Politics
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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4 out of 5 US troops surveyed understand the duty to disobey illegal orders
4 out of 5 US troops surveyed understand the duty to disobey illegal orders A recent survey of US troops found that 4 out of 5 service members understand their duty to disobey illegal orders, and many would be willing to refuse such orders if ordered to harm civilians or engage in other morally reprehensible […]
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Trump administration cuts to terrorism prevention departments could leave Americans exposed
Trump administration cuts to terrorism prevention departments could leave Americans exposed The Trump administration’s cuts to terrorism prevention departments have left the US government’s ability to respond to terrorism severely limited, shifting its focus from prevention to a reactive military approach. The dismantling of key programs, including the Office of Countering Violent Extremism and the […]
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3 reasons Republicans’ redistricting power grab might backfire
3 reasons Republicans’ redistricting power grab might backfire Republicans’ redistricting power grab might backfire as Democrats fight back with special elections and new gerrymanders in states like California, Illinois, and New York. The “dummymandering” phenomenon, where parties spread their voters too thin to win safe districts, could lead to unexpected losses for the party that […]
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What is Laura Loomer?
What is Laura Loomer? Laura Loomer, a 32-year-old online personality with no government experience, has been accused of influencing White House decisions. According to ABC News, at least 15 individuals were ousted from Trump’s second administration due in part to Loomer’s tweets and actions. Loomer’s influence is seen as unprecedented by Washington veterans who grew […]
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Authoritarian rulers aren’t new – here’s what Herodotus, an early Greek historian, wrote about them
Authoritarian rulers aren’t new – here’s what Herodotus, an early Greek historian, wrote about them Herodotus, an early Greek historian, wrote about authoritarian rulers thousands of years ago, analyzing the Persian invasion of Greece and its outcome. The Greek victory over Persia was attributed to the fact that many Greek city-states had representative governments, which […]
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Where next for Khamenei? After war, Iran’s supreme leader is faced with difficult choices
Where next for Khamenei? After war, Iran’s supreme leader is faced with difficult choices Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei faces difficult choices after the recent war with Israel, including how to respond to international pressure and criticism of his handling of the conflict. Khamenei must weigh the need for reform against the loyalty of […]
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Understanding key terms swirling around Alligator Alcatraz and immigration enforcement in the US
Understanding key terms swirling around Alligator Alcatraz and immigration enforcement in the US **Immigrant vs. Migrant**: An immigrant refers to a foreign national who intends to remain in the US, while a migrant is a generic term that doesn’t have any specific legal meaning and is often used incorrectly as a synonym for immigrant. **Documented […]
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The Druze are a tightly knit community – and the violence in Syria is triggering fears in Lebanon
The Druze are a tightly knit community – and the violence in Syria is triggering fears in Lebanon The Druze community, a tightly knit minority in the Levant region, is facing fears of sectarian violence in Lebanon following clashes in Syria. The violence in Sweida, Syria, has triggered concerns among Lebanese Druze, who fear that […]
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The case that saved the press – and why Trump wants it gone
The case that saved the press – and why Trump wants it gone President Donald Trump is attacking the American press through defamation lawsuits against CBS News, The Wall Street Journal, and other media outlets, seeking to restrict journalists’ ability to publish or broadcast critical stories. The Supreme Court’s 1964 ruling in New York Times […]
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PBS accounts for nearly half of first graders’ most frequently watched educational TV and video programs
PBS accounts for nearly half of first graders’ most frequently watched educational TV and video programs PBS accounts for nearly half (45%) of first graders’ most frequently watched educational TV and video programs, making it the top source for children’s educational programming. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting will lose $1.1 billion in federal funding, which […]
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Gaza isn’t the first time US officials have downplayed atrocities by American-backed regimes – genocide scholars found similar strategies used from East Timor to Guatemala to Yemen
Gaza isn’t the first time US officials have downplayed atrocities by American-backed regimes – genocide scholars found similar strategies used from East Timor to Guatemala to Yemen Gaza is not an isolated incident; US officials have downplayed atrocities by American-backed regimes since World War II, using similar strategies across cases like East Timor, Guatemala, and […]
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For America’s 35M small businesses, tariff uncertainty hits especially hard
For America’s 35M small businesses, tariff uncertainty hits especially hard Small businesses in the US are facing significant challenges due to tariff uncertainty, with over 97% of US companies that import goods being small businesses. The Trump administration’s unpredictable approach to trade policy has created a “whiplash effect” for small businesses, making it difficult for […]
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Elon Musk’s plans for a new political party will likely be derailed by a US political system hostile to new voices
Elon Musk’s plans for a new political party will likely be derailed by a US political system hostile to new voices Elon Musk’s plan for an America Party may be unlikely to succeed due to the US political system’s structural barriers against new voices and ideas. The two-party control in the US runs contrary to […]
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The ‘Epstein files’ implosion bleeds into foreign policy
The ‘Epstein files’ implosion bleeds into foreign policy The “Epstein files” scandal continues to impact US foreign policy, as MAGA influencers face resistance from politicians who are stonewalling them. The lack of new information on the Epstein case has led to growing discontent among Trump’s loyalists and die-hard Epstein truthers. This discontent is now being […]
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