Politics
China’s WWII anniversary parade rekindles cross-strait battle over war narrative − and fears in Taiwan of future conflict
China’s WWII anniversary parade rekindles cross-strait battle over war narrative − and fears in Taiwan of future conflict China’s WWII anniversary parade has reignited tensions between China and Taiwan over the war narrative, with Beijing seeking to promote its own version of history and downplay American involvement. The parade marks a significant moment in the […]
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3 states push to put the Ten Commandments back in school – banking on new guidance at the Supreme Court
3 states push to put the Ten Commandments back in school – banking on new guidance at the Supreme Court Three US states – Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas – have passed laws requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools, despite federal trial court rulings blocking similar legislation. The laws are aimed at […]
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‘These people do it naturally’: President Trump’s views on immigrant farmworkers reflect a long history of how farming has been idealized and practiced in America
‘These people do it naturally’: President Trump’s views on immigrant farmworkers reflect a long history of how farming has been idealized and practiced in America President Trump’s views on immigrant farmworkers reflect a long history of idealizing farming in America, where farmers have often contrasted their own virtuous and independent lifestyle with the reality that […]
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Why America still needs public schools
Why America still needs public schools The Trump administration’s efforts to cut funding for public education and divert taxpayer funds to private schools are part of a broader assault on K-12 public education, which has been eroding over the past 75 years. The consequences of withdrawing from public education could be dire for the U.S., […]
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Trump’s push to fire Fed governor threatens central bank independence − and that isn’t good news for sound economic stewardship (or battling inflation)
Trump’s push to fire Fed governor threatens central bank independence − and that isn’t good news for sound economic stewardship (or battling inflation) President Trump’s push to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook threatens central bank independence, which could have negative implications for sound economic stewardship and battling inflation. The power struggle between Trump and the […]
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Trump’s Epstein problem is real: New poll shows many in his base disapprove of his handling of the files, and some supporters are having second thoughts about electing him
Trump’s Epstein problem is real: New poll shows many in his base disapprove of his handling of the files, and some supporters are having second thoughts about electing him A new poll shows that 47% of Trump’s 2024 voters disapprove of his handling of the Epstein controversy, indicating significant damage to his standing among his […]
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Tit-for-tat gerrymandering wars won’t end soon – what happens in Texas and California doesn’t stay there
Tit-for-tat gerrymandering wars won’t end soon – what happens in Texas and California doesn’t stay there Tit-for-tat gerrymandering wars are ongoing, with Texas Republicans drawing maps to increase their chances of winning congressional seats and California Democrats pushing back with their own partisan maps. The process of redistricting has become increasingly politicized, with many states […]
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The ‘security guarantee’ paradox: Too weak and it won’t protect Ukraine; too robust and Russia won’t accept it
The ‘security guarantee’ paradox: Too weak and it won’t protect Ukraine; too robust and Russia won’t accept it The US President Donald Trump’s plan to engineer an end to the conflict in Ukraine has raised concerns that security guarantees may not be enough to protect Ukraine from Russian aggression. The idea of security guarantees, which […]
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Supporting religious diversity on campus is a surprising consensus among faculty across the red-blue divide
Supporting religious diversity on campus is a surprising consensus among faculty across the red-blue divide Faculty members across the red-blue divide have found common ground on the importance of religious, spiritual, and secular inclusion in diversity efforts. A national survey of 1,000 faculty members revealed significant differences in perceptions of free speech and DEI (diversity, […]
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Orwell’s opposition to totalitarianism was rooted in his support for freeing workers from poverty and exploitation
Orwell’s opposition to totalitarianism was rooted in his support for freeing workers from poverty and exploitation George Orwell’s opposition to totalitarianism was rooted in his support for freeing workers from poverty and exploitation, which he explored in his early writing on work, poverty, anti-imperialism, and democratic socialism. Orwell remained a committed democratic socialist until his […]
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Netanyahu remains unmoved by Israel’s lurch toward pariah status − but at home and abroad, Israelis are suffering the consequences
Netanyahu remains unmoved by Israel’s lurch toward pariah status − but at home and abroad, Israelis are suffering the consequences Israel’s actions in Gaza have led to its increasing isolation on the international stage, with even long-standing allies like Germany, the UK, and Australia distancing themselves from the Israeli government. The international community has condemned […]
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Like Reagan, Trump is slashing environment regulations, but his strategy may have a far deeper impact
Like Reagan, Trump is slashing environment regulations, but his strategy may have a far deeper impact President Trump’s administration is slashing environmental regulations, similar to President Reagan’s approach, but with potentially far-reaching consequences. The Trump administration has cut EPA budgets and staffing by 50% since 2026, and has appointed industry representatives to key positions, raising […]
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Latin American literature contains warnings for American universities that yield to Trump
Latin American literature contains warnings for American universities that yield to Trump Latin American literature offers warnings for American universities that yield to Trump’s demands, highlighting the dangers of capitulation to authoritarian rulers and the erosion of institutional values. The stories of Peruvian novelist Mario Vargas Llosa, Colombian writer Gabriel García Márquez, and Argentine author […]
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How the conservative Federalist Society will affect the Supreme Court for decades to come
How the conservative Federalist Society will affect the Supreme Court for decades to come The Federalist Society, a conservative legal organization, has had a significant impact on the Supreme Court through its influence on President Trump’s judicial appointments. Research by political science scholars found that justices affiliated with the Federalist Society are more conservative and […]
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How federal officials talk about health is shifting in troubling ways – and that change makes me worried for my autistic child
