News and Opinion Topical Archive | Beyond Intractability

This page provides a comprehensive archive of all BI News and Opinion Links organized by the general topic areas used in the "tagline" accompanying each link (and sorted from most recent to least recent). Because this list is somewhat cumbersome to create, we initially plan to generate only it about once a month. For more recent links see the latest links newsletters posted on Substack, Bi's Newsletter page, or the main Links "landing page."

We are still in the process of adding search capabilities to the new BI site. At the moment, the best way to search our collection of New and Opinion Links is simply by using this very long page and your browser's find function (generally Control-F or Command-F). The same thing can be done on our Colleague Activity Topics page. Or, if you would like to search the two lists together you can use our All Links page.

This listing was created on October 29, 2025. For the most recent links, see the list of the most recent Links newsletters.

Link Topics

Culture and Religion

Why Religious Freedom Matters, Even if You're Not Religious — An important reminder that religious freedom is of critical importance to all -- even those whose socio-cultural beliefs are not grounded in one of the major religious traditions.
The Religion of Workism Is Making Americans Miserable — Reflections on what happens to elites when they view their profession as the central focus of their lives (and how that makes them different from the working classes).
Inside No Labels decision to plow ahead with choosing presidential candidates — For those hoping not to have to choose between the extremes of the right the extremes of the left, news that there is likely to be a national unity ticket on the ballot.
The Metamodern Shift in the Culture Wars — A story about a valuable new word, "metamodern" and an explanation of how it can help us better deal with the world's complexities and contradictions.
The Myth of White Christian Nationalism — For a time when many on the left tend to dismiss their political opponents as nothing more than "White Christian Nationalists," an honest effort to try to understand what this actually means.
Beware Cultural Drift — Thoughtful reflections on the nature of cultural evolution and the dangers of the cosmopolitan, global monoculture which has led so many people to adopt such highly similar sets of beliefs.
God™: an ageing product outperforms expectations — A thought provoking look at religion from an economics perspective.
Social Conservatism Is Alive and Well — An exploration of the surprising resurgence of more traditional and conservative family values and lifestyles.
The Problem Is Islam---Not Islamism — An article arguing that the popular distinction between Islamists and those who simply believe in Islam leads to serious (and potentially dangerous) misperceptions.
The Junkification of American Life — An insightful look at the ways in which the commercial success of tech driven dopamine highs is transforming our society.
Is Culture Dying? — An explanation of the complex processes that are leading to the "deculturation" of so many places and reflections on the implications of this trend.
All Cultures are Not Equal — A disturbing and controversial article about the conflict between Western, liberal, democratic cultures and Islam -- a conflict that has been and likely will continue to be a major flashpoint.
I Don't Want to Live in a Monoculture, and Neither Do You — An especially good explanation of why the left-and right-leaning orthodoxies created by hyper-polarization are so counterproductive and destructive.
Ramaswamy Is Uninvited From My Sleepover — A thought-provoking look at a big, but seldom recognized, cultural divide that exists within society's meritocratic elites.
There are no pure cultures — An informative exploration of the complex ways in which differing cultural traditions are deeply intertwined with one another.
If you have no problem with this, carry on as you are. — An alarming and doubtless extremely controversial argument that the West is sleepwalking into a gigantic clash of civilizations with global Islam.
Trump is reorienting America's moral compass — Reflections on what the Trump administration is doing to the United States' moral standing around the world.
The moral collapse of the West — A thoughtful essay that goes beyond lamenting what's wrong with society and starts trying to imagine something new and better.
I’m Normally a Mild Guy. Here’s What’s Pushed Me Over the Edge. — An impassioned challenge to the way in which the "Make America Great Again" administration seems to be discounting the notion that there is an American idea worth defending and fighting for.
What the Fastest-Growing Christian Group Reveals About America — An examination of the surprising way that Christianity is evolving in the United States.
The Enlightenment’s Gravediggers — The enlightenment which gave birth to scientific inquiry, market economies, and democratic systems of governance is now being subjected to serious challenge. This article explores what's at stake.
The Ancient Roots of Western Self-Criticism — One of the big features of Western society, and a major source of its dynamism, is its willingness to be self-critical and continually strive to do better (rather than simply accepting its fate).
Trump Accelerates Our Decline Into Moral Relativism — One of the Republican Party's traditional complaints about Democrats has been their embrace of moral relativism. This article argues that Trump is doing something similar.
Return to the List of Links Newsletter Topics

Israel / Hamas War

Why Conspiracy Theorists Always Land on the Jews — An insightful exploration of the ways in which anti-Semitism differs from other forms of prejudice and discrimination.
Not since the Holocaust have this many Jews been killed in a single day — Israeli rabbi, author and blogger Daniel Gordis reflects on the enormity of the attacks, concluding that Israel will win, but it will never be the same. Despite the fact that the government was "nowhere to be found," the people and the army were raising a defense on their own.
The savage nihilism of free palestine — A thought-provoking essay exploring the role of anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism in Arab and Muslim culture and the relationship between these beliefs and European revolutionary thought.
War in Israel: Michael Oren Explains How 'Evil' Infiltrated the Country — An especially enlightening interview with former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., Michael Oren, recorded on October 7.
There Are No Rules — An examination of the rules-based international order that was instituted following World War II to reduce the risk of that that war's horrors would be repeated. And, an exploration of the ways in which that, always tenuous, order is now eroding rapidly.
Complacency and the Coming Storm — An essay that asked us to consider the possibility that the relative peace and stability that we've enjoyed over the last several decades is something of an aberration and that "normal" times are much more dangerous. We need to take efforts to avoid this kind of normality much more seriously.
Why Israel Is Acting This Way — An essay that places Israeli actions (both past and future) into the broader context of Middle Eastern political violence --- violence that often does not involve Israel (and does involve large-scale attacks on civilians).
This Is Hezbollah's Arsenal Of Weapons It Could Rain On Israel — A look at the terrifying array of weapons that Hezbollah has hidden in civilian areas all over southern Lebanon --- weapons that, if used, could quickly provoke a much wider and more catastrophic war.
The Moral Questions at the Heart of the Gaza War — A thought-provoking look of complex moral questions that are going to face Israeli soldiers as they enter Gaza (and the rest of the world as they judge the Israelis and the Palestinians).
The Deep Roots of the Left's Deafening Silence on Hamas — For many, the second biggest surprise associated with the October 7 attack was the reluctance of many on the left to condemn the attack (and the fact that some even supported it). This article looks at the intellectual foundations behind the left's reactions.
Appeasing Iran Has Failed — A critique of the Obama/Biden strategy of trying diffuse the Iranian threat by negotiating some sort of détente and an argument that Iran was never interested in any kind of reasonable compromise.
What Hamas Wants — A chilling account of the many ways in which experts (including peacebuilders) misjudged Hamas. It is now clear that it is not a rational, good-faith actor seeking to defend the legitimate interests of its citizens. It is a sadistic and suicidal cult focused on destroying Israel and the Jews.
Palestinian Lives Matter, Except to Hamas — Strong reason to believe that the Hamas' callousness and total disregard for civilian welfare extends to the citizens of Gaza.
The Best of Bad Options for Recovering the Hostages — From long-time Mideast negotiator, Dennis Ross, thoughts about how it might be possible to negotiate the release of the hostages.
My Phone Says 2023. It Feels Like 1948. — The combined horror of the October 7 attack on Israel, the use of human shields by Hamas to protect itself, and global condemnation of anything that Israel might do that harms these civilians is leaving Israelis with the sense that they are fighting for their very existence.
How the Palestinian Authority Failed Its People — A review of some of the many ways in which the Palestinian people have been victimized by their corrupt and ruthless leaders.
A Quick Primer on Understanding 21st-Century Israel — The many conflicts swirling around Israel cannot be understood by a quick perusal of current events. This is a part of the world where history really matters and this is an especially good guide to sources that explain that history.
A Dark Day for the Middle East---and Journalism — A careful analysis of the way in which the Gaza hospital bombing was reported in the mainstream US press -- an analysis that reveals a shocking disregard for basic journalistic ethics.
It's Not the Occupation — A counter-argument to the claim that the Hamas war was simply a desperate effort to resist an unjust occupation. The article explains the long history of similar violence --- violence that precedes any sort of Israeli occupation.
The United Nations, Israel and Anti-Semitism — A summary of the many areas in which Israelis believe that they are not being treated fairly by the United Nations.
How is the IDF Minimizing Harm to Civilians in Gaza? — A summary of the specific steps Israel's Defense Forces have historically taken to limit civilian casualties during its many responses to Hamas' terror attacks --- a sharp contrast to Hamas' direct targeting of Israeli civilians and use of civilian shields.
In Global Conflict Zones, Hospitals and Doctors Are No Longer Spared — A look at the global deterioration of protections that the laws of war provide to the doctors and hospitals serving the many casualties of war.
What Comes After Hamas? A Plan to Return the Gaza Strip to Palestinians and Keep Israel Safe — A Foreign Affairs article that is starting to think seriously about how the Israeli campaign against Hamas might be followed by an international effort to bring peace and stability to Gaza. This is critical topic that demands a lot more attention.
Hamas does not yet understand the depth of Israeli resolve — A must-read history of the many Israeli peace overtures that were violently rejected by Palestinians (included an account of the 2000 era when Israelis made all of the concessions that peacemakers recommended and had those concessions met with a massive wave of terror attacks).
The Day the Delusions Died — An exploration of the ways in which the Hamas attack (and the way in which much of the progressive left reacted to that attack) has shattered the worldview of many progressives in ways that are forcing a massive rethinking.
Why Jews Cannot Stop Shaking Right Now — An explanation of why Israelis (and Jews, more generally) find the Hamas' October 7 even more terrifying than non-Jews might conclude from watching the news. There is a long history of this kind of violence that we thought we had moved beyond. Now it seems clear that we haven't.
Jewish Refugees from Arab Countries — The very real hardships faced by Palestinian refugees from the 1948 and 1967 wars are only one side of the refugee flows associated with the Arab-Israeli conflict. This article explores a lesser-known story of what happened to Jewish refugees from Arab countries.
A Catastrophic Success for Hamas? — A look at what Hamas (and, before it, Al Qaeda) had hoped to accomplish with their terror attacks and an analysis of how their "hoped for" victory led, instead, to catastrophe.
I Don't See a Better Way Out — From someone who has devoted much of their life to making peace between Israelis and Palestinians, an agonizing account of his decision to support the invasion of Gaza. Now, the challenge is to mount that invasion in ways that will lead to a better world.
A Humanist Manifesto — We end this dismal series of links with an uplifting reminder, from David Brooks, about the power of humanism -- our best defense against the forces of dystopia.
Many Palestinians in Gaza hate Hamas. My father certainly did — A window into how extraordinarily difficult it is for Gazans to mount any sort of effective opposition to Hamas (and why brutal authoritarianism is so dangerous).
The Victory Hamas Has Already Won — An analysis of the depressingly successful strategy that Hamas has used to turn its barbarous conduct into a winning political strategy and thoughts about the terrible precedent that this sets.
As Gazans Scrounge for Food and Water, Hamas Sits on a Rich Trove of Supplies — A detailed look at what Hamas' strategy of using civilian shields looks like in actual practice and a description of the elaborate fortifications it has constructed and supplied under Gaza's civilian population.
The Untold Stories of Gazans — A much-needed counterpoint to the widespread demonization and dehumanization of Gazans that has followed the October 7 attack.
The Israel-Hamas War Will Reshape Western Politics — An analysis of the many ways in which the politics of Western democracies is likely to be influenced by the surprisingly intense conflict over whether Israel or Hamas is most deserving of support.
How a deep Palestinian yearning has been hijacked by Hamas — Thoughts about a little mentioned but critically important conflict --- the conflict between Hamas and Palestinians who would like to take a different path.
After Years of Vowing to Destroy Israel, Iran Faces a Dilemma — For years, the Iranians have used fiery rhetoric about the destruction of Israel to mobilize support and deflect criticism. Following the most successful attack on Israel in decades, they now are having to decide whether they really mean it.
5 Things to Know About the Hamas-Run Gaza Health Ministry — A guide for those trying to evaluate the credibility of widely cited statistics about Gaza war casualties. Remember, we are in the midst of an information war and these statistics come from Hamas -- the party that started that war.
The Theory of Hamas's Catastrophic Success — An enlightening essay the tries to understand what Hamas was thinking and hoping to accomplish when they launched their brutal attack on Israel.
Gaza and the De-Colonization Narrative — Western views of Arab society often get one major thing wrong -- Arab agency.
Behind Hamas's Bloody Gambit to Create a 'Permanent' State of War — An examination of what appears to be the core goal of Hamas' brutal October 7 attack -- make peace impossible.
When Anti-Zionism Is Anti-Semitic — A well reasoned analysis of the complex relationship between anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism, internal Israeli political conflict, and Israel's need to defend itself.
In Israel, There Is Grief and There Is Fury. Beneath the Fury, Fear. — A really excellent piece of reporting. This is the kind of article that can help people who live a half a world away come much closer to understanding what another group of people is thinking.
The Real Gaza Hospital Crisis — An examination of the multifaceted nature of the Gaza Hospital crisis -- it, sadly, is about much more than protecting patients and healthcare workers.
The Inside Story of How Palestinians Took Over the World — This article provides an unusual window into the quite sophisticated, long-term strategic thinking of Palestinians -- a threat that is very hard for Westerners, with their short attention spans, to understand.
Hamas's Asymmetric Advantage -- What Does It Mean to Defeat a Terrorist Group? — From Foreign Affairs, an examination of how terrorist groups are different from other kinds of international actors.
In the Shadow of the Holocaust — From Masha Gessen, an analysis of how the politics of memory in Europe obscures what we see in Israel and Gaza today.
Win-Win? — Israel could claim victory in Gaza but so, too, could Hamas. It depends on how they each define "success."
Journalistic Duty in Israel Palestine News — An excellent analysis of the difficult moral questions that journalists covering the Israeli/Palestinian conflict have been struggling with in the decades leading up to today's war.
How 'Antiracism' Becomes Antisemitism — An essay reflecting on one of the big surprises following Hamas' October 7 attack -- the degree to which this conflict has become a focal point in the domestic US struggle against racism.
10 thoughts on what is happening in Israel. — As we try to decide what we think about conflict in Israel and Gaza, reflections on 10 aspects of the conflict worth considering.
Matti Friedman: The Wisdom of Hamas — A thoughtful argument that the opinions that many in the West have about the war between Israel and Hamas are based on serious misunderstandings.
Finding moral clarity on campus about the Hamas-Israeli War — Robert Reich's thoughts on the grotesque and staggering levels of violence surrounding the Israeli / Hamas war and a call for us all to help find a way to put an end to this violence.
The path to peace in the Mideast could be paved by fuzzy language — A profile of Secretary Blinken's complex and multifaceted effort to bring peace to Israel and Gaza. Regardless of what you think about his efforts, this article demonstrates the complexity of the challenge.
The Agony and Determination of Sderot — A profile of Sderot, an Israeli town one mile from the Gaza border. This powerful article ends with the line "Conflicts end once we all recognize each other's humanity and strive to uphold it."
Violent Pro-Palestine Demonstrations Are Not a Bug — A look at the complex origins of violent, pro-Palestinian demonstrations and a disturbing argument that they may be being instigated by well-funded national and international provocateurs.
The Face Of The 'Suffocating Occupation' — From MEMRI and Arab (not Israeli) sources, an eye-opening collection of videos depicting life in Gaza before October 7 -- videos that challenge a great many prevailing stereotypes.
The Israeli Quotes That the Press Got Wrong — A carefully documented investigation of allegedly genocidal statements made by Israeli leaders -- an investigation that reveals how misunderstandings and missed translations can propagate in dangerous ways.
Rula Hardal: Life as a Palestinian Citizen of Israel — A reflective essay exploring the thoughts of the Palestinian who is also an Israeli citizen.
Two States, One Homeland -- an Open Land for All — A link to the website of an organization that is trying to move beyond the constraints of the Oslo "two state solution" and imagine a more attractive, alternative future for the region.
Top Biden aide argues Israeli-Palestinian peace is possible 'in near term' — A look at the Biden administration's attempt to negotiate a near-term peace deal amid the horrific ongoing war.
How the Palestinians Hijacked the Jewish Culture War — A perceptive essay exploring the complex interactions between the Palestinian/Israeli conflict and the culture war conflicts that afflict Israel and the larger Jewish Diaspora.
The Meaning of Gaza's Tunnels — An exploration of the causes and far-reaching ramifications of Hamas's unique brand of tunnel warfare.
Too Little, Too Late — Heartbreaking questions about why the global women's rights and LBGTQ communities have been so reluctant to condemn the atrocities of October 7.
Oct. 7 Was Worse Than a Terror Attack. It Was a Pogrom. — From those who are concluding that there really was no such thing as the "uninvolved" on October 7, a plea: 'Let me know of one Palestinian in Gaza who tried to save a Jew and maybe I'll change my mind.'
Hamas Official On Al-Jazeera Website: October 7 Was Scaled-Down Model Of Palestine's Final War Of Liberation — Bad news for those who were hoping that October 7 was a not to be repeated aberration rather than a harbinger of things to come.
Israel's War With Hamas Has No End in Sight — A sobering assessment of the Israel / Hamas war and an explanation of why prospects for peace are so dismal.
Palestinian Refugee Camps In The Gaza Strip Prior To October 7 -- Part I — The comparison of refugee camps in Gaza, Syria, and Jordan.
Abolish the U.N.'s Palestinian Refugee Agency — The relatively succinct overview of the many criticisms that are being leveled against UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East).
The Case Against UNRWA — Congressional testimony from UN Watch explaining the many ways in which they believe that UNRWA has contributed to the intractability and destructiveness of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
UNRWA EDUCATION: REFORM OR REGRESSION? — A detailed and thoroughly documented account of what UNRWA is accused of doing with its educational programs to undermine any sort of coexistence-based resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
A Biden Doctrine for the Middle East Is Forming. And It's Big. — A sympathetic look at President Biden's bold plan for ending the Israel/Hamas war, creating a Palestinian state (that doesn't threaten Israel), and building a grand Mideast coalition to counter Iran.
The Two-State Delusion — Before concluding that the way to resolve the Palestinian / Israeli conflict is by quickly moving to implement the "two state solution," consider this perceptive critique of the idea.
Israel Palestine is not the root of Middle Eastern chaos — A regional update on the larger, "larger context" surrounding the Israel Hamas war.
Arab-Israeli Solidarity: Defying Divisions in the Face of Terror — A revealing story about how Israel's Arab citizens are responding to the ongoing war.
This is Ethnic Cleansing — A must-see tabulation of statistics regarding ethnic cleansing in the Middle East.
If You Want To Liberate Your Land, You Cannot Keep Counting Martyrs -- The Families In Gaza Are Not Complaining — A revealing translation of what one Hamas official is saying about the war and, especially, the horrific casualties Gazans are suffering.
"They see hiring Hamas terrorists as a mark of diversity" — From an Israeli expert on UNRWA, an interview that explains the unusual nature of UN assistance for Palestinian refugees and how the nature of that assistance has contributed to the conflict's intractability.
Building the Palestinian State With Salam Fayyad — An interview with the Palestinian leader who, perhaps more than anyone, tried to bring peace and prosperity to the West Bank.
Why Israel Is Winning in Gaza — This article offers what appears to be an authoritative account (from an Israeli perspective) of the military aspects of the ongoing war in Gaza.
The Fraudulent Case Against 'Violent Settlers' — A look at the larger context surrounding stories of Israeli settler violence on the West Bank and ongoing efforts to defend against Palestinian terrorism.
Memo to the 'Experts': Stop Comparing Israel's War in Gaza to Anything. It Has No Precedent — A comparison of the war in Gaza with other "similar" military campaigns and an argument that this war is, in many important respects, unprecedented in human history.
What Americans don't get about Israelis Fighting for their Lives — From Israel, an attempt to correct some of the misperceptions that Americans have about the war.
'Not just for invading Galilee': Hezbollah's monstrous tunnel network — A description of Hezbollah's much more formidable military capabilities in southern Lebanon (and a preview of what could be a much more devastating war).
This Muslim Israeli Woman Is the Hope of the Middle East — A moving interview with a prominent Israeli Arab newscaster describing what it's like to live on the boundary between two warring cultures.
Where are Our Jews? — A critical look at the Israeli campaign in Gaza and, especially, plans for the invasion of Rafah.
When I Was a Hostage — From the Syrian civil war, a first-person account of what it's like to be captured and held hostage by Islamic terrorists.
An Israeli and a Palestinian talk peace, dignity and safety — An example of the kind of conversation that could, had it been sufficiently widespread, have averted the ongoing tragedy.
Restoring the Past Won't Liberate Palestine — Reflections on the impossibility of rolling back the clock to the time before Israel's birth and the Nakba.
Women Wage Peace — Another organization to add to Louis Kriesberg's list of the Israeli peace groups that are trying to struggle with the ongoing war.
No, Most People in Gaza Are Not "Just Like Us" — From an Israeli perspective, an article that that looks at the cultural differences between Palestinians and Israelis and questions the notion that everyone cares about the same things.
The NYT Misrepresents the History of the Israeli--Palestinian Conflict — Our conflict over the Palestinian/Israeli conflict stems from competing images of objective reality. This article cites a description of one such image and then offers a critique with a competing image.
Only More Attacks Like October 7 Will Restrain It; The Conflict Will End Only With Disappearance Of Israel — From the Qatari press, another perspective on what it will take to end the Israel/Hamas war -- the destruction of Israel.
What It Means to Choose Freedom — A superb lecture that explains how the current crisis facing the Jewish people is deeply intertwined with the larger effort to preserve democratic freedoms.
Israel Is Falling Into an Abyss — A look at the far-reaching effects that the all-out war between Israel and Hamas is having on Israeli society.
The Justice of Israel's War in Gaza Will Depend on How It Ends — A thoughtful observation that the morality of Israel's war in Gaza will ultimately be judged by what happens after the war.
The Golden Age of American Jews Is Ending — An excellent and thought provoking essay exploring how the ongoing war in Gaza and the global rise of antisemitism is transforming the lives of Jews in the United States.
The Vicious Cycle Driving Gaza's North to Famine — An article looking at the dynamics behind the deteriorating situation in northern Gaza.
How the Gaza Ministry of Health Fakes Casualty Numbers — Given the public relations advantage that Hamas gleans from reports of large numbers of civilian casualties in Gaza, it is worth asking hard questions about the accuracy of those numbers.
Longing for Auschwitz — Amid increasing concern about the war's humanitarian impact, an article that tries to explain the fears that are motivating Israel's actions in the war.
IDF aid convoy catastrophe probe: Deaths occurred from looting crush — The kind of investigation that we need to make sense of the violence in Gaza. It would, however, have been better if this had come from a credible and genuinely objective international body (which doesn't exist).
There is no famine in Gaza — The Israeli side of the story on claims of an impending famine in Gaza.
As Israel fights Hamas in Gaza, a brutal war is waged in the media — From an Israeli perspective, a window into the information war that may ultimately be decisive in determining the outcome of this conflict..
Port Of Hope In Gaza: The Beginning Of The End Of The War — From MEMRI, an organization focused on helping the West understand the Middle East, a hopeful essay about recent developments in Gaza.
Hamas-linked website warns Palestinians not to work with Israel' — One reason why distributing aid to the citizens of Gaza so difficult.
The Road to Ceasefire Leads Through the Rafah Offensive — An explanation of why Israel believes that its campaign in Rafah is critical to ending the war and alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Israelis must listen to the Palestinians! — The collection of video clips assembled by somebody who was honestly trying to understand what Palestinians think about the war.
The Ideology Of Hamas -- In Its Own Words — With so many people around the world rising to defend Hamas, a disturbing summary of how the group describes its own beliefs. Is this something we really want to defend?
Israel Needs a New Strategy -- Total Victory Is Not Possible---but Demilitarizing Hamas and Stabilizing Gaza Still Are — From Foreign Affairs, thoughts about how the war in Gaza might be more effectively pursued.
The Factions in Gaza: A Comprehensive Overview. — A surprising look at the social complexity of Gaza.
Port Of Hope -- Part II: The Peaceful Future Of The Israel-Palestinian Conflict Depends On Ousting Qatar From Any Involvement In It — A follow-up on an earlier story we posted from MEMRI about the "Port of Hope."
On the Loneliness of the Jews — Reflections on what it is like to live in Israel and to be a Jew amid the ongoing war and the global explosion of antisemitism.
The Great Rupture in American Jewish Life — Provocative thoughts on how the events surrounding October 7 have transformed Jewish life in United States and around the world.
The Mass Killing in Gaza Will Poison Israeli Souls Forever — From the Israeli perspective, reflections on the terrible psychological and cultural costs associated with the war in Gaza.
What Would You Have Israel Do to Defend Itself? — An exceptionally complete and thorough analysis of the pros and cons of the many strategies that Israel's critics have suggested that they pursue.
Israel Has Created a New Standard for Urban Warfare. Why Will No One Admit It? — Those who are demanding that Israel do all that it can to limit civilian casualties ought to at least acknowledge its efforts to do so.
Israel Is Making the Same Mistake America Made in Iraq — A cautionary essay raising the possibility that Israel may be making many of the same mistakes that the United States made in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Israel Unleashed? — The worrying look at the still simmering confrontation between Israel and Iran and the continuing possibility that this could explode into a wider war.
The numbers of dead in Gaza don't add up -- and there is no easy explanation — A persuasive, and critical, look at the reliability of Gaza War casualty statistics.
Conclusion of the Investigation Into the Incident in Which 7 WCK Employees Were Killed During a Humanitarian Operation in Gaza — The official Israeli Defense Force report on the incidents in which 7 World Central Kitchen employees were killed. Contrast this with Hamas' cynical exploitation of civilian casualties.
How Much Is a Dead Jew Worth? — An eye-opening account of the economic incentives that Palestinians offer to those who agree to become terrorists.
The 'Tectonic Shift' in Media That Changed Perceptions of Israel: 'What's Left Is a System Run by Activists' — An excellent analysis of the many factors that have led to sharp changes in global news coverage regarding Israel, the Palestinians, and the turbulent Middle East.
History Goes to War in the Holy Land — A description of one man's effort to write an honest history of Israel and the Palestinians.
A Fight Between Hamas and Other Palestinians for Power in Gaza Emerges — The fight between those vying for Palestinian leadership in Gaza is, in many ways, as consequential as the fight between Israel and Hamas.
Western Democracy's Future Depends on Israel's Victory — More thoughts on the relationship between Israel's war with Hamas, Iran, and its proxies and larger efforts to defend democracy.
Toward Accountability for Iran's UN-Recognized Crimes Against Humanity — Welcome news of progress toward Iranian accountability for at least some of its crimes against humanity.
How Many Dead in Gaza? — For a time when casualty statistics coming out of Gaza are driving so much of global politics, an article asking hard questions about the reliability of those statistics.
Iranians Don't Want a War With Israel — A timely reminder of the limited support that Iran's aggressive military campaigns enjoy with the Iranian people themselves.
The False Economic Promise of Populism: A Conversation with Rachel Kleinfeld — An interview with one of the more prominent voices in the pro-democracy movement, Rachel Kleinfeld, talking about the origins of the populist rebellion against democratic institutions.
How Did the War Begin? With Iran's Appeasers in Washington — A well-grounded and sharply critical essay highlighting things that the United States did to help make the ongoing Mideast conflagration possible.
With Iran's Strikes, Arab Countries Fear an Expanding Conflict — In light of recent events, more thoughts on the way in which ongoing Mideast hostilities could escalate into a much bigger conflagration (and what might be done to avoid this).
The Blind Centrist's Guide to Gaza — A comprehensive argument explaining why the solution to the Gaza crisis cannot be found at the midpoint between Israeli and Palestinian perspectives.
Why Israel Should Declare a Unilateral Cease-Fire in Gaza — From Dennis Ross, a provocative, ambitious, and controversial proposal for countering Iran and defusing the crisis in Gaza.
A suit alleges anti-Israel protest groups provide material support to Hamas — The report on a legal claim that some of the groups behind the campus protests have direct ties to Hamas -- a legally recognized "foreign terrorist organization."
A Cheat Sheet to the Middle East's Web of Friends and Enemies — A short primer that attempts to shed light on an unbelievably complex topic -- the web of interrelationships that characterize today's Middle East.
Confessions of a former antisemite — In the context of the ongoing Gaza war, a personal and an in-depth look at the process of persuasion and the way in which fundamental beliefs change.
Student activists or pro insurgents? — An eye-opening analysis of internal campus protest documents revealing their interconnections, their funding, their command structure, their inner workings, and their goals.
A Likud MK admits, "the IDF has failed" and a public intellectual asks "how will we know when it's time to leave? — A look at the hard questions Israelis are asking themselves as the decisive defeat of Hamas seems ever more distant.
Hamas Shift to Guerrilla Tactics Raises Specter of Forever War for Israel — A disturbing look at what the next phase of the Israeli/Hamas war might look like -- a phase that will require totally different tactics.
Secret Hamas Files Show How It Spied on Everyday Palestinians — Another window into Hamas's authoritarian power and its ability to take their citizens into a ruinous war.
Paging Senator Schumer ... — Amid the rising tide of antisemitism and calls to do something about it, a legal analysis of how this kind of prejudice falls through the cracks in our existing legal structure.
Israel's war has killed 31 members of my family, yet it's vital to speak out against Hamas — From someone who has suffered immensely from the ongoing tragedy in Gaza, a plea to recognize and address Hamas' role in the conflict.
Back to Basics in the Middle East — Four general principles that, if followed, would do much to improve chances of a positive outcome to the current Mideast crisis (and promote good democratic governance, more generally).
How Hamas criticism vanished in The New York Times — A statistical analysis of the New York Times coverage of the Israeli / Hamas war -- an analysis that demonstrates the success of Hamas' public relations strategy.
The Great Misinterpretation: How Palestinians View Israel — A first-rate lecture that takes a long, historical look at the origins of Israeli/Palestinian antipathy -- a look that clarifies the complex origins of the contemporary conflict.
Who's in More Trouble: Israel or Iran? — Despite its aggressive and apparently successful efforts to spread its influence around the Middle East, Iran's regime faces challenges that are at least as serious as those being faced by Israel.
What Hamas Called Its Female Captives, and Why It Matters — A detailed look at the complexities of translating Hamas' language regarding its female captives and the alarming meanings of the words they use.
The Ugly Lessons of October 7 — An analysis of the terrible precedents being set by Hamas' October 7 attack, Israel's response, and the global reaction.
No Gaza aid delivered through US pier has been distributed to Palestinians, Pentagon says — An update on the delivery of aid to Gaza using the new pier constructed by the US military (a pier that has since been badly damaged by storms).
A Chill Has Fallen Over Jews in Publishing — A not so hopeful story about the ways in which Jewish voices are being suppressed by the publishing industry.
The 500 — From Natan Sharansky, thoughts about the suppression of Jewish voices and the hopeful news that Columbia students are overcoming that suppression.
The Untold Stories of Gazans — This series of video interviews provides the rare look around Hamas' iron grip into what the people of Gaza are actually thinking.
Decades of Denial: How Islamists Won the War Against Western Values — A long-term look at the conflict between Islamic and Western values and the continuing struggle for dominance -- a big part of the larger context of the war between Israel and Hamas.
What's happening to all the aid sent to Gaza? — An eye-opening report that illuminates one of the ways in which Hamas is interfering with the delivery of badly needed aid to the people of Gaza (and also cultivating global sympathy).
Al Qaeda and Iran Salute the U.S. Campus — A report on eye-opening statements from Al Qaeda and the Iranians welcoming the support that they are receiving from the campus protests.
A Pragmatic Post-War Gaza Plan is Needed Now — An argument that some sort of "day after" plan is critically needed to prevent Gaza from falling into anarchy and chaos following the war's end.
Matti Friedman: Northern Israel Is on Fire — An update on the simmering war between Israel and Hezbollah -- a war that could quickly exploded in ways that would be even more destructive than the ongoing war in Gaza.
Why Israel should NOT have a "day after plan" for Gaza — An argument that "day after" planning for the Israel/Hamas war is impossible as long as Hamas continues to be able to threaten reasonable people who might want to take part in such a plan.
They turned into monsters — From German Nobel Prize winner Herta Muller, reflections on October 7, the Israel/Hamas war, and the global rise of anti-Semitism.
New Rule: Gender Apartheid | Real Time with Bill Maher — A Bill Maher video that exposes the contradiction between the social justice movement's support for women's and LBGTQ rights and its support for Hamas.
The Academic Proletariat Goes on Strike at the University of California — A report on a new front in the campus Gaza protests -- a "wildcat" solidarity strike by University of California teaching assistants (who are, surprisingly, represented by the United Auto Workers).
Gaza Chief's Brutal Calculation: Civilian Bloodshed Will Help Hamas — The real reason behind mounting civilian casualties in Gaza -- a strategic choice by the Hamas leadership (a choice that is proving extremely effective).
America Is Losing the Arab World — A look at how the war in Israel is undermining US relations with the Muslim world and the geopolitical implications of that shift -- a big part of the reason US policy often seems inconsistent.
Is Israel Guilty of Perfidy? — In the context of the Gaza war and the recent hostage rescue, and exploration of the concept of "perfidy" -- prohibitions on launching military attacks while pretending to be civilians.
I Went to Cover a Protest. I Was Surrounded by a Mob. — A personal account of what it was like to be a Jewish reporter at the recent pro-Palestinian protests in Manhattan.
Hamas terrorists are playing the West for fools — An argument that many in the West are being tricked by Hamas into supporting policies and actions that they would normally find abhorrent.
Gen Z Palestinians See Door Slamming Shut on Coexistence With Israel — An article describing what it's like to be a young Palestinian adult witnessing the collapse of prospects for a peaceful future.
At $25 Each, Cigarettes Are Turning Gaza Aid Trucks Into Targets — The report on the surprising relationship between the movement of aid into Gaza, cigarette smuggling, $25 apiece cigarettes, lawless gangs, and the suffering of the people of Gaza.
Israelis Are Not Watching the Same War You Are — The Israeli journalist Amit Segal discusses Benny Gantz's departure from the war cabinet, Israel's shift to the right and whether a new theory of security is emerging in Israeli politics.
How an all-out Israel war could rope in the US and other countries — An update on a prospects for war between Israel and Hezbollah ad an explanation of why that would be vastly more catastrophic.
The Brutal Syllogism of this War is a Deathtrap for Israel — An honest look at the extraordinarily difficult strategic challenge posed to Israel by Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran.
It's Time to Start Using the Term 'Palestinian Civilian' Correctly — The protection of Gaza's innocent civilians depends upon clearly distinguishing them from combatants posing as civilians.
How Hamas Is Fighting in Gaza: Tunnels, Traps and Ambushes — For those trying to help protect Gaza's civilian population, important information about how, exactly, Hamas fighters are embedding themselves in that population.
The Lebanon War Is Coming — An update on the increasing risk of a catastrophic war in Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel.
How Israel Turned the Tide in Rafah — A reminder that wars are decided on the battlefield, not by outside observers offering their opinions of how things ought to be.
U.A.E. Puts 84 Civil Society Members on Trial Again, Sentencing 43 to Life — A disturbing window into the the way in which the United Arab Emirates, one of the more "moderate" Arab regimes, treats dissidents.
Ismail Haniyeh's Assassination Sends a Message — Thoughts on the role of political assassination as a military strategy and its applicability to leaders who blithely sacrifice their own people.
On the Brink of War, Hezbollah Is Emboldened in a Crippled Lebanon — As we stand on the brink of a war between Israel and Hezbollah (a war that will be fought in both Lebanon and Israel), an insightful primer on what we ought to know.
'We need to flip the equation: Land for peace? Yes, but they should pay us with land for the peace we grant them' — A thought-provoking (and doubtless controversial) interview with one of Israel's most prominent experts on Islam with thoughts about the current crisis which are worth considering.
The Strange Resurrection of the Two-State Solution — From Foreign Affairs, updated reflections on the "two-state solution" and the reasons why it is the only path toward "resolving" the conflict. The question is, is "resolution" possible?
The Sabaya: How the advocates of Palestine erased the experience of the Yazidis in order to deny the rape of Jewish women — An article comparing the world's reaction to the sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas on October 7 and by ISIS against the Yazidis.
Israel on the Brink: If the Israelis find themselves facing difficult choices, so do their enemies. — An in-depth look at the complex and difficult choices facing the major players in the ongoing Gaza conflict.
Michael Oren: Should Israel Strike First? — The report on the agonizing strategic choice facing Israel and questions about the degree to which the lessons of 1967 and 1973 apply.
In Syria's Hinterlands, the U.S. Wages a Hidden Campaign Against a Resurgent Islamic State — News about a war that most of us, in the US, didn't know we were fighting -- one that has US soldiers, on the ground in Syria, fighting ISIS.
Israel is fighting the hardest war in modern history --- and winning. — From an Israeli (and a more general military perspective) reflections on the military challenges posed by the Gaza war and Israel's strategy for meeting those challenges.
Humanitarians Should Want Hamas's Human-Sacrifice Strategy to Fail — A more in-depth exploration of the enormously difficult moral issues raised when aggressive authoritarian regimes employ civilian sacrifice tactics.
Tactical Civilian Sacrifice — A short video that, I think, offers a much clearer image of Hamas' strategy -- a strategy that anybody who cares about the people of Gaza should condemn.
Israel's deterrence is working against Iran's threats - opinion — As Israel and the world waits for the expected Iranian attack, a hopeful argument that Israel is reestablishing the system of deterrence that, for years, successfully prevented a wider war.
What I Want a University President to Say About Campus Protests — Thoughtful advice for university presidents looking for ways to better handle Gaza-type protests, while also remaining true to the core (and often neglected) mission of the university.
I was a captive of Hamas. After I was freed, I was imprisoned by online trolls. — A personal account of both the horror of being one of Hamas' hostages, and the horror that follows when one becomes a focal point in the globa propaganda war over the war on Gaza.
New Training and Tougher Rules: How Colleges Are Trying to Tame Gaza Protests — A summary of the steps that institutions of higher education are taking to prevent the kind of politically explosive protests that occurred on so many campuses last spring.
UCLA Crafts FAQs On How Not To Enable Discrimination Against Jewish Students — A look at what UCLA is and is not doing to protect Jewish students and reflections about how that compares to the treatment of other minority groups.
Weaponizing Sympathy: 'Pro-Palestinian' blackmail takes center stage. — A thought-provoking and doubtless controversial look at the ways in which Hamas has managed to weaponize global sympathy for the plight of the Palestinian people (a plight that they deliberately cultivated).
Warning: Advocates of a 'ceasefire-for-hostages' deal are lying to you. — A critique of ongoing efforts to negotiate a cease-fire/hostage-release deal that raises real questions about whether or not this is really a path to peace.
In a Grim Palestinian Refugee Community, People See Hope in Hamas — The report on what Palestinians are now thinking about Hamas, Israel, and the tragedy that has engulfed them.
Gaza and the Apocalypse — The surprising story of the large number of religious groups that see, in ongoing Mideast strife, the fulfillment of long anticipated prophecies.
Can We Be a Little Less Selective With Our Moral Outrage? — As we agonize over the loss of life on the many fronts of Israel's ongoing war, an important reminder that there are a great many other tragedies that deserve attention.
How the Progressive Left Adopted Oppressive 'Palestine' -- A Guide — An attempt to answer one of today's big mysteries -- why do Palestinians (who are so hostile to so many progressive beliefs) enjoy such strong support from the political left.
'Anti-Zionism' is literally killing millions of people. — A critical look at the anti-Zionism movement and an argument that the movement is a major contributor to global suffering.
Son of Hamas founder insists 'no such thing' as Israel, Hamas cease-fire until ayatollah is gone — Thoughts on what it will really take to bring peace to Israel and its neighbors from a rare and valuable perspective -- the son of one of Hamas' founders.
Israel and the Coming Long War — An illuminating attempt to apply the long war perspective to the ongoing conflict between Israel and its neighbors.
Israel complied with the UN --- but peace never came. — A look at the many instances in which the "land for peace" strategy that peacebuilders have urged upon Israel has failed (and reasons for us to ask harder questions about how best to deal with intractable conflict).
Report: "The secret document found on a computer in Gaza, and revealed Sinwar's tactics in the negotiations — A report on a document that supposedly reveals Hamas' secret strategy -- a strategy that is cynically exploiting the compassion and goodwill of so many in the West.
Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis — An interesting website that tries to balance mainstream media reports about the Middle East with easier access to "the other side of the story."
Human shields: 'Every third house' in south Lebanon is used by Hezbollah for military purposes — An alarming report that makes clear the degree to which Hamas' civilian shield/sacrifice strategy is being used by Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Hamas's ideological commitment — A short video making the argument that the conflict between Israel and its neighbors is about religion, not land.
Dark Tunnels and Moral Beacons — Reflections on the execution of six Israeli hostages after so many months of captivity -- an act of self-dehumanization on the part of Hamas that seems designed to further compound the tragedy.
Israel's Strategic Win — An insightful article exploring the strategic implications of Israel's recent attacks on Hezbollah and what these attacks portend for the future of the Middle East.
I fought in Iraq --- I know Israel's doing all it can to save civilians — A former NATO commander (and self-described skeptic of Israeli actions) reports on his fact-finding mission to Israel and Gaza.
An explosive moment of clarification — A controversial and thought-provoking argument that "Israel is leading the fight of good against evil while the "civilised" world doesn't know what side it's on."
Eight months later, how have things changed? How are we different? Or not? — After two thirds of the year, reflections on the increase in the long shadow being cast by the October 7 attack.
Hezbollah device attacks: Is this a prelude to war, or an alternative? — Thoughtful reflections on a critically important question -- whether or not the recent use of force against Hezbollah is increasing or decreasing the risk of a wider war.
You dared to strike at Israel, now they've sent you back 1,000 years' -- Arab commentator mocks Hezbollah — From an Arab commentator, a surprising critique of Hezbollah's military strategy.
Maybe It's Time for Jewish Self-Segregation — For a time in which we claim to oppose hate and embrace tolerance and diversity, a look at how antisemitic hate (based on Israel's efforts to defend itself from real hate) is driving Jews into internal exile.
How to Evaluate Media Coverage of Israel: A Guide — A practical framework for determining the degree to which media coverage of Israel's ongoing war with Iran and its proxies is actually reliable.
Israel's Pager Attacks Have Changed the World — Israel's ongoing war with Iran and its proxies (and Ukraine's simultaneous wa with Russiar) are opening up new arenas for conflict -- arenas that attack the vulnerabilities of modern, high-tech societies.
Gaza's Suffering Is Unprecedented — A sobering reminder of the immense suffering produced by the ongoing war in Gaza and an eloquent appeal for all concerned to take the steps needed to prevent a repeat of the tragedy.
Why Israel should NOT have a "day after plan" for Gaza — A reprint of an insightful, older article that explains why it is almost impossible to plan for the replacement of the despotic regime while that regime remains in power.
Israel Defends Itself---and May Save Western Civilization — From the Wall Street Journal, an argument that Israel is not just defending itself, it is defending all Western liberal democracies.
Why the Arab Street Is Celebrating Israel's Killing of Hezbollah Chief Nasrallah | Opinion — Hopeful news that there is little grassroots support for the ruinous wars launched by Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran.
Things Worth Remembering: Mr. Biden, This Is How You Defend Israel — A retrospective look at what Daniel Patrick Moynihan had to say about Israel and the many threats it faced in 1975 -- a speech with important lessons for today.
Hamas built an underground war machine to ensure its own survival — Evidence that Hamas realized and planned for the devastating war that it's October 7 attack was designed to provoke.
Benny Gantz: What the World Needs to Understand About Iran — From a former Israeli Defense Minister, an explanation of why Israel regards Iran as a major threat toIsrael and the global community.
Oct. 7 and the Iranian Nuclear Threat — A must-read article about what is now clearly a war between Israel and Iran and the likelihood that Iran, with its deep support for terror and martyrdom, will soon possess nuclear weapons.
A Naked Desperation to Be Seen — The report on efforts to reverse the terrible dehumanization that accompanies all-out war is like the one being fought in Gaza.
The Mistakes Israel Can't Afford to Repeat — The outcome of war is not determined by the rightness of one's cause. Instead, what matters is an ability to avoid strategic and tactical mistakes.
Towards a Post-Hamas Future — A hopeful essay about a postwar future in which Palestinians may be able to escape the iron grasp of Hamas and its ruinous policies.
Totaling Up the Damage in Gaza After a Year of War — An inventory of the incredible human costs of the war in Gaza and a reminder of why war prevention is so important.
Terror in a Safe Space, a Year On — An exploration of the coming collision between a dangerous and violent world and a citizenry that has become accustomed to safety and security.
Capitalizing on the Weakening of Hamas and Hezbollah by Dennis Ross — From Dennis Ross, a man who has devoted much of his professional life to making the two-state solution or reality, thoughts about the dramatic weakening of Hamas and Hezbollah changes things.
We Should Want Israel to Win — An explanation of why many believe that a defeat for Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran would be good for the people of the Middle East (not just Israel).
This Is the House That Hezbollah Built — More information about the ways in which Hezbollah has copied Hamas' civilian shield/sacrifice strategy.
What Is the U.N. Resolution That Tried and Failed to Keep the Peace in Lebanon? — A primer on what everyone ought to know about the ongoing war in Lebanon and the failed UN peacekeeping that led up to it.
Sinwar's Bloody Gambit Changed the Middle East---but Not as He Imagined — Thanks to recently uncovered documents, we now have a pretty clear image of what Sinwar hoped to accomplish with his October 7 attack -- enough to make a judgment about whether or not it was successful.
A Fashionable Madness: The Obsession with 'Settler Colonialism' — An in-depth exploration of the meaning and implications of the relatively new and usually consequential concept of "settler colonialism."
Game-ender or game-changer? — An examination of what Israel intended to achieve in retaliating for the recent Iranian missile attack (and reflections on whether or not they were successful).
Abigail Shrier: The Kindergarten Intifada — From California, a must-read story about the way in which educational institutions are driving a terrifying rise in hate-filled antisemitism.
Bill Clinton speech in Michigan about Israel — From Bill Clinton, a man who tried as hard as anyone to make the two-state solution a reality, a talk, given in Michigan just before the election, outlining his views on the Mideast crisis.
Trump to Renew 'Maximum Pressure' Campaign Against Iran — Elections do have consequences -- sometimes very big ones. This article looks at the effect of the Biden/Trump foreign policy switchover on the wars raging in the Middle East.
The Age of the Pogrom Returns — From Bret Stephens of the New York Times, one of the scariest sentences I've ever read: "My advice to Europe's besieged Jewish communities: Remember what Kishinev foreshadowed --- and please get out while you still can."
Last Night's Pogrom in Amsterdam — A harrowing account of the recent attack on Israeli soccer fans -- an attack that in many ways emulates the horrific anti-Jewish pogroms of the past.
Would this be acceptable if Jews were not the victims? — An illustration of a good way to identify discriminatory behavior -- ask if it would be okay to treat other groups in the same way.
After War in Gaza, Rivals Hamas and Fatah Don't Plan to Be in Charge — Hopeful news that a post-war system for governing Gaza may be emerging -- a system that may free Palestinians from the terror of Hamas and the corruption of the Palestinian Authority.
Contextualized and Decontextualized: Israel's Fight for Truth — An update on the changing ways in which people try to understand the context of Israel's ongoing wars.
Israel's Changing War — From an Israeli perspective, thoughtful reflections on how the war has changed over the last year.
Stories the Media Purposely Ignore About Israel — A review of some of the stories about Israel and the ongoing wars that mainstream media is largely missing.
Antisemitism in America: My Campus Tour — A report on a tour of US college campuses to talk about the ongoing wars in the Middle East (and related increases in antisemitic behavior).
The International Criminal Court's Folly — A carefully reasoned article that argues that the International Criminal Court's recent indictment of Israeli leaders was unfair and unjustified.
Bin Laden's Catastrophic Success — A look at the long shadow cast by the September 11 attack and another reminder of the complex and unpredictable consequences of wars and the actions that provoke them.
How Israel Turned the Mideast Around — Reflections on 15 months of war in the Middle East and the complex an unpredictable chain of events unleashed by the October 7 attack.
Al-Assad's Fall Has Changed the Future of the Middle East — From the United States Institute of Peace, thoughts about the far-reaching ramifications of the collapse of Syria's Assad regime.
Syrian mass grave is largest uncovered since Stalin era as 100,000 bodies were discarded outside Damascus: advocacy group — A sobering reminder of the unfathomable barbarity that was at the core of Assad's rule of Syria.
A Visual Guide to the Tangled Alliances and Rivalries in Syria — From a major news publication, a rare conflict map that offers a visual guide to the astonishing complexity surrounding the Syrian revolution.
The Altneu Antisemitism: Part I — A two-part essay explaining how the antisemitism of today differs from earlier eras.
Why Is there no Palestinian State? — A comprehensive review of the history of past efforts to create a Palestinian state (and a review of obstacles that still need to be overcome).
Everybody Hates the Jews — For a time when the social justice left is so fond of demonizing "hate groups," thoughts about why hating Jews has somehow become acceptable.
The Campaign Against 'Settler Colonialism' — A great interview with Adam Kirsch in which he critically describes his research into the origins and nature of anti-colonial theory and the far-reaching impact that it is having on society.
Matti Friedman: Israel's Prisoner's Dilemma — A thoughtful article that does much to help us understand, from Israel's perspective, the ongoing cease-fire and the lopsided exchange of prisoners and hostages.
How Trump can remake the Middle East — From Dennis Ross, diplomat who has spent much of his life trying to somehow resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict, thoughts on opportunities available to President Trump.
Hamas's narrative falls apart — A report that explains (based on information that is become available since the cease-fire) the ways in which Hamas was able to mislead so much of the world.
The Song Remains The Same — With the release of a few of the remaining Israeli hostages, we are getting a new and terrifying look at the barbaric evil that characterizes Hamas -- something peacebuilders need to find better ways of opposing.
Trump Takes a Wrecking Ball to the Middle East Status Quo — A look at the way in which President Trump's statements regarding Gaza and the Middle East are transforming everyone's calculations (even though they have yet to be backed up with any real action).
How Israelis and Palestinians View Their Own Children — Culture matters and our collective belief systems do much to determine our future. This article looks at the differing ways in which Israelis and Palestinians view their children.
The Egyptian Plan for Gaza Takes Shape — While President Trump's threat to seize and redevelop Gaza may be a political nonstarter, there is some hope that it is pushing Egypt and Jordan to offer a more realistic alternative.
Israel's Impossible Plight — Reflections on the terrible choices that Israel is being forced to make (and a look at why the many conflicts surrounding Israel are so intractable).
Israel's biggest threat is now the Western Left. — An important reminder that the most important front in Israel's ongoing wars is the battle for public support within Western democracies.
The West is facing an Islamic holy war — A controversial, but surprisingly well documented, explanation of the many ways in which Islam and the West are engaged in an intense "grey zone" battle.
The Case for Palestinian Pragmatism — A thoughtful Palestinian perspective on the plight of his people, the terrible cost of refusing to consider compromise, and hopes for a better future.
How to Match Ends and Means in the Middle East — From Dennis Ross, a man who has long worked to reduce the destructiveness of the Middle East's many conflicts --- thoughts about where to go from here.
Amid rubble of Gaza, protesters decry Hamas — As Hamas continues to suffer significant battlefield losses, a story about the brave Gazans who are trying to find a path to a post-Hamas future.
Why I and thousands of my fellow Gazans say Hamas's tyranny must end — An urgent appeal from the citizens of Gaza who are trying desperately to free themselves from Hamas's brutal and catastrophic rule.
Here Is the Real Route to Freeing Palestinians — An update on what seems to us to be the most promising strategy for freeing the Palestinian people -- disempowering Hamas.
How to Manufacture a Genocide: A Masterclass in Propaganda — An effort to understand why Israel's efforts to defend itself are so widely seen as genocidal and why other, objectively more genocidal actors somehow escape scrutiny.
Sen. Dave McCormick: The Attack on Gov. Shapiro Was an Assault on Democracy — Reflections on Passover and the firebomb attack and attempted assassination of the Jewish governor of Pennsylvania.
WATCH: Gazans Clash with Hamas as Historic Protests Escalate — New information about the brave Gazans who are trying to lay a real foundation for peace by forcing Hamas out of Gaza.
This Is the Holocaust Story I Said I Wouldn’t Write — In the context of today's overuse of the term "genocide" and widespread embrace of virulent anti-Semitism, a reminder of just how bad things can get.
Arson terrorism against Israel reveals the Palestinian goal once again. — A report on yet another new and terrible weapon being deployed in the war against Israel -- deliberately set wildland fires.
Hamas’s Human Shield Strategy — A quick summary and a link to an exhaustive and extremely well-documented analysis of the vast scope of Hamas' human shield strategy.
The Gaza Famine Myth — A thoughtful and in-depth investigation into widespread allegations that famine threatens the people of Gaza -- an investigation that reveals that the situation is not as horrific as is widely believed.
In Gaza, Long-Suffering Palestinians Are Directing Their Anger at Hamas — For those concerned about Palestinian welfare, an update on the conflict between Hamas and the people they rule -- a conflict marred by Hamas' ruthless suppression of the Palestinian people.
Welcome to the Global Intifada — An all-important argument that the ongoing spate of anti-semitic violence is the inevitable result of widely supported calls to "globalize the intifada."
The New Dark Age — A thoughtful exploration of the many implications of society's repudiation of expertise.
Unholy Alliance — An in-depth review of an important new book exploring the implications of burgeoning coalition of radical leftists and Islamists that has emerged since October 7.
The Deadly Virus of Anti-Semitic Terrorism — An early effort to try to understand the anti-semitic violence behind the June 1 fire bomb attack on Boulder, Colorado.
The Boulder Attack Didn’t Come Out of Nowhere — A review of the larger context in which the Boulder attack took place and the things that so many are doing to promote such violence as well as, more hopefully, the things that are being done to help combat it.
How the Muslim Brotherhood Is Capturing Europe — An article about a leaked, top-secret, report prepared for France's Ministry of the Interior outlining the dangers associated with Muslim Brotherhood operations in France.
J'Accuse — With respect to the recent violence at a Gaza aid distribution hub, an explanation of how mainstream media's failure to follow the most basic journalistic standards of honest, objective reporting has helped drive the global wave of anti-Semitic violence.
WATCH: Inside the Massacre that Never Happened — An illuminating video that explains the seldom reported story behind widespread and inflammatory allegations that Israeli forces fired on Palestinians at aid distribution centers.
The Boulder Suspect Video Exposes a Hamas-Aligned Network Promoting Lone-Wolf Attacks — In the context of the recent fire-bombing assault on members of Boulder's Jewish community, a look at the complex online network that encourages and supports such "lone wolf" attacks.
How Israel-Aligned Hackers Hobbled Iran’s Financial System — A case study of one important way in which cyber tactics can be integrated into conventional (kinetic) warfare.
It’s easy to preach peace when no one is trying to kill you. — It's easy to tell others to make make peace and agree to a cease-fire when you are not in the line of fire should that a peace agreement fail.
‘Death to the IDF’ Chant at Glastonbury Music Festival Sparks Uproar — A rare example of an antisemitic incident that was so extreme that it provoked widespread condemnation (in contrast with the slower, but more widely accepted, erosion of taboos against anti-Semitism).
What ‘Globalize the Intifada’ Really Means — A primer on what the term "globalize the intifada" actually means, along with an explanation of the implications of its increasingly widespread use.
Islam, Israel, and the Tragedy of Gaza — One individual's very thoughtful and well-reasoned analysis of Israel's ongoing wars, their causes, their tragic consequences, and what it will take to stop them.
The Anti-American Academic Who Helped Build the Caliphate — For those trying to understand why some societies follow the path of violence and aggression, a look at the origins of a cluster of ideas that have been extremely influential in the Muslim world.
Atomic Jihad — A chilling analysis of what might happen should the jihadi culture that brought us suicide bombings gain ability to attack with suicide atomic bombers.
The massacre of the Druze — The same kind of horrors inflicted on Israel on October 7 are now being visited on the Druze and nobody seems to care (except Israel).
Everything you think about Gaza is based on a lie. — Reflections on the enormous implications of the global media's willingness to abandon basic journalistic ethics and refuse to acknowledge the biased nature of Hamas -controlled information coming out of Gaza.
The next Iranian massacre is unfolding in plain sight — A terrifying report on what is now unfolding in Iran that emphasizes just how hard it is for protest movements to successfully challenge ruthless and brutal authoritarian regimes
The Great Misinterpretation: How Palestinians View Israel — A must listen to account of the long history leading up to the current conflict between Israel and its neighbors -- an account that explains how understandable judgments can lead to catastrophe.
What next for Gaza? — An especially thoughtful examination of the choices facing Israel as it is, once again, being forced to reconsider its Gaza strategy.
Is Gaza Starving? — An informative effort to unpack the complex causes of and solutions for Gaza's ongoing hunger crisis.
I tried to be pro-Palestinian, but they made it impossible. — From the perspective of an Israeli who has long tried to defend Palestinian interests, a heartbreaking story of the dehumanizing pressures that have surrounded the ongoing war.
Michael Oren: The Wisdom of Yahya Sinwar — An explanation of the strategic brilliance (and the incredible human costs) of Sinwar's attack on Israel and the Jewish people.
Coleman Hughes: The Simple Truth About the War in Gaza — An undoubtedly controversial, but also clear and persuasive, explanation of why so many people are misinterpreting what's going on in Gaza.
Parts I-VIII: The Face Of The 'Suffocating Occupation,' — From the Mideast Media Research Institute, an eye-opening collection of videos portraying life in Gaza before the war and further illuminating the folly of October 7.
Occupation of Gaza — From an Israeli with an especially clear understanding of the military aspects of the ongoing war -- an examination and a critique of plans to reoccupy Gaza.
Muslims made me Islamophobic. — Thought-provoking and doubtless controversial reflections on the complex relationship between Islamaphobia, Islam, and the very real threat posed by kind of radical Islamism that was behind 9/11, 10/7, and ISIS.
Half-Time for Hamas — Reflections on the current state of the Israeli / Hamas war -- which it sees the conflict as nowhere close to ending.
The protests in Israel are not what they want you to think. — In the wake of recent mass protests in Israel against the Netanyahu government's war fighting strategy, an Israeli perspective on the current state of that country's hyper-polarized politics.
While politicians bash Israel, their militaries take notes. — Amid all the social and political turmoil surrounding Israel's ongoing wars, there are military developments that are likely to have a much wider impact on the nature of war.
The global counter-intifada — One of the downsides of the "globalize the intifada" movement is that it globalizes the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in ways that may bring its horrors to a place near you.
"Is the War Against Hamas Winnable?" with Haviv Rettig Gur — For those ready to discard simplistic and unrealistic images about the nature of the war between Hamas and Israel, an illuminating conversation about the heart-wrenching decisions that Israelis are facing.
What the World Gets Wrong About Israel — From Benny Gantz, one of Benjamin Netanyahu's most vocal critics, and attempt to help critics better understand the reasons behind Israel's actions.
Jews should retreat, before they force us out. — For defenders of marginalized people, an exploration of the ways in which Jews are reacting to efforts to push them to the margins of society.
How a Missile Strike Unlocked a Deal for Peace in Gaza — An important reminder of the role that military force plays in decisions about whether or not warring parties are willing to make peace.
War by Other Means — One perspective on ongoing efforts to negotiate an end to this is really/Hamas war.
Israel was sold victory, and got surrender. — From a critic of ongoing peace negotiations, an argument that Israel signed on to one framework for ending the war only to see it transformed into something very different.
How Trump Brought Hamas to the Table — Further insights into the "hardball" negotiating tactics now being used in an effort to end the war.
Historian Skewers Western Hypocrisy on Israel — A pretty compelling argument that Western countries are expecting Israel to do vastly more to limit civilian casualties that they were willing to do in their own conflicts.
Gaza ceasefire declared: A tenuous peace — A comprehensive, public (no paywall) analysis of the Gaza cease-fire agreement from Andrew Fox and a detailed look of the kind of critically important information that most reporters skip over.
The Genocide Libel — A new report from the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies which separates verifiable facts from politically motivated fiction in Gaza.
Hamas Is Not Done Fighting — From Foreign Affairs, an important observation that the recently concluded cease-fire agreement merely sets the stage for the next chapter in the struggle between Hamas and Israel.
How the Muslim Brotherhood Built a Media Empire — An informative description of the sophisticated propaganda and media strategy being used by one major Islamist organization.
A Time to Say Thank You — From an Israeli perspective, an expression of gratitude for all of those who helped Israel survive the many threats that it has faced over the last two years.
The ceasefire created two Gazas. One will consume the other. — Following the cease-fire, a story about the conflict that has erupted in Gaza between Hamas supporters who want to continue the fight and Palestinians who want to live in peace.
The silent success of the Middle East’s peace treaties — Another, if it has been done, it must be possible, story. This one remembers the complex negotiations that led to peace between Israel and Egypt -- a peace that survived the recent war.
Truth Is Hard to Get in Gaza — A review of the many reasons why one should be skeptical about much of the information that came out of Gaza during the war.
Remaining Hamas groups in Gaza — For those still trying to understand what the militants in Gaza want and what they are trying to do, an article explains how you can find out -- read what they openly post on the web.
Benny Morris: The Perfect Storm — An especially insightful and long-term look at the complex processes underlying today's explosion of antisemitic beliefs.
To understand Israel, remember the Jews of the Arab world. — An important counterpoint to stories about the Palestinians who fled Israel, stories about Jews who had to flee to Israel from other Muslim countries.
The Qatar Problem — A detailed look at the enormous, but little recognized, role that Qatar is playing in the war against Israel and in shaping Western opinion on the topic.
Western activists back Hamas executions, embrace ‘collaborator’ narrative - analysis — News that those most conspicuously worried about the plight of the Palestinians are embracing Hamas' brutal silencing of those who want to build a more peaceful future.
Hamas’s return is revealing Gaza’s true colours — For those who see Gaza's civilians as innocents caught in the crossfire between Israel and Hamas, a story about popular demonstrations of support for Hamas and its tactics.
The West's Great Betrayal: How Israel Became the Canary in Democracy's Coal Mine — A detailed account of the complex relationship between blood libels, propaganda, and the explosion of anti-Semitism — an explosion that also tells us much about the decline of Western democracies.
Hamas’s Popularity Rises in Gaza, Complicating Trump Plan to Disarm Militants — President Trump's peace plan for Gaza (and Israeli hopes for decisive victory) all hinge on somehow being able to disarm Hamas and demilitarize Gaza. This poll makes clear just how hard that is going to be.
Palestinian identity politics makes peace with Israel impossible. — One of the many reasons why recognizing a Palestinian state is easy, but building a functional state that lives in peace with its neighbors is hard.
Strategic and military analysis of Phase II of the Gaza ceasefire: Part One — A rare look at the vast gulf that exists between superficial, but nice sounding, peace plans and the gigantic list of obstacles that those plans have to overcome in order to be successful.
How The New York Times Constructs False Narratives: From Nazi Germany to Gaza’s “Starving” Boy — A detailed look at the source of some of the biggest misunderstandings about the war in Gaza.
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World Order

