Politics
For nearly 250 years, the US has had eyes on Latin America – but interventions then looked rather different
Now as then, the US supported forces that wanted to change the political situation in Venezuela.
When a congressman beat a senator unconscious, America confronted the limits of free speech
The beating of Sen. Charles Sumner in 1856 by Rep. Preston Brooks over a speech against slavery sparked a nationwide debate over free speech, political violence and the relationship between the two.
How redefining one word strips the Endangered Species Act’s ability to protect vital habitat
The majority of endangered species listings over the years have involved habitat loss, from Chinook salmon to island foxes and many birds.
How a 22‑year‑old George Washington learned how to lead, from a series of mistakes in the Pennsylvania wilderness
Washington’s fundamental character as a military leader was forged in the Ohio River Valley, where he also inadvertently helped ignite the French and Indian War.
Republicans have beef with Texas Rep. James Talarico – why does meat matter in US politics?
Two communication scholars explain how what Americans eat became shorthand for who they are.
Why Colorado replaced its AI discrimination law with a transparency requirement that the feds might challenge anyway
Colorado watered down its AI legislation but may still face litigation from the Department of Justice.
The US murder rate fell to historic lows in 2025 – here’s why
Most people credit policing or the lack of it, but the real story tracks three trends that rose and fell together.
Graham Platner’s campaign implosion highlights the hollowness of America’s political parties and how they can be hijacked by insurgents
Graham Platner’s Senate campaign has imploded amid credible accusations of rape. A Maine political scientist looks at what happened and how the populist Platner resembles Donald Trump in key ways.
Justice Jackson’s birthright citizenship opinion includes Black Americans in the story of the nation’s search for equality
Jackson’s concurrence traces the 14th Amendment to work done by people ‘beyond Congress’ and Black Americans who ‘helped galvanize the push for full equality.’
Florida’s proposed property tax cuts rely on a population boom that has slowed dramatically
Florida’s population boom has fizzled to just 0.9% growth as domestic migration slows to a trickle.