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Joseph Curl

Joseph Curl

jcurl@washingtontimes.com

Joseph Curl covered the White House and politics for a decade for The Washington Times. He can be reached at josephcurl@gmail.com and on Twitter @josephcurl.

Columns by Joseph Curl

In this Feb. 12, 2017 file photo, Patton Oswalt poses in the press room with the award for best comedy album for "Talking for Clapping" at the 59th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File) **FILE**

Americans try to keep sense of humor in face of coronavirus pandemic

Human beings, when faced with those desperate situations, often make a joke to ease the tension. Americans especially. But during these trying times of a worldwide virus spreading exponentially, of endless empty shelves in our local grocery stores, and of a creepy fear that it's all going to get a lot worse before it gets better -- is it still OK to crack a joke?

March 24, 2020
Tony Sanchez, wearing disposable gloves and a homemade mask made from a cut up t-shirt to help fight the coronavirus outbreak, cleans and sanitizes a bottle of olive oil at A. Litteri Italian Specialty Delicatessen at Union Market in Washington, Tuesday, March, 17, 2020. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

COVID-19 in the U.S.: Doomsday numbers just don’t add up

Last week, when people in America used to leave their homes (remember that?), I was finishing up a big household project and stopped off at Lowe's (every project I do requires at least 17 trips to the hardware store).

March 17, 2020
The window for 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to enter the 2020 election is closing fast. But as of now she's not on the ballot. (Associated Press)

My last column ever — ever! — on Hillary Clinton. Promise.

Hillary Clinton lost to Donald Trump in humiliating fashion on Nov. 8, 2016. That's 1,183 days ago. And yet, nearly every day since Election Day, Mrs. Clinton is in the news: Appearing on "The View," hanging out with Jimmy Fallon, hawking a book with her daughter.

February 4, 2020
President George W. Bush would depart the White House before Christmas every year and stay at Camp David, "so all of us could be with our families on Christmas." (Associated Press)

At Christmastime, George W. Bush was Santa, Obama was Scrooge

Every year, in the week between Christmas and New Year's Day, I think about George W. Bush. It was in that week each year for the eight years I covered him as a reporter that he gave me a spectacular gift -- and he knew it.

December 24, 2019
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019, at Georgetown Law's second annual Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lecture, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) ** FILE **

Howard Stern ‘goes there’ with Hillary Clinton, makes her look surprisingly lifelike

Humanizing Hillary Clinton is no easy task. She has no discernible sense of humor (her smile is often fake, her laugh contrived). She's a policy wonk in all the worst ways, deeply submerged in the boring machinations of government. And in one big measure voters sometimes use to pick their candidates -- "Who would you most like to have a beer with?" -- Mrs. Clinton would fall last on nearly every list.

December 10, 2019
Many Americans following the public hearings in the impeachment inquiry against President Trump have trouble making heads or tails of the daily flood of information. (Associated Press/File)

Donald Trump impeachment hearings change zero minds

President Trump is being impeached by Democrats, who control the House of Representatives. And after three days of contentious testimony -- with breathless headlines deemed BREAKING! every five minutes -- you know how many minds have been changed?

November 19, 2019