Politics
From Washington’s burned letters to Trump’s missing transcripts, partial presidential records limit people’s full understanding of history
From Washington’s burned letters to Trump’s missing transcripts, partial presidential records limit people’s full understanding of history President Donald Trump’s second term has already seen significant changes to how his records are handled, with the White House removing official transcripts from its website and replacing them with select videos and audio. The decision to remove […]
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Forcible removal of US Sen. Alex Padilla signals a dangerous shift in American democracy
Forcible removal of US Sen. Alex Padilla signals a dangerous shift in American democracy US Sen. Alex Padilla was forcibly removed from a press conference with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on June 12, 2025, after interrupting her remarks and being handcuffed by federal agents. The incident has raised concerns about the treatment of members […]
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Antagonism to transgender rights is tied to the authoritarian desire for social conformity – not just partisan affiliation
Antagonism to transgender rights is tied to the authoritarian desire for social conformity – not just partisan affiliation A majority of Americans support restricting the rights of transgender Americans, with 53 bills introduced in the U.S. Congress and over 900 bills introduced in 49 states aiming to limit their rights. The support for these measures […]
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‘Who controls the present controls the past’: What Orwell’s ‘1984’ explains about the twisting of history to control the public
‘Who controls the present controls the past’: What Orwell’s ‘1984’ explains about the twisting of history to control the public President Donald Trump’s efforts to rewrite America’s official history are deeply Orwellian, as they aim to suppress the voices of historically excluded groups and create a glorified narrative that reflects his own power. The Trump […]
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World’s most powerful ex-New Yorker gets a DC military parade, not a ticker-tape celebration in Manhattan’s Canyon of Heroes
World’s most powerful ex-New Yorker gets a DC military parade, not a ticker-tape celebration in Manhattan’s Canyon of Heroes Donald Trump has announced plans for a military parade in Washington D.C. on June 14, 2025, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and his 79th birthday, which critics say is an attempt to […]
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Trump–Xi call boosts Chinese president’s tough man image — and may have handed him the upper hand in future talks
Trump–Xi call boosts Chinese president’s tough man image — and may have handed him the upper hand in future talks US President Donald Trump held a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on June 5, which was seen as a success for his administration and led to the easing of some trade tensions. The […]
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Trump orders Marines to Los Angeles as protests escalate over immigration raids, demonstrating the president’s power to deploy troops on US soil
Trump orders Marines to Los Angeles as protests escalate over immigration raids, demonstrating the president’s power to deploy troops on US soil President Donald Trump ordered approximately 700 Marines to Los Angeles on June 9, 2025, in response to protests over immigration raids, demonstrating his power to deploy troops on US soil. The deployment follows […]
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Sir Keir Starmer says artificial intelligence ‘makes us more human’
Sir Keir Starmer says artificial intelligence ‘makes us more human’ Sir Keir Starmer believes that artificial intelligence (AI) makes us more human. He considers AI to be “hugely transformative” and central to the UK’s defense strategy. The full quote from Sir Keir Starmer is not provided in the original text, but it suggests a positive […]
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Lafayette helped Americans turn the tide in their fight for independence – and 50 years later, he helped forge the growing nation’s sense of identity
Lafayette helped Americans turn the tide in their fight for independence – and 50 years later, he helped forge the growing nation’s sense of identity Lafayette played a crucial role in America’s fight for independence, helping to secure its victory at Yorktown in 1781 and earning George Washington’s confidence as a major general in the […]
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How school choice policies evolved from supporting Black students to subsidizing middle-class families
How school choice policies evolved from supporting Black students to subsidizing middle-class families School voucher programs that allow families to use public funds to pay tuition to attend private schools have evolved from their original purpose of supporting Black students to subsidizing middle-class families. The first vouchers were offered in the 1800s to help children […]
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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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