Politics
NPR sues Trump over executive order cutting funding for public broadcasting
NPR sues Trump over executive order cutting funding for public broadcasting NPR has sued President Trump over his executive order cutting federal funding for public broadcasting, claiming it’s unconstitutional and violates the First Amendment. The lawsuit alleges that Trump’s efforts to slash funding are retaliatory and aimed at punishing NPR and PBS for their perceived […]
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Europeans are concerned that the US will withdraw support from NATO. They are right to worry − Americans should, too
Europeans are concerned that the US will withdraw support from NATO. They are right to worry − Americans should, too The US has a leadership role in NATO, but European leaders are concerned that the US may withdraw support from the alliance. The US has made statements that suggest it may not enforce Article 5, […]
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Could a bold anti-poverty experiment from the 1960s inspire a new era in housing justice?
Could a bold anti-poverty experiment from the 1960s inspire a new era in housing justice? The Model Cities Program, launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1960s, was a pioneering effort to address urban poverty and inequality through community-led planning and participation. The program aimed to tackle structural causes of poverty, such as housing […]
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Christianity has long revered saints who would be called ‘transgender’ today
Christianity has long revered saints who would be called ‘transgender’ today Christianity has a long history of venerating saints who would be considered “transgender” today, with at least 34 documented stories of transgender saints from the early centuries of Christianity. The stories of these saints, such as St. Eugenia, St. Euphrosyne, and St. Marinos, were […]
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Work requirements are better at blocking benefits for low-income people than they are at helping those folks find jobs
Work requirements are better at blocking benefits for low-income people than they are at helping those folks find jobs Republican lawmakers have passed a bill that includes massive tax and spending cuts, including provisions to reduce federal Medicaid spending by requiring anyone enrolled in the program who appears to be able to get a job […]
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Trump’s lifting of Syria sanctions is a win for Turkey, too – pointing to outsized role middle powers can play in regional affairs
Trump’s lifting of Syria sanctions is a win for Turkey, too – pointing to outsized role middle powers can play in regional affairs US President Donald Trump announced that the US would lift sanctions on Syria, a move seen as a victory for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who have […]
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Trump treats laws as obstacles, not limits − and the only real check on his rule-breaking can come from political pressure
Trump treats laws as obstacles, not limits − and the only real check on his rule-breaking can come from political pressure President Donald Trump’s presidency is marked by a transformation of the presidency into a fully political institution, where he acts until political resistance becomes strong enough to stop him. The legal constraints on presidential […]
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Russia’s invasion united different parts of Ukraine against a common enemy – 3 years on, that unanimity still holds
Russia’s invasion united different parts of Ukraine against a common enemy – 3 years on, that unanimity still holds Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 united different parts of the country against a common enemy, leading to a largely stalemated conflict that has lasted for three years. The study found that even those Ukrainians who […]
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Like many populist leaders, Trump accuses judges of being illegitimate obstacles to safety and democracy
Like many populist leaders, Trump accuses judges of being illegitimate obstacles to safety and democracy President Donald Trump has repeatedly challenged federal judges and Supreme Court justices who have blocked his attempts to reshape fundamental aspects of American government, including executive orders and deportation policies. Trump and his team are framing judges as enemies of […]
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Independence Hall, Gettysburg and – Epcot? How Reagan helped elevate Disney to America’s roster of honored patriotic sites
Independence Hall, Gettysburg and – Epcot? How Reagan helped elevate Disney to America’s roster of honored patriotic sites Disney theme parks have become an integral part of American patriotic sites, earning recognition from presidents and the government. The legitimization of Disney theme parks as patriotic sites was cemented when President Ronald Reagan visited Walt Disney […]
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How abortion laws focusing on fetal viability miss the mark on women’s experiences
How abortion laws focusing on fetal viability miss the mark on women’s experiences Abortion laws in the US that focus on fetal viability are often misguided and fail to address the concerns of pregnant people, instead prioritizing the development of a fetus over the woman’s health and well-being. The concept of “fetal viability” was created […]
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Governors are leading the fight against climate change and deforestation around the world, filling a void left by presidents
Governors are leading the fight against climate change and deforestation around the world, filling a void left by presidents Governors from around the world are taking the lead in fighting climate change and deforestation, filling a void left by national governments. The real progress on reducing greenhouse gases and preparing for worsening climate disasters is […]
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Empathy can take a toll – but 2 philosophers explain why we should see it as a strength
Empathy can take a toll – but 2 philosophers explain why we should see it as a strength Empathy can be seen as a strength rather than a weakness, according to two philosophers who argue that it enables us to better understand the impact of our actions on others and make informed choices. The philosophical […]
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An 18th-century rebellion for liberty, equality and freedom − not in France or the United States, but Ireland
An 18th-century rebellion for liberty, equality and freedom − not in France or the United States, but Ireland The 1798 United Irishmen Rebellion was a pivotal moment in Irish history, fought for liberty, equality, and freedom, not just in France or the US, but in Ireland itself. The rebellion was sparked by a signal sent […]
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Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s wrongful deportation case is more about individual rights than the Trump administration’s foreign policy
Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s wrongful deportation case is more about individual rights than the Trump administration’s foreign policy Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s wrongful deportation case is not primarily about foreign policy, but rather about individual rights, including the right to due process. The Trump administration has argued that courts cannot grant relief to individuals challenging their deportation […]
