Politics
Using TikTok could be making you more politically polarized, new study finds
Using TikTok could be making you more politically polarized, new study finds A new study found that people on TikTok tend to follow accounts that align with their own political beliefs, creating echo chambers among users. The study analyzed a massive dataset of over 16 million TikTok videos and found that right-leaning communities are more […]
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Trump administration aims to slash funds that preserve the nation’s rich architectural and cultural history
Trump administration aims to slash funds that preserve the nation’s rich architectural and cultural history The Trump administration has proposed slashing funding for the Historic Preservation Fund by $158 million to just $11 million, which would significantly impact historic preservation efforts across the US. The fund, which is currently funded by private lease royalties from […]
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Self-censorship and the ‘spiral of silence’: Why Americans are less likely to publicly voice their opinions on political issues
Self-censorship and the ‘spiral of silence’: Why Americans are less likely to publicly voice their opinions on political issues Americans are less likely to publicly voice their opinions on political issues due to self-censorship and polarization, which has led to a decline in trust among citizens. The polarization between Republicans and Democrats has resulted in […]
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Scandinavia has its own dark history of assimilating Indigenous people, and churches played a role – but are apologizing
Scandinavia has its own dark history of assimilating Indigenous people, and churches played a role – but are apologizing The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland has apologized to the Sámi people for its role in assimilating Indigenous culture and language, acknowledging past activities that stigmatized Sámi language and culture. The church’s historical actions included condemning […]
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Presidents of both parties have launched military action without Congress declaring war − Trump’s bombing of Iran is just the latest
Presidents of both parties have launched military action without Congress declaring war − Trump’s bombing of Iran is just the latest President Donald Trump’s decision to bomb Iranian nuclear sites without consulting Congress has sparked debate over whether he violated Article 1 of the US Constitution, which gives Congress the power to declare war. The […]
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Israel-Iran war recalls the 2003 US invasion of Iraq – a war my undergraduate students see as a relic of the past
Israel-Iran war recalls the 2003 US invasion of Iraq – a war my undergraduate students see as a relic of the past The Israel-Iran war has sparked concerns that it may be reminiscent of the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, a war that many young people today see as a relic of the past. The […]
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Israel bombed an Iraqi nuclear reactor in 1981 − it pushed program underground and spurred Saddam Hussein’s desire for nukes
Israel bombed an Iraqi nuclear reactor in 1981 − it pushed program underground and spurred Saddam Hussein’s desire for nukes Israel bombed an Iraqi nuclear reactor in 1981, which pushed Saddam Hussein’s nuclear ambitions underground and spurred his desire for nukes. The attack on the Osirak reactor was initially seen as a success by many, […]
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How Zohran Mamdani’s win in the New York City mayoral primary could ripple across the country
How Zohran Mamdani’s win in the New York City mayoral primary could ripple across the country Zohran Mamdani’s win in the New York City mayoral primary has sparked national attention and raised questions about the future of the Democratic Party. Mamdani’s victory, which came as a surprise to many, suggests that progressive politics are gaining […]
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Grover Norquist’s lasting influence on the GOP and US economic policy
Grover Norquist’s lasting influence on the GOP and US economic policy Grover Norquist’s influence on the GOP and US economic policy has been lasting, with his anti-tax stance shaping Republican dogma since the 1980s. Norquist’s organization, Americans for Tax Reform, effectively institutionalized a permanent tax revolt in Congress through its “Taxpayer Protection Pledge,” which became […]
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Ceasefires like the one between Iran and Israel often fail – but an agreement with specific conditions is more likely to hold
Ceasefires like the one between Iran and Israel often fail – but an agreement with specific conditions is more likely to hold Despite President Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, both countries launched airstrikes against each other within hours, raising concerns that the deal may not hold. Ceasefire deals often fail due […]
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US and Iran have a long, complicated history, spanning decades before US strikes on nuclear sites
US and Iran have a long, complicated history, spanning decades before US strikes on nuclear sites **1953: The Beginning of Hostility** The US overthrew democratically-elected Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh in 1953, leading to decades of tension and hostility between the two countries. **1979: Embassy Takeover and Sanctions** Iranian students stormed the US Embassy in Tehran […]
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What is CREC? The Christian nationalist group has a vision for America − and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s support
What is CREC? The Christian nationalist group has a vision for America − and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s support The Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC) is a Christian nationalist group with a vision for America, supported by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The CREC has a highly patriarchal and conservative interpretation of Scripture, which includes […]
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Violent extremists like the Minnesota shooter are not lone wolves
Violent extremists like the Minnesota shooter are not lone wolves Violent extremists like Vance Boelter are not lone wolves, but rather part of a larger network of far-right extremists who believe in white replacement and other hate-based ideologies. The myth of the lone wolf shooter misdirects people from the actual causes of extremist violence and […]
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US and Iran have a long, complicated history, spanning far beyond Israel’s strikes on Tehran
US and Iran have a long, complicated history, spanning far beyond Israel’s strikes on Tehran US-Iran relations have been strained for decades, dating back to the 1953 CIA-backed coup that overthrew democratically-elected Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh. The two countries have been particularly hostile since Iranian students stormed the US Embassy in Tehran in 1979, leading […]
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Trump gives TikTok another ban extension
Trump gives TikTok another ban extension President Donald Trump has extended the deadline for TikTok to spin out from its Chinese parent company ByteDance by another 90 days, until mid-September. The extension provides temporary legal cover for TikTok’s US service providers, but its legality is shaky since it was not codified into law and has […]
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Trump administration’s conflicting messages on Chinese student visas reflect complex US-China relations
