Politics
Even a brief government shutdown might hamper morale, raise costs and reduce long-term efficiency in the federal workforce
Even a brief government shutdown might hamper morale, raise costs and reduce long-term efficiency in the federal workforce A possible government shutdown on October 1, 2025, could have severe consequences for federal workers, including hampering morale, raising costs, and reducing long-term efficiency. A study of past government shutdowns found that furloughed employees are 31% more […]
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Even as Jimmy Kimmel returns to the airwaves, TV networks remain more vulnerable to political pressure than ever before
Even as Jimmy Kimmel returns to the airwaves, TV networks remain more vulnerable to political pressure than ever before TV networks are more vulnerable to political pressure than ever before, as seen in the recent suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s show after he made comments about a conservative activist. The decline of traditional TV and the […]
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Charlie Kirk and the making of an AI-generated martyr
Charlie Kirk and the making of an AI-generated martyr Charlie Kirk’s death has led to an AI-generated martyr complex, where he is being portrayed as a truth seeker who made a heroic sacrifice, with supporters describing him as “America’s greatest martyr to free speech”. The phenomenon of hagiography, or the process of elevating public figures […]
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A Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery merger could give Trump even more influence over US media – shaping the news and culture Americans watch and stream
A Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery merger could give Trump even more influence over US media – shaping the news and culture Americans watch and stream A proposed mega-merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery could give Donald Trump even more influence over US media, shaping the news and culture Americans watch and stream. The merger would […]
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‘This will not end here’: A scholar explains why Charlie Kirk’s killing could embolden political violence
‘This will not end here’: A scholar explains why Charlie Kirk’s killing could embolden political violence Charlie Kirk’s killing has brought renewed attention to the climate of political violence in America, with a significant increase in threats against officeholders and politicians at all levels. The scholar Arie Perliger warns that this trend could embolden political […]
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Yes, this is who we are: America’s 250-year history of political violence
Yes, this is who we are: America’s 250-year history of political violence America’s history of political violence is not an anomaly, but a recurring pattern that reflects the country’s founding principles and has been sustained by this form of violence throughout its history. The use of punishment by tar and feathering, dueling, and other forms […]
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Why journalists are reluctant to call Trump an authoritarian – and why that matters for democracy
Why journalists are reluctant to call Trump an authoritarian – and why that matters for democracy Many journalists have been reluctant to call Donald Trump an authoritarian due to concerns about labeling him as such, despite his actions exhibiting key indicators of authoritarian behavior. Trump’s actions, including deploying National Guard troops to cities run by […]
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Who was Charlie Kirk? The activist who turned campus politics into national influence
Who was Charlie Kirk? The activist who turned campus politics into national influence Charlie Kirk was a prominent conservative activist, author, and media personality who rose to prominence at 18 by founding Turning Point USA, a conservative youth movement. Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA, grew into a national force, claiming chapters at over 1,000 campuses, […]
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We tracked every overseas trip by world leaders since the end of the Cold War – here’s what we found
We tracked every overseas trip by world leaders since the end of the Cold War – here’s what we found World leaders have taken over 100,000 overseas trips since 1990, with an average of 2,734 trips per year since 2010, indicating a significant increase in global leader travel. The travel patterns of world leaders reveal […]
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Trump’s radical argument that he alone can interpret vague laws fails its first court test in dismissal of Fed governor
Trump’s radical argument that he alone can interpret vague laws fails its first court test in dismissal of Fed governor President Donald Trump has fired Federal Reserve Board member Lisa Cook, sparking a legal battle over his authority to interpret vague laws and challenging long-standing beliefs about presidential power. The case raises fundamental questions about […]
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Social scientists have long found women tend to be more religious than men – but Gen Z may show a shift
Social scientists have long found women tend to be more religious than men – but Gen Z may show a shift Contrary to long-held assumptions, survey data suggests that Generation Z may be showing a shift away from women being more religious than men, with Gen Z women having a slightly lower rate of religiosity […]
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Poland responds to Russian drones incursion by invoking Article 4 of the NATO treaty − what happens next?
