Politics
‘Which Side Are You On?’: American protest songs have emboldened social movements for generations, from coal country to Minneapolis
‘Which Side Are You On?’: American protest songs have emboldened social movements for generations, from coal country to Minneapolis “Which Side Are You On?” is an American protest song that has been used to empower social movements for generations, from coal country to Minneapolis. The song was written in 1931 by Florence Reece, a woman […]
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Why ‘The West Wing’ went from a bipartisan hit to a polarized streaming comfort watch over 2 decades, reflecting profound shifts in media and politics
Why ‘The West Wing’ went from a bipartisan hit to a polarized streaming comfort watch over 2 decades, reflecting profound shifts in media and politics The TV series “The West Wing” has undergone a significant shift in its appeal over the past two decades, reflecting profound changes in media and politics. The show’s transition from […]
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Why corporate America is mostly staying quiet as federal immigration agents show up at its doors
Why corporate America is mostly staying quiet as federal immigration agents show up at its doors Corporate America has largely remained quiet in response to federal immigration agents showing up at its stores, detaining employees and conducting work authorization inspections. The response from CEOs in Minnesota, including those from Target, 3M, and UnitedHealth Group, was […]
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Why Christian clergy see risk as part of their moral calling
Why Christian clergy see risk as part of their moral calling Christian clergy across the US are taking risks to protest harsh immigration enforcement actions and advocate for immigrant rights, seeing it as a moral calling. Their willingness to face arrest and bodily harm is rooted in their professional obligation to provide spiritual care for […]
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What is the American Dream, and has it become harder to achieve in recent years?
What is the American Dream, and has it become harder to achieve in recent years? The American Dream, coined by historian James Truslow Adams in the 1930s, has become a central concept to the nation’s identity and self-image. Most people interviewed defined the American Dream as consisting of three basic ideas: an economic bargain (financial […]
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There’s a competition crisis in America’s state legislatures – and that’s bad for democracy
There’s a competition crisis in America’s state legislatures – and that’s bad for democracy The competition crisis in America’s state legislatures is a growing concern for democracy, with over half of Massachusetts state House seats going uncontested by one party since 2010. The trend is not limited to Massachusetts; in recent election cycles, between 30% […]
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Local governments provide proof that polarization is not inevitable
Local governments provide proof that polarization is not inevitable Polarization is not inevitable at the local level, where communities with fewer than 50,000 residents are more resilient to partisan dysfunction. Local governments deal with concrete issues that keep leaders’ attention focused on specific problems, rather than lengthy ideological debates, which can reduce polarization. The national […]
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ICE and Border Patrol in Minnesota − accused of violating 1st, 2nd, 4th and 10th amendment rights − are testing whether the Constitution can survive
ICE and Border Patrol in Minnesota − accused of violating 1st, 2nd, 4th and 10th amendment rights − are testing whether the Constitution can survive Operation Metro Surge, an immigration enforcement initiative in Minnesota, has become a constitutional stress test, raising fundamental questions about law enforcement and executive power. The operation has been accused of […]
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How a 22-year-old George Washington learned how to lead, from a series of mistakes in the Pennsylvania wilderness
How a 22-year-old George Washington learned how to lead, from a series of mistakes in the Pennsylvania wilderness At 22 years old, George Washington embarked on a mission to deliver a letter from Robert Dinwiddie, governor of Virginia, to the commander of French troops in the Ohio territory, sparking an international war and teaching him […]
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Held captive in their own country during World War II, Japanese Americans used nature to cope with their unjustified imprisonment
Held captive in their own country during World War II, Japanese Americans used nature to cope with their unjustified imprisonment Between 1942 and 1947, nearly 127,000 people of Japanese ancestry were forcibly removed from their homes in parts of California, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona due to Executive Order 9066, issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt […]
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Fifteen years after Egypt’s uprising, how faith and politics reshaped a generation
Fifteen years after Egypt’s uprising, how faith and politics reshaped a generation Fifteen years after Egypt’s uprising, the country has undergone significant changes in faith and politics, with many Egyptians questioning traditional Islamic teachings and practices. The Egyptian revolution in 2011 brought about unprecedented freedom of speech, assembly, and participation in politics, but also led […]
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Congress has exercised minimal oversight over ICE, but that might change
Congress has exercised minimal oversight over ICE, but that might change Congress has been criticized for its minimal oversight over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with funding for the agency increasing substantially over the past year, from $8 billion in 2024 to $28 billion in 2025. The Senate has held only one public hearing on […]
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A terrorism label that comes before the facts can turn ‘domestic terrorism’ into a useless designation
A terrorism label that comes before the facts can turn ‘domestic terrorism’ into a useless designation A terrorism label that comes before the facts can lead to misidentification and misuse of the term “domestic terrorism”, which can erode public trust and make the category less useful. The use of the term “domestic terrorism” without sufficient […]
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Creators and communities everywhere take a stand against ICE
Creators and communities everywhere take a stand against ICE Creators and communities worldwide are speaking out against ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) following recent shootings of civilians by federal agents. The backlash on social media and Reddit has intensified, even reaching accounts that typically focus on hobbies like golfing and playing cats like bongos. Alex […]
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‘We want you arrested because we said so’ – how ICE’s policy on raiding whatever homes it wants violates a basic constitutional right, according to a former federal judge
‘We want you arrested because we said so’ – how ICE’s policy on raiding whatever homes it wants violates a basic constitutional right, according to a former federal judge ICE’s policy on raiding homes without a warrant violates the Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution, which protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures. The Fourth […]
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What triumphalist narratives about Brazil’s high court and Bolsonaro imprisonment leave out
What triumphalist narratives about Brazil’s high court and Bolsonaro imprisonment leave out Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes recently upgraded the prison accommodations of former President Jair Bolsonaro, sparking questions about the court’s motivations. The upgrade comes after repeated complaints from Bolsonaro over the conditions of his detention, with many experts suggesting that it […]
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US turns its back on global efforts for women and children terrorized by violence and conflict
US turns its back on global efforts for women and children terrorized by violence and conflict The US has withdrawn from 66 international organizations and treaties, including those focused on women’s rights, children’s protection, and peacebuilding. The move is seen as a blow to global efforts to address violence and conflict, particularly for women and […]
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Trump’s stated reasons for taking Greenland are wrong – but the tactics fit with the plan to limit China’s economic interests
Trump’s stated reasons for taking Greenland are wrong – but the tactics fit with the plan to limit China’s economic interests US President Donald Trump has been trying to acquire Greenland for years, but his stated reasons are questionable. In 2019, he offered to buy the island, which was rejected by Denmark and Greenlanders. Since […]
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Trump’s insistence on personal loyalty from ambassadors could crimp US foreign policy
Trump’s insistence on personal loyalty from ambassadors could crimp US foreign policy President Trump’s mass firing of career ambassadors has sent a clear signal that loyalty to him takes precedence over diplomatic expertise, potentially crippling US foreign policy. Trump has appointed fewer than 10% of his nearly 70 ambassadors as career professionals, instead relying on […]
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The rise of Reza Pahlavi: Iranian opposition leader or opportunist?
