Politics
The legal limits of Trump’s crackdown on sanctuary cities like Philadelphia
The legal limits of Trump’s crackdown on sanctuary cities like Philadelphia President Trump’s executive order on April 28, 2025, demands that the U.S. attorney general publish a list of cities and states that obstruct federal immigration enforcement, potentially putting Philadelphia on the list due to its sanctuary city policies. Philadelphia’s sanctuary policies, including refusing to […]
🏛️ Politics
Elizabeth Warren asks Jeff Bezos if he got any favors for his ‘subservience’ to Trump
Elizabeth Warren asks Jeff Bezos if he got any favors for his ‘subservience’ to Trump Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has asked Amazon founder Jeff Bezos if he received any “promises or favors” from President Donald Trump in exchange for his decision not to show customers the cost of tariffs. Warren’s letter raises concerns about potential […]
🏛️ Politics
‘Agreeing to disagree’ is hurting your relationships – here’s what to do instead
‘Agreeing to disagree’ is hurting your relationships – here’s what to do instead Agreeing to disagree can actually hurt relationships by avoiding important conversations and creating estrangement from loved ones. No relationship is immune to conflict, but some topics, such as “no-go” topics, can trigger intense disagreements if not addressed. Conversational tools like looping and […]
🏛️ Politics
Trump seeks to reshape how schools discipline students
Trump seeks to reshape how schools discipline students The Trump administration has issued an executive order suggesting that schools have been using racially discriminatory discipline policies, aiming to reverse federal guidance aimed at reducing racial disparities in school discipline. The new executive order calls for the secretary of education to develop new school discipline guidance, […]
🏛️ Politics
From the Chinese Exclusion Act to pro-Palestinian activists: The evolution of politically motivated deportations
From the Chinese Exclusion Act to pro-Palestinian activists: The evolution of politically motivated deportations The US government has a long history of deporting individuals based on their political beliefs or affiliations, dating back to the late 19th century and including anti-Chinese racism. The Supreme Court’s plenary power doctrine, established in 1893, allows the federal government […]
🏛️ Politics
How to protect yourself from political stress
How to protect yourself from political stress Feeling overwhelmed by politics? You’re not imagining it – close to half of US adults say politics are a significant stress point, according to national surveys. To protect your health and maintain relationships with those you may disagree with, try being present in the moment, regulating your body, […]
🏛️ Politics
MAGA’s next wave of influencers saved TikTok
MAGA’s next wave of influencers saved TikTok TikTok was on the verge of being banned in the US due to concerns over national security and data harvesting by the Chinese government. A bipartisan bill passed Congress, requiring ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to sell the app or face an outright ban. Despite this, TikTok remains online […]
🏛️ Politics
The ‘sacramental shame’ many LGBTQ+ conservative Christians wrestle with – and how they find healing
The ‘sacramental shame’ many LGBTQ+ conservative Christians wrestle with – and how they find healing Many LGBTQ+ conservative Christians struggle with feelings of “sacramental shame,” where they feel pressured to hide their identity and prove their faith by demonstrating shame for being LGBTQ+. This can lead to feelings of unworthiness, addiction, depression, and even suicidal […]
🏛️ Politics
How Trump promotes a radical, unscientific theory about sex and gender in the name of opposing ‘gender ideology extremism’
How Trump promotes a radical, unscientific theory about sex and gender in the name of opposing ‘gender ideology extremism’ President Trump’s executive order claims to “restore biological truth” by decreeing that there are only two genders – male and female, and that anyone who believes differently denies “the biological reality of sex.” However, this ignores […]
🏛️ Politics
Disinformation and other forms of ‘sharp power’ now sit alongside the ‘hard power’ of tanks and ‘soft power’ of ideas in policy handbook
Disinformation and other forms of ‘sharp power’ now sit alongside the ‘hard power’ of tanks and ‘soft power’ of ideas in policy handbook Three forms of power exist: hard power (coercion through force or economic pressure), soft power (attracting others through credibility, legitimacy, and cultural appeal), and sharp power (manipulating others through disinformation, covert influence, […]
🏛️ Politics
Almost Zion: Remembering a short-lived Jewish state in New York
Almost Zion: Remembering a short-lived Jewish state in New York In 1825, Mordecai Manuel Noah proposed establishing Ararat, a Jewish state on Grand Island, New York, as a refuge for European Jews fleeing persecution. Noah’s plan was met with skepticism and ridicule from Jewish leaders, who believed it was contrary to God’s will and that […]
🏛️ Politics
Whatever happened to the Kids Online Safety Act?
