Opinion - Leland Vittert's War Notes: Taking Stock
NewsNation Chief Washington Anchor and On Balance host Leland Vittert was a foreign correspondent for four years in Jerusalem. He gives you an early look at tonight's 9 pm ET show. Subscribe to War Notes here.
Memorial Day: On Memorial Day a few years ago, I asked a Gold Star family what their son would have thought about the 'celebrations' (barbecues, trips, sales) that seem to totally miss the point of honoring and visiting our war dead.
He would have wanted to be remembered, they said, but then everybody celebrates the freedoms he died for. That has always stuck with me.
Coming sacrifice: JD Vance, speaking at the Naval Academy, issued an ominous warning, saying the 'era of uncontested U.S. dominance is OVER.'
'Harvard Derangement Syndrome': Harvard psychology professor Steve Pinker opines in The New York Times, 'As the country's oldest, richest and most famous university, Harvard has always attracted outsize attention. In the public imagination, the university is both the epitome of higher learning and a natural magnet for grievances against elites.'
Be fair: Pinker is a big deal and has criticized his university before — it took guts.
Watch tonight: He joins us to discuss Harvard's fight against President Trump.
Memorial Day marks the start of summer; Labor Day, the end of summer; and the Christmas holidays mark the end of the year.
During those three times, we collectively take stock of where we are as a country and how we feel.
We are with family and friends, relaxed with extra days off.
On Memorial Day specifically, we are excited about the summer ahead, the long days and the warm evenings.
It's the time of graduations, weddings, coming summer vacations and more.
So, where are we?
Gas prices are lower than last year
Today's national average: $3.19
One year ago: $3.61
Prices of groceries and the like are up about 50 cents across items
Eggs are up about $1.64 from last year, according to data from NBC News
The stock market is significantly higher (10%)
One year ago, former President Biden was one month away from his disastrous debate
Today, Trump's approval rating is minus-1.8%
This time last year, Biden's approval rating was minus-15%
This time last year, only 24% of Americans said the country was on the right track
Now, it's nearly double that: 43%
The percentage of Americans who said the country is on the wrong track dropped 68% to 50.9%
This must be good, right?
Looking at the 'right track' versus 'wrong track' perspective feels better to me than looking at the strictly political views in presidential approval ratings.
Common sense tells us people are more optimistic about the direction of the country towards traditional values, but perhaps less optimistic about the economy, especially if you look at the University of Michigan consumer sentiment index.
How much of that is because of the media coverage?
Last year, the media told us how great the economy was, but this year, they tell us President Trump is driving us off a fiscal cliff.
A question: Where is Biden this weekend?
Why aren't reporters camped out in Rehoboth, Delaware, to ask questions when he gets ice cream?
What about Mike Donilon and Steve Ricchetti? They formed the so-called 'Politburo,' as described by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson. Have you seen their pictures anywhere outside of NewsNation?
Have any reporters tracked down and followed former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., or Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.? Where are they this weekend?
Read more from Kim Strassel at The Wall Street Journal.
Why has the Biden story disappeared so quickly?
Trump's crypto coin dinner replaced it — what are you going to be talking about this weekend? President Trump's crypto coins or former President Biden?
On the eve of Memorial Day weekend five years ago, a mob surrounded and assaulted me outside the White House at a Black Lives Matter protest that turned into a riot.
That summer, looting and rioting became acceptable.
Police became the enemy.
COVID-19 lockdowns didn't matter so long as you were protesting.
A neo-Marxist worldview of the oppressed versus the oppressor, based on our relative wealth and power, took over the country.
In other words, we lost our minds.
Five years later, a gunman shouting 'Free Palestine' executed two Israeli diplomats on the streets of Washington, D.C.
We can argue the exact percentage of causation, but Black Lives Matter morphed into the pro-Hamas movement.
It's largely the same leaders with the same agenda driven by the same ideology.
Don't worry: The American media's hearts and minds are still with Black Lives Matter (and the pro-Hamas types) in believing that white people are the problem.
Today, NBC wrote, 'The number of white nationalist, hate and anti-government groups around the U.S. dropped slightly in 2024, not because of any shrinking influence but rather the opposite. Many feel their beliefs, which include racist narratives and so-called Christian persecution, have become more normalized in government and mainstream discourse.'
Today from The New York Times: 'The slaying of two Israeli Embassy workers cast a harsh spotlight on pro-Palestinian groups in the United States. Activists, who were already being scrutinized, could face further pushback.'
Yes, the video of George Floyd dying illustrated a real problem: The (sometimes) legitimate complaints about overzealous 'racist' policing.
Well-intentioned kids and white suburban moms joined the protests and put up Black Lives Matter signs.
In reality, the problem of race relations in America is now worse.
America's major cities are worse off. Just take a look at New York City, Chicago, New Orleans, Philly and Atlanta.
Was it worth it? Are the people whom the Black Lives Matter movement was supposed to help better off?
Tune into 'On Balance with Leland Vittert' weeknights at 9/8 CT on NewsNation. Find your channel here.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of NewsNation.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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