Toward a Fifth World Order by Gordon Brown & Mohamed A. El-Erian - Project Syndicate — Amid rising tensions and the collapse of traditional sources of global stability, a proposal for a better way of organizing the international system.
Can the United Nations Be Saved? — A timely article addressing a critically important topic: ways of reforming the United Nations so that it could play a much more positive role in our increasingly troubled world.
World Order in a Time of Monsters by Minouche Shafik — Valuable food for thought as we struggle to understand this period of radical change in virtually all aspects of international relations.
This Is the Way a World Order Ends — As the Trump administration rejects he pillars underlying the global order that has prevailed in the last 75 years, a report on the new order that it is seeking to establish.
Don’t Give Up So Quickly on the Liberal International Order — As the moral and legal constraints associated with the liberal international order continue to be replaced by contests of raw military power, a reminder of the many advantages of a rules-based system.
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Superpower Conflict

China Is Running Covert Operations That Could Seriously Overwhelm Us — Further insight into the many ways in which China's aggressive, "gray zone" warfare campaign is attacking the fabric of Western society. Our future depends on mounting an effective defense.
Putin Will Make People Choose Between Heating or Eating This Winter — Thoughts on the coming winter and the terrible choice that the Ukrainian war is going to force on Europeans.
What If Russia Uses Nuclear Weapons in Ukraine? — A rarity in reporting on Ukraine, an authoritative article that explains the complex and dangerous issues surrounding Russian threats to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine (and, perhaps, elsewhere).
Putin Is Onto Us — For those who may have lost interest in the war in Ukraine, a reminder that the war has not lost interest in us. A look at what the coming winter could bring.
Global Civil Society in a Geopolitical Age: How Great Power Competition Is Reshaping Civic Activism — A major inquiry into an alarming threat -- major geopolitical actors who are trying (often in clandestine ways) to get civil society organizations to help them pursue their goals.
The Global Zeitenwende -- How to Avoid a New Cold War in a Multipolar Era — For those of us who lived through the first Cold War, there are few (if any) priorities more important than avoiding another Cold War. Ideas on how to do this.
Russia and Ukraine Have Incentives to Negotiate. The U.S. Has Other Plans. — In the context of the war in Ukraine a look at the extraordinarily consequential question of when to and not to negotiate.
How Democracy Can Win — From Samantha Powers, thoughtful reflections on what democratic societies can do to defend themselves against increasingly aggressive authoritarian regimes.
The U.S. Is Not Yet Ready for the Era of 'Great Power' Conflict — Another reminder that the global security situation is changing rapidly. If we don't find a way to adapt to these changes, we risk a breakdown of the system that has been protecting us from major power conflict.
America Is Too Scared of the Multipolar World — As geopolitical tensions rise, we may be tempted to take refuge in the simplistic bipolar, thinking of the Cold War. However, what we really need to do is learn how navigate an emerging multipolar world.
Is Ron DeSantis Flaming Out Already? — As we try to find a viable strategy for combating Russia's naked invasion of Ukraine, a look at how domestic US politics could, instead, wind up strengthening this kind of brutality.
The Cold War With China Is Changing Everything — As we slide deeper into a cold war with China, thoughtful reflections on what this means.
Blundering on the Brink -- The Secret History and Unlearned Lessons of the Cuban Missile Crisis — New information about the 1962 missile crisis in Cuba that brought the world to the brink of nuclear catastrophe with important lessons about the dangers of nuclear brinksmanship.
Ukraine and Russia Need a Great-Power Peace Plan — An outside the box strategy for ending the terrible carnage in Ukraine (and reducing the risk of a wider war). Making peace is likely to require bold and disagreeable compromises like the one proposed.
America is exporting its worst ideas across the Atlantic — A look at the global implications of the United States' culture wars and the complex ramifications that accompany the diffusion of belief systems.
Russian 'Ghost Ships' Are Turning the Seabed Into a Future Battlefield — More reason to think that superpower tensions are rising to alarming levels. The time has come to dust off and advance Cold War-era ideas for reducing tensions.
Unanswered Questions About Trump and Russia — From the Wall Street Journal, an attempt to look beyond the left's political rhetoric and disinformation and focus on the true, unanswered questions about President Trump's relationship with the Russians.
U.S.'s political madness takes place against a backdrop of astonishing strength — Amid today's dominant focus on the many things that are going wrong, a call for also paying attention to the things that are going right.
The Minimum Viable Navy — A look at the way in which the U.S. Navy is thinking about emerging security challenges and a look at the dangers associated with our slide into a new Cold War.
Alexei Navalny: This is what a post-Putin Russia should look like — From Russia's most prominent dissident, a thoughtful proposal for how Russia, in the post-Putin period, could restructure its government in ways that reduce the risk of aggressive authoritarianism.
A World Without American Deterrence — While the United States has, during its reign as a superpower, done lots of truly terrible things, it does not necessarily follow that American decline will make things better. There is a critical need for better ways of deterring aggression and combating evil.
The Return of the Isolationist Republicans — Given the world's many complexities and dangers, it is understandably tempting to withdraw from it all. This article explains why that would be a big mistake.
What Happens When the U.S. Overestimates Its Power — Americans tend to think of themselves as all-powerful either as an exceptional beacon of freedom or the most exploitive of the colonial powers. This article asked whether the US is really that powerful?
When Democracy Is a Threat — In the context of Taiwan's recent election, a look at how democratic elections are becoming a battlefield in the increasingly tense struggle between geopolitical rivals (and a preview of the US 2024 election).
Visiting the Most Important Company in the World — A profile of Taiwan's role as the world's sole supplier of advanced microprocessors and an explanation of why the island's fate is so strategically important.
Is Congress Really Going to Abandon Ukraine Now? — A desperate plea for the West consider the humanitarian and strategic implications of abandoning Ukraine, giving Russian brutality a big win, and making it clear to the world that the West can't be trusted.
How to Lower the Risk of War With China — As we continue to slide closer to some sort of direct military confrontation with China over Taiwan, thoughts about how we can walk away from the brink.
If Trump wins, he will destroy the American-led world order — A reminder of the threat that President Trump's candidacy poses to the admittedly flawed "world order" that is still our best defense against aggressive authoritarianism.
Interview: Sarah C. Paine — A look at global history and the current geopolitical situation from the perspective of someone who has spent a career studying great power conflict.
America's soft power isn't the problem — A reminder that, in a world of increasingly aggressive and ruthless geopolitical actors, freedom, peace, and security depends upon much neglected hard power (as well as soft power).
"Gendered" Nonsense Is Dangerous Nonsense — From a conservative perspective, alarm about the Biden administration's efforts to promote its internationally controversial gender ideology at a time when immediate threats to peace seem everywhere.
The Age of Amorality — A look at one of the most difficult questions facing liberal democracies -- the need to use illiberal means to defend those democracies.
An Introduction: It's Time to Protest Nuclear War Again — A refresher course for those who may have forgotten (or never knew) how seriously we ought to take the threat of nuclear war.
Drone Swarms Are About to Change the Balance of Military Power — One of the many new technologies that are rapidly changing the nature of war and, with it, the balance of power and effectiveness of deterrence.
Biden's Budget Neglects the Military — News that the United States has decided to cut real defense spending despite the fact that the US is involved in two major wars and much of its military equipment is rapidly becoming obsolete.
Dilemmas of Deterrence: The United States' Smart New Strategy Has Six Daunting Trade-Offs — Like it or not, our future may well be determined by the complex geopolitical maneuverings described in this article.
The Rise of Western Individualism — A look at what makes liberal, democratic, capitalistic, and individualistic societies so different (and a reminder that culture matters).
The West Needs a War Footing — A compelling and terrifying argument that the time has once again arisen for making the United States (and its allies) the arsenal for democracy.
China's Advancing Efforts to Influence the U.S. Election Raise Alarms — An update on the ways in which we can expect geopolitical rivals to use the latest technology to attack the upcoming US election.
Everything, Everywhere, All At Once': U.S. Officials Warn of Increased Cyberthreats — The possibility of serious cyber attacks launched against the United States' critical information systems is not a hypothetical possibility. It's an ongoing reality.
Did One Guy Just Stop a Huge Cyberattack? — A story about one unsung hero -- the kind of person that society depends upon in ways that are seldom recognized.
Americans are still not worried enough about the risk of world war — Another plea to take the deteriorating global security environment seriously and not assume that a third World War is an impossibility.
What We Lose if We Let Putin Win — A reminder of the the enormity of the geopolitical ramifications surrounding the war in Ukraine and the danger of thinking that isolationism will insulate us from those ramifications.
Can Ukraine Find New Soldiers Without Decimating a Whole Generation? — A startling look at the demographic impact impact of the war on the Ukrainian population -- the disappearing cohort of young men.
Sizing up the New Axis — As we slide into an increasingly dangerous global Cold War, a sobering assessment of relative strengths of competing blocs.
The U.S. Has Received a Rare Invitation From China. There Is Only One Right Answer. — Encouraging news that the Chinese are starting to realize the dangers posed by the emerging nuclear arms race. We should join them in their efforts to negotiate a new series of arms control treaties.
Why so many of us were wrong about missile defense — In the wake of the stunning success of the antimissile systems that protected Israel, reflections from a previous critic of such systems.
Fareed Zakaria's Speed Date With the Liberal World Order — For an era in which so many people want to be "change agents" and, often, proponents of revolution, a 400-year retrospective on what past revolutions have produced.
What Trump Could Do in Foreign Policy Might Surprise the World — For a time when the left talks about a possible Trump Presidency in almost exclusively apocalyptic terms, a more hopeful analysis of what a Trump foreign policy might actually entail.
The End of the World as We Know It — A review of an important new book on the danger posed by nuclear weapons and an appeal to put this threat at the top of our priority list.
U.S., Chinese Defense Chiefs Confirm Plan to Reopen Hotlines in First Face-to-Face Meeting - The Wall Street Journal. — A glimmer of good news and increasingly dangerous world -- the US and China are taking steps to reduce the risk of accidental war by reopening the hot line between their respective military commands.
Why Russia Is Happy at War — In the wake of huge losses still being suffered in Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, a somewhat surprising look at Russia's patriotic unity (and the danger it presents to the rest of the world).
Taking on China the Right Way — Reflections on one of today's most important challenges, figuring out how to channel our intensifying conflict with China in constructive directions.
Why They Don't Fight: The Surprising Endurance of the Democratic Peace — For those trying to understand how to preserve the peace and avoid war, an article exploring what is, perhaps, the most effective strategy -- democracy.
U.S. Foreign Policy Wanders Aimlessly — A critique of the Biden Administration's foreign policy that argues that it makes a serious effort by assuming that China, Russia and Iran all want 'stability.'
The World Is Realigning — While we have been talking about the hyper-polarization that has emerged within so many countries, a different kind of polarization between those countries.
Putin's New Agents of Chaos: How Russia's Growing Squad of Saboteurs and Assassins Threatens the West — More information about the murky boundary between democracies internal dysfunction and efforts by outside powers to promote that dysfunction.
Liberal Soulcraft: Liberalism is in trouble. It will take a concerted act of will to save it. — An excerpt from Alexandre Lefebvre's new book "Liberalism as a Way of Life" -- another effort to help us understand liberalism and why we need to defend it.
Unprepared for the rising, nightmarish risk of biological Warfare — A wake up call highlighting the largely unrecognized threat posed by another rapidly advancing military technology -- biowarfare.
America Isn't Ready for the Wars of the Future: And They're Already Here — Pax Americana relied heavily upon expensive US weapon systems -- systems that are rapidly becoming obsolete and ineffective (and are not being replaced).
America first? Or the United States as the leader of the free world? — An essay about the great debate of 1940 about America's proper role in the world -- a debate that could inform today's consideration the same issue.
America's Crisis of Deterrence: How to Adapt an Old Theory to New Realities — From Foreign Affairs, carefully considered thoughts about how we can deter war by modifying deterrence strategies to better reflect complex 21st-century strategic realities.
The Staggering Price You're Paying for America's Nuclear Makeover — For those not taking international tensions seriously, a story about how quickly we are sliding into a new nuclear arms race.
U.S. Wrestles With Aiding Allies and Maintaining Its Own Weapons Supply — A worrying indicator of how rapidly the global security situation is deteriorating -- we are running out of munitions.
World War III is already under way. Not that Harris or Trump has noticed. — A warning that the United States' political hyper-polarization is undermining our ability to deter war (at a time when the early stages of World War III may already be upon us).
The Return of Total War: Understanding---and Preparing for---a New Era of Comprehensive Conflict — Unfortunately, the massively parallel strategy for organizing complex societal systems is not limited to peacebuilding. This article explores what might be called the new era of massively parallel war.
America's Approach to Its Allies Is Backward — For a time of rapidly increasing geopolitical tensions, reflections on the value of alliances and the steps that must be taken to keep those alliances strong.
The Warning — An ominous story about why experts believe that Russia is the developing the ability to successfully attack the vast array of satellites upon which modern society depends.
As Russia and China Rewrite Rules of War, NATO Adapts Its Game Plan — While we are preoccupied with the minutia (and often silliness) of contemporary politics, we are failing to address rapid changes that are dramatically increasing the risk of large-scale war.
Has World War III Already Begun? — For those who are not yet taking the danger of the 3rd World War seriously, a reminder that World War II started with a series of lower level skirmishes that are eerily similar to contemporary events.
The Crumbling Foundation of America's Military — Thoughts about the critically important relationship between the United States' atrophying military-industrial complex, deterrence, and the risk of war.
China's Economy Is Burdened by Years of Excess. Here's How Bad It Really Is. — Rather than talking about the threat posed by China, this article addresses a different topic -- the weaknesses of the Chinese economic model.
Europe, on the brink, faces a pileup of threats for 2025 — For those who might have thought that Trump was the only threat facing democratic societies, a review of the many difficulties facing Europe.
How Chinese Hackers Graduated From Clumsy Corporate Thieves to Military Weapons — An alarming look at the intensity and sophistication of Chinese attacks on our information infrastructure (and the ways in which these attacks could cause catastrophic harm in a major conflict).
Nations Prepare for a Post-European World — In the wake of the serious problems facing so many European societies, thoughts about how the world is adapting to the continent's declining influence.
It's September 2026, and the Pentagon Is Alarmed — For those who have trouble imagining how the social media platform TicTik could suddenly become a major national security threat, a description of how a crisis over Taiwan might unfold.
The looming Eurasian menace — An exploration of the most dangerous form of hyper-polarization -- the one that is uniting the world's big authoritarian regimes in common opposition to Western liberal democracies.
Trump Is Right That Pax Americana Is Over — Reflections on the collapse of the Pax Americana that has dominated the global security environment for the past 75 years (and thoughts about what might come next in the coming Trump era).
Konstantin Kisin: -- The West's Decline is Self-Inflicted (Newspaper Interview) — From the perspective of someone who grew up in Soviet Russia, an essay about why he fell in love with the West and the reasons for the West's ongoing decline.
We Deserve Pete Hegseth — Written before Pete Hegseth confirmation as Secretary of Defense, this article provides an overview of the daunting challenges awaiting him.
The Stable World Order Has Passed. What's Next? — From the president of the World Economic Forum, his thoughts on what's next for a planet in the midst of rapid social, political, and economic change.
Accidents, not Russian sabotage, behind undersea cable damage, officials say — Defusing superpower tensions requires a willingness to publicly admit when events that were earlier seen as acts of aggressive hybrid warfare actually turn out to have a benign explanation.
In a New Age of Empire, Great Powers Aim to Carve Up the Planet — Before we totally give up on efforts to reinvigorate the post-World War II world order, we ought to consider what's likely to replace it -- old-fashioned great power politics.
The Deep and Dangerous Roots of Trump's Foreign Policy — A critique of Trump's apparent inclination to return us to the era of old-fashioned, sphere of influence, great power politics.
A Secret Cable and a Clue to Where U.S.-Russia Relations Went Wrong — As what we once thought was a Cold War victory disintegrates, thoughts about how pivotal historical events can cast very long shadows.
The Open Society and Its New Enemies — A lengthy and comprehensive assessment of the long-term trends underlying democracy's current trials and a great starting point for people who want to understand the big picture.
Is This the End of Pax Americana? — Now that the United States' brief reign as the world's only "hyperpower" has passed into the history books, thoughts about whether it will take "Pax Americana" (and, perhaps, peace as well) with it.
The New American Imperialism — An exploration of the complex ramifications surrounding President Trump's aggressive, expansionist, and imperialistic rhetoric surrounding Greenland, Panama, and even Canada.
The Disrupter in Chief Can't End a War Like This — A clear and succinct explanation of why so many people find President Trump's actions with respect to Ukraine so outrageous.
Trump wants Greenland and Gaza. That might embolden China on Taiwan. — Thoughts on the way in which President Trump's comments regarding Panama and Greenland are contributing to the further erosion of global taboos against aggression and conquest.
Dear Europe: Become a Great Power---or Get Carved Up by Them — Advice for Europe on how to protect its interests in a world that is increasingly being governed by raw economic and military power.
The End of the Postwar World — From Anne Applebaum, another quite perceptive analysis of the radical changes that are now transforming the planet.
The Return of Spheres of Influence — From Foreign Affairs, an in-depth look at what a new world order based upon "spheres of influence" and balance of power global politics might look like.
Niall Ferguson: A User's Guide to Wrecking the Global Financial System — A critical look the way in which Trump administration policies are affecting the economy.
Arsonist, Killer, Saboteur, Spy — From Foreign Affairs, a report on the many ways in which Russia is actively working to undermine US interests and skepticism about the ability of Trump policies to defuse the situation.
Conquest Is Back — Evidence that the global security system is rapidly abandoning a rules-based international order in favor of ruthless "I'll fight you for it" rules.
I Am the Turkish President's Main Challenger. I Was Arrested. — From a leading candidate in Turkey's next presidential election, a personal account about how democracy can quickly disappear.
How a New Axis Called CRINK Is Working Against America — An update on the emergence of CRINK -- the other side of the increasingly the hyper-polarized global world order.
What Rusting Russian Tanks Can Teach Us About the Pete Hegseth Group Chat — In the context of Trump and Ukraine, a perceptive and important essay about the dangers posed by national leaders who surround themselves with people who will only tell them what they want to hear.
Read This if You're on Trump's National Security Team — A summary of the core principles that those in national security roles need to follow if they are going to be able to effectively defend the nation from the many genuine threats that do exist.
How World Order Changes — From Joseph Nye (the man who coined the term "soft power"), his thoughts on the radical ongoing changes in the world political order.
I Just Saw the Future. It Was Not in America. — From Thomas Friedman, report on his recent trip to China and the many ways in which he sees US power and its ability to influence the 21st-century world as declining.
Reasons to Be Optimistic About a Post-American Order — An essay that offers a hopeful vision for a world in which the US is far less prominent.
Brace Yourself. Trump’s Trade War With China Will Get Even Uglier. — As we slide ever deeper into a trade war with China (a country that supplies so many of the things we depend upon), thoughts about what might come next.
Sweden Has the Tanks. Finland Has the Troops. Welcome to the Pan-Nordic Army. — Yet another indicator of the speed with which Europe is being forced to consider the very real possibility of war -- the kind of war that was thought unthinkable just a few short years ago.
Lessons From World War II to Avoid World War III — From the foreign ministers of countries that only recently escaped the grip of the former Soviet Union, thoughts about what needs to be done to prevent another world war.
The crisis of the 21st century is here — As Trotsky famously said "you may not be interested in war but war is interested in you."
Are we heading for another world war – or has it already started? — An argument the World War III may already have started and we just haven't noticed.
When Trade Wars Become Shooting Wars — Amid continuing uncertainties about the vigor with which President Trump will pursue his ongoing trade wars, a retrospective look at the relationship between trade wars and real wars.
My fellow Republicans, the responsibility to speak out rests with you — From Jeff Flake, an appeal for Republicans to do what they can to at least assure the reversibility of Donald Trump's efforts to dismantle the web of alliances upon which US security has traditionally relied.
What Trump Doesn’t Understand About Nuclear War — Given increasing superpower tensions and the potential role of nuclear weapons in the conflicts between India and Pakistan and Israel and Iran, thoughts on what Trump and everyone else ought to know.
The President’s Weapon — As risks of nuclear war continue to escalate, an examination of how US tradition and law place authority over the use of these weapons almost exclusively in the hands of the president.
Who Is Winning the World War? — An argument for seeing the explosion of ongoing crises as part of a larger global conflict and clash of civilizations -- something that, for we are not careful, could lead to a third World War.
Trump Is Winning the Race to the Bottom — A stark comparison between the way in which the United States responded to the first Cold War's Sputnik threat and the Trump administration's reaction to the second Cold War's Deep Seek threat.
Does Trump understand what ‘the West’ is? Does the West itself know? — A review of the long-running conflict between liberal democratic societies and their authoritarian rivals with related questions about the effectiveness of Trump administration policies.
You Can’t Quit America — A thoughtful exploration of the many ways in which the United States is inseparably integrated into the the planet's political economy.
The Liberal-International Order Will Survive — An upbeat assessment of the likelihood that the world order that we have become accustomed to will adapt and survive.
The European Union was designed for peace – it is never going to be a war machine — After 75 years of peace and stability, the European Union is struggling to find effective ways of responding to the escalating military threats associated with the widening in Ukraine.
How foreign powers are gaslighting Americans — Amid the debate about the politicalization of anti-disinformation efforts, news that foreign powers really are taking advantage of our open society to spread propaganda and sow division.
The world without hegemony — As we embrace a new age of authoritarian imperialism in the name of disowning the imperialisms of the past, reflections on the positive side of hegemony.
The Great World War 2 Afterparty is over — A long "must-read" article that places our current troubles in historical context while also offering critical lessons about what needs to be done to get through this dangerous time.
The Old Order Is Dead. Do Not Resuscitate. — A big picture look at the succession of major economic orders that have shaped the history of the US economy and an argument that we are in the process of shifting to a new, and still uncertain, order.
What If ‘America First’ Appears to Work? — Another genuinely scary possibility that we ought to seriously consider -- the notion that Trump's bullying foreign policy might actually give him the power he covets.
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US Politics