How federal officials talk about health is shifting in troubling ways – and that change makes me worried for my autistic child The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement’s rhetoric on health and disease has raised concerns among disability and chronic illness communities, particularly those with autism. The MAHA Commission’s report on children’s health emphasizes […]
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Forget the warm fuzzies of finding common ground – to beat polarization, try changing your expectations
Forget the warm fuzzies of finding common ground – to beat polarization, try changing your expectations Changing expectations and seeking common ground may not be enough to beat polarization, as Coloradans’ bipartisan rejection of home rule suggests that both sides recoiled at the expensive and rushed nature of the election. Polarization can be a feature, […]
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By ‘focusing on the family,’ James Dobson helped propel US evangelicals back into politics – making the Religious Right into the cultural force it is today
By ‘focusing on the family,’ James Dobson helped propel US evangelicals back into politics – making the Religious Right into the cultural force it is today James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, played a crucial role in transforming the Religious Right into a powerful cultural and political force in the US, particularly through […]
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A Detroit street is named in honor of Vincent Chin – his death mobilized Asian American activists nationwide
A Detroit street is named in honor of Vincent Chin – his death mobilized Asian American activists nationwide Vincent Chin’s death in 1982 sparked an Asian American civil rights movement after two white men attacked him, believing he was Japanese and responsible for the economic downturn in Detroit. The incident led to a federal investigation, […]
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American capitalism is being remade by state power
American capitalism is being remade by state power The Trump administration appears to be shifting towards state-directed capitalism, where the government plays a more active role in guiding industries and companies. The US is currently operating under a hybrid model of capitalism, blending free-market principles with elements of state capitalism, as seen in recent moves […]
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‘It’s a complicated time to be a white Southerner’ − and their views on race reflect that
‘It’s a complicated time to be a white Southerner’ − and their views on race reflect that White Southerners are grappling with their racial status due to ongoing crises such as police violence, mass incarceration, and the Black Lives Matter movement, which have highlighted the region’s history of racial conflict. The “wages of whiteness,” or […]
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Why rural Coloradans feel ignored − a resentment as old as America itself
Why rural Coloradans feel ignored − a resentment as old as America itself Rural Coloradans feel ignored and looked down on by their urban counterparts, with many expressing resentment towards policies that they believe target their way of life. The divide between rural and urban Coloradans was studied through responses to four statewide policies, including […]
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This isn’t how wars are ended − a veteran diplomat explains how Trump-Putin summit is amateurish and politically driven
This isn’t how wars are ended − a veteran diplomat explains how Trump-Putin summit is amateurish and politically driven U.S. President Donald Trump’s upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15, 2025, in Alaska is expected to be a photo opportunity rather than a meaningful peace deal, according to veteran diplomat Donald Heflin. […]
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Sanctuary cities in the US were born in the 1980s as Central American refugees fled civil wars
Sanctuary cities in the US were born in the 1980s as Central American refugees fled civil wars The Sanctuary Movement in the US was born in the 1980s as Central American refugees fled civil wars and faced restrictive asylum processes, leading to a decentralized coalition advocating for refugee protection. The movement, which included churches, city […]
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Protestant ideas shaped Americans’ support for birth control – and the Supreme Court ruling protecting a husband and wife’s right to contraception
Protestant ideas shaped Americans’ support for birth control – and the Supreme Court ruling protecting a husband and wife’s right to contraception Protestant ideas played a significant role in shaping Americans’ support for birth control, particularly through the Supreme Court’s 1965 ruling in Griswold v. Connecticut that protected married couples’ right to contraception. The Griswold […]
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PBS is slashing its budget in response to Trump’s attack on public media
PBS is slashing its budget in response to Trump’s attack on public media PBS is slashing its budget by 21% due to the Trump administration’s defunding of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which will result in a $1.1 billion loss over two years. PBS is also reducing member station dues by $35 million, a […]
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Laura Loomer and the limits of posting everything
Laura Loomer and the limits of posting everything Laura Loomer is a prominent MAGA influencer who has gained significant power by getting Donald Trump to fire over a dozen administration members for perceived disloyalty. Despite her influence, Loomer lacks some of the traditional tools used by her peers, such as high follower counts and multiple […]
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Labor Day and May Day emerged from the movement for a shorter workday in industrial America
Labor Day and May Day emerged from the movement for a shorter workday in industrial America Labor Day and May Day originated from the movement for a shorter workday in industrial America, which aimed to give workers more control over their daily lives. While most of the world celebrates International Workers’ Day on May 1 […]
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For Syrian Druze, latest violence is one more chapter in a centuries-long struggle over autonomy
For Syrian Druze, latest violence is one more chapter in a centuries-long struggle over autonomy The latest violence in southern Syria’s Sweida region is part of a centuries-long struggle for autonomy among the Druze minority, who have faced challenges integrating into the Syrian state since the Ottoman period. The conflict began in mid-July after Bedouins […]
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Exactly what is in the Ivy League deals with the Trump administration – and how they compare
Exactly what is in the Ivy League deals with the Trump administration – and how they compare The Trump administration has reached deals with several Ivy League universities, including Harvard, Columbia, and Brown, to end government inquiries into their treatment of Jewish students and other practices on campus. The deals require these universities to pay […]
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Don’t write off the Putin-Trump summit just yet – its outcome might confound critics
Don’t write off the Putin-Trump summit just yet – its outcome might confound critics The upcoming Alaska summit between Trump and Putin may confound critics due to its potential for a diplomatic solution to the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine. Despite Trump’s repeated pledge to end the war, there has been no progress thus far, […]
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