Politics
Supreme Court redistricting ruling could upend decades of voting rights law – and tilt the balance of power in Washington
Supreme Court redistricting ruling could upend decades of voting rights law – and tilt the balance of power in Washington The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Louisiana v. Callais, a case that could upend decades of voting rights law and tilt the balance of power in Washington. The central question in the case […]
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Pennsylvania’s budget crisis drags on as fed shutdown adds to residents’ hardships — a political scientist explains
Pennsylvania’s budget crisis drags on as fed shutdown adds to residents’ hardships — a political scientist explains Pennsylvania is facing a budget crisis that has been ongoing for over 100 days, making it the only state without a budget, and residents are being hit with a double blow due to the federal government shutdown. The […]
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Organizers say over 7 million showed up to No Kings protests
Organizers say over 7 million showed up to No Kings protests Over 7 million people participated in No Kings protests across all 50 states, marking the largest day of protest since Donald Trump’s second term began. The protests were organized by Indivisible and featured over 2,700 events, a significant increase from June’s 2,000 events, indicating […]
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María Corina Machado’s peace prize follows Nobel tradition of awarding recipients for complex reasons
María Corina Machado’s peace prize follows Nobel tradition of awarding recipients for complex reasons Maria Corina Machado, a Venezuelan opposition leader, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote democratic rights and achieve a just transition from dictatorship to democracy in Venezuela. The prize follows a long tradition of awarding recipients […]
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Madagascar’s military power grab shows Africa’s coup problem isn’t restricted to the Sahel region
Madagascar’s military power grab shows Africa’s coup problem isn’t restricted to the Sahel region Madagascar’s military power grab on October 14, 2025, marks only the second coup in Africa outside of the Sahel region since 2020, highlighting that Africa’s coup problem is becoming a continental issue. Coups are more likely to succeed when they involve […]
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Jean-Jacques Dessalines: Reassessing the Haitian revolutionary leader’s legacy
Jean-Jacques Dessalines: Reassessing the Haitian revolutionary leader’s legacy Historian Julia Gaffield’s new book “I Have Avenged America: Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Haiti’s Fight for Freedom” aims to reassess the legacy of Haitian revolutionary leader Jean-Jacques Dessalines, who was both celebrated at home for ending slavery and condemned internationally for his violent tactics. Dessalines’ reputation has been […]
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In defense of ‘surveillance pricing’: Why personalized prices could be an unexpected force for equity
In defense of ‘surveillance pricing’: Why personalized prices could be an unexpected force for equity Surveillance pricing, which uses personal data to set individualized prices, has sparked controversy but may have benefits that could make markets more efficient and equitable. The practice, also known as price discrimination, can lead to wealthy customers paying more for […]
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Far fewer Americans support political violence than recent polls suggest
Far fewer Americans support political violence than recent polls suggest A recent surge in reported support for political violence in the US may be due to confusion about survey questions rather than actual support, according to a researcher’s study. The researcher used AI interviewing system to ask respondents about their views on political violence and […]
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Banning abortion is a hallmark of authoritarian regimes
Banning abortion is a hallmark of authoritarian regimes Banning abortion has become a hallmark of authoritarian regimes around the world, including countries like Poland, Nicaragua, and El Salvador. The US is mirroring this pattern, with restrictions on reproductive rights leading to increased death and suffering for women and their families, as well as erosion of […]
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A white poet and a Sioux doctor fell in love after Wounded Knee – racism and sexism would drive them apart
A white poet and a Sioux doctor fell in love after Wounded Knee – racism and sexism would drive them apart Elaine Goodale Eastman and Charles Alexander Eastman, a white poet and a Sioux doctor, fell in love after meeting at the Pine Ridge Agency in South Dakota in December 1890. Their relationship was marked […]
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10 effective things citizens can do to make change in addition to attending a protest
10 effective things citizens can do to make change in addition to attending a protest Pro-democracy groups successfully organized large-scale protests across the US, demonstrating that “together we are choosing democracy,” despite GOP leaders’ attempts to discredit them. Democracies that have suffered setbacks vary widely, but practices used globally to fight democratic backsliding or topple […]
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Why free speech rights got left out of the Constitution – and added in later via the First Amendment
Why free speech rights got left out of the Constitution – and added in later via the First Amendment Free speech rights were not included in the original US Constitution, but were added later via the First Amendment. The First Amendment was included three years after the Constitution’s ratification, as a result of political compromise […]
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The Supreme Court is headed toward a radically new vision of unlimited presidential power
The Supreme Court is headed toward a radically new vision of unlimited presidential power The Supreme Court is moving towards a radically new vision of unlimited presidential power, building on a series of cases over the past 15 years that have pro-presidential direction. The unitary executive theory, which suggests that the president should personally control […]
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Health insurance subsidy standoff pits affordable care for millions against federal budget constraints
Health insurance subsidy standoff pits affordable care for millions against federal budget constraints The Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies are set to expire on January 1, 2026, unless Congress extends them, which would affect millions of Americans’ health insurance coverage. If the subsidies expire, an estimated 5 million people could lose their health insurance coverage, […]
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From the pulpit to the picket line: For many miners, religion and labor rights have long been connected in coal country
From the pulpit to the picket line: For many miners, religion and labor rights have long been connected in coal country Cecil Roberts, the president of the United Mine Workers of America, will retire after 30 years leading the union, leaving behind a legacy connected to coal country’s history and labor rights. The connection between […]
