The back to school blues for parents

Abby McCloskey, Bloomberg Opinion, August 10, 2026

“School doesn’t begin again for a few weeks. But you wouldn’t know it looking at my phone. These days, returning to the classroom seems to involve more homework for parents than for students.

Weeks before my child has been assigned a teacher or seen a syllabus, we’re fielding an invite for a weekend kindergarten campout. We’re buying new school shoes and uniforms. Signing up for piano, dance and baseball. And don’t forget end-of-summer grade-level parties. And new class welcome parties. And the evening events for parents. I’m sure my children will easily start waking up at 6:45 a.m. again."

Is anyone else ready to cry uncle? No? Everyone else is doing OK?

Me too, of course.

Don’t get me wrong. The rhythm of the school year promises a structure and a schedule that I cherish and miss in the chaos of summer. It brings friends and community back together after summer’s separate ways.

But the transition brings its share of stress, too.”

Cornyn’s Last Stand Is a Verdict on the Whole Senate

Abby McCloskey, Bloomberg Opinion, August 4, 2026

“It’s a crisis for American governance when even the most seasoned and respected politicians feel free to vote their conscience only when they are on their way out. But that’s what’s happening with Senator John Cornyn’s late stand against President Donald Trump.

Some say that Cornyn blocked Todd Blanche’s nomination to lead the Department of Justice out of spite for Trump’s endorsement of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who defeated Cornyn in the state’s US Senate primary earlier this year. This much seems obvious.

But might it also be obvious that a $1.8 billion taxpayer-funded slush fund is a bad idea? The fund, which Blanche formally rescinded only yesterday, would have been administered by the DOJ. It would have provided tax immunity to the billionaire president and his family while potentially conscripting Americans into paying off the Jan. 6 rioters who threatened to execute the vice president and House speaker. (The new agreement still grants Trump unprecedented protection from the Internal Revenue Service.) That is precisely the kind of executive overreach that the Senate was designed to counter.”

MAGA or the DSA? America Deserves a Better Choice

Abby McCloskey, Bloomberg Opinion, July 31, 2026

“Most Americans don’t want a state-run economy. But increasingly, there’s not a political party that reflects this mainline view.

On the left, democratic socialism is gaining traction. Two-thirds of Democrats view socialism positively, according to Gallup. On the right, although the vast majority of GOP voters (74%) still support capitalism, a belief in free markets has not guided Republican policymaking in the MAGA era.

It won’t surprise you that as a center-right conservative whose career spans the Koch Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute, my skepticism of socialist economics and its promises is deep-rooted. But my primary concern is what this trend does to our withering political health. If the only politically viable alternative to MAGA populism is democratic socialism, where does that leave the 54% of Americans who view free-market capitalism favorably?”

The Case for Making Your Life Harder

Abby McCloskey, Bloomberg Opinion, July 28, 2026

One reason we tend to lose cognitive abilities as we get older is that we often stop putting ourselves in situations where we’re forced to learn, according to psychological research. But when there are children to care for, bills to pay and work to do, who really can blame us? It’s just easier to cook the same things, go to the same workout class, and follow the same morning routine.

But this summer is challenging my stuck-in-the-mudness. My family and I are spending five weeks in London for my husband’s job. It’s a stark enough difference from our home in Texas to offer a reminder of what a real learning curve feels like.

I struggled to work the induction stove while hangry children gathered around. The microwave? Forget it. Then I realized I was putting laundry detergent in the fabric softener slot, which would explain why all the laundry came out looking worse than when it went in. The kids and I are adjusting to life with no air conditioning, no car and — worst of all — no breakfast tacos.

. . . .

And it’s been life-giving. There’s something about being dropped into an unfamiliar environment that feels akin to being a child. It fosters a sense of wonder and independence. All the difficulty and frustration of learning new things create an equal and opposite high.

Social Media Age Bans Aren’t Perfect. So What?

Abby McCloskey, Bloomberg Opinion, July 7, 2026

“A new study finds that Australia’s ban on social media accounts for kids under 16 has not curbed use among teens. The findings come as other nations are exploring age-based bans of their own. Has the social media train left the station, leaving parents and policymakers without a way to protect their kids from Big Tech’s addictive embrace?

I will tell you personally, as a mom of three young kids — the oldest of whom is 11 — that it makes me want to throw up my hands. That fighting “the Machine,” as writer Paul Kingsnorth likes to call it, is a fool’s errand — akin to pressing for horses and buggies instead of cars. That reducing social media use will take a deeper cultural shift and individual choices made family by family before there’s a blanket political solution.