How Much Damage Have Marjorie Taylor Greene and the 'Bullies' Done to the G.O.P.? — A look at what social scientists think are the differences between political extremes on the left and the right.
American Rasputin — A profile of the complex nature of one of the many different types of bad-faith actors who are making it so much harder for democracy to succeed.
Turnout Myths Are the Democrats' Drug of Choice — Abandoning political persuasion in favor of "mobilize the base" strategies forces political leaders to rely on fear and hate mongering strategies that further drive the escalation spiral.
Activism and Apathy Are Poisoning American Politics — A look at the dangers of a political system that focuses so much of its attention on its angriest citizens -- those that are convinced that the other side's views are wholly illegitimate..
Marjorie Taylor Greene's Civil War — More evidence that the United States continues to slide toward some sort of existential crisis where, for increasing numbers of people, the prospect of actually splitting the country seemed increasingly attractive.
The angriest voices in Congress are mostly faking — Reflections from one of our newest members of Congress on the mismatch between the public and the private personas of some of our most inflammatory lawmakers.
Vivek Ramaswamy Wants a Second American Revolution — As the left continues to call for some type of political revolution, a look at what a political revolution from the right might actually look like.
The Gaping Hole in the Center of the Electorate — Almost as many people (49%) identify as political independents as identify as Democrats and Republicans combined. Yet, somehow, the system can't field candidates who represent this moderate center.
The Roots of Trump's Rage — An overview, with lots of links, of the latest political science thinking on strategies for countering President-Trump's special brand of anger filled politics.
Collusion vs. Stop the Steal — A sobering look at extreme and deceptive tactics being used by both parties and an argument that the Democrats may be as guilty as Republicans.
Where Have All the Democrats Gone? — A critique of the progressive left and part of an explanation of why Democrats and President Biden are polling so poorly.
Disagree Better: As governors of Colorado and Utah, we want to tackle toxic polarization — An encouraging look at steps that governors are taking to limit toxic polarization and earn the trust of the electorate.
It's not just Biden -- Incumbents everywhere are unpopular and losing elections. — It is about more than Trump vs. Biden, the public Is losing confidence in a large fraction of its political leaders.
Class Conflict and the Democratic Party — Reflections how the Democrats made the transition from being the party of the working class to being the party of the educated professional class.
Alabama and Georgia Defy Federal Courts on Redistricting — For those who recognize the importance of having a clear process through which the meaning of our laws is determined, a worrying case about states defying federal court rulings.
Trump Voters Are America Too — An observation that the hateful rhetoric seen on the right is not an aberration. It is a reflection of what we think of each other. (Sadly, the rhetoric on the left is similarly hateful.)
A Military Loyal to Trump — The beginnings of a look into a true nightmare scenario -- one in which military forces are drawn into our political battles.
What Will Happen to the American Psyche If Trump Is Reelected? — An essay exploring some of the many ways in which our hyper-polarized politics is affecting us psychologically and physiologically.
A MAGA Judiciary — An examination of the politicalization of the US Judiciary and worries about how a Trump administration could tip the judiciary in ways that would favor Republicans.
A War on Blue America — From a left-leaning perspective, an analysis of many ways in which a Trump Presidency could threaten the interests of Democratically-aligned communities.
How Trump Has Transformed Evangelicals — An analysis of how President Trump with his is questionable personal moral record could develop such strong support within the evangelical community.
Talk of a Trump Dictatorship Charges the American Political Debate — An observation that President Trump and his allies are not trying to reassure voters worried about his dictatorial ambitions. Rather, they seem to be giving people more reason to worry.
Never Trumpers Never Learn — A critique of the tactics used by Trump's opponents and an argument that they might be undermining their own objectives.
Trump 'Could Tip an Already Fragile World Order Into Chaos' — An examination of the ways in which another Trump presidency (with the accompanying Democratic opposition and political chaos) could affect the international system.
Behold, MAGA Man — A look at how social pressures have pushed once independent political figures into fully embracing President Trump's narrative about the stolen elections and other issues.
The Secret of Trump's Appeal Isn't Authoritarianism — A thoughtful and surprisingly persuasive argument that much of President Trump's appeal stems from his relatively moderate policies.
The Self-Doubting Superpower — A look at the global implications of the United States' collapse of confidence in its own system.
I Am Your Retribution.' Trump Knows What He Wants to Do With a Second Term. — An examination of the evolving strategy that President Trump is promising for his second term.
US Officials Turned Regime Change Tactics Developed Abroad Against Trump, Evidence Suggests — From a right-leaning perspective, a warning about the sophisticated and unscrupulous tactics being used to sabotage the Trump candidacy.
The Only Thing More Dangerous Than Authoritarianism — From a left-leaning perspective, a warning that unscrupulous politicians may be exploiting their constituents' Christian faith as part of a political power grab.
Trump's Corruption Unbound — An alarming look at the level of corruption that a second Trump administration seems likely to tolerate.
Doom dominates 2024 messaging as Trump and Biden trade dire warnings — A look at the fear (and hate) mongering rhetoric that is now dominating the US Presidential campaign -- rhetoric that is going to make it even harder for one side to accept defeat.
The Republican Party is Doomed — An explanation of of the complex array of institutional capabilities that are required to exercise sociopolitical power -- an area where Republicans are at a major disadvantage.
The Political Failure of Bidenomics — A must-read article that explains why Biden's quite successful efforts to create economic opportunities for the working class is not translating into political support.
The Strongest Case Against Donald Trump — An observation that, on both the left and the right, President Trump seems remarkably adept at bringing out the darker side of our political personalities.
How Democrats Could Disqualify Trump If the Supreme Court Doesn't — A worrying article about how Supreme Court inaction could conceivably lead Democrats to refuse to certify a Trump victory on January 6.
How Did We End Up With Trump Again? — From someone who spends much of her time listening to voters in in-depth focus groups, an explanation of why Donald Trump is on the verge of capturing the nomination.
A Wild and Dangerous 2024 Experiment — An update on "No Labels" and the possibility that they might field a moderate alternative candidate with a serious chance of becoming President.
Against Democrats' "What, Me Worry?" Approach to Losing Working Class Voters — Thoughts on the folly and potentially far-reaching implications of the Democrats tendency to write off so many working-class voters.
What I Learned When I Read 887 Pages of Plans for Trump's Second Term — For those who do not want to read the almost 900 page report on plans for a coming Trump administration, a New York Times quick overview.
Mandate for Leadership -- The Conservative Promise — An almost 900 page report on things that a high level group of Trump supporters are hoping that they might be able to accomplish during a second Trump Presidency.
The Backlash in Deep-Blue America — For progressives who can't quite see how anyone could disagree with their worldview, news that they are nowhere near as persuasive as they would like to think.
The Nonwhite Working Class Bails Out on the Democrats — More on the political implications of the gigantic culture gap that exists between college-educated elites and the working classes.
Trump's freewheeling speeches offer a dark vision of a second term — For those who have not had the opportunity to attend one of President Trump's rallies, a detailed look and what takes place (plus an accompanying left-leaning analysis).
The Biden-Trump Rerun: A Nation Craving Change Gets More of the Same — An essay exploring what happens when a nation that longs for hopeful change has to choose between candidates that offer only known quantities from the past.
U.S. Supreme Court Justices Join Governors To Discuss Overcoming Political Division — Hopeful news about prominent government officials actively working to try to defuse hyperpolarization.
Democrats Are Meddling in Republican Primaries — A deeply disturbing story about how Democrats are fueling the extremes of Trumpism in hopes of making it easier to win elections. And, this is the party that wants your vote because it's willing to fight Trump!
Too Much Purity Is Bad for the Left — Practical advice for Democrats who want to win this fall's election, be more compromising and open to political diversity.
The Democrats' Abundance Problem Revisited — An argument that President Trump's reelection campaign cannot be defeated by promising voters increased scarcity (and that the key to electoral success is an abundance strategy).
Trump Is No Savior — An eye-opening look into the strange synthesis between Donald Trump and the efforts of Christians to defend their beliefs.
Why Democrats Can't Quit Trump — An interesting essay exploring the symbiotic relationship between Donald Trump in the Democratic political establishment.
Trump's Backers Are Determined Not to Blow It This Time Around — A window into what opponents of the left's administrative state are planning to do to take advantage of what they hope will be a second Trump Presidency
How to survive another Trump-Biden election — From Amanda Ripley, thoughts about how to navigate the coming year of political turmoil.
No Labels, No Alternatives, No Escape — A postmortem on No Labels' failed effort to put a "national unity" candidate on the November Presidential ballot.
How No Labels was thwarted --- and a disaster for democracy was avoided — From someone opposed to No Labels' efforts to give voters a choice between political extremes, an account of how and why the opposition was successful.
No Labels Should Pick a Team, Biden or Trump — From potential No Labels nominee, Mitt Romney, advice on how they might better be able to pursue their objectives through the two-party system.
Joe Biden's Long Career of Conformity — A profile of President Biden's long-standing and quite successful political strategy of adjusting his views to the changing and, sometimes, logically inconsistent views of his constituents.
Why Can't Biden Triangulate Like Trump? — A description of the "triangulation" process through which political leaders try to adjust their campaigns and rhetoric to target political voting blocks.
Blue Morning — An eye-opening report on the demographic changes that are transforming US politics and cultural relationships.
The Three Point Plan to Fix the Democrats and Their Coalition — Concrete steps the Democrats could take to broaden their appeal and reduce the chances of a second Trump Presidency.
How to make a difference in the 2024 election — From Matthew Yglesias, a list of things that those wanting to make a positive contribution in the coming election year might consider.
Democrats Should Embrace the "New Centrism" — At a time when politics is dominated by the extremes of the right and the left, an argument that Democrats ought to move toward the center -- home of the all-important swing voter.
Why Biden lost — It is always a good idea to anticipate things that could go wrong before they actually do (and in time to change plans). This article applies this principle to the upcoming election.
Trump Would Be Long Gone if Only We Could ... — A summary, with lots of links, into the efforts of political scientists to understand President Trump's remarkable political resilience.
What J.D. Vance Believes — An interview with Republican Senator J.D. Vance that tries to get beyond simple, left-wing demonization and understand his point of view.
The Resistance to a New Trump Administration Has Already Started — Preliminary information about what all-out, us-versus-them politics is likely to look like should President Trump be reelected.
My Unsettling Interview With Steve Bannon — From David Brooks, an interview with Steve Bannon that reveals much about the anti-elite, revolutionary pressures that are simmering beneath the surface of US society.
The Biden-Replacement Operation — A perceptive look at the delicate mechanics of replacing Biden as the Democratic Presidential nominee.
A Political Base Is Only a Base — A reminder that winning elections requires strong support from moderate "swing" voters. A fired-up base of true believers will never be enough.
The 'MAGA Supreme Court' Doesn't Exist — A reassuring analysis of recent Supreme Court decisions that argues that, while conservative in its legal orientation, the Court is upholding the rule of law and not merely rubberstamping the MAGA agenda.
James Carville: Biden Won't Win. Democrats Need a Plan. Here's One. — An intriguing set of ideas about how Democrats might successfully rebound from a Biden decision to abandon his quest for a second term.
The Coming 'Summer of Resistance' — A description of the "Behind Enemy Lines" -- a mysterious coalition of groups with a disruptive strategy focused on advancing its goals by promoting civil unrest.
About Biden's Pledge to Unify the Nation — A retrospective look at the mismatch between President Biden's pledge to unify America and his actual policies.
Criticize Trump, but Don't Demonize Him — Practical advice for those looking for ways to oppose Donald Trump's candidacy without further driving the hyperpolarization spiral and partisan animosities.
What Trump Means When He Tells Us to 'Fight' — An in-depth look at what Trump means when he calls upon his supporters to "fight" the Democratic establishment.
The Trump Campaign Has Peaked Too Soon — In the context of the upcoming US election, an essay on the surprisingly widespread and useful applications of Clausewitz' concept of a "culminating point."
How the Bet on an 81-Year-Old Joe Biden Turned Into an Epic Miscalculation — A postmortem analysis of how the Democrats came to commit to the Biden candidacy despite repeated warnings that he was no longer up to the challenge.
How Is This Going to Work? — A practical analysis of what Democrats need to do and the problems they face following Biden's withdrawal from the race.
Today's Democrats love unity and hate arguing. Here's why. — An essay exploring the advantages and disadvantages of the left's and the Democrat's reluctance to challenge one another.
Republican Populists Are Responding to Something Real — A look at the populism of of the United States' Republican Party and it's relationship with the party's elites -- a conflict within the larger conflict between the left and the right.
The Harris Coalition Is *Not* the Second Coming of the Obama Coalition — Important reflections on how political demographics have changed since the Obama years.
My Fellow Republicans: Stop the Trash Talk — From a Republican perspective, a reminder that disrespectful, dehumanizing language is bad politics and bad for democracy -- a lesson that Democrats should learn as well.
Trump's Most Radical Plan — Amid all of the uncertainty about what a second Trump presidency would mean for the United States, a report on what might be its most consequential change (the politicalization of the civil service).
Who's "weird"? — As Democrats decide to brand their Republican opponents as "weird," a thoughtful, in-depth analysis of the complex issues that this raises.
JD Vance Just Blurbed a Book Arguing That Progressives Are Subhuman — Another step down the slippery slope of dehumanization, runaway escalation, and catastrophe.
The truth about Trump's press conference — In the wake of the Democrats' long refusal to consider the fact that age was undermining the President's capabilities, news that Republicans may be making a similar mistake.
Harris is winning the all-important battle --- of vibes — A look at the subjective, emotional side of the battle for the US Presidency.
Kamala Harris and the Election of Laughter and Forgetting — Thoughts on the complex psychological processes that people use to make decisions about what political candidates to support and what factors to consider (and not consider).
Kamala Harris can't meme her way to victory. Or can she? — A reflection on the upcoming US election that contemplates the complexities of human thought, today's high-tech information systems, and the minor role being played by rational policy debate.
Certification and Non-Discretion: a Guide to Protecting the 2024 Election — A legal analysis of steps that can and should be taken to limit at least one source of vulnerability regarding the integrity of the upcoming US election.
Harris Gonna Code Switch — The linguistic analysis of how cultural diversity is reflected in our patterns of speech and what this says about how best to communicate with different groups.
The Democrats embraced patriotism after all — An explanation of the ways in which Democrats used, during their recent Convention, patriotic imagery to alter popular perceptions that they have been overly critical of the United States.
The Democratic Party's Project 2025 — An attempt to understand and articulate what it is that Democrats genuinely stand for -- a government that systematically identifies problems and then works to solve those problems.
Democrats Are Still Not Thinking Seriously About Preventing Another Jan. 6 — An argument that Democrats have, thus far, failed to respond to the threats posed by the extremes of Trump's candidacy with specific proposals for correcting the situation.
Obama's DNC Speech Had a Hidden Message to Democrats — Obama challenged the notion that "the only way to win is to scold and shame and out yell the other side."
Trump Turned the Democratic Party Into a Pitiless Machine — Ezra Klein's illuminating reflections on the differences between Democrats and Republicans.
Harris can seal the deal this week by being new, improved --- and loyal — An example of delicate balancing strategies that are needed to win US elections.
Kamala Harris Rushes to the Center — From a critical, right-leaning perspective, a look at the steps that Kamala Harris and the Democrats are taking to better appeal to moderate, centrist, swing voters.
All the Struggles Are Connected.'Protesters failed to disrupt this week's Democratic convention, but the party got the message. — A Wall Street Journal report on the way in which the intersection between the various left-leaning interest groups has influenced the Democratic Party.
Trump's Road Map for Taking 'Woke' Out of American Education — From critics of the trend toward increasingly "woke" approaches to education, concrete plans for reversing those trends.
Sympathy for the Undecided Voter — In the context of the upcoming US Presidential election, a look at those suffering from what psychologists call avoidance-avoidance conflicts.
Merrick Garland and the 'Norms' of Justice — From the Wall Street Journal, a look at "lawfare" as practiced by Democrats.
Federal Debt Is Soaring. Here's Why Trump and Harris Aren't Talking About It. — An examination of the ways in which we are resolving distributional conflicts by pretending that we have more resources than we do.
Harris Puts Government Intervention at Heart of Economic Policy — A reminder that at the heart of the United States' hyperpolarized political rhetoric, there is a real debate over hugely consequential issues like the role the government should play in our daily lives.
Kamala Harris Said She Owns a Gun for a Very Strategic Reason — In the context of political persuasion, an exploration of the relationship between two activities -- "virtue signaling" and "vice signaling."
Trump's Plan Boosts Budget Deficits by $7.5 Trillion, Double Harris's Proposal — Amid the bidding war for President of the United States, a reminder that, for every trillion dollars of deficit spending, each US citizen assumes $3000 in debt -- debt on which interest will be paid in perpetuity.
The Abortion Distortion Campaign — Disturbing news that Democrats (who like to complain about disinformation) are, with respect to abortion, spreading their own brand of disinformation.
The elusive 'policy-driven' undecided voter — An article about the complex process through which still undecided voters make their decisions.
Black Men Are Waiting for a Democratic Party That Delivers for Them — Further reason to believe that political voting blocks are not as stable as is usually thought.
There's One Main Culprit if Donald Trump Wins — A pre-mortem highlighting the many factors that have taken Donald Trump so close to victory (and a list of things that anyone who wants to heal society ought to start working hard to correct).
The Path to Healing a Nation — A review and summary of Terry Szuplat's 'Say It Well.' This is the first in a series of articles that FAIR is soliciting from those with ideas of about how to heal our society.
The Idiot's Guide to Dominating American Politics — A strategy that either the left or the right could employ to dominate US politics (and serve the interests of most citizens) along with reflections on why neither side is pursuing this opportunity.
Why the Heck Isn't She Running Away With This? — For those wondering why the election is so close despite former President Trump's unpopularity, thoughts about things that Democrats are doing that drive supporters away.
Trump Is Speaking Like Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini — Anne Applebaum's controversial article about similarities between Donald Trump and the 21st century's most notorious authoritarians.
Trump's Election Reversal Dreams Are Dead — A somewhat hopeful account of the many steps that have been taken to close the loopholes that came to close to allowing President Trump to reverse the results of the 2020 election.
There Are Four Anti-Trump Pathways We Failed to Take. There Is a Fifth. — A comparative international look at ways in which democracies have sought to protect themselves from aspiring authoritarians (with lots of lessons for our hyper-polarized society).
Four Lessons From Nine Years of Being 'Never Trump' — From a long-standing Republican opponent of President Trump, reflections on the big things that he has learned from the experience
The Election Is Happening Too Soon — Based in part on historical analogies, this hopeful essay argues that today's destructive politics is lagging behind ongoing and much more positive societal changes.
It's Not Too Early to Begin the Reckoning — An early compilation of things that social scientists think that they have learned from this year's election.
Democrats Stump for Trump — As they demonize the former president, a troubling story about how Democrats are also willing to promote Trump and his supporters in cases where they find it politically useful.
There Is a Silver Lining in This Tense Election Year — As the saying goes, "things that can't go on like this, don't." Thoughts about the possibility that hyper-polarization has reached the point where people recognize that they have no choice but to do something about it.
The Danger Is Greater Than in 2020. Be Prepared. — In uncertain times it makes sense to develop contingency plans for dealing with the many things that could go wrong.
Five Things You Can Do to Make America a Better Place Tomorrow (No Matter Who Wins) — For those looking for concrete, positive steps that they can take in the current environment, five ideas.
How Red and Blue America Shop, Eat and Live — A clever new way of looking at differences in the way in which polarization is reflected in our day-to-day lives. This statistical analysis shows, for hundreds of businesses, which ones operate in Republican and Democratic areas.
The Obama Machine — An explanation of the many ways in which today's Democratic politics seems to resemble the political machines of the past. (And, a look at Obama's ties to the Daley machine in Chicago).
The Art of the Bullshitter — Yet another attempt to understand the effectiveness of President Trump's rhetorical "weave" and its loose relationship with objective facts.
Four THB Takeaways from the Incredible 2024 US Election — Another set of thoughtful, and somewhat different, reflections on the election with one stunning map highlighting just how much politics has changed.
Why Trump's Victory Is, For Millions Of Us, Cathartic — A very personal reaction to Trump's election from someone who used to be closely aligned with the left but who found himself canceled for raising what he regards as perfectly legitimate criticisms.
Francis Fukuyama on Trump 47 — From Francis Fukuyama, his analysis of the election.
Trump has big plans for 'Day 1' on immigration, energy and more — Just as Biden's selection ushered in big changes in US society, Trump promises to do the same. This article reviews his intentions.
Voters to Elites: Do You See Me Now? — One of the very best articles that we've seen on the election. If you can only read a few, read this one.
10 Reasons You Didn't See This Coming — A succinct, must-read article that explains, with exceptional clarity, why so many Democrats were blindsided by the election's result.
We Don't Have Time to Waste Time in Despair — For those opposed to the things that President-elect Trump has promised to do, thoughts about how they can work within the system to effectively oppose such things.
The Shattering of the Democratic Coalition — An essay explaining why the winning electoral coalition that Democrats thought that they had is no longer viable.
Election 2024: The illusion of division hits a tipping point — After so much nervous anticipation about the possibility of political violence following the election, reflections on why that didn't happen (and the possibility that we are not as bitterly divided as we think we are).
Treat Trump Like a Normal President — After 8 years of treating Trump as an extraordinary threat that cannot be challenged by ordinary means, an argument for doing just that -- trust the system and work within the process.
Millions of Movers Reveal American Polarization in Action — A statistical look, with lots of revealing graphics, at the ways in which Americans are self segregating based on political beliefs.
Russia's Election Meddling: Farce After Tragedy — An update on Russia's muddled and, hopefully, not very effective efforts to influence the election.
It's Time to Resist the Resistance — As Democrats struggle to decide how to respond to the Trump presidency, an argument against replaying the resistance strategy used during his first term.
The Book That Predicted the 2024 Election — An interview with the author of "Party of the People: Inside the Multiracial Populist Coalition Remaking the GOP" -- a book that was ahead of its time in understanding the changing political landscape.
Democrats Need Working-Class Voters. Maybe Now They'll Act Like It — From Nicholas Kristof, reflections on the relationship between the struggles of his working class childhood friends and the election's outcome.
We're About to Find Out Who Trump's Victory Belongs To — For the case of Donald Trump, an essay exploring the election day transition from candidate appeals for constituent support to constituent appeals for support from now elected candidates.
The Elites Had It Coming — From Thomas Frank (the man who wrote "What's the matter with Kansas?") helpful insights for those struggling to understand Trump's success.
Democrats and the Case of Mistaken Identity Politics — Now that the election-related taboo against Democratic self-criticism has been lifted, thoughtful ideas about why identity-based politics was doomed to failure.
What now? With the election behind us, here are five ways forward — From the Foundation against Intolerance and Racism, concrete ideas for constructively navigating the post-election period.
Book Review: The Road to Wigan Pier — For those who wondered what Orwell would think about contemporary events, a book about how he approached very similar challenges in his time.
Farewell to the "Rising American Electorate" — A postmortem on the theory that the changing demographics of the electorate would lead to Trump's defeat.
The End of the Obama Coalition — A detailed look at the strengths (and now weaknesses) of the Obama coalition that ruled the United States for 12 of the last 16 years.
Obama Isn't Going Anywhere — A look at the outsized role that President Obama continues to play in Democratic politics.
The Election Gender Gap Was Expected to Be Huge but Was Unremarkable — Amid all the articles highlighting the political divide between men and women, surprising news that the spread between male and female voting patterns was surprisingly small.
The Democratic Blind Spot That Wrecked 2024 — An unusual and quite perceptive article describing how Democrats were lulled into a false sense of security.
Why We Got It So Wrong — A must-read exploration of the origins of our current predicament and thoughts about the big thing we need to do to get out of it.
Dear Democrats, I Tried To Warn You — A particularly perceptive "I told you so" article highlighting lost opportunities associated with the Democrat's reluctance to seriously consider the views of its critics.
The Musk-Ramaswamy Project Could Be Trump's Best Idea — From the Wall Street Journal, an explanation of why many people think that the proposed Department of Government Efficiency is actually a good idea.
How to Handle Kennedy as America's Top Health Official — An interesting essay written by a health care professional looking for a constructive way to engage with Robert Kennedy -- Trump's nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services.
When Will Democrats Learn to Say No? — An argument that the key to building a super majority capable of defusing the United States' 50/50 political split lies in finding a way to say no to those on the political extremes.
Beware the Trifecta: History Shows Full Control of Government Is Fleeting — A reassuring history for those worried about the possibility that Republican control of Congress may give President Elect Trump a long-term lock on power.
Trump's recess appointments gambit? A power grab hiding in plain sight. — A detailed look at one of the strategies that President Elect Trump intends to use to expand Presidential power by bypassing one of the key Constitutional "checks and balances."
How Resilient Is the Emerging Trump Coalition? — A compilation (with lots of links) of what leading political scientists are saying about the likelihood that Donald Trump will be able to hold his political coalition together.
Key to Trump's Win: Heavy Losses for Harris Across the Map — An impressive collection of maps with county-level statistics revealing how voter preferences changed between 2020 and 2024.
The Moral Challenge of Trumpism — From David Brooks, an effort to understand the moral basis Trump's support and how those beliefs differ from the political morality that has traditionally dominated democratic societies.
H.R. McMaster: My Travels with Trump — A rare article about Donald Trump that honestly tries to assess his strengths and weaknesses (and an article written by somebody who actually worked closely with the incoming President.)
The Democrats' Dirty Tricks Playbook? — A disturbing explanation of why No Labels was unable to offer voters a viable alternative to the Trumo and Harris candidacies.
Maybe Democrats Didn't Do So Badly After All — For Democrats, a not so dismal look at election results and a reminder that, despite Trump's big victory, we remain a deeply and evenly divided nation.
Done With Never Trump — From a conservative, "Never-Trumper," thoughtful reflections about the things that his movement got right and got wrong plus thoughts about how to be most constructive during the coming Trump administration.
The opposition to Trump isn't inert. It's reflecting --- and that's good. — Thoughts about efforts to develop more constructive and effective ways of challenging President Trump's plans to make major changes to our government and society.
Trump's Return Is a Civil Society Failure — A review, with lots of citations, of the factors that political scientists see as responsible for President Trump's return to power.
Trump could be setting himself up for a 'powerful' early failure — A review of the many pitfalls that President Trump will have to overcome before he can successfully implement his ambitious agenda.
Republicans and Democrats play a role in making each other more extreme — Contempt and aggression can induce the stances and behaviors that anger us.
Trump will overplay his hand. Be ready for when he does. — For those alarmed by President Trump's aggressive efforts to implement his agenda, thoughts about how best to respond in the likely event that he, in some way, goes too far.
Making Sense Out of the Chaos — A helpful overview of President Trump's initial actions with thoughts about whether or not he has the legal authority to do each thing.
Standing Up to Donald Trump's Fear Tactics — Much of President Trump's power stems from his ability to threaten and intimidate anyone who might stand in the way of his plans. This article explores ways of resisting such pressures.
My Decade with Donald Trump — From a journalist with exceptionally long and close access to the President Trump, an illuminating effort to help us better understand the man and his supporters.
What Happened to Joe Biden the Moderate? — President Biden was elected as a moderate leader who could bring the country together. This essay explains how, instead, he alienated many of his supporters by pushing the country far to the left.
Trump's 'Cabinet of the Cancelled' — An observation about President Trump's cabinet and an explanation of why they so strongly support his agenda -- they have been on the receiving and of the left's repression of criticism.
The Birth of Aspirational Populism — As those on the left try to understand how they so badly misunderstood the strength of Trump's support, an argument for paying more attention to the allure of genuine opportunity.
Trump's Plan to Crush the Academic Left — An overview of the way in which President Trump is trying to decisively defeat progressives -- politically, culturally, and socially.
Goodbye, 'Resistance.' The Era of Hyperpolitics Is Over. — In the context of the muted response of the Democratic Party to Trump's election, an argument that hyper-politics (if not polarization) is declining.
Democrats Should Embrace Ideological Pluralism — An argument that Democrats, if they want to "look like America," ought to go beyond skin deep traits like race and really embrace differences of opinion.
So Much for Not Taking Trump Literally — It is been said that Trump supporters take him seriously but not literally and his opponents take him literally but not seriously. It seems like it's time to take him both seriously and literally.
The Democrats' Governance Problem — As Democrats struggle to understand how why they are so widely distrusted, a call for them to take a hard look at the ways in which they actually govern.
Donald Trump Is Just Watching This Crisis Unfold — An argument that Donald Trump is not making the transition from a candidate (focused on observing and criticizing events) to a President responsible for guiding those events.
Last Boys at the Beginning of History — With the focus on Donald Trump's youngest male supporters, this article offers a great example of how quality journalism can help build genuine understanding across deep political divisions.
Democrats' brutal poll problem — New public opinion data that suggests that the public's repudiation of the Democratic Party runs even deeper than previously thought.
How Trump's Lawbreaking Strategy Is Designed to Work — A look at how the Trump administration believes that it can be successful, even though many of its actions are unlikely to survive a legal challenge.
How Do We Understand Culture? — Thoughtful reflections on what we have and should have learned from the failures of the "resistance" movement in President Trump's first term.
Democrats have become the party of permissiveness. That's ballot box poison. — From Rahm Emanuel, an argument against focusing exclusively on "kitchen table" economics and neglecting the many other issues that affect day-to-day quality-of-life.
Trump's Populism Isn't a Sideshow. It's as American as Apple Pie. — A podcast that places today's anti-elite populism into the broader context of the United states' long-standing distrust of its elites and its embrace of populist rebellions.
We Have No Coherent Message': Democrats Struggle to Oppose Trump — A report on interviews with more than 50 Democratic leaders that highlights the ongoing conflict within the party over how best to respond to Trump's victory.
Democratic States Are Wards of Washington — An exploration of the ways in which state and federal government finances are deeply intertwined (with Democratic states especially dependent on the federal government).
This time, the anti-Trump resistance is in the courts, not in the streets — An overview of what is happening in the courts -- the one arena in which there is significant pushback on President Trump's claims of executive authority.
"The Week 'Democrats Must Work With Trump' Died" — An explanation of why it is so difficult for the losing political party to, after a bitterly fought election, start engaging in true collaborative governance.
Many Americans Say the Democratic Party Does Not Share Their Priorities — More poll data that helps us understand the gap that has opened up between the Democratic Party and so much of the electorate.
There's No Substitute For Public Opinion — Helpful reflections on what democracy's defenders can learn from the United States' first populist presidency -- that of Andrew Jackson.
Trump's honeymoon is over — Amid President Trump's unprecedented effort to radically transform the full range of governmental institutions and policies, news that public support for this effort maybe starting to erode.
The Alternative to Trump Cannot Be a Defense of Institutions as They Are — A promising essay by Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) outlining a way forward for Democrats that broadens the party's base of support by acknowledging and correcting past mistakes.
This Progressive Has a Plan to Win Trump's Base. Steve Bannon Calls It 'Brilliant.' — An additional perspective on Ro Khanna's plans for building his party's base of support by extending its appeal to include the many Trump voters the Democrats had previously left behind.
Humpty Dumpty Had a Great Fall — From Yascha Mounk, reflections on just how radically the world (and the US) has changed, why past solutions will no longer work, and why we need a new vision better adapted to contemporary realities.
Can We Please Stop Calling These People Populists? — From David Brooks, an appeal to distinguish President Trump's populist supporters from the very different class of people he is appointing to key positions within the government.
Democrats Fear They Are Missing the Moment to Remake the Party — An overview of the big conflict within the Democratic Party over what lessons to learn from last fall's electoral defeat and the Trump presidency.
Venting at Democrats and Fearing Trump, Liberal Donors Pull Back Cash — An update on funding problems being faced by those who seek to offer an alternative to President's Trump unfolding policies.
A Democrat Who Is Thinking Differently — An interview with Democratic Representative Jake Auchincloss -- another leader who is trying to craft a broadly attractive alternative to President Trump's policies.
One Simple Question for Democrats — Simple advice for Democrats looking for a way of evaluating competing proposals for rebuilding their base of support -- think about how working-class voters are likely to respond.
Ten reasons for modest optimism — An update on Robert Reich's reasons why those shocked by Donald Trump's actions should not give in to hopelessness and despair.
Why Did Democrats Lose Their Edge with Women? — Surprising information about how support from one of the Democratic Party's core constituencies (women) is declining.
A Federal Judge Says: Knock Off the Threats — From a distinguished Federal judge, a report on the growing instances in which jurists are subjected to efforts to intimidate them.
Democrats Need to Clean House — An update on the Democratic Party's big conflict over how best to respond to last year's election defeat and the unfolding Trump Presidency.
Is This What America Voted For? — Opinion poll data highlighting what the voters think of DOGE's effort to downsize and reform the federal government.
What Erratic Government Does to a Country — A review of some of the costs associated with uncertainties about where Donald Trump's radical changes will ultimately take us.
The Coming Showdown in Trumpworld — An analysis of the deep conflicts that are simmering just below the surface of Donald Trump's multifaceted coalition.
Trump and Vance Are Stripping Away Foreign Policy Illusions — A rare look at the Trump/Zelenskyy conflict that tries to look at both the strengths and weaknesses of the President's approach.
DOGE's Reign of Ineptitude — Good (or at least defensible) intentions are not enough. Policy initiatives that are not based on an accurate understanding of the system that they are trying to influence are doomed to failure.
Vengeance Is His — A summary, with lots of links, of the in-depth examinations of Donald Trump's actions being conducted by political scientists.
Machiavelli Would Hate Trump — For those who may view President Trump in Machiavellian terms, surprising news that Machiavelli would not have approved.
Douglas Murray: How MAGA Lost Its Way on Ukraine — An insightful essay exploring the complex history that led to President Trump's Ukraine policy (and the reasons that his constituents support that policy).
Snap Out of It, Democrats — From the Wall Street Journal, an appeal for Democrats to abandon ineffectual and silly tactics and become the kind of effective opposition party that our two-party system requires.
How Not to Resist Donald Trump — For Donald Trump's opponents who want to make things better and not worse -- a list of things to avoid.
This thing will fail — An article looking ahead at the weaknesses in the Trump administration's cultural transformation efforts.
There Is a Liberal Answer to the Trump-Musk Wrecking Ball — Another contribution to the debate over how progressives and liberals might best respond to President Trump's dramatic changes.
Even if the Democrats Can Move to the Center, It May Not Help — A more detailed assessment, with lots of links, of the difficulties Democrats are likely to face if they decide to counter Trump by "moving to the center."
Don't Trust the Trumpsplainers — A story about the big question, is there a clear and defensible rationale behind Trump's actions or is it just simple, vindictive chaos?
The Democrats' Brahmin Left Problem — An exploration of the contradictions inherent in the left's commitment to social justice and its status as members of society's most highly educated elites.
Michael Lewis On DOGE's Victims — An interview with Michael Lewis, author of "Who Is Government" --- an individual who has done extensive research into why the work of our now much maligned civil servants is so important.
Trump's Flood-the-Zone Strategy Has a Big Weakness — An analysis of the weaknesses associated with the Trump administration's focus on unilateral executive action and its neglect of the legislative process (and the more durable laws that it can create).
How Deep Is the Hole Democrats Are In? — An effort to help Democrats better understand why so much of the country is rebelling against their rule and so much of the political edifice that they constructed.
Tom Friedman: Trump Is a 'Small Man in a Big Time' — Tom Friedman reviews the enormously consequential era in which we find ourselves and the ways in which he believes that the Trump administration is unprepared to deal with this era.
Both Left and Right Are Wrong About Mahmoud Khalil. — An article that tries to look at all sides of the debate over efforts to deport Mahmoud Khalil.
Trump Voters Love Him More Than Before. Four Conservative Columnists Pinpoint Why. — A really helpful discussion for those struggling to understand the loyalty of Trump supporters and why society is turned so sharply away from Democrats.
There Is a Way for Democrats to Stop Trump and Save America — More food for thought as we consider how best to address the failures of the Trump administration and the Biden administration that preceded it.
It's About Ideology, Not Oligarchy — A critical look at efforts to frame the Trump administration as an effort by our society's oligarchs to strengthen their ability to control and exploit us.
The Danger of a Flood of Anti-Trump State Lawsuits — An eye-opening examination of the complex legal landscape that surrounds efforts by state attorneys general to challenge federal government policies on both the left and right.
The Great Demolition — A look at just how radically our society is being changed and the challenges we will all face as we collectively decide what comes next.
Democrats confront the wrath of their voters, just as Republicans have — Yet another big conflict to think about -- the conflict between the Democratic base that wants its leaders to more vigorously oppose the Trump onslaught and the party's more cautious leadership.
How to beat back Trump's divide & conquer strategy — In the context of the Trump administration, an essay on strategies for reducing the effectiveness of "divide and conquer" attacks.
The beginning of the end of the Trump era — An argument that the Trump administration may have already gone too far in the pursuit of its agenda (and that that overreach may be undermining its power and creating opportunities for Democrats).
The Democrats Are in Denial About 2024 — Another article urging Democrats to make the kinds of changes needed for it to pursue its role as an effective opposition party -- something that a functioning two-party democracy desperately needs.
Republicans should welcome Democrats' turn to 'abundance' — More reason to hope that it might be possible to craft a new and much more broadly accepted political movement built around "abundance" -- an effort to eliminate chronic shortages in almost everything.
Trump Is About to Bet the Economy on a Theory That Makes No Sense — As the US embarks on radical effort to restructure global trade relationships, a reminder that policies only achieve their intended result when they are based on an accurate understanding of the way the system works.
What Ocasio-Cortez Wants for the Democrats — From the Sanders / Ocasio-Cortez and their Fighting Oligarchy tour, a report on AOC's vision for the future,
What Does the New Right Want? — A substantial effort to really try to understand the interests that the Trump administration is seeking to advance.
The Impact Map — A timely and important effort to document the things that we are losing as DOGE prioritizes rapid budget cuts over a careful consideration of what needs cutting.
Tariffs only "work" if they make prices higher — An essay exploring the disconnect between what tariffs are likely to do and how they are being sold to Trump supporters and the American people.
New Insights on Why Harris Lost---and Why Democrats Are in Such a Hole — A must-read article with solid, eye-opening statistics that can help Democrats understand the degree to which their business-as-usual approach to politics has failed.
Our 2028 Nominee Will Need to Come From America, Not Washington' — A forward thinking argument that one key to escaping our current political predicament is to look outside the Washington establishment for future leaders.
What I Saw at the MAGA Revolution — The report on one of today's most important conflicts -- the conflict between Republicans who genuinely want to build a better society and those who just seek retribution against the left.
The Question Progressives Refuse to Answer — New information about the brave Gazans who are trying to lay a real foundation for peace by forcing Hamas out of Gaza.
I Used to Hate Trump. Now I'm a MAGA Lefty. — For those still having trouble understanding Trump's popularity and appeal, yet another essay that tries to explain why so many have given up on the left.
Why Cory Booker's Speech Matters — An explanation of the theory of change behind Cory Booker's marathon speech on the Senate floor.
Trump Has Already Botched His Own Bad Tariff Plan — An exceptionally clear and persuasive explanation of why he Trump's tariff plan can't possibly achieve its desired objectives.
Trump Is Gaslighting Us — A revealing look at the psychological propaganda techniques that Trump uses to free himself from the constraints of objective reality.
A Different Kind of Anti-Trump Resistance Is Brewing — A report on how besieged federal workers are trying to protect their jobs and the institutions in which they work (institutions that we all depend upon).
I Should Have Seen This Coming — From David Brooks, a personal account of the long sequence of events that led to President Trump's surprising rise to power.
Rod Dreher: ‘Cry More, Libs’ Is Not a Strategy — From a Trump supporter, recognition that simply doing things that enrage the left will not be enough to successfully address the right's many legitimate grievances.
Trump Meets His Match: The Markets — Hopeful news about the ability of financial markets to successfully persuade the Trump administration to abandon especially ill-advised policies.
What Working-Class Voters Really Want — For the meritocratic elites of the Democratic Party, another useful effort to explain why working-class voters tend to view them with such disdain.
Is Trump a Tyrant or a Savior? Maybe Just a Bumbler — Reflections on a critically important question: Is Trump a devious mastermind orchestrating some grand authoritarian takeover strategy? Or, are his plans so poorly crafted that they can't possibly achieve their desired objectives?
‘I Run the Country and the World’ — A rare opportunity to hear, in President Trump's own words, an in-depth report on what he thinks of his first 100 days in office.
In Montana, a Rare Sight: Republicans and Democrats Voting Together — Another "if it is being done, it must be possible" story -- this one focuses on the ways in which Montana is violating the stereotypes.
Are We in a "Soft" Civil War? — The disturbing the persuasive argument that our hyper-polarized politics is crossing the line into cold, but still open and extraordinarily dangerous warfare.
One Moment That Foretold It All — The perceptive analysis explaining what may be the most important difference between President Trump's first and second administrations.
When Establishments Fail: Trump’s 100 Days — An especially good analysis of the establishment failures that made Trump's second presidency possible (and thoughts about the implications of the new administration's unfolding failures).
What Trump Voters Think of Trump — Our project of “better conflict” only works if we’re able to reach people on both sides. Are we? So asks Eve Sneider and Jonathan Stray of Better Conflict Bulletin in their first ever readers survey. This edition also looks at profiles and surveys to see what Trump voters think 100 days in.
The Next 1,360 Days — From Yascha Mounk, an effort to rethink, based on recent experience, where the Trump administration is likely to take us over the next three and a half years.
The Democrats’ Fork in the Road — Democrats are about to make a fateful decision -- one that will cast a long shadow on all our lives. Are they going to focus on restoring the Biden-era political order or building something new and better.
Trump’s Inevitable Betrayal of His Supporters — An essay exploring the coming collision between President Trump's promises to his constituents and the likely impact of his actions.
Trump’s Weak Position on Trade — A critical analysis of the flaws in President Trump's "art of the deal" strategy with respect to tariffs.
The Actual Math Behind DOGE’s Cuts — If you thought Elon Musk was really trying to cut costs, you weren’t in on the joke.
The fate of Trump’s agenda rests with the House GOP’s ‘five families’ — A description of the quite different voting blocs that make up today's Republican Party -- a description that illuminates the role of the bipartisan problem-solver caucus.
‘I Even Believe He Is Destroying the American Presidency’ — A compilation, with lots of links, to what political scientists think about the adverse impact that Donald Trump is having on the US Presidency.
Trump Is Turning a Good Idea Into an Authoritarian Weapon — Praise for efforts to move government agencies out of Washington and into the communities that they serve, and harsh criticism for Trump's efforts to weaponize such moves as a strategy for attacking government employees.
Analyzing the 2024 Presidential Vote: PRRI’s Post-Election Survey — Amid continuing debate over the lessons that we should learn from the recent US election, a report on a major new post-election analysis.
Who Started the Lawfare Era? — From a right-leaning perspective, a thoughtful counterargument about the origins of our rapidly escalating epidemic of political lawfare. (It's not just Trump.)
The murders outside the museum were foreseeable: That’s the problem — Recent attacks on Jews are not random acts of senseless violence, they are the logical consequence of a widely supported political philosophy.
How Qatar Bought America — An alarming article about influence peddling on a gargantuan scale -- the kind of thing that petrodollars make possible.
The Coming Democratic Civil War — More thoughts about the intense conflict that is emerging around proposals for scaling back the regulatory state and promoting economic growth.
The most disturbing aspect of Trump’s first 100 days — A lament about the unwillingness of so many people to challenge President Trump's assertions of near dictatorial power.
A Pivot Point for the American People — A hopeful argument that democracy's self-correcting mechanisms are starting to respond effectively to the many challenges being posed by the Trump administration.
Hispanic Moderates’ Big Swing Right — More information about just how many voters and, especially, Hispanic voters are switching their political allegiances away from the Democratic Party.
Living Among the DOGE Wreckage — A report on what it's like to be (or have been) a civil servant during this time when you and your labors are so widely disparaged and demonized.
‘TACO’ Is the Secret to Trump’s Resilience — An argument that the TACO (Trump always chickens out) strategy is, surprisingly, the key to the President's remarkable political resilience.
‘Original Sin’ Review: A Conspiracy in Plain View — A review of an important new book, "Original Sin," about the scandalous way in which the Democratic Party machinery concealed President Biden's failing health and, essentially, hijacked the government.
Rod Dreher: The Woke Right Is Coming for Your Sons — From a conservative perspective, a critical look at the the disturbing way in which so many on the political right are trying to make sense of today's turbulent times.
Does the Working Class Vote Against Its Interests? — An argument against the notion that voters can (and should) focus almost exclusively on economic interests when deciding who to support.
Can the ‘Abundance Agenda’ Save the Democrats? — More critical reflections on the profound and controversial changes in Democratic policies that adoption of the Abundance Agenda would entail.
The Unconstitutional Conservatives — With respect to one cluster of issues, a reminder that, while the political parties may appear stable, the beliefs expoused by those parties can change radically.
Six-Chart Sunday – Overruled: POTUS v SCOTUS — An interesting series of historical information graphics documenting through both Democratic and Republican administrations the conflict between the Presidency and the Supreme Court.
The No. 1 Rule for Understanding Trump — An argument for tempering fears about the consequence of extreme Trump administration actions with Trump's long history of abandoning such actions before they ever fully go into effect.
How the Democrats Lost Men Like Me — As an alternative to the in-depth analyses that Democrats are doing to try to figure out why they have lost the support of so many men, one man offers his opinion.
Is There an Opening for a Third Party — Amid widespread popular frustration with both the Democratic and Republican parties, an update on prospects for a less hyper-polarized third-party.
How the Left Loses its People — A retrospective historical look at the many things that the left has done over the years to undermine its support.
The One Question Trump Always Wants the Answer To — An interesting hypothesis regarding the way in which President Trump looks at political issues, its relationship with policy analysis, and the reason why it's so successful.
The Limits of Culturally Radical Economic Populism — Thoughtful reflections on the political strategy being pioneered by the surprisingly successful campaign of the Democratic nominee for Mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani.
Why Do So Many People Think Trump Is Good? — Thoughtful reflections on a question that many have been trying to answer, what are the social changes that have broken down the taboos that, in normal times, would have made the Trump presidency impossible.
These Younger Democrats Are Sick of Their Party’s Status Quo — An enlightening profile of the new generation of political leaders -- leaders that are now advocating major changes to the Democratic Party.
A Final, Comprehensive Look at How Trump Won in 2024 — After almost 9 months of data crunching, political scientists are now able to offer us a accurate and comprehensive view of the trends that gave Donald Trump a second presidency.
The Cities and States That Are Getting It Right — Evidence that there are political jurisdictions that have figured out how to reform government operations in ways that really do make them efficient and effective.
Presidential Pettiness — A look at what happens when you take the politics of defeating enemies and rewarding friends to extremes.
Today’s Non-Progressive Progressives — For progressives still trying to understand what went wrong, an argument that they too often abandoned progressive values.
MAGA doesn't build anything — An argument that the MAGA movement will not succeed until it moves beyond undoing the existing order and starts focusing on how to build something better to replace it.
The Trump Presidency Takes a Better Turn — From a Trump critic who also believes in honest reporting, a rare article describing some of the more positive steps that the Trump administration has recently taken.
In Fight for House, New York May Follow Texas in Redrawing Maps — An article on the ongoing battle to see which political party can do the best job of disenfranchising the other party's voters.
2025 Political Tribes — Based on last year's election, an update of the United States' eight major political groups -- groups that have polarized into the current two-party stand off.
Why the Trump Tariff Merry-Go-Round Won’t Stop — From the Wall Street Journal, good reason to believe that the tariff turmoil will not, under Trump, settle down around a new status quo.
This World-Renowned Negotiator Says Trump’s Secret Weapon Is Empathy — From an experienced negotiator, thoughts about how President Trump (despite his commonly inflammatory behavior) has been so successful in building a broad and solid base of support.
The Real Threat to Democrats Isn’t Redistricting — Amid the ongoing flurry over Texas' redistricting (and California's response), a reminder that the left's problems go much deeper than that.
Trump’s Half-Baked Approach to Negotiation — An attempt to understand (and provide an informed critique) of President Trump's approach to international negotiation.
The Democratic Party Faces a Voter Registration Crisis — Stark statistics about the nationwide decline in the number of voters affiliated with the Democratic Party -- statistics that suggest that a dramatic rethinking of the party's philosophy is long overdue.
The Insidious Creep of Trump’s Speaking Style — A critical attempt to understand the nuances of President Trump's speaking style and why so many find it attractive.
Democrats Cannot Just Buy Back the Working Class — An argument that, in the current context, Clinton's famous line " it's the economy, stupid" doesn't apply. Far more important to working-class voters are cultural differences and intangibles like respect.
How the DSA Became the Democrats’ Tea Party — Thoughts about the larger political implications of the way in which Zohran Mamdani (and the Democratic Socialists for America) Are reshaping the Democratic Party.
Trump Might Be Losing His Race Against Time — An examination of the factors that are motivating Trump subordinates to do legally questionable things (and speculation about what might lead them to change their minds).
The Rise of America’s Young Socialists—From the 2008 Financial Crisis to Mamdani — A profile of the young leaders who have built the United States' socialist movement into a rising political force.
Democrats Are in Crisis. Eat-the-Rich Populism Is the Only Answer — Yet another proposal for returning Democrats from the wilderness. This one focuses on left-leaning populism in ways that emphasize that rebellion against the elites is an area of bipartisan agreement.
Democrats Still Have No Idea What Went Wrong — Another story about the Democrats continuing struggle to reconcile their theory of politics and political change with voter rejection of their favored approach.
America Still Has a Political Center, and It’s the Key to Winning — An enlightening statistical analysis of the role that moderates are playing in determining electoral outcomes.
Patriotism Against Authoritarianism — An essay highlighting the ways in which the No Kings protests attempted to reclaim patriotic imagery -- something that the left had previously ceded to the right.
This Is the Way You Beat Trump — and Trumpism — An article describing how to build a really big tent -- one big enough to successfully combat Trump-style authoritarianism.
Hey, Lefties! Trump Has Stolen Your Game. — An eye-opening analysis of the ways in which political tactics developed by the left are now being used to great effect by President Trump to further his agenda.
Inside the DSA’s Hostile Takeover of the Democratic Party — More insight into the stunning rise of the Democratic Socialists of America and the influence that it is having on Democratic Party politics.
No Politics Is Local — An explanation of the many ways in which local politics is being infected by the deep hyper-polarization that afflicts US politics at the national level.
Most people do not understand the danger of Mamdani. — An explanation of why many people are so concerned about Mandami's stunning victory.
This rising House Democrat is a voice for the angry middle — A profile of Jason Crow, a Colorado Democrat who is exploring one strategy for building a centrist, more broadly appealing, political movement.
Why Democrats keep flailing — Another contribution to the great debate over why, despite Donald Trump's provocations, Democrats are having such trouble mobilizing support. This one focuses on governmental ineffectiveness.
No, Trump 2.0. Is Not Normal Constitutional Evolution — An argument against thinking about the Trump Administration as offering just another flavor of the hardball politics that has always characterized US democracy.
The Great Unraveling — News that the monolithic Trump machine may be falling victim to the same divisions that are tearing apart other aspects of society.
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Artificial Intelligence

Life in the Metaverse — For those who can't quite wrap their mind around Zuckerberg's vision of the metaverse, an especially clear statement of what it is, its promise, and the danger it could pose to our future.
Bing and Google's chatbots are a disaster — A reassuring look behind the curtain (and the hype) surrounding the new AI chat bots. They are a long way from anything like artificial intelligence, but not so far from pretending that they have it.
Large language models, explained with a minimum of math and jargon — The best lay explanation that I have seen thus far about how the large language models underlying AI actually work.
AI's Growing Legal Troubles — An informative look at the legal disputes that are now casting a very long shadow over the future of AI development efforts.
The Real AI Weapons Are Drones, Not Nukes — A look at the areas in which artificial intelligence is most likely to have a near-term impact on the nature of war -- autonomous, killer drones.
Let AI remake the whole U.S. government (oh, and save the country) — A rare and hopeful article about the ways in which AI could be used to increase the trustworthiness of governmental institutions -- with at least one real-world precedent.
The Perilous Coming Age of AI Warfare — From Foreign Affairs, thoughts on what AI is going to do the warfare in our increasingly perilous times.
Why We Must Resist AI's Soft Mind Control — Thoughts about how AI, with its inherent biases, is likely to change the way in which we think.
Google's Culture of Fear -- inside the DEI hivemind that led to gemini's disaster — A must-read article describing how DEI has transformed the Google culture and is threatening to transform our image of reality (as we see it through the lens of Google's monopoly).
Plentiful, high-paying jobs in the age of AI — Hopeful news that, even in the age of AI, humans will have a valuable (and well compensated) role to play.
Beating Back Cancel Culture: A Case Study from the Field of Artificial Intelligence — From within the AI community, an analysis of the conflict over how best to handle demands that AI produce DEI sensitive results.
The AI deepfake apocalypse is here. These are the ideas for fighting it. — A story about how we might be able to protect ourselves from a world in which AI makes it increasingly hard to distinguish reality from illusion.
See How Easily A.I. Chatbots Can Be Taught to Spew Disinformation — In an information environment characterized by enormous quantities of information that is unreliable and often deliberately distorted, thoughts about how AI can be used to make the problem even worse.
Maxims for the AI Age by Reid Hoffman — Perceptive principles for guiding emerging AI technologies in ways that better protect us, while also allowing us to take advantage of the technology's potential.
Google's weird AI answers hint at a fundamental problem — Has Google's embarrassing Artificial Intelligence-based advice revealed that the technology is not really so intelligent?
Test Yourself: Which Faces Were Made by A.I.? — An interesting little quiz that allows us all to see for ourselves just how far AI-driven image creation has come.
Mechanical Intelligence and Counterfeit Humanity — A thought-provoking chance to look back and reflect upon the rapid evolution of information technologies over the last 50 years and its impact on society.
What's Ahead for Artificial Intelligence — A big report from the Wall Street Journal on where the rapidly changing field of Artificial Intelligence is taking us.
What if everyone is wrong about what AI does? — A contrarian look at the way in which we have been thinking about Artificial Intelligence and a reminder of the complexities involved in predicting the impact of the new technology.
A Powerful AI Breakthrough Is About to Transform the World — A story about recent developments in artificial intelligence technology that may be about to make it vastly smarter.
To Whom Does the World Belong? — An exploration of an interesting moral and legal question related to AI -- If it is based upon our collective knowledge (as gleaned from the Internet) who owns the product it produces?
How Does A.I. Think? Here's One Theory. — Insightful reflections on the way in which AI technologies actually think -- something that, surprisingly, its designers don't really understand.
How A.I. Could Reshape the Economic Geography of America — An exploration of the possibility that AI technology may reshape labor markets in ways that also alter the geographic distribution of job opportunities.
Scaling up: how increasing inputs has made artificial intelligence more capable — Some answers for those still trying to understand how AI suddenly got so "smart."
DeepSeek has created a 21st-century Sputnik moment — An article that examines the national security implications of the global AI technology race by comparing it to an earlier era and the shock of discovering that the Soviets could challenge US technology.
Is it okay? — Reflections on the moral questions involved in our personal decisions about when and how to make use of artificial intelligence-based technologies.
The Urgency of Interpretability — The report on one of the most important frontiers in the field of artificial intelligence -- trying to figure out why AI systems behave as they do.
Zuckerberg’s Grand Vision: Most of Your Friends Will Be AI — A terrifying vision for the future with big-name backing from Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg -- a world in which we've abandoned reality in favor of AI-generated illusion.
For Some Recent Graduates, the A.I. Job Apocalypse May Already Be Here — A report on the way in which AI is already dramatically altering labor markets -- especially for young knowledge workers.
Big Tech’s AI Endgame Is Coming Into Focus — An analysis of where, several steps down the pipeline, the AI-led technological revolution is going and what the high-tech industry has planned for us.
A.I. Can Already See You in Ways You Can’t See Yourself — For those wondering how AI thinks about us, the surprising look at its unconventional "thought" process.
A.I. Might Take Your Job. Here Are 22 New Ones It Could Give You. — One of the few articles that I've seen that actually starts to consider the new kinds of jobs that AI is likely to create.
How AI Can Support Democracy Movements — If we have to live with the many ways in which AI is threatening peace and democracy, we might as well start learning how to take advantage of the technology.
Are We Really Willing to Become Dumber? — More food for thought for those trying to understand the relationship between AI intelligence and human intelligence and how the former might undermine the latter.
The Era of A.I. Propaganda Has Arrived, and America Must Act — Reflections on the terrifying potential of AI-driven political propaganda and proposed steps that we could take to defend ourselves.
The AI Takeover of Education Is Just Getting Started — Food for thought for educators and students struggling to understand how AI is going to reshape the institution within which they live and work.
The AI Doomers Are Getting Doomier — More insights into the potential downsides of AI -- downsides that we need to find effective ways of limiting.
A Better Way to Think About AI — A reminder that the principle that "all good things tend to be intertwined with bad things." This essay applies this principle to efforts to promote more beneficial uses of AI.
The False Promise of “AI for Social Good” — A critical look at claims that AI technologies will advance the common good (and a set of challenges for those trying to guide the technology in more positive ways).
AI Is Grown, Not Built — An argument that AI is less of an engineered, "complicated" system and more of a complex, continually evolving, organic system.
This Is No Way to Rule a Country — A surprising and worrying report about efforts to solve our dysfunctional politics by turning the responsibilities of governance over the AI systems.
When AI Hype Meets AI Reality: A Reckoning in 6 Charts — Compelling charts explaining the magnitude of the AI boom -- something that is swallowing a gigantic share of the resources available for capital and infrastructure investment.
Niall Ferguson: The AI Boom Is a House of Cards — An overview of the complex deals that may be transforming the race to develop AI technologies into an unsustainable economic bubble that threatens the global economy.
How to Cheat at Conversation — Yet another surprising and scary story about a way in which AI is robbing us of our humanity.
Artificial Barriers to Intelligence — News that AI has mastered another aspect of human intelligence -- the ability to evade tough questions.
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Education

What Is School For? — Perhaps our most deep-rooted instinct is to protect our children. That's why school conflicts are so intense. In this context, set of essays to help us think things through what matters in education.
The Two Fiduciary Duties of Professors — From Jonathan Haidt, an exploration of the collision between "two incompatible sacred values in American universities" -- truth vs. social justice.
Fire Them All; God Will Know His Own — From the Harvard Crimson, an irreverent look at the administrative bloat that has led to skyrocketing college costs and profound changes in the nature of higher education.
When colleges take political positions, they show who isn't wanted — A persuasive argument that universities should not, as institutions, take political positions -- positions that cut off critically needed debate on important social issues.
Life is Inherently Uncomfortable — An argument that universities should focus less on being safe and nurturing and more on preparing students for a world of controversy and conflict in which things do not always go well.
In the Age of A.I., Major in Being Human — Sound advice for young people thinking about how to fit into a world in which artificial intelligence technologies are going to do things that we used to think only highly educated people could do.
The Approaching Disintegration of Academia — Reflections on what the abandonment of objectivity would mean for academia (and society's ability to solve problems where solutions depend on true, not politically convenient, understanding).
How To Overhaul Higher Education — For the many who are deeply frustrated by the current state of higher education, specific reform proposals. We need to encourage comparable proposals for reforming our other troubled institutions.
Americans Are Losing Faith in the Value of College. Whose Fault Is That? — A wake-up call for higher education. It is losing the support it needs to fulfill its mission. To rebuild that support, it needs to fulfill that mission much more effectively.
American Universities Are Post-truth — Universities were, above all, supposed to be in the business of providing us with increasingly accurate and reliable information about the nature of our world. An article on why they are failing to do this.
The Harvard of the Unwoke — For those looking for a reasonable, but less "woke" model for 21st century higher education, a report on Ben Sasse's experiment at the University of Florida.
The Real Problem With American Universities — For those who would like to see universities take effective steps to re-earn the public's trust, a systematic look at higher education's problems and possible solutions.
Why America's Richest Universities Are Protecting Hate-Filled Foreign Students — A surprising look at the way in which DEI incentives have led universities to recruit (and profit from) rich foreign students (who are also allowed greater freedom of speech protections).
What Do American Universities and Communist Political Systems Have in Common? — A critical look at higher education that draws disturbing parallels between today's culture of higher education and communist regimes.
The Coddling of the American Undergraduate — A look at the nature and implications of the United States' current approach to higher education.
What Would Success Look Like in American Education? — You can't solve problems if you don't have a shared vision of what a solution would look like. This essay tries to imagine a goal for our educational system that we could all work toward.
The Misery of Leading Columbia University — A look at what it takes to lead a major university today with important lessons about why effective and broadly supported leaders are now such a rarity.
To Rebuild Trust, Universities Need To Build Open-Minded Brands — Concrete steps that universities could take to earn back the public's trust (and do a better job of serving the larger society).
Saving the Idea of the University at Dartmouth — From the president of Dartmouth, thoughts about how universities might be better able to live up to to their traditional ideals.
Should a 'Diverse' Campus Mean More Conservatives? — A look at the many arguments swirling around calling for more ideological diversity on campus.
Abolish Grades — A description of a surprisingly well reasoned strategy for limiting the ways in which grade inflation is distorting the educational incentives of today's college students.
American College Student Freedom, Progress, and Flourishing Survey — A big statistical report that offers an illuminating window into the life and thinking of today's college students.
College for all' needs a rethink. National security could depend on it. — In the midst of an increasingly serious national security challenge, an argument that our college-focused educational system is not producing enough people with the essential, blue-collar skills we need.
Niall Ferguson: After the Treason of the Intellectuals" on YouTube — An argument that the progressive monoculture that has taken over higher education and intellectual life has abandoned the honest pursuit of truth.
America's new caste system: The education gap has dented democracy — An argument that the most important political divide is not race or class -- its education.
The Department of Education: The Un-American Institution Destroying Progress — In the spirit of listening to the other side, this article tries to explain why so many of those on the political right are so opposed to the actions of the US Department of Education.
Politicization of the American University — An excellentseries of articles that try to help us understand how higher education has changed in recent years, why it's public support has collapsed, and what might be done to fix things.
How Higher Education Can Win Back America — An example of the kind of reform-oriented thinking that will have to become widespread if our institutions are to regain the public's trust.
Why Is Academia A Fraud Factory? — A provocative exploration of the ongoing epidemic of scientific fraud and thoughts about what it will take to fix it.
A New Kind of Crisis for American Universities — An analysis of the complex ramifications of the way in which Trump is directly attacking the economic model underlying the modern research university.
How Did Academia Not See It Coming — Insightful, and nonstandard, reflections on the mistakes that academia made that caused public trust in and support for academic institutions to collapse.
How Trump Can Lead Higher-Education Reform — An example of a constructive response to President Trump's attack on higher education --- instead of blindly defending everything, use this as an occasion to pursue reforms that could strengthen our universities.
I'm a Liberal at a 'Conservative' University. How Did I End Up Here? — An essay exploring the University of Texas at Austin's (UATX) efforts to reform higher education in ways that they hope will allow it to once again earn the public's trust.
Abandoning DEI won't fix academia's left-leaning problem — For DEI's opponents and supporters, a reminder that this is not just a debate over DEI funding, it is a much more fundamental debate about what we mean by "justice" and how we view our common history.
Colleges Have to Be Much More Honest With Themselves — Amid Trump's all-out effort to transform higher education, a call for our nation's universities to take a hard look at why so much of the general public has turned against them.
Government and universities battle in a contest of bad behavior — A thoughtful critique of the theories of change that Trump is following in his attempt to transform universities and that universities are using to resist those efforts.
The Average College Student Is Illiterate — Over the door to our university library is the inscription, "Enter Here the Timeless Fellowship of the Human Spirit." Sad news that today's students may not be able to read that.
It’s Easy to Understand Why Universities Have Lost Public Trust — Thoughts on how universities might be able to rebuild lost public trust -- trust that is critical to higher education's ability resist the political pressures that can undermine its objectivity.
The Right Is Winning the Battle Over Higher Education — An explanation of why those on the political right are so supportive of the changes in higher education that President Trump is demanding.
The Broken Promise of Academic Freedom — As universities struggle to defend academic freedom, an article examining ways in which higher education has made this test a much more difficult.
The High-School Juniors With $70,000-a-Year Job Offers — Further evidence of just how badly we need (and how much we've neglected and disrespected) the blue-collar trades -- occupations that we rely on, but don't think too much about.
My Education Solution — From a right-leaning perspective, a valuable attempt to make those on the left understand why so many think that higher education is in need of radical reform.
As ‘Grading for Equity’ Movement Grows, More Teachers Are Pushing Back — The thought-provoking article that asks us how we should define "equity" if we want to be fair.
How One Ivy League University Has Avoided Trump’s Retribution So Far — The report that tries to explain why Dartmouth College has been able to avoid so much of the firestorm that has engulfed the rest of higher education.
Is the University Of Austin Betraying Its Founding Principles? — An article that has generated a lot of interest and controversy by highlighting the ongoing debate over how, exactly, the University of Austin should pursue its mission of reforming university culture.
Education’s Elephant in the Room — As we struggle with the complex conflicts surrounding inequality, thoughts about aspects of inequality that are beyond our control.
We Can Still Save Higher Education — Amid intense and widespread criticism of higher education, this article offers a constructive response -- a proposed strategy that higher education could use to re-earn the public's trust.
The Perverse Consequences of the Easy A — An analysis of the surprising downsides associated with grade inflation (and university efforts to keep their primary customers happy).
The Higher Ed Death Spiral — An unusually comprehensive summary of the vast array of problems now plaguing higher education.
The End of Thinking — An our exploration of the flipside of artificial intelligence
The Proposed "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education" and the First Amendment — An enlightening look at the complex arguments being made by the left and right in response to President Trump's higher education Compact.
How much would students pay to avoid ideological opposition on campus? — The report on a major study that documents the degree to which college students will seek out and enroll in institutions that are less ideologically diverse and more closely aligned with their personal beliefs.
We Already Have a Social Contract for Universities — A especially thoughtful and balanced analysis of the ongoing debate regarding the appropriate relationship between United States and its universities.
Public Schools Are Molds Not Platforms — A sensible strategy for thinking about educational reform -- one that avoids partisan minefields and is actually likely to appeal across the political spectrum.
Higher Ed Needs Receivership, Not Reform — For those who can understand why anyone would be supporting Donald Trump's assault on higher education, an explanation of why there are reasonable people who think that radical change is needed.
The College Kids Who Can’t Do Basic Math — More evidence that our efforts to prevent students from failing are leading to a world in which far too few succeed in mastering the basic intellectual building blocks.
The Screen That Ate Your Child’s Education — Surprising news that smart phones aren't the only screen-based way in which addictive Internet content can undermine your child's education.
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Climate / Environment / Health

The Environmentalists Undermining Environmentalism — A reminder that efforts to limit climate change will require us all to make tough choices and sacrifices -- including environmentalists.
Beyond Catastrophe: A New Climate Reality Is Coming Into View — Hopeful news that, despite many, many problems, our efforts to combat climate change are having an impact and the future is starting to look a bit brighter. Keep working, things aren't hopeless.
The Democrats' Climate Problem — A detailed account of one case in which conflict dynamics have pushed problem-solving efforts toward extremes---extremes which undermine efforts to deal with the problem.
U.S. Extreme Weather in 2022 — An extensive and long-term look at statistics on the incidence of different types of bad weather that makes it clear that it's not all climate change and that disaster preparedness is essential.
An Even Deadlier Pandemic Could Soon Be Here — The COVID-19 pandemic revealed how very far we are from being able to sensibly and effectively respond to such crises. We simply have to do better and this article explains why we have to hurry.
The Dawn of Nuclear Energy Abundance — As we start to spend big money on the shift away from carbon-based fuels, hard questions about the limits of wind and solar and hopeful thoughts about the promise of nuclear energy.
We need an area the size of Texas for wind and solar. Here's how to halve it. — An important first effort to seriously consider (and find constructive ways of limiting) the growing opposition to the staggering amounts of land that a wind/solar-based energy system will require.
Climate Change and Disaster Losses — A look at what one needs to consider if one wants to rigorously assess the impacts of climate change (and allocate scarce resources wisely).
Climate Journalism is Broken — A look at the way in which the many problems afflicting contemporary journalism are impacting coverage of climate-related issues and, potentially, distorting our response to the crisis.
Backlash to climate policies is growing. A new strategy is needed. — Growing reason to believe that many projects designed to reduce CO2 emissions are running into serious trouble because of a failure to anticipate respond effectively to likely sources of conflict.
Turning Down the Temperature on Extreme Claims About Extreme Weather — A look at the complex methodological issues surrounding efforts to understand the impact of climate change, plus an argument that things are not quite as bad as commonly portrayed.
The Climate-Change 'Emergency' Is Coming for You — A skeptical account of the wisdom of many current climate change policies and a preview of emerging conflicts over those policies. Protecting the climate will require more constructive responses.
The Coming Revolution in Climate Research — For those who recognize the importance of "trusting the science" with respect to climate issues, welcome news that the science is about to get much better (and more reassuring).
Why America Doesn't Build — An essay examining ways in which an inability to constructively navigate the many conflicts associated with the transition to a net zero energy economy is threatening to undermine the entire effort.
Bone-Chilling — The story about how important it is that we maintain our infrastructure in ways that allow it to cope with extreme events.
How Much Does it Cost to Build a Nuclear Power Plant? — For a time when efforts to speed the transition to carbon-free energy sources are encountering difficulties, welcome news that nuclear power may be cheaper than we thought.
How Climate Policy Went Wrong — Hard questions about whether our climate strategy is going to be able to achieve its desired objective or whether we're just wasting money on a green energy industrial complex. We can't afford to get this wrong.
Don't San Francisco--ize Clean Energy — An important story about a second-order problem that presents a serious threat to efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
Unleash the power of bipartisan NRC reform — For those who recognize the importance of moving as rapidly as possible to limit carbon emissions, sensible proposals for improving our ability to take advantage of nuclear power.
The Climate Fix Book Club, Chapter 9 & Full Book — Links to a thoughtful series of articles (and an online book) that try to get beyond climate hysteria and focus on what, exactly, the science is telling us about how to most effectively address the problem.
Is Global Climate Policy Working? — If you really care about the climate (and you should), you ought to be asking hard questions like this about whether current policies are actually working.
Defending the status quo is not environmentalism — A reminder that the banana syndrome (build absolutely nothing anywhere near anything) can't successfully protect the environment.
Amid explosive demand, America is running out of power — Startling statistics about how much energy AI is going to consume and how that is likely to affect our efforts to move away from fossil fuels.
Follow the Science' Leads to Ruin — Thoughts on how climate orthodoxies could be making things worse, rather than better -- comments that those concerned about climate ought to carefully consider.
California's Electricity Disaster In Seven Charts — If we are going to save the climate by electrifying everything, then we better be able to produce a lot of clean electricity.
The 'Blood Bath' Battle and the Electric Car War — An exploration of the looming political battle over EV vehicle mandates (and the way in which that debate is being expressed in 2024 campaign rhetoric).
The Coming Electricity Crisis — As the climate change emergency focuses efforts on "electrifying everything," more information about how far we are from being able to produce enough electricity.
The U.S. Urgently Needs a Bigger Grid. Here's a Fast Solution. — An example of the kind of unexpected and seemingly insignificant technology that could emerge from the shadows and play a big role in making the energy transition successful.
To Fight Climate Change, We Need New 'Political Technologies' — Welcome recognition that successfully fighting climate change will require major improvements in the political process we use to make decisions about climate related issues.
As Bird Flu Looms, the Lessons of Past Pandemics Take On New Urgency — As we still struggle to decide what lessons we should learn from society's contentious COVID response, news that we may soon have to apply those lessons.
When the Only Problem Was Climate Change — A nostalgic look back to the time when we thought the world's only big, remaining problem was climate change. Now, sadly, we know (or should know) better.
What The Media Won't Tell You About The Energy Transition — A statistical look at just how badly the global energy transition is going -- an analysis that highlights the need to find cleaner ways of powering the developed world.
The 'Climate Crisis' Fades Out — News that the general public may be losing interest in climate related issues as the "issue attention" cycle winds down.
No, You Don't Have the Power to Stop Climate Change — An important reminder that efforts to limit climate change ultimately depend upon strong support from the developing world -- something that will require massive increases in carbon free energy production.
Recycling Plastic Is a Dangerous Waste of Time — A report on an alarming study that suggests that factories that grind up plastics to recycle them are actually the biggest source of micro-plastic pollution. Proof that good intentions are not enough.
A New Age of Materials Is Dawning, for Everything From Smartphones to Missiles — A description of the new, and largely unrecognized, technology that may turn out to be hugely consequential -- hopefully, in a genuinely positive way.
Climate Fueled Extreme Weather — The first in a series of posts looking at the ways in which scientific and popular images of the relationship between climate change and extreme weather have diverged.
Why Are Carbon Emissions Up? — A more understandable summary of the major new research report highlighting the fact that most of the things that we have been doing to fight climate change aren't working.
Climate policies that achieved major emission reductions: Global evidence from two decades — A major new study from the American Association for the Advancement of Science's, Science Magazine that argues that most of what we are doing to fight climate change isn't working. Time for a major rethink.
Japan Offers a Glimpse into the Future — A story about how Japan is struggling with an energy trilemma in which it seeks to simultaneously balance economic growth, energy security, and meeting international emissions reductions commitments.
Tally Of US Wind & Solar Rejections Hits 735 — Hard data indicating that efforts to limit climate change are being threatened by our failure to effectively address the many conflicts that surround wind and solar development projects.
Where Environmentalists Went Wrong — An essay that explains why, with respect to the environment and so many other issues, it is critically important that we wisely and equitably balance costs and benefits.
The Clean Energy Transition's Voter Problem — A report on recent research that documents the giant chasm that divides grassroots citizens from proponents of a clean energy transition -- something that we have to find better ways of addressing.
The Problem With Solar — In all problem-solving efforts, "the devil is in the details." This essay does an especially good job of explaining why , despite its extremely low cost, solar power can't meet our green energy needs.
Global Existential Risks — A scientific look at the nature of existential, societal risk and reassuring news that climate change doesn't qualify (other things do, unfortunately).
Climate Activists Need to Radically Change Their Approach Under Trump — Thoughts about steps the climate change movement can take to escape the ups and downs of partisan politics and build a strong bipartisan foundation for its efforts.
The Unstoppable Rise of Energy Realism — An explanation of the importance of recognizing the harsh realities the global energy market and adjusting climate policies according.
Revenge of the Fossil Fuels — A comprehensive and illuminating window into the workings of the global energy market and the staggering challenges faced by those who really want to limit carbon emissions.
California's Climate Time for Choosing — An illuminating look at the priorities set by California's ruling Democratic Party (and the debate over how those priorities have affected the state's susceptibility to wildfire.)
From Idealism to Realism — From a leading climate scientist with more than 40 years of experience in the field, reflections on the planet's ongoing retreat from its commitments to address the climate change problem.
Putting the Worst Green Ideas in the Dustbin of History — Amid all of the chaos and fury surrounding Trump administration climate policy, an argument that, in some surprising and important areas they are taking genuinely positive steps.
What It Really Means to 'Give Infectious Disease a Break' — A report on one way in which Trump administration policies are posing a genuine threat to our very survival --- a threat that goes beyond understandably partisan efforts to dismantle progressive governance.
The Troubled Energy Transition — From a thoughtful, credible source (not your typical, unprincipled climate deniers), news that, because we misunderstood the world energy market, things are actually going quite badly.
The World Seems to Be Surrendering to Climate Change — A global report on the many ways in which countries are reversing past commitments to limit climate change-related emissions (and a look at the obstacles to building a sustainable consensus for climate action).
A Better Approach to Climate Policy — The report on an earlier and still quite promising effort to craft a climate strategy that is more likely to survive its encounter with the global political system.
How this group got Trump to sign a pro-environment executive order — Another surprising Executive Order from the Trump administration -- an order that gives hope that there really are opportunities for persuasion and compromise.
A Red Team Climate Report — A description of one way in which we might be able to foster a genuinely productive debate on a wide range of climate change -related issues.
The Truth About Climate Change ‘Lies Somewhere in the Middle’ — A rare effort to try to honestly sort through all of the competing arguments regarding the immediacy of the threat posed by climate change in the efficacy of proposed solutions.
UN Climate Week reveals elites’ scorn for the world’s poor — For UN Climate Week, an argument that the benefits of climate-related projects often don't justify their costs (and that the money might be better spent elsewhere).
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Corruption

