Politics
For Trump’s ‘no taxes on tips,’ the devil is in the details
For Trump’s ‘no taxes on tips,’ the devil is in the details President Trump’s promise to eliminate taxes on tips may seem like a windfall for service workers, but the fine print reveals a more complex story. The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” and the “No Tax on Tips Act” propose tax breaks for cash […]
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100 years ago, the Social Gospel movement pushed to improve workers’ lives – but also to promote its vision of Christian America
100 years ago, the Social Gospel movement pushed to improve workers’ lives – but also to promote its vision of Christian America The Social Gospel movement, which emerged 100 years ago, aimed to improve workers’ lives and promote a vision of Christian America, but also perpetuated white Christian nationalism and anti-immigrant rhetoric. The movement’s leaders […]
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From Kent State to Los Angeles, using armed forces to police civilians is a high-risk strategy
From Kent State to Los Angeles, using armed forces to police civilians is a high-risk strategy President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy 2,000 California National Guard troops into Los Angeles to support federal immigration enforcement raids has been criticized as “inflammatory” and potentially escalating tensions. The deployment of armed forces to police civilians is a […]
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Golden Dome dangers: An arms control expert explains how Trump’s missile defense threatens to make the US less safe
Golden Dome dangers: An arms control expert explains how Trump’s missile defense threatens to make the US less safe President Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defense system poses significant strategic dangers for the US, including increasing the risk of nuclear war and destabilizing global stability. The system’s goals are likely beyond reach due to its high […]
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Debates over presidential power to suspend habeas corpus resurface in Trump administration
Debates over presidential power to suspend habeas corpus resurface in Trump administration The Trump administration has raised the issue of suspending habeas corpus, a constitutional right that protects individuals from arbitrary detention, sparking debates over presidential power and executive overreach. The privilege of habeas corpus was first suspended during the Civil War by President Abraham […]
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AmeriCorps is on the chopping block – despite research showing that the national service agency is making a difference in local communities
AmeriCorps is on the chopping block – despite research showing that the national service agency is making a difference in local communities AmeriCorps, a national service agency, is facing an uncertain future despite its positive impact on local communities. The Trump administration has canceled over 1,000 grants, ending stipends for more than 32,000 AmeriCorps volunteers, […]
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Trump’s justifications for the latest travel ban aren’t supported by the data on immigration and terrorism
Trump’s justifications for the latest travel ban aren’t supported by the data on immigration and terrorism The Trump administration’s latest travel ban targets 19 countries in Africa and Asia, but its justifications for the ban are not supported by data on immigration and terrorism. The ban will not significantly improve national security and public safety […]
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In pardoning reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, Trump taps into a sense of persecution felt by his conservative Christian base
In pardoning reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, Trump taps into a sense of persecution felt by his conservative Christian base President Donald Trump’s pardon of reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley has tapped into a sense of persecution felt by his conservative Christian base, who see themselves as victims of a biased […]
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How Trump’s ‘gold standard’ politicizes federal science
How Trump’s ‘gold standard’ politicizes federal science President Donald Trump’s “Restoring Gold Standard Science” executive order aims to increase transparency and reproducibility in federal science, but critics argue that it politicizes science and undermines scientific rigor. The order focuses on “reproducibility,” which means ensuring consistency in results, rather than “replicability,” which requires different scientists to […]
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Detroit voters have an opportunity to pick a mayor who will ease zoning, improve transit and protect long-term residents
Detroit voters have an opportunity to pick a mayor who will ease zoning, improve transit and protect long-term residents Detroit’s next mayor has an opportunity to improve life in the city by making it easier to build new homes and businesses, improving transit service, and making property taxes fairer. Easing zoning and building rules can […]
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What a sunny van Gogh painting of ‘The Sower’ tells us about Pope Leo’s message of hope
What a sunny van Gogh painting of ‘The Sower’ tells us about Pope Leo’s message of hope Pope Leo XIV referred to Vincent van Gogh’s painting “Sower at Sunset” as a symbol of hope during his first general audience in Rome, highlighting its connection to Christ’s Parable of the Sower. The painting, created in 1888, […]
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Reducing American antisemitism requires more than condemning opposition to Israel and targeting elite universities
Reducing American antisemitism requires more than condemning opposition to Israel and targeting elite universities Reducing American antisemitism requires a more nuanced approach than simply condemning opposition to Israel or targeting elite universities. The Trump administration’s policies on antisemitism have been criticized for ignoring right-wing antisemitism and instead focusing on punishing pro-Israel activism at universities, which […]
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Peace has long been elusive in rural Colombia – Black women’s community groups try to bring it closer each day
Peace has long been elusive in rural Colombia – Black women’s community groups try to bring it closer each day Colombia’s internal conflict has lasted over six decades, making it one of the oldest conflicts in the world, and violence surged in early 2025, killing dozens and displacing tens of thousands. The country’s peace agreement […]
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Even if Putin and Zelenskyy do go face-to-face, don’t expect wonders − their one meeting in 2019 ended in failure
Even if Putin and Zelenskyy do go face-to-face, don’t expect wonders − their one meeting in 2019 ended in failure The Normandy Format talks between Ukraine and Russia, led by European leaders, have been stalled since 2019 due to disagreements on sequencing key parts of a peace plan. The talks ultimately ended in failure, with […]
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Elon Musk discovers Trump doesn’t stay bought
Elon Musk discovers Trump doesn’t stay bought Elon Musk’s influence has significantly decreased since his time as a major donor to various politicians. Musk is now reduced to asking his followers on X to contact their senators and congressmen to vote down Donald Trump’s budget plan, which he claims will increase the deficit. The main […]
