Politics
Trump administration cuts to terrorism prevention departments could leave Americans exposed
Trump administration cuts to terrorism prevention departments could leave Americans exposed The Trump administration’s cuts to terrorism prevention departments have left the US government’s ability to respond to terrorism severely limited, shifting its focus from prevention to a reactive military approach. The dismantling of key programs, including the Office of Countering Violent Extremism and the […]
🏛️ Politics
3 reasons Republicans’ redistricting power grab might backfire
3 reasons Republicans’ redistricting power grab might backfire Republicans’ redistricting power grab might backfire as Democrats fight back with special elections and new gerrymanders in states like California, Illinois, and New York. The “dummymandering” phenomenon, where parties spread their voters too thin to win safe districts, could lead to unexpected losses for the party that […]
🏛️ Politics
What is Laura Loomer?
What is Laura Loomer? Laura Loomer, a 32-year-old online personality with no government experience, has been accused of influencing White House decisions. According to ABC News, at least 15 individuals were ousted from Trump’s second administration due in part to Loomer’s tweets and actions. Loomer’s influence is seen as unprecedented by Washington veterans who grew […]
🏛️ Politics
Authoritarian rulers aren’t new – here’s what Herodotus, an early Greek historian, wrote about them
Authoritarian rulers aren’t new – here’s what Herodotus, an early Greek historian, wrote about them Herodotus, an early Greek historian, wrote about authoritarian rulers thousands of years ago, analyzing the Persian invasion of Greece and its outcome. The Greek victory over Persia was attributed to the fact that many Greek city-states had representative governments, which […]
🏛️ Politics
Where next for Khamenei? After war, Iran’s supreme leader is faced with difficult choices
Where next for Khamenei? After war, Iran’s supreme leader is faced with difficult choices Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei faces difficult choices after the recent war with Israel, including how to respond to international pressure and criticism of his handling of the conflict. Khamenei must weigh the need for reform against the loyalty of […]
🏛️ Politics
Understanding key terms swirling around Alligator Alcatraz and immigration enforcement in the US
Understanding key terms swirling around Alligator Alcatraz and immigration enforcement in the US **Immigrant vs. Migrant**: An immigrant refers to a foreign national who intends to remain in the US, while a migrant is a generic term that doesn’t have any specific legal meaning and is often used incorrectly as a synonym for immigrant. **Documented […]
🏛️ Politics
The Druze are a tightly knit community – and the violence in Syria is triggering fears in Lebanon
The Druze are a tightly knit community – and the violence in Syria is triggering fears in Lebanon The Druze community, a tightly knit minority in the Levant region, is facing fears of sectarian violence in Lebanon following clashes in Syria. The violence in Sweida, Syria, has triggered concerns among Lebanese Druze, who fear that […]
🏛️ Politics
The case that saved the press – and why Trump wants it gone
The case that saved the press – and why Trump wants it gone President Donald Trump is attacking the American press through defamation lawsuits against CBS News, The Wall Street Journal, and other media outlets, seeking to restrict journalists’ ability to publish or broadcast critical stories. The Supreme Court’s 1964 ruling in New York Times […]
🏛️ Politics
PBS accounts for nearly half of first graders’ most frequently watched educational TV and video programs
PBS accounts for nearly half of first graders’ most frequently watched educational TV and video programs PBS accounts for nearly half (45%) of first graders’ most frequently watched educational TV and video programs, making it the top source for children’s educational programming. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting will lose $1.1 billion in federal funding, which […]
🏛️ Politics
Gaza isn’t the first time US officials have downplayed atrocities by American-backed regimes – genocide scholars found similar strategies used from East Timor to Guatemala to Yemen
Gaza isn’t the first time US officials have downplayed atrocities by American-backed regimes – genocide scholars found similar strategies used from East Timor to Guatemala to Yemen Gaza is not an isolated incident; US officials have downplayed atrocities by American-backed regimes since World War II, using similar strategies across cases like East Timor, Guatemala, and […]