The Rise of Poverty Inc. — In coining the phrase, military-industrial complex, Dwight Eisenhower gave us the name for the way in which conflicts of interest distort public policy. This article looks at the poverty industrial complex.
Democrats Have a Corruption Problem. They Can't Keep Ignoring It. — From Sarah Chayes, a renowned expert on global corruption, a reminder that the scourge of corrupt politics extends into the Democratic Party.
The Trump Presidency’s World-Historical Heist — An update on the things that the Trump administration is doing that would previously have been considered grotesquely corrupt and unacceptable.
A Comprehensive Accounting of Trump’s Culture of Corruption — A detailed report outlining how far we have come, under the Trump administration, from a political culture in which corruption and conflicts of interest were a serious political liability.
The first rule in Trump’s Washington: Don’t write anything down — Another angle on the importance of governmental transparency (and tricks that unscrupulous leaders use to avoid accountability).
When Strongmen Own the Store — An in-depth update on the degree to which President Trump is exerting his personal control over a very wide array of economic interactions (and the corrupting effects of that control).
Kleptocracy, Inc. — From one of the United States foremost experts on authoritarianism, a review of the many ways in which corruption has been normalized under the Trump administration.
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Class Inequity

There Is a Tax That Could Help With Inflation — An example of a creative idea that might be able to help us escape today's lose-lose policy options for controlling inflation. We need to cultivate such outside-the-box thinking.
Labor's Lost — For anyone concerned about the plight of the "working classes," a first-rate exploration of what everyone ought to know about the factors driving contemporary inequities.
Upward Mobility Is Alive and Well in America — Encouraging news that, despite our many problems and worries, we are continuing to fulfill the American dream of intergenerational upward mobility.
Why Some Students Are Skipping College — Even stronger reason to really do something about the continuing and rapid increases in the cost of higher education -- it is solidifying the class divide by locking ever more students out of the chance to develop their talents.
How ChatGPT Will Destabilize White-Collar Work — Reflections on what could easily become a highly disruptive new technology. We need to figure out how to use AI to help us solve problems while also preserving rewarding employment opportunities.
Thorstein Veblen's Theory of the Leisure Class---A Status Update — An update on the complex psychology of the cosmopolitan elite and the subtle and consequential ways in which they influence the rest of us.
Biden's Vision About How to Heal America — Reflections on a path toward healing America that focuses on the plight of the many people (of all races) that live at the economic margins of society.
White Liberals Vs. The Working Class — One view on the current status of the important, but often neglected, conflict between progressives and the working classes.
Low-wage workers are finally catching a break — A good news story about how those at lower levels of the social hierarchy are, in today's tight job market, doing surprisingly well with wage gains that would have been considered impossible just a few years ago.
Why So Many Elites Feel Like Losers — Insight into the reasons why so many of our most talented, hard-working, and successful young people are struggling and losing faith in the system.
The powerful lesson from 18 million workers getting a pay raise over $15 — Reflections on a welcome and surprising development -- rapid increases in the compensation paid to low-wage workers (something that seemed impossible just a few years ago).
Helping People by Helping Distressed Places — A different and potentially quite promising way of thinking about how to help those that are being left behind -- focus on more than individuals, focus on the places in which people live.
The New National American Elite — For a time in which we all like to think that we are one of the good guys struggling against the oppressive elites, a provocative article that asks us to consider whether we are part of that elite.
Supply-Side Progressivism Has a Fatal Flaw — An update on the promise (and the political perils) of an intriguing new strategy for addressing social inequities -- "supply-side progressivism."
As enrollment plummets, academia gets schooled about where it went wrong — For those disturbed about trends in higher education, a thought-provoking and controversial examination of what went wrong.
The 'Diploma Divide' Is the New Fault Line in American Politics — For a time when so many believe that the United States' principal fault lines revolve around race and gender, an argument that education is even more important.
William Deresiewicz on the "Excellent Sheep" of the American Elite — A really excellent social psychological analysis of the cosmopolitan elite that now effectively controls so much of society.
The Woke University's Servant Class — A look at the hypocritical mismatch between the university's conspicuous commitment to social justice and the exploitive way in which it treats "contingent" faculty.
The War on Poverty Is Over. Rich People Won. — A review and preview of an important and thought provoking new book on the dynamics that produce inequality, unfairness, poverty, and wealth.
The Billionaires Who Are Threatening Democracy — Important detail on how, exactly, the super wealthy exert their influence and undermine democratic institutions.
Class Dismissed -- How material abundance erodes class but intensifies social status. — Thoughtful insights into the meaning of class (which is not as simple as we tend to think) and the role that it plays in contemporary conflict.
The Real Cost of Cheap Labour — A thoughtful exploration of the origins of an economy that pays so many so little and an explanation of why it is in our best interest to change this.
The Great Convergence: Global Equality and Its Discontents — Amid our continuing anguish over Increasing inequality, an essay that takes a global perspective -- one that reveals that, at that level, inequality is decreasing, not increasing.
The Tale of Rising Inequality Turned Out to Be Wrong — A hopeful argument that, while we were all worrying about how increasing inequality was tearing society apart, inequality started decreasing!
What is Meritocracy For? — An article that asks an all-important (but not commonly asked) question, what are the obligations of those who hold positions in the meritocracy?
Why So Many Elites Feel Like Losers — An especially perceptive article highlighting what happens when more people feel entitled to upper level positions in the social hierarchy than there are positions available.
Superstar Cities in the Age of Zoom — An introduction to the field of economic geography -- an attempt to understand exactly why some economic localities are favored, why others are disadvantaged, and what to do about it.
The Workings of the Party-State — An attempt to map out the ways in which today's "power elite" exerts its influence over the larger society.
Chuck Your Privilege — A call for students at elite institutions of higher education who are concerned about unfair privilege and class inequities to be honest with themselves about the many privileges they enjoy.
America's two homelessness problems — A thoughtful look at the two very different elements of homelessness (and options for better dealing with both problems).
How Democrats Lost Voters With a 'Compensate Losers' Strategy — Reflections on the impact of the political strategy that focuses on providing financial assistance to the disadvantaged (rather than removing those disadvantages).
Why America Abandoned the Greatest Economy in History — Reflections on what it was that made the United States' economy so phenomenally productive and thoughts about why those sources of strength are being abandoned.
Another Wrong Way to Measure Poverty — A surprising story about the muddeled and misleading way in which we gather statistics about the incidence of poverty (and some proposed fixes).
What Does the Working Class Really Want? — A pretty persuasive argument that neither Republicans nor Democrats understand the grievances motivating working-class populism. Also missing are proposals for addressing those grievances.
Merit Is No Longer Evil' — An essay exploring the implications of all of the things that we believe, but can't say and the things that we don't believe, but must say.
The Coming Working Class Election — With working-class voters comprising over 60% of the electorate -- a look at the critical role that they are going to play in the upcoming election in their relationship with college-educated elites.
America's social ills are not simply due to inequality and despair — An interesting article questioning some of our most basic assumptions about the challenges facing society and possible remedies -- the kind of outside the box thinking we ought to consider occasionally.
Incompetent Elites Make Trump Look Appealing — A big part of the reason why grassroots citizens are increasingly hostile toward society's elites -- those elites are failing to earn their lavish compensation.
The Grand Canyon-Sized Chasm Between Elites and Ordinary Americans — The report on what is likely the United States' biggest and most consequential political divide --- the one that separates elites from the rest of society.
Rob Henderson: Social Class, Elite Virtue Signaling, and "Luxury Beliefs" — An essay exploring the sociology of "luxury beliefs" and the way in which those beliefs signal status and virtue while undermining societal problem solving.
Meritocracy and Its Discontents — A review and summary of two new books that delve into the debate over whether the meritocracy has had a positive or negative impact on society.
Preach What You Practice: Charles Murray on Our New Class Divide: Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960--2010 — A report on a pretty persuasive conservative strategy for limiting inequality from Charles Murray -- one of the first to highlight the class tensions that would give rise to Donald Trump.
Why good news about inequality is awkward for the left and right — Eye-opening news about serious flaws in the way in which we have, for decades, been calculating statistics about poverty and the level of inequality.
The U.S. Already Soaks the Rich — A thought-provoking essay revealing that recent efforts to redistribute income and wealth away from the rich have been much more successful than we might have thought (though probably still not successful enough).
Elite College Admissions Have Turned Students Into Brands — The story from the highest levels of higher education that suggests that the way that the meritocracy measures merit is in need of serious reform.
Are we overproducing elites and instability? — A perceptive argument that some of our most difficult conflicts stem from the fact that more people feel entitled to elite positions within society than society has to offer.
Embrace your Inner Barbarian — A provocative and challenging essay that asks today's highly educated elites to quit defending just their narrow interests and start defending the interests of society as a whole.
The Billionaires Who Are Threatening Democracy — In his new book, the historian Quinn Slobodian writes about the ideologues who believe that society should prioritize capital, not people.
Want to help Trump? Keep up the 'White rural rage' stereotyping. — A timely warning for opponents of former President Trump, continuing to refer to his supporters in demeaning and dismissive ways drives the hyper-polarization spiral and strengthens his candidacy.
World's Biggest Construction Project Gets a Reality Check — News about an astonishingly ambitious Saudi effort to build 105 mile long skyscraper taller than the Empire State building (and an example of the absurdities of concentrated wealth).
The Sins of the Educated Class — A must read article that explains how the actions of today's highly educated, "knowledge" workers continue to inflame the populist right in ways that genuinely threaten the viability of modern society.
The Party of the Ultrarich and the Ultra-poor' — An examination of the demographic characteristics of the Democratic Party -- a party that has lost its middle class base of support.
This Is What Elite Failure Looks Like — An essay that helps us understand why there is such a widespread revolt against the elites at the top of so many democratic societies.
Biden's bad rent-control idea has no upside — An explanation of why rent and price controls are a poor way of solving affordability problems.
What Gives Poor Kids a Shot at Better Lives? Economists Find an Unexpected Answer — A summary of a new analysis of the factors that determine intergenerational social mobility (the ability of poor kids to move up the economic ladder).
The great wealth wave — A hopeful argument that, while everyone was worrying about inequality and lack of economic opportunity, the Western world was actually moving in the opposite direction.
What Populism Is---And Isn't: Everything you need to know about the buzziest and most dangerous political force of our time. — A primer on what everyone needs to know about the buzziest and most dangerous political force of our time.
Here Comes Kamala's Mortgage Forgiveness — A review of a surprisingly large number of sometimes legally questionable governmental programs designed to promote housing affordability. The big question is, are they really affordable?
The Intellectual Roots of YIMBYism — Is YIMBY the true opposite of the NIMBY (not in my backyard) syndrome that has long prevented us from building most anything? Or, is it just a way of saying, yes, build it in somebody else's backyard.
John Rawls and the death of Western Marxism — A thought-provoking essay highlighting the ways in which Marxist thought has evolved in the West over the last several decades.
Meritocracy and Its Critics — An articulate defense of meritocratic institutions and ideas -- a defense that provides an important counterpoint to the more critical views that now dominate.
They Still Won't Say That They're Sorry: deindustrialization's victims and the wonks who won't acknowledge them — Thought on the ways in which proponents of globalization have failed to acknowledge (and take steps to remedy) the adverse impacts associated with their policies.
Peter Thiel and the Triumph of the Counter-Elites — A look at the wealthy elites who are now part of the anti-elites.
The New Class Politics — An argument that our turbulent politics is a whole lot easier to understand when one focuses on class-based differences.
The New Driving Force of Identity Politics Is Class, Not Race — An argument that the United States' "identity politics" is in the process of refocusing itself around class and away from race.
What Does HUD Have to Show for the Trillions It's Spent? — Hard questions about whether or not the Department of Urban Development has produced positive results commensurate with the public's investment (and a reminder of the importance of quality program evaluation).
The election, the elite, and the roots of our dysfunction — The review and brief summary of two new books that explore the ways in which the cultural traits of the highly educated are diverging from the traits of the larger population.
America doesn't really have a working class — A thought-provoking exploration of the nature of class in contemporary society and an argument that what we traditionally thought of as the working class may no longer exist.
The Re-Skilling of America — Hard questions about whether higher education is giving students real value for their money and whether programs that cultivate blue-collar skills might be more valuable.
Why Poor American Kids Are So Likely to Become Poor Adults — For those committed to finding ways of ending poverty and material deprivation, an example of the kind of multifaceted thinking that will be required to find solutions.
The 'White-Collar Lie' Led Americans To Embrace Illegal Labor — A provocative and insightful essay that asks hard questions about why so many people disrespect those who do blue-collar work and the relationship between this and our embrace of extra-legal immigration.
Why Is Africa Poor? — An important and persuasive argument that much of Africa's struggles are attributable to a lack of basic freedoms rather than its colonial legacy.
America Doesn't Just Have a Housing Crisis. It Has a Moving Crisis — An examination of the complex factors surrounding the sharp decline in the geographic mobility the US population (and reflections of how that contributes to social tensions and inequities).
‘Economic Affirmative Action’ Won’t Work — Hard questions for those who think that focusing on class instead of race is the key to building a broader base of support affirmative action.
The Changing Politics of Oligarchy — The timely analysis of the complex way in which superrich "oligarchs" influence and manipulate our society.
Stop Trying to Make Everyone Go to College — For a society with an oversupply of white-collar workers and an under supply of blue-collar workers, a timely argument against our overemphasis on higher education.
Billionaire do-gooding is out. Naked oligarchy is in — Disturbing reflections on the changing norms of the superrich.
The Elite Overproduction Hypothesis — An analysis of the hypothesis that many of our conflicts result from the fact that there are not enough positions in the upper levels of the social hierarchy to fill the demand from people who feel entitled to those positions.
Mamdani May Herald a New Kind of Class Struggle — Thoughtful reflections on Mamdani's stunning political rise and what it says about class conflict in the United States.
America’s New Segregation — The critically important observation that should do much to shape our thinking about ways of escaping our current political predicament -- we are now more segregated by class than we were ever segregated by race.
Elon Musk and the Decline of Western Civilization — Important reflections about the emergence of a new 21st-century style of oligarchy within Western liberal democracies.
A Blue-Collar View of Psychology’s Woke Drift — A rare, first-person account of what it's like to simultaneously live in the blue-collar world of the construction trades and the white-collar world of academia.
The Democrats’ Class Gap Problem — One of the problems with the "everything is either racism or gender bias" frame is that it has undermined the ability of Democrats to see deep, class-based resentments.
Why Are the Democrats Increasing Inequality? — For those wondering why inequality is increasing and students are learning less in school, a well-reasoned argument that the problem lies in our equity-based approach to education.
Why Ford Can’t Find Mechanics — Another reason to think that we've gone too far in telling young people that college and a white-collar job is the only path to a respectable future. We have an oversupply of educated elites and a shortage of skilled blue-collar workers.
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Immigration

Blinken Meets With Mexico's President About Surge in Migration at the Border — A look at the nature and magnitude of the United States' immigration crisis -- something that is likely to play a major role in the upcoming election.
America Can't Do Without Immigrants — A pretty comprehensive overview of the many ways in which immigration benefits our society.
How Not to Hand Populists a Weapon — An argument for diffusing the right wing, populist threat to democracy by seriously addressing the legitimate concerns they raise about immigration.
The Case for a Merit-Based Immigration System — For a world in which immigration has become a major flashpoint, concrete ideas for more constructively handling the many who would like to migrate.
The Real Questions of the Immigration Debate — From a thoughtful, conservative perspective, an example of how to constructively raise difficult and controversial issues without fear and hatemongering.
The Great Immigration Public-Opinion Reversal — Stunning statistics about the extremely rapid change that has occurred in public opinion regarding immigration to the US.
Is There Really a Plot to Use Migrants to Turn America Blue? — A well-documented and thorough inquiry into the politics of immigration -- motivations, strategies, and implications.
Trump's Mass Deportation Promise — A semi-friendly and semi-critical look at Trump's mass deportation plans that highlights ways in which things could go both right and wrong.
How do countries measure immigration, and how accurate is this data? — Hard data for those who want a more reliable basis for evaluating the claims made by the various sides of the immigration conflict.
Why deportations actually dropped in Trump's first term — A surprising factoid that challenges the conventional wisdom -- deportations dropped under Trump (as compared with the Obama years).
Something Extraordinary Is Happening All Over the World — A review of the many ways in which large-scale human migrations are transforming (and placing great stress on) societies all over the world.
Immigrants and Freedom of Speech — A thoughtful exploration of the complex and legally murky nature of free speech rights for noncitizens.
Sweden Has a Big Problem — For those looking for an explanation of the complex of ways in which immigration is transforming European societies, an illuminating report from Sweden
Yes, Biden really did make a mess of immigration. — A rare and balanced look at the role the Democrats have played in setting the stage for the ongoing backlash against immigration (and Trump's often outrageous deportation efforts).
Multiculturalism sounds nice — until it destroys your society. — A thought-provoking and likely controversial exploration of the limits of multiculturalism and the value of the shared national identity.
Is Civil War Coming to Europe? — From a frequent skeptic of Civil War talk, a disturbing analysis of the enormous strains that immigration, primarily from Muslim societies, is placing on Europe.
Trump is deporting fewer people than Obama. He’s just louder and meaner. — Another example of the way in which the Trump administration seems to focus more on appearances than the substantive success of its policies.
Biden and Trump, in their own ways, poisoned the immigration debate — Immigration is one of the most consequential and divisive issues of our time. This article explains how both Republicans and Democrats have made the problem even more intractable.
‘The System Is Meant to Break You’: What ICE Is Doing to People Here Legally — A ghastly and outrageous description of what ICE is doing to US citizens (and those suspected of being in the US illegally) -- institutionalized sadism and cruelty.
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Freedom of Speech

The End of Progressive Intellectual Life — A worrisome argument that progressives have concluded that today's big issues all fall into the realm of "settled knowledge" where disagreement and debate is no longer appropriate.
An Illustrated Guide to Self-Censorship — An interesting exploration of the many ways in which modern society influences what we do and do not feel comfortable saying.
Greg Lukianoff on How to Build a Culture of Free Speech — Thoughtful advice on how to cultivate both public support for freedom of speech and an ability to use those freedoms effectively.
Why civility should not trump free expression: Part 10 of answers to bad arguments against free speech from Nadine Strossen and Greg Lukianoff — For those trying to think through what limits should be placed on free speech, a link to thoughts on one part of the argument plus links to 13 articles addressing other aspects of this complex issue.
Tolerating Intolerance: The Free Speech Paradox — An exploration of one of the toughest challenges facing efforts to build a diverse democracy based on mutual tolerance -- the unwillingness of some people to tolerate political opponents.
Here's the Long List of Topics Republicans Want Banned From the Classroom — Amid free speech concerns about Republican efforts to ban the teaching of certain topics, a reasonably impartial look at what, exactly, they are trying to ban.
Free Speech Defenders Must Be Consistent — A plea for free speech standards that protect everyone's right to express their views and not just the rights of one's allies.
Free speech is in trouble — From Nate Silver, a detailed look at a major new poll exploring what young people really think about free speech.
Why activism leads to so much bad writing — A thought-provoking exploration of the tension between politics (with its need to compromise) and art (with its focus on articulating an idea).
The Truth About Banned Books — A report on a systematic effort to identify political biases in the holdings of K-12 school libraries.
New Hate Speech Laws Threaten Freedom Across the West — An update on how efforts to control hate speech may be undermining the most foundational of all our freedoms -- the freedom to think and speak one's mind.
Google and the Gemini Debacle — In the case of Google, more information about how DEI is altering the kind of "intelligence" produced by AI.
USAID Internal Documents Reveal Government Plot To Promote Censorship Initiatives — Useful new information for those trying to figure out what they think about stories of government censorship initiatives.
Not in Our Name — From an Israeli perspective, reflections on the relationship between freedom of speech and efforts to limit campus protests.
Canada's Assault on Free Speech — Canada is at the forefront of progressive efforts to promote "social justice" by controlling speech. This alarming article tells us just how far they've gone.
Mind the Gap — An essay exploring the chasm between what we know is true -- and what we feel comfortable saying out loud.
First Amendment Doesn't Protect Speech That Solicits a Specific Crime — An examination of one of the most difficult issues facing free speech advocates -- where to draw the line between protected speech and criminal speech.
Answers to 12 Bad Anti-Free Speech Arguments — For those who find themselves engaged in free-speech debates, a review of strategies for rebutting common arguments against free speech.
Scenes From The Literary Blacklist — A heartbreaking story about how cancel culture pressures are destroying young writers' careers and creativity before anyone really has a chance to hear what they have to say.
Art Under Quiet Siege — More reason to think that, in the name of diversity, we are robbing ourselves of the diverse voices that we all need to learn, evolve, and enjoy one another's creative insights.
Why Are Museums So Afraid of This Artist? — A profile about an artist famous for disdaining the cult of personality and challenging the art world to address society's tough issues.
I've written many dark and stormy columns on free speech. Not this one. — An upbeat observation that, as a society, we may be rediscovering the virtues of free speech.
The Censorship Industrial Complex Is US Government Counterpopulist Blowback — Food for thought for those who on the left to do not understand why those on the right are so upset about efforts to combat misinformation.
A People's History of Free Speech — A valuable primer on the origins of and the reasoning behind free speech protections.
Despite positive signs for Team Freedom, the game is far from over — From the former Governor of Indiana, an update on what he sees as the status of today's freedom of speech conflicts.
Lesson 1: Be willing to drive the bus into a wall — For those supportive of the work of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, an article describing how they do what they do.
Martin Gurri: The Great American Debate Begins Again — A hopeful article celebrating Trump's efforts to remove cancel culture restrictions on open debate. The challenge is to avoid replacing them with similar Trump-era restrictions.
Snitch hotlines for 'offensive' speech were a nightmare on campus --- and now they're coming to a neighborhood near you — For those concerned about freedom of speech and big brother-style efforts to control our thoughts and behavior, a critical look at the rise of "bias reporting systems."
Censorship is Anti-American — A well-documented and multifaceted essay explaining the many ways in which free speech is under attack in the United States.
Europe Really Is Jailing People for Online Speech — For those who think that citizens of all democracies enjoy the same free speech rights that we take for granted, news from Europe about the limits being placed on those rights.
Europe’s Free-Speech Problem — For those who assume that the United States' free-speech traditions are shared by other liberal democracies, an enlightening look at the conflict that has emerged over free speech in Europe.
Censorship makes you dumber* — Another in the welcome flurry of articles highlighting the often disregarded reasons why protecting free speech is in the interests of both the left and the right.
Open Societies Are Stronger Than They Appear — An encouraging reminder that open democratic societies have historically proven themselves to be extremely resilient and able to survive challenges as serious as the one we now face.
The global free speech recession — Disturbing news for those who cherish free speech and think that it is critical to our ability to wisely and equitably solve problems (and resist tyranny).
Chaos at Berkeley: Free Speech Under Siege — At UC Berkeley, the home of the Free Speech Movement from the 1960s, disturbing opposition to a panel discussion held in honor of the assassinated Charlie Kirk.
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Critical Theory

Where Does 'Wokeness' Come From? — A look back at the origins of the cluster of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs that are now playing such a dominant role in so many institutions.
How Elites Ate the Social Justice Movement — An overview a new book that explores the complex relationship between social justice elites and the people who have truly been treated unjustly by society.
Thomas Sowell on the Trouble With 'Social Justice' — We often take the pursuit of social justice as a desirable end in and of itself, without ever really being clear about what, exactly, it means. This article tries to force us to think more critically about the term.
The End of Allyship — An assessment of the role that unquestioning "allyship" has played in a hyper-polarizing society by preventing constructive criticism.
A Billion-Dollar Bet on Local News — A good news story about a major effort to restore local news -- a cornerstone of effective civic culture and the ability of local communities to govern themselves democratically.
Finally, a book about critical social justice that its advocates might read — A review and summary of Yascha Mounk major new, must-read book on intersectionality, the identity synthesis and an associated trap that is taking society in very dangerous directions.
The MAGAfication of the Left: A progressive movement that makes allowances for Jew-hatred cannot endure. — A highly critical look at the social justice left that focuses on moral hypocrisy of fighting against oppression while embracing anti-Semitism.
Social' Justice Is Injustice — A provocative challenge to the kind of justice being pursued by the social justice movement.
Bari Weiss: End DEI — A critical look at the a critical look at the DEI programs that have now become so firmly embedded in the conventional wisdom (and valuable food for thought).
Progressives Aren't Liberal — An in-depth look at the evolution of the words "liberal" and "progressive" with real insights into the enormously important conflict between these two worldviews.
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Progressive Left

The Unseen Side of "Cancel Culture" — An exploration of how the fear of being caught in the middle of the cancel culture outrage storm is preventing us from even thinking about and discussing better ways of working through our problems.
How Social Justice Became a New Religion — For a time when we thought that religious wars were thing of the past, a provocative argument that we are dealing with a new kind of conflict -- one based on a secular religion.
Fear of Cancel Culture Is Worse Than Cancel Culture — The ambiguous and, in many ways, unpredictable ways in which the cancel culture punishes "unacceptable" behavior has dramatically increased its impact (by forcing most everyone to "play it safe").
The Real Reason Cancel Culture Is So Contentious — An intriguing new explanation of why the "cancel culture" wars are so divisive -- neither side is being clear about exactly what they want (leaving their others to assume the worst).
Fables of the Deconstruction — A lighter and very illuminating inquiry into the many ways in which our society discriminates against left-handers (with important lessons about what we should and shouldn't be doing to help all disadvantaged groups).
Inclusive or Alienating? The Language Wars Go On — A thoughtful argument that widespread efforts to enforce increasingly aggressive changes in the use of language are making things worse rather than better.
The Anti-American Psychological Association — A disturbing report on the degree to which the science of psychology has replaced objective consideration of the field's big questions with progressive advocacy.
How Therapists Became Social Justice Warriors — More on the fuzzy line between psychotherapy and politics and the notion that one political view constitutes absolute truth.
Collective Guilt is the Most Indefensible Form of Cancel Culture — A look at how the "cancel culture" embraces a kind of collective punishment that, in other contexts, is seen as a serious human rights violation.
The Culture of Transgression — An informed and thoughtful critique of the progressive, Democratic elite that does much to explain the intensity and strength of the populist opposition. Something everyone ought to read.
Social Justice's Forbidden Word — An important observation and criticism of the social justice movement that centers around its failure to recognize the importance of forgiveness.
Sick of Cancel Culture? One Man Has a Surprising Solution. — An interview with Greg Lukianoff of the Foundation For Individual Rights in Education explaining an important new book and why the belief that having "to destroy freedom to save freedom" is a formula for tyranny.
The Laws of Campus Culture War — For those embroiled in the campus culture wars, a primer on what everyone ought to know about the law regarding such conflicts.
Osama bin Laden, Big Man on Campus — A worrisome story about how students, in their zeal to address the many shortcomings of liberal, capitalistic, democracies, are embracing the teachings of Osama bin Laden.
The Democratic Coalition Is Falling Apart — Building victorious political coalitions requires an ability to successfully manage a wide range of within-coalition disputes. This article explains how Democrats are failing to do this.
The Left Can't Afford to Go Mad — Thoughtful reflections on how one can constructively and effectively challenge the many excesses embodied in Trump's campaign and possible Presidency.
Why liberalism and leftism are increasingly at odds — A really thoughtful analysis of the increasingly significant conflict that is emerging between social justice progressives and traditional liberals.
What is the oppressor/victim mindset and how did it conquer the academy? — From Jon Haidt and Greg Lukianoff, a pair of essays trying to make sense of the surprising surge of anti-Semitic incidents on college campuses.
Looking Back on a Decade of Cancel Culture — A look back at the way in which the cancel culture has evolved over time and its profound impact on society.
Why Can't Biden Move to the Center? — For those wondering why Biden and the Democrats aren't reaching out to the many moderates who have been abandoned by Trump's swing to the right, an explanation.
Rescuing Identity Politics — Review and summary of an important new book that tries to offer identity politics a positive path through the backlash that is threatening its success.
The War on Citizenship — An insightful analysis of the complex relationship between citizenship, nationalism, and the ethics of global cosmopolitanism.
Utah's Promising New Anti-DEI Law — A description of what sounds like a genuinely promising effort to craft a workable legislative compromise on the regulation of DEI programs.
The 'Omnicause' Is Collapsing — An exploration of the contradictions that arise when you try to simplistically bifurcate the world into two groups -- oppressors and the oppressed.
The Child Soldiers of Ethnic Studies — An insightful contribution to efforts to understand how so many "privileged" young people are turning against the system that granted them all of those privileges.
The Roots of Progressive Radicalism: Nellie Bowles vs. Musa al-Gharbi — A review and summary of two new books the try to help us understand the evolution (and radicalization) of the progressive movement.
The Woke Style in American Politics — An observation that many of the woke, cancel culture political tactics pioneered by the left are now being adopted by the right.
Progressives Need To Stop Lecturing White Voters About Their Privilege — An exploration of the political downsides of the progressive focus on "white privilege."
Illiberal Liberalism — Progressives who advocate for illiberal policies aren't Marxists or postmodernists. They turn liberalism's tools against itself.
The Cancellation Playbook: It is time to rewrite the playbook. It will take a collective effort to restore balance within arts institutions and remove the chilling effect of cancellation---if we work together, it's achievable. — An overview of the strategy that those targeted for political cancellation can use to to defend their freedoms and help provide society with access to a robust debate on controversial issues.
Freddie deBoer on "Peak Woke" — A thought-provoking discussion about the rise and fall of political ideologies and the future of the "woke" left's political agenda.
How Settler-Colonialism Colonized the Universities - The Atlantic — A retrospective look at the origins of the theory of "settler colonialism" -- a theory that has done much to frame the Gaza crisis in the eyes of the world.
How French Intellectuals Ruined the West — An illuminating look at the intellectual foundations at the enormously consequential philosophical perspective of postmodernism.
America is becoming less "woke" — A statistical analysis that strongly suggests that influence of "woke" ideas is declining in the US.
Woke Is Here To Stay — An argument that "woke" political ideas will continue to be a major force -- one that casts a long shadow across the social and political landscape.
The Progressive Moment Is Over — An article exploring the consequences of the progressive movement's failure to attract broad public support for its agenda.
The Left Wants to Forget Its Mistakes. That Is a Very Dangerous Plan. — The sensible argument that the left ought to remember and learn from (rather than forget) the things that they have promoted the turned out to be bad ideas. (Advice for the right as well.)
How Gender Ideology Captured the State Department — An exposé, with lots of links, documenting the way in which the Biden administration's "whole of government" effort to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion has reshaped the State Department
In Shift From 2020, Identity Politics Loses Its Grip on the Country — Further information about the apparent decline in the influence of "woke" political ideas.
How the Ivy League Broke America — From David Brooks, an analysis of why the rise of the meritocratic elite was accompanied by a simultaneous collapse in the public's trust in its educated elite and the institutions in which they work.
The Democrats Are the HR Department of Political Parties — An examination of the ways in which the Democratic Party followed its own advice with respect to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Equity Everywhere: 500 Ways the Biden-Harris Administration Infused DEI Into the Federal Government — The critical, but informative, report on exactly what the Biden administration did as part of its "whole of government" effort to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Is Wokeness on Big Power Grab? — Reflections on the degree to which the progressive left is motivated by a self-serving quest for political power (and not social justice in the abstract, universal sense of the term).
Throw the Groups Under the Bus! — For Democrats (and anyone opposed to Trump's brand of politics), an statistical analysis of the ways in which Democrats have lost the support of working-class voters (and what to do about it).
Don't Expect Democrats to Give Up on Wokeness Anytime Soon — Description of the dynamics that have deeply embedded woke ideology in Democratic political thought (despite its electoral liabilities).
Democrats need to loudly reject progressive extremism — An argument that the key to rolling back the extremes of right-wing populism is for Democrats to disassociate themselves from the extremes of left-wing progressivism.
The Left-Flank Albatross — An especially perceptive look at the role that the progressive left's unpopular agenda played in Donald Trump's victory.
Why sociologist Musa al-Gharbi says social justice elites value performance over progress. — An interview with Musa al-Gharbi, author of ""We Have Never Been Woke: The Cultural Contradictions of a New Elite" and a look at the difference between rhetoric and actual problem-solving.
Totems and Taboos — A summary and review of an important new book, "Taboo: How Making Race Sacred Produced a Cultural Revolution" examining the epicenter of our political divide.
How Liberal America Came to Its Senses — An account of the rise and, according to this author, the fall of so-called "woke" ideology.
Common Sense Manifesto #4: Identity politics won't save us — An in-depth and sensible analysis of the ways in which the identity politics of the left has become counterproductive -- contributing to, rather than helping, us solve our many problems.
Why I Am No Longer Woke — An extensive exploration, with lots of citations, of the complex arguments for and against "woke" philosophies.
The crisis of democracy is really a crisis for the left — An appeal for those on the left to take an honest look at the adverse impacts of the policies that they have put in place in states like New York and California where they dominate state government.
Critical Race Theory Is an Inversion of History — An important challenge to the social justice left's interpretation of history and a reminder of the central role that Britons and Americans have played in developing modern conceptions of justice and fairness.
What Can Replace Social Justice Fundamentalism? — A perceptive argument that the key to combating the extremes of social justice fundamentalism is to find some better way of genuinely advancing the cause of justice.
The Democrats' Culture Denialism — An argument that Democrats need to recognize that their recent defeat is a reflection of public disapproval of much of their platform (and not just problems with their campaign or Trump's unscrupulous tactics).
Why Antisemitism Sprouted So Quickly on Campus — From Jonathan Haidt, a must-read look at ways in which the left's oppressor/oppressed mindset is taking us deeper into the morass of mutual hate and closer to embracing acts of extreme violence.
What the Left Did to Me and My Family — From a conservative, the story about how he and his family have been subjected to threats and intimidation. We must vigorously oppose such actions, regardless of which side is responsible.
The Hills the Left Will Die On — A critical look at the rise of the progressive left and, now, it's decline, with thoughts about whether or not it is going to be willing to recalibrate its positions in light of public opinion.
The FAA's Hiring Scandal: A Quick Overview — For those who want to know the degree to which DEI politics has been distorting FAA hiring practices, a report (with links to court documents) on the ongoing litigation surrounding this issue.
Explaining Canada's Cult of 'Decolonial Futurity' to Americans — A report on how Canadians are coming to terms with their history as a British/French colony and the way they see the larger anticolonial movement.
There's a New War Among the Liberal Intelligentsia — Another perspective on what is emerging as the left's big conflict -- should it, or should it not, embrace the deep changes that would be required to pursue "abundance."
Why Woke Failed — The terrific summary of the excesses of the "woke" revolution and an analysis of why it failed in its goal to transform society and, instead, helped bring us Donald Trump.
The Far-Left’s obsession with victimhood is making minorities less safe. — A provocative and controversial argument that the left's constant focus on oppressed, victim populations is actually counterproductive.
Stolen Land? It’s All Stolen Land — A critical, controversial, and thought-provoking essay that tries to help us come to terms with a human history dominated by intense competition and, sometimes, conquest.
Why Is Democratic Favorability at a 35-Year Low? — One of the reasons why many believe that the political pendulum is unlikely to soon swing back in ways that quickly restore the many programs and policies that Trump is now dismantling.
Liberalism Doomed the Liberal International Order — From Foreign Affairs, thoughts about the internal contradictions embedded within liberalism that are now leading to the collapse of the liberal international order.
How “Sensitivity Readers” Made Publishing More Racist — An argument that the sensitivity readers now commonly employed by publishers have made things worse, rather than better.
The Rise of ‘Conspiracy Physics’ — Another example of why so many people have concluded that the DEI mindset went too far.
Diversity is overrated. Yeah, I said it. — A thought-provoking and quite persuasive challenge to the notion that diversity should be a penultimate societal goal.
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Crime / Policing / Guns

Still under-policed and over-imprisoned — An explanation, with important implications for criminal justice reform, of the disconnect between the United States' mass incarceration policies and its inability to fight crime.
A Smarter Way to Reduce Gun Deaths — An exceptionally good compilation of reasonable ideas (and supporting evidence) for limiting the terrible toll associated with gun-related violence.
We Profiled the 'Signs of Crisis' in 50 Years of Mass Shootings. This Is What We Found. — A report on the search for commonalities in the motives of mass shooters that documents the important role played by social alienation.
The Anti-Gun Violence Hustle — For those who might think that spending money on a social problem means that we are getting closer to a solution, a reminder that the "industrial complex" effect applies to much more than the military.
7 quick facts about accesSOS --- a text to 911 app that triages emergency responses and gets people the help they actually need — An example of a practical project designed to overcome some of the problems associated with emergency response systems.
Why are Americans shooting strangers and neighbors? 'It all goes back to fear.' — A reminder that the United States' gun problem is downstream of the collapse of mutual trust and the fact that we increasingly fear one another.
Why do Americans want guns? It comes down to one word. — An explanation of the big reason why people in the US want guns. It's not that they want to threaten others, they are afraid of others.
A Firearm-Owning Republican's Solutions for Gun Violence — A look at what the Zone of Possible Agreement looks like with respect to gun control in the US.
With 'conversion switch' devices, machine guns return to U.S. streets — An explanation of how a simple, easy to reproduce, and difficult to control device may be about to dramatically exacerbate the United States' gun violence problem.
The police are in the wrong places — An exploration of an obvious and much neglected reason why we can't effectively fight crime -- we can't afford enough police officers in areas plagued by crime.
The Most Surprising New Gun Owners Are U.S. Liberals — A story about a surprising and worrying development -- a significant uptick of the number of people on the political left who are buying guns.
The True Costs of America's Gun Obsession — In the context of the United States' cherished gun rights, a reminder that rights are not cost free.
Inside America's Fastest-Growing Criminal Enterprise: Sex Trafficking — As we focus on political violence, terrorism, and the possibility of civil and international war, a timely reminder that criminal violence is also a major threat to large numbers of people.
How Can You Be a Cop in a City That Hates You? — A rare article exploring the other side of the story -- what it's like to be a police officer in a community where law enforcement is widely viewed with contempt.
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Family / Gender / LBGTQ+

Your Kids Are Not Doomed — A persuasive argument against one of the terrible manifestations of fear, hopelessness, and cynicism -- the decision not to have kids.
How You Feel About Gender Roles Can Tell Us How You'll Vote — A much more sophisticated, well documented, and accurate look at the nature of the gender divide and the role that it plays in the larger societal conflict.
The Kids Are Alright — Because of the rapid rate of social change, differences in the experiences that shape each generation commonly lead to intergenerational tension. To help address this, a reassuring essay about young people.
Generation Swipe — Reason to believe that we have yet to figure out the set of cultural norms regarding sex, gender, relationships, and family that will reliably lead to rewarding and happy lives.
What Conflicted Americans Fear Most From an Abortion Ban — The first of the three part series exploring the critically important moral choices that the Pro-Life Movement will have to make in the wake of the Dobbs decision.
The Crisis of Men and Boys — As we continue to work hard to make opportunities available for women and girls, a sobering reminder that men and boys need help as well.
Men Are Falling Behind — An exploration of the many difficulties being faced by contemporary men and an explanation of why society's failure to address these problems is both a human tragedy and a political disaster.
Why Men Are Hard to Help — A look at the obstacles that we will have to overcome before we can expect to reintegrate the many men and boys who are now alienated from both our economy and our society.
Disagreement Isn't Bigotry — A thoughtful look at the miracle of religious pluralism and tolerance that we take for granted and reflections on why we can't seem to apply this to the "culture war."
The Boys Feminism Left Behind — Reflections on the way in which the women's movement disrupted relationship patterns that existed between men and women for 1000s of years and thoughts about how to build new and better relationships.
Let's Say Gay — With respect to LBGTQ issues, a look at the complex way in which the language we use to describe social problems evolves and the way in which that language drives conflict and determines policies.
The Woman Who Made Online Dating Into a 'Science' — A look at the origins of one of the most dramatic changes in the way we form our most important and most personal relationships.
Transgender Athletes are Winning — Amid all of the sound and fury surrounding the conflict over transgender athletes, an account of how we are quietly coming to a reasonable set of compromises.
Rebalancing the Gender Narrative — A review of Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do About It by Richard V. Reeve
U.S. LGBT Identification Steady at 7.2% — From Gallup, a statistical portrait of what rapid social change really looks like.
What America gets wrong about gender medicine — A reminder that, even among people who care deeply about the welfare of transgender youth, there is a continuing need for respectful debate over what kind of care is most helpful.
The "Transformative" Invention of Title IX Sex Tribunals — Thanks to the Freedom of Information Act, an account of the messy origins of Title IX enforcement policies -- origins that differ substantially from our image of the way democracy is supposed to work.
The Misogyny Myth — More on the argument that, in our efforts to combat discrimination against women, we have to started discriminating against men in ways that are hard to justify.
Academia's Missing Men — Illuminating statistics documenting the remarkable progress that has been made toward racial and gender equity and the possibility that we are starting to undermine this progress with reverse discrimination.
The story of Iran's Mahsa Amini uprising told through its most iconic images — A series of images and videos that convey the awesome power behind Iran's political uprising -- an uprising that we hope can avoid the tragic outcomes of so many other uprisings.
On Marriage, an Economist Bravely States the Obvious — For those concerned about inequality and the deep disadvantages faced by so many people, a look at one controversial, but clearly effective, way of reducing the problem.
What Jordan Peterson Can Teach Church Leaders — An introduction to some of the people who have built large followings among young men by trying to help them chart a path toward a positive and fulfilling role in society.
Quillette Cetera Episode 20: Care Feminism vs Career Feminism — An article that draws an important distinction between two principal feminist visions -- one focused on care-giving roles and a second focused on careers.
Feminists Are Consenting to Hamas' Rape Culture — A look at one of those cases in which the intersectional left's anticolonial bifurcation of the world into oppressor and oppressed groups seems to make no sense.
Why I'm Increasingly Worried About Boys, Too — From Jon Haidt, an important article looking at the tough challenges facing boys and young men plus thoughtful ideas about how we might best respond.
America Isn't Ready for the Two-Household Child — A real-life example of cultural lag and the struggle to adapt family support structures to changing social norms.
The Real Reason for Marriage Polarization — A look at the way in which political hyper-polarization has infected our most intimate interpersonal relationships.
The Southern Poverty Law Center's New Enemy: Americans Who Accept Biology — An in-depth (and critical) profile of the Southern Poverty Law Center highlighting the ways in which it achieved its astonishing success (and moved away from its original mission).
Sex Differences in the Brain and the Mind — From the perspective of neuropsychology, a look at the conflict between what science and what politics has to say about sex differences.
America's Families Are Not Okay — An in-depth look at a little recognized but critically important conflict -- one that divides parents from their adult children.
Why Men Are Drifting to the Far Right — More insight into what is driving men and women apart politically (and undermining traditional family structures).
The Two-Parent Privilege is Real — A reminder of the many ways in which we could benefit from efforts to strengthen stable, two-parent families (and reflections about why we are unwilling to take such steps).
A new global gender divide is emerging — A stark look at ways in which the global trend toward demonizing men as oppressors is dividing men and women into sharply opposing political camps.
Fertility and Culture: A Deep Dive — In-depth statistics about what may be one of the biggest threats to the sustainability of human society, the fertility crisis.
Good Marriages Are Good. Bad Marriages Are, Well, Bad. — A thought-provoking analysis of the many ways in which our confused way of thinking about marriage and family contributes to so many of society's problems.
The male college crisis is not just in enrollment, but completion — Statistics on the gigantic gender gap favoring women that has opened up in higher education -- a gap that, if it were reversed, would be causing considerable alarm.
When It Comes to Dating, Ambition Might Matter More Than Politics — More reflections on the tensions that are making it harder for men and women to form stable successful families.
Women have made major advances in politics --- but the world is still far from equal — Global data on the changing role of women around the world.
Perceptions Of Women In The Arab And Muslim World — For international Women's Day, a series of alarming videos exploring what many in the Muslim world think about the role of women.
LGBTQ+ Identification in U.S. Now at 7.6% — Statistics about the rapidly changing nature of gender identity in the United States.
The Case for Saying 'I Do' — As support for the institution of marriage continues to decline, an argument that (in this case) cultural change may be making things worse rather than better.
The Great Hypocrisy of the Pro-Life Movement — An exploration of the relationship between abortion has a fundamental moral cause and abortion as a politically useful tactic for mobilizing voters.
How to Negotiate Effectively With a Child — Food for thought on one of the most difficult and important kinds of disputes -- disputes between parents and children.
The Gender Gap Is Now a Gender Gulf — As progressives focus on dismantling patriarchal power structures and protecting society from toxic masculinity, not so surprising news that the political divide between men and women is a chasm.
Less Marriage, Less Sex, Less Agreement — Thoughtful thoughts on the changing way in which people are thinking about romantic relationships and the political implications of increasing tensions between men and women.
Subverting the Nuclear Family — An exploration of the intersection between large-scale societal "subversion" and the weakening of what is probably our most important social unit -- the family.
How Babies Are Made — A terrific overview of what the process of starting a family has become in the contemporary world.
Things Worth Remembering: The Indispensability of Men — Amid all of the criticism of men as patriarchal oppressors, a welcome Father's Day article highlighting the contributions that men make.
From Pride to Alienation — A critical look at tensions that have arisen within the LGBTQIA+ following the successful campaign to legalize same-sex marriage.
What to Do About the Gender Divide — A Gen Z essay exploring the many ways in which the deepening gender divide is likely to adversely affect their future and thoughts about what to do about it.
Assortative Mating and Income Inequality — The report on the stodgy demographic term "assortive mating" -- a phenomenon that contributes greatly to both political tensions and societal inequality.
What Is America's Gender War Actually About? — It is clear that gender has become a principal fault line in US politics. This insightful essay explores the nature of that fault line.
Masculinity Is on the Ballot — During a time when culture war politics seems to primarily focus on abortion, LBGTQIA+ issues, and feminism, news that questions about masculinity will be a big topic this year.
How the Gay-Rights Movement Lost Its Way — The sad profile, with lessons for all advocacy groups, describing how a movement can be corrupted once its principal goals are attained.
Algorithms Are Making Kids Desperately Unhappy — An analysis of the truly dystopian reality -- a society in which our relationships (and especially the relationships of young people) are driven by computer algorithms, not interpersonal interactions.
The kids are not okay — From Brookings, more analysis of the problems facing young people today.
America's Families Are Not Okay: Inside the crisis of parent-child estrangement. — A look at a seldom considered conflict that has enormous implications for human well-being -- the conflict between parents and children.
Lighthouse Parents Have More Confident Kids — A new word to add to the lexicon of parenting philosophies, lighthouse parenting (an option that has a lot to recommend it).
Democrats Need To Realize It's Not Always Easy To Be a Man — Amid all of the concern about obstacles faced by women and girls, an argument for also attending to the challenges facing men and boys.
Should You Even Have Kids? — Looking back on wonders of a lifetime spent parenting and grandparenting, we find it incredibly sad that so many young people are deciding not to have kids.
Meet the Women with AI Boyfriends — A report on just how far men and women have become estranged from one another.
If Men Are in Trouble, What Is the Cause? — A review, with lots of links, to the latest social science thinking about the many challenges facing men and boys.
Six-Chart Sunday (#49) -- The Kids Aren't Alright — Another collection of revealing power points. This one highlights challenges facing young people.
The cruelty of gentle parenting: It neglects the dark corners of children's souls — A thought-provoking article, especially for parents, critiquing the increasingly popular practice of "gentle parenting."
Men and women are different — An argument that women and racial minorities require different strategies for protecting their civil rights (based on the fact that there are significant biological differences between men and women and no such differences between racial groups.
How I Became a Wife — A reminder that progressive views on sex, gender, and family are not universal and eloquent defense of traditional family structures.
Fertility on demand — An in-depth look, with lots of statistics and charts, at the complex relationship between motherhood, careers, and children.
How to Spot ‘Toxic Femininity’ — It's always useful to, from time to time, turn the tables and look at your side in the same way that you look at the other.
There’s a Link Between Therapy Culture and Childlessness — Food for thought as societies worldwide contemplate a future in which the coming generation won't be large enough to sustain the society.
4 ways women are physically stronger than men — Yet another area in which stereotypes about the relative strengths and weaknesses of men and women turn out to be wrong in surprising ways.
The Liberal Misinformation Bubble About Youth Gender Medicine — A welcome example of the kind of hard questions that backers of all social movements ought to be asking themselves.
How the Gay Rights Movement Radicalized, and Lost Its Way — A really perceptive and thoughtful history of the emergence of the gay rights movement, its success with Obergefell, and the downsides of the shift towards gender issues.
Can Progressives Get Behind Parental Rights for All? — A call for compromise based on what we call "mirror" building – imagining how we would react if the other side did the same things that we are doing.
Family Structure Matters to Student Achievement. What Should We Do With That? — An article asking us to grapple with an uncomfortable tension -- the desire to treat all family structures equally and the fact that some family situations undermine a child's chance for success.
Not all men (are in crisis) — An in-depth examination (with lots of charts and statistics) of the complex problems facing men and boys, plus a look at how these problems are unevenly distributed through society.
The Wrong Definition of Love — From David Brooks, an argument that a big factor behind our unraveling social fabric is our failure to understand the most fundamental of human emotions -- love.
‘Conversion Therapy’ at the Supreme Court — An especially clear explanation of the complex legal issues involved in the Supreme Court's upcoming review of Colorado's "conversion therapy" law.
Why feminists fell out of love -- Mankeeping spells the death of intimacy — An unsettling look at the relatively low priority that contemporary couples place on building strong, loving relationships.
The Growing Divide in the Rainbow Coalition — An exploration of a significant, but seldom recognized, conflict that has emerged within LBGTQIA+ coalition.
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Race / Anti-Racism