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Autocrats don’t act like Hitler or Stalin anymore − instead of governing with violence, they use manipulation
Autocrats don’t act like Hitler or Stalin anymore − instead of governing with violence, they use manipulation Modern autocrats use manipulation and spin to gain and maintain power, rather than relying on violence or overt repression. The term “informational autocracy” or “spin dictatorship” describes this approach, where leaders craft an image of competence and democratic […]
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3 ways the government can silence opinions it disagrees with, without using censorship
3 ways the government can silence opinions it disagrees with, without using censorship The US government can silence opinions it disagrees with without using censorship by making institutions change their advocacy to get government benefits, inducing self-censorship through intimidation, and molding the government’s own speech to promote official ideology. The Trump administration has used these […]
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Trump pulls Musk ally’s NASA Administrator nomination
Trump pulls Musk ally’s NASA Administrator nomination Trump Administration pulls nomination of Jared Isaacman, a close ally of Elon Musk, to become NASA Administrator, just one day after Musk’s public departure from his role as a White House employee. Isaacman was nominated by Trump despite having donated to prominent Democrats, including Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, […]
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Veterans’ protests planned for D-Day latest in nearly 250 years of fighting for their benefits
Veterans’ protests planned for D-Day latest in nearly 250 years of fighting for their benefits Veterans across the US will gather on June 6, 2025, to protest cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs and other government programs, highlighting their disproportionate impact due to “veterans preference” in federal hiring. The Trump administration’s cuts have led […]
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Are hegemonies a relic of the past? The role of coercion and consent in global domination
Are hegemonies a relic of the past? The role of coercion and consent in global domination The concept of hegemony has been central to international relations since its inception, reflecting a nation’s ability to influence others through both coercion and consent. The modern understanding of hegemony emerged during the 19th century with Britain’s role as […]
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What Peru’s Virgen de la Puerta represents about unity and inclusion
What Peru’s Virgen de la Puerta represents about unity and inclusion La Virgen de la Puerta, an image of Mary venerated in Peru for over 300 years, represents unity and inclusion among people from different backgrounds, including Catholics, non-Catholics, LGBTQ+ individuals, and marginalized communities. The shrine church of La Virgen de la Puerta is located […]
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Trump’s white genocide claims about South Africa have deep roots in American history
Trump’s white genocide claims about South Africa have deep roots in American history President Donald Trump has claimed that there is a “genocide of white people” taking place in South Africa, where Black South Africans are allegedly targeting white farmers due to their race. The claim has deep roots in American history, dating back to […]
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Trump’s West Point speech brought partisanship to the home of the US military − 2 essential reads
Trump’s West Point speech brought partisanship to the home of the US military − 2 essential reads President Donald Trump’s speech at West Point included scripted and unscripted segments that showcased his partisan politics, making it unusual for a military setting. The level of partisanship in Trump’s speech was concerning, as it attacked presidential predecessors […]
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Trump wants to cut funding to sanctuary cities and towns – but they don’t actually violate federal law
Trump wants to cut funding to sanctuary cities and towns – but they don’t actually violate federal law President Trump’s administration wants to cut federal funding to cities and towns that have sanctuary policies, but these policies do not actually violate federal law. The Trump administration claims that sanctuary policies “willfully violate Federal law,” but […]
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The hidden power of cultural exchanges in countering propaganda and fostering international goodwill
The hidden power of cultural exchanges in countering propaganda and fostering international goodwill Cutting funding for cultural exchanges could harm US reputation and national security, as these programs help build relationships and foster international goodwill. The US has a long history of using cultural diplomacy to promote its interests and counter propaganda, dating back to […]
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There’s no evidence work requirements for Medicaid recipients will boost employment, but they are a key piece of Republican spending bill
There’s no evidence work requirements for Medicaid recipients will boost employment, but they are a key piece of Republican spending bill Republicans in the US Senate are likely to adopt work requirements for Medicaid recipients, despite a lack of evidence that they boost employment, as part of their spending bill. The House version of the […]
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Surge of ICE agreements with local police aim to increase deportations, but many police forces have found they undermine public safety
Surge of ICE agreements with local police aim to increase deportations, but many police forces have found they undermine public safety President Donald Trump’s administration has been expanding the use of the federal 287(g) program, which allows local police to function as federal immigration officers, aiming to increase deportations and undermine public safety. The expansion […]
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Elon Musk sure does want everyone to think he’s leaving politics
Elon Musk sure does want everyone to think he’s leaving politics Musk has announced that he’s stepping away from DOGE as his “scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end,” which had a legal 130-day deadline ending on May 28th. Musk claims to have reduced his time spent on politics, saying it […]
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3 things to watch as South Koreans head toward the polls following turbulent political period
3 things to watch as South Koreans head toward the polls following turbulent political period South Koreans will head to the polls on June 3, 2025, to vote for a new president after a tumultuous election season marked by impeachment and martial law. The opposition Democratic Party, led by Lee Jae-myung, is expected to win […]
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Pope Leo XIV is the first member of the Order of St. Augustine to be elected pope – but who are the Augustinians?
Pope Leo XIV is the first member of the Order of St. Augustine to be elected pope – but who are the Augustinians? Pope Leo XIV’s election as pope marks a historic first: he is the first member of the Order of St. Augustine to be elected pope, and the first from North America. The […]
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