🏛️ Politics
For America’s 35M small businesses, tariff uncertainty hits especially hard
For America’s 35M small businesses, tariff uncertainty hits especially hard Small businesses in the US are facing significant challenges due to tariff uncertainty, with over 97% of US companies that import goods being small businesses. The Trump administration’s unpredictable approach to trade policy has created a “whiplash effect” for small businesses, making it difficult for […]
🏛️ Politics
Elon Musk’s plans for a new political party will likely be derailed by a US political system hostile to new voices
Elon Musk’s plans for a new political party will likely be derailed by a US political system hostile to new voices Elon Musk’s plan for an America Party may be unlikely to succeed due to the US political system’s structural barriers against new voices and ideas. The two-party control in the US runs contrary to […]
🏛️ Politics
The ‘Epstein files’ implosion bleeds into foreign policy
The ‘Epstein files’ implosion bleeds into foreign policy The “Epstein files” scandal continues to impact US foreign policy, as MAGA influencers face resistance from politicians who are stonewalling them. The lack of new information on the Epstein case has led to growing discontent among Trump’s loyalists and die-hard Epstein truthers. This discontent is now being […]
🏛️ Politics
Yosemite embodies the long war over US national park privatization
Yosemite embodies the long war over US national park privatization The debate over US national park privatization has been ongoing for centuries, with Yosemite National Park playing a central role in this controversy. In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant Act, ceding the valley and grove to California, “upon the express conditions that […]
🏛️ Politics
Why government support for religion doesn’t necessarily make people more religious
Why government support for religion doesn’t necessarily make people more religious Government support for religion doesn’t necessarily make people more religious; in fact, it can have unintended consequences that decrease religious participation. The separation between church and state is intended to protect individual freedom of religion, but some conservatives argue that this separation hinders the […]
🏛️ Politics
Why do MAGA faithful support Trump if his ‘big beautiful bill’ will likely hurt many of them?
Why do MAGA faithful support Trump if his ‘big beautiful bill’ will likely hurt many of them? President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law on July 4, 2025, which focuses on cutting taxes for high-income households and increasing funding for military and border security, but critics argue it will hurt […]
🏛️ Politics
When socialists win Democratic primaries: Will Zohran Mamdani be haunted by the Upton Sinclair effect?
When socialists win Democratic primaries: Will Zohran Mamdani be haunted by the Upton Sinclair effect? Zohran Mamdani’s primary victory in the New York City mayoral election has drawn comparisons to Upton Sinclair’s 1934 win in California, which was marked by a surprise upset and a radical campaign plan. The 1934 campaign against Sinclair was characterized […]
🏛️ Politics
Trump’s push for more deportations could boost demand for foreign farmworkers with ‘guest worker’ visas
Trump’s push for more deportations could boost demand for foreign farmworkers with ‘guest worker’ visas The Trump administration’s push for more deportations could lead to an increase in demand for foreign farmworkers with “guest worker” visas, which would help fill labor gaps in agriculture. The H-2A visa program, established in 1952, has become a mainstay […]
🏛️ Politics
The quiet war: What’s fueling Israel’s surge of settler violence – and the lack of state response
The quiet war: What’s fueling Israel’s surge of settler violence – and the lack of state response Since October 2023, Jewish settlers have carried out around 2,000 attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank, a dramatic surge compared to previous periods. The violence is fueled by a confluence of ideological fervor, opportunism, and far-right Israelis’ […]
🏛️ Politics
Sanctioning ghosts: Why US plans to hit Russia with fresh economic penalties will have little effect
Sanctioning ghosts: Why US plans to hit Russia with fresh economic penalties will have little effect The US plans to impose fresh economic penalties on Russia, but experts argue that these sanctions will have little effect due to the already significant decline in trade between the two countries. Russia has developed a network of critical […]
🏛️ Politics
Roman Empire and the fall of Nero offer possible lessons for Trump about the cost of self-isolation