The Racial Binary Is Inadequate — An exploration of the limits of binary thinking on race and the advantages of a much more complex and nuanced exploration of our diversity -- an approach that can help diffuse a lot of tension.
James Baldwin's Radicalism — An enlightening profile of one of the giants in the struggle against racism, James Baldwin -- a man with much to teach us as we continue to struggle with age-old problems.
This Is What Happens When Race Is Everything — Reflections on the far-reaching implications of a political philosophy that sees racism as the sole factor that determines the course of society.
What a Report of Extreme Racism Teaches Us — Reflections on the fact that a great many of the stories of extreme racism that are doing so much to drive us apart turn out not to be true.
America Needs a New Civil Rights Act — A controversial argument for new civil rights legislation (and, a reminder that people with different perspectives can look at the same problem and reach very different conclusions.)
The Progressive Case Against Race-Based Affirmative Action — An example of the advantages of questioning prevailing orthodoxies and looking for better ways of pursuing the things that we really care about.
After Intersectionalism — An argument worth considering -- the possibility that the intersectional struggle against oppression will lead to an era of widespread conflict between the various identity groups.
Review of Classified: The Untold Story of Racial Classification in America — An in-depth review and summary of an important new book exploring the complex, bewildering, and often indefensible mechanics underlying many programs designed to correct racial disparities.
Harvard, Herschel Walker and 'Tokenism' — A thought-provoking essay on racism, strategies for opposing it, and the multi-faceted issue of "tokenism."
The U.S. Government's Woke Training — Amid all the heated rhetoric about the virtues and vices of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, a rare chance (thanks to a FOIA request) to actually see the materials being used in these programs.
Martin Luther King Would Choose Reflection Over 'Intersectionality' — For those trying to understand what Martin Luther King would have to say about our troubled times, an essay emphasizing his beliefs about the importance of personal reflection.
Reading, Writing, and ... Black Studies? — Amid all of the sound and fury over Florida's proposed AP course in African-American studies, a thought-provoking report that tries to explain the nature of the conflict and the issues involved.
A View of American History That Leads to One Conclusion — A thought-provoking essay for those struggling to find a constructive way of thinking about humanity's brutal history while also recognizing its beauty and accomplishments.
Why Racial Discussions Should Also Focus on Progress — A call for balancing efforts to address continuing racial problems with a companion effort to recognize and sustain the progress that has been made.
Intellectual Brown Web (IBW): An Introduction — The genuinely interesting effort to add diversity and nuance to often bipolar discussions about race.
Today's Woke Excesses Were Born in the '60s — A well-documented inquiry into a big question: how did the civil rights movement of today emerge from the civil rights movement of Martin Luther King (and what is been gained and lost in the process)?
The true Left is not woke — A thoughtful critique of left-leaning, progressive political views and an argument that they often fail to live up to their own ideals.
Biden's OMB Plans to Divide America Into More Racial Groups — For a society in which so much effort is being devoted to providing some racial groups with more opportunities, news about upcoming changes in the way the government defines those groups.
Glenn Loury and the Great Partisan Divide — Glenn Loury, from a Black conservative perspective, offers a provocative challenge to progressive views on inequality and race (as well as a reminder that there really are issues worth debating).
California May Bill You for Slavery — A report on the racial reparations recommended by a high-level California committee with details about who does and doesn't receive various levels of compensation.
Defining 'Woke' (a Word We Should Probably All Stop Using) — A thoughtful exploration of the many controversies swirling around the word "woke" and the difficulty of finding an agreed-upon name for a philosophy that is remaking society.
Why Some Companies Are Saying 'Diversity and Belonging' Instead of 'Diversity and Inclusion' — A report on new thinking about diversity programs and hope that we might be learning how to craft these programs in ways that better live up to their lofty ideals.
Race once governed U.S. voting patterns. That's quickly changing. — A look at how the association between race and voting behavior is evolving (and undermining many common and simplistic assumptions).
The DEI Industry Needs to Check Its Privilege — All institutions in positions of power and authority ought to routinely ask themselves hard questions about whether they are living up to their responsibilities. The DEI "industry" is no exception.
10 Notes on the End of Affirmative Action — A series of provocative and controversial observations about affirmative action well worth considering.
For DEI Supporters, Perpetuation of Racism Is Good Business — All political movements should guard against the tendency to become a self-perpetuating bureaucracy -- one that undermines rather, than advances, the movement's core goals.
The Pseudoscience of Critical Race Theory — Amid all of the uncertainty about what "critical race theory" is and isn't, a detailed look and critical assessment of its core assertions (with lots of links).
Antiracists' vs. Academic Freedom — A look at the way in which California Community Colleges (with 1.8 million students) are assuring that all faculty members are unquestioningly supportive of the system's DEI policies.
Business Is Caught in a Diversity Trap — A story about what happens when Democratic and Republican-led states tell businesses that they have to approach questions of racial equity in different and incompatible ways.
One Sentence Does Not Define a Curriculum — An attempt to get beyond the inflammatory focus on a single passage and understand more completely how the Florida curriculum would actually cover slavery.
Ditching Diversity Myths — For a time in which "diversity" enjoys so much social (and legal) prominence, a thought-provoking essay about what the term means and the degree to which it ought to be cultivated.
D.E.I. Statements Stir Debate on College Campuses — A look at the increasingly frequent practice of requiring job applicants in higher education to submit DEI statements. (How does this differ from requiring a progressive loyalty oath?)
Does Your Worth Depend On Your Immutable Characteristics? — An updated argument for judging people on their actions and content of their character, rather than traits over which they have no control.
How Ibram X. Kendi Broke Boston University — An informative, critical, and doubtless controversial examination of the way in which Kendi's vision of antiracism has transformed Boston University (along with many other institutions).
Robin DiAngelo Thinks Society Will Never Improve — A challenge to the depressing assertion that society is horrible and racist and can never be improved.
Why identity politics is poisonous to the ideal of human equality — Well-documented reflections on identity politics, the Plessy vs Ferguson Supreme Court decision (which enshrined the "separate but equal" doctrine), and the idea of human equality
Why My Generation Hates Jews — A heartbreaking account of how the now common educational practice of bifurcating society into oppressed and oppressor groups has metastasized in ways that have produced a generation with deeply anti-Semitic beliefs -- all of the name of social justice.
The Politics of Tribal Nonsense — A controversial, but pretty well documented article, that asks important and disturbing questions about the factual underpinnings of many of today's dominant narratives (including, especially, those about race).
Making Race Skin Deep — An article about race that demonstrates the value of looking at such an important concept from the perspective of multiple cultures (and not just assuming that our way is the only way).
Inside Ohio State's DEI Factory — Thanks to a Freedom of Information Act request, we now have a rare window into how universities actually use DEI criteria in their internal deliberations.
Liberals Once Embraced Interracial Marriages Like Mine. What Changed? — Thought-provoking reflections on the pros and cons of rapidly changing social norms regarding interracial marriage along with deep questions about the kind of society that we are trying to build.
Higher Ed Has Become a Threat to America — A critical and undoubtedly controversial look at the impact of DEI programs on the ability of universities to fulfill their core missions.
What Bayard Rustin Could Teach Democrats Today — A report on a new biopic that explores the life of Bayard Rustin -- a man with a great deal to teach the current generation of civil rights activists.
This Is the Actual Danger Posed by D.E.I. — An argument highlighting three major areas in which DEI policies, as currently practiced, appear to violate the law and the core principles underlying democracy
America Works. DEI Doesn't. — From the south side of Chicago, and inner-city pastor's look at what it will take to save his community (and how that differs from prevailing progressive policies).
Black and Jewish Activists Have Allied for Decades. What Now? — One of the more surprising outcomes of the October 7 attack on Israel and the war that has followed is the way in which it has shattered the long-standing alliance between Blacks and Jews.
They're Black Democrats. And They're Suing Chicago Over Migrants. — In the context of the struggle over government assistance programs in Chicago, a look at the tension between Black residents and newly arriving migrants.
How our treatments for "racial trauma" only make the problem worse — An article that makes the case that the way in which we typically handle racial trauma is making the problem worse rather than better.
Virtuous Lies and Black Despair — When social policies fail to produce the desired results, it's good practice to ask hard questions about unintended consequences and the possibility that good intentions may be being counterproductive.
Our Open Border Policy Is Not an Accident — A look beyond the political showmanship that surrounds the immigration debate and an examination of why many people are troubled with the left's approach.
Coleman Hughes: My Testimony on Reparations — A critique of the case for reparations and a proposal for a more constructive way of dealing with the unrightable wrongs of the past and the many problems of the present.
Color blindness remains the best form of antiracism — An argument for the principal alternative to today's antiracism strategy -- one based on colorblindness.
Breaking Down America's Workforce — A report on a detailed demographic analysis that reveals how very far we are from the ideal of "proportionate" representation of the various identity groups in the US workforce.
Coleman Hughes wants a colorblind America. So should we. — An overview of the new book that offers what we see as a much more effective and much less divisive way of addressing racism and other forms of oppression.
This is not a good way to fight racism in America — A quite thoughtful essay on Google's new Gemini AI engine, its initial pro-diversity bias, and the dangers of thinking that there is a quick and easy solution to racism.
We Are Too Good for DEI — A thought-provoking essay exploring the relationship between "victimhood" and "agency."
Equity, Equitist, Equitism — An insightful new effort to clarify the conflict between the equity of the social justice movement and the egalitarianism of liberal democracy.
Rediscovering the Meaning of Diversity: Lessons from Generation X — From those younger than baby boomers, but old enough to have a sense of history, reflections on the successes that we have had in building a more diverse society.
The Prophets: Bayard Rustin — As we still struggle to deal with the problems of racism, an article that helps us remember what we should have learned from one of the giants of the civil rights era.
The Democrats and the Rise of Racial Radicalism — A retrospective look at the evolution of the Democratic Party's views on race and reflections on the political implications of those changing views.
DEI killed the CHIPS Act — With respect to the Biden administration's efforts to onshore computer chip production, a look at how deeply DEI has become embedded in everything the federal government does.
You Can't Fire Only the White Guys — An article about a court case that pretty convincingly demonstrates that there are cases in which reverse discrimination is a real problem.
With State Bans on D.E.I., Some Universities Find a Workaround: Rebranding — An article describing how DEI programs are responding to increasing public criticism and political efforts to prohibit them.
Embrace Pluralism over Racialism — Thoughts on the complex relationship between race-based views of social equity, antisemitism, diversity, tolerance, and pluralism.
How Modern "Anti-Racists" Reject the Philosophy of MLK - with Coleman Hughes — An article contrasting contemporary efforts to reckon with the United States' continuing history of racism and the approach taken by Martin Luther King.
Poor Black Kids Are Doing Better. Poor White Kids Are Doing Worse. — The report on surprising racial disparities in our ability to alleviate intergenerational poverty.
Merit, Excellence and Intelligence: An Anti-DEI Approach Catches On — The report on a new and doubtless controversial alternative to diversity equity and inclusion programs worth considering and debating.
Who Can Achieve the American Dream? Race Matters Less Than It Used To. — The report on a new study that further illuminates the complex economic relationship between race and class.
The declining significance of race, quantified — Evidence that we are, in fact, making significant progress toward addressing racial inequities.
Democrat platform says America was built on stolen land — An undoubtedly controversial, outside critique of the Democratic Party's obligatory "land acknowledgments" -- a critique that asks hard questions about our messy and fraught history.
The Scandal Hidden in Plain Sight — A provocative challenge to the idea that racism is responsible for all racial disparities -- and an alternative explanation that is hard to completely refute.
D.E.I. Is Not Working on College Campuses. We Need a New Approach. — For a time in which DEI programs are clearly not delivering on the racial harmony that they promised, a critical review of current practices and the thoughts about more promising approaches.
Matt Walsh's Hilarious New Film Asks: 'Am I Racist?' — A guide to the many reasons why so many strongly oppose DEI programs (criticisms that the many defenders of those programs really need to address).
How I Found FAIR — An important analysis of the many benefits of political tolerance and the organization, FAIR, which champions this approach to politics.
Skin Deep: Reverse racism is just racism — An explanation of why reverse racism (in any of its many disguises) is a formula for perpetual conflict -- a conflict that will undermine both democracy and efforts to address the very real problem of racism.
The Racial Identity of Americans Is Rapidly Blurring. Politics Hasn't Caught Up. — An assessment of the contradictions between a political philosophy based on sharp racial differences and the reality of increasingly blurry racial distinctions.
Three Questions That Probably Doom California's Reparations Push — Hard questions that proponents of reparations need to be prepared to answer.
To understand modern political polarization, you have to go back 53 years. — A retrospective look at the long shadow cast by the 1971 Griggs v. Duke Power Supreme Court case which removed conscious intent from the definition of discrimination.
Black and White Weren't Always as Black-and-White as They Seemed — An insightful exploration of the complexities of race and racism that argues against efforts to classify people by race and for efforts to focus on eradicating true racism.
DEI Is a Failure Because the Civil Rights Movement Wasn't About Elite Diversity — A look at the conflict between those who seek to pursue racial justice by promoting diversity among elites and those who pursue more traditional vision of civil rights.
Race Is a Spectrum. Sex Is Pretty Damn Binary — Really insightful article that starts with the observation that race is a social construct but sex is a biological reality. This has huge implications for the way in which we think about race and gender.
How DEI Conquered the University of Colorado — Based upon an open records review of University of Colorado faculty recruiting documents, this article reveals just how deeply DEI criteria now dominate universities.
Fake White Guilt Drove Decades-Long DEI Mania — For those trying to understand the hostility with which so many people view DEI-related programs and initiatives, one conservative's attempt to explain his views.
As Trump Attacks D.E.I., Some on the Left Approve — A report on Democrats who are going beyond a reflexive defense of DEI programs and actually trying to understand and constructively respond to criticisms.
Reforming the DEI Reforms — A promising proposal for reforming DEI to focus on MEI: Merit, Economics, and Ingenuity (and build the support needed for real positive change).
Trump and the DEI Counter-Revolution — An informative and comprehensive review of the history of DEI programs, their expansion, the growing backlash, and now the counter-revolution.
Trump's Colorblind Message Energizes Black Americans — A look at why some Blacks support a more conservative model for addressing racial inequities.
Supreme Court Considers Reverse-Bias Lawsuits Amid DEI Backlash — An update on some usually consequential cases that the Supreme Court will be considering with respect to accusations of reverse bias.
DEI Has Lost All Meaning — An argument that we could do much to defuse the conflict over DEI if we would just be clearer about exactly what we want and why.
How a Key Civil Rights Era Shift Paved the Way for Today's Political Fallout... and Why It Matters — A retrospective look at an enormously consequential step in the evolution of civil rights law -- the idea that discrimination can exist without intent to discriminate.
Working at Anheuser-Busch, I Saw What Went Wrong With the D.E.I. Movement — A first-person account describing many ways in which, before Trump, DEI policies influenced decision-making at a major corporation.
The Future of DEI — From the Journal of Free Black Thought, reflections on the failure of DEI and thoughts about how its most laudable goals might more effectively be achieved.
Was Integration the Wrong Goal? — A look at the long shadow cast by The 1954 Brown vs the Board of Education Supreme Court decision and the surprisingly large number of Blacks who think that the integration of the schools that it ordered was a mistake.
Morgan Stanley Went Big on DEI, and No One Is Happy About It — Another case study of the way in which DEI policies and programs have transformed a major corporation.
Aaron Sibarium on Identity Politics under Joe Biden and Donald Trump — More food for thought as we try to understand the complex ways in which identity politics is influencing events.
Believe It Or Not, There Are Interesting And Non-Evil Reasons Why Your Political Enemies Disagree About Victimhood And Immediately Leaping To The Least Charitable Interpretation Is Stupid — Any attempt, by an opponent of DEI programs, to better explain why reasonable people might really have a legitimate reasons for concern and opposition.
Teach Pluralism, Not Antiracism — A persuasive argument for an alternative (and much less divisive) strategy for promoting a genuinely diverse society -- one which offers most everyone valued place.
DEI’s Beleaguered True Believers, in Their Own Words — A helpful window into what DEI's strongest supporters think about building a more equitable society.
The Resistance Is Gonna Be Woke — An argument that the reported death of the progressive left has been greatly exaggerated (and is probably an illusion).
Good Intentions, Bad Outcomes — A thought-provoking argument that those who ignore politically inconvenient information about affirmative action are more interested in defending a narrative than in actually solving a problem.
Diversity Is Good, Actually — From a more conservative perspective, support for diversity and an argument for looking at the term in more diverse and inclusive ways.
White Americans as a normal minority — A thought-provoking new way to think about race in America -- think about whites as just another racial group.
'Oikophobia': Our Western Self-Hatred — An essay exploring an important new word, "Oikophobia" -- a concept that can help us understand one of today's most important (and least recognized) socio-cultural trends.
DEI’s Beleaguered True Believers, in Their Own Words — For a time in which DEI programs are under siege, a chance to hear what supporters of those programs have to say about the current situation.
The Progressive Moment Is *Still* Over — Thoughts about whether, in the wake of the Trump administration, the "status quo ante" might reassert itself and Biden-era progressive beliefs once again take charge.
Discrimination cases unravel as Trump scraps core civil rights tenet — An article describing Trump's efforts to roll back one of the most significant and controversial apects of civil rights law -- that governing "disparate impacts."
How the BLM riots broke America: The oligarchs learned to weaponise mistrust — An informative examination of the way in which the BLM riots transformed the United States and the ways in which the resulting tensions were exploited by political opportunists.
Are White People a Protected Class Now? — An illuminating report on the history of "protected classes," the recent Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services Supreme Court Case, and questions about whether it is possible to discriminate against white men.
How To Fix DEI — An example of a constructive response to criticism and the loss of public trust -- figure out how to do better.
Justin Marozzi on Slavery in the Islamic World — Too often, we tend to think of slavery as a uniquely American problem -- one that ended with the Emancipation Proclamation. This interview looks at the problem in a much larger context.
Which Violence Against Black Lives Actually Matters? — The thought-provoking report that explores why some violent threats to black lives receive lots of attention, while others are neglected.
A Supreme Court Reckoning for Racial Gerrymanders — An analysis of upcoming Supreme Court decisions on gerrymandering that will also consider laws now on the books that require racial gerrymandering.
OMB Can Stop Biden’s Race Counting — A bit of an eye-opening article that takes a critical look at the way in which the federal government gathers and uses information about the racial characteristics of its citizens.
How the Redefinition of Discrimination and Racism Changed How We Understand Racism, Fairness, and Justice — An overview of an extremely important, but seldom understood, aspect of efforts to combat racism in the United States -- the changing definition of discrimination and racism.
The deepest South--Slavery in Latin America, on a huge scale, was different from that in the United States. Why don’t we know this history? — For those who want to understand more about the grotesque institution of slavery, a surprising comparative analysis of slavery in the Western Hemisphere.
What Does ‘White Guilt’ Mean in 2025? — A doubtless controversial, but still thought-provoking, essay from a right-leaning perspective that summarizes Shelby Steele's challenge to the civil rights efforts of the last half-century.
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Left / Right Conflict

It's Always a 'Negative World' for Christianity — For those on the secular left who feel threatened by advocates of traditional Christian beliefs, look at what the constant criticism of Christianity feels like from the other side.
Conservatism in an Era Of Populist Revolt — An enlightening explanation of the core beliefs underlying true conservatism and a look at the wide gulf that separates these beliefs from prevailing, right-leaning politics.
Trump Struggles, but America Is Still Feverish — A reminder that the profound social problems that contributed to President Trump's success persist even though his political fortunes may be waning.
Why the 'Smart' Party Never Learns — Increasingly, the left is the party of the more educated and the right is the party of the less educated. Reflections on how the resulting arrogance is undermining the left's ability to learn.
What Really Saved the Democrats This Year? — An excellent review of the latest analyses of the 2022 election with real insight into the strategies that generate broad public support.
The Populist Independents — A look at a small, but potentially quite powerful, segment of the electorate -- populists dismayed about the current direction of society who see moderate politicians as the solution.
How Moderate Republicans Became an Endangered Species — From a Republican perspective, a look at the potential power of political moderates, the difficulties that moderates have faced, and strategies for overcoming those difficulties.
How Much Longer Can 'Vote Blue No Matter Who!' Last? — A review of what political scientists see as the likely efficacy of the Democratic political strategy of emphasizing racial differences (and assuming near monolithic support from nonwhites).
The conservative challenge to liberalism goes deeper than self-interest — An explanation of the core beliefs underlying conservatism (for those who might think that it is nothing more than a set of rationalizations justifying the pursuit of selfish interests).
Revisiting the Three Point Plan to Fix the Democrats and Their Coalition — From a Democratic perspective, a look at the deteriorating strength of their political coalition and proposed changes that could make it much more broadly attractive.
The Forces Tearing Us Apart Are Not Quite What They Seem — An informative and much more nuanced look at what the latest political science is telling us about the nature and magnitude of our differences.
The Democrats' Patriotism Problem — The next installment in a three-part look at things that Democrats might do to broaden their appeal enough to start diffusing our hyper-polarized politics. This one focuses on the trouble that progressives often have acknowledging that there are good things about America.
Are There Signs We're Becoming Less Polarized? — Reason to believe that there are now places in the US where communities are finding ways around our us-vs-them politics and learning that people on the left and the right have something to contribute.
How Identity Politics Aids the Right and Divides the Left — An assessment of the political implications of dividing society into separate (and often competing) identity groups.
Rise of the Independents -- But not of third parties — Interesting observations -- increasing numbers of people are identifying as moderate, political "independents" and this trend is not being reflected in increasing support for third-party candidates.
Where Is the Electoral Payoff to Progressivism? — A provocative look at whether the progressive agenda is, in fact, a winning political strategy.
If No Labels Pushes a 'Unity Candidate,' Expect a 'Trainwreck,' Group's Allies Say — An update for those who have been following (with hope and/or trepidation) plans for a more moderate, third-party Presidential campaign.
Tim Urban: Why are we so divided? And what can we do about it? — An interesting TED talk exploring how we can move toward a world that is less angry and more filled with curiosity, cooperation, and respect.
At High School Debates, Watch What You Say — High school debates have long been praised for helping students learn how to constructively grapple with controversial issues. Now, unwelcome news that they are moving away from that role.
The Damaged Brands of America's Two Political Parties — A report on a new poll that documents the growing gap between the positions of the United States' two political parties and the general population.
Democrats and Republicans Are Living in Different Worlds — A big reason why our conflicts are so intense is that we have such different images of the world that we think we inhabit.
Democrats and Republicans aren't divided by gender, they're divided by marriage — Stunning and surprising statistics about the decisive role that unmarried women play in the Democratic coalition. (All other marital groups tilt toward Republicans!)
The myth of asymmetric polarization — A challenge to the comforting illusion that our hyper-polarization crisis is being driven solely by right-wing populists and that those on the left are merely innocent victims.
Let's Have a Face-Off on Trump's Indictment — A readable analysis (with lots of links) of the legal and political complexities of President Trump's upcoming trial.
Vivek Ramaswamy's Truth — An informative profile of Vivek Ramaswamy and his effort to become the new leader of the populist rebellion against what US progressives think democracy ought to be.
Why Are Democrats Losing Ground Among Nonwhite Voters? 5 Theories. — For a party that frames itself as the defender of nonwhite voters, Democrats are losing a surprising amount of support among those voters. This article asks why.
Mitt Romney Has Given Us a Gift — A look at revelations from Mitt Romney's about-to-be-published biography and the rare insight it gives us into the way in which the Senate actually works and senators actually behave.
Vivek's Ten "Truths"? — Before dismissing Vivek Ramswamy as just another rich, Presidential wannabe, consider an analysis of the deep support that exists within US society for his "10 truths."
Moderates could unite amid House speaker chaos. Why don't they? — In the context of the fight over who should be Speaker of the US House of Representatives, an examination of why the hyper-polarized political divide has become so impenetrable.
On This Issue, Matt Gaetz Actually Has a Good Point — An argument that much-maligned GOP rebels like Matt Gatetz are making at least one sensible argument -- Congress ought to follow its own rules and debate and pass all 12 appropriations bills (something it hasn't done since the mid 1990s).
Where Have All The Democrats Gone? — A window into the ever-changing nature of the left and right-leaning political coalitions that divide our hyper-polarized society.
My grand theory of the left — For those who may have thought that intersectionality (or perhaps something else) explains the left's behavior, an essay that reminds us that things are more complex than that.
Overturning Roe Changed Everything. Overturning Affirmative Action Did Not. — An analysis of the dramatically different political ramifications of recent Supreme Court decisions on abortion and affirmative action.
Two parties, two wildly different spending solutions, both implausible — An explanation of how massive deficit spending allows both Republicans and Democrats to convert tough, sero-sum budgetary conflicts into positive-sum disputes that allow all of their supporters to win.
America Feels Like a Codependent Household — An attempt to help us better understand US political psychology by comparing it to dysfunctional family dynamics.
Democrats! Time to Re-Embrace Merit, Free Speech, and Universalism — A plea for Democrats to strengthen their electoral appeal by rediscovering the wisdom of traditional liberal values -- values that are increasingly viewed with suspicion.
The Case for Trump ... by Someone Who Wants Him to Lose — For a time in which the mainstream, left-leaning media has almost nothing nice to say about former President Trump, a thought-provoking effort to understand his appeal.
Why the right is eating the left's lunch — As President Trump's growing support among formerly Democratic working-class voters increases his chances of winning a second term, reflections on why this is happening.
You Should Go to a Trump Rally — A sensible challenge for those on the left who would like a more accurate understanding of the other side of the political divide.
The Them-vs.-Us Election — This article offers a new, perceptive, and important way of looking at the fault lines that divide our hyper-polarized society.
Do You Remember the Ecstasy of Electing Joe Biden? — With the 2024 election rapidly approaching, reflections on what happened to the enthusiasm of the Democratic coalition that drove Trump from office.
Political Trench Warfare — An exploration of what is likely to happen in the United States' upcoming "trench warfare" election -- an election characterized by a virtual tie and almost no one willing to consider changing their vote.
We Are Normalizing Trump. Again. — A summary, with lots of links to what the latest political science research is showing about President Trump's political dominance among Republicans.
Is the Electoral Fix Already In? — Amid the cascade of articles describing the many ways in which Donald Trump threatens democracy, an important counterpoint on the right's concerns about the fairness of the upcoming election.
Deadly Hot Air — Thoughtful reflections on the complexities of our current political moment.
American Politics is Bringing Us Down — As we continue to fight about most everything, a reminder that it's the destructive nature of these fights (rather than the substantive issues involved) that pose the greatest threat.
The GOP's True Priority — An article that tries to make sense of the collapse of one of the most promising bipartisan negotiations in recent years -- the one that combined aid for Israel and Ukraine with border security measures.
Trump Came for Their Party but Took Over Their Souls — An analysis of the way in which Trumpism has completely supplanted the previous policy priorities of the Republican Party.
The Red-Blue Divide Goes Well Beyond Biden and Trump — It's not just Trump and Biden -- the divisions that are tearing apart the United States are far deeper than any political personality.
Horseshoe Politics — We should all understand the meaning and implications of the phrase "horseshoe politics" and its observation that political extremes tend to converge on one another.
America's Most Overlooked Political Divide Is Also Its Most Revealing — A persuasive argument that we ought to be paying a lot more attention to the conflict between political activists and everyday citizens.
When Hatred of the Left Becomes Love for Putin — A look at how opposition to progressive policies is metastasizing into an open embrace of Russian authoritarianism.
The dark side of active citizenship — The most politically active citizens are the biggest drivers of destructive polarization -- a fact that suggests that we ought to consider rethinking the norms of civic involvement.
How Elites Have Empowered The Far Right — From a conservative perspective, an eye-opening look at how the left's open immigration policies are, in country after country, empowering the far right.
Far-Left Extremism Enabled Right-Wing Victories — From a more conservative perspective, a pretty persuasive argument that the extremes of the left are a major factor in the rise of the extreme right.
When Progressive Ideals Become a Luxury — A video explaining Rob Henderson's notion of "luxury beliefs" -- things that the relatively wealthy can believe because they are insulated from the downsides of those beliefs.
Can Blue States Build? — Reflections on the far-reaching implications of the startling fact -- it is Texas, not California, that is the national leader in clean-energy generation.
How Trump and Black Lives Matter Combined to Change American Politics — The review of the latest political science insights into the forces that produced the United States' contemporary political crisis.
America's political realignment is catching Democrats flat-footed — The pretty persuasive argument that politics is repolarizing in ways that divide the more from the less educated.
Beyond Red and Blue — A hopeful story about those who have been able to craft political campaigns that span the red blue divide.
Left and Right Alike Are Blind to Trade-Offs — A call for both the left and the right to rediscover the the need to wisely and equitably balance costs and benefits -- something that neither side does very well.
Why I Am Not A Conflict Theorist — A critique of the conflict theory that lies at the core of so much of the progressive, left's thinking.
Blue states don't build. Red states do. — For Democrats, one key to re-earning the public's trust is to look honestly at things that Republicans appear to be doing better and consider making changes.
Can Democrats Promote an Abundance Agenda? — As "abundance" emerges as a possible basis for a more broadly embraced political movement, hard questions about whether Democrats could make the big changes that pursuing such a strategy would require.
Small Bookstores and the Future of Liberalism — Report on an informal, anecdotal, but extremely perceptive analysis of what Democrats are actually thinking about in the wake of President Trump's victory.
Populist Right-Wing Parties Lead Polls in Europe’s Biggest Economies — For those who thought that the right-leaning populist revolt that brought President Trump to power was unique to the United States -- news that similar movements are gaining strength in Europe.
Can Left and Right Understand the Other Side’s Fears? — Exceptionally perceptive, must-read analysis of our political difficulties -- one of the very best we've seen.
Liberalism As Mob Boss — An interesting attempt to define liberalism in a way that those on both the left and the right can agree is an accurate way of describing reality.
The Left’s New Moralism Will Backfire — A thought-provoking essay that explores the complex implications of the left's shift from moral relativism to moral clarity.
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Understanding The Issues That Divide Us

What Is National Conservatism? The movement could be the future of the American right — A look at the way conservative beliefs are evolving in response to the progressive left's ambitious agenda for social change.
A Dispatch from the Exhausted Majority — A comprehensive look at how the extreme us-vs-them rhetoric of the hard left and the hard right is viewed by the majority of voters who inhabit the political center.
America's True Divide: Pluralists vs. Zealots — A perceptive look at what is arguably a more important political divide -- one that separates those who are absolutely convinced that their side is in the right and those who see value in reconciling competing perspectives and insights.
The Power-Mad Utopians — A thought-provoking and undoubtedly controversial look at six major political follies that have characterized the still young 21st-century (three on the left and the on three right)
Biden's Federal Budget Blowout — An alarming, nonpartisan report from the Congressional Budget Office shows just how far the abandonment of budgetary constraint has taken us. Is this, as Democrats claim, "sustainable?"
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Political Moderates

Rupa Subramanya: I'm Stuck Between the Woke Left and the Nativist Right — An anguished appeal for a revitalized political center that avoids extremes on both the left and the right.
The Governor Who Endorsed Trump to Heal American Politics — A profile of Utah Gov. Cox, the founder of the Disagree Better campaign, explaining why he thought that supporting Donald Trump was the best way to continue his efforts to depolarize US politics.
Joe Manchin Has Some Unsolicited Advice for Kamala Harris and the Democrats — During this time of massively parallel partisanship, thoughts from one of the few politicians still inhabiting the middle ground between the two partisan extremes.
The Senator Warning Democrats of a Crisis Unfolding Beneath Their Noses — An in-depth profile highlighting the thinking of one Democrat who believes that his party has failed to grasp the reasons why so many people distrust Democrats.
The Democrats Are in Trouble. This Man Can Save Them — As Democrats (and even Republicans) try to build a solid base of political support, an argument that the philosophy of John Rawls offers a more broadly attractive basis for building a fair society.
A Guide for the Politically Homeless — For those who feel alienated from contemporary Republican and Democratic politics, a call to become engaged in a new and more positive political movement.
Britain's Starmer Is Trying to Fight Populism From the Lonely Center — A profile of the one major country in which centrists are actually in power and offering voters an governing alternative between the populism of the left and the right.
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Non-Violence

Polls and Protests — As we contemplate the latest wave of student protests, a look back in this 1971 analysis of the anti-Vietnam protests by prominent sociologist Seymour Martin Lipsett.
“No Kings” Is Not Enough — For those encouraged by the size and enthusiasm of the "No Kings" protests, thoughts about what else we really have to do before we can repair our democracy.
Trump's Manufactured Crisis and the Urgency of Strategic Nonviolence — An exploration of strategic and tactical questions that arise in conflicts between nonviolent protesters and provocateurs who try to amplify crises in order to justify repressive responses.
This Is What Makes Protests Successful — A helpful review of the historical lessons learned from a comparison of successful and unsuccessful protest movements.
The Arab Spring Gets a Reboot in Asia — An update on the new wave of political uprisings that have been sweeping Asia (while we have been distracted by our own political difficulties).
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Peacebuilding

Five Miles and a World Apart, Younger Activists Dream of a New Peace Process — Welcome news that there is a new generation of peacemakers trying to chart a positive path away from the ongoing war (and reminding us that all problems create opportunities for people with ideas about how to solve them).
President Bukele nukes a BBC reporter for criticizing his tough crime crackdown in El Salvador — From the President of El Salvador, a complaint how western democracies are trying to impose their "solutions" on his country -- solutions that he thinks are unworkable.
How Do You Forgive the People Who Killed Your Family? — From Rwanda, an agonizing story about what it takes for society to recover from a period of genocidal violence (and another reason for preventing such violence).
Guide to Peacemaking Using Islamic Principles — From Ebrahim Rasool, from South Africa whose wisdom we have frequently cited, a guide to peacemaking from an Islamic perspective.
How Autocracy Prevailed in Tunisia: And Why Any Future Democratic Renewal Will Depend on an Entirely New Movement — A post-mortem on the failure of Tunisia's Arab Spring revolution -- a revolution that, at the time, seemed like the one most likely to succeed.
Diplomacy of Peace at Any Price — A provocative and doubtless controversial essay asking hard questions about situations in which the desire to bring about the quickest possible end to hostilities conflicts with the desire to overthrow murderous authoritarian regimes.
How Much the U.S. Spent on Foreign Aid---and Where It Went — An in-depth statistical profile of what USAID used to do that tells us a lot about what we may be losing.
April 2025: What we’re telling Congress about peacebuilding — Peacebuilding and conflict resolution are the issues of our time. Over the past five years, the number and intensity of armed conflicts have doubled, at a terrible cost. But peacebuilding can bring breakthroughs in peace, trust, and prosperity.
The Wars We Still Can Stop — For a time when so many wars seem to be raging out of control, an important argument that we should still stop those that we have the capacity to stop (or, better yet, prevent).
Executive Order 14311: Establishing a White House Office for Special Peace Missions — From the Federal Register, a surprising executive order which might become meaningful. It is worth remembering that, after a rocky beginning, the United States Institute of Peace was able to flourish under the George W. Bush administration.
I Worked at U.S.A.I.D. for Over 8 Years. This Is Our Biggest Failure. — From a former USAID official, thoughts about what the agency could have done to better protect itself and its mission.
Why María Corina Machado Deserved the Nobel Peace Prize — A profile of this year's Nobel Peace Prize winner -- a person who has a lot to teach us.
Fractured Stories, Fragmented Societies: Addressing Collective Trauma through Narrative Engagement — The Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT) published a discussion paper exploring the relationship between collective trauma and narratives in post-conflict and divided societies.
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Big Picture Thinking Projects

Paths to Depolarization — From Francis Fukuyama an argument that while grassroots activism and electoral reform are important, what the US really needs is a major political realignment.
Citizens for Global Solutions 2022 Annual Conference — A free, virtual conference, that explores five models for global governance and the organizations that are pursuing them today.
Biden's Missing Democracy Pages — A look at the speech that Biden should have given had he really been concerned with the many ways in which US democracy is being threatened.
Five Strategies to Support U.S. Democracy — A really first-rate article that, from a different perspective and in a different way, is trying to do what Beyond Intractability is trying to do with our Hyper- Polarization Discussion.
Someone Else's Utopia — A report on a fascinating new compilation of mini-biographies telling the story of how life experiences have altered the views of those who have tried to make the world a better place.
Amanda Ripley -- Stepping out of "the zombie dance" we're in, and into "good conflict" that is, in fact, life-giving — An illuminating interview that helps us understand how Amanda Ripley's insightful views about conflict evolved (and how we all could think more constructively about the topic).
Will America's woes bring down democracy and capitalism worldwide? — A report on another major new book that helps us understand our troubled times and, especially the ways in which elites are undermining both democracy and capitalism.
Propaganda (Almost) Never Works — Reassuring new data indicating that the impact of today's high-tech propaganda is much less than we might otherwise have feared.
Crisis Management — A review and critique of an important new book, "The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism" by Martin Wolf.
You Are Not Destined to Live in Quiet Times — An especially perceptive, big picture essay that places the time in which we are now living into the broader context of human history (while also helping us make sense of it all).
Our Singular Century — Thoughtful contemplation about the great breaks in history -- when the past suddenly becomes a much less valuable guide to the future (and the fact that we are living through a series of such breaks).
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Power-Sharing Strategies

If an Alternative Candidate Is Needed in 2024, These Folks Will Be Ready — A strategy for offering voters the choice of moderate, compromise-oriented governance in the event that both US political parties nominate extremist candidates.
Give Ordinary People a Say On Abortion (and Other Contentious Issues) — An inspiring report on Ireland's Citizens Assembly and its surprisingly successful efforts to bring collaborative problem-solving to the morally fraught issue of abortion.
Launching a Third Party Takes More Than Good Intentions — A friendly critique of the Forward Party and its efforts to offer voters a moderate alternative to the "us-vs-them" politics that dominates the two major parties with lots of ideas about what it takes to be successful.
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Efforts to Limit Concentrated Power

Unions are on a roll. And they unite a divided nation. — A hopeful development that spans the political divide, unions are becoming more effective at protecting the interests of working class citizens.
The Trifecta of Civil Resistance: Unity, Planning, Discipline — An essay that starts with the assumption that "power is never given, it is always taken." It then goes on to observe that the historic success of nonviolent movements proves that they can be more powerful than the autocratic regimes they oppose.
Disney v. DeSantis: How Strong Is the Company's Lawsuit? — A look and the legal principles surrounding efforts to limit corruption.
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Reliable Problem Assessments

Which Gun Laws Work? Article in RAND Policy Currents — A six-year study evaluating scientific evidence about the effects of various gun laws on homicides, suicides, and mass shootings.
What This War Correspondent Wants You to Know About America and Fear — It is almost always helpful to get an outside perspective from someone who is knowledgeable and cares. They can tell us things that, in the heat of a conflict, we can't see for ourselves.
Wikipedia Quietly Shapes How We View the World — An "If it exists it must be possible" story. This one looks at Wikipedia's remarkable success in writing articles that are broadly seen as objective and reliable.
What Economics (and Sociology) ought to be — This thoughtful essay reminds us of what the social sciences could learn if they would aside political advocacy and objectively study our problems.
Partisan Science is Bad for Science and Society — At a time when so many people are being called upon to "trust the science," some serious thoughts on how to make science truly trustworthy.
Major data revisions are coming — The continuing changing nature of society makes it hard to gather statistics that reliably track trends over the long-term. This article explains how this is done.
Whose Experts? — A detailed and well-documented look at radical changes now influencing the way in which FDA "experts" evaluate and approve vaccines.
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Rule of Law

The First Great Crisis of a Second Trump Term — An essay exploring what might happen should President Trump's criminal prosecutions come into direct conflict with his electoral success.
Ignore the Histrionic Attacks on the Supreme Court — Amid attacks from the left on the legitimacy of the Supreme Court, an argument that the court has, in fact, been fulfilling its responsibilities under the US system of checks and balances.
The Supreme Court Isn't Rogue — An article about the Supreme Court that makes an important distinction between conflicts over differing legal philosophies and attempts to subvert the rule of law.
South African Lawfare at The Hague — An undoubtedly controversial argument that South Africa's genocide charges against Israel are a type of "lawfare" based on allegations that are not supported by sound legal arguments.
The High Price of Democrats' Anti-Trump Lawfare — Concern that the Democrat's complex array of not yet successful efforts to hold President Trump legally responsible for his actions, may, over the longer-term, undermine support for the rule of law.
America Has Too Many Laws — From Supreme Court Justice Gorsuch, a summary of his new book and a compelling argument that the United States is an over-regulated society -- something that those on the left should consider seriously.
Chuck Schumer's plan to create a constitutional crisis — An overview of worrying Democratic plans to dramatically transform the role of the Supreme Court (and the role of the judiciary, more generally) in US society.
Jack Smith Owes Us an Explanation — A call for Jack Smith to explain why the way in which he is prosecuting Donald Trump should not be considered the kind of politically motivated prosecution that, in other contexts, would be seen as a threat to democracy.
Liberals Bet They Could Beat Trump With the Law. They Lost — An explanation of why the Democratic effort to defeat Trump through criminal prosecutions failed and why political movements must be defeated politically .
What Biden's Lawfare Has Wrought — A look at the ways in which the use of lawfare strategies by Democrats has transformed our politics.
What Recourse Does the Supreme Court Actually Have? — Useful information for those trying to think through what might happen if (maybe when) President Trump decides to directly defy a Supreme Court order.
The Supreme Court Has No Army — Reflections on the ultimate source the Supreme Court's power and its ability to exercise its Constitutional role as final arbiter of legal disputes.
How to Survive a Constitutional Crisis — From Foreign Affairs, a lengthy and in-depth analysis into strategies for protecting Constitutional democracy from the Trump administration's ongoing and potential threats.
Will This Conservative Legal Doctrine Undo Trump’s First Months in Office? — The timely article explaining the Supreme Court's new "major questions doctrine" and the role that it may play in determining the legality of many Trump administration initiatives.
Constitution Day Calls Us to Honor Peaceful Disagreement — The viability of US democracy depends not only on the words of the Constitution, but on our individual and collective commitments to live by its principles.
The Constitution Can’t Save Us. Only We Can. — An important reminder that the viability of constitutional democracies depends upon populations that understand and support constitutional principles.
Amy Coney Barrett’s brand of originalism irritates some people. Good. — For critics of the Supreme Court, a review of Barrett's new book and the strong defense of the court that it offers.
Lawfare Makes Us All Less Free — In the context of the Comey indictment, an essay exploring the many ways in which Trump's politically motivated prosecutions are threatening our democratic institutions.
Ancient Wisdom: How a Supreme Court Justice Changed My Life — An illuminating chance to look beyond the now dominant cynical view of politics and the judicial system and hear about the thinking of one person who really tried to do the right thing.
America’s can-do spirit needs liberation from can’t-do regulation — A review of an important new book highlighting the reasons why so many believe that regulations have become counterproductive burdensome enough to undermine the entire economy.
How Politics Became a Legal Battlefield — A 25-year retrospective on the emergence of political "lawfare" in the United States as a major type of political combat.
President Trump’s tariffs v. the Supreme Court’s duties — An in-depth analysis of the complex legal issues surrounding what may be the most consequential Supreme Court case of the still young Trump Presidency.
Letters from an American -- Unlawful Orders — A good summary of the "sedition" story -- one that reveals how close we are to a crisis in which the military has to decide what orders are lawful and, potentially, whose orders to follow.
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Problem Assessment

A Radically Different Model of American Education: UATX's Jacob Howland Speaks to the PEP — An update on the University of Austin -- an outside-the-box effort to create a new university capable of avoiding a great many of the problems that now plague higher education.
No One Votes for Democracy — Reflections on the perils of avoiding debates on substantive policy questions and replacing them with vague aspirations of "hope" and "greatness" and the demonization of political adversaries.
More than 1,000 professors sign on to 'Stanford Academic Freedom Declaration' — For those interested in defending academic freedom and the ability of universities to help us really solve problems, a report on the campaign to build support for the "Chicago Trifecta."
How Do They Know This? — A review and brief overview of an important new book -- a primer on what everybody ought to know about statistics and how not to be misled by them.
The rise and fall of peer review — For those who recognize the critical importance of rigorous scientific research, an account of how badly the existing, peer review-based system is failing. Fixing this ought to be a top priority.
Critical Thinking, Reverential Thinking, and Lashing Out — A critical look at critical thinking programs along with ideas about what critical thinking should be and how we can really cultivate it.
How ChatGPT actually works — Amid the many reasonable and exaggerated worries about ChatGPT and the dangers that it may or may not pose to society, a challenging and illuminating, explanation of what, exactly, it does and how it works.
Reason To Believe -- How and why irrationality takes hold, and what do to about it. — An in-depth look at the role that rational thought plays in human society, how it has made us so successful, and the many dynamics that are undermining our ability to think (and deal with conflict) in rational ways .
A Report From the Stanford Academic Freedom Conference — A welcome report about a conference focused on helping universities refocus on their core mission -- the promotion of the "critical inquiry and scholarly debate that produces true knowledge."
The Consolidation-Disruption Index Is Alarming — A critical look at the world of academic publishing that tries to understand why it is generating so few of the bright ideas that we need to meet today's big challenges.
Partisan 'Fact Checkers' Spread Climate-Change Misinformation — A pretty well-documented example of what can go wrong when supposedly objective fact-finders start favoring politically convenient facts over objective evidence.
Improve how science advice is provided to governments by learning from "experts in expert advice" — For a complex world in which we are utterly dependent upon expert advice to keep the system running, welcome news that there are experts specializing in how to obtain advice that is genuinely trustworthy.
How to be a smart consumer of climate attribution claims — An example of the kind of guide to understanding "expert" opinion that we need to make sensible use of expert analyses of all complex social problems .
Escape From Model Land — An in-depth look at the complexities associated with predicting the future (and selecting the most desirable policy options).
Managing the Metrics of Academic Publishing — For those who would like to rebuild public trust in the trustworthiness of scientific analyses, an article about one area in which reform could really help.
Dr. Fauci Looks Back: 'Something Clearly Went Wrong' — As we think about the lessons that we should learn from the pandemic, reflections from Dr. Fauci on the relationship between pandemic management and conflict management.
Focus on the Research, Not the Researcher — A look at the 'positionality statements' that increasingly accompany scientific publications, and the possibility that they may be contributing to the further politicalization of facts.
Vanderbilt's Bold Stand for 'Neutrality' — An update on Vanderbilt's neutrality policy and a vision for progressively uncovering the truth through an examination of available evidence and an exchange of views about the meaning of that evidence.
A.I. Poses 'Risk of Extinction,' Industry Leaders Warn — A story about how leaders of the tech industry are trying to persuade society to take the steps needed to protect itself from the downsides of AI.
Statement on AI Risk — A link to the statement on AI risks that people are being asked to sign as part of an effort to draw attention to the issue. Could this strategy be used elsewhere?
The new academy: modern intellectuals are writing their best ideas on Substack — A look at the way in which Substack is emerging as an exciting new forum for exchanging thoughtful ideas on the complex problems facing humanity.
Opinion: How Joe Rogan's vaccine-debate pitch undermines real science — A provocative look at the circumstances under which debate does and does not help audiences develop a more accurate and morally sound opinions about controversial issues.
Google Isn't Grad School — An exploration of the relationship between the ability to retrieve lots facts relevant to a particular issue and real thinking.
How not to be fooled by viral charts — For those who don't want to be lied to with statistics, a lesson on how to protect yourself.
What a COVID-19 Food Fight Says About Scientific Discourse — Things that everybody should know about the ways in which partisanship often distorts the work of science journalists.
An epidemic of scientific fakery threatens to overwhelm publishers — More information about the massive scandal associated with fake scientific studies. Our ability to solve the complex challenges that we face depends upon finding some way to fix this.
It Takes Too Many Studies for the Government to Do the Right Thing — An article about the "analysis paralysis" trap that explains much of why our government has so much trouble for solving problems.
The Medical Establishment Closes Ranks, and Patients Feel the Effects — An exploration of one area in which elites have lost the public's trust, and a call for those in the medical profession to do better.
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Leadership

A Time for Statesmanship — A detailed and eloquent argument calling for the rediscovery of civic-minded leadership and the need for civil servants committed to advancing the common good (not just their political fortunes).
What true political leadership looks like — For those looking for political leaders in whom we can place our trust, a proposed job description.
America Is in Desperate Need of Moral Leadership — For those looking for direction in today's trying times, sensible advice -- look back at the lives of leaders who got us through similarly difficult times.
The Underrated Power of ‘Glue Employees’ Who Hold Everything Together — Thoughts about the often unrecognized role played by people who help their organizations more constructively handle inevitable tensions and conflicts.
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Civic Education

How Are U.S. Public School Teachers Approaching Civic and Citizenship Education? — For those wanting to help strengthen democracy by strengthening civic education, a report on where things now stand.
Why We Need Civics — A compelling argument for strengthening the teaching of "civics" -- the underlying commonality that binds together US democracy's diverse citizenry.
It's Time to Krauthammer the Curriculum — A persuasive argument for combating right-wing extremism by raising the visibility of thoughtful, right-leaning critiques of the left.
A Mixture of Pride and Shame — To us, what seems like a sensible way of thinking about the tremendous achievements and terrible injustices that characterize the history of all civilizations.
By Abandoning Civics, Colleges Helped Create the Culture Wars — An argument that a big part of our hyper-polarized politics is the direct result of the failure of our educational institutions to teach the civic skills and values upon which democracy depends.
In search of 'civicians' --- the team parents of a healthy democracy — The story about a small-scale effort to to promote civic functioning -- an effort that could be applied much more broadly.
Preparing the next generation of citizens requires bringing back civics — An update on a critically important component of the broader effort to defend and strengthen democracy -- civic education.
Civic Thought: A Proposal for University-Level Civic Education — An argument for a vastly expanded program of civic education at the collegiate level. We desperately need such programs (provided that they reflect a bipartisan vision of what democracy should be).
The Soul of Civility — A review and brief summary of an important new book exploring the concept of civility and explaining how it can help heal our society.
Follow the Left's Example to Reform Higher Ed — A thoughtful proposal for cultivating a new academic field -- civics studies with the mission of figuring out how to make democracy work.
Why Public Administration? — A critical, but widely neglected component of democratic success -- the willingness of principled, talented, and energetic people to commit to a career of public service.
The Character-Building Tool Kit — An argument that the cultivation of "character "is a big (and much neglected) aspect of building a society and a democracy that truly works.
Daily Citizenship: A Primer — In a self-governing nation, citizenship is not a spectator sport. It is a daily discipline—a habit of heart and mind. This primer introduces the core idea of daily citizenship in the United States: what it means, why it matters, and how to practice it.
Everyone wants colleges to produce good citizens. No one knows how. — Thoughts on how, exactly, to build a civic educational system that successfully trains and motivates citizens to produce the society in which most everyone would like to live.
To save themselves, universities must cultivate civic friendship — An explanation of both the meaning and utility of an interesting new concept, "civic friendship."
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Civil Society

