The opinions presented below are solely the views of the author and do not represent the views of The News-Letter. If you are a member of the Hopkins community looking to submit a piece or a letter to the editor, please email opinions@jhunewsletter.com.
The U.S. has, since the start of the new year, conducted military strikes and operations in both Venezuela and Iran. This marks a surprising militant turn in U.S. foreign policy in recent decades, which presents a larger issue regarding the role and image of the United States across the world.
From my little desk in the corner of the Housing Office in Wolman 103, I’ve gotten to witness the freshman and sophomore classes grow into the comfort of calling their dorms “home.” Groups of strangers on move-in day leave as best friends on move-out.
In response to “Why I don’t write about being Vietnamese” published Oct. 27, 2025:
Lately, it feels strange to walk into class as if everything is normal. To sit in lecture halls, laugh with friends and plan for the future while so much is happening beyond campus walls. The world doesn’t pause just because we’re students, and yet sometimes it feels like we’re expected to let it.
On Jan. 29, Governor Jeff Landry penned an essay for The New York Times titled “Trump's Greenland Envoy: We Need ‘Total, Unfettered Access.’“ Mr. Landry, the U.S. Special Envoy to Greenland, was tasked by President Trump to “lead the charge” to acquire the world’s largest island. In his essay, he argues that the U.S. must expand its military presence in Greenland.
A fierce nationwide redistricting battle has unfolded ahead of the midterm elections this year, sparked by the Texas state legislature’s adoption of an aggressively gerrymandered congressional map aimed at flipping Democratic-held seats. Across the country, around a dozen state legislatures have initiated efforts to redraw districts to favor their parties.
Currently, Iran is facing a political and humanitarian disaster. But most headlines only scratch the surface of the country’s state. As an Iranian American, I write here with a deep love for both the country and its people. In January 2026, Iran witnessed one of the deadliest crackdowns on the protests and nationwide descent of its modern history.
I’ve struggled to make sense of the news lately. The systemic, administration-led violence against immigrants has torn apart families in the name of “law and order.” President Trump made his promises of mass deportations abundantly clear during his electoral campaign, but never could I have imagined the extent of his administration’s cruelty in carrying out his agenda.
The very concept makes me want to curl up into myself and dig my head into the sand. The mere fact that situationships exist as an idea floating out there in the world deeply pains my heart every day that I am aware of it. And not just that, situationships have literally been all I’ve ever known.
In today’s culture, there is a certain pressure to find one’s “aesthetic niche.” Social media has made self-presentation a kind of performance, where one’s outfit, lighting and even coffee order has become an indication of identity. Fast forward to 2025, and we’ve traded flowy skirts and notebooks for pencil skirts and lip gloss — the office siren has arrived.
Today I examine the Opinion section of The News-Letter through a written interview with its editor, Ayden Min.
Thanksgiving can be a tone-deaf holiday. As the year draws to a close, things don't seem to be going well for a lot of us. Although Thanksgiving is sometimes seen as a superficial holiday preaching forced positivity, it is still an opportunity to appreciate small things and shape the holiday in ways unique to each of us.
I’ve taken on the ’90s aesthetic a time or two through a motorcycle leather jacket and jean skirt, but it has never felt real. What once grew out of lived experience has become something curated, aestheticized and filtered, where whole identities now get assembled from trend cycles and pre-packaged “types.” The quest for aesthetics is destroying our originality.
The blue jay is our campus mascot. But have you ever actually seen a blue jay on campus? Many students have never seen the iconic bird at Homewood. A concerning trend in decreasing bird diversity and abundance may be the explanation.
In fear of growing attached, I shook away any possibility of Mamdani winning the primary. Months later, here he is: the NYC mayor-elect, and here I am: a New Yorker who finally sees her vision for the city at the forefront of Mamdani’s new, people-centered administration.
On Sept. 16, The Johns Hopkins News-Letter Editorial Board released an article bearing the title “On generative AI: The News-Letter commitment to journalistic integrity.” It set the paper’s opinion on the application of artificial intelligence to student journalism, that The News-Letter would not sacrifice ethical reporting in the cause of efficiency, though the temptation may be.
As the boundaries of art continue to blur, the question of what marks art ‘good’ or ‘bad’ has become increasingly complex. These distinctions matter for anyone seeking to understand how creative expression shapes human thought and culture. But before we can evaluate the quality of art, we must first ask a more fundamental question: What is art?
Around 17 years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered one of its most consequential decisions in modern American history. This case is one which took up the mantle of a centuries-long debate regarding the intended scope of the Second Amendment and sought to settle its ambiguous wording.
The U.S. has a longstanding reputation as the “land of the free” because its population is entitled to stand up for the values that matter to them, and the “home of the brave” because people are willing to stand up for causes that resonate with them. I see a crisis of these freedoms, values and equal opportunities in the U.S. today.
