President Trump showed what he really thinks about corruption this week when he issued a volley of pardons and commutations in corruption cases. To coin the president’s own infamous phrases, if you’re a star you can get away with anything. And you can be eligible for clemency from the 45th president.

Recipients of the president’s mercy included former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (imprisoned for trying to sell the appointment to Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate seat), former San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. (popped while packing $400,000 to pay off a Louisiana governor for a casino license), junk bond king Michael Milkin (securities fraud) and former former New York police commissioner and Fox News commentator Bernie Kerik (tax fraud and lying to authorities).

As our editorial notes, Trump has become all the more emboldened after his Senate acquittal in wielding his power in unseemly ways. It was not lost on anyone that the underlying crimes of these clemency cases were strikingly similar to various allegations against the president himself. Is Roger Stone next? Don’t bet against it.

What else we’re saying in editorials

State of the State: Gov. Gavin Newsom focused on homelessness for much of his speech. Our editorial suggests his priority is in the right place. The state’s ability to address the crisis may well end up defining his tenure.

Recliner wars: We weigh in on the controversy that really makes Americans air travelers’ blood boil: Do they have a right to recline their seats — or do they need to ask permission from the passenger behind them?

Guest opinions

Foul play: Writer Ryan Moore takes to task his favorite team — the San Francisco Giants — for shunning Aubrey Huff for an upcoming reunion of the 2010 World Series champions. Moore suggests the team is bowing to “political correctness” and should know that not all of its fans are liberals.

Middle school madness: The chaos at San Francisco’s Aptos Middle School, as described in Heather Knight’s Sunday column, are not an isolated event. Two educators suggest the incidents there underscore the need for more classroom support.

America’s emotional breakdown: “It’s not pretty. The chronic reactivity of our leaders has run away with itself, and they are all in desperate need of a timeout,” writes Petaluma psychologist Dr. Tracy Thomas.

PG&E takeover: Sen. Scott Wiener’s plan for a state takeover of PG&E bears striking similarities to another well-known publicly owned utility, the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) in New York. That troubled experience should give legislators pause, writes the business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1245.

Letter of the Week

One word — plastic: Jack O’Brien of San Francisco had this advice that could have saved her a lot of heartache.

Let me get this straight: Mayor Breed makes $300,000-plus — and she can’t afford to have her car fixed? Here’s a financial tip mayor, next time whip out your credit card like everyone else does.

And please check out our other letters of the day responding to this and other matters. You can send us a letter via this form.

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Just a reminder

The Chronicle’s editorials represent the collective judgment of our Editorial Board, which includes the publisher as well as the writers and editors from the opinion team. Our editors and reporters on the news side are not involved in those decisions (including election endorsements). They are charged with reporting fairly and objectively without regard to our editorial positions. It is one of the core values here at Fifth and Mission streets.

Opinion Central is a thrice-weekly newsletter from John Diaz, The Chronicle’s editorial page editor, and the rest of the Editorial Board. Follow along on Twitter: @sfc_opinions