiday messages sent to the troops
Photo gallery: A 9/11 tale from writer Carie Lemack as she remembers her mom
Photo gallery: Immigration stories from everyday Americans

America speaks out

What gives you confidence?
What is the one item in your closet you can't live without?
Where were you the morning of 9/11?

Debates and editorials

editorials |  | 
Debt limit fight a dangerous game of chicken
editorials |  | 
Young football players need concussion laws
About 64,000 high school football players suffer concussions each year.
editorials |  | 
What to do when painkillers kill 2 people an hour
Abuse of painkillers kill about two people every hour.

The Forum

COLUMNISTS' VOICES
forum |  | 
Head game: Brain injury can occur even without concussions.
AP
Why I won't risk my child's brain for football
By Katherine Chretien
We've seen the damage hard knocks cause at the NFL level. But guess what? This contact sport might be permanently harming your child, too.
forum |  | 
2011 Pulitzers reflect journalism's evolution
By Philip Meyer
Multimedia efforts and non-profits fill a void left by shrinking news media budgets. As the prizes show, the result can be quite wonderful.
forum |  | 
1 more day: Prince William and Catherine "Kate" Middleton.
Via, Getty Images
The British just can't shake their monarchy
By Kitty Kelley
Despite scandals and divorces, the mythology of the monarchy reigns again on William and Kate's wedding day.
forum |  | 
Celebrating freedom: Egyptians dance as they celebrate at Cairo's Tahrir Square.
By Pedro Ugarte, AFP/Getty Images
After Tahrir Square, what now for Egypt's women?
By Areeg Hegazi
Egyptian girls have been conditioned to fear politics, to leave it to the boys. No more. Tenacity and technology have changed that forever.
forum |  | 
Visiting the most populous Muslim country: President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama tour a mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia with Imam Ali Mustafa Yaqub last fall.
Pool photo by Adek Berry
Obama sees U.S. as sage, not a bully
By Lewis M. Simons
Critics call the president's hands-off approach in Libya weak and deferential. Rather, it recasts the U.S. image, will help in the long run.
forum |  | 
Think twice about taking your child to work
By Richard Whitmire
"Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day" is based on a flawed premise. Better to just drop them off at school.
forum |  | 
Obama: Leaving blacks in the cold?
By Carolyn Kaster, AP
Obama's broken promise: I'll help jobless blacks
By DeWayne Wickham
He campaigned on a message of uplifting urban America. Instead, African Americans disproportionately suffer in his economy.
forum |  | 
By Alejandro Gonzalez, USA TODAY
Venture capitalists, it's time to invest in women
By Laura Vanderkam
Efforts to 'level the playing field' will help women and the economy, as women receive a disproportionate percentage of financing.
forum |  | 
By Suzy Parker, USA TODAY
Hosanna-Tabor case to test our church-state divide
By Richard W. Garnett
Supreme Court religion cases too often obsess about minutiae. Not so in the Hosanna-Tabor case of fired teacher vs. Lutheran school.
forum |  | 
Radar monitor: An air traffic controller works Monday in Peachtree City, Ga.
Pool photo by David Goldman
Air traffic control out of control?
Opinionline: What people are saying about the recent rash of problems in air traffic towers.
forum |  | 
Pope Benedict XVI addresses the faithful during Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square last year.
AP via L'Osservatore Romano
How Easter and Christianity undermine atheism
By Anthony DeStefano
The most important things in life — ideas, honor, love — can't be seen. Yet like God, they most certainly exist.
forum |  | 
Trump is a symptom more than a solution
By Chuck Raasch
His strong showing in polls is a byproduct of a perception by many Americans that we have a leadership vacuum
forum |  | 
War chaplain finds peace on Good Friday
By James Key
The Easter story reminds this soldier that joy in life is often preceded by great suffering.
forum |  | 
Ryan: House Budget Committee chairman
By Alex Wong, Getty Images
Obama vs. Ryan: It's on
By Cal Thomas and Bob Beckel
Over the next few months, the Democratics and Republicans will clash over dueling budget plans and must either compromise or collapse.
forum |  | 
Florida misfires on gun safety for children
By Al Neuharth, USA TODAY Founder
State proposal would make it illegal for doctors to ask or counsel kids or parents about firearms safety.
forum |  | 
Getty Images/Brand X
Americans need to take 'sleep health' seriously
By Sara Mednick
The air traffic controllers saga should be a wake-up call for American employers and workers. It's time for responsible night shifts.
forum |  | 
Sponsored by the Army: $7 million for NASCAR race car No. 39.
By Reinhold Matay, AP
'Drafting': NASCAR, Army team up for war
By Robert Lipsyte
The Army has found that NASCAR fans are also a fertile source of recruits, as its advertising dollars can attest. Anything wrong with that?
READERS' VOICES
letters |  | 
Bonds: Former San Francisco Giants star is found guilty of obstruction of justice.
By Justin Sullivan, Getty Images
Shame cheating instead of revising MLB records
A reader agrees with MLB Commissioner Bud Selig's decision not to alter Barry Bonds' records.
letters |  | 
Roundup: More Ph.D.s in special education needed
Also views on atheism, gun control
letters |  | 
In Helena, Mont.: Vince Vaccaro at a gun-rights rally.
By Rion Sanders, AP
Criminals don't abide by laws restricting guns
For the liberals among us this topic is very simple: If you don't like guns, don't buy one or carry one.
letters |  | 
Roundup: USA should cut back its support of Iraq
Also views on Donald Trump, school vouchers
letters |  | 
Medicare patient: Massage therapy at the non-profit Hospice of Saint John near Denver.
By John Moore, Getty Images
Obama's health care plan is better than RyanCare
Market forces won't help control health care costs.
letters |  | 
Roundup: Opulent royal wedding reflects poor taste
Also views on tax cuts, religious persecution in China, air traffic controllers
letters |  | 
President Lincoln: Did he sacrifice principles to expediency? Or was he "God-sent"?
Library of Congress
When recalling Civil War, take honest approach
This is not to undermine the valor of those who fought in this war, but it does speak of a mentality that espoused slavery.
OTHER USA TODAY VOICES
news |  | 
Mark Ballas' 'DWTS' journal: 'Ice, Ice Baby'
By Mark Ballas, Special for USA TODAY
Follow as Dancing With the Stars professional Mark Ballas chronicles the ups and downs of competing alongside partner and Disney actress...
finalword |  | 
Final Word: Have you hugged your tree today?
By Craig Wilson, USA TODAY
The axman cometh. What's a neighborhood tree-hugger to do?