Anti-American and antisemitic rhetoric should be categorically unacceptable in any venue.
I am deeply concerned by Republican candidate for governor James Fishback’s public statements.
The GOP platform strongly supports Israel, backing its security, territorial integrity and right to self-defense against threats like Hamas and Iran and focuses on combating antisemitism. President Trump has issued executive orders to address discrimination rooted in antisemitism.
Vice President JD Vance called antisemitism a “disgusting” form of hatred that should be condemned. Yet Fishback promotes conspiracy theories and trolling language against Jewish people.
Antisemitic narratives risk placing Jewish communities in greater danger.
Leftist media clearly wants Fishback to be the candidate as they know he will get crushed by any Democrat.
His disgraceful antisemitism is now on full display as is his ignorance in calling the Western Wall, which is not only a sacred Jewish site, but also a revered site by…
— Jay Collins (@JayCollinsFL) February 18, 2026
According to the Anti-Defamation League’s audits, 9,354 antisemitic incidents were reported in the U.S. in 2024, the highest annual number ever recorded. More than half of the incidents involved Israel- or Zionism-related elements.
I urge the Republican National Committee to speak out forcefully against antisemitism in all its forms — harassment, intimidation, assault, vandalism and threats — and to disavow candidate Fishback.
Our best future is to unite against hate and defend the truth.
Holly Rothkopf, Boynton Beach
A double standard hurts Tri-Rail
Outgoing Tri-Rail executive director David Dech mentions that passenger rail will always require government funding, like police and fire departments. He should have included I-95 on the list of essential services requiring subsidies.
Contrary to popular belief, gasoline tax revenues are far from sufficient to cover the cost of building and maintaining highways. So why do we accept this double standard? Why does the state threaten to shut down Tri-Rail and yet seems to have an unlimited budget for motorists, even though train travel is far safer and much better for the environment than driving?
Thomas DeMarco, Plantation
Clueless on energy
It is encouraging that wind, solar and other renewable sources overtook coal as the world’s leading source of electricity in 2025. But it’s truly disappointing that China led this charge, not the U.S.
Instead, the fools running the U.S. are leading a sputtering retreat into the coal mines by embarrassingly clinging to the anti-climate change hoax. The rest of the world scoffs at Trump’s imperious demands to follow his clueless lead.
In the U.K., coal has practically disappeared as a power source, as wind now provides more than a third of its energy demand. While we rail against reality, China invests heavily in renewable sources and dominates what looks to be a lucrative energy-based economy. Nature abhors a vacuum. As Trump dithers over Venezuela and Greenland instead of more critical concerns like Ukraine, patient, ever-vigilant China quickly fills the void.
Shakespeare’s fairy Puck got it right: “What fools we mortals be!”
John Kelly, Parkland
Welcome to Broward
On Feb. 20, about 10:15 a.m., I was driving west on Oakland Park Boulevard when a car hit the side of my car and sped away. I chased the hit-and-run driver onto North Andrews Avenue where he pulled over.
I called 911, but was not prepared for the lack of assistance and jurisdictional mumbo-jumbo from the dispatcher. She said the incident was in Oakland Park’s jurisdiction and I was then in Wilton Manors. But Wilton Manors police would not respond because it happened in Oakland Park, and Oakland Park would not come because I was in Wilton Manors.
She suggested we return to Oakland Park and report it to the appropriate precinct. I remain flabbergasted. I dropped a line to the “Ask the Sheriff” page on the Broward Sheriff’s website, but haven’t gotten a reply. I’ve been wondering: What if this involved hotheads, and somebody started shooting? Certainly, there would have been a massive police response from both cities.
Darren Edwards, Fort Lauderdale
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