The rise of Reza Pahlavi: Iranian opposition leader or opportunist? Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s former shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, has emerged as a prominent opposition leader in exile, encouraging Iranians to demonstrate against the government. Pahlavi’s popularity and intentions are unclear, with some viewing him as an opposition leader dedicated to democracy, while […]
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The only thing limiting Taylor Swift’s popularity is partisan polarization
The only thing limiting Taylor Swift’s popularity is partisan polarization Taylor Swift’s popularity has become a cultural mirror reflecting societal divisions, with opinions on her being deeply polarized by party, particularly among young men and women. A study found that young women (Gen Z) admire Swift, while young men (Gen Z) have negative views, with […]
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Iran’s universities have long been a battleground, where protests happen and students fight for the future
Iran’s universities have long been a battleground, where protests happen and students fight for the future Iran’s universities have been a battleground for protests and student activism since at least the mid-1900s, with students fighting for political reform and freedom. The current wave of protests, which began in December 2025, has spread across the country, […]
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ICE immigration tactics are shocking more Americans as US-Mexico border operations move north
ICE immigration tactics are shocking more Americans as US-Mexico border operations move north ICE immigration tactics are becoming increasingly shocking to Americans as the agency’s operations move north from the US-Mexico border, deploying tear gas and arresting people outside of courts, at schools, and in their homes. The Trump administration has shifted immigration enforcement from […]
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From ancient Rome to today, war-makers have talked constantly about peace
From ancient Rome to today, war-makers have talked constantly about peace US President Donald Trump has been using the concept of “peace” to justify his aggressive military actions, including invading Venezuela and capturing its president, despite claiming to want peace on Earth. The phrase “war is peace,” coined by Roman historian Tacitus in 83 CE, […]
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A government can choose to investigate the killing of a protester − or choose to blame the victim and pin it all on ‘domestic terrorism’
A government can choose to investigate the killing of a protester − or choose to blame the victim and pin it all on ‘domestic terrorism’ The author argues that some governments choose to investigate killings of protesters or blame them for “domestic terrorism” instead of holding themselves accountable, and this approach can be perilous to […]
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Trump’s Greenland ambitions could wreck 20th-century alliances that helped build the modern world order
Trump’s Greenland ambitions could wreck 20th-century alliances that helped build the modern world order President Donald Trump’s push to acquire Greenland from Denmark has sparked outrage among leaders of countries considered allies for decades, including France and Norway. The move has also unnerved NATO leaders, who are concerned that it could affect the functioning and […]
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For 80 years, the president’s party has almost always lost House seats in midterm elections, a pattern that makes the 2026 congressional outlook clear
For 80 years, the president’s party has almost always lost House seats in midterm elections, a pattern that makes the 2026 congressional outlook clear The president’s party has almost always lost House seats in midterm elections over the past 80 years, making the 2026 congressional outlook clear. Since 1946, there have been 20 midterm elections, […]
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Chavismo has adapted before – but can Venezuela’s leftist ideology become US friendly and survive?
Chavismo has adapted before – but can Venezuela’s leftist ideology become US friendly and survive? Venezuela’s leftist ideology, Chavismo, has adapted to US-friendly policies under President Trump’s administration, allowing the country’s current leader, Nicolás Maduro, to remain in power. The Trump administration has given tacit support to Delcy Rodríguez, a longtime ally of Maduro, who […]
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Wars without clear purpose erode presidential legacies, and Trump risks political consequences with further military action in Venezuela
Wars without clear purpose erode presidential legacies, and Trump risks political consequences with further military action in Venezuela President Donald Trump’s plans to intervene militarily in Venezuela are unlikely to gain significant public support due to a lack of a clear purpose or narrative for the action. The US has not seen a similar story-driven […]
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The ‘drug threat’ that justified the US ouster of Maduro won’t be fixed by his arrest
The ‘drug threat’ that justified the US ouster of Maduro won’t be fixed by his arrest The US ouster of Maduro won’t fix the “drug threat” that justified it, as Venezuela was never a major cocaine producer and most US cocaine originates from Colombia. The Trump administration used power and geopolitics to justify military intervention […]
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