Roman Empire and the fall of Nero offer possible lessons for Trump about the cost of self-isolation Nero’s rise and fall from power offer lessons for President Trump about the cost of self-isolation and ignoring honest advice. The Roman Emperor Nero surrounded himself with loyal, but ultimately self-interested, advisers who encouraged his delusions and failed […]
🏛️ Politics
Malaysia confronts the realities of MAGA diplomacy and Trump’s brash ambassadorial pick
Malaysia confronts the realities of MAGA diplomacy and Trump’s brash ambassadorial pick Malaysia has expressed strong opposition to Donald Trump’s nomination of right-wing influencer Nick Adams as U.S. ambassador, citing his lack of relevant experience and temperament, as well as his perceived disparaging of Islam and pro-Israel views. The nomination marks a turning point in […]
🏛️ Politics
Due process: What it means in US law and its implications for migrant rights
Due process: What it means in US law and its implications for migrant rights The concept of due process is a core principle of the US justice system that requires the government to act in accordance with the rule of law, and its implications for migrant rights are being strongly tested. The US Supreme Court […]
🏛️ Politics
Deportation tactics from 4 US presidents have done little to reduce the undocumented immigrant population
Deportation tactics from 4 US presidents have done little to reduce the undocumented immigrant population Despite efforts by four US presidents to reduce the undocumented immigrant population, the number has remained around 11 million from 2005 to 2022. The Trump administration’s deportation tactics have been particularly harsh, including workplace raids and mass deportations of noncitizens, […]
🏛️ Politics
China’s arrests of boys’ love authors does not equate to a ‘gay erotica’ crackdown
China’s arrests of boys’ love authors does not equate to a ‘gay erotica’ crackdown China’s recent arrests of boys’ love authors have been misinterpreted by Western media as a “gay erotica” crackdown, when in fact it’s a localized phenomenon related to online content regulation. The term “boys’ love” (BL) refers to a genre of East […]
🏛️ Politics
‘Big’ legislative package shifts more of SNAP’s costs to states, saving federal dollars but causing fewer Americans to get help paying for food
‘Big’ legislative package shifts more of SNAP’s costs to states, saving federal dollars but causing fewer Americans to get help paying for food The US government has passed a legislative package that shifts more of SNAP’s costs to states, saving federal dollars but causing fewer Americans to get help paying for food. The package will […]
🏛️ Politics
What is the ‘Seven Mountains Mandate’ and how is it linked to political extremism in the US?
What is the ‘Seven Mountains Mandate’ and how is it linked to political extremism in the US? The “Seven Mountains Mandate” is a Christian movement that aims to gain influence over seven key areas of culture: religion, family, education, government, media, business, and the arts. The mandate was originally proposed in 1975 by evangelical leader […]
🏛️ Politics
Trump administration’s lie detector campaign against leakers is unlikely to succeed and could divert energy from national security priorities
Trump administration’s lie detector campaign against leakers is unlikely to succeed and could divert energy from national security priorities The Trump administration’s polygraph campaign against leakers is unlikely to succeed and may divert energy from national security priorities. Polygraphs are considered pseudo-scientific, as they measure physiological responses that can be influenced by fear, anger, or […]
🏛️ Politics
Thailand’s judiciary is flexing its muscles, but away from PM’s plight, dozens of activists are at the mercy of capricious courts
Thailand’s judiciary is flexing its muscles, but away from PM’s plight, dozens of activists are at the mercy of capricious courts Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended from office by the Constitutional Court due to a leaked phone conversation disparaging Thailand’s military and showing deference to Cambodia’s Hun Sen, sparking concerns about the […]
🏛️ Politics
Social media can support or undermine democracy – it comes down to how it’s designed
Social media can support or undermine democracy – it comes down to how it’s designed Social media platforms have a significant impact on democracy, either supporting or undermining it, depending on their design choices. The design of social media platforms can shape user behavior, values, and emotional states, often nudging users toward certain actions that […]
🏛️ Politics