But I do think that the age bans for social media draw a clear line in the sand. And for that reason alone, they are worth continuing to pursue, around the world and in the US. “

America’s Religious Pluralism Has Never Been Tested Like This

Abby McCloskey, Bloomberg Opinion, June 30, 2026

“Growing up as a Christian, I frequently heard from other churchgoers how fortunate we were to live in a Christian nation. These days, I’m more likely to hear fellow Christians lament that the nation has fallen into secularism.

But as America turns 250, it’s worth remembering that the history of Christianity in America is complicated. So, too, is its future. Church membership has waxed and waned in our country before. But the decline in a broadly shared Christian worldview is unprecedented. Already, it’s putting the pluralistic religious ideals of our Founders to the test.”

No Cost Birth is a Bipartisan Idea, But Is It a Good One?

Abby McCloskey, Bloomberg Opinion, June 21, 2026

“Second lady Usha Vance’s due date is rapidly approaching. I have no idea how healthcare expenses are treated for the vice president’s family. But JD Vance has long been an advocate for $0 out-of-pocket costs for giving birth. He is not alone. A bicameral, bipartisan group in Congress is working to make free birth a reality for all Americans.

Childbearing in America isn’t cheap. For most families, the costs start accumulating right away, with prenatal appointments, ultrasounds and blood tests. One in five pregnant women will also need miscarriage treatment.

Then there’s the birth itself. Childbirth is the most common reason for hospitalization in the US. For families with private health insurance, the average cost of birth hovers around $3,000. If a newborn requires care in the neonatal intensive care unit or if a family has a high-deductible health plan, the costs can easily climb above $10,000. Then tack on more costs for postpartum appointments and newborn pediatric visits.

The American middle class feels this burden the most. For families with income low enough to qualify for Medicaid, hospitalized childbirth is free, along with prenatal and postpartum care. And Medicaid covers 40% of births. Looking abroad at America’s peer countries, the average out-of-pocket cost of childbirth is zero.”

McCloskey: You don’t choose your neighbors, but sometimes they choose you.

Abby McCloskey, Dallas Morning News, June 21, 2026

“I met him the day we moved in 11 years ago. I had a baby on my hip, my parents were painting the house from top to bottom and my husband was on nonstop business calls standing in the driveway because the house was chaos. The moving truck was unloading everything from our apartment, which only filled a room or two. We'd only lived in condos before. Now, we were in a real house in a real neighborhood. And I was about to meet my first real neighbor.

In my imagination he appeared unannounced in our foyer, but I’m sure he rang the doorbell. He presented me with a business card despite having no business. The background on the card was the American flag and his name was emblazoned across the center with his AOL address and phone number. "

Not that I’d ever need to call. Every day for the next decade, sometimes multiple times a day, he was outside walking two small dogs (later only one) on leashes so long that the dogs were always wandering into the road risking being run over. “

RFK Wants You to Eat Real Food. MAGA Is Making It More Expensive

Abby McCloskey, Bloomberg Opinion, June 15, 2026

“The House of Representatives recently passed legislation proposing to cut $141 million from the vegetable and fruit allowance in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (commonly known as WIC).

For three decades, WIC has been America’s primary federal nutrition program for low-income pregnant and postpartum mothers and children under the age of 5. Republicans insist that the cuts won’t be felt by participants and merely reflect the program’s reduced participation rate and carryover funds from prior years. But by my calculations, the monthly fruit and vegetable benefits would drop from $52 to $47 for breastfeeding mothers and from $26 to $21 for young children.

Those aren’t draconian cuts — but the program isn’t that expensive in the first place. Less than 0.1% of federal spending is on WIC. There are hardly any savings from these cuts in terms of the federal budget. Any unused funds get returned to the USDA at the end of the fiscal year. Why cut here?”

US Parents Deserve Time With Their Newborns

Abby McCloskey, Bloomberg Opinion, June 10, 2026

“The private sector is cutting parental leave benefits. The US fertility rate is at sub-replacement levels. Republicans in Congress seem rudderless in the face of affordability concerns. This is exactly the right time for a federal paid parental leave policy. Specifically, America needs a six-week baseline for all working parents. And yes, we can afford that.

Most parents of young children are in the workforce, including mothers, almost half of whom are now the primary household breadwinner. Yet 44% of workers lack any job protection after having a child, and only one in four have access to paid parental leave from their employer.”

Does Trump Really Not Care About the Midterms?

Abby McCloskey, Bloomberg Opinion, June 2, 2026

“I don’t care about the midterms,” President Donald Trump said last week. Conventional wisdom says he must. But maybe we should take him at his word.

The president has, again and again, created significant and unnecessary headwinds for Republicans.

