Politics
Citizenship voting requirement in SAVE Act has no basis in the Constitution – and ignores precedent that only states decide who gets to vote
Citizenship voting requirement in SAVE Act has no basis in the Constitution – and ignores precedent that only states decide who gets to vote The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act) would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register for federal elections, potentially disenfranchising tens of millions of Americans. The […]
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Will Africa’s young voters continue to punish incumbents at the ballot box in 2025? We are about to find out
Will Africa’s young voters continue to punish incumbents at the ballot box in 2025? We are about to find out Africa’s young voters are expected to play a significant role in the upcoming elections in 2025, particularly in countries such as Gabon, Ivory Coast, and Malawi. The youth population in Africa is facing high levels […]
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Trump’s nomination for NASA leader boasts business and commercial spaceflight experience during a period of uncertainty for the agency
Trump’s nomination for NASA leader boasts business and commercial spaceflight experience during a period of uncertainty for the agency Jared Isaacman, billionaire CEO and founder of Shift4, has been nominated by the Trump administration to become the next NASA administrator, marking a significant shift in leadership for the agency. Isaacman’s background in business and commercial […]
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Supreme Court’s decision on deportations gave both the Trump administration and ACLU reasons to claim a victory − but noncitizens clearly lost
Supreme Court’s decision on deportations gave both the Trump administration and ACLU reasons to claim a victory − but noncitizens clearly lost The Supreme Court’s decision on deportations has been hailed as a victory by both the Trump administration and the ACLU, but noncitizens have clearly lost. The court’s 5-4 majority ruling allowed the federal […]
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The ‘courage to be’ in uncertain times − how one 20th-century philosopher defined bravery
The ‘courage to be’ in uncertain times − how one 20th-century philosopher defined bravery Philosopher Paul Tillich defined “the courage to be” as an ethical act that involves affirming oneself despite conflicting elements, and it’s not just an attitude or disposition, but a deed that requires sacrifice for a higher cause. Tillich’s concept of the […]
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Cities that want to attract business might want to focus less on financial incentives and more on making people feel safe
Cities that want to attract business might want to focus less on financial incentives and more on making people feel safe Research suggests that when it comes to attracting business investment, cities should focus more on making people feel safe rather than offering financial incentives. The study found that employees and entrepreneurs prioritize perceived safety […]
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What ancient animal fables from India teach about political wisdom
What ancient animal fables from India teach about political wisdom The “Pañcatantra” offers three political theories for leaders: (1) Do what is right, with the right measure, at the right time, which emphasizes virtue ethics and self-restraint. The first theory, pure morality, can be unwise as it may lead to blind obedience or a lack […]
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The trade deficit isn’t an emergency – it’s a sign of America’s strength
The trade deficit isn’t an emergency – it’s a sign of America’s strength The author argues that the US trade deficit is not an emergency, but rather a sign of America’s financial and technological dominance. A trade deficit simply means foreigners are investing more in the US than Americans are investing abroad, which is a […]
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American liberators of Nazi camps got ‘a lifelong vaccine against extremism’ − their wartime experiences are a warning for today
American liberators of Nazi camps got ‘a lifelong vaccine against extremism’ − their wartime experiences are a warning for today American liberators of Nazi camps, including Mauthausen, got a “lifelong vaccine against extremism” from their wartime experiences, which serves as a warning for today’s threats to democracy. The liberators, who included soldiers like Frank Hartzell […]
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The hidden power of marathon Senate speeches: What history tells us about Cory Booker’s 25-hour oration
The hidden power of marathon Senate speeches: What history tells us about Cory Booker’s 25-hour oration Sen. Cory Booker walks toward reporters after delivering a record-setting 25-hour speech for the U.S. Senate at the Capitol on April 1, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Win McNamee/Getty Images Democratic U.S. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey made history […]
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The Trump administration says Tren de Aragua is a terrorist group – but it’s really a transnational criminal organization. Here’s why the label matters.
