Politics
Yosemite embodies the long war over US national park privatization
Yosemite embodies the long war over US national park privatization The debate over US national park privatization has been ongoing for centuries, with Yosemite National Park playing a central role in this controversy. In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant Act, ceding the valley and grove to California, “upon the express conditions that […]
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Why government support for religion doesn’t necessarily make people more religious
Why government support for religion doesn’t necessarily make people more religious Government support for religion doesn’t necessarily make people more religious; in fact, it can have unintended consequences that decrease religious participation. The separation between church and state is intended to protect individual freedom of religion, but some conservatives argue that this separation hinders the […]
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Why do MAGA faithful support Trump if his ‘big beautiful bill’ will likely hurt many of them?
Why do MAGA faithful support Trump if his ‘big beautiful bill’ will likely hurt many of them? President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law on July 4, 2025, which focuses on cutting taxes for high-income households and increasing funding for military and border security, but critics argue it will hurt […]
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When socialists win Democratic primaries: Will Zohran Mamdani be haunted by the Upton Sinclair effect?
When socialists win Democratic primaries: Will Zohran Mamdani be haunted by the Upton Sinclair effect? Zohran Mamdani’s primary victory in the New York City mayoral election has drawn comparisons to Upton Sinclair’s 1934 win in California, which was marked by a surprise upset and a radical campaign plan. The 1934 campaign against Sinclair was characterized […]
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Trump’s push for more deportations could boost demand for foreign farmworkers with ‘guest worker’ visas
Trump’s push for more deportations could boost demand for foreign farmworkers with ‘guest worker’ visas The Trump administration’s push for more deportations could lead to an increase in demand for foreign farmworkers with “guest worker” visas, which would help fill labor gaps in agriculture. The H-2A visa program, established in 1952, has become a mainstay […]
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The quiet war: What’s fueling Israel’s surge of settler violence – and the lack of state response
The quiet war: What’s fueling Israel’s surge of settler violence – and the lack of state response Since October 2023, Jewish settlers have carried out around 2,000 attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank, a dramatic surge compared to previous periods. The violence is fueled by a confluence of ideological fervor, opportunism, and far-right Israelis’ […]
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Sanctioning ghosts: Why US plans to hit Russia with fresh economic penalties will have little effect
Sanctioning ghosts: Why US plans to hit Russia with fresh economic penalties will have little effect The US plans to impose fresh economic penalties on Russia, but experts argue that these sanctions will have little effect due to the already significant decline in trade between the two countries. Russia has developed a network of critical […]
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Roman Empire and the fall of Nero offer possible lessons for Trump about the cost of self-isolation
Roman Empire and the fall of Nero offer possible lessons for Trump about the cost of self-isolation Nero’s rise and fall from power offer lessons for President Trump about the cost of self-isolation and ignoring honest advice. The Roman Emperor Nero surrounded himself with loyal, but ultimately self-interested, advisers who encouraged his delusions and failed […]
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Malaysia confronts the realities of MAGA diplomacy and Trump’s brash ambassadorial pick
Malaysia confronts the realities of MAGA diplomacy and Trump’s brash ambassadorial pick Malaysia has expressed strong opposition to Donald Trump’s nomination of right-wing influencer Nick Adams as U.S. ambassador, citing his lack of relevant experience and temperament, as well as his perceived disparaging of Islam and pro-Israel views. The nomination marks a turning point in […]
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Due process: What it means in US law and its implications for migrant rights
Due process: What it means in US law and its implications for migrant rights The concept of due process is a core principle of the US justice system that requires the government to act in accordance with the rule of law, and its implications for migrant rights are being strongly tested. The US Supreme Court […]
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Deportation tactics from 4 US presidents have done little to reduce the undocumented immigrant population
Deportation tactics from 4 US presidents have done little to reduce the undocumented immigrant population Despite efforts by four US presidents to reduce the undocumented immigrant population, the number has remained around 11 million from 2005 to 2022. The Trump administration’s deportation tactics have been particularly harsh, including workplace raids and mass deportations of noncitizens, […]
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China’s arrests of boys’ love authors does not equate to a ‘gay erotica’ crackdown
China’s arrests of boys’ love authors does not equate to a ‘gay erotica’ crackdown China’s recent arrests of boys’ love authors have been misinterpreted by Western media as a “gay erotica” crackdown, when in fact it’s a localized phenomenon related to online content regulation. The term “boys’ love” (BL) refers to a genre of East […]
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‘Big’ legislative package shifts more of SNAP’s costs to states, saving federal dollars but causing fewer Americans to get help paying for food
‘Big’ legislative package shifts more of SNAP’s costs to states, saving federal dollars but causing fewer Americans to get help paying for food The US government has passed a legislative package that shifts more of SNAP’s costs to states, saving federal dollars but causing fewer Americans to get help paying for food. The package will […]
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What is the ‘Seven Mountains Mandate’ and how is it linked to political extremism in the US?