Closing Civic Space in the United States: Connecting the Dots, Changing the Trajectory — From Rachel Kleinfeld, thoughts on opposing the use of regulations, laws, and narratives to restrict the ability of civil society organizations to act and speak.
The War on Citizenship — A provocative essay on the nature and meaning of nationalism and citizenship and a primer on the conflict between conflicting views on this issue.
Electing prosecutors is a terrible idea. Trump's conviction shows why. — A pretty convincing argument against electing prosecutors and especially prosecutors who promise to pursue specific political figures.
American by the Grace of God — Reflections on the complex issues surrounding immigration from two grateful immigrants to the United States.
What America needs is some big citizenship — A proposal outlining ways in which the creation of a new and much larger national service program might strengthen democracy.
Citizenship Without Partisanship — An insightful exploration of the tension between one's partisan political objectives and one's obligation as a citizen to protect the interests of all fellow citizens.
It's Time to Reimagine Civic Responsibility — More in Common Senior Advisor and Beacon Project Director Daniel Yudkin reflects on the duties of citizenship.
Of, By and For the People: Let's talk about the Constitution — A new Living Room Conversation/Dorm Room Guide for talking constructively in a small group about the Constitution. Included in this guide is the opportunity for participants to receive a "Civic Badge" for participation in this activity.
Decline of Civility in Public Discourse — A C-SPAN panel discussion that considers the meaning of civility, how we lost it, and what might be done to reclaim it.
How Everyday Americans Can Help Create a Healthier Politics — From the always insightful "Liberal Patriot," an especially good list of things we can all do to limit destructive hyper- polarization.
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Saving Democracy

Only Bipartisanship Can Defeat Authoritarian Aggression — A persuasive argument that the only way in which we can protect ourselves from authoritarian threats (both external and internal) is by recommitting ourselves to working together for the common defense.
Democrats Are Getting Democracy Wrong. Here's Why. — From the left, self-critical food for thought as the United States contemplates the meaning of the 2022 elections and what it will really take to "save democracy."
The Fever Is Breaking — A hopeful argument that the 2022 election marks both the beginning of the end of the "performative populism" that has upended US democracy and a new era of real problem-solving.
Enough about democracy's weaknesses. Let's talk about its strengths. — Amid our continuing frustrations with chaotic democratic systems that repeatedly fail to live up to their ideals, a welcome look at democracy's strengths and its advantages over authoritarianism.
Evil Clowns and Cowardly Lions — A look at two types of people who, in often unrecognized and unopposed ways, threaten democracy.
The Problem with Primaries — An analysis of the many ways in which the structure of US primary elections is intensifying divisions and undermining democratic institutions despite being superficially more democratic. And, some proposed remedies.
Rachel Kleinfeld on Why America Isn't About to Have a Civil War — Rachel Kleinfeld discusses strategies for limiting extremism, strengthening American democracy, and containing political violence. She also explains why she mistrusts predictions of "civil war."
No Labels group raises alarms with third-party presidential preparations — An update on the promise and the potential pitfalls of an effort to empower the more compromise-oriented political center.
Voters See Democracy in Peril, but Saving It Isn't a Priority — It is hard to agree to work together to save something when you can't agree on what you are trying to save or how it is threatened.
A Crisis Coming': The Twin Threats to American Democracy — A progressive assessment of the threats to democracy (one that conservatives will doubtless challenge). If we really want to save democracy, we need to define it in ways that both sides can support.
America Does Have a Way to Save Itself — An essay exploring the little used but potentially quite useful and important concept of "defensive democracy."
Small-dollar donors didn't save democracy. They made it worse. — A reminder that we always need to consider the possibility that sensible sounding reforms could wind up producing unintended (and potentially counterproductive) outcomes.
What the Supreme Court Does in the Shadows — A look at the disturbing ways in which the Supreme Court's "shadow docket" is undermining public trust in the rule of law.
In 'ordinary man,' a certain greatness emerges of Gerald Ford — A profile of Gerald Ford, a President who came close to personifying what we look for and political leaders and public servants.
Nancy Mace, a 'Caucus of One' in the G.O.P., Says She's Trying to Change Her Party — A profile on a Republican member of Congress from South Carolina who is trying to take a more compromise-oriented approach to governing.
The Case for Violating the Debt Limit Is Dangerous Nonsense — An explanation of why using clever legal loopholes to get around tough choices undermines the rule of law (and, in this case, is unlikely to work).
The Left's War on the Rule of Law — An argument that the left is attempting to advance its political agenda by undermining the democratic institutions that it claims to be defending.
Our Weaponized Legal System Misfires — A must read article explaining "lawfare" and how both parties are abusing the legal system in ways that constitute one of the most serious threats to democracy.
Why is empathy central to democracy? — From George Lakeoff, an insightful look into the relationship between empathy and democracy.
Machiavelli Preferred Democracy to Tyranny — From one of history's great experts on tyranny (Machiavelli), strong support for democracy.
A Radical Idea for Fixing Congress: Proportional Representation — An idea for restructuring Congress in ways that replace the current, usually noncompetitive "winner take all" system with real choices that help assure that minority views are represented.
The End of Democratic Capitalism? — A review of an important new contribution to efforts to understand and surmount the challenges facing democracy and its capitalist economic system.
Biden faces renewed pressure to embrace Supreme Court overhaul — More evidence that the credibility of the United States' judicial system is collapsing and being replaced by partisan efforts to shape the courts so in ways that deliver the politically desired judgements.
Extremism In Defense of Moderation Is No Virtue — A review/summary of an important new book about why the U.S. Congress is so dysfunctional and what might be done about it.
Civility Isn't Weakness---It's How We Win — An impassioned and persuasive defense of civility even when confronting uncivil political adversaries.
Our two-party political system isn't working. The fix? More parties. — Another creative idea for diffusing the United States' hyper-polarized politics worth considering -- change the rules in ways which encourage more political parties.
Why this governor is promoting 'healthy conflict' — Genuinely good news, the incoming chair of the National Governors Association, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) plans to focus his attention on the cultivation of "healthy conflict" and the ability to "disagree better."
We're Entering a New Era of Shady Campaign Finance — An instructive example of why political reforms have to be carefully monitored -- unscrupulous actors will find loopholes that need to be plugged.
Can Liberalism Save Itself? — A thoughtful addition to the larger debate over the nature of liberalism's difficulties, how to save it, and whether it should be saved.
Small Donors Are a Big Problem — A disappointing report on the the success of efforts to strengthen democracy by replacing big money with small donor fundraising.
A crisis in U.S. presidential legitimacy is looming — An exploration of the likely possibility that the U.S. 2024 election might not produce a result that the losers view is fair and legitimate.
How American Democracy Fell So Far Behind — For United States, a country that likes to think of its democracy as exemplary, a look at countries that have found ways to fashion better democracies.
Polarization is a choice — More insight into the dynamics underlying our hyper-polarized society and the role that our conscious actions play in this process.
Good Intentions Gone Awry — A must-read explanation of why it is so critical that we "save" democracy and the pitfalls of many popular strategies that people are using to pursue this goal.
How the Supreme Court can limit Congress's taste for self-diminishment — An analysis of a Supreme Court case that could help force Congress to do a better job of fulfilling its Constitutional responsibilities.
No Guardrails' Foretold Today's Breakdown 30 Years Ago — A story about the origins of the concept of political "guardrails" and the man who the anticipated their deterioration and the problems that that would cause.
Brexit and The Voice: Two Ill-Conceived Referenda — Reflections on two cases in which the voters were asked to consider hugely consequential and poorly understood referenda.
Restoring Civility in Our Politics — An overview and summary of an important new book, "The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves" by Alexandra Hudson.
It's Time to Fix America's Most Dangerous Law — A persuasive plea for Congress to clarify the 1792 law that contains loopholes that could give an unscrupulous President the power to mobilize the federal government against his political rivals.
American democracy is cracking. These ideas could help repair it. — A hopeful inventory of a great many promising ideas for strengthening US democracy.
The Anti-Democratic Quest to Save Democracy From Trump — An argument against using anti-democratic tactics to defend democracy, even when you regard President Trump as a direct threat to that democracy.
Meet the Americans Trying to Lower the Temperature in Politics — A Wall Street Journal profile of some of the groups that are trying to defuse the United States' hyper-polarized politics.
Trump Is Not the Only Reason to Fix This Uniquely Dangerous Law — An argument for reforming the "Insurrection Act" in ways that would eliminate legal loopholes that could be used by an aspiring authoritarian to direct police and military forces against their political opponents.
Worldwide, 2024 Elections Promise a Whirlwind — While the United States is focused on its upcoming election, a reminder that many other nations are holding elections in 2024 that also face serious challenges.
I Oppose Trump---and Any Efforts to Ban Him From the Ballot — From William Barr, an analysis of the many dangers associated with using the 14th amendment to prevent President Trump from running for a second term.
The Specter of Nationalism — Identity politics has always influenced elections. In 2024, it will pose a serious threat to liberalism---and to democracy itself.
The State of Global Democracy in 2024 — From Francis Fukuyama a year-end update on increasingly serious challenges facing global democracy.
Don't Worry About Donald Trump. Worry About Yourself. — An important reminder that demonizing those with whom we disagree is actually a direct and serious threat to our own welfare.
What Biden Needs to Tell Us — From David Brooks, a must-read essay about how both the left and the right have abandoned win-win politics -- the idea that our problems can be solved in mutually beneficial ways.
The Case for Disqualifying Trump Is Strong — From David French, a former constitutional litigator, the report on his detailed look at the legal questions surrounding President Trump's candidacy and the 14th amendment.
How The Biden Administration Put Race at the Center of Government Spending — An explanation of the Biden Administration's effort to remedy "centuries of structural racism" and the Justice40 program which reserves 40% of federal assistance programs for "underserved communities."
Innovating Beyond the Two-Party System — For those looking for an alternative to a Trump/Biden rematch, reflections on how we might escape the two-party system that as left us with such an unpopular choice.
How 'Our Democracy' Became Undemocratic — An essay exploring the many ways in which the word "democracy" has been weaponized by a wide array of narrowly focused interest groups -- groups that have little concern for the welfare of the larger society.
Apathy Loses -- If reasonable people disengage from politics, the zealots win. — An appeal for moderates who can see both sides of today's complex issues to get more evolved in politics. Otherwise, our future will be determined by true believers who see no value in competing views.
The Cure for What Ails Our Democracy — From David Brooks, an insightful look at the virtues of pluralism and the dangers of monism -- the belief that one possesses the one true answer and that anyone who disagrees is evil.
Fix the Insurrection Act Before a Trump Inauguration — An urgent plea to strengthen the resilience of US democracy by closing a legal loophole that could allow an unscrupulous President to use the military to suppress political opposition.
Britain, Islamism and the Forgotten Lessons of Appeasement — Look at how violence and the threat of violence is affecting British parliamentary debate in ways that raise the specter of a successful January 6-style insurrection.
Will you join the supermajority for constitutional democracy? — A thoughtful essay exploring threats to democracy and steps that might be taken to address those threats.
What Can Improve Democracy? — A report from Pew Research outlining what citizens in 24 countries told them about how democracy could be improved.
The One Idea That Could Save American Democracy — Another idea about something we could do to limit the threats to democracy in the US and elsewhere.
How to beat the backlash that threatens the liberal revolution — From Fareed Zakaria, an overview of his major new analysis of threats to liberal democracy.
The Great Struggle for Liberalism — An insightful essay that puts democracy's current struggles into the larger historical context of societal development and evolution.
Liberals must not use illiberal means to defeat Trumpism — An argument that liberal democracy cannot be defended by abandoning the liberal democratic principles that are its foundation.
On Public Service — A strong defense of the ideal of public service and a sharp critique of Donald Trump's disdain for such service.
Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Not as Powerful as She Thinks She Is — A hopeful and surprisingly persuasive argument that bipartisan governance is much healthier than it appears.
Want to help renovate American democracy? Welcome to Democracy, Refreshed. — From the Washington Post, the chance to sign up for free online course highlighting many of the things that can be done to improve US democracy.
How To Put a Country Back Together — Perceptive thoughts, grounded in real-world situations, about how to make a diverse, pluralistic society really work.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali: We Have Been Subverted — A look at how Russia's four-step subversion and destabilization strategy applies to the ongoing Israeli/Hamas crisis (and deteriorating support for Western values and democracy).
MAGA Turns Against the Constitution — From a conservative perspective, disturbing news that Trump supporters continue to lose faith in the Constitution and are actively looking for ways to get around its constraints.
Hollow Rebels — A report on Robert Kagan's new book on the long-running conflict between liberalism and it's many detractors.
What's Wrong With Congress (And How to Fix It) — An example of the kind of constructive problem-solving that can, over time, help restore the public's trust in its government.
What Exactly Did Justice Alito Say That Was Wrong? — Amid all of the turmoil over Justice Alito's surreptitiously recorded comments -- a look at the ethical questions involved,
Can the Constitution Reconcile America? — A first rate, must-read article defending the U.S. Constitution and its many mechanisms for forcing citizens to compromise and work together.
Will the Center Hold? — A review and summary of an important new book exploring the philosophical foundations and political viability of centrism around the globe.
A Coalition of All Democratic Forces, Part I: A Political Focus on What's Truly Important — The first of a three-part series exploring strategies for strengthening solidarity within democratic societies, despite the inherent tensions and competitiveness of the electoral process.
Eitan Hersh on the Perils of Political Hobbyism — An interview exploring a critically important topic, "political hobbyism," -- something that is very different from responsible citizenship.
Our Solution to the Crisis of Democracy — A report on another big picture look at the problems facing democracy and the things that ought to be a done to address those problems.
This Is What a Functioning Political Party Looks Like — At a time in which the power of the United States' political parties has been reduced in favor of grassroots voter power, an argument for restoring some of the power of the party apparatus.
A case study in why political parties matter — An explanation of the positive role that political parties can play in moderating the extremes of popular opinion.
The Founders Saw This Insane Political Moment Coming 237 Years Ago — For those who might think that, among the radical changes associated with our high-tech world, there is nothing we can learn from history -- news that the "founding fathers" anticipated our current crisis.
How to harden our defenses against an authoritarian president — A call for taking the steps needed to close the legal loopholes that could allow an unscrupulous president to bypass our system of checks and balances.
How to fix presidential primaries — Thoughtful ideas for improving our politics by reforming the process through which the major parties select presidential candidates.
In Praise of First-Past-the-Post — A compare and contrast article exploring the implications of the two principal ways in which democracies select members of legislative bodies.
What if Congress had more than two parties? Proportional representation could create a more functional Congress. A new report outlines how and why it just might work. — A provocative idea for reforming the U.S. Congress in ways that supporters believe would help defuse hyper-polarization by making Congress more like a parliament.
Liberalism Offers a Language of Resistance Against Authoritarianism Everywhere. The West may have become complacent about defending liberalism but non-Western countries are naturally turning to it — Thoughts on the complex relationship between liberalism and authoritarianism and why fighting authoritarianism requires a stronger defense of liberalism.
The Enduring Wisdom of America's Founding Documents — For a time in which faith in US democracy is plummeting, a review of the reasons why so many people have, throughout history, found the United States' founding principles to be so inspiring.
The Left's Assault on the Constitution — For those who see Democrats as defenders of our democratic (and Constitutional) institutions, a worrying story about the many Democrats who are embracing radical changes to those institutions.
Things Worth Remembering: The Imperfection of America — An argument for holding democratic institutions to a more reasonable standard -- one that reflects the fact that we are a long ways from figuring out a perfect process for governing ourselves.
The Grave Error of Old-School Liberals — The challenge for traditional liberals worried about the declining influence of their political philosophy -- think about the ways in which your actions may have contributed to this decline.
Hahrie Han | Tanner Lecture 1 | Stories of Democracy Realized: Becoming, Belonging, Building — A series of lectures exploring the ways in which different communities (including Christian faith communities) practice democracy,
Democracy plays no role in the UN's Pact for the Future — The Pact for the Future, adopted at the United Nations Summit of the Future on 22-23 September in New York, is a pivotal framework designed to address global challenges with a long-term vision extending beyond 2030. Surprisingly, this vision does not include democracy.
Supreme Court Reform Is in the Air — An especially good overview of proposals to "reform" the Supreme Court and the relative advantages and disadvantages of each.
How Congress Unleashed the Presidency — An interesting argument that many of our difficulties stem from the fact that we created a government that was too big for our democratic institutions to govern.
Liberalism is the rebellion now — Concern that classic liberal ideals like individual freedom and dignity are increasingly being marginalized.
A Reckoning for the Pro-Democracy Community — From a big supporter of pro-democracy efforts, real concern about the degree to which the movement is dominated by progressives (with very little conservative involvement).
Governors Launch Initiative to Protect American Democracy — From Colorado Gov. Polis information about the Governors Initiative to Protect American Democracy.
Making Government Efficient Again — An example of the kind of constructive reform proposals needed to correct institutional shortcomings while, at the same time, preserving the benefits of those same institutions.
To save liberal democracy, save its institutions — The persuasive argument that well-functioning institutions (not individuals) are the key to successful democratic societies (because they allow us to effectively pool our collective expertise).
The Nearly $100 Million Election-Reform Flop — A postmortem on the once promising efforts to strengthen democracy through open primaries and ranked choice voting.
Democracy in 2024 was noisy and chaotic. It was also resilient. — A more reassuring look at democracy's travails -- one that asks us to separate the chaos and conflict that are a feature of democracy from its real problems.
Liberal Democracy Faces Doubts. But Collapse? Not Likely. — A hopeful essay highlighting the factors that are allowing democracy to retain its resilience in the face of its ongoing challenges.
The Bomb Is Back as the Risk of Nuclear War Enters a New Age — For those who may have thought that the risk of nuclear war was a story for the history books, news that this terrifying threat is intensifying once again. We need to prioritize efforts to defuse it.
Here's What You Can Do to Keep Democracy Alive During Trump's Second Term — From George Lakoff, another set of recommendations for those wishing to play a positive role during the coming Trump Presidency.
The Democracy Index & The Contrarian — The Democracy Index is a project that will use the expertise of lawyers and political scientists to track developments in Trump 2.0., based on facts and transparent analysis.
The End of the Cordon Sanitaire — An insightful comparative analysis of how coalition building works and doesn't work in US and European democratic systems.
Democracy is Fighting Back — More information about the rapidly evolving nature of efforts to push back against the Trump administration's radical changes.
The Dilemmas of Democracy — A thoughtful exploration of the complex relationship between democratic self-rule, public opinion, and genuine expertise.
The Death of Competition in American Elections — The surprising and disturbing look at how few US elections are contested in any meaningful way. Democracy can't work when the views of so many voters are irrelevant.
The One Question That Really Matters: If Trump Defies the Courts, Then What? — An examination of one of the most important crunch points that will determine whether or not President Trump's authoritarian ambitions will be realized.
We Dodged A Constitutional Bullet — A report on hopeful, but still precarious, signs that the courts will force Trump to act within legal constraints.
An Unexpected Trump Bump for the World's Centrists — Evidence that President Trump's "shock and awe" policies are strengthening centrists and weakening support for right-wing populists around the world.
It May Not Be Brainwashing, but It's Not Democracy, Either — A review, with lots of citations, of the role that the tech elite is playing in the Trump administration.
A Battle for the Soul of the West — An examination of our hyper-polarized politics that centers around the conflict over whether "enlightenment values" are worth defending.
Disqualification Is Not a Democratic Process — Serious questions about the controversial (and suspect) way in which Marine Le Pen was removed as a candidate for the French presidency.
Make Congress Great Again — For those who might share the public's generally low opinion of Congress, ideas for improving Congress in ways that would allow it to earn back the trust that has been lost.
State Citizens' Assemblies: Time to Refresh the U.S. Constitution — The founders gave us a revolutionary document in 1787. Now, as our democracy fractures under polarization and systemic dysfunction, it's our turn to revitalize it. Citizens' Assemblies can help us do that.
Delivering for Democracy: Why Results Matter — From Francis Fukuyama, an in-depth, academic article explaining why it is so important for democratic societies to improve their ability to successfully address problems.
Who Really Runs America? — For those who wonder why America can't seem to successfully do anything, an important review of the powers held by small special interest groups.
Trump’s autocracy is growing—but patriotic opposition is growing faster — A hopeful story about the speed with which opposition to the Trump administration's most extreme and indefensible policies is growing.
Congress needs an expansion. A ‘high line’ could make it possible. — An overview of an intriguing, but seldom mentioned, proposal for strengthening US democracy -- expand the House of Representatives.
The Democracy Index for May 2, 2025 — “You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor, and you will have war.” This was Winston Churchill speaking about Neville Chamberlain's appeasement of Hitler. This article applies Churchill's observation to the Trump era.
Why Democracy Is in Retreat — From Walter Russell Mead, an attempt to distinguish genuine threats to democracy from the widespread use of anti-democratic rhetoric to undermine the legitimacy of political opponents.
The Slow Death of Effective Government — A report on the complex ways in which Trump administration actions are dramatically altering the civil service (and undermining the ability of government employees to serve the public).
When Culture Breaks, Democracy Won’t Be Far Behind — Reflections on the critically important relationship between a society's cultural and social beliefs and the health of its democratic systems of governance
Feeling cautiously optimistic about American democracy — Hopeful reflections on the "No Kings" protests and what it says about the United States underlying political culture.
Nondelegation and Major Questions Doctrines Can Constrain Power Grabs by Presidents of Both Parties — A report on two of the biggest legal issues surrounding efforts to constrain Presidential Power -- issues that are often misunderstood in partisan ways.
The Supreme Court Is Watching Out for the Courts, Not for Trump — A reassuring look at recent Supreme Court decisions that contrast with more popular partisan analyses and gives hope that the judiciary may continue to fulfill its constitutional role.
On Patriotism and Protest — Thoughtful reflections on how to resolve the apparent contradiction between being patriotic and, at the same time, very critical of a society.
America Has Always Been a Dangerous Idea — Thoughtful reflections on the most valuable features of US society and the contributions that it has made to humanity.
Mapping How Mamdani’s Ranked-Choice Strategy Beat Cuomo — After years of hearing arguments that ranked-choice voting is the cure for democracy's ills, we now have a big election that was decided under ranked choice rules to contemplate.
The Politics America Needs Now — For a time when much of our effort focuses on the many things that are going wrong, a rare article describing how we can make things go right.
When Lawmakers Aren’t Allowed to Make Laws — A detailed description of just how far the US lawmaking process that we were taught about in civics classes differs from today's reality.
Proportional representation is the solution to gerrymandering — Amid the all of the current fury over gerrymandering, a concrete, sensible proposal for reforming this aspect of representative democracy.
How Not to Fix American Democracy — A critical review of an important new book, The Right of the People: Democracy and the Case for a New American Founding.
Rules Matter More Than Rulers — An essay based on a provocative hypothetical, which would be worse: a Trump presidency that was actually constrained by the law or a Democratic presidency that was not?
One Sentence in the Constitution Is Causing America Huge Problems — For rule of law-based systems of government to work, the laws have to be very clear about what is and what is not permissible -- otherwise loophole seeking, bad actors will find ways to subvert these systems.
The Race to Save America’s Democracy — Worries about the upcoming US election from a prominent expert on authoritarianism, Garry Kasparov.
The Making or Breaking of Democracy — From Joseph Stiglitz, a report on the Democracia Siempre (Democracy Always) movement and its efforts to oppose democratic backsliding around the world and, especially, in the US.
The Conscience of Democracy: When Campus Voices Fall Silent — From Fair for All, an impassioned defense of free speech on campus -- the kind of speech that is now being attacked from both the left and right.
Meet the Lawmakers Trying to Bring Civility Back to Politics — Another, "if it's being done, it must be possible" story. This one looks at state legislators that are trying to rebuild our civic culture.
How to Save the American Experiment — An argument that we can learn a lot by studying the different ways in which the United States and Germany struggled with the problems of the 1920s and 30s -- a time with many similarities to today.
America Needs a Mass Movement—Now — From David Brooks, an in-depth article outlining what he sees as the key to escaping our hyper-polarized and dysfunctional politics.
The Unfinished Revolution — In preparation for the United States' 250th 4th of July celebration, the first in a major series of articles exploring the continuing challenge of building a democracy that lives up to its ideals
Liberalism Is a Bold Force That Ends Corrupt, Oppressive, and Arbitrary Hierarchies — A reminder that liberal democracy has long been society's best defense against oppression, corruption, and tyranny.
The Ideal That Underlies the Declaration of Independence — For those looking for an organizational principal capable of reuniting are divided society, an argument for rediscovering the Declaration of Independence and the principle of common ground.
Redistricting Is Ruining Democracy — An update on the ways in which the partisan motivations behind redistricting and gerrymandering are robbing us of our chance to cast meaningful votes.
Public norms have been warped, no doubt. Is the damage permanent? — An exploration of whether contemporary politics is better described as a pendulum or as a ratchet.
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Countering Misinformation

Meta's Proposed Reforms Are Significant — From Facebook, hopeful news that there are at least some serious and promising ideas for promoting more constructive online interactions.
Politics and the English Language, 2023 — Starting with George Orwell's "Politics and the English Language," a critique of some of the ways in which the left deceptively uses language to advance its agenda.
How to Destroy (What's Left of) the Mainstream Media's Credibility — A critical response to ongoing calls for the media to abandon the quest for objectivity in favor of solidarity with progressive worldviews.
The 'Disinformation Industry' Is Only One Part of a Larger Scandal — From the National Review, a critique of the left-leaning fact-checking industry and a reminder of the difficulties faced by this once promising effort to provide us with information we can rely on.
Bring Back Objective Journalism — More on the debate over whether "objectivity" is the key to trustworthiness or whether it is an obstacle to be avoided.
Your political rivals aren't as bad as you think. Our misunderstandings amplify hostility. — From Kansas, evidence that our conflicts are more the result of misunderstandings and less the result of deep-rooted disagreements.
The Government Created a New Disinformation Office To Oversee All the Other Ones — Another window into the vast bureaucracy that has been created to control disinformation and, quite possibly, political disagreement.
"Misinformation" isn't just on the right — A timely reminder that the complex dynamics that lead to a misinformed citizenry afflict those the left and the center as well as the right.
The American Left's Fantastic Threats — A provocative and, if true, game-changing argument that many of the things that the left most fears about the right are nowhere nearly as serious as is widely believed.
The Rage and Joy of MAGA America — A thoughtful essay offering those on the progressive left new insights into the appeal of Donald Trump and the MAGA movement.
The Orwell Test — Thought-provoking reflections on what one of history's leading experts on authoritarianism might think of contemporary politics and the many people who are trying to co-opt his ideas.
What I Wish More People Knew About American Evangelicalism — For a time in which evangelicals are, especially on the left, widely demonized, an article that tries to explain the positive impact that this movement has had on the lives of so many people.
When Fact-Checks Backfire — In theory, fact checking provides one of our most important tools for combating misinformation. This article takes a critical look at the factors undermining the effectiveness of these tools.
In Colorado, a Murder and a Viral Video Stoke Fears of Migrant Crime — An example of the kind of in-depth reporting that gives us all a chance to separate fact from politically convenient fiction.
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Overcoming Hate-Mongering Efforts

The 'Other Side' Is Not Dumb -- Is it possible we're not right about everything? — A much-needed call for some old-fashioned humility and serious consideration of the possibility that we might have something to learn from our political opponents.
Colombia's Peace-Whisperer Makes Plenty of Enemies — A profile of what it takes to fill one of society's most difficult and dangerous roles -- that of a peacemaker.
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Multi-Faceted Projects

To Build a Bridge: The Bridge Alliance Podcasts — A podcast series focused on illuminating the complex societal issues we face and highlighting the solution-oriented work of the many organizations and community leaders in the Bridge Allinace Network.
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System Thinking Strategies

How to Be Left Without Being Woke -- Towards a better understanding of status and victimhood. — Ideas for crafting a response to the world's often grotesque inequities that will be more likely to attract the support needed for successful, long-term implementation.
7 Ideas to Reduce Political Polarization. And Save America from Itself. — Sensible things that we could all do to actually help limit the polarization that we complain so much about.
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Media Reform

America's Tech Giants Rush to Comply With New Curbs in Europe — After years of complaining about the many ways in which tech companies are exploiting the public, news that the EU is taking a major step to address the problem.
The problem with social media is that it exists at all — A report on an interesting study that reveals that people would actually be willing to pay to remove social media from their lives and the lives of their friends.
How the Atlantic Went From Broke to Profitable in Three Years — For those who feared that good journalism was no longer economically feasible, a hopeful story about the Atlantic's resurrection.
Journalism Needs Cultural Adjacency — A perceptive analysis of how reporting suffers when there are deep cultural differences between journalists and the people that they are writing about.
Twitter, Elon and the Indigo Blob — From Nate Silver, reflections on the evolving media environment in which debates regarding the upcoming US election would be played out.
American Political Satire Sucks Because It Force Feeds You Answers Instead of Asking You Questions — A critical essay that asks whether political satire in the United States is playing a positive or a negative role.
AI researchers call for 'personhood credentials' as bots get smarter — One idea for limiting the many threats posed by an online world in which AI-generated, artificial people become indistinguishable from the real thing.
Section 230 Catches Up to AI — A description of ongoing litigation that might help overcome the "Section 230" problem and hold tech companies responsible for the content that their algorithms are pushing on users.
As Newspapers Fade, Journalists Are Finding New Ways to Cover Local News — A pretty sober assessment of the difficulties facing local news -- an assessment that, surprisingly, also contains good news about the successes that journalists are having in finding ways to continue their work.
How Persuasion Will Cover the Trump Presidency — From Persuasion, their thoughts on how the media might most constructively cover the President Elect.
The Economics of Media Bias — From the Wall Street Journal, an explanation of the financial incentives that make mainstream media biased and make it hard for unbiased media to be commercially viable.
Smash The Technopoly! — An interesting exploration of the longer-term relationship between technology and society with lots of references to the people who have done much to help us understand this crucial topic.
This company rates news sites' credibility. The right wants it stopped. — Those wishing to be good citizens desperately need a reliable way of evaluating the credibility of various information sources. This article tells the story of the difficulties faced by one such effort.
How Jonathan Haidt Won the Fight Against Smartphones in Schools — For those who might think that it is impossible to successfully challenge the system, a report on the increasingly successful campaign to get smartphones out of schools.
We need a Freedom of Information Act for Big Tech — An interesting proposal for limiting the insidious influence that so many tech companies have over our lives -- make those actions visible and turn them into a commercial liability.
Outrage 62 – How Systems Like Community Notes on Twitter/X Aim to Break the Cycle of Misinformation – Paul Resnick — What if the same technology that fuels outrage and division could also help us bridge divides and lower the temperature? In this episode of Outrage Overload, we dive deep into the role of technology in shaping what we see—and believe—online.
Tyler Cowen: Why I (Often) Choose My Phone Instead of Flesh and Blood — Amid all of the criticisms regarding online life and friendships, a thought-provoking defense of the relationships that we form in the digital world.
The Alarm Over Social Media Is Getting Through to Teens — A hopeful, good news story about the young people who are rebelling against the many ways in which their lives and relationships are being threatened and exploited by social media companies
My School Banned Phones for the Year. Here's What Happened. — An informative update on efforts to reduce the damage that smartphones can do young people.
It Was the Damn Phones — For parents of young children, and anyone trying to understand how phones have been affecting the lives of young people -- a first person account of what a phone-based childhood is like.
We Are Rushing Into the Same Mistakes We Made With Social Media — An insightful comparison of the mistakes made during the early stages of social media revolution and similar mistakes that we are now making with respect to AI.
I Founded Wikipedia. Here’s How to Fix It. — News that, like much of the rest of the media, Wikipedia's reputation as an objective source of information has fallen dramatically (and a proposal for remedying things).
Rawls & Rationality in the 1970s — Based on the work of John Rawls, a creative and thought-provoking way of thinking through the complex ramifications of the social media age.
Time to Refuse — An inspiring report on a major Generation Z / Generation Alpha effort to save themselves from social media by opting out.
The Future of The Free Press — From the Free Press, an often insightful Substack publication founded to provide an alternative to mainstream media, an explanation of their merger with CBS news.
Why Bari Weiss Matters — For those who would like to see more viewpoint diversity in our mainstream media, a story about two recent developments with reflections on the challenges that lie ahead.
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Trust / Trust Earning

The Scarcest Thing in the World — For a world in which we are all depend on being able to work with others, a sobering argument that the trust needed for effective collaboration is the scarcest thing in the world.
We've Been Thinking About America's Trust Collapse All Wrong — We live in a time in which we are experiencing the widespread collapse of societal trust. Before we can remedy the situation, we need a more sophisticated image of the processes through which trust is earned.
Trust in government: 1958-2015 — A long-term analysis of the way in which trust in US governmental institutions has collapsed over the last half-century.
How to Tackle Truth Decay — Thoughts about what to do about a world in which sources of objective truth have almost completely disappeared.
I've Been at NPR for 25 Years. Here's How We Lost America's Trust. — This is the critical article about NPR that has provoked considerable outcry. It deserves thoughtful consideration.
An Object Lesson From Covid on How to Destroy Public Trust — Reflections on new information about the government's COVID response lost the public's trust and what this implies about how we might better handle future crises.
The Crisis of Trust — From Francis Fukuyama, reflections on what has happened to the social fabric in the Trump era.
Can We Trust Social Science Yet? — For a time in which the public no longer trusts science (and especially the social sciences), thoughts about whether science is or is not worthy of the public's trust.
Can You Trust Anybody? — A lament about what it means to live in a society in which there are no longer sources of information that are widely trusted.
The twilight of liberal credentialism — More food for thought as we struggle to understand the full implications of the public's lost confidence in society's educated, meritocratic, elites.
The Virtue of Integrity — A look at one of the keys to solving the ongoing crisis of distrust -- leaders and experts need to re-earn that trust by acting with integrity.
Shutdown Lays Bare America’s Latest Crisis: A Total Breakdown in Trust — An examination of the way in which the collapse of political trust has made even more difficult to negotiate and into today's shutdown crisis.
Mapped: Where People Trust Each Other Most, by Country — An international comparative assessment of levels of social trust that raises as many questions as it answers.
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Bridge Building

The Seven Essential Truths of Digital Media Literacy — Solid proposals for responding to the way in which digital media has worked its way into pretty much every corner of our lives.
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Effective Problem-Solving Efforts

How the gay rights movement found such stunning success — As we contemplate strategies for promoting constructive social change, it's worth looking to past successes for guidance.
How Bipartisan Gun-Control Talks Actually Succeeded — Another "if it exist it must be possible" story --- this one focuses on the especially incendiary topic of gun control.
Transfroming the Conversation on Carbon Pricing USA — A policy dialogue between carbon pricing advocates and environmental justice activists about how to advance climate policy in ways that better include the concerns of vulnerable communities.
A Functional Congress? Yes. — Amid today's political fury, a surprising observation -- the 117th Congress has actually been remarkably functional (often in a bipartisan way).
Joe Biden should do some boring bipartisan commissions — A persuasive argument for remembering one way in which we can come together, put aside our acrimony, and get about the business of finding mutually beneficial solutions to our common problems.
Malthusian Theory Has Always Been False — A hopeful argument that, despite over a century of worrying about "overshoot and collapse," economic productivity continually managed to outstrip population growth.
Calif. Passed CARE Court Bill. Will Other States Follow? — A look at California's efforts to deal with the hard choices that arise when the problems of untreated mental illness intersect with the politically explosive issue of homelessness.
A Compromise on Immigration Is Possible. This Bill Could Make It Happen. — Welcome news that, even in today's hyper- polarized environment, there are people who are actively working to reach mutually beneficial, compromise agreements on today's tough issues.
Biden Can Still Get Things Done. Achieving National Unity Isn't One of Them — For deeply divided society, a more realistic look at things that might be actually accomplished over the near-term.
A Good-Will Government Was Possible in Israel — From Naftali Bennett, lessons learned from Israel's attempt to govern across deep political divides -- an attempt that focused on the "70/70 rule" (the 70% of issues that 70% of Israelis agree upon).
Secret Congress delivers more good news on clean water — For a media environment dominated by stories of political dysfunction, a good news account of how (with bipartisan support) we have been making major strides toward reducing water pollution.
I'm a Congressman Who Codes. A.I. Freaks Me Out. — An example of somebody who is trying to come up with realistic ways of limiting the downsides of A.I while enjoying the upsides.
Congress Must Halt Big Tech's Power Grab — We need to do more than complain about the power of big tech. Here is somebody who's trying to find a way to control that power. Who can improve on these ideas?
Bad Apples' or Systemic Issues? — A look at a continuum between two very different ways of responding to outrageous and indefensible acts and reflections on how our politics affects our response.
Banning noncompete clauses would be an economic game changer — Noncompete clauses, especially for low and middle income workers, represent a kind of modern day indentured servitude. Hopeful news about efforts to ban the practice.
These radically simple changes helped lawmakers actually get things done — Another one of those good news stories about people doing things that the conventional wisdom thinks impossible.
How UK Politicians Are Learning to Disagree---More Agreeably — From the United Kingdom yet another promising story about people who are showing us that it's possible to handle conflict in positive ways.
The Reagan Revolution Was Built on Compromise — For those on the right who do not feel that the changes they seek can be achieved through compromise, a reminder of what Ronald Reagan was able to accomplish.
The Problem With Everything-Bagel Liberalism — A pragmatic look at what it takes to really solve problems why trying to solve too many problems at once can be counterproductive.
Biden Administration Proposes Evenly Cutting Water Allotments From Colorado River — A classic example of a negative-sum game and the complex, high-stakes political conflict that surrounds it.
Lina Khan: We Must Regulate A.I. Here's How. — Amid all of the concern about the social impact of the coming AI revolution, specific proposals for regulatory changes that would limit problems while also helping us take advantage of the new technology.
The Renewable Energy Revolution Has a Power Line Problem — A reminder of the importance of comprehensive problem-solving efforts and the fact that failure to address some aspects of a problem can make successful efforts to address other aspects meaningless.
We Don't Need This Much Permitting — As the controversy surrounding the Department of Government Efficiency heats up, an argument that we really are an overregulated society.
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Effective Problem-Solving

Rich Rubenstein's Blog — A blog from Richard Rubenstein, a professor of Conflict Resolution at the Carter School. Most recently Rich has focused on the quest for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
The Case For (Even More) Compromise — A story about what has been gained through compromise and what our stubborn unwillingness to compromise further is costing us.
The Man Who Settled the Fox-Dominion Defamation Case From a Romanian Tour Bus — An interesting profile of how a mediator brokered the out-of-court settlement in the Dominion / Fox News case.
The World Needs Neutrals — For those too frequent times when war breaks out, a reminder of the critical role played by neutral humanitarian organizations like the Red Cross.
We fixed I-95 in 12 days. Here are our lessons for U.S. infrastructure. — A story (with lots of practical implications) of how, when we really want to, we can resolve disputes and make decisions quickly in ways that actually get things done.
A fiscal crisis awaits. Here's a provocative idea for heading it off. — The realistic strategy, with a proven track record, for grappling with the kind of tough public policy problems that require substantial public sacrifice.
Can Plastic Recycling Ever Really Work? — An example of a small, but effective effort to challenge the misleading labeling of "recyclable" plastics in ways that expand the market for true recyclables (and limit "greenwashing").
Colleges Are Lying to Their Students — For a time when colleges promise, but failed, to teach students how to think, a simple question that would improve all of our thinking: "What is the best argument of the other side?"
The Quiet Magic of Middle Managers — A must-read article about the "middle managers" whose conflict-handling expertise enables our society to function.
Inside the Secret Negotiations to Free Evan Gershkovich — The report on the complex negotiations surrounding the recent prisoner exchange (and disturbing news about how authoritarian regimes are profiting from a hostage-taking strategy).
The Case for Explorers' Day — A creative idea for moving beyond October's perennial conflict between Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day.
Americans' Rage at Health Insurance Companies Is an Opportunity — An example of the benefits of looking at problems and crises as opportunities to actually make things better.
Why the government built only 58 EV charging stations in three years — An in-depth look at the good (and not so good) reasons why the government takes so long to get anything done. This case study looks at efforts to expand the number of EV charging stations.
Come With Me if You Want to Survive an Age of Extinction — A thought-provoking, but depressing, inventory of the many important aspects of our lives that are now threatened with extinction (and a call for us to do what is necessary to prevent this from happening).
The Politicization of Intelligence — From a champion of rigorous expert analysis of policy questions, an alarming essay about how that kind of expertise is being driven from national security decision-making.
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Pursuing a Unifying Common Vision

Civics Alliance — A national coalition of organizations and citizens dedicated to preserving and improving America's civics education.
A Usable Past for a Post-American Nation -- Arguing about the narrative that houses the facts. — A promising strategy for building a common vision for the future by focusing how we frame an honest account of societies past successes and failures.
What We Owe The Future — For societies to flourish over the long run, they must find ways of assuring that the interests of future generations are protected.
The Left Gets Fascism Backward — We all ought to find time to seriously consider thoughtful views from people who deeply disagree with us. This essay, from the Wall Street Journal, offer such a critique of the left.
Misunderstanding Equality — "While people may have been created equal, they are, most certainly, not all alike." A provocative exploration of the nature of equity and equality.
The New Woke Discrimination Demands a New Law — From the Wall Street Journal, a carefully reasoned explanation of what those on the right see as today's big civil rights issue (and a proposed remedy) -- a controversial viewpoint worth understanding.
Seek and Hide' Grapples With the Complexity of the Right to Privacy — A thought-provoking report on a new analysis of the long-standing conflict between the freedom of speech and the right to privacy.
America's No-Majority Future Is Going to be Delicious — A hopeful image of what the diverse society that we are evolving toward could actually look like.
Actually, Color-Blindness Isn't Racist — A controversial but especially clear and persuasive critique of the current generation of antiracism programs and a defense of the kind of color-blindness advocated by people like Thurgood Marshall.
This man wants Utah and other states to adopt a "pro-human" approach to teaching ethnic studies — From the founder of the Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism, an in-depth interview and ideas about how to structure Utah's new ethnic studies classes in ways that will be broadly supported.
A Love Letter to America — An honest and affectionate look at what makes US society and its democratic institutions something to celebrate and nurture despite their deep flaws -- flaws that are deeply intertwined with its virtues.
What the Culture Wars Get Wrong — Amid all the sound and fury over the teaching of history, reassuring news that there is broad support for and agreement on what an honest and balanced curriculum would look like.
A Path to Institutional Pluralism — A pluralistic democracy is one in which diversity is more than skin deep. It is a system that allows people with very different beliefs to live and work together in peace.
Searching for Humanity in the Middle East — From David Brooks, an extremely perceptive the analysis of the principal frames/paradigms good people are using to make sense of events surrounding the Hamas' attack. To our three frames, he adds a fourth (which he says is even more important), "authoritarian nihilism."
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Developing a Unifying Vision

Why 'longtermism' isn't ethically sound — An interesting exploration of the pros and cons of a new philosophical perspective, "long-termism" -- a set of beliefs focused on what we owe posterity.
How Democracies Live: The Long Struggle for Equality Amid Diversity — An in-depth review and summary of two major new books that explore options for strengthening democracy in ways that better cope with socio-cultural diversity and economic inequity.
Francis Fukuyama: Still the End of History — A compelling observation that the alternatives to liberal democracy are still much, much worse. We just have to figure out how to make democracy live up to its ideals.
Can Democracy Exist Without Liberalism? — For a time when illiberal democracy is on the rise, Shadi Hamid reflects the all-important relationship between liberalism and democracy.
How honest American history can cultivate gratitude — An argument for a less divisive and more inclusive way of thinking about the United States' many historical failings -- combine that with a celebration of the very real progress that has been made.
The Curriculum Wars Are Based On An Illusion — Reassuring news from a major new survey -- Americans are actually in surprising agreement on what schools should and should not teach about US history.
America is in a 'Great Pulling Apart.' Can we pull together? — In the context of today's complex challenges, an insightful, personal attempt to imagine a democratic society in which we would all like to live.
Men Need Purpose More Than 'Respect' — A good example of how paying attention to the human needs of those involved in conflict can help limit the alienation and hostility that can make conflicts so intractable..
Rediscovering Our Shared American Values — For a time when our attention is dominated by the many issues that divide us, reflections on shared values that can help to bring us back together.
Confident Pluralism: Surviving and Thriving Through Deep Difference — A website with information about and reviews of an important new book that emphasizes the positive role that pluralism can play in making a diverse society really work.
Robert Talissee, Sustaining Democracy: What Do We Owe the Other Side — A overview of an important book that asks a fundamental and seldom addressed question: when does the victory we aspire to become unreasonable?
The Illusion of a Frictionless Existence — As we strive for an environment that protects us from threats ranging from the "micro" to the truly major, it's worth thinking seriously about when such an effort becomes counterproductive.
The Necessity of Patriotism (Even in Times Like These) — An exploration of how patriotism can coexist with an honest assessment of our nation's failings and why it is a key part of the quest for solutions.
Can Humanism Save Us? — As we continue to struggle to find a vision for a future in which we would all like to live, thoughts on what the long tradition of humanistic philosophy has to teach us.
He Made His Country Rich, but Something Has Gone Wrong With the System — From Singapore, a report on one of the principal alternatives to democracy -- a supposedly benevolent kind of authoritarianism.
Leave 'the American People' Alone — A thought-provoking argument that we spend too much time pursuing a unifying American identity and not enough time learning how to live with our differences.
The Case Against Consensus — For a field that prides itself on being able to build consensus, a skeptic's argument is worth considering. (We always need to keep asking ourselves hard questions.)
Empathy, and then what? — An important reminder that we need to do more than understand the views and motivations of our adversaries. We need to use that information in ways that make things better.
American Crisis -- How we lost our faith in the future and how to get it back — One of the downsides of our excessive focus on our society's failings is that we start to believe that success is impossible (and we quit trying.)
Divided over Liberty and Equality — I thoughtful look at the tension that now exists between the goals of liberty and equality and an explanation of how this didn't used to be the case.
Politics Can't Fix What Ails Us — A timely reminder that many problems do not have political solutions and a call for developing our problem-solving capabilities in other areas.
The New Washington Consensus — A report on an extremely important area of public policy in which a surprising consensus has emerged between the left and the right.
Tucker Carlson and the new standard we need — Reflections on the "cancellation" of Tucker Carlson and the need for a set of moral standards that are applied equally to all.
Two visions of environmentalism — A thoughtful and important observation that the conflict is not between the pro-and anti-environmental movement but between two different visions for the environmental movement.
The Promise of Individualism — Provocative thoughts about the advantages of our individualistic culture and a caution about abandoning it too easily.
Why I Developed Ethical Individualism Theory — Food for thought for those trying to understand what, in our individualistic culture, they owe the larger society.
The Left's Social Contract Is Broken. Here's How to Fix It — A look back at the left's many successes over the last 75 years, an argument that today's progressive advocacy is undermining that progress, and suggestions about how to fix things.
A Path to Civic Pluralism — An insightful summary of the philosophic foundation of pluralistic democracy -- an essential component of any effort to build a diverse society that really works.
What Is Integralism? — An exploration of the two major ways in which conservatives think about the relationship between individual liberty, government action, and social morality.
Democrats and Republicans share core values but still distrust each other — Good news that Democrats and Republicans are actually in agreement on many core moral values. Unfortunately, they still distrust one another.
MLK and the Content of Character — On the anniversary of Martin Luther King's 1963 March on Washington, thoughtful reflections on the meaning of his "I Have a Dream" speech in the contemporary context.
Radical Moderation — An overview of an important new book, "Why Not Moderation? Letters to Young Radicals" that challenges the widespread disdain for compromise that one now finds on both the left and the right.
Even the Oppressed Have Obligations — As we struggle against oppression, injustice, and inequality it is important to remember that everyone (including the oppressed) has a responsibility to uphold the values of the world that we are all trying to build.
Humanism and Its Discontents — A review and summary of an important new book looking at the evolution of humanistic philosophy and the difficult struggle to build societies based on that idea.
Why I Am a Liberal — A defense of liberalism and an explanation of why it offers a more unifying vision for the future than the views now dominant on the left and right.
What's Wrong with Liberalism: Theory — From Francis Fukuyama, an update on his latest thinking regarding liberalism and its discontents on the left and the right.
E.B. White's Beautiful Letter to a Man Who Had Lost Faith in Humanity — For difficult times, an important argument for not losing faith in our shared humanity.
Only America Can Save the Future — A partial antidote to today's pervasive pessimism -- an optimistic look at the United States' long-term strengths and prospects.
The Meaning of the Super Bowl 'He Gets Us' Ad — An exploration of the complex religious questions raised by the controversial Super Bowl ad and the importance of caring for the people with whom one disagrees.
The four kinds of truth America needs to pursue reconciliation — An older article offering still valuable insights for those trying to figure out how it might be possible to reconcile the United States' deeply divided society.
Cosmopolis or Bust? — An article offering a vision about how today's diverse, cosmopolitan cities can effectively function despite deep differences.
In defence of forgiveness — For a time of reckoning in which so many people focus on holding others accountable for their actions, an argument for tempering accountability with forgiveness.
How to Create a Society That Prizes Decency — From David Brooks, an essay exploring practical things that we can do to cultivate basic decency -- a precondition for a democracy that works.
Can a 50-Year-Old Idea Save Democracy? — A review and summary of an important new book highlighting Rawl's vision for a society in which we would all like to live -- one that is both fair and free.
A New Centrism Is Rising in Washington — A persuasive argument that the conventional wisdom is wrong. Rather than being divided and dysfunctional, the US government has quietly and successfully been able to address a wide range of issues.
Liberalism As a Way of Life — An interview with the author of an important new book defending liberal democracy from its many detractors.
Undergraduate Commencement Address by Ken Burns — A number of our readers recommended this commencement address as a great place to start putting our problems in perspective and thinking constructively about the future.
Things Worth Remembering: Why Forgiveness Matters — A retrospective look at what Hannah Arendt has to teach us about forgiveness and its role in helping us move beyond the terrible, unrightable wrongs of the past.
Effective Altruism Is Flawed. But What's the Alternative? — For those who recognize that good intentions are not enough, reflections on what makes altruistic actions genuinely effective.
From the Washington Consensus to the Berlin Declaration — A report on a new effort to craft a consensus on a new economic strategy that will do a better job of wisely and equitably serving all sectors of society.
The rise of the abundance faction — An interesting look at what is likely to be a very attractive social and political movement -- one focused on "abundance" instead of austerity.
Why centrism might be our salvation — An argument that the key to defusing the United States' political tensions might lie in something obvious -- developing the middle ground between our polarized extremes.
Why You Should Feel Good About Liberalism: We need to get better at standing up for the greatest social technology ever devised. — An argument that liberal democracy is one of humanity's greatest accomplishments -- an accomplishment that we ought to do a much better job of defending.
Yes, You Do Have to Tolerate the Intolerant: It has become fashionable to invoke Karl Popper's "paradox of tolerance" to justify restrictions on free speech. That's just plain wrong. — Tolerance and coexistence are key to making a diverse democracy work. This essay explores one of the big challenges facing promoters of tolerance -- the need to tolerate the intolerant.
Equality Is Good, Actually — Contrary to popular critiques, the liberal value of equality doesn't make you weak or nihilistic.
Yes, It's Easy to Defend Social Justice Politics if You Pretend Social Justice Politics Are Just Liberalism — A thoughtful exploration of the complex relationships between progressive, social justice politics and traditional liberalism.
How to Be Truly Free: Lessons From a Philosopher President — An in-depth profile of one of those rare political figures that thinks deeply about society and the role of government.
Alexandre Lefebvre on Liberalism as a Way of Life — Liberalism is more than an approach to politics, it is a comprehensive set of cultural beliefs.
A Renewed Union? — A review and overview of an important new book: "Democracy and Solidarity: On the Cultural Roots of America's Political Crisis," by James Hunter.
A Recipe for a Striving America — From David Brooks, an illuminating attempt to formulate a vision for an America that can start filling in its deep economic and political chasms.
The World Is in Love with America — For a time when Americans on the left and the right seem to have nothing good to say about their country, news that much of the world still sees much to admire the United States.
Working for the Wellbeing of Current and Future Generations — Learning from in-country innovations and building a global community for change -- the Implementation Handbook for the UN Declaration on Future Generations.
America Is Suffering an Identity Crisis — As the United States approaches its 250th birthday celebration, a thought-provoking article about our inability to decide what, if anything, is worth celebrating.
The Death of American Exceptionalism — Based in part on the examination of past periods of social conflict and distress, this hopeful article explains how politics is lagging behind positive changes that are taking place in our society.
Endless compassion — A hopeful argument that the voters' rejection of the orthodoxies of the political left will open the door to a more compassionate future -- a future that benefits everyone.
The Centre Must Rise — Another call for a badly needed political movement that charts a middle ground between the extremes of the left and the right.
Something Important Is Unfolding in America That Hasn't Happened in a While — A thought-provoking essay that starts by recognizing that those on both the left and the right are united in believing that society's major institutions are badly in need of reform.
How to get from the me to the we society — Thoughts on how the cultivation of social capital can be woven into the full range of public policies.
The Debasement of Tolerance — A provocative and controversial argument that widespread calls for tolerance in the face of differing beliefs have gone too far.
Make America Whole Again — From the Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism, creative thoughts about how a diverse new political coalition and a catastrophic natural disaster might help us reclaim the unity Martin Luther King Jr. envisioned.
American Society Was Built for Populism, Not Elitism — The comparison between elite and populist forms of social and economic forms of social organization and an argument that America, by tradition, leans towards populism.
A Renewed Liberalism Can Meet the Populist Challenge — The description of how liberals could respond to their critics in ways that would allow them to build a new kind of liberalism more capable of attracting populist support.
The Full Common Sense Democrat Manifesto — From Matt Yglesias, a proposed vision for a democracy in which most all of us would like to live -- something worth seriously considering.
The Political Fight of the Century — From the Atlantic, Derek Thompson's summary of the key arguments that they make in their thought-provoking new book "Abundance."
Can Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson Save the Left From Itself? — Bari Weiss interviews Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson about their new book "Abundance" and the possibility that it offers for escaping our hyper-polarized politics.
Revisiting the Social Contract — As we try to imagine a future in which we move beyond our hyper-polarized politics, an essay that looks back on the origins of the social contract that has held so many societies together.
You are the heir to something greater than Empire — Thoughtful reflections on the many positive aspects of the culture and society that we have inherited (and a call for efforts to further enhance that heritage).
Don’t Squander the Potential of Abundance — As we contemplate how, exactly, to pursue an "abundance agenda," an appeal for doing so in ways which serve everyone -- not just one political party.
The Happiest Country in the World Isn’t What You Think — Food for thought for those who have been trying to an articulate an alternative to the now dominant materialistic culture that guides so much of society.
The Paradox of Tolerance: Should We Not Tolerate Some Views? — The political left often complains that they cannot be tolerant of intolerance. In this article, the Builders Movement offers it's opinion on this critically important topic.
On Humanism: the Big Picture — As we look for moral philosophy capable of binding together our culturally diverse society, a helpful summary of the key concepts behind humanistic philosophy.
Liberalism as the Shining City on a Hill — The review of why so many think that liberalism, despite its many acknowledged faults, still offers an ideal worth pursuing.
Lessons In Listening From A Political Exile — For those who might think that today's problems are unprecedented, an article describing how thinkers from an earlier generation struggled with similar crises.
Feelings, Facts, and Our Crisis of Truth — A thought-provoking exploration of the complex relationships between narratives, objective fact-finding, journalism, and the nature of truth.
An Anti-Monopoly and Abundance Movement for Urban Politics — One-party municipal rule leads to poor services, corruption, and dejected electorates. A major debate is brewing over how to respond.
Liberalism Needs Community — An enlightening exploration of a critical topic: what common beliefs are needed to hold together the diverse liberal societies with their many deep-rooted differences?
Working-Class Abundance — A critique and a sympathetic proposal for amending the Abundance Agenda to focus more on the needs of grassroots citizens and less on the needs of the meritocratic elite.
Bobby Kennedy, a 1968 Liberal Patriot — Another "if it's been done it must be possible" story. This one looks at the promising political philosophy underlying Robert Kennedy's campaign for the presidency (prior to his 1968 assassination).
It's time for abundance Democrats to embrace cultural moderation — A proposed, friendly amendment to the abundance agenda that some Democrats are championing -- accompany it with greater tolerance for differing views on the culture war issues.
'Abundance’ Offers a Sounder Way Forward for the Left than Degrowth or Redistributive Progressivism — More on the big debate between those who focus on cultivating growth and, hopefully, abundance, and those who concentrate on the redistribution of the wealthy's riches.
Bringing Human Nature Back In — From Francis Fukuyama, reflections on building a democracy that works within the constraints posed by "human nature."
Trump Just Reminded Me of Why I’m Still a Neocon — A defense of neoconservatism, for those looking for a more attractive political alternative that falls somewhere between the woke left or the MAGA right,
The Deformist Tendency — A review of an important new book, The New Conservatives: Restoring America’s Commitment to Family, Community, and Industry, that argues against conforming with prevailing norms.
The Great Bipartisan Abdication — A look at the complex chain of events that led both Democrats and Republicans to lose their public-spirited vision (and ability to reconcile competing interests).
How Democrats Lost Obama’s Vision of American Identity — A retrospective look at how US politics has moved so sharply away from Obama's once popular vision for America.
Capitalism needs honor and ethics — For the "invisible hand" of capitalism to function effectively, it must embody strong prohibitions on the kind of unethical behavior that can turn the "invisible hand" into an "invisible fist."
Democrats Could Learn a Lot from the Progress Movement — For those intrigued with the abundance movement, an article about the emerging progress movement. Is this the kind of vision that could actually bring us together?
Bring back liberal nationalism — Liberalism and nationalism are not necessarily competing belief systems. In fact, there is much to be said for combining them.
How to Replace Christian Nationalism — An exploration of the dramatic changes now underway in the United States' many Christian communities and thoughts about those that are helpful and those that are not.
America’s Formula for Greatness Is Under Threat — From Nicholas Kristof, thoughts about three big things that made America great -- things that we are in danger of losing.
What Is Post-Liberalism, Anyway? — An update on the ways in which stereotypical beliefs about what others think are being undermined by rapid changes in political philosophy.
The Left’s 21st Century Project Has Failed — Yet another contribution to the debate over why the left has failed to bend the arc of history in its preferred direction.
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Constructively Addressing Complex Issues