Take Trump’s endorsement of scandal-ridden Ken Paxton over incumbent John Cornyn in the Texas Senate primary. In polls, Paxton had consistently trailed Democratic frontrunner James Talarico relative to Cornyn. Now, Paxton’s win is giving Democrats the best shot they’ve had in decades to flip a Senate seat in the nation’s most populous red state. And it’s not just whom Trump picked but when: By waiting until the last minute to endorse, the president ensured the GOP bled cash for months.

Zoom out, and the president’s pattern of indifference grows. Trump also helped push out incumbent North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis, who announced months ago that he wouldn’t run for reelection. That seat is now widely expected to flip to Democrat Roy Cooper. Republicans’ chances of holding the Senate in November have now dropped to a coin flip (55% to 45%), according to betting markets.”

Bring Back the ‘1990s Summer.’ Moms Need It

Abby McCloskey, Bloomberg Opinion, June 1, 2026

“while most discussions around summer break tend to be about how to “fix” summer, there’s also a defense of summer to be made. And it’s not just the longer, sunnier days. Time-use surveys suggest that summer break provides a much-needed respite for mothers in particular. (I know, I know — it might not feel like it, with the more chaotic house and all the things we just discussed. But listen to the data!)

According to a study in the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, when school is in session, mothers of 6- to 11-year-old children lose 35 minutes of sleep, lose roughly the same amount of free time, and spend an additional 52 minutes a day caring for others each and every day. Over the course of a week, that adds up to a whole waking day that, presto change-o, returns to American mothers in the summer. (Dads also gain some extra time, but only a third as much as mothers; and parents of 12- to 17-year-olds see much smaller time-use changes.)

According to time-use data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the summer, moms travel more, exercise more, spend more time eating and drinking, and volunteer more. Time spent as the primary caregiver for children during the rush hours of 6:30–7:30 a.m. and 3–5 p.m. goes way down, by which I mean the intense supervision that comes with homework, piano practice or trying to get kids out the door in the morning. Instead, mothers are more likely to be doing other activities in the home while children occupy themselves.”

Losing the Senate has a surprising upside for Trump

Abby McCloskey, The Dallas Morning News, May 22, 2026

“Normally, there’s no electoral gift worth more to an American president than a Washington trifecta: party control in the Senate, House and White House. But what if losing party control of Congress this fall has a surprising upside for President Donald Trump?

How else to explain his recent behavior. Trump recently said, “I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation,” as inflation continues to spike upwards. He’s privately told advisers he doesn’t really care what happens in November, according to Wall Street Journal reporting.

Trump drove Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., into retirement with relentless attacks, and now his seat might go to a Democrat. He also successfully rallied to oust incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La. Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton despite the incumbent performing better in hypothetical matchups against Democratic candidate and current frontrunner James Talarico.

Republicans lose control of the Senate if they lose more than three seats this fall. The House flipping Democratic is mostly a foregone conclusion at this point.

To be sure, no politician in their right mind wants defeat and defeat would bring gridlock, investigations, and more. But the reality is that the Republican trifecta isn’t going so well (see below) — and the further we get from Biden and Democratic control, the harder it is to find someone to blame for the disappointments.

A newly installed majority-Democratic Congress would introduce a new scapegoat. This is the topic of my Dallas Morning News column this week.”

Cornyn and Paxton both courted Trump. He endorsed the one most likely to lose.

Abby McCloskey, Bloomberg Opinion, May 19, 2026

In about a week, Texans will vote in a runoff election to decide which Republican will face Democrat James Talarico in November for the chance to serve in the US Senate. Although incumbent Senator John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton could not be more different men, the two are nearly tied in the polls and campaigning on the same message: loyalty to President Donald Trump.

Open Cornyn’s campaign website, and you’ll be met by the words: “Cornyn votes with Trump 99% of the time” and a picture of him and Trump standing shoulder to shoulder.

Open Paxton’s website and you’ll see his top policy priority: “Carry the torch for Trump’s agenda.” The photo at the bottom of the homepage? Him and Trump giving a thumbs-up.

Is this what the job of senator has become? The Founders designed the Senate to be the greatest deliberative body in the world, the cold saucer for the hot tea of our political passions, a chamber that pulls equally from across the nation to represent different geographic and ideological viewpoints. Instead, it would appear that the main criterion for this esteemed office is to become a handmaiden to the most powerful politician in the world.

It makes me sad. All this power consolidated. I was especially sad for Cornyn, who while understandably trying to win the race (and in Texas, Trump’s favor matters), certainly knows that the office is more than unquestioned loyalty. He has spent two decades in those halls and has worked to bridge divides on issues from immigration to guns.

The Overwhelming Mental Load of Motherhood

Abby McCloskey, Bloomberg Opinion, May 10, 2026

They say that women have more words than men. Let me just say, modern motherhood is challenging even the most verbose of us.

I recently had lunch with two fellow millennial mothers; one a corporate executive, the other a stay-at-home mom. Before the food arrived, the executive picked up her phone. “I’ve gotten 36 messages since we’ve been sitting here!” she exclaimed. No, not from work. From friends planning a girls’ weekend.

The other mom confessed that the pickleball league she leads had turned into a full-time job from the constant communication. I glanced down at my own phone: 118 unread texts, 548 unread GroupMes, 937 unread emails. I’ve looked at (some of) them. Really.

In 2026, the volume of digital communication for American mothers has reached record highs. It’s for personal things; professional things; and yes, for kids. A decade ago, school information came home in a folder or an envelope. Now it’s a game of catch-me-if-you-can with moms sifting through Group Mes, text threads, school emails, and SchoolPass and Vidigami notifications — and that’s before you ever get to planning a sleepover or figuring out a child’s homework.

What's New About Talarico

Abby McCloskey, Bloomberg Opinion, May 5, 2026

Is the liberal pipe dream of turning Texas purple becoming reality? Everything in me says no. And yet, I wonder.

James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for US Senate, is leading both of his potential Republican opponents, according to new polling. This, in the heart of deep-red Texas.

A recent survey by Texas Public Opinion Research has Talarico leading Senator John Cornyn by three percentage points, 44% to 41%. If Attorney General Ken Paxton is the Senate Republican nominee after the May 26 runoff vote, Talarico’s lead grows to five percentage points, 46% to 41%, well exceeding the 3% margin for error.

Conservatism Could Save America. The Small-C Kind

Abby McCloskey, Bloomberg Opinion, April 29, 2026

“Conservatism is in decline. True, it’s not dead — in 2025, a larger share of Americans described themselves as conservative (35%) than liberal (28%) — but this seven-point difference is the smallest Gallup has measured since 1992.

This is bad news for American politics. As a philosophy, conservatism possesses the key virtue that’s missing from modern political life: humility. “What is liberty without wisdom, and without virtue? It is the greatest of all possible evils; for it is folly, vice, and madness,” wrote Edmund Burke, one of the fathers of conservatism. He was right.”

Why MAGA Takes the Evangelical Vote for Granted

Abby McCloskey, Bloomberg Opinion, April 21, 2026

“White evangelical Christians helped bring President Donald Trump to power. They remain among his most ardent supporters. This, even as the president seemingly has gone out of his way to mock Christianity and its first commandment.

One year in, the vast majority (69%) of White evangelicals continue to approve of Trump’s job performance, according to 2026 Pew Research data. This is compared to his 39% approval rating nationally.

It’s true that support for Trump among all religious groups — including White evangelicals and White Catholics — has steadily dropped since he took office, with the exception of Black Protestants who were already near rock-bottom approval levels and are largely Democratic. But it has not collapsed.”

Can RFK Jr. Save Republicans’ Midterms Hopes?

Abby McCloskey, Bloomberg Opinion, April 15, 2026

“Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health and human services secretary, is once again out in front. This week, he launches his new podcast, which promises “fearless conversations” because “the government lies to us.” He’s scheduled to testify before the House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday. And he’ll be going out on the campaign trail alongside vulnerable members of Congress in advance of the midterms. This has pros and cons for Republicans.

Let’s start with the pros. According to recent Pew Research polling, Kennedy is the most popular member of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet, and these days, he’s more popular than the president himself: 44% of US adults have a favorable opinion of Kennedy, compared to just 40% who see the president favorably.

And he’s famous. In our age of celebrity politicians, few can compete with Kennedy’s celebrity status. Only 6% American adults have not heard of him. Compare that to other prominent folks in the administration: Nearly a third of voters haven’t heard of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and a fifth haven’t heard of Secretary of State Marco Rubio. . . . “

I Love Data, But K-12 Standardized Tests Have Lost the Plot

Abby McCloskey, Bloomberg Opinion, April 6, 2026

“Student test scores aren’t looking good, and schools aren’t being held accountable for poor results. That’s not even considering whether the right things are being tested.

I learned this the hard way. My family is zoned for a high-performing public elementary school in Texas — one where students consistently score above average on standardized tests. And there are so many tests. My first and third grader took about a dozen standardized exams annually, including STAAR tests, i-Ready tests and MAP tests. Each year, my children came home with great test results.”