Pathetically Lionizing Colbert, a White George Floyd?

A series of sharp conservative commentaries this week highlights the double standards, misplaced priorities, and cultural contradictions gripping Western institutions—from policing and education to media and civil society.

According to New York Post, the contrasting treatment of deaths in police custody reveals a troubling asymmetry in how Western societies respond based on race and political narrative.

British Teen’s Death Exposes Anti-Racism Double Standard

The 2020 death of George Floyd sparked global protests and institutional upheaval across the Western world. Yet when 18-year-old British student Henry Nowak died in police custody in Southampton, England, after being stabbed with a ceremonial Sikh knife known as a kirpan, the response was near silence.

Dan Hannan at the Washington Examiner notes that Nowak was bleeding out from his stab wounds when police arrived. The assailant claimed he had been racially abused by Nowak, and officers’ first reaction was to handcuff the dying teenager rather than render aid.

The incident exposes the stranglehold of anti-racism ideology within public institutions, particularly in Britain, where accusations of racism can end careers. The power of this taboo, Hannan argues, appears to have cost a young man his life while authorities prioritized political optics over emergency response.

Teachers’ Unions Funnel Millions to Democrats, Not Classrooms

Frannie Block at The Free Press reports that America’s two largest teachers’ unions are spending tens of millions on Democratic political campaigns while teacher salaries decline and member services lag.

In fiscal year 2025, the National Education Association allocated just 10 percent of its 450 million dollar annual budget directly to member activities. Meanwhile, the NEA spent 51.7 million dollars on political activities and lobbying, plus another 123.3 million dollars in contributions, gifts, and grants.

More than 90 percent of the NEA’s political spending went to Democrats, as New York Post reveals. During the same period, average teacher salaries fell over 6 percent even as per-pupil spending rose 25 percent—suggesting union priorities lie with partisan politics rather than educator compensation.

The American Federation of Teachers follows a similar pattern, directing member dues toward electing Democratic candidates rather than improving working conditions or professional development for the teachers they ostensibly represent.

Miami’s Hispanic Assimilation Defies Conventional Patterns

Gil Guerra, writing in City Journal, examines Miami’s unique position as a Republican-leaning, Hispanic-majority American city that challenges traditional assumptions about assimilation and language.

Research shows Spanish language retention remains abnormally high in Miami compared to other American cities with large Hispanic populations. Yet English fluency has simultaneously increased, creating a bilingual environment that Guerra describes as unusual in the American experience.

Despite the persistent use of Spanish, Miami Hispanics have matched or exceeded national non-Hispanic whites across multiple assimilation metrics: college degree rates, labor force participation, median wages, management and professional employment, homeownership, and naturalization rates.

Guerra, a second-generation Hispanic American, argues that young bilingual residents should nevertheless privilege English in public settings out of civic responsibility. English as a shared language remains an indispensable connective tissue of civic life, he contends, and prioritizing it demonstrates pride in American identity.

Civil Rights Leader Who Rejected Government Dependency Dies at 89

Robert L. Woodson Sr., who died Tuesday at age 89, championed community empowerment and self-sufficiency over government programs throughout his decades-long career in civil rights activism.

The Wall Street Journal editorial board notes that Woodson worked in the tradition of Booker T. Washington, arguing that minorities and the poor are best served by helping them develop the tools to lift themselves up rather than creating dependency on federal assistance.

Active in the civil rights movement during its 1960s peak, Woodson emphasized grassroots community work, particularly in fighting crime and providing practical skills to disadvantaged populations. His approach ran counter to the dominant liberal orthodoxy that government programs are the primary path to empowerment and opportunity.

Decades of evidence have vindicated Woodson’s vision, according to the Journal, and his life stands as a testament to the Declaration of Independence’s promise of freedom and equality through individual agency rather than bureaucratic intervention.

Media’s Fawning Colbert Coverage Reveals Liberal Establishment’s Decline

David Masciotra at UnHerd argues that the hagiographic treatment of Stephen Colbert’s departure from The Late Show exemplifies the slow death of establishment liberalism and its media enablers.

Prestige outlets ran fawning profiles treating the mediocre comic like an inspiring political leader, reporting on his monologues as if they carried the weight of historic speeches. His show’s cancellation received coverage befitting a beloved head of state’s funeral rather than a low-rated talk show’s predictable end.

Ironically, Donald Trump served as Colbert’s best friend throughout his tenure. Every attack signal-boosted the former president, making Colbert appear more influential and popular than his ratings actually indicated. The tired finale reminded viewers why so few watched, no matter how aggressively legacy press worked to prop him up.

With information from New York Post