Politics
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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Trump seeks to reshape how schools discipline students
Trump seeks to reshape how schools discipline students The Trump administration has issued an executive order suggesting that schools have been using racially discriminatory discipline policies, aiming to reverse federal guidance aimed at reducing racial disparities in school discipline. The new executive order calls for the secretary of education to develop new school discipline guidance, […]
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From the Chinese Exclusion Act to pro-Palestinian activists: The evolution of politically motivated deportations
From the Chinese Exclusion Act to pro-Palestinian activists: The evolution of politically motivated deportations The US government has a long history of deporting individuals based on their political beliefs or affiliations, dating back to the late 19th century and including anti-Chinese racism. The Supreme Court’s plenary power doctrine, established in 1893, allows the federal government […]
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How to protect yourself from political stress
How to protect yourself from political stress Feeling overwhelmed by politics? You’re not imagining it – close to half of US adults say politics are a significant stress point, according to national surveys. To protect your health and maintain relationships with those you may disagree with, try being present in the moment, regulating your body, […]
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MAGA’s next wave of influencers saved TikTok
MAGA’s next wave of influencers saved TikTok TikTok was on the verge of being banned in the US due to concerns over national security and data harvesting by the Chinese government. A bipartisan bill passed Congress, requiring ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to sell the app or face an outright ban. Despite this, TikTok remains online […]
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The ‘sacramental shame’ many LGBTQ+ conservative Christians wrestle with – and how they find healing
The ‘sacramental shame’ many LGBTQ+ conservative Christians wrestle with – and how they find healing Many LGBTQ+ conservative Christians struggle with feelings of “sacramental shame,” where they feel pressured to hide their identity and prove their faith by demonstrating shame for being LGBTQ+. This can lead to feelings of unworthiness, addiction, depression, and even suicidal […]
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How Trump promotes a radical, unscientific theory about sex and gender in the name of opposing ‘gender ideology extremism’
How Trump promotes a radical, unscientific theory about sex and gender in the name of opposing ‘gender ideology extremism’ President Trump’s executive order claims to “restore biological truth” by decreeing that there are only two genders – male and female, and that anyone who believes differently denies “the biological reality of sex.” However, this ignores […]
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Disinformation and other forms of ‘sharp power’ now sit alongside the ‘hard power’ of tanks and ‘soft power’ of ideas in policy handbook
Disinformation and other forms of ‘sharp power’ now sit alongside the ‘hard power’ of tanks and ‘soft power’ of ideas in policy handbook Three forms of power exist: hard power (coercion through force or economic pressure), soft power (attracting others through credibility, legitimacy, and cultural appeal), and sharp power (manipulating others through disinformation, covert influence, […]
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Almost Zion: Remembering a short-lived Jewish state in New York
Almost Zion: Remembering a short-lived Jewish state in New York In 1825, Mordecai Manuel Noah proposed establishing Ararat, a Jewish state on Grand Island, New York, as a refuge for European Jews fleeing persecution. Noah’s plan was met with skepticism and ridicule from Jewish leaders, who believed it was contrary to God’s will and that […]
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Whatever happened to the Kids Online Safety Act?