Poland responds to Russian drones incursion by invoking Article 4 of the NATO treaty − what happens next? Poland has invoked Article 4 of the NATO treaty in response to Russian drones entering its airspace, sparking fears of an expanding Russia-Ukraine war. Article 4 allows any NATO member that feels threatened to request a consultation […]
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Philly’s Puerto Rican Day Parade embodies strength of the mainland’s second-largest Boricua community
Philly’s Puerto Rican Day Parade embodies strength of the mainland’s second-largest Boricua community The Puerto Rican Day Parade in Philadelphia embodies the strength of the mainland’s second-largest Boricua community, celebrating both Puerto Rican culture and identity. The parade is a public demonstration of community identity, using symbols and traditions to communicate what it means to […]
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Israel’s attack in Doha underscores a stark reality for Gulf states looking for stability and growth: They remain hostage to events
Israel’s attack in Doha underscores a stark reality for Gulf states looking for stability and growth: They remain hostage to events Gulf states like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE are facing challenges to their stability and growth due to events beyond their control, including Israel’s attack on Doha. The Gulf states have invested heavily […]
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How ‘South Park’ could help Democrats win back the young voters the party lost to Trump
How ‘South Park’ could help Democrats win back the young voters the party lost to Trump South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker have been using their show to skewer Donald Trump and his administration, with the latest season premiere scoring high ratings among young viewers. The show’s timely satire has made it uniquely […]
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George Washington’s worries are coming true
George Washington’s worries are coming true George Washington’s Farewell Address, published on September 19, 1796, warned about dangers that seem startlingly contemporary and relevant 229 years later, including partisanship, sectionalism, excessive public debt, ambitious leaders, and a poorly informed public. Washington identified partisanship as the primary problem for the American republic, citing its ability to […]
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Elon Musk is trying to silence Microsoft employees who criticize Charlie Kirk
Elon Musk is trying to silence Microsoft employees who criticize Charlie Kirk Elon Musk is pressuring Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to investigate Blizzard employees who criticized Charlie Kirk after his death. Musk shared a thread on X showing names and screenshots of developers who allegedly “trashed” Kirk, prompting him to ask Nadella what’s going on. […]
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Congress Republicans want to target liberal donors after Charlie Kirk’s death
Congress Republicans want to target liberal donors after Charlie Kirk’s death Congress Republicans are pushing for a new select committee to investigate liberal donors and organizations they claim are fueling a “radical left” attack on America. The committee, led by Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), would have subpoena power to investigate political opponents in the media […]
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Complying with Trump administration’s attack on DEI could get employers into legal trouble
Complying with Trump administration’s attack on DEI could get employers into legal trouble Complying with Trump administration’s attack on DEI could get employers into legal trouble due to the chilling effect it has on private businesses, leading them to slash their diversity and inclusion programs. DEI is not illegal, but discrimination is. Employers must comply […]
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Brazil’s Bolsonaro may soon join ranks of failed coup plotters held to account − hampering the chance of any political comeback
Brazil’s Bolsonaro may soon join ranks of failed coup plotters held to account − hampering the chance of any political comeback Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro may soon be convicted as a failed coup plotter for allegedly plotting to overturn his 2022 election defeat and inciting a riot in hopes of returning to power. If […]
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Bolsonaro joins a rogues’ gallery of coup plotters held to account for their failed power grab
Bolsonaro joins a rogues’ gallery of coup plotters held to account for their failed power grab Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro has been convicted on September 11, 2025, for his role in a failed coup plot to overturn the election of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and inciting violence against the government. Bolsonaro is one […]
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A new world order isn’t coming, it’s already here − and this is what it looks like
A new world order isn’t coming, it’s already here − and this is what it looks like The author believes that a new world order has already begun, characterized by a shift away from US dominance and towards a multipolar world with China, Europe, and Russia playing key roles. The current world order is marked […]
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US obliteration of Caribbean boat was a clear violation of international ‘right to life’ laws – no matter who was on board
US obliteration of Caribbean boat was a clear violation of international ‘right to life’ laws – no matter who was on board The US government’s justification for killing 11 people on a boat suspected of transporting illegal drugs in the Caribbean as an attack on “narco-terrorists” is flawed and ignores international law. The killings violated […]
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Turkey and the PKK have made historic moves toward peace – now begins the hard diplomatic work
Turkey and the PKK have made historic moves toward peace – now begins the hard diplomatic work Turkey’s peace process with the PKK has made historic moves toward peace, including the formal disbandment of the group and a symbolic disarmament ceremony in northern Iraq. The Turkish government and the PKK face significant challenges ahead, including […]
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Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to fight crime blurs the legal distinction between the police and the military
Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to fight crime blurs the legal distinction between the police and the military US Federal Judge Charles Breyer ruled that President Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles in June 2025, in response to protests over immigration raids, violated federal law and the Posse Comitatus Act. The […]
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Jury trials, a critical part of democracy, are disappearing
Jury trials, a critical part of democracy, are disappearing Jury trials, a cornerstone of democracy, have declined dramatically over time, with only a tiny fraction (less than 1%) of criminal and civil cases decided by juries today. The decline of jury trials has been driven by private bargains between prosecutors and defendants, mandatory arbitration in […]
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How Frank Rizzo, a high school dropout, became Philadelphia’s toughest cop and a harbinger of MAGA politics
How Frank Rizzo, a high school dropout, became Philadelphia’s toughest cop and a harbinger of MAGA politics Frank Rizzo, a high school dropout who became Philadelphia’s police commissioner and mayor, has had his statue returned to its supporters after being removed in 2020 due to protests over his legacy of racism and police brutality. Rizzo’s […]
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First lady Melania Trump meets with White House AI task force
First lady Melania Trump meets with White House AI task force First Lady Melania Trump met with the White House AI task force. The meeting was likely focused on exploring ways to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) in various aspects of governance and public policy. The First Lady’s involvement in this initiative suggests […]
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Federal judges are frustrated by defiance from the Trump administration and fuzziness from the Supreme Court
Federal judges are frustrated by defiance from the Trump administration and fuzziness from the Supreme Court Federal judges are frustrated with the Trump administration’s defiance and the Supreme Court’s fuzziness, particularly when it comes to following lower court opinions. The term “Article 3 judge” refers to a fully vetted and confirmed jurist chosen by the […]
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Civil servant exodus: How employees wrestle with whether to stay, speak up or go
Civil servant exodus: How employees wrestle with whether to stay, speak up or go Over 50,000 federal workers have been fired or targeted for layoffs since President Trump’s second term began, with many more accepting buyout offers to leave their jobs. Many civil servants are experiencing moral dissonance due to the sense that their values, […]
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