Politics
Supreme Court’s ‘shadow docket’ brings hasty decisions with long‑lasting implications, outside of its usual careful deliberation
What is the Supreme Court’s ‘shadow docket’ and why is it important?
What a US attorney general actually does – a law professor spells it out
The combined political and legal roles and responsibilities of the US attorney general can create conflicts. Some attorneys general yielded to political pressure from the president – many did not.
Federal election observers once played a key role in securing voting rights for all − but times have changed
After the Voting Rights Act, federal election observers helped ensure fair voting, but that oversight has increasingly shifted focus − to monitor what Washington says is voter fraud and accusations of cheating.
Why the future of marijuana legalization remains hazy despite high public support
A cannabis legalization movement that for a decade rode a wave of success has stalled amid failed ballot initiatives, rising health concerns and a frayed coalition of supporters.
I went to CPAC and found Trump supporters unhappy about Iran, Epstein files and the economy, even while the fans at the MAGA conference celebrate his immigration policies
Trumpism isn’t dead, as the roaring MAGA-merched crowds at CPAC make clear. But Trump is struggling through a political winter that could signal the early stages of his MAGA movement’s decline.
Trump sidelined Congress’ authority over war on Iran – and lawmakers allowed it, extending a 75‑year trend
Congress has refused to exercise oversight of the Iran war, with Republicans nixing Democrats’ attempts to exercise legislators’ power over military engagements. That’s nothing new.
US violent crime is at its lowest in more than a century – but the funding that helped reduce it is disappearing
A historic drop in violent crime, including the murder rate, is at risk after the cancellation of federal funding for programs that helped make the decline possible.
Can the nearly $1 trillion‑a‑year US military really be depleting key weapons in Iran?
Measuring US weapons stockpiles sheds light on future constraints and what Russia and China may learn from the Iran war.
Why Trump’s call to pull 5,000 US troops from Germany will hurt America
Overseas US military bases are integral to combat operations and can burnish the country’s image to advance its foreign policy goals.
The American Revolution’s triumphant story of democracy and freedom overlooks loyalists who paid a steep price for allegiance to Britain
Matthias Aspden was a wealthy Philadelphia businessman who remained faithful to Britain. As a result, he lost his home, property and sense of belonging, and died in exile.