Sound Off: February 19, 2026
Sun Herald readers weigh in on local and national topics.
Shipbuilding
Restoring American shipbuilding isn’t just a Trump initiative. There is a SHIPS for AMERICA Act, introduced in April 2025 by a bipartisan group of politicians, Mark Kelly (D), Trent Kelly (R), Todd Young (R), and John Garamendi (D). With support from both the President and a bipartisan Congress, can we hope to see some progress, or will our political divide somehow sink the initiative?
Future jobs
AI will not replace any hands-on trade; it will just require more from it. Manufacturing and mechanical services are becoming more sophisticated and complicated. That higher knowledge requirement will translate into well-paying blue-collar skills. White-collar prospects are declining, and blue-collar prospects are improving. Every high school guidance counselor and manufacturing employer should be pushing the prospects of a STEM education.
Insurance
Don’t know what “experts” you’re talking to, but obviously they don’t pay insurance here on the coast. Received my latest renewal back in January which included a $1,600 increase for 2026.
Right now
It doesn’t matter now what President Biden did or didn’t do. What matters now is doing what is right now.
SAVE Act
Congressional Republicans, including Rep. Mike Ezell are making a big deal about the SAVE Act and showing Voter ID at election precincts. We have been showing our IDs when we vote in Mississippi for many years. Nobody has tried to steal an election except Donald Trump, when he lost in 2020 by trying to get the Georgia secretary of state to “find” him 11,780 votes, which he refused to do. When that didn’t work, Trump made false accusations about voter fraud that were fully investigated and dismissed and incited the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Ice storm response
North Mississippi senators pleaded for improved disaster response from the state as thousands still lacked power nearly 3 weeks after the ice storms. Trump has shifted that response burden to the states. Are we ready for hurricane season here on the Coast?
Trans shooter. Again
At what point are we going to have the conversation about the percentage of shooters that are trans?
Send your Sound Offs to soundoff@sunherald.com.