Whatever happened to the Kids Online Safety Act? The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) was set to be a major piece of legislation in 2024, aiming to regulate kids’ online safety and content on social media. The bill gained momentum in the Senate, with a virtually unanimous vote, but was unexpectedly dropped by House Republican […]
🏛️ Politics
Take It Down Act heads to Trump’s desk
Take It Down Act heads to Trump’s desk The Take It Down Act has passed the House with a vote of 409-2, requiring social media companies to remove nonconsensual (including AI-generated) sexual images within 48 hours of being flagged. Critics fear that the bill’s approach could be exploited to inflict harm in other ways, and […]
🏛️ Politics
Trump’s first 100 days show him dictating the terms of press coverage − following Hungarian strongman Viktor Orbán’s playbook for media control
Trump’s first 100 days show him dictating the terms of press coverage − following Hungarian strongman Viktor Orbán’s playbook for media control President Donald Trump has taken steps to dictate the terms of press coverage, mirroring Hungarian strongman Viktor Orbán’s playbook for media control. Trump’s administration has barred The Associated Press from the Oval Office, […]
🏛️ Politics
America is living in tariff limbo
America is living in tariff limbo Tariffs imposed by the Trump administration have caused economic instability, with the stock market losing around $10 trillion in value over a few days. The tariffs are not traditional trade policy, but rather a “fishing expedition” to extract concessions from trade partners and US companies. Millions of people are […]
🏛️ Politics
Trump administration’s attempt to nix the labor rights of thousands of federal workers on ‘national security’ grounds furthers the GOP’s long-held anti-union agenda
Trump administration’s attempt to nix the labor rights of thousands of federal workers on ‘national security’ grounds furthers the GOP’s long-held anti-union agenda The Trump administration’s attempt to strip federal workers of their labor rights on “national security” grounds furthers the GOP’s long-held anti-union agenda. The government has canceled collective bargaining agreements at over 30 […]
🏛️ Politics
Pope Francis filled the College of Cardinals with a diverse group of men – and they’ll be picking his successor
Pope Francis filled the College of Cardinals with a diverse group of men – and they’ll be picking his successor Pope Francis’s death has triggered a conclave to elect his successor, with 115 cardinal-electors from around the world participating. The College of Cardinals, which will elect the next pope, has 252 members but only 135 […]
🏛️ Politics
Italy’s Meloni is positioning herself as bridge between EU and Trump – but will it work?
