Democracy
Politicizing federal troops in US mirrors use of military in Latin America in the 1970s and ’80s
Politicizing federal troops in US mirrors use of military in Latin America in the 1970s and ’80s The US military’s deployment to domestic law enforcement roles under President Trump mirrors tactics used by Latin American countries in the 1970s and ’80s, which led to military dictatorships. Three Trump administration tactics – priming the public for […]
🏛️ Politics
How the First Amendment protects Americans’ speech − and how it does not
How the First Amendment protects Americans’ speech − and how it does not The First Amendment protects Americans’ speech, including speech that may be distasteful or unpopular, as long as it does not incite violence, is not obscene, and does not constitute defamation or a true threat. The government can regulate speech through “reasonable time, […]
🏛️ Politics
Why journalists are reluctant to call Trump an authoritarian – and why that matters for democracy
Why journalists are reluctant to call Trump an authoritarian – and why that matters for democracy Many journalists have been reluctant to call Donald Trump an authoritarian due to concerns about labeling him as such, despite his actions exhibiting key indicators of authoritarian behavior. Trump’s actions, including deploying National Guard troops to cities run by […]
🏛️ Politics
Brazil’s Bolsonaro may soon join ranks of failed coup plotters held to account − hampering the chance of any political comeback
Brazil’s Bolsonaro may soon join ranks of failed coup plotters held to account − hampering the chance of any political comeback Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro may soon be convicted as a failed coup plotter for allegedly plotting to overturn his 2022 election defeat and inciting a riot in hopes of returning to power. If […]
🏛️ Politics
Bolsonaro joins a rogues’ gallery of coup plotters held to account for their failed power grab
Bolsonaro joins a rogues’ gallery of coup plotters held to account for their failed power grab Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro has been convicted on September 11, 2025, for his role in a failed coup plot to overturn the election of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and inciting violence against the government. Bolsonaro is one […]
🏛️ Politics
Jury trials, a critical part of democracy, are disappearing
Jury trials, a critical part of democracy, are disappearing Jury trials, a cornerstone of democracy, have declined dramatically over time, with only a tiny fraction (less than 1%) of criminal and civil cases decided by juries today. The decline of jury trials has been driven by private bargains between prosecutors and defendants, mandatory arbitration in […]
🏛️ Politics
Federal judges are frustrated by defiance from the Trump administration and fuzziness from the Supreme Court
Federal judges are frustrated by defiance from the Trump administration and fuzziness from the Supreme Court Federal judges are frustrated with the Trump administration’s defiance and the Supreme Court’s fuzziness, particularly when it comes to following lower court opinions. The term “Article 3 judge” refers to a fully vetted and confirmed jurist chosen by the […]
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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., […]
🏛️ Politics
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 […]
🏛️ Politics
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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