The Trump administration says Tren de Aragua is a terrorist group – but it’s really a transnational criminal organization. Here’s why the label matters. Venezuelan immigrants, whom the Trump White House says are members of the Tren de Aragua gang, arrive in El Salvador on March 31, 2025. El Salvador Press Presidency Office/Anadolu via Getty […]
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The problem with Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center isn’t the possibility of ‘Cats’
The problem with Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center isn’t the possibility of ‘Cats’ Donald Trump visits the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on March 17, 2025. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images When President Donald Trump announced that he was assuming control of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, he described […]
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Myanmar military’s ‘ceasefire’ follows a pattern of ruling generals exploiting disasters to shore up control
Myanmar military’s ‘ceasefire’ follows a pattern of ruling generals exploiting disasters to shore up control Myanmar’s military chief, Min Aung Hlaing, called for elections on March 27, 2025 – a day before an earthquake devastated the country. STR/AFP via Getty Images After a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on March 28. 2025, the country’s military […]
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How a lone judge can block a Trump order nationwide – and why, from DACA to DOGE, this judicial check on presidents’ power is shaping how the government works
How a lone judge can block a Trump order nationwide – and why, from DACA to DOGE, this judicial check on presidents’ power is shaping how the government works The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to limit judges' power to issue what legal experts call 'nationwide preliminary injunctions.' Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images When presidents […]
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Lessons from El Salvador for US university leaders facing attacks from Trump
Lessons from El Salvador for US university leaders facing attacks from Trump Salvadorans participate in a procession on Nov. 14, 2015, to commemorate the 26th anniversary of the murder of the Rev. Ignacio Ellacuría, five other Jesuit priests and two employees at Central American University in San Salvador. Marvin Recinos/AFP via Getty Images Even before […]
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With its executive order targeting the Smithsonian, the Trump administration opens up a new front in the history wars
With its executive order targeting the Smithsonian, the Trump administration opens up a new front in the history wars A portrait of President Donald Trump in the 'America’s Presidents' exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution's National Portrait Gallery. Win McNamee/Getty Images I teach history in Connecticut, but I grew up in Oklahoma and Kansas, where my […]
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In Israel, calls for genocide have migrated from the margins to the mainstream
In Israel, calls for genocide have migrated from the margins to the mainstream A Palestinian woman cries while sitting on the rubble of her home, which was destroyed in an Israeli strike on March 18, 2025. Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images Thirty years ago in Israel, advocating for genocide could land you in prison. In […]
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Christian Zionism hasn’t always been a conservative evangelical creed – churches’ views of Israel have evolved over decades
Christian Zionism hasn’t always been a conservative evangelical creed – churches’ views of Israel have evolved over decades Participants in a 'United for Israel' march, led by The Pursuit NW Christian Church, stand on the University of Washington's campus in May 2024. Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images During confirmation hearings, Mike Huckabee, President Donald Trump’s […]
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Chinese barges and Taiwan Strait drills are about global power projection − not just a potential invasion
Chinese barges and Taiwan Strait drills are about global power projection − not just a potential invasion A Mulberry Harbour for the 21st century. Image from video posted on Weibo via Chinese state media. Is China intent on a D-Day style invasion of Taiwan? Certainly that has been the tone of some of the reporting […]
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Why a presidential term limit got written into the Constitution – the story of the 22nd Amendment
Why a presidential term limit got written into the Constitution – the story of the 22nd Amendment No president other than Franklin D. Roosevelt has held office for more than two terms. Walter Leporati/Getty Images Only one person, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, has ever served more than two terms as president of the United States. This […]
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GOP lawmakers eye SNAP cuts, which would scale back benefits that help low-income people buy food at a time of high food prices
GOP lawmakers eye SNAP cuts, which would scale back benefits that help low-income people buy food at a time of high food prices A shopper who gets SNAP benefits shops for groceries at a supermarket in Bellflower, Calif., on Feb. 13, 2023. AP Photo/Allison Dinner Congress may soon consider whether to cut spending on the […]
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America the secular? What a changing religious landscape means for US politics
America the secular? What a changing religious landscape means for US politics Conventional wisdom about nonreligious Americans' voting misses some important distinctions. Sarah Rice/Getty Images After climbing for decades, the percentage of Americans with no religion has leveled off. For the past few years, the share of adults who identify as atheist, agnostic or “nothing […]
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How your brain reacts to buying groceries can reveal your politics
How your brain reacts to buying groceries can reveal your politics A new study reveals that how your brain reacts to food purchasing decisions can be used to determine your political affiliation with almost 80% accuracy. Researchers used brain imaging techniques to examine adults purchasing eggs and milk with various prices and produced in different […]
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What is a ‘revisionist’ state, and what are they trying to revise?
What is a ‘revisionist’ state, and what are they trying to revise? A meeting of top diplomats from China, Iran and Russia – three so-called revisionist powers. Photo by Getty Images Once upon a time, “revisionist power” was a term reserved for nations trying to overturn the postwar liberal order – the usual suspects being […]
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Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans to El Salvador sparks legal questions likely to reach the Supreme Court
Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans to El Salvador sparks legal questions likely to reach the Supreme Court Prisoners stand in a cell as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a tour of the Terrorist Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, on March 26, 2025. AP Photo/Alex Brandon A federal […]
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As ‘right to die’ gains more acceptance, a scholar of Catholicism explains the position of the Catholic Church
As ‘right to die’ gains more acceptance, a scholar of Catholicism explains the position of the Catholic Church In recent years, euthanasia and assisted death rates have risen worldwide. Cavan Images / Raffi Maghdessian via Getty images An individual’s “right to die” is becoming more accepted across the globe. Polls show that most Americans support […]
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Who gets to brand Puerto Rico: Its tourism agency or its biggest star?
Who gets to brand Puerto Rico: Its tourism agency or its biggest star? The Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny is one of the biggest stars of the music world. After becoming Spotify’s most-streamed artist for three years in a row – the first and only artist ever to do so – he sold out all […]
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US swing toward autocracy doesn’t have to be permanent – but swinging back to democracy requires vigilance, stamina and elections
US swing toward autocracy doesn’t have to be permanent – but swinging back to democracy requires vigilance, stamina and elections The United States is no longer a democracy. At least, that’s the verdict of one nonprofit, the Center for Systemic Peace, which measures regime qualities of countries worldwide based on the competitiveness and integrity of […]
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Ukraine will need major rebuilding when war ends − here’s why the US isn’t likely to invest in its recovery with a new Marshall Plan
Ukraine will need major rebuilding when war ends − here’s why the US isn’t likely to invest in its recovery with a new Marshall Plan Europe after World War II? No, it's the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut in 2023, after a year of Russian bombardment. AP Photo, File President Donald Trump wants Ukraine to repay […]
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Trump’s desire to ‘un-unite’ Russia and China is unlikely to work – in fact, it could well backfire
Trump’s desire to ‘un-unite’ Russia and China is unlikely to work – in fact, it could well backfire Presidents Xi Jinping of China and Russia's Vladimir Putin. Getty Images Is the U.S. angling for a repeat of the Sino-Russian split? In an Oct. 31, 2024, interview with right-wing pundit Tucker Carlson, President Donald Trump argued […]
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