Italy’s Meloni is positioning herself as bridge between EU and Trump – but will it work? Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has positioned herself as a bridge between the European Union (EU) and the United States, visiting the US after President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on EU imports. Meloni’s approach aims to reconcile her […]
🏛️ Politics
Elon Musk’s DOGE ties could get his companies out of $2 billion in potential liability
Elon Musk’s DOGE ties could get his companies out of $2 billion in potential liability Elon Musk’s companies could avoid up to $2.37 billion in potential legal liability due to his influence over the US government, according to a new Senate report. Musk’s expansive portfolio of companies, including Tesla, Neuralink, SpaceX, and The Boring Company, […]
🏛️ Politics
Bureaucrats get a bad rap, but they deserve more credit − a sociologist of work explains why
Bureaucrats get a bad rap, but they deserve more credit − a sociologist of work explains why Bureaucrats are often misunderstood and receive a bad rap, but they deserve more credit for upholding critical ideals such as expert knowledge, equal treatment, and serving others. Bureaucrats represent a set of ideals that prioritize rational action, impersonal […]
🏛️ Politics
Brendan Carr’s FCC is an anti-consumer, rights-trampling harassment machine
Brendan Carr’s FCC is an anti-consumer, rights-trampling harassment machine The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has undergone a significant transformation under Chairman Brendan Carr, shifting from a media and telecom watchdog to an anti-consumer rights-trampling agency. The new FCC prioritizes protecting President Donald J. Trump’s ego over consumer interests, often through publicity-seeking pseudo-investigations that disregard factual […]
🏛️ Politics
Trump’s ‘Garden of American Heroes’ is a monument to celebrity and achievement – paid for with humanities funding that benefits everyday Americans
Trump’s ‘Garden of American Heroes’ is a monument to celebrity and achievement – paid for with humanities funding that benefits everyday Americans Donald Trump’s “Garden of American Heroes” project aims to commission 250 statues of famous Americans from a predetermined list, funded by humanities grants that benefit everyday Americans. The list includes recognizable figures like […]
🏛️ Politics
Trump’s aggressive actions against free speech speak a lot louder than his words defending it
Trump’s aggressive actions against free speech speak a lot louder than his words defending it Harvard University has sued the Trump administration, claiming that pressure campaigns to force viewpoint diversity on campus violate the Constitution’s guarantees of free speech. The Trump administration has taken aggressive actions against free speech, including targeting law firms and attorneys […]
🏛️ Politics
Japanese women have long sacrificed their surnames in marriage − politics and demographics might change that
Japanese women have long sacrificed their surnames in marriage − politics and demographics might change that Japan’s traditional practice of women giving up their surnames upon marriage may be changing, with a record number of female candidates standing in the 2024 election and increasing support for allowing dual surnames. The current law requires all married […]
🏛️ Politics
In talking with Tehran, Trump is reversing course on Iran – could a new nuclear deal be next?
In talking with Tehran, Trump is reversing course on Iran – could a new nuclear deal be next? The US and Iran are engaged in diplomatic talks, led by President Trump’s top foreign policy negotiator Steve Witkoff, after Trump withdrew from the JCPOA in 2016. Several factors have changed since Trump’s withdrawal, including Saudi Arabia’s […]
🏛️ Politics
Florida, once considered a swing state, is firmly Republican – a social anthropologist explains what caused this shift
Florida, once considered a swing state, is firmly Republican – a social anthropologist explains what caused this shift Florida has undergone a dramatic shift from being considered a swing state to becoming a solidly Republican stronghold over the past decade, driven by factors such as conservative activism and culture war politics. The state’s Republican dominance […]
🏛️ Politics
About one third of young adults are skeptical about democracy
About one third of young adults are skeptical about democracy Approximately one-third of young adults (31%) in the US do not buy into the value of democracy, have little confidence that the system works, and show higher support for authoritarian governments. The same group has low levels of media literacy, lowest educational attainment, and are […]
🏛️ Politics
Did Tim Cook finagle a special tariff deal? Senator Warren wants to know
Did Tim Cook finagle a special tariff deal? Senator Warren wants to know Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has sent Apple CEO Tim Cook a letter asking for information about conversations between Apple and President Trump’s administration regarding tariffs. The letter highlights Apple’s significant influence on the Trump Administration, including Cook’s $1 million donation to Trump’s […]
🏛️ Politics
Is China the new cool? How Beijing is using pop culture to win the soft power war
Is China the new cool? How Beijing is using pop culture to win the soft power war China is using pop culture to win the soft power war, showcasing its cities, films, games, and social media platforms to a global audience, particularly among younger generations. The country’s cultural exports, such as animated films like “Ne […]
🏛️ Politics
Pete Buttigieg makes his first foray into the podcast manosphere
Pete Buttigieg makes his first foray into the podcast manosphere Pete Buttigieg, former Secretary of Transportation and 2020 presidential candidate, appeared on the podcast Flagrant with Andrew Schultz to discuss current events and politics. Buttigieg criticized his Democratic colleagues for shirking podcasts like Flagrant, which has faced controversy over hosting racist content. Despite being invited […]
🏛️ Politics