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President Trump Announces He Will Revoke Harvard’s Tax-Exempt Status
President Trump Announces He Will Revoke Harvard’s Tax-Exempt Status President Trump has announced that he will revoke Harvard University’s tax-exempt status, citing “what they deserve” as the reason. If confirmed, Harvard would have to pay federal income taxes on its revenue and donations could be lost if donors can no longer claim tax deductions on […]
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What is the biggest gaffe, blooper or blunder that a recent president has made? It may depend on what your definition of ‘is’ is
What is the biggest gaffe, blooper or blunder that a recent president has made? It may depend on what your definition of ‘is’ is President Donald Trump’s tariff policies and trade war with China led to him saying that American children should prepare to make sacrifices at Christmas, including having fewer toys. Trump’s gaffes are […]
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What are the biggest gaffes, bloopers and blunders that recent presidents have made? It may depend on what your definition of ‘is’ is
What are the biggest gaffes, bloopers and blunders that recent presidents have made? It may depend on what your definition of ‘is’ is Recent US presidents have made several notable gaffes, blunders, and bloopers that have sparked controversy and embarrassment. Examples include Donald Trump’s comment that American children should prepare to make sacrifices at Christmas […]
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Trump’s proposed budget deals another big blow to science, clean energy, and the environment
Trump’s proposed budget deals another big blow to science, clean energy, and the environment President Trump’s proposed budget cuts $15 billion from federal funding for renewable energy and new technologies to capture carbon dioxide emissions, and slashes nearly $18 billion from the National Institutes of Health. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would see its budget […]
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What is the stupidest thing a recent president has said? It may depend on what your definition of ‘is’ is
What is the stupidest thing a recent president has said? It may depend on what your definition of ‘is’ is President Donald Trump was asked about the impact of his tariff policies and trade war with China during a press conference on April 30, 2025, and responded that American children should prepare to make sacrifices […]
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Trump issues order to pull funding for NPR and PBS
Trump issues order to pull funding for NPR and PBS President Trump has issued an executive order to end all federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), citing concerns over bias and journalistic independence. The order, which affects both direct and indirect funding, aims to ensure that taxpayer funds […]
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When presidents try to make peace: What Trump could learn from Teddy Roosevelt, Carter, Clinton and his own first term
When presidents try to make peace: What Trump could learn from Teddy Roosevelt, Carter, Clinton and his own first term Donald Trump’s efforts to mediate the Ukraine-Russia war have been criticized for not following historical precedents set by previous presidents, including Theodore Roosevelt, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and even his own first term. Theodore Roosevelt […]
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A law seeks to protect children from sex offenders − 20 years later, the jury is still out
A law seeks to protect children from sex offenders − 20 years later, the jury is still out Twenty years after Florida introduced Jessica’s Law, which aims to protect children from sex offenders, its effectiveness remains uncertain. The law, passed in 2006, requires judges to sentence people convicted of child sex crimes to a minimum […]
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House Republicans move to stop California from setting its own vehicle pollution standards
House Republicans move to stop California from setting its own vehicle pollution standards The US House of Representatives has voted to revoke California’s ability to set its own vehicle pollution standards, which would strip the state of its authority to enact stricter tailpipe pollution regulations. The move is seen as an attempt to kill one […]
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GM thanks Trump for the $5 billion tariff hit it expects to take
GM thanks Trump for the $5 billion tariff hit it expects to take General Motors (GM) CEO Mary Barra thanked President Trump for his support of the US automotive industry, but also projected a $4 billion to $5 billion tariff hit due to Trump’s ever-changing tariffs. Despite the potential financial impact, GM reported a 2% […]
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Pandas and politics − from World War II to the Cold War, zoos have always been ideological
Pandas and politics − from World War II to the Cold War, zoos have always been ideological Zoos have always been ideological institutions, sending subtle messages about topics unrelated to animals, such as colonial exploitation, eugenicist ideas, and racial hierarchy. During World War II, zoos were used to justify colonial exploitation and served as backdrops […]
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Guns in America: A liberal gun-owning sociologist offers 5 observations to understand America’s culture of firearms
Guns in America: A liberal gun-owning sociologist offers 5 observations to understand America’s culture of firearms Guns are normal: Approximately 86 million American adults own at least one firearm, making up 1 in 3 gun owners. Gun culture has evolved over time: From practical uses like hunting and defense to recreational activities like target shooting […]
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The legal limits of Trump’s crackdown on sanctuary cities like Philadelphia
The legal limits of Trump’s crackdown on sanctuary cities like Philadelphia President Trump’s executive order on April 28, 2025, demands that the U.S. attorney general publish a list of cities and states that obstruct federal immigration enforcement, potentially putting Philadelphia on the list due to its sanctuary city policies. Philadelphia’s sanctuary policies, including refusing to […]
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Elizabeth Warren asks Jeff Bezos if he got any favors for his ‘subservience’ to Trump
Elizabeth Warren asks Jeff Bezos if he got any favors for his ‘subservience’ to Trump Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has asked Amazon founder Jeff Bezos if he received any “promises or favors” from President Donald Trump in exchange for his decision not to show customers the cost of tariffs. Warren’s letter raises concerns about potential […]
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‘Agreeing to disagree’ is hurting your relationships – here’s what to do instead
‘Agreeing to disagree’ is hurting your relationships – here’s what to do instead Agreeing to disagree can actually hurt relationships by avoiding important conversations and creating estrangement from loved ones. No relationship is immune to conflict, but some topics, such as “no-go” topics, can trigger intense disagreements if not addressed. Conversational tools like looping and […]
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