By Greg Hughes via The Daily Signal | July 20, 2026
Like many young men in the late ’80s and early ’90s, I became interested in current events, news, and commentary. Familiarizing myself with both the conservative and liberal journalists of the day forced me to think seriously about the issues facing the nation. I enjoyed the exercise.
In those formative years, I came across a syndicated columnist whose work resonated with me more than the rest. He soon became my North Star for navigating politics and policy.
Sadly, years later, my North Star went crazy, like so many other commentators. These previously thoughtful writers met Donald Trump’s run with mockery and disdain. Reading between the lines, it was clear to me that their decades in Washington had made them territorial; they saw Trump as a lowly trespasser.
Media criticism of Trump—both conservative and liberal—amounted to resentment. The critics demanded that Trump seek their approval, or at least acknowledge their gatekeeper status. Trump wasn’t willing to abide by the rules of the Beltway power structure, an insular ecosystem that the journalist and commentary class helped create and lived comfortably within.
Trump flipped the script on this Beltway political establishment. He won in 2016 because, in the eyes of everyday Americans, the old guard had become too comfortable. There was hardly any discernible daylight between Democrats and Republicans.
Media commentary became a mere obligation. Partisan debate was a tradition for tradition’s sake. Meanwhile, real public policy decisions shifted away from the interests of the American people.
Diversity of thought has essentially disappeared from the commentary class. Leftist elitists and their regime media abhor any thought that veers from their worldview.
The Swamp and its media have forced the public to pick a side. The choice is simple: the elite’s side or the side they characterize as morally and intellectually bankrupt.
Thankfully, some people are seeing the light. Bill Maher is perhaps the best-known liberal who consistently calls out his own people on this point.
As an old head, now having been involved in politics in some way for 38 years, I have a new North Star: John Solomon. He is an investigative journalist who spent most of his career working in the mainstream (regime) media. His resume boasts 20 years with The Associated Press, stints at The Washington Post, collaboration with “60 Minutes,” and a senior position at The Hill.
Solomon made a career out of questioning and investigating government decisions and behavior. He was highly regarded by his peers and received many awards for his investigative work, including the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award and the Society of Professional Journalists National Investigative Award.
After the election of Trump, he suddenly became an outcast among these same peers. His sin? He dug into the legitimacy of the Russia collusion narrative and the Mueller investigation. Solomon’s commitment to truth had not changed. He had always had a consistent approach—which included questioning the government’s behavior, no matter who was in power. But any attempt to give Trump—the trespasser, the usurper—a fair shake in the press was deemed to be the ultimate betrayal.
In time, Solomon’s trailblazing investigative work has been vindicated. He founded Just The News in 2020 after it became clear that authentic investigative journalism was no longer welcomed within his profession.
Solomon is an investigative journalist. Today, he is widely considered a right-wing voice, but only because he stayed true to his profession while that profession turned into a leftist ideological camp.
It seems that CBS Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss, tasked with trying to restore some semblance of objective journalism to the network, understands Solomon’s work. He was recently interviewed on the network.
The interview would appall members of the regime media. In it, he shared facts that have been ignored and censored, meaning they had never been heard by most of the American public before.
John Solomon: Pay attention to what this guy is reporting, and you’ll never get lost.
Greg Hughes is a former Utah speaker of the house. He co-hosts The Rod & Greg Show.
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