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Congressman Ted Lieu makes the case for strong regulation of AI
Congressman Ted Lieu makes the case for strong regulation of AI Strong regulation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is necessary to prevent its misuse and ensure public safety. The lack of regulation in the AI industry can lead to job displacement, bias in decision-making systems, and cybersecurity threats. Congressman Ted Lieu’s advocacy for strong regulation of […]
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‘Warrior ethos’ mistakes military might for true security − and ignores the wisdom of Eisenhower
‘Warrior ethos’ mistakes military might for true security − and ignores the wisdom of Eisenhower The Pentagon has announced a name change to the Department of War, signaling an escalation in the administration’s embrace of a militaristic mindset that ignores the wisdom of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The name change comes after President Donald Trump […]
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Why a quick compromise to the first government shutdown in nearly 7 years seems unlikely
Why a quick compromise to the first government shutdown in nearly 7 years seems unlikely The US government has entered its first shutdown in nearly seven years due to disagreements over spending measures, with both Democrats and Republicans seemingly dug in on their positions. The Democrats’ stated sticking point is the expiration of health care […]
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Where George Washington would disagree with Pete Hegseth about fitness for command and what makes a warrior
Where George Washington would disagree with Pete Hegseth about fitness for command and what makes a warrior Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth recently announced new directives aimed at “reshaping the military’s culture” and restoring a “warrior ethos,” which he believes has been eroded by the inclusion of women in combat roles. However, historian Maurizio Valsania […]
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Trump’s Gaza peace plan: A bit of the old, a bit of the new – and the same stumbling blocks
Trump’s Gaza peace plan: A bit of the old, a bit of the new – and the same stumbling blocks The US has unveiled a new peace plan for Gaza, which includes 20 points that outline a framework for ending the two-year-old war and establishing a Palestinian state. The plan calls for Israel to withdraw […]
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Supreme Court to decide if Colorado’s law banning conversion therapy violates free speech
Supreme Court to decide if Colorado’s law banning conversion therapy violates free speech The US Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on October 7, 2025, to determine if Colorado’s law banning conversion therapy violates free speech. The case, Chiles v. Salazar, centers around whether talk therapy used by licensed professional counselor Kaley Chiles to try […]
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Supreme Court opens with cases on voting rights, tariffs, gender identity and campaign finance to test the limits of a constitutional revolution
Supreme Court opens with cases on voting rights, tariffs, gender identity and campaign finance to test the limits of a constitutional revolution The US Supreme Court’s upcoming term will test the limits of a constitutional revolution, with cases on voting rights, tariffs, gender identity, and campaign finance reflecting deep cultural divisions among Americans. The court’s […]
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Shutdowns are as American as apple pie − in the UK and elsewhere, they just aren’t baked into the process
Shutdowns are as American as apple pie − in the UK and elsewhere, they just aren’t baked into the process The US is an exception when it comes to government shutdowns, which are rare or non-existent in most Western democracies. The main reasons for this difference lie in the relative power of the legislature, how […]
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Oregon’s National Guard lawsuit hinges on Trump’s Truth Social posts
Oregon’s National Guard lawsuit hinges on Trump’s Truth Social posts Oregon Governor Tina Kotek had a phone call with President Trump where she tried to convince him not to send National Guard troops to Portland. Despite her efforts, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memorandum deploying 200 members of the Oregon National Guard to Portland […]
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Moral panics intensify social divisions and can lead to political violence
Moral panics intensify social divisions and can lead to political violence Moral panics can intensify social divisions and lead to political violence, as seen in recent high-profile incidents such as the assassination of Charlie Kirk. The concept of moral panics involves a societal epidemic of disproportionate fear of real or perceived threats, often leading to […]
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McCarthyism’s shadow looms over controversial firing of Texas professor who taught about gender identity
McCarthyism’s shadow looms over controversial firing of Texas professor who taught about gender identity Texas A&M University has fired a children’s literature professor, Melissa McCoul, over her discussion of gender identity in class, sparking concerns about academic freedom and free speech. The university claims that McCoul’s course content was not consistent with the published course […]
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History is repeating itself at the FBI as agents resist a director’s political agenda
History is repeating itself at the FBI as agents resist a director’s political agenda FBI Director Kash Patel’s tenure has raised concerns that he is implementing President Trump’s political agenda, leading to a politicization of the agency. Patel has installed loyalists at the DOJ and FBI who are dedicated to supporting Trump’s interests, including Dan […]
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Hamas has run out of options – survival now rests on accepting Trump’s plan and political reform
Hamas has run out of options – survival now rests on accepting Trump’s plan and political reform Hamas has accepted some aspects of President Donald Trump’s peace plan, including handing over administration of the Gaza Strip to a body of independent Palestinian technocrats and releasing all remaining Israeli hostages. Hamas’ military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, […]
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Ending taxes on home sales would benefit the wealthiest households most – part of a larger pattern in Trump tax plans
Ending taxes on home sales would benefit the wealthiest households most – part of a larger pattern in Trump tax plans Ending taxes on home sales would primarily benefit wealthy households, particularly those with high-priced homes, with an estimated average benefit of $100,000 per qualifying seller. The majority of Americans who sell their homes already […]
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Cuba’s leaders see their options dim amid blackouts and a shrinking economy
Cuba’s leaders see their options dim amid blackouts and a shrinking economy Cuba’s power grid is old and hard to maintain, and the country cannot afford to import all the oil it needs to keep the lights on, leading to frequent blackouts. The ongoing blackouts point to larger economic problems facing Cuba, including a shrinking […]
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