OPINION | HOYT PURVIS: The big lie?
The atmosphere is thick with misinformation.
The atmosphere is thick with misinformation.
Many questions remain unanswered as we move beyond the pandemic. Major ones relate to what some see as an assault on democracy and democratic institutions. We …
The after-effects of the pandemic are widespread. The impact is significant and will continue for a long time.
Rivalries are characteristics of business, sports, politics and international relations among other significant segments of our society.
The role of journalism and the media in present-day public affairs raise many questions and points of debate. The questions are not necessarily new ones; indee…
Recent days have been full of picks and rolls as basketball has carved out a major piece of international sports.
The small package, delivered in my mail, opened up a variety of thoughts and memories — and a few questions — when I opened it.
The small package, delivered in my mail, opened up a variety of thoughts and memories -- and a few questions -- when I opened it.
I am asked, with increasing frequency, when things are going to "get back to normal." There are certainly some encouraging developments in moving forward with …
It may take time to sort through the presidential election results and discern the most important meaning and trends. There are lessons to be learned, includin…
All of us contribute to and participate in society and politics in different ways and through different channels -- most of us anyway. Some stay on the sidelin…
What's your takeaway?
Customarily, as a year draws closer to an end, I devote a column to books. I usually offer commentary and recommendations on newer books, mostly non-fiction an…
A certain inevitability underlines the current presidential campaign. I don't mean, for example, that it was inevitable President Trump and some of those aroun…
I have heard it said that politics have always been dirty. And there is no doubt that our political history has been marked by dubious claims, misleading charg…
Every presidential election cycle has its distinctive and defining features. That is certainly the case with the 2020 campaign, laden with misinformation to an…
It was a rather inauspicious beginning for a trip to Asia in 1996.
Lack of context and perspective often results in incomplete or distorted understanding of history. Actions don’t occur in a vacuum.
It’s the economy, stupid,” a phrase popularized by Bill Clinton campaign strategist James Carville in 1992, underlines a basic political reality — that economi…
Perhaps one of the bests salves for the nation would be the return of sports, especially baseball.
President, others hurt nation's response to the pandemic by failing to show leadership.
Americans get a lot of different messages about response to covid-19 pandemic.
Globalization is reflected in the response to the coronavirus and is revealing issues of blame, responsibility.
A lifetime devotion to consuming the news prepares for another change.
A common bond between the world of sports and politics is the lure of cheating to gain an unfair advantage.
Washington and foreign policy can seem like a game show, but the results can make for a lot of losers.
Columnist Hoyt Purvis examines some of the reasons Americans have lost trust in their government institutions and political leaders.
Columnist Hoyt Purvis offers up his annual recommendations for reading.
Columnist Hoyt Purvis says international relations can come into play at any moment during a presidential campaign, with unpredictable results.
Columnist Hoyt Purvis examines realities at play when individual nations become influencers on the global stage.
Congress circled the issue for many months before House Speaker Nancy Pelosi decided the time had come for a formal impeachment inquiry into what she cited as …
In changing its policy on ammunition, guns, the world's largest retailer is setting a noticeable example.
With the fate of the economy in the balance, President Trump's actions reflect mixed signals.
Corruption comes in many forms.
Information is the coin of the realm.
On Nov. 27, 1978, the Shah of Iran and Empress Farah hosted a luncheon at the Nivavran Palace in Teheran. In attendance were U.S. Senate Majority Leader Robert…
There are many ways to categorize or characterize members of Congress and others who are involved in politics and public affairs. The most common labels, of co…
Democracy is difficult.
Rage and outrage seem to come easily and often in these outrageous times.
Those of us who follow sports become accustomed to keeping up with free agents. We live in the era of free agency.
We have our hawks and we have our doves.
Football season is winding down. The collegiate championship, or what seems to be the "semi-annual" Clemson-Alabama match-up, is behind us. Perhaps henceforth …
Seldom has American society begun a new year amidst such chaos and uncertainty, including the government shutdown.
Near the end of each year, I devote a column to books -- mostly non-fiction, and on a range of topics, including politics, public affairs or media.
The Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, which oversees the Fulbright international educational exchange program, met recently at the University of Arkansas.
The Kavanaugh Supreme Court nomination dominated much of public and media attention in recent days. We saw a brutal confirmation fight laced with holier-than-t…
Responsible journalistic practice requires journalists to identify sources,
Long ago, when I was an undergraduate student, one of my professors, in a class on ethics, opened one day's class in a way I have never forgotten.
A polar vortex is an upper-level, low-pressure area near Earth's poles. There are two polar vortices in Earth's atmosphere, overlying the North and South poles…
Numbers can tell many stories: interesting, informative, important and sometimes inconsequential or misleading.