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2 weeks ago | 
wvmetronews.com | TJ Meadows |T.J. Meadows
Late Friday evening usually marks the beginning of Monday’s commentary. A good start keeps Sunday from becoming a scramble. “Why put off until tomorrow what you can do today” was a way of living front and center in my upbringing. Politics makes for easy and adequate material. Call it a misfortunate – or perhaps fortunate –interest developed in the womb. With a topic in mind, the words came quickly. Thirty minutes, maybe a little more, and it was done.
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3 weeks ago | 
wvmetronews.com | TJ Meadows |T.J. Meadows
“Full-blown, global-thermonuclear, break-the-glass, no-holds-barred, on-and-poppin’ feud.”That was my reaction to the public unraveling between Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Yes, maybe a bit dramatic. But should we really be surprised? No. History is littered with powerful partnerships that flamed out just as spectacularly.
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3 weeks ago | 
wvmetronews.com | TJ Meadows |T.J. Meadows
The decision by Huntington city officials not to raise the Pride flag on the City Hall flagpole is correct. In matters of personal belief, expression, or identity, government’s only defensible position is one of neutrality – manifested through silence and absence.
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3 weeks ago | 
wvmetronews.com | TJ Meadows |T.J. Meadows
Social Security is far beyond what FDR envisioned. Yes, many have benefited. Unfortunately, it is no longer financially sustainable. While largely spared under the Big Beautiful Bill (BBB) – aside from partial tax exemptions on benefits – Social Security may soon be forced into the spotlight (hypothetically). Failure to reach consensus on cost-saving reforms to Medicaid and SNAP means Social Security could face more deliberate scrutiny. The money tree is dead.
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3 weeks ago | 
wvmetronews.com | TJ Meadows |T.J. Meadows
Raleigh County Prosecutor Tom Truman, perhaps unknowingly and unintentionally, opened Pandora’s Box late Friday in an interview with Beckley television station WVNS. The station reached out to Truman seeking clarity on a provocative and troubling question: Could women in West Virginia who miscarry at home be charged with crimes related to the disposal of fetal remains?
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4 weeks ago | 
wvmetronews.com | TJ Meadows |T.J. Meadows
When much is happening, thoughts are many. Here’s what rises to the surface on this last Friday in May. Surreal, the passage of time these days. Governor Patrick Morrisey deserves credit for advancing transparency and accountability in the State’s foster care and child welfare systems. His proposed reforms are practical and rooted in best practices – measures that arguably should have already been standard procedure. Leadership tone matters. Without it, gaps form or widen.
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1 month ago | 
wvmetronews.com | TJ Meadows |T.J. Meadows
GreenPower, the electric bus manufacturer with a facility in South Charleston, confirmed to MetroNews it laid off more than a dozen employees last Friday. That’s unfortunate. One hopes for the best for those affected, and even for the company itself, though a turnaround looks unlikely.
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1 month ago | 
wvmetronews.com | TJ Meadows |T.J. Meadows
The one big, beautiful bill is a step in the right direction – but it’s no fix-all. Consider this. While the bill trims $1 trillion in service costs, its tax cuts drive up deficit projections by nearly $3.8 trillion over the next decade. Translation? Spending was cut, but not enough to cover the revenue losses. The gap remains. And remember, this budget reconciliation maneuver applies only to mandatory spending. It doesn’t touch discretionary spending, which is governed by the appropriations process.
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1 month ago | 
wvmetronews.com | TJ Meadows |T.J. Meadows
Gaffes are unfortunate. They embarrass. They make one cringe – whether from committing them or simply witnessing them. Sympathy and empathy are appropriate responses to those who err. But sometimes, gaffes expose something deeper, something that needs fixing. That’s the case with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who on Tuesday offered an incorrect explanation of habeas corpus.
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1 month ago | 
wvmetronews.com | TJ Meadows |T.J. Meadows
President Trump has picked a fight with Sam Walton’s company. He likely will not win. He may not care if he does or doesn’t, if he gets a deal done soon. On Saturday, he took to social media with this message. “Walmart should STOP trying to blame Tariffs as the reason for raising prices throughout the chain. ” he wrote on Truth Social. “Walmart made BILLIONS OF DOLLARS last year, far more than expected.