Whatever happened to the Kids Online Safety Act? The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) was set to be a major piece of legislation in 2024, aiming to regulate kids’ online safety and content on social media. The bill gained momentum in the Senate, with a virtually unanimous vote, but was unexpectedly dropped by House Republican […]
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Take It Down Act heads to Trump’s desk
Take It Down Act heads to Trump’s desk The Take It Down Act has passed the House with a vote of 409-2, requiring social media companies to remove nonconsensual (including AI-generated) sexual images within 48 hours of being flagged. Critics fear that the bill’s approach could be exploited to inflict harm in other ways, and […]
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Trump’s first 100 days show him dictating the terms of press coverage − following Hungarian strongman Viktor Orbán’s playbook for media control
Trump’s first 100 days show him dictating the terms of press coverage − following Hungarian strongman Viktor Orbán’s playbook for media control President Donald Trump has taken steps to dictate the terms of press coverage, mirroring Hungarian strongman Viktor Orbán’s playbook for media control. Trump’s administration has barred The Associated Press from the Oval Office, […]
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America is living in tariff limbo
America is living in tariff limbo Tariffs imposed by the Trump administration have caused economic instability, with the stock market losing around $10 trillion in value over a few days. The tariffs are not traditional trade policy, but rather a “fishing expedition” to extract concessions from trade partners and US companies. Millions of people are […]
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Trump administration’s attempt to nix the labor rights of thousands of federal workers on ‘national security’ grounds furthers the GOP’s long-held anti-union agenda
Trump administration’s attempt to nix the labor rights of thousands of federal workers on ‘national security’ grounds furthers the GOP’s long-held anti-union agenda The Trump administration’s attempt to strip federal workers of their labor rights on “national security” grounds furthers the GOP’s long-held anti-union agenda. The government has canceled collective bargaining agreements at over 30 […]
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Pope Francis filled the College of Cardinals with a diverse group of men – and they’ll be picking his successor
Pope Francis filled the College of Cardinals with a diverse group of men – and they’ll be picking his successor Pope Francis’s death has triggered a conclave to elect his successor, with 115 cardinal-electors from around the world participating. The College of Cardinals, which will elect the next pope, has 252 members but only 135 […]
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Italy’s Meloni is positioning herself as bridge between EU and Trump – but will it work?
Italy’s Meloni is positioning herself as bridge between EU and Trump – but will it work? Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has positioned herself as a bridge between the European Union (EU) and the United States, visiting the US after President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on EU imports. Meloni’s approach aims to reconcile her […]
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Elon Musk’s DOGE ties could get his companies out of $2 billion in potential liability
Elon Musk’s DOGE ties could get his companies out of $2 billion in potential liability Elon Musk’s companies could avoid up to $2.37 billion in potential legal liability due to his influence over the US government, according to a new Senate report. Musk’s expansive portfolio of companies, including Tesla, Neuralink, SpaceX, and The Boring Company, […]
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Bureaucrats get a bad rap, but they deserve more credit − a sociologist of work explains why
Bureaucrats get a bad rap, but they deserve more credit − a sociologist of work explains why Bureaucrats are often misunderstood and receive a bad rap, but they deserve more credit for upholding critical ideals such as expert knowledge, equal treatment, and serving others. Bureaucrats represent a set of ideals that prioritize rational action, impersonal […]
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Brendan Carr’s FCC is an anti-consumer, rights-trampling harassment machine
Brendan Carr’s FCC is an anti-consumer, rights-trampling harassment machine The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has undergone a significant transformation under Chairman Brendan Carr, shifting from a media and telecom watchdog to an anti-consumer rights-trampling agency. The new FCC prioritizes protecting President Donald J. Trump’s ego over consumer interests, often through publicity-seeking pseudo-investigations that disregard factual […]
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Trump’s ‘Garden of American Heroes’ is a monument to celebrity and achievement – paid for with humanities funding that benefits everyday Americans
Trump’s ‘Garden of American Heroes’ is a monument to celebrity and achievement – paid for with humanities funding that benefits everyday Americans Donald Trump’s “Garden of American Heroes” project aims to commission 250 statues of famous Americans from a predetermined list, funded by humanities grants that benefit everyday Americans. The list includes recognizable figures like […]
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Trump’s aggressive actions against free speech speak a lot louder than his words defending it
Trump’s aggressive actions against free speech speak a lot louder than his words defending it Harvard University has sued the Trump administration, claiming that pressure campaigns to force viewpoint diversity on campus violate the Constitution’s guarantees of free speech. The Trump administration has taken aggressive actions against free speech, including targeting law firms and attorneys […]
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