What is the ‘Seven Mountains Mandate’ and how is it linked to political extremism in the US? The “Seven Mountains Mandate” is a Christian movement that aims to gain influence over seven key areas of culture: religion, family, education, government, media, business, and the arts. The mandate was originally proposed in 1975 by evangelical leader […]
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Trump administration’s lie detector campaign against leakers is unlikely to succeed and could divert energy from national security priorities
Trump administration’s lie detector campaign against leakers is unlikely to succeed and could divert energy from national security priorities The Trump administration’s polygraph campaign against leakers is unlikely to succeed and may divert energy from national security priorities. Polygraphs are considered pseudo-scientific, as they measure physiological responses that can be influenced by fear, anger, or […]
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Thailand’s judiciary is flexing its muscles, but away from PM’s plight, dozens of activists are at the mercy of capricious courts
Thailand’s judiciary is flexing its muscles, but away from PM’s plight, dozens of activists are at the mercy of capricious courts Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended from office by the Constitutional Court due to a leaked phone conversation disparaging Thailand’s military and showing deference to Cambodia’s Hun Sen, sparking concerns about the […]
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Social media can support or undermine democracy – it comes down to how it’s designed
Social media can support or undermine democracy – it comes down to how it’s designed Social media platforms have a significant impact on democracy, either supporting or undermining it, depending on their design choices. The design of social media platforms can shape user behavior, values, and emotional states, often nudging users toward certain actions that […]
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Nations are increasingly ‘playing the field’ when it comes to US and China – a new book explains explains why ‘active nonalignment’ is on the march
Nations are increasingly ‘playing the field’ when it comes to US and China – a new book explains explains why ‘active nonalignment’ is on the march Active nonalignment is a foreign policy approach where countries prioritize their own interests and refuse to take sides in the great power rivalry between the US and China, updating […]
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Justice Department efforts to strip citizenship from naturalized Americans likely violate constitutional rights
Justice Department efforts to strip citizenship from naturalized Americans likely violate constitutional rights The Trump administration’s efforts to strip citizenship from naturalized Americans may violate constitutional rights, as they pursue denaturalization cases without providing adequate due process protections. The government can only take away citizenship in specific situations, such as if someone “illegally procured” citizenship […]
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Jimmy Swaggart’s rise and fall shaped the landscape of American televangelism
Jimmy Swaggart’s rise and fall shaped the landscape of American televangelism Jimmy Swaggart was a prominent American televangelist who rose to fame in the 1980s and left a lasting impact on the landscape of American televangelism. Swaggart’s ministry, which included music, television shows, and mail-order businesses, drew millions of viewers and listeners worldwide, making him […]
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IRS says churches may endorse political candidates despite a decades-old federal statute barring them from doing that
IRS says churches may endorse political candidates despite a decades-old federal statute barring them from doing that The IRS has announced that churches and other houses of worship can endorse political candidates without risking their tax-exempt status, contradicting a decades-old federal statute known as the Johnson Amendment. The Johnson Amendment, passed in 1954, prohibits charities […]
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Inequality has risen from 1970 to Trump − that has 3 hidden costs that undermine democracy
Inequality has risen from 1970 to Trump − that has 3 hidden costs that undermine democracy The US has never been richer, but the gains are so lopsided that the top 10% controls 69% of all wealth, while the bottom half controls just 3%, leading to widening income inequality. The Trump administration’s spending bill cuts […]
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How the Catholic Church helped change the conversation about capital punishment in the United States
How the Catholic Church helped change the conversation about capital punishment in the United States The Catholic Church has played a significant role in changing the conversation about capital punishment in the United States over the past few decades, particularly through the work of activists like Sister Helen Prejean. The church’s anti-death penalty teaching, which […]
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How citizenship chaos was averted, for now, by a class action injunction against Trump’s birthright citizenship order
How citizenship chaos was averted, for now, by a class action injunction against Trump’s birthright citizenship order A class action injunction has been issued against President Trump’s birthright citizenship order, preventing federal officials from enforcing it nationally for now. The preliminary injunction was granted by a New Hampshire federal district judge, U.S. District Judge Joseph […]
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A weakened Iran and Hezbollah gives Lebanon an opening to chart path away from the region’s conflicts − will it be enough?
A weakened Iran and Hezbollah gives Lebanon an opening to chart path away from the region’s conflicts − will it be enough? Lebanon has an opportunity to chart a new path away from regional conflicts due to Iran’s weakened state and Hezbollah’s losses against Israel, which could lead to Lebanon’s increased neutrality. The weakening of […]
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What MAGA means to Americans
What MAGA means to Americans A decade after Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, researchers analyzed Americans’ explanations of what “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) means to them, finding that public views mirror both Trump and Clinton’s perspectives. Republicans interpret MAGA as a call for the renewal of the US economy and military might, as well as […]
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Universities in every state care for congressional papers that document US political history − federal cuts put their work at risk
Universities in every state care for congressional papers that document US political history − federal cuts put their work at risk Universities across the US are preserving congressional papers that document US political history, but federal cuts threaten their work. The preservation and management of these archives require specialized expertise, including digital preservation and data […]
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The White House’s favorite source of pro-Trump news is … the White House’s YouTube channel
The White House’s favorite source of pro-Trump news is … the White House’s YouTube channel The White House’s favorite source of pro-Trump news is its own YouTube channel. The White House Wire, an aggregation of right-wing media content, doesn’t rely on popular sources like Truth Social or Fox News for its curated content. The platform […]
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The rule of law is key to capitalism − eroding it is bad news for American business
The rule of law is key to capitalism − eroding it is bad news for American business The rule of law is crucial for capitalism, but its erosion is threatening the US economy, investor confidence, and global stability. Chaotic deregulation and selective enforcement of laws have led to a decline in respect for the rule […]
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Philadelphia’s $2B affordable housing plan relies heavily on municipal bonds, which can come with hidden costs for taxpayers
Philadelphia’s $2B affordable housing plan relies heavily on municipal bonds, which can come with hidden costs for taxpayers The Philadelphia Mayor’s $2B affordable housing plan relies heavily on municipal bonds, which can come with hidden costs for taxpayers. The city plans to issue $800 million in bonds over the next three years to fund affordable […]
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