An Existential Threat to Doing Good Science — Hyper-polarization reinforces the illusion that we are absolutely right and anyone who disagrees is absolutely wrong. This illusion now threatens the ability of science to find real solutions to problems.
The Wisdom and Prophecy of Jimmy Carter's 'Malaise' Speech — A story worth remembering (and learning from) about a time when a US President tried understand the complex, underlying social dynamics that were tearing apart the United States.
The world is awful. The world is much better. The world can be much better. — An important reminder: as we struggle to address today's big problems, we should not lose track of (and fail to sustain) the very real progress that has been made.
The State of 'Nature' — Provocative thoughts on the relationship between political advocacy and science and the danger that too much advocacy can undermine scientific trustworthiness and public trust.
Could Ice Cream Possibly Be Good for You? — A terrific case study exploring the complexities of what happens when a scientific study challenges the established consensus.
A Paper That Says Science Should Be Impartial Was Rejected by Major Journals. You Can't Make This Up. — An alarming article about the degree to which the pursuit of objective science is being abandoned by progressives.
In Defense of Merit in Science — A article so controversial that it could only be published in the "Journal of Controversial Ideas." Their argument -- science should be evaluated according to the merits of the arguments being made.
The Problem with Lived Experience — Listening to people with experience actually struggling through today's big problems can provide important insights. Excessive focus on these "lived experiences," however, can also get us into trouble.
What the IPCC Actually Says About Extreme Weather — For those who want to trust the science (not political rhetoric), a review of what the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says about the relationship between weather disasters and climate change.
The limits of our personal experience and the value of statistics — A clear and persuasive explanation of how statistical data provides a way of looking at the world that is different from and, in many ways, superior to more direct and personal sources of information.
Journalists should be skeptical of all sources ---including scientists — From Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight fame, a detailed look at the COVID lab leak controversy and a spectacular example of how science can betray the public trust.
You Can't Fact Check Propaganda — A really excellent description of the nature of propaganda in the context of the Israeli/Hamas war along with an explanation of the many limits of "fact-checking."
Against Mathiness — The first, of a two-part look into what it takes to be able to integrate sophisticated (mathematically sound) analyses into public policy decision-making.
Intellectual Hospitality — An exploration of John Dewey's now radical idea -- intellectual hospitality, the welcoming of alternative views.
Weather forecasts have become much more accurate; we now need to make them available to everyone — News that, with respect to the weather, we actually are getting much more proficient at making predictions.
Adversarial Collaboration: An EDGE Lecture by Daniel Kahneman — A lecture by the late Daniel Kahneman describing adversarial collaboration -- what it is and how it works.
Congress Got More Done When the Greatest Generation Ran It — An exploration of the way in which the "greatest" (World War II) generation approached political issues and an argument that they did a better job of making democracy work.
Can't we get back to solving problems? — Thoughts on how to transform dysfunctional democratic institutions in ways that would enable us to genuinely solve problems.
How Science Must Change — For a time when science is so widely distrusted, concrete suggestions about how science might re-earn the public's trust.
Why Study History? — A timeless argument worth repeating often -- those who fail to understand history are condemned to repeat it.
To Assess or to Advocate? — An illuminating exploration of what happens to public trust when scientific objectivity is subordinated to political advocacy.
Six-Chart Sunday (#47) -- OK, DOGE'R — A compilation of statistics that help us understand the key facts behind the upcoming campaign to promote government efficiency.
How to Remain a Reality-Based Human in 2025 — A somewhat lighthearted, but also perceptive, set of recommendations for staying focused on what really matters during the Trump era.
Six-Chart Sunday -- Unbalanced — Another great collection of eye-opening statistics and graphs that illuminate important and hard to see aspects of our contemporary world.
The crisis of expertise is about values — An excellent analysis of the complex relationship between objective fact-finding and moral value judgments.
Trump’s ‘Gold Standard’ for Science Manufactures Doubt — A critique of President Trump's scientific reform efforts an argument that they do not sensibly grapple with unavoidable scientific uncertainty.
Doctors Have Lost Their Mount Olympus of Medicine — A story about the practical implications of living in a society in which there are no longer sources of reliable, objective information.
Scientific Journals Can’t Keep Up With Flood of Fake Papers — An eye-opening look at one of the factors behind the collapse in public support for scientific inquiry.
Governing Is Difficult When Few Americans Agree on Basic Facts — A look at the enormous implications of fact-based disagreements and their ability to divide people of good will -- people who also agree on basic values.
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Monitoring and Evaluation

ICTs for Monitoring and Evaluation of Peacebuilding Programmes — This paper explores the incorporation of information and communications technologies (ICTs) into the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems of peacebuilding programmes.
Measuring the Un-Measurable — This practical how-to guide provides tools, methodologies, and social science approaches that can be utilised for measuring intangible change in conflict affected and fragile environments.
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Networking

Citizen Connect — A non-partisan platform to help Americans find ways to heal our political divides and strengthen our democracy by making it easy to find civic organizations and events of interest to all visitors.
A blog post is a very long and complex search query to find fascinating people and make them route interesting stuff to your inbox — A genuinely interesting network-building strategy and a way to expand and diversify the information bubbles in which we all live.
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Effective Communication Strategies

Monuments, mascots, and Naming: A guide to Conversations and Community and Memory — A guide to help everday citizens constructively explore and discuss controversies surrounding monuments, mascots, and names that some find uplifting, and others find offensive or destructive.
I spent years hating activists. Then I tried listening to them — An account of somebody who did something that we all need to do more --- really listen to and try to understand the people with whom we disagree.
The art of listening — For a world in which we tend to focus on developing our ability to persuade and influence others, a plea, instead, for cultivating our ability to listen to (and be persuaded by) our fellow citizens.
How social media 'censorship' became a front line in the culture war — An article that demonstrates how extraordinarily difficult is going to be to build a bipartisan consensus on how to control the many aspects of social media that threaten democracy.
A Columbian Exchange — A different and informative kind of dialogue -- a discussion transcript created by a reporter seeking to succinctly bring together competing views on the tension between Columbus and Indigenous Peoples Day.
How Fundamentalism Fails — From a Christian perspective, a more universal explanation of the limits of fundamentalism and the belief in absolute self-righteousness -- "a closed fist can't overcome the open hand."
What Readers Really Think About Gender — An interesting alternative to face-to-face dialogue -- a journalist who promotes mutual understanding by soliciting and then sharing thoughtful reader views on controversial issues.
Take A Position, Not A Side — An plea to abandon us-vs-them thinking and focus on debating the relative merits of competing positions.
To Put It Bluntly — A provocative critique of the now widespread practice of avoiding tough issues through euphemistic phraseology that prioritizes the avoidance of uncomfortable assertions.
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Persuasion

How critical theory is radicalizing high school debate — More on disturbing trends in the way in which we teach high school debaters how to think about the issues and the almost nihilistic strategy that undermines the very notion of constructive policy debate.
Women Know Exactly What They're Doing When They Use 'Weak Language' — From a dispute resolution perspective (and a feminist rights perspective), to look at the pros and cons of so-called "weak language."
Ross Douthat's Theories of Persuasion — It is a lot easier to get people to change their opinions and behavior through persuasion. Force tends to lead to backlash, defiance, and intensified conflict.
Why Are Democrats Speaking to America in Ancient Greek? — From John McWhorter, an analysis of the language we use to define and defend democracy -- language that makes it harder to communicate critical concepts to the general public.
Mutual Persuasion, Not Violence, Is the Path to Follow — The key to building a better society is not forcing people to do things that they don't want to do. Instead, we need to persuade them that doing those things is in their best interest.
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Constructive Communication

How Diverse Should Viewpoint Diversity Be? — A look at the tough challenges associated with building a free society that fairly and wisely accommodates a diverse array of cultures, values, and perceptions of objective truth.
A Guide for Professional Journalism in Conflict Zones — Exploring the challenges of reporting news from conflict zones, this guide provides a "time out" for journalists to reflect on their role as investigators and deiverers of information to society.
I stopped reading the news. Is the problem me --- or the product? — For news junkies and journalists, provocative questions about the benefits (and the costs) of the information we consume and produce.
The Most Consequential First Amendment Case This Term — An enlightening look at the issues the Supreme Court is considering in 303 Creative v. Elenis and the possibility that the government will increasingly be able to tell us what we can and can't say.
The 'Twitter Files' Show It's Time to Reimagine Free Speech Online — Especially informed and thoughtful reflections on the "Twitter Files," freedom of speech, the First Amendment, public policy, and social media.
Newsrooms that move beyond 'objectivity' can build trust — A report on a major new inquiry into the mainstream media's trustworthiness crisis and a disturbing argument that the solution is to abandon objectivity and the telling of both sides of a story.
The New York Times Is Finally Moving on From 2020 — Welcome news that the New York Times is again embracing its traditional role of providing a forum for competing views on the big issues facing society.
Free Press, Regardless — As tensions rise over Russia and China's increasingly aggressive brand of high-tech authoritarianism, an update on efforts to undermine the propaganda that makes these regimes possible.
Overuse of 'existential threat' is a crisis of existential proportions — An exploration of the threat posed by our tendency to overstate threats (in order to grab attention and build support).
The Free Speech Case for Section 230 — A primer on the many important issues swirling around "Section 230" of the Communications Decency Act and the implications that this has for efforts to control the downsides of social media.
A Politics Worth Watching — A strategy that citizens, the news media, and philanthropists could use to present political issues in a way that can garner sustained and thoughtful public attention.
3 tips on how to argue --- and find common ground --- from a debate champion. — Solid advice on how to transform either/or debates into a search for common ground.
Why it's so hard to fix the information ecosystem — A thoughtful inventory of the things that make it so hard to remedy today's destructive information flows -- problems which we have to find a way to overcome.
The Abortion Talks: A Documentary — A documentary describing one of the conflict field's most successful efforts to build mutual understanding and respect across deep moral differences.
The Seven Social-Media Commandments — Constructive steps that we can all take to limit the adverse impacts that the various social media platforms so often have on our lives.
America's road to healthier political discourse starts on campus — An eloquent defense of the importance of cultivating robust political debate on campus and a look at an organization that is trying to promote this kind of debate.
Danya Rumore: To disagree better, we need to increase our conflict competence — In response to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox's "Disagree Better" Initiative, a quick and readable summary of what "disagree better" means in practice.
The Insidious Lie That We Can't Understand Each Other — A welcome challenge to the dangerous but increasingly popular notion that, no matter what we do, we can't understand one another (and shouldn't bother trying).
The rebirth of local news depends on all of us — Promising suggestions for building the kind of vigorous and trustworthy local news system that is an essential component of successful democracies.
My Friend, The Zionist — A rare look at what an in-depth conversation between friends who have been divided by an extraordinarily deep, and perhaps unbridgeable, conflict looks like.
Substack Was a Ticking Time Bomb — Thoughtful reflections on some of the difficult issues facing the Substack newsletter platform (which hosts our newsletter).
How the social media mob helped me find my voice — Personal reflections on a positive way of responding to cancel culture mobs of the left and the right.
How to Disagree Better — From the Atlantic, links to three articles outlining ways in which we can discuss controversial issues more constructively.
What Is Christian Nationalism, Exactly? — Amid the many calls to fear the threat posed by Christian Nationalism, serious exploration of what the term actually means.
Bring Back The Culture of Debate! — For a time when everyone seems to shy away from criticism, an argument for the reinvigoration and celebration of debate.
For Conversations You Dread, Try a Chatbot — A crazy idea that might actually make some sense -- practicing difficult conversations with AI chatbots.
Invisible memorials and the presence of absence — An interesting report on an unusual way of memorializing terrible, politically charged events.
Fighting is Easy. Persuading is Harder. — An important exploration of the difference between persuasive efforts and efforts to simply defend one's point of view.
Things Worth Remembering: Conversation Is an Art — Reflections on what it really takes to master the art of conversation and constructive communication.
Believing and Doubting — The description of a solid, practical strategy for reading in ways that promote mutual understanding and empathy, while limiting misinformed and hateful animosities.
Against steelmanning: It's usually not a good idea to try to make arguments look stronger than they really are. — An essay on an interesting new concept, "steel man" arguments (the opposite of "strawman" arguments).
How to Be a Writer in the Second Age of Trump — Thoughtful insights from a writer who has been trying to figure out how he might best be able to contribute to the great national conversation that is going to accompany Trump's 2nd term.
To Dial Down Campus Tensions, Colleges Teach the Art of Conversation — A much smarter approach to campus controversies (and controversies in the larger society).
What Conservatives Get Right About Politics — The first of the two-part series that tries to explain to one side some of the good ideas that the other side has that are worth embracing.
Want to Be a Better Listener? Take Lessons From a Chatbot. — AI's studying success is based on carefully listening to most all of the voices on the Internet. Could we learned something about listening from the way in which it does this?
The Trump-Zelensky Oval Office blowup. — This is from Tangle--a much more balanced and insightful analysis of the event and its meaning than others I've seen.
The Mirror Test for a Divided America — For democracy to survive, we have to be willing to treat our fellow citizens as we would like to be treated. The mirror test is a strategy for figuring out whether or not we are doing this.
The Debate Style That Propelled Charlie Kirk’s Movement — A look at the way in which Charlie Kirk engaged with students — a provocative but educational style shared by my favorite teachers in the early 1970s.
Defuse political tension in your family with one simple question — Thoughts about better ways of handling sometimes difficult holiday conversations based on cultivating the seldom recognized aspect of well-being -- curiosity.
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Escalation & Violence Limiting Projects

What Biden could gain from pardoning Trump — An example of the kind of "outside the box" thinking that might help reverse today's dismal political trends. We need to work harder to develop, evaluate, and (where appropriate) implement such ideas.
Why I've stopped fearing America is headed for civil war — A look at the factors that have persuaded one author that the risk of runaway escalation and violence is declining.
One Woman Is Holding Politicians Accountable for Nasty Speech. It's Changing Politics. — An example of somebody with the bright idea that is making a real difference -- the dignity index, a strategy for encouraging and reinforcing constructive political rhetoric.
We keep moving from one wrong fight to another. Here's how to stop. — From Amanda Ripley, provocative essay that explores the inflammatory role being played by conflict entrepreneurs and the misconceptions that we spend so much time fighting about.
Meet the People Working on Getting Us to Hate Each Other Less — A great summary, with lots of links, to the projects that are making massively parallel efforts to defuse hyper-polarization a reality.
How Football Might Prevent Iraq's Next Civil War — A hopeful story about a sports team that is helping span social and political divides in ways that are helping reduce tensions.
What Is It You Just Called Me? — Ashok Panikkar says "insults work better if you know what they really mean. So he explains -- the meaning of democracy, socialism, conservative, liberal, progressive, etc. Not really "insults," but...
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De-Escalation Strategies

Making the other side better — A truly radical idea -- instead of devoting all of your energy to defeating a threatening adversary try acting in ways that lead them to be less threatening and better neighbors and citizens.
Are you ready to forgive? A new study shows letting go is good for health. — Food for thought for those who are trying to come to terms with the unrightable wrongs of the past.
Cable News Viewers Aren't as Extreme as You Might Think — An essay that does something genuinely useful -- break down unrealistic and inflammatory stereotypes.
The Promise (and Peril) of Anti-Wokeness — A thought-provoking essay exploring ways of thinking about (but not being consumed by) things that make you angry.
We keep moving from one wrong fight to another. Here's how to stop. — Thoughtful insights into our tendency to move from one us-vs-them confrontation to another while simultaneously avoiding serious efforts to work through and learn from our differences.
What if We're the Bad Guys Here? — A must-read article that does much to explain President Trump's continuing popularity and the role that the cosmopolitan elites have played in helping him survive his steady stream of scandals.
Anger overwhelms our thinking brain. Here's how to bring it back online. — A reminder about the many ways in which anger affects our thinking and undermines our ability to protect our interests, along with suggestions for overcoming those problems.
The Most Important Writing Exercise I've Ever Assigned — A simple and really creative writing assignment (or introspective thought experiment) that helps people see across the deepest of our political divides.
The Secret Power of Using 'We' During Difficult Conversations — This simple change in language and, more importantly, the way we think about conflict can have huge and quite beneficial implications.
Can Humor Cure Outrage? Jonathan Bernstein Thinks So — David Beckemeyer talks to Jonathan Bernstein author of Election Day, a book that uses satire to inspire voter turnout and encourage civic engagement.
How I Learned To Stop Criticizing Everything — A philosophical argument about lifestyle choices that, if more widely followed, could help heal our divisions.
From Concession Speeches to Constructive Dialogue — An argument that electoral winners ought to temper their ambitions and provide losers with assurances that they will have a meaningful voice in shaping the victor's agenda.
Whatever Happens, Love Thy Neighbor — A plea for voters to remember, in the aftermath of the election, that those who vote the other way aren't evil caricatures, they are the decent folks that you see every day.
The real antidote to political bitterness — An article describing the importance of "civic friendship" with detailed ideas about how best to cultivate it.
To Overcome Our Divides, We Must Try to Understand the Other Side's Anger — An important argument for empathetically trying to understand (rather than discount) the anger that others feel toward your community.
Don't Just Let Radicals Dictate Your Opinions — An interesting effort to get beyond us-vs-them thinking and explore the conflict between those at the extremes of the political continuum and those at the center.
Is It Possible to Be Magnanimous in Victory? — An essay on one of the most important and most neglected features of a successful democracy -- the willingness of democracy's winners to respect the interests of its losers.
Three questions with Millions of Conversations founder Samar Ali — Nashville nonprofit leader and founder of Millions of Conversations, Samar Ali, talks about innovative ways to better unite people across deep divides.
The Strength You Gain by Not Taking Offense — For world in which people are quick to find reasons to be offended and reasons to claim victimhood, thoughts about the advantages of not doing those things.
America Needs a Nonaggression Pact — An interesting proposal for taming the most dangerous aspect of hyper-polarization -- apply the principles underlying nonaggression treaties to domestic politics.
You Gotta Hand It To The Mormons — Jonathan Stray highlights the power of forgiveness and how the Mormons have used this and other peacebuilding tools to help build bridges across the US politial divide -- even raising funds for the family of the man who attacked them.
There’s a Path Out of This Divide — A moving account of the way in which Mormons have responded to the brutal attack on its church in Grand Blanc, MI -- the kind of the response that really could help us walk back from the brink.
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Constructive Advocacy

Our Fathers Marched With King. Here's What They Would Say to Activists Today. — From the children of some of Martin Luther King's most important allies, thoughts about the differences between civil rights advocacy in the King era and today.
36 people who made the world freer for the rest of us — Profiles of 36 individuals who, in their own way, demonstrate how individual, "massively parallel" efforts can help advance society as a whole.
Something Is Wrong — A perceptive exploration of the tension between ideological and people-centered politics.
Is Populism Possible Without Demagoguery? — An essay exploring a critically important topic -- building a constructive, populist, political movement.
Salman Rushdie's Beautiful Revenge — A hideous attack is transformed into a statement of bloodied but unbowed humanism.
Democracy Requires Disagreement. Here's How To Do It Better. — A TED Talk with Bret Stephens and Yordanos Eyoel who discuss why democracy is still our best hope. They also offer ways we can strengthen our societies by learning to disagree more constructively.
The Basics: Deference Politics — A thoughtful essay asking hard questions about the fuzzy relationship between elite promises to really do something about the plight of the less privileged and substantive actions that actually do make a difference.
Teach the Conflicts: It's natural---and right---to foster disagreement in the classroom — An argument for engaging, rather than avoiding, controversial issues in the classroom.
We Need More Costly Signaling — For a time when our politics is distorted by inexpensive and superficial virtue-signaling, an argument that, to be seen as virtuous, people ought to do something significant that really makes a difference.
A Public Statement From Philanthropy — From the Council on Foundations, an invitation for all charitable giving organizations to join them in an effort to protect everyone's freedom to express themselves, to give, and to invest in their communities.
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Conflict Advice

Don't Teach Your Kids to Fear the World — While there are plenty of things to worry about, we must teach the coming generation to see those concerns in the context of the many things that make life wonderful and our problems surmountable.
Choose the Activism That Won't Make You Miserable — As you think about getting involved in efforts to make the world a better place, practical advice on how to do this in a psychologically sustainable way -- and, make a real contribution.
How to Succeed in the Foreign-Policy Blob — Wise and practical advice for those seeking a career in international relations, peacebuilding, or any other conflict-related field.
Whatever You Do, Don't Do the Silent Treatment — Sound advice for those in the midst of difficult interpersonal conflict.
How To Choose A Romantic Partner — Practical advice on how to avoid destructive conflict in, perhaps, our most important relationship.
Politics Almost Ruined Our Friendship. Here’s How We Saved It. — An important essay exploring a critical skill that people need to have before they can be expected to seriously start thinking about today's complex issues.
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Making Collaborative Democracy Work

The Uncomfortable Truths That Could Yet Defeat Fascism — An essay from the author of "The Persuaders: At the Front Lines of the Fight for Hearts, Minds, and Democracy" that explores ways of reaching those who are turning away from democracy.
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Suppressing Opponents

We're About to Find Out What Happens When Privacy Is All but Gone — A look at the many implications of living in a post-privacy society.
World Health Organization Pushes Sweeping Censorship Treaty — Time to think about how a solution to one problem (rampant medical disinformation) may be creating another more serious problem -- global censorship of anyone who challenges the elites.
How to Know When a Prosecution Is Political — A practical guide for determining when political prosecutions arise from legitimate efforts to equitably enforce the rule of law and when they are disingenuous tactics used to weaken a political rival.
Moms for Liberty: 'We Do Not Co-Parent With the Government' — A story about a case in which efforts to challenge political opponents crosses the line into dishonest hatemongering.
How death threats get Republicans to fall in line behind Trump — A disturbing review of instances in which threats of physical violence are being used by Trump supporters to quash dissent. Democracy can't survive if people aren't free to express their views.
A Conspiracy Against No Labels — For a country in which there are almost as many independents as Republicans and Democrats combined, allegations of a conspiracy against a moderate, third-party, Presidential candidacy.
Governments Are Creating A Fake Hate Panic To Censor, Interfere In Elections, And Imprison Their Political Enemies — A critical look at the vast apparatus that is being mobilized to combat hate speech (as least as it is seen from the political left).
One of the Deadliest Jobs in Mexico: Running for Office — A window into violent political intimidation -- one of the scariest failure modes for democratic systems and efforts to curtail organized crime and governmental corruption.
The Great Democratic Lawfare Bust — A retrospective and critical look at the failure of the Democratic "lawfare" strategy which sought to use criminal prosecutions to deny President Trump a second chance at the Presidency.
Debanking and the Return of Operation Choke Point — Yet another example of the ways in which the rule of law is being circumvented in ways that can, despite well-meaning intentions, be circumvented by bad-faith actors.
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Disinformation

See the ads Democrats are funding to boost far-right Republicans — Yet another example of what happens in politics when the need to defeat the other side becomes more important than building a democracy in which we would all like to live.
Whataboutism — An exploration of one of the most effective strategies for promoting confusion and undermining the sensible analyses of social problems -- "whataboutism."
How Putin's Russian goon squad used Mexican gig workers to troll an American election — An account from a person who found himself in the middle of Russian efforts to hire provocateurs to influence US elections and politics.
Why Did Fox News Lie to Its Viewers? — A rare look at court-admissible evidence that documents the way in which the need to tell audiences what they want to hear is distorting news coverage -- a problem that is far more widespread than Fox News.
How Disinformation Splintered and Became More Intractable — An update on recent trends in disinformation campaigns and the the rapidly advancing technologies that are making them increasingly effective.
The Autocrat Sliding into Your DMs — Sobering news for those who might be tempted to discount the dangers associated with high-tech authoritarianism.
An America of Secrets — An insightful examination of the role that governmental secrecy plays in undermining our ability to analyze problems in ways that are both both viewed as trustworthy and trusted.
The online information ecosystem during the Israel-Gaza crisis — In addition to its relatively narrow military objectives, the Gaza war is, perhaps most importantly, the battle for the hearts and minds of the global population. This article looks at the high-tech information ecosystem in which this battle will be fought.
Propaganda in Local Newspapers: Distorting Reality and History — A lengthy and carefully documented explanation of the many ways in which mainstream media sources are misunderstanding and misreporting the Israeli/Hamas war.
The Case Against Content Moderation — An essay that looks at ways in which increasingly moderating newsfeeds in an effort to control destructive information could make the problem worse, rather than better.
The Weaponization of "Scientific Consensus" — Another threat to the accuracy of our perceptions about the world we inhabit, "scientific" efforts to distort scientific findings.
The For-Profit D.C. Firm Staging America's 'Grassroots' Movements — An astonishing window into the shady world in which "bad-faith" actors manipulate our politics and inflame (and, sometimes, generate) conflict and animosity.
The West Is Still Oblivious to Russia's Information War — An important reminder that we are engaged in an increasingly intense information war with Russia -- a war that we need to take much more seriously.
Stone of Madness — A provocative essay on the nature of misinformation and strategies for constructively addressing it.
Flood of Fake Science Forces Multiple Journal Closures — The disturbing update on the surprisingly widespread incidence of scientific malpractice -- something that a society that depends upon technical expertise can't tolerate.
Elite misinformation is an underrated problem — An insightful article exploring a different, and very important, source of inaccurate worldview images -- the shortcomings of elite, expert opinion.
The Era of the Noble Lie — A thought provoking essay on what lies beyond political spin -- outright lies (supposedly for some virtuous purpose) that do a lot of harm.
Why the disinformation brigade has utterly failed to weaken Trump — An essay that asks why efforts to challenge Trump's highly successful efforts to build a political movement based on lies has, thus far, ended in failure.
Trump's Lies Are More Injurious than Mere Propaganda — Reflections on the extremely worrying downsides of a major party presidential candidate that systematically undermines the idea that there can be anything approaching objective truth.
Australia's Misinformation Police — A worrying account of Australia's new effort to legally prohibit disinformation -- an effort that could easily wind up criminalizing political criticism
The information war is critical. The U.S. must not lose it to China. — The geopolitical information war is at least as important as the emerging global arms race. This article highlights things that Western democracies can do to help protect themselves.
How Lying Became Disinformation — A must read article exploring both the problem of disinformation and the ways in which elites (on both the left and right) are hijacking efforts to limit the problem.
Confessions of a Russian Propagandist — A first-hand account of how 21st-century Russian propaganda techniques work with important lessons about how we can protect ourselves from internal and external actors willing to use those techniques.
Efforts to combat disinformation in retreat as voters head to the polls — An update on struggle between efforts to combat the disinformation being circulated by those who are truly acting in bad faith and efforts to combat those who unfairly target legitimate criticism as disinformation.
Inside the Republican false-flag effort to turn off Kamala Harris voters — A look at an example of the deceptive way in which the Republican Party practices hardball politics and, more generally, the way real world politics deviates from the democratic ideal.
Constant Demand For Censorship By Elites Shows Their Rule Depends Upon Disinformation — A sobering analysis of the ongoing global campaign against misinformation -- a campaign that this author believes is a cover for political censorship.
These Bizarre Theories About the L.A. Wildfires Endanger Everyone — A revealing look at the way in which those on both the left and the right are trying to take political advantage of California's devastating wildfires.
As conflict rates soar, misinformation is getting worse — Reflections on the all-important challenge of controlling the weaponized disinformation that accompanies hyper-polarized conflict without getting co-opted by one side or the other.
Trump's efforts to censor the press — A revealing look at how the Trump administration's efforts to combat censorship (and Democratic control of the media) are turning into Republican efforts do pretty much the same thing.
The Politicization of Expertise — An in-depth examination of one of the key elements of our current predicament -- the politicalization of supposedly objective scientific analysis.
Trump Is Breaking the Fourth Wall — A description of how the President's deep understanding of the way in which television works is enabling him to bypass many of the constraints that the media normally provides.
How Trump is reshaping reality by hiding data — Yet another instance in which political leaders are trying to strengthen their positions by suppressing information that might challenge those positions.
The War on Government Statistics Has Quietly Begun — Our understanding and ability to manage our complex economy depends upon reliable statistics --- statistics that are now being destroyed in the name of partisan politics.
The misinformation crisis isn't about truth, it's about trust — A perceptive argument that the key to combating the misinformation / disinformation crisis is for information sources to focus on acting in ways that are truly worthy of the public's trust.
Why censorship is making us all dumber — An essay highlighting the dangers of believing that your side possesses the one true truth and that all other views are wrong and should be suppressed.
Finally, Someone Said It to Joe Rogan’s Face — An article raising important questions about the relationship between free speech rights and (especially for prominent "influencers") the obligation to exercise those rights responsibly.
Do Your Own Research: Liber-net's Misinfo Grant Database — For those who don't understand why those on the right find the left's efforts to control disinformation so threatening, an invitation to look at the evidence.
Dan Williams on Misinformation — For a world dominated by deliberately biased sources of information, an exploration of the tough questions that those trying to fix the problem must address.
You Are Not Supposed to Believe in Anything — An explanation of how the destruction of the very idea that objective truth exists serves the interests of tyranny and authoritarianism.
On Highbrow Misinformation — A thought-provoking exploration of ways in which the educated, elite, workers in the various knowledge fields can also fall victim to the dynamics underlying the misinformation problem.
The acceleration of misrepresentation — For those who already understand the dangers of misrepresentation and disinformation, an explanation about how these dynamics reinforce and amplify one another.
How to Confront Highbrow Misinformation — For those who thought that only the poor and less educated could fall victim to disinformation and sophisticated propaganda, an explanation of how the so-called intelligentsia is succumbing as well.
BBC Bias Laid Bare — In the context of the BBC scandal, a look at how both the media and political figures have been altering objective evidence to better support their image of underlying truth.
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Hate Mongering

Does Biden Really Believe We Are in a Crisis of Democracy — There is something very wrong with the political system (and a political party) that simultaneously tries to get Trump/MAGA candidates nominated and then demonizes them as a threat to democracy.
Democrats took an unconscionable gamble --- and it worked — More on the Democrats' effective, but morally fraught strategy -- promoting the nomination of extreme "Trumpist" candidates and then running against the threat those candidates pose to democracy.
The midterms should be a stake through the heart of the mobilization myth — An argument that the 2022 election further proves that base mobilization politics (with its extreme positions and hate-mongering) doesn't work.
Democrats to Continue Meddling in GOP Primaries — Amid the Democrats claims that Republicans constitute a continuing threat to democracy, disturbing news that they are continuing their hypocritical campaign to get Republicans to nominate extremists.
Bad incentives and the politics of fear — An exploration of the complex and often hypocritical interplay between real-world threats, political reactions to those threats, public opinion, and electoral outcomes.
What a lonely time to be a Jew in America — Reflections on the terrifying and heartbreaking experience of being a Jew in a world where so many excuse and, often, celebrate the barbarity of Hamas' attack on Israel and anti-Semitism, more generally.
The Words in the Middle East That Are Breaking My Heart — Perhaps more than anything, the Hamas attack was a campaign to dehumanize Gazans in the eyes of Israelis. Reflections on where this has taken us.
Is Campus Rage Fueled by Middle Eastern Money? — The disturbing article about a different manifestation of the bad-faith actor problem -- one focused on the use of large donations by foreign powers to influence the way in which major universities teach about specific foreign policy issues.
Batya Ungar-Sargon: The Antisemites Scream. And I Stiffen My Spine. — An interesting essay outlining an alternative way for marginalized groups to respond to verbal assaults.
Hyperbole For Sale — Sad reflections on the prospects for yet another election in which the outcome will be determined by which side can better demonize the other.
The Greatest Threat Posed by Trump — An argument that President Trump's special brand of politics (and Democratic policies to which his supporters are rebelling) are transforming cultural beliefs in fundamental and dangerous ways.
Never-Trumpers Never Had a Chance -- Animosity proved stronger than character or ideology — An argument that, at least on the Republican side, hostility towards Democrats has driven out all other political considerations. Is this true on the Democratic side?
Chicken Littles Are Ruining America — An in-depth look at the far-reaching implications of a culture that is so focused on apocalyptic threats that it fails to see the many positive aspects of society worth celebrating and defending.
Don't Let Your Disgust Be Manipulated — An explanation of a common propaganda technique and advice on how to resist it.
We Are Starting to Enjoy Hatred — An article suggesting that there is an enjoyable component to hatred -- a perverse dynamic that reinforces the extremely destructive ways of thinking.
Weaponizing Anger is a Useful Political Strategy — A provocative essay exploring the ways in which anger has been cultivated and exploited for political gain.
How Foreign Agents Make Jews and Israel Seem Evil — An overview of the many ways in which hostile powers can exploit modern communication systems to advance their objectives. While this article focuses on Israel and Hamas the threat is much broader.
Iran surges cyber-enabled influence operations in support of Hamas — A shocking report from Microsoft detailing how it systems have been hijacked by Hamas as part of a global propaganda effort. (Something that other geopolitical rivals are also doubtless doing.)
Yuval Levin: You Can't Run Government Through Retribution — Another perspective on the conflict between Trump's drive for retribution and the imperatives of governance.
The Gleeful Cruelty of the White House X Account — An exploration of what the White House' X account can tell us about the speed with which political dehumanization taboos are falling.
Radical Moderation and the Politics of Fear — A provocative exploration of the nature and utility of fear and panic (for a time in which there really do seem to be big dangers everywhere).
When Outrage Goes Viral: What’s Ragebait and How to Spot It — Ragebait seeks to provoke anger for financial or political gain — or even just to get attention for attention’s sake. This article explains more of what is happening, and how to resist -- even if you are angry.
The BBC: enough is enough — An important reminder that even mainstream, left-leaning news sources can be subject to astonishing levels of bias -- bias that can have profound and negative impacts on the people affected.
I Hate, Therefore I Am — The psychological exploration of what happens when we allow our political enmities to define her identity.
False Charges of ‘Hate’ Encourage Violence — From someone arguing the conservative position on issues before the Supreme Court, a story about the kind of inflammatory, hateful speech that they have had to endure.
Nick Fuentes’ Plan to Mobilize the Groypers. — An update on the plans of a dark new force in US politics -- a force that, for most of us, has only recently become visible.
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Nihilists

The People Cheering for Humanity's End — Truly terrifying news that, rather than appreciating the wonders of the modern world and applying themselves to the task making it better, people are giving up on the human enterprise altogether.
A Different Concept of Death — An exploration of an especially troubling aspect of Hamas' war against Israel -- suicide bombers and martyrdom. This is something that has huge implications on the battlefield and for prospects of negotiating a coexistence-based resolution of the conflict.
The Americans Who Need Chaos — An essay on political nihilism and the tendency of so many people to focus their attention on demonstrating to one another that their society is corrupt, dysfunctional, and worthless.
The People Who Rage Against the Machine — A profile of a surprising new political coalition, the Doomer Optimists -- a group united in opposition to modernity's supposed progress.
The Only Consistent Thread of Trumpism — Reflections on President Trump's almost nihilistic focus on dismantling governmental institutions (without, apparently, giving any thought to what comes next).
The Rise of Anti-Politics — The support for US democracy and the associated political system continues its downward slide, reflections on the new era of anti-politics.
Why Young People Are Voting to Burn It All Down — An analysis of a particularly important threat to the sustainability of democratic societies -- the fact that far too many young people have become disillusioned with the society they are about to inherit.
The Americans Who Need Chaos — Amid a disturbing number of instances of nihilistic violence, an essay that explores the allure of this kind of thinking.
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Aspiring Autocrats and Plutocrats

Bolsonaro Isn't Preparing for a Coup. He's Preparing for a Revolution. — From Brazil, a look at how frustration and distrust of major social institutions is being amplified and exploited as part of an authoritarian attempt to take over an entire society.
Trump's Open Plot to Break the Federal Government — A preview of the emerging effort to radically alter the role that the federal government plays in US society.
All the Little Caesars — A primer on what everybody ought to know about the incendiary, divide-and-conquer politics used by established (and aspiring) authoritarians.
The Founders' antidote to demagoguery is a lesson for today — A timely review of what the founders thought about how the new democracy they were creating could protect itself from future demagogues.
New technologies, new totalitarians — An examination of the ways in which new technologies may be opening the door to a new kind of 21st-century totalitarianism.
Moderate Republicans Continue to Betray Their Principles — A description of how the hyper-polarization process has now almost totally unified Republicans behind former President Trump.
What Worries Me Most About a Trump Presidency — One nightmare vision of a Trump Presidency -- corrupt machine politics at the national level.
Why the Supreme Court may be open to Trump's push for expanded power — A look at the debate surrounding the conservative legal theory surrounding the concept of a "unitary executive" and the role that this debate may play in constraining or enabling President Trump.
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Inflammatory Media

Rupert Murdoch Rides the Trump Tiger --- and Gets Eaten — More reflections on the Dominion lawsuit revelations and evidence that inflammatory media coverage is transforming the political environment in ways that we have yet to figure out how to reverse.
Thousands of pro-Trump bots are attacking DeSantis, Haley — Reason to believe that many of the people who are doing the most to inflame our conflicts are not really people at all. Rather, they are malicious bots directed by bad-faith actors.
Stimulant Politics: Arousal, Agitation, Amphetamines, and the Froth of Politics — A look at what makes the "hyper" in hyper-polarization so "hyper."
The Age of Spectacle Is Upon Us — An insightful essay explaining how so many social institutions are moving away from their core responsibilities and acting in ways that inflame tensions.
Don't Let Big Tech Hide What It Is Doing to Us — An important story about Europe's new effort to get the downsides of the high-tech information revolution under control.
Whistling in the Dark — A provocative essay exploring the origins, impacts, and idiosyncrasies of "dog whistle" politics.
Why Activists Keep Telling You the World is Ending — Reflections on our tendency to view today's big challenges in apocalyptic and existential terms (and the role that fear mongering activists play in all of this).
Most News Aggregators Biased to the Left, including Google, Apple, Bing: AllSides Analysis — A report on a systematic assessment of the biases associated with popular news aggregators.
Attack of the Crypto-Nazis! — A critical look at progressives who demonize their working-class political opponents, rather than trying to understand and respond to their complaints.
Troubling News From the Shit-Stirring Department — A tongue-in-cheek article with an important message -- we are not as divided as inflammatory media sources would lead us to believe.
Twitter Runs On Hate -- But Its Users Don't Reflect Real Life — An essay exploring the hateful rhetoric that provides so much of Twitter/X's energy and the relationship between those views and mainstream public opinion.
Why We’re Drowning in Conspiracy Theories — Reflections on what makes conspiracy theories so attractive -- their ability to explain complex and morally ambiguous events in simple ways that put us on the "right side of history."
Rage Is Now the Machine — In a play on the old slogan "rage against the machine," this article documents how rage has become politics.
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Massively Parallel Peacebuilding

Peacebuilding, Conflict and Community Development — How do local communities effectively build peace and reconciliation before, during and after open violence? A book with practical examples, from the Global North, the former Soviet bloc, and Global South.
How U.S. Cities Can Get Rid of Violent Crime — With respect to urban crime, a case study showing how massively parallel problem-solving works in the real world.
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Theories of Change

Adapting a Network's Theory of Change from Network Weaver — A discussion of how networks can use a phased theory of change to grow together and to perpetuate more and new collaborations and eventually system change and large-scale impacts.
Practical Approaches to Theories of Change in Conflict, Security, and Justice Programmes — A DFID document presenting practical skills for developing high quality theories of change, and understading the role they play in conflict, security and justice program design and assessment.
Why China Didn't Liberalize — An article that explores the failure of the "theory of change" that we thought would lead to the emergence of successful liberal democracies around the world.
Do Non-profits Drive Social Change? — A thought-provoking article for the many of us who have spent our careers in nonprofit organizations working to address society's big problems.
Who Bends History? — At a time when we would like to think that the "arc of history" bends towards justice, a provocative essay exploring exactly how history gets "bent."
The Case Against Longtermism — A contrarian look at long-termism for those thinking about embracing the concept.
The Case For Effective Altruism — A supportive look at theories of change built around the notion of effective altruism and long-termism.
Slow Change Can Be Radical Change — For those who may be tempted by the allure of rapid, revolutionary change, an argument that a going slow approach can actually be more effective.
The Campus-Left Occupation That Broke Higher Education — In light of today's campus protests, a look back at the long shadow cast by the vastly bigger and more consequential protests of the 1960s and early 70s.
Betting on the Tortoise: Policy Incrementalism and How Philanthropy's Support Can Turn Small Sustained Steps into Big Impact — As a counterpoint to today's many calls for rapid, revolutionary change as the solution to our many problems, a reminder of the virtues of the strategy based on slow, steady, incremental improvement.
Courage, the most important virtue — An inspiring TED talk explaining the critical role courageous individual action plays in resisting tyranny and authoritarianism.
Why Activists Keep Failing the Causes That Fire Them Up — A timely analysis of the factors that determine whether the efforts of activists will ultimately produce the desired results.
No, I Don't Want to Protest — A personal essay that explains why they don't believe that public protests are a very effective way of bringing about desired changes.
Is the Partisan Divide Too Big to Be Bridged? — A major New York Times report on the many ways in which people are trying to bridge the political divide.
The Protest Trap — From Amanda Ripley, three research-based lessons about how to respond constructively to fear, rage, and grief.
What's Really Wrong with the "Deep State" Part: I: Purging career civil servants will not make government more democratic. — The first part of a longer, in-depth exploration of the the ways in which the governmental bureaucracy is contributing to democracy's problems (as well as thoughts about possible remedies).
"There's Nothing Mystical About the Idea that Ideas Change History" — A Steven Pinker interview with important food for thought on one of the most important "theories of change" -- the ability of ideas to transform the society in which we live.
Politics Without Winners: Can Either Party Build a Majority Coalition? — A thought-provoking article the possibility of building a political coalition that gets beyond today's 50-50 split and actually earns the widespread support of the people.
Obama and the Wrong Side of History — An essay that asks and all-important question, does the arc of history bendoward justice?
The Old Idea That Could Give New Life to Progressive Politics — An in-depth exploration of the concept of "solidarity" and the role that it could play in strengthening movements for positive social change.
What’s Happening Is Not Normal. America Needs an Uprising That Is Not Normal. — From David Brooks, a thoughtful but passionate call for a massive uprising against President Trump's efforts to dismantle so many liberal democratic institutions (including many favored by conservatives).
8 Tips for Activists Who Want to Reduce Polarization — Zach Elwood offers eight tips for doing activism while trying to reduce toxicity.
Trump’s Single Stroke of Brilliance — From David Brooks, a thought-provoking comparison of the Trump administration's transformative energy and the left's malaise.
A generation is slipping through our fingers. Here’s what we can do. — From Rahm Emanuel, an argument for using community service to bind the next generation to the society that they will inherit.
Check In on the Authoritarians in Your Life — An argument for limiting support for authoritarianism by better drawing alienated individuals into our society and civic culture.
Persuasive Beats Abrasive — A timely essay reminding us that persuasive power is a far more successful and sustainable way to pursue one's interests
Why Liberals Must Not Give Up Hope — From Francis Fukuyama, an argument for recognizing the many ways in which the political and social landscape has changed (and an argument for recommitting oneself to building a better world).
‘We Have Power Together’: Three Social Change Leaders On Solidarity And What We Can Learn From History As We Build A More Equitable Future — An enlightening interview with three people who are actually making collective action work.
Word Jumble: When Nonprofits Talk Fancy, America Tunes Out — An argument for plain English political communication and against jargon and buzzword-related communication strategies (that undermine clear thinking).
Should the Heterodox Academy Prioritize Fighting Trump's Authoritarian Assaults Over Wokeness on Campuses? A Conversation with Cathy Young — An account of one organization's efforts to balance efforts to oppose the excesses of the right with efforts to oppose the excesses of the left.
Gradual Change is F***ing Awesome—And Liberalism Knows It — For a time in which so many people are disillusioned with the current state of affairs and in favor of swift, radical change, a counteriargument for gradual evolutionary improvements.
The power of a single-issue group — For a time in which the political focus is on giant political coalitions, an argument for focusing, instead, on solving individual problems.
The Decline and Fall of NGOs — Deeply disturbing news for those who either have (or planned) to make a career in one of nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations committed to making the world a better place (at least according to progressive standards).
President melds a fractious coalition: The six factions of Trumpworld — An analysis of one of the most important elements of President Trump's power and success -- his ability to resolve conflicts that might split his coalition.
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Communication Obstacles

How the Internet Became a Doom Loop — Much of hyperpolarization is attributable to vulnerabilities inherent in the structure of modern, Internet-based information systems which somehow need to be overcome.
The Perception Gap from "More in Common" — A study exploring how Americans tend to have a distorted understanding of people on the other side of the aisle, what causes it, and why it matters.
How Social Media Destroys the Things That Matter Most — Thought-provoking reflections on how social media is undermining the way in which we think, communicate, and structure our social lives.
We're not going away': Conservatives build their own media ecosystem to fight cancel culture — Further evidence that "cancel culture" sanctions and misinformation control measures are not going to resolve our conflicts. They will simply divide us into ever more isolated information bubbles.
How Stewart Made Tucker — A surprising and quite perceptive explanation of the role that Jon Stewart played in bringing about today's more divisive media environment.
You Can't Define Woke — An exploration of how the complexities of language can make it vastly more difficult to work through the big issues that divide us.
The Daily Me — Reflections on a media environment in which we all edit our own "newsfeeds" and the danger that we will edit out inconvenient truths on both the left of the right.
The Race for Clicks Was a Fool's Game — Reflections on the implications and costs of the kind of journalism that places so much emphasis on building an audience.
Report on the Censorship-Industrial Complex: The Top 50 Organizations to Know — A comprehensive look at what increasing numbers of people see as a terrifying assault on the freedom of expression that is so central to a successful democracy.
News in a Digital Age — A major report from the Rand Corporation exploring the many ways in which the high-tech information revolution has transformed the flow of information regarding political issues.
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Communication Complexity

