Boston Globe Opinion

As the United States slashes its soft power budget, it “will cost billions in lost trade, weakened alliances, and diminished global influence,” writes Linda J. Bilmes. trib.al/AB2C2wC

For those who dismiss the racism of America’s history, the truth hurts," writes a reader at #GlobeLetters. trib.al/WcCGrAy

Ozzy Osbourne was a middle-aged dad befuddled by his kids, his wife, the passage of time and, mostly, himself — a lot like my father, writes Renée Graham. trib.al/fUwcWuH

“Massachusetts’ reading scores are dropping. In a state that prides itself for being the nation’s leader in education, this should be a five-alarm fire, writes @carinemhajjar. trib.al/p4m5SfJ

“When CBS canceled ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,’ most of the press straightforwardly reported CBS’s explanation,” writes Jill Abramson. “To me, Colbert’s ouster was obviously political.” trib.al/z0sUeAE

Emil Bove, formerly a criminal defense attorney for Trump, “is uniquely unfit to serve as a federal judge,” writes Nancy Gertner, a retired US district judge. trib.al/8pv2fP2

Josh Kraft has not been able to make his case in a way that makes a difference in the Boston mayoral race, writes @joan_vennochi. trib.al/Ny9fQ9k

Mexico City statues of Fidel Castro and ‘Che’ Guevara head to the dustbin of history, writes @jeff_jacoby. trib.al/xPgYNut

The kiss-cam moment at the Coldplay concert was deeply satisfying for “so many in this nation who are starved for even a dollop of accountability for adults behaving badly,” writes Renée Graham. trib.al/qEMM94Y

“Tree-cutting disputes between neighbors are surprisingly common,” writes @marcela_elisa, and Massachusetts law “actually lags when it comes to protecting trees.” trib.al/nzGkH9y

‘What even are files?’ — and other things I imagine Attorney General Pam Bondi could say, on the way to a Jeffrey Epstein-induced nervous breakdown, writes @petergrosz. trib.al/QTG0MtE

“In this distressing American moment, who knew that what our nation needed was a canoodling pair having their affair put on blast at a Coldplay concert?” writes Renée Graham. trib.al/k669RB6

"Where are the voices of responsibility in the Republican Party? To anyone still on the fence: This isn’t simply about loyalty to Trump. It’s about loyalty to the truth," writes a reader at #GlobeLetters. trib.al/xFTBqbZ

Editorial: Boston’s schools don’t have to be mediocre. Bilingual education doesn’t have to be inadequate. Buses don’t have to run late. Student safety doesn’t have to be a question mark. The person who can change those narratives is the mayor. trib.al/kfyV9Ii

"What will it take to bring compassion back to policy making? When will it become apparent that those we view as different are not the enemy?" writes a reader at #GlobeLetters. trib.al/oPzgjEh

“The arrest of a third lawmaker in seven years for operating under the influence raises questions about what role, if any, Beacon Hill culture plays in encouraging excessive drinking,” writes @shiraschoenberg. trib.al/LRkL8sY

President Trump wants to block states from letting undocumented residents pay the in-state tuition rate at public colleges or universities. But the White House is basing its argument on a claim that is untrue, Jeff Jacoby writes in Globe Opinion: trib.al/nhVasd8

Eric Tarpinian-Jachym’s killing “is primarily a terrible story of a young life cut short,” but also “a story about political affiliation and how that might influence who deserves condolences,” writes @Joan_Vennochi. trib.al/GvSM74H

"I am tired of Democrats telling us about their plans for the midterms. I want to know their plans if there are no midterms," writes a reader at #GlobeLetters. trib.al/zZX0S5j

Granted, it wasn’t as egregious as a recent case in Nantucket. But when my husband and I dealt with a neighbor who cut down two of our maple trees, we learned about the limits to trees’ legal protections, writes @marcela_elisa. trib.al/y1DUwYz