September 2026
The Mecca alliance meets the Red Sea – Saudi Arabia’s new defense pact faces its first major test
The pact with Turkey and Pakistan has evolved quickly from a vague political commitment. Riyadh hopes it will help it navigate a thorny Middle East crisis.
Are religious charter schools constitutional? After deadlocked SCOTUS decision, another Oklahoma case is trying to find out
A new application for a religious charter school is stirring up far-reaching questions about the constitutionality of public aid to faith-based institutions.
Ethiopia is sliding back toward war – a look at what is driving the fighting and why it matters
An offensive in the Tigray region followed months of aerial strikes by the Ethiopian government. The situation could spark a wider regional conflict.
Why Trump’s plan to cut Head Start regulations could undermine services for the country’s poorest families
There is research showing that there are numerous benefits for a low-income child to attend a Head Start program, though these effects are less clear as the child ages.
Why fuel prices may go higher still
Seven months into the US conflict with Iran, with no clear end in sight, the global oil market has now largely exhausted the safety measures that exist to keep a lid on petroleum prices.
Trump wants an AI Force like Space Force, but that could make AI’s risks harder to manage
An AI Force would likely push China to create its own. That arms race could turn a technology already slipping out of human control into a weapon.
Originalism: What it is, what it isn’t and why it’s the most democratic option for the Supreme Court
A majority of Supreme Court justices follow originalism, the mode of constitutional interpretation championed by late Justice Antonin Scalia. A former Scalia law clerk explains what originalism means.
College rankings, like those of US News and World Report, remain influential, despite their many flaws and decades of criticism
College rankings can be consequential for less prestigious and less wealthy schools, giving them visibility they might not otherwise have.
Trump frames unregulated AI as a way to keep ahead of China – but in fact, it harms US national security
An unregulated sector has risks in itself but will also aid the rapid advancement of AI in China.
What civil rights enforcement cuts mean for students with disabilities – fewer staff, closed offices, longer waits
Filing a civil rights complaint with the Office of Civil Rights can be parents’ last stop. Following cuts and restructuring, this federal office is no longer serving that same resource.