Sure, Twitter and Facebook have deepened polarization --- just not in the way you think — Provocative new insights into the ways in which the Internet and social media contribute to hyper-polarization (and another reason to question our simple explanations of complex realities).
Social Media Broke Up With News. So Did Readers. — An update on the continually changing way in which information flows through our society.
Google's Relationship With Facts Is Getting Wobblier — For a world in which Google has, in a wide range of settings, become the final arbiter with respect to wide range of factual disputes, alarming questions about its declining reliability.
Algorithms Hijacked My Generation. I Fear For Gen Alpha. — Reflections on the critically important role being played by the algorithms which determine what, exactly, we see through our Internet-based window to the world.
Is Anything Still True? On the Internet, No One Knows Anymore — An important exploration of the nature of truth (and knowable truth) in the contemporary Internet era.
How Social Media Is Turning Into Old-Fashioned Broadcast Media — Just when we were starting to think that we had social media figured out, important news that it is transforming itself (and its social impact) once again.
The Problem of Misinformation in an Era Without Trust — A provocative analysis of strategies for combating misinformation for a time when there are no widely accepted sources of reliable information.
In 2024, the Tension Between Macroculture and Microculture Will Turn into War — Surprising new ideas about the significance of little recognized (but critically important) changes in the way in which we generate and share information about our world.
The Apparent Conflict Between Universal and Particular Language — An examination of the hugely consequential conflict between two two visions for the kind of 21st-century society that we ought to be pursuing.
The Rise of Technoauthoritarianism — Reasons why our instinct to be distrustful of the big information technology companies is well-founded.
Can Anything Stop the News-Industry Meltdown? — Just as we were starting to come to terms with the much diminished state of contemporary journalism, news that things are about to get much worse.
Journalism's Ivory Towers — A look at the the many ways in which increased reliance on college trained journalists is altering the nature of news coverage and undermining media trust.
Is Political Advertising Obsolete? — An examination of the complexities of political communication that asks hard questions about the efficacy of ubiquitous political ads and whether other forms of persuasion might be more effective.
A Simple Theory for Why the Internet Is So Conspiratorial — Food for thought for those trying to understand the role that the Internet is playing in promoting distrust and hatred.
Political Corruption And Taxpayer Money Behind Google Disinformation And Censorship — From a more conservative perspective, more insight into the delicate balance between desirable efforts to limit destructive disinformation and undesirable efforts to suppress opposing political views.
Google's Brave New Woke-AF World — A critical look at the very real possibility that a progressive political agenda will wind up driving the AI revolution that will remake how we know most everything about ourselves.
The Prophets: Marshall McLuhan — For a time when new communication technologies are reshaping everything we thought we knew, a look back at the insights of Marshall McLuhan, the man who struggled with an earlier information revolution.
Twelve Communication Traps Democrats and Progressives Must Avoid — From a democratic perspective, insightful look at the complexities of political psychology and communication.
How Pseudo-Intellectualism Ruined Journalism — An essay exploring how working-class realism could save journalism from groupthink.
The End of Foreign-Language Education — Eye-opening news about recent AI advances in translation software and a tantalizing look at a world in which language barriers collapse.
Trump likes the Oxford comma? That's stunning, strange and disorienting. — A surprising window into the sophisticated way in which President Trump cultivates his unsophisticated image.
All Is Not Quiet In the Library Catalogs — News that progressive political ideas are being used to reshape and distort the way in which we catalog and access the collective knowledge of humanity.
My First Job, at the Stanford Internet Observatory — A first person account of the rise and fall of the Stanford Internet Observatory -- an effort to control online disinformation that has been accused of promoting its own brand of disinformation.
It's the Internet, Dummy! — More thoughts on how, exactly, the Internet has transformed our collective consciousness.
Media gatekeepers are losing control over the conversation, and robust censorship is their only chance to regain power — A critical and doubtless controversial look at big media, it's diminishing influence on our collective consciousness, and its efforts to reassert itself through various censorship strategies.
Deep Reading Will Save Your Soul — A critique of higher education and a strategy for learning the things that you should have learned in college.
Why Wokeism Ruined Journalism --- Everywhere — A critical, controversial, and thought-provoking look at the way in which increasing adherence to progressive orthodoxies as undermined the quality of journalism.
Why the Media Moves in Unison — An explanation of the complex dynamics that lead journalists and the news media to cluster their reporting around relatively homogeneous points of view.
Matti Friedman: When We Started to Lie — A look at how journalism evolved from a field devoted to truth telling to a field focused on supporting the "right way of looking at the world."
I'm Running Out of Ways to Explain How Bad This Is — An alarming look at rapid changes now taking place in the way in which young people learn about society and the diminishing influence of information sources that were prominent in just a few years ago.
Inside the Secretive $700 Million Ad-Testing Factory for Kamala Harris — A somewhat disturbing look at the sophisticated system behind Kamala Harris' effort to craft a persuasive political messages (and a look at what political "debate" looks like at the level of mass communication).
In a huge year for global elections, internet freedom took another hit — A report on the many, often politically motivated, efforts to control the flow of information across the Internet (with reflections about which measures are and are not helpful).
Misinformation: A Flawed Concept — Insights into the extraordinarily complex problem of misinformation -- how to identify it, how to combat it, and how to keep it from becoming its own brand of misinformation.
Trump's Win Cemented It: New Media Is Leaving the Old Guard Behind — A reminder that we can't understand political conflict without understanding the constantly changing nature of the system that communicates political ideas.
The Media's Identity Crisis — Food for thought as we try to come to terms with the rapidly changing nature of the role that different kinds of media play in spreading information throughout our society.
The 'Mainstream Media' Has Already Lost — An examination of the many ways in which the influence of mainstream media has sharply declined as other media sources have risen to take their place.
New Report: TikTok Brainwashed America's Youth — Another report on the threat posed by TicTok and another look at the complex ways in which social media is transforming our society.
TikTok Is Harming Children at an Industrial Scale — From Jon Haidt, an explanation of the threat that TikTok poses to today's young people.
Listeners' Rights in the Time of Propaganda: The Story of Lamont v. Postmaster General — We hear lots of passionate debate about the advantages and disadvantages of freedom of speech. This article looks at a different right -- our right to choose what we listen to.
The Price of Mass Amusement — A review of some of the big theoretical ideas underpinning our understanding of the role that our complex high-tech communication system plays in shaping our lives.
A Theory of Media That Explains 15 Years of Politics — An interview with CIA media analyst Martin Gurri in which he explains how he thinks the shift from scarce to abundant media sources has transformed modern society.
A New Dark Age? — An examination of the many ways in which modern communications technologies are undermining the informed electorate upon which all democracies depend.
Enshittification — Important insight into the way in which the services offered by the big tech media platform are slowly eroding (now that their monopolies are firmly established).
We’re Back to the Actually Internet — After the failure of "fact checking" as a strategy for separating truth from falsehood on the Internet, this article looks at what might come next.
Rethinking the Social Media Hysteria — One of those contrarian arguments that forces us to think critically about the conventional wisdom. This one looks at the impact of social media.
How the Digital Age Changed Us — A thought-provoking essay that asked us to step back and look at the way in which the rapidly evolving digital age has transformed our society.
The Entire Internet Is Reverting to Beta — An explanation of the many ways in which the Internet that we had become accustomed to is collapsing and the differing systems that are competing to take its place.
Elon Musk Gives Antisemites a Chance to Rewrite History — With respect to Elon Musk and anti-Semitism, this article offers a more broadly applicable look into how those building the new AI platforms can rewrite our history to fit their own purposes.
Until the Democrats Adapt to New Media, They Will Never Win — The information space in which society-wide political conflict plays out is continually changing. This article explains how Republicans have been more successful than Democrats in adapting to this changing environment.
Amy Klobuchar: What I Didn’t Say About Sydney Sweeney — A story about one instance in which the brave new world of super realistic, AI-generated videos is ushering in a whole new age of political propaganda.
There’s too many lumpers out there — An insightful and much-needed critique of the common journalistic tendency of lumping disparate social phenomena into simplistic, homogeneous categories.
What We Lose When We Can't Talk to Each Other — The apparent benefits of stifling opposition and disagreement are easy to see. The far larger costs of proscribing disagreement and debate are, unfortunately, less obvious.
The Rise of the Smartphone and the Fall of Western Democracy — From Thomas Edsall, a compilation (with lots of links) to what leading scholars think about the complex relationship between smart phones and increasingly dumb society.
What Killed Print Media--and What Died With It — Reflections on how recent changes in the way in which we learn about the world affect what we learn about the world – and not in a positive way.
Against the obsession with narratives: A materialist critique — Critical reflections on the role that narratives and the debate over narratives play in contemporary society.
The Dawn of the Postliterate Society — Reflections on the complex cognitive and social changes that are accompanying the shift from the society that gets most of its information by reading to a society that relies on phone-based imagery.
Why Doesn’t Anyone Trust the Media? — An extensive case study of one instance in which media credibility collapsed.
The internet wants to be fragmented — An insightful analysis of the way in which the Internet and its flows of information have evolved over time.
How the Internet Made the Far-Right — Marshall McLuhan famously said that "the medium is the message." This article looks at how the medium of Internet-based social media has been instrumental in building the far right's message.
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Social Complexity

The Way Los Angeles Is Trying to Solve Homelessness Is 'Absolutely Insane' — A detailed account of how one well-funded and well-intentioned policy initiative is failing with valuable insights into the complex challenges that real-world problem-solving must meet.
How the 2022 Midterms Became a Squeaker — Based on more than 70 interviews, a detailed account of the strategic and tactical decisions that enabled Democratic candidates to do so much better than expected.
Why Is America Always Divided 50--50 — An analysis of the many reasons why the United States continues to be so evenly and so bitterly divided with important insights for bridge-building efforts.
Three Theories That Explain This Strange Moment — An especially perceptive look at three theories that, together, do much to explain the continuing stability and intensity of the United States' hyper-polarized political standoff.
Hillary Clinton Accepted Her Loss, but a Lot Has Changed Since 2016 — Based on the important new book "The Bitter End," an in-depth look at the process of "political calcification" that has made hyper-polarization such an intractable problem.
What Makes Life Meaningful? Views From 17 Advanced Economies — A statistical look at a critical dimension of cultural diversity -- differing assessments of what makes life meaningful.
Slouching Towards Utopia — A review of an important new book, "Slouching Towards Utopia," that offers a complexity-oriented view of the chaotic forces that have produced widespread economic prosperity.
Brute Physical Facts and Social Construction — A provocative exploration of the different ways in which progressives and traditionalists see the world (and the relationship between the resulting worldviews and objective reality).
Are Local Politics Extinct? — A look at a less widely recognized threat to democracy -- the nationalization of politics and a corresponding deterioration in the ability of local communities to make their own decisions.
Vetocracy and Climate Adaptation — An account of one particularly important instance in which giving people too much power to block things that they don't like can threaten the welfare of society as a whole.
The Americanization of Religion — For a society plagued by culture wars and religious conflicts, an analysis of the changing character of religion in US society.
There Is No Right Side of History — A welcome critique of the overused claim that "history is on our side." History is not inevitable, it's what we make of it and, besides, there is no absolutely and universally right set of beliefs.
In Search of Authority — A thought-provoking exploration of the nature of "authority," what determines whether it is trusted and trustworthy, and what happens to society's ability to work together for the common good when it collapses.
Does the Textual Corpus for Large Language Models Have Enough Information to Train an AGI? — For those trying to understand where A.I. might be taking us, a look at the nature of "intelligence" and the potential of the new technologies.
Reverse Dominance Hierarchies — An eye-opening look at the evolutionary history of humanity and the processes that selected for egalitarianism.
Five Rules for an Aging World — A look at a little recognized but, quite probably, major threat to human society -- the collapse of fertility rates.
Three Cheers For Gradualism -- The case for incremental change in a radical age. — For a time in which many people believe that radical social and political changes are the only way in which we can address our problems, a persuasive argument for a slower and more careful approach.
Blankets, Food Banks, and Shuttered Pubs: Brexit Has Delivered a Broken Britain — An update on the increasingly sad plight of Great Britain three years after Brexit's implementation. And, a cautionary tale for those considering sudden and radical social and political changes.
Biden's Promises on Social Security and Medicare Have No Basis in Reality — Democracy is supposed to be a system for making wise and equitable decisions about how to allocate limited resources. Increasingly, it seems that we now view those resource limits as illusions.
How U.S. Ambassador Tom Nides Became Israel's Arsonist-in-Chief — Another look at the complex political crisis engulfing Israel and a call for caution on the part of those in the US who want to get involved. We could easily make things worse rather than better.
Drowning in a sea of resentment and hate, it's far from clear that Israel can make it back to shore. — A perceptive look at the conflicts that are tearing apart Israel (which look a lot like those tearing apart the US). The future of democracy depends upon finding better ways of dealing with these tensions.
The Levin-Rothman Plan for Altering the Justice System: A Comprehensive Analysis and Proposal for Consideration — For those watching (or participating in) Israel's us-vs-them confrontation over "judicial reform," a link to an authoritative, balanced and detailed analysis of the issues as well as some suggested compromises.
The Global Transformation of Christianity Is Here — An eye-opening look at the global spread of Christianity and a reminder that our simplistic stereotypes about culture and cultural change are often wrong.
Do You Live in a 'Tight' State or a 'Loose' One? Turns Out It Matters Quite a Bit. — Yet another way of thinking about the social and economic factors underlying our divisions.
What Protects Fox News Also Protects Our Democracy — A thoughtful essay that asks us to consider the possibility that legal principles that we find convenient and virtuous today might someday be used against us.
This Jan. 6 case could make U.S. politics even worse — A look at legal basis of the charges being brought against many of the January 6 protesters and reflections on possibility that this strategy could be used to silence future critics of the government.
A Texas-Sized Energy Fiasco — It is a fundamental ecological principle that "you can't do only one thing." This essay applies this principle to the complexities that surround efforts to subsidize wind and solar.
The Myth of the Myth of Neutrality — More ideas to consider as we struggle to balance our personal partisan beliefs with the desire to serve in neutral intermediary roles.
AI, Technology, and Equality — From Francis Fukuyama, thought-provoking reflections on the complex way in which advancing information technologies (including AI) have been and are likely to influence society.
No Labels May Re-Elect Donald Trump — An update on the difficulties and dangers associated with trying to mount a more moderate, compromise-oriented political candidacy.
The Costs of Brexit Are Undeniable Now — An update on what happens when legitimate populist grievances lead to policies that fail to achieve their desired real-world results.
The force behind America's fast-growing nonprofit sector, and more! — Stunning statistics about the huge role that nonprofit organizations play in US society.
An Experiment Repeated 600 Times Finds Hints to Evolution's Secrets — For students of evolutionary dynamics, a report on an experiment that has tracked evolutionary processes for over 600 generations!
Is This the End of Recycling? — An explanation of the serious challenges now facing recycling programs and why we need to move beyond feel-good programs that don't really deliver on their promised benefits.
Second Order Thinking — A lighthearted look at a lighthearted look at a very serious topic -- the importance of "downside" planning.
What Happens When a Cascade of Crises Collide? — A quick summary of the ideas behind an important new word -- the polycrisis.
Manufacturing Dissent — A look at the very long shadow cast by Noam Chomsky and the many others who have taught so many on the left and the right to look at the dark side of almost everything.
The Invention of Objectivity — For a world in which the search for objective truth is critically important and a focal point for conflict, thoughtful reflections on the origins of the concept.
It Turns Out That the Debt Matters After All — After years of resolving political disagreements by spending (and borrowing) ever more money, news that the economic rationalizations for limitless borrowing may be incorrect.
The Social Media Wars Are Here — A look at the complex forces that are about to radically transform our social media-based information system
What Was the Fact? — An examination of the role that "facts" have played in the evolution of society and thoughts about the implications of their recent demise.
Talkin' 'Bout Our Generations: How They Shape Our Style, Our Vacations and Why We're Us — A great deal of conflict traces to the fact that different generations have dramatically different life experiences -- experiences that shape their beliefs and behaviors.
The $1 billion gamble to ensure AI doesn't destroy humanity — A description of an expensive and bold initiative designed to help assure us that the coming AI revolution will provide us with information we can trust.
The Right's Plot for a Moral Transformation — The Left tends to think that social problems are caused by economic factors while the Right emphasizes the role of culture. In this context, an explanation of a culture-based theory of social change.
The Supreme Court Case That Exemplifies Our Culture War Blindness — Justice is a one-size-fits-all concept that must be applied equally to all. This essay explores the difficulties we have in living up to this principle.
The 6 Kinds of Republican Voters — A somewhat more nuanced view of the right-leaning electorate in the United States and a step toward breaking down overly simplistic stereotypes.
What Is a Minsky Moment? Definition, Causes, History, and Examples — From economics, a useful concept -- the Minsky Moment -- the point at which "things that can't go on like this, don't" (and catastrophe ensues).
America Is Often a Nation Divided — An informative look back at historical periods in which the US was as deeply divided as it is today. We got through those tough times and we can get through today's (if we work at it).
Marine Traffic — A stunning online visualization tool that makes visible the vast network of global trade upon which we all depend.
The U.S. Is the Most Troubled Nation, Except for All the Others — Complex social systems never function very well -- they continually muddle from crisis to crisis. While we need to work harder to address each crisis, we also need to put those crises in perspective.
Republicans in Wyoming See Clearly What's Happening — A story about Wyoming's reaction to the nationalization of politics and political reporting and the way in which this impacts their ability to sensibly deal with local issues.
Innovation and Its Discontents — A review and summary of an important new book examining the history of conflicts arising from technological innovation.
Christian Strangeness: A Muslim's Faith and Friendships across Deep Differences — An essay that thoughtfully reflects on the multifaceted and complex role that religion plays in both Christian and Muslim societies.
Why America Has a Long-Term Labor Crisis, in Six Charts — Demography is the one social science that really can predict the future. Six charts predicting what is going to happen to the labor force and thoughts about how that will affect us.
Inside the Decades-long Permit Process Holding Back 10,000 Energy Projects — A short video examining the vast web of regulatory processes that are undermining society's ability to get anything done -- including the transition to a carbon-free energy system.
Tyranny of the Minority — A review and critique of "Tyranny of the Minority: Why American Democracy Reached the Breaking Point" -- yet another contribution to efforts to help us understand democracy's difficulties.
The Missing Context — From Francis Fukuyama, an especially thoughtful and objective effort to explain the context surrounding Hamas' attack on Israel and the ensuing war.
Destiny of Earth — For those times when you want to think really, really big, a review and summary of a provocative new book, "A Theory of Everyone."
The Tech That's Radically Reimagining the Public Sphere — A thoughtful analysis of what the advent of inexpensive, widely available, and accurate facial recognition is likely to due to society.
Two Ways of Looking at the West's Population Dilemma — Reflections on the big demographic changes (including migration) that are going to shape our future and provide real opportunities, as well as a focal point for conflict.
Forget About Overpopulation, Soon There Will Be Too Few Humans — Food for thought for those thinking about complex relationship between social and environmental sustainability and demographic change.
Where Does Religion Come From? — Amid the Mideast's ongoing collision over religious beliefs, thoughtful reflections on the origins of these beliefs.
Fertility Free-Fall — An analysis of ongoing demographic changes that, for those concerned about social sustainability, are deeply worrying.
Income Inequality Has Been Transformed Globally — An update on changes that have occurred in global income inequality since publication of the original "elephant curve" analysis.
This Was a Terrible Year, and Also Maybe the Best One Yet for Humanity — A welcome reminder that, despite the many difficult problems we face, there are many ways in which the human condition continues to make important progress.
How the Nineties are haunting millennials — A revealing look back at the end of the Cold War and the many ways in which the events of the turbulent 1990s shaped today's world.
The Welfare-Industrial Complex Is Booming — For those who thought that only the military had an "industrial complex" problem -- a look at how the welfare industry suffers from a similar affliction.
How to Thrive in an Uncertain World — For those who have noted our tendency to highlight the complex and uncertain nature of so many ongoing conflicts, a welcome guide for those looking for a way to navigate our uncertain world.
The World is Falling Apart. Blame the Flukes. — A complexity theory-based look at the origins of our rapidly accelerating cluster of world trouble spots.
The Electric Grid Explained In 10 Charts — For those tempted to demonize big energy, charts explaining the complexity of the electric grid that we depend upon for our survival (and the difficulty of the green energy transition).
Language and Traditions Are Considered Central to National Identity — A report on an extensive series of international polls that tries to help us understand what people think are the core elements of their national identity.
Economies of Scale, Part III: Power, Inequality, and Dependence — For a time in which big institutions are widely distrusted, a reminder of how much we depend upon the economies of scale that those institutions make possible.
Weird Scenes from a Shrinking Planet (Part 1) — For those who want to look at the very big picture, deep reflections on the enormous implications of declining human fertility.
Ricardo Hausmann on How Economies Grow — Positive-sum conflicts (in which the "pie" is constantly expanding) are much less divisive. This essay examines the economic growth that creates such situations.
Three Decades Ago, America Lost Its Religion. Why? — An analysis of the ways in which the religious beliefs of US citizens have changed in recent decades and the political implications of those changes.
Scientists get closer to solving chemical puzzle of the origin of life — For a time when most everyone seems bogged down in the immediate political crisis, a chance to reflect on one of life's really big questions -- how we came to be.
Think capitalism is terrible? This economist says it's already dead. — The summary of an important new book outlining ways in which our capitalistic economic system is undergoing dramatic change.
Optimism in a Time of Doomsaying — A small dose of optimism amid today's ever present worries about the future.
Whatever Happened to Teen Babysitters? — With respect to the disappearance of teenage babysitters, story about the process of cultural evolution.
The Prophets: Allan Bloom — Another case in which we received advance warning about one of today's big problems and failed to take the necessary preventative measures.
A history (and defense) of left vs right — For a time when the battle between the Left and the Right is central to most everything, a refresher course on the origins and meanings of the terms.
The Prophets: Eric Hoffer — Given the prominent role that "true believers" are playing in contemporary politics, a timely reflection on the work of Eric Hoffer -- the man who coined the term.
The New Rules -- Exploring the policies, people, and ideas reshaping the global economy — A report on the dramatic shifts that are taking place in the complex legal, political, and economic environment that determines the way in which peoples and countries interact with one another.
The End of Magical Debt Thinking — For decades now, the US has been resolving "who gets what" distributional conflicts by running ever larger deficits. This article highlights the limits of this strategy.
The Seeds Had Been Planted. Trump Didn't Do It Himself.' — An examination of the longer-term origins of the authoritarian trend in US politics that President Trump now embodies.
The Case for Hope — From Nicholas Kristof, a timely reminder that, amidst all of our current difficulties, there are substantial reasons to be hopeful and optimistic.
The Invisible Hand Strikes Back — The "invisible hand" creates opportunities for anyone who can figure out better ways of dealing with any problem (including conflict problems). This is how complex social systems learn.
The Real "Deep State" — A revealing essay exploring the deep and largely hidden system through which private interests are able to influence public policy.
Boredom at the End of History, Part I — From Francis Fukuyama, his thoughts about how well his "end of history" thesis has survived the test of time.
The U.S. Economy Reaches Superstar Status — Surprising news about how spectacularly well the US economy is doing despite its destructive politics and widespread sense of pessimism. The invisible hand actually works!
Introduction to the Symbolic Economy — An exploration of what is, for us at least, a useful new word -- the symbolic economy.
What Will Become of American Civilization? — An in-depth look at the complex societal trends swirling around Phoenix and what they have to tell us about the future of the United States.
No One Really Knows How Interest Rates Work — An important reminder about the complexity of the global economic system and the limitations of our ability to understand and manipulate that system.
Francis Fukuyama on Global Chaos (and Why You Don't Need to Despair About It) — Nutritious food for thought for anyone trying to make sense of our turbulent time.
What's to blame for the CrowdStrike mess? Our drive for efficiency. — Lessons from the CrowdStrike fiasco for those interested in societal complexity and the vulnerabilities and downsides of our extremely efficient global economy.
Learn This Term: 'Whole of Society' — The report on a new theory of change for political parties and social movements seeking to transform society (and a source of concern for those who oppose them).
A Dystopian Effort Is Underway in the Pacific Northwest to Pick Ecological Winners and Losers — The complexities of the biological world are, in many ways, similar to the complexity of human society. This essay explores the limits of trying to engineer such systems.
Kissinger's Folly — A retrospective look at Henry Kissinger, realpolitik, and the applicability of that concept to contemporary geopolitics.
A data-driven case for productivity optimism — A hopeful argument that the economic productivity increases needed to "lift all boats" are actually happening.
This sceptred isle. Reflections on the revolution in England. — As England struggles with what looks like a widespread rebellion against societal changes brought about by immigration, a thoughtful perspective on what is actually happening.
The Hacking of Culture and the Creation of Socio-Technical Debt — A provocative essay exploring the intersection between technology and culture.
How Fascism Happens by Mark Jones — A review and summary of two important new books about the historical origins of fascism -- books with important insights about how we might be able to better protect ourselves.
Economic Theory for the Real World — An overview of an important new book that offers a major upgrade to economic thinking -- an upgrade that promises to improve our ability to deal with the astonishing complexities of today's economy.
Americans Are More Reliant Than Ever on Government Aid — Truly startling statistics about how, in recent decades, US citizens have become so dependent upon governmental financial assistance.
21st-Century Democracy: Building a Transnational Innovation Ecosystem — From the Stanford Social Innovation Review, an argument that pro-democracy actors and movements must move out of their silos and create strong cross-contextual connections.
Newly-Minted Nobel Prize Winner James Robinson on How Societies Thrive — A thought-provoking interview in which Robinson explains his efforts to understand the staggering complexity of modern social and economic systems.
Life makes mistakes — A look at the complexities of biological and social evolution and the surprising role of mistakes.
Trump Faces a Different World in Term Two — A look back at Trump's 1st term and reflections of how different things are today.
Trump Has Put an End to an Era. The Future Is Up for Grabs. — A reminder that, while the recent election may have been a major break with the past, the future that it portends is fraught with uncertainty.
The Disappearance of Literary Men Should Worry Everyone — Jaw-dropping statistics about how quickly men are disappearing from the ranks of those who write and read books.
Healthcare Is Broken. Fixing It Is Virtually Impossible. — In the context of the healthcare industry, a look at how the industry's complexities have made its problems virtually insoluble.
The New Yorker's Cavalcade of Ignorance — A critique of our widespread inability to think sensibly about complexities of the modern world (and our declining interest in even trying).
Why Liberals Struggle to Cope With Epochal Change — Reflections on the possibility that the global society in which we live is now in the midst of a period of radical change -- change that will seriously challenge the ways in which liberals think about the world.
The Age of Depopulation: Surviving a World Gone Gray — Collapsing birth rates worldwide have now reached to point where global population seems likely to start declining (for the first time since the Black Death of the 1300s). This article explores the many profound implications of this trend.
Even This Year Is the Best Time Ever to Be Alive — Amid today's doom and gloom fears, an important reminder about the many ways in which the human condition is better than it has ever been.
The World Is Getting Riskier. Americans Don't Want to Pay for It. — An essay focused around the observation that modern democratic governments have become "an insurance company with an army" for a citizens wanting cheap protection from life's risks.
Coalitions are everywhere — From a game theory perspective, an examination of coalitions, the processes that create them, and their role in promoting polarization and hyper-polarization.
Revisiting the Thucydides Trap — A provocative essay asking an important but seldom asked question: Is it always in your best interest to strengthen your political power by aligning yourself with a coalition?
What to do with sincere but unpopular beliefs? — Interesting reflections on the most constructive way of handling members of your political coalition who have deeply held, but widely unpopular, beliefs.
How Progressives Broke the Government — From Marc Dunkelman (the author of "Why Nothing Works") a summary of his principal argument (which does much to explain the collapse of trust in governmental institutions).
Here's How Government Spending Has Grown---and Where the Money Is Going — Amid the ongoing fight over what federal expenditures are and are not worth defending, a primer on where all the money is going.
Anyone Who Knows What's About to Happen Is Lying — An argument for embracing the high levels of unavoidable uncertainty that we all now face and for learning how to prepare ourselves for a variety of possible contingencies.
This cycle is ending — An intriguing argument that many of today's big problems are attributable to intergenerational dynamics that, over a period of about 50 years, reshaped society in relatively predictable ways.
The New Control Society — A very long and quite comprehensive and thought provoking analysis of the ways in which information technology has transformed our lives and the society in which we live.
Six-Chart Sunday -- Predictable Unpredictability — In the context of the Trump administration's unfolding policies, a look at why events that are predictable still spawn so much uncertainty.
Globalization Is Collapsing. Brace Yourselves. — For those who both supported and oppose globalization, thoughts about what might happen when it collapses.
A New Political Order Emerges — From the International Monetary Fund, one of the cornerstones of the old world order, thoughts about what the new political order might bring.
The Coming Economic Nightmare — Amid the chaos and turmoil surrounding Trump's efforts to remake the global economy, a thoughtful attempt to forecast the economic problems that these efforts may produce.
There’s a Reason the World Is a Mess, and It’s Not Trump — An important look at the larger, and not yet successfully addressed, problems that created the socioeconomic environment that produced our hyper-polarized politics and the Trump administration.
Hedging the New Uncertainty — Another indicator of the seriousness of the problems we face, financial planners are starting to think about how to protect their assets if the world financial system collapses.
The Myth of a Sorted Electorate — A chance to compare the beliefs that people have regarding the size of various identity groups with objective reality.
Something Alarming Is Happening to the Job Market — Evidence that the transformative impact of AI technologies on employment opportunities for "knowledge workers" may be arriving much more quickly than previously thought.
Experts and Elites Play Fundamentally Different Games — Thoughts on an important but seldom recognized conflict -- the one that divides subject matter experts from society's leaders.
Wall Street Is Watching This Shipping Data to Gauge Tariff Impact — Amid all of the uncertainty about whether or not the great trade war will ever materialize -- reason to believe (based on global shipping activity) that it will come very soon.
The ‘Significant Risk’ That Republicans Tank the Economy — For those looking for a new and realistic mega-worry, thoughts about the potential downsides of Trump administration policies.
Globalization did not hollow out the American middle class — One of today's most important economic questions, which this article examines, focuses on the impact that globalization has had on middle-class communities in the developed world.
A perfect economic storm might be coming our way — More insight into the complex mega-worry surrounding the global economy that is currently brewing.
Law ≠ Power — A critical, but informative, examination of the complex ways in which the critical legal studies movement has helped produce our current constitutional crises.
Understanding America Across 15 Types of Communities (Part One) — A report outlining a major new effort to document the socio-cultural (not just racial) diversity of the United States.
So why *did* U.S. wages stagnate for 20 years? — A useful exploration of the factors that have, in recent decades, been limiting economic opportunity and exacerbating social tensions.
The Inequality Myth — Another one of those contrarian arguments that asks us to reconsider (or at least temper) the conventional wisdom. This one makes a hopeful argument that inequality is not as bad as we previously thought.
Four Books Sound the Alarm About the Power of Private Equity — Almost 20 years after unrestrained financial innovations caused the great upheavals of the 2008 recession, new worries about similarly increasing economic vulnerabilities.
Continental Divide: America is way richer than Europe now. — For those interested in comparative democracy and social welfare, startling information about just how rapidly the economic fortunes of the United States and Europe have been diverging.
Systems are crumbling – but daily life continues. The dissonance is real — An explanation of a useful new word, "hypernormalization" -- – the notion that we can normalize and adapt to increasingly serious levels of hyper-polarization and sociopolitical dysfunction.
You Thought You Were Free, but History Found You — Pessimistic musings about what an honest graduation speech might say to a generation of students whose lives are likely to be diverted by any one of a number of unfolding crises.
Our Knowledge System Has Collapsed. Can We Survive Without It? — A thoughtful exploration of the complex ramifications of ongoing changes to the way in which our society accumulates, stores, and disseminates knowledge.
"The Global Fertility Crisis is Worse than You Think" — Sustainability ultimately depends upon a community's ability to raise a succession of generations each willing and able to do their part to sustain and, hopefully, improve society.
Exploding U.S. indebtedness makes a fiscal crisis almost inevitable — As both parties resort to borrowing ever larger sums of money to avoid having to make hard choices over "who gets what," thoughts on the ultimate limits of this deficit-financed approach to conflict resolution.
Free-market economics is working surprisingly well — A defense of the often maligned free-market and the power of Adam Smith's "invisible hand "-- something we need to protect even as we work to limit capitalism's "invisible fist."
America Won’t Exist If We Can’t Build Things — An examination of the conflict between the globalized interdependent economy and need to maintain the industrial base critical to national defense.
The Choice Between Cheap Groceries and Everything Else — An insightful analysis of the contradictions inherent in Zohran Mamdani’sprogressive, socialist agenda.
The only thing worse than sweatshops is no sweatshops — An exploration of complex trade-offs and a thought-provoking defense of the giant factories (with their often brutal working conditions) that globalization has brought to the developing world.
The Crucial Issue of the 21st Century — An important and widely cited article from David Brooks that does much to help us understand just how radically things are changing and why we must prioritize the building of a new, much more widely supported social order.
Trump, the Working Class and Social Order — Is politics is downstream of the economy or culture? This article does an excellent job dispelling such simplistic views in ways that illuminate the real-world complexity of politics.
A Nation of Lawyers Confronts China’s Engineering State — An argument that the United States has become a legalistic economy focused primarily on claiming value while China has evolved into an engineering economy focused on creating value.
The Tale of the Rent-Seeking Saw — The invisible hand adds value to the economy while the invisible fist of "rent seeking" attempts to claim value produced by others -- an example of what this looks like in practice.
Why American Society Is Incredibly Stable - Part 1 — The first of a series of essays exploring why the United States has historically done so well (despite widespread perceptions of imminent catastrophe).
Book Review: "Breakneck" — A major review and summary of the new book, Breakneck, that argues that the biggest difference between China and the US is that China is run by engineers and the US by lawyers.
The Pandemic of Fake Jobs — An important argument that much of the work being done by white-collar professionals is unnecessary and adds very little real value to the economy. (We can't keep wasting all of that talent.)
America’s Coming Crash — Successfully managing conflict requires an ability to anticipate and prepare contingency plans for future disruptions. This article asks us to think seriously about the increasing risk of a major economic crisis.
Rage of the Falling Elite — An examination of one of the major sources of social tension -- a society that has been unable to deliver on the promises it made to young people who worked hard to get a good education.
Kindred spirits on the left and right believe in a New Deal fable — A rare comparison of popular beliefs about the success of the New Deal with seldom heard stories about its failings.
How the West was wrought — A thought-provoking essay that asks us to look back at our history and the cultural wisdom that has been accumulated through the ages.
Seventeen thoughts on the government shutdown — An inventory of the many factors that are determining the course of this particular governmental shutdown (and a larger look into the complexity of US government and the politics that surrounds it).
The West Is Lost — An intriguing essay that takes a hard look at our civilization's belief in unending progress (with reflections on what might happen if that turns out to be not possible).
The Chaos of Driving in Lebanon Tells a Story of a Country Unraveled — The terrifying story of civic collapse in Lebanon and a warning about how bad things could get if we don't find a way to effectively combat our nihilistic, cynical, antagonisms.
The Third Magic — A long-term evolutionary look at what makes humans so different with thoughts about how the role now being played by AI and other rapidly advancing technologies.
Gambling. Investing. Gaming. There’s No Difference Anymore. — For those trying to understand whether or not we are in an about-to-burst financial "bubble," an eye-opening article explaining how finance has become more like gambling (and vice versa).
How Bad Is Finance’s Cockroach Problem? We Are About to Find Out. — Worrying signs that the highly leveraged and speculative economic bubble may be about to burst with terrifying implications for social welfare and stability.
Accelerating Abundance in America — Perhaps the most powerful strategy for reducing conflict lies in increasing the size of the "pie" and converting everything into a giant positive-sum game. This essay explores how that might be done.
The Global Population Crisis that Never Was — The revealing history of one area in which the conventional wisdom and widely believed predictions about the future turned out to be wrong.
Trump Is Pushing Us Toward a Crash. It Could Be 1929 All Over Again. — For those looking for a mega-worry, a depressingly persuasive argument that the US (and probably, the global) economy is teetering on the edge of a major crash -- one that could upend most everything.
No historical event benefited the world more than the Revolutionary War — The supportive review of Ken Burns' new documentary on the Revolutionary War -- a documentary that highlights its multifaceted and surprising ugliness as well as its positive effects on world history.
Six-Chart Sunday – Headwinds — Another reminder that we should not take our relatively benign economic circumstances for granted.
How Crypto Could Trigger the Next Financial Crisis — For those who like thinking about economic bubbles, an overview of yet another one.
‘Affordability’ Costs a Bundle — For a time when political competition seems to have resulted in a race to see who can make the most extravagant promises -- a reminder that money is real and not unlimited.
The Ingratitude of the Well-Fed — We live in a time when it is fashionable, almost obligatory, to complain about the "system's" many failures. Seldom are these criticisms matched with genuine gratitude for the wonders that that system produces.
Return to the List of Links Newsletter Topics

Psychological Complexity

San Francisco Schools Are Retiring 'Chief.' That's Not as Frivolous as It Seems. — A look at the extraordinary complexity of language and the many ways in which efforts to control its use can have surprising, unintended, and often detrimental consequences.
Fortune favours the shrewd — More insight into the complexities of human psychology. This essay explores the surprisingly sophisticated nature of competition in evolutionary biology.
The Rising Tide of Global Sadness — An overview of several major new studies that reveal a little recognized and largely unaddressed catastrophe--- stunning declines in the mysterious factors that make us happy.
Why are our debates about rights so toxic? — At a time when it seems like most everyone believes that their fundamental rights are being violated, look at one of the most insightful books on rights-based conflict.
Mixed Feelings Can Be Worse Than Bad Ones — More insight into the incredible complexities of human psychology. This one looks at the nature of our internal conflicts and what happens when we can't decide what to believe and what to do.
What the Longest Study on Human Happiness Found Is the Key to a Good Life — An update on a major effort to understand the factors that contribute to our most complex, important, and elusive social objective -- human happiness.
Vertical communities — A thoughtful look at how technology is changing the nature of the communities in which we live our lives.
Our Age of Impunity — An exploration of why so many people in so many contexts have come to the conclusion that they can get away with most anything. And, a call for building the "countervailing power" needed to restore accountability.
Actually, You Don't Know That Much — An exploration of what happens when we are so convinced that we are right that we think that anyone who disagrees with us is stupid and probably evil.
You're Better Off Not Knowing — As we obsess about all of the things that are going wrong in the world, surprising advice that we ought to step back and focus more on what makes life so wonderful.
This element is critical to human flourishing --- yet missing from the news — An exploration of the dangers of focusing exclusively on the intractable nature of our problems. To get people to work to help solve those problems there has to be hope that the solutions will work.
We'll never solve our many crises without this one ingredient — Important insight into the complex psychological effects of thinking too much about the world's big problems and not enough about its many wonders.
Why AI Will Never Rival Human Creativity — A perceptive, and for us humans, hopeful analysis of the difficulties associated with building a truly creative artificial intelligence.
What You See Is All There Is: The Menu Problem and Behavioral Science — A quick summary of an especially important cognitive bias -- one that continually threatens to get us into trouble.
The psychological dangers of being in a silo — A look at the downsides of living inside a homogeneous information bubble.
Beyond the 'Matrix' Theory of the Mind — The thought-provoking exploration of the intersection between information technologies (past and future) and the human mind.
Politics is Designed to Alienate Most Americans — An important call for building a political system that better represents the 50+% percent of the electorate that rejects the hard partisanship of the left and the right.
Protest Porn -- The pleasure-seeking behind today's righteous causes — An analysis of the complex psychological reasons why people become involved in mass protests and why those protests are often viewed in such apocalyptic terms.
How Trumpism Differs From Fascism — An argument that, unlike the first Trump administration, a second Trump administration might actually constituted new kind of fascism -- one that favors isolationism over expansionism.
The A(braham) Bomb — A thought-provoking way of looking at the grand sweep of human history -- one that focuses on the long shadow of the Abrahamic faiths and the belief we can somehow perfect society.
How to Escape 'the Worst Possible Timeline' — An insightful examination of the complex psychology swirling around our pervasive sense pessimism plus thoughts on how to constructively grapple with our many problems without being consumed by them.
Populism thrives because people are mad, and also because they're sad — A report on a new analysis of the complex sociopolitical factors underlying right-leaning populism in the US.
Hey, America, Grow Up! — A retrospective look at how social psychological changes that have occurred in Western societies over the last several decades have made our problems so much more intractable.
Monomania Is Illiberal and Stupefying — An exploration of the causes and effects of a particularly dangerous cognitive bias, monomania, along with thoughts on what can be done to limit its effects.
How America Got Mean — An argument for strengthening the social fabric by restoring moral education to its rightful prominence.
Why Does Everyone Feel So Insecure All the Time? — A provocative exploration of a different kind of inequality. Unlike inequalities of wealth and income, this article focuses on the differences between the secure and the insecure.
Love Doesn't Belong Just to the Poets — An interesting examination of the neuropsychological complexities of the way that people think and relate to one another at the most intimate level.
In Defense of the Human Brain — A reassuring argument that the human brain really does differ dramatically from the artificial brains that are causing so much concern.
Framing 101: Metaphors, moral systems and the politics of your brain — From George Lakoff and Framelab, an introduction to what we all want to know about the way in which the brain processes political information.
The Zero Sum Idea Trap — An interesting look at how our economy has evolved from a positive- to a zero-sum orientation in recent decades and how that affects our politics.
Diseases of the Intellect — A provocative exploration of some of the psychological dynamics that prevent us from constructively responding when things go wrong.
Talking Past Each Other: How Ideographs Hamper Mutual Understanding — More insight into the psychological complexity of human thought and communication. This article focuses on ideographs and how they influence our ability to understand one another.
JD Haltigan: The Emotional Dysregulation Behind Progressive Authoritarianism — An important and controversial argument worth considering: the political left has its own authoritarian streak -- one that is not driven by the grandiose narcissism of Donald Trump, but rather something different -- vulnerable narcissism.
Why Fundamentalists Love Trump — With respect to Trump's strong support among evangelicals, a look at the three elements of fundamentalism: certainty, ferocity and solidarity (elements that also apply to Hamas and the secular left).
Americans do talk about peace − just not the same way people do in other countries — A reminder that different societies with different cultural perspectives think about peace in different ways.
Learning, Unlearning, and Relearning — An insightful look at a strategy for living through turbulent and rapidly changing times.
Why the United States needs to stop being a nation of losers. — For a time in which politics is viewed in mostly win-lose (rather than win-win) terms, reflections on the fact that most of us tend to think they we are losing.
How to Save a Sad, Lonely, Angry and Mean Society — An eloquent plea for rediscovering the many ways in which immersing ourselves in art and culture can fill the big gaps that exist in so many lives.
Collision with Reality: What Depth Psychology Can Tell us About Victimhood Culture — An exploration of the complex psychological issues that surround being victimized and thinking of oneself as a victim.
The Founders' Guide to Happiness — Thought-provoking reflections on happiness from somebody who is spent a great deal of time trying to understand what the United States' "founding fathers" thought of the subject.
Security- what is it? — Security is one of the fundamental human needs that has to be met for peacebuilding to be successful. This essay explores the concept.
The Over-the-Top Epidemic — An examination of the tendency of so many people in so many different contexts to act in extreme ways.
Metaphors make the world — A thought-provoking exploration of the role that metaphors play in helping us make sense of the world in which we live.
Why Children Need Risk, Fear, and Excitement in Play — Insight into better ways of teaching children how to cope with a dangerous and uncertain world in which things will often not go their way.
Confirmation Bias: A Bayesian Interpretation — More insight into the mechanisms that drive cognitive biases and undermine the accuracy of the images that we have of the social environment in which we live.
The Psychology of Progressive Hostility — An examination of the complex psychological dynamics that have unified the left around their own set of political and social orthodoxies.
End the Phone-based Childhood Now — From Jonathan Haidt, his recommendations for protecting children from the insidious effects of the "smart" phone culture.
The Language of Politics: Arise, Ye Prisoners of Jargon! — A classic article exploring the complex relationship between language, politics, and the way we think. In a great many respects, the problems we face are not new and we can benefit from past insights.
The power of unconscious thought — From George Lakoff and a progressive perspective, critically important insights into subconscious aspects of political communication.
My First Amendment concerns with 'The Anxious Generation' — Greg Lukianoff's words of caution regarding Jonathan Haidt's calls for sharp controls on social media for young people.
Thoughts on Dopamine Culture — A thought-provoking exploration of both the utility and the downsides of humanity's shift toward shorter attention spans with ever quicker task switching and constant multitasking.
I Was a Republican Partisan. It Altered the Way I Saw the World. — A personal account of the dangerous ways in which partisanship can cloud and distort one's view of the world and potential countermeasures.
The Psychology Of Being In A Minority — From a thought-provoking conservative perspective, thoughts on what it's like to be a member of a minority group and the differing approaches taken by Obama and Biden.
What Does It Mean for Something to Be Socially Constructed? — There are obviously big differences between objective reality and the way in which societies interpret that reality. This article compares the various ways in which we try to understand these differences.
Our Strange Politics of Meaning Assignment — A thought-provoking essay that explores the fuzzy relationship between what people actually do and what other people think those actions mean.
The New Cynicism Isn't Like the Old Cynicism — An argument that the cynicism that we are seeing today is much more cynical and dangerous than the cynicism of yesterday.
Political Scientists Want to Know Why We Hate One Another This Much — A compilation, with lots of links, of the things that the latest political science research is teaching us about hyper-polarization.
The Photo-Negative Ideology — A perceptive analysis of the complex psychological process through which we shape the storylines that enable us to make sense of the world in which we live.
Giving Up is Good for You — A provocative essay exploring an important and much neglected topic -- the importance of recognizing when a goal is out of reach and should be abandoned.
Why do people believe true things? Ignorance and misperceptions are not puzzling. The challenge is to explain why some people see reality accurately. — A look at the complex psychology underlying the ability to distinguish truth from often more comforting falsehoods.
Sensing Towards Personal & Cultural Transformation — Food for thought, for those thinking about how to think about the complex and turbulent time in which we live.
the thin line — An exploration of the thin line that distinguishes efforts to support victimized groups from efforts to profit from their victimization.
We Need Moral Direction — A thought-provoking essay that argues that we've forgotten the word morals and replaced it with boundaries.
The Hidden Grammatical Reason That 'Weird' Works — In the context of Democratic efforts to use the word "weird" to describe their Republican adversaries, an essay exploring the ways in which linguistic dynamics affect our thinking.
Timur Kuran on Why We Lie About Our Beliefs — As so many of us turn our attention to opinion polls offering the most recent gauge of public opinion, a look at why so many of us are reluctant to reveal our true beliefs to pollsters or anyone else.
Our language, our world — An article exploring the complex psychological dynamics that determine how the language that we use influences how we think, and how we think influences the culture in which we live.
The Distinctiveness of Human Aggression — A review and brief summary of the thought-provoking new book, "The Goodness Paradox -- The Strange Relationship between Virtue and Violence in Human Evolution."
How the psychology of political division could lead us out of it — Further thoughts on the complex psychology driving (and, potentially, undermining) hyperpolarization.
A Revolution of the Soul — An article about one effort to craft a vision for adapting democracy to the challenges of the 21st-century.
The spectre of insecurity — Security is one of Maslow's most fundamental human needs (and a cornerstone of the human needs approached to peacebuilding). This article explores what happens when it's missing.
Why Us vs. Them Is Not Such a Bad Way to See the World — An exploration of the complex psychology behind in-group and out-group thinking with reflections on its advantages and disadvantages.
Why Mind Viruses Are Real — A look at the complex psychological and social dynamics that spread ideas (many of them bad) throughout society.
Implicit Bias: A Zombie Theory That Needs to Finally Die — A critical look at the theory and history behind the concept of implicit bias.
Unreasonable Rationality — An intriguing essay asking us to explore the important but seldom recognized distinction between reasonableness and rationality.
It's Going to Be Normal to Have Extreme Beliefs — Thought-provoking speculation about the ways in which ongoing changes in media and politics will be reflected in the things that people believe.
A History of the End of the World — A somewhat lighthearted essay that puts today's "doom and gloom" thinking in a broader context. The challenge is to sensibly separate real from exaggerated fears.
The Anti-Social Century — An article exploring the causes and effects of the long-term erosion of interpersonal social relationships.
Attention Is the Fuel of American Politics, and Trump Knows It — A look at the enormously important and little understood role that the ability to get people's "attention" plays in political and social life.
How a German Thinker Explains MAGA Morality — More food for thought for those wishing to understand today's complex political reality. This article focuses on the important distinction between political and personal spheres of life.
Why Common Problems Are Often Worse Than We Realize — An article about an interesting cognitive bias that plays a big role in undermining our ability to protect ourselves -- the notion that familiarity breeds complacency.
Twenty Lessons On Tyranny — This might better be titled "Twenty Lessons on Preventing Tyranny."
The Six Principles of Stupidity — For a time when stupidity seems to be on the rise most everywhere, a review of what it is, what causes it, and how can it be limited.
Is Trump Literal, Serious, or Both? — An especially good look at how the complex relationship between Israel and the Muslim world interacts with President Trump's still mysterious thought processes and especially his plans for Gaza.
The Zero-Sum Presidency — A provocative hypothesis that President Trump is primarily motivated by a zero-sum, win-lose psychology.
How to feel bad and be wrong — A description of the meaning and importance the psychological concept, "attribute substitution" -- a seldom recognized bias that distorts our thinking.
Can we find common ground without a shared reality? — A perceptive examination of the role that a shared vision of reality plays in crafting a broadly accepted political agenda.
The "everyone is biased" bias — An argument that our efforts to eliminate bias may in fact be promoting a different kind of bias.
The "Everyone Is Biased" Bias — A thought-provoking exploration of the complexities of "bias" and an hypothesis that concern about bias has actually become a form of bias.
How Framing Distorts Journalism and Empowers Authoritarians — From neuropsychological perspective, an effort to explain how our frames affect the way we think and how they can be distorted by bad reporting and manipulated by unscrupulous political figures.
Schadenfreude and the American Soul — An ethical call to resist the temptation to revel in the suffering of our enemies.
The Neuroscience of Compliance and Control: Why We Follow Orders — An exploration of the neuroscience behind the complex psychological dynamics that bind society together in functioning social groups.
The Short-Circuiting of the American Mind — A thought-provoking essay exploring the complex relationship between our hyper-polarized politics and the ways in which we think.
On The Death of Daydreaming — More insightful food for thought as we grapple with the ways in which the modern age is altering the way in which we think.
Your brain is biased to negativity. Here’s how to be more positive. — More insight into the astonishing complexity of the human mind and the ways in which evolution has taught us to be (at least by contemporary standards) overly cautious.
The Age of Not Knowing — Amid today's omnipresent uncertainties, the thought-provoking essay on the subject.
Three Well-Tested Ways to Undermine an Autocrat — From Nicholas Kristof, a man who has spent a career covering the horrors of authoritarianism, reflections on the most effective strategies for combating these tyrants.
‘We Are the Most Rejected Generation’ — Reflections on the many implications of the intense competition that now exist between those who aspire to leadership roles with in our society.
You Need Conservatives. Here’s How to Engage Them in Your Mission. — Practical advice for how those committed to politically inclusive projects might actually be able to persuade conservatives to participate.
Jonathan Haidt on Why We Always Think We’re Right — A psychological perspective on one of the most important contributors to intractable conflict.
Podcast #300: The Modular Mind — An interview with the author of new book on the complex psychology of human conflict, "Why Everyone (Else) Is a Hypocrite: Evolution and the Modular Mind."
Censorship Hurts Our Brains—Literally — A neuropsychological evaluation of the way in which monolithic information systems affect our thinking and our brains.
The Era of Dark Passions — From David Brooks, an attempt to understand the psychological and cultural factors that have transformed the