I am Megan Giles Cooney, a Philadelphia-and Northern Michigan-based journalist. Meet me in the middle as I explore today’s events using curiosity, empathy, and fair-mindedness. My newspaper columns, syndicated in over 70 local newspapers, are factual, informative, and authentic opinion pieces. I cover everything from 2024: national issues, local issues, pop culture, emptying the nest, grief, and often asking how we can all get along better.
Focusing on our differences has yet to get us very far. In fact, divisions now threaten our very democracy. Perhaps the best way forward is to identify the human values, hopes, and dreams we all share and then build anew on this common ground.
Sports culture reflects poorly on American Culture
Megan Giles Cooney | Columnist We watch a lot of live sports in our house, particularly college football, the NFL,…
Censoring free speech is dangerous
Megan Giles Cooney | Columnist Many Americans are philosophically in the political middle, open to hearing a range of views…
Our elusive gun rules
Why is the United States awash with gun violence? Why do we permit guns in the hands of people wishing others…
Fit to Serve
Two months ago, I wrote a column supporting a mandatory retirement age for federal offices. That means the president, the…
Information void haunts Epstein case
Who would have imagined sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, found dead in his Manhattan jail cell six years ago, would highlight…
Time to remember Kent State
I am a kid of the tragedy at Kent State University. I wasn’t there, but I had a front-row seat…
Time for mandatory retirement age
In June, President Donald Trump turns 79 years old. Joe Biden took office as president at age 78 and left…
The power of compromise
Beware of anyone who says they have an answer for everything. They can fix it. This promise is false, and…
Signal chat excuses unhelpful and lack accountability
Here is the rub I have with White House senior defense officials using the public access, non-secure chat app Signal…
Canadian wedding, U.S. emotions
We can all relate to a time when we have hurt someone near and dear. Life, being life, has consequences;…
Our flawed health care system
Most Americans are familiar with the inadequacies of health care insurance: it is expensive, not transparent, with costs and claim…
Megan Giles Cooney | Billions in opioid deal bear watching
Opioid abuse tells a tragic American story since avoidable deaths began in the 1990s. Nearly 700,000 people lost their lives…