Trump administration’s conflicting messages on Chinese student visas reflect complex US-China relations The US has walked back plans to scrutinize and revoke student visas for Chinese students studying in the country, after initially announcing such a move. The decision reflects the complex and often contradictory nature of US-China relations, which have been marked by periods […]
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The use of federal troops to quell Los Angeles protests recalls militarized law enforcement during the Civil Rights Movement
The use of federal troops to quell Los Angeles protests recalls militarized law enforcement during the Civil Rights Movement The use of federal troops to quell Los Angeles protests over immigration raids without state approval recalls militarized law enforcement during the Civil Rights Movement. President Donald Trump has activated 4,000 National Guard troops and sent […]
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The term ‘lone gunman’ ignores the structures that enable violence
The term ‘lone gunman’ ignores the structures that enable violence The term “lone gunman” oversimplifies mass shootings and political violence by ignoring the structures that enable them, such as rising political extremism, systemic hate, and normalization of violent rhetoric. The lone gunman narrative often presents a digestible narrative that absolves institutions of responsibility and short-circuits […]
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The commitment trap: How Israel, Iran and the US risk becoming prisoners to policies
The commitment trap: How Israel, Iran and the US risk becoming prisoners to policies The “commitment trap” refers to a situation where states and governments feel compelled to continue with a promised course of action, even if it’s not in their best interest. The concept applies to various situations, including unilateral acts of aggression, preemptive […]
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German chancellor’s rebuke of Israel marks a shift in state policy that has long put such criticism out of bounds
German chancellor’s rebuke of Israel marks a shift in state policy that has long put such criticism out of bounds German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has publicly criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza, marking a shift in state policy that was previously considered taboo. The criticism from Germany hits differently due to its long-standing commitment to Israel’s […]
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Germany’s young Jewish and Muslim writers are speaking for themselves – exploring immigrant identity beyond stereotypes
Germany’s young Jewish and Muslim writers are speaking for themselves – exploring immigrant identity beyond stereotypes Germany’s young Jewish and Muslim writers are speaking out against stereotypes and exploring their immigrant identities through literature. The consequences of recent conflicts, including Hamas’ attack on Gaza and Israel’s war in Gaza, have led to a growing debate […]
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Conflicted, disillusioned, disengaged: The unsettled center of Jewish student opinion after Oct. 7
Conflicted, disillusioned, disengaged: The unsettled center of Jewish student opinion after Oct. 7 A recent study on Jewish undergraduate attitudes found that many students are conflicted, disillusioned, disengaged, and uncertain about their views on the Israel-Hamas war and its impact on American campuses. The study identified six categories of Jewish student opinions: “Affirmed” (strongly supportive […]
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A radical proposal to abolish state government and strengthen American democracy
A radical proposal to abolish state government and strengthen American democracy Stephen Legomsky, a legal scholar, proposes abolishing state government and moving most functions to local levels in his book “Reimagining the American Union”. The author argues that states are the root cause of many threats to US democracy, including the Electoral College, gerrymandering, and […]
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Along with the ideals it expresses, the Declaration of Independence mourns for something people lost in 1776 − and now, too
Along with the ideals it expresses, the Declaration of Independence mourns for something people lost in 1776 − and now, too The Declaration of Independence is not just a founding document, but also a reflection of the country’s current struggles with identity and unity. The document was drafted by Thomas Jefferson in June 1776, amidst […]
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Millions rally against authoritarianism, while the White House portrays protests as threats – a political scientist explains
Millions rally against authoritarianism, while the White House portrays protests as threats – a political scientist explains Millions of Americans protested against President Donald Trump’s authoritarianism and expansion of executive power on June 14, 2025, in rallies organized under the “No Kings” banner. The protests were largely peaceful, but some incidents of violence did occur, […]
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US Army’s image of power and flag-waving rings false to Gen Z weary of gun violence − and long-term recruitment numbers show it
US Army’s image of power and flag-waving rings false to Gen Z weary of gun violence − and long-term recruitment numbers show it The US Army’s image of power and patriotism may be misleading to Gen Z, who are weary of gun violence and its impact on their mental health and sense of safety. The […]
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Two-state solution in the Middle East has been a core US policy for 25 years – is the Trump administration eyeing a change?
Two-state solution in the Middle East has been a core US policy for 25 years – is the Trump administration eyeing a change? The Trump administration’s stance on the two-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict may be shifting, as evidenced by comments from US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. Huckabee stated that he opposes the […]
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Supreme Court ignores precedent instead of overruling it in allowing president to fire officials whom Congress tried to make independent
Supreme Court ignores precedent instead of overruling it in allowing president to fire officials whom Congress tried to make independent The US Supreme Court has ruled that President Donald Trump can fire officials from independent agencies created by Congress without “good cause,” ignoring a precedent set by the court in 1926’s Humphrey’s Executor v. United […]
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Politics based on grievance has a long and violent history in America
Politics based on grievance has a long and violent history in America President Donald Trump has declared that he will “bring Columbus Day back from the ashes” as part of his retribution against those who have been critical of him, invoking the politics of grievance to fuel his supporters’ anger. The use of Columbus as […]
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House tax-and-spending bill and other Trump administration changes could make millions of people lose their health insurance coverage
House tax-and-spending bill and other Trump administration changes could make millions of people lose their health insurance coverage Millions of Americans could lose their health insurance coverage due to the House tax-and-spending bill and other Trump administration changes, including a reduction in Medicaid incentives and work requirements for Medicaid beneficiaries. The Congressional Budget Office estimates […]
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