Deborah Simmons

Award-winning opinion writer Deborah Simmons is a senior correspondent who reports on City Hall and writes about education, culture, sports and family-related topics. Mrs. Simmons has worked at several newspapers, and since joining The Washington Times in 1985, has served as editorial-page editor and features editor and on the metro desk. She has taught copy editing at the University of Maryland at College Park.

An occasional panelist on Roland Martin's “Washington Watch” and Denise Rolark Barnes' “Let's Talk” weekly news analysis cable-TV programs, Mrs. Simmons has also appeared on BET's “Lead Story,” “Real Time with Bill Maher” and Mr. Maher's “Politically Incorrect,” “America's Black Forum,” Fox News' “The O'Reilly Factor,” “The Right Side with Armstrong Williams,” C-SPAN's “Washington Journal,” and “This is America with Dennis Wholey.” She also has been a guest radio commentator on NPR, WAMU, WMAL and WOL.

Mrs. Simmons attended the University of the District of Columbia and Trinity College. She and her husband, who live in Washington, have four children and two grandchildren. Contact Mrs. Simmons at [email protected].

Articles by Deborah Simmons

Tip and minimum wage rip off

Some voters will fall for anything. Published June 18, 2018

Jesse Jackson's gambit with D.C. statehood

The lying title "U.S. senator" of D.C. is a bone picker, but when residents go to the voting booths Tuesday for the city's primary elections, there it shall be. The word "shadow," however, is not included. The ballot only says "United States Senator." Published June 14, 2018

In race for primary, oily politicians forget who constituents are

It's far too easy for politicians to fall into the D.C.-centric trap — that is, to view their state from inside the Beltway. Published June 11, 2018

Rushern Baker cheats on his education exam

Democrat Rushern Baker III released his "10-Point Education Proposal to Make Maryland Schools Number One in the Country Again. His 10 points beg one question: Does any one represent a new, inovative, provocative idea? Uh, no. None does. Published June 7, 2018

Joe Biden takes on Larry Hogan

Joe Biden isn't taking any chances when it comes to Democrats givin' a lickin' to Republicans Larry Hogan and Boyd Rutherford in Maryland's gubernatorial election come November. Published June 6, 2018

Food police vs. fat patrols

The food police and the fat patrols are at it again, this latest "oh no!" courtesy of the World Health Organization (WHO), which is goading "leaders" around the globe to urge us toward regular physical activity to prevent and treat noncommunicable illness. Published June 4, 2018

D.C. voters stuck in deep Democratic rut

Midterm elections have long played a special role in D.C. elections since the Watergate break-in on the first day of the summer solstice in 1972, when Washington politics became so muddied that Democrats became Republicans and black Democrats learned how to gain traction on Capitol Hill. Published May 31, 2018

D.C. police blockade blocks for Capitals fans

In honor of the Caps' going one-on-one against the inaugural Vegas Golden Knights for the Stanley Cup, the D.C. police have barricaded all main entry points to Capital One Arena, and they are prohibiting vehicles from motoring up to the front entrance. Published May 30, 2018

Schools should teach civics, police should deliver Miranda warnings

Authorities in Baltimore are following the lead of the Left Coast and considering a watered-down version of indelible rights in the U.S. Constitution regarding self-incrimination. Published May 24, 2018

Arne Duncan owes an apology

Arne Duncan, who was Barack Obama's right-hand man on public education a few short years ago, earned the Knucklehead of the Year award over the weekend when he urged parents to keep their youngsters out of school "until gun laws [are] changed to keep them safe." Published May 21, 2018

The District deserves federal oversight

The U.S. Constitution, the document that preceded the famous inscription that mentions tired, poor and hungry populations, gives control to Congress of what we now call Washington, D.C. Published May 17, 2018

Caps-Lightning fans should get on the Metrobus

Worried about Metrorail stranding you after a late Caps playoff game? As Spike Lee would tell you, just "Get on the Bus." Published May 17, 2018

Fighting the opioid crisis

People are overdosing on legit and illicit drugs, to be sure, and the synthetic drug problem is as real as the ill-equipped government policies. Published May 14, 2018

Roll with Rolling Thunder's Memorial Day message

What seems to be certain is that Mr. Kim is a millennial, among the generational cohort that views history as a fluid set of values, laws and rules that are meant to be broken and changed. Published May 10, 2018

Melania Trump's non-bullying 'Be Best' platform

Melania Trump, the first lady, is more popular than Donald Trump, the president, according to a new CNN survey released mere hours before she unveiled her "Be Best" initiative Monday — using a non-bullying approach for her child-centered platform. Published May 7, 2018

Sex and Washington's art of cheerleading

Cheerleading gained provisional recognition as an Olympic sport in 2016, and it was good news for thousands of cheerleaders who receive college scholarships and prove that what's in your head as a student is as important as your skills as an athlete. Unfortunately, common sense isn't always the top priority when it comes to the fine art of sexualized sports. Published May 3, 2018

The dollars and sense of HUD's safety net

Two weeks ago, President Trump signed a piece of paper that gave his agency directors simple marching orders: Conduct a top-to-bottom review of safety net programs and policies. The goal is simple as well: Find ways to push more people off of welfare and into the workforce. Published April 26, 2018

Starbucks' other problem

Starbucks has a latte work to do to catch up with the competition when it comes to getting its drive-thru customers back on the road quickly. Published April 24, 2018

Uber tax increases for Metro

The District is considering Uber tax increases, which means you're going to have to pony up more for the privilege of using a ridesharing service. Much of the extra revenue will be diverted to Metro -- the D.C. region's transit service -- because authorities in D.C., Maryland and Virginia cannot imagine life without Metro. Published April 23, 2018

'Synthetic marijuana' is not marijuana, 'stupid'

Fake weed is commonly referred to in the media as "synthetic marijuana." There's no Mary Jane in "synthetic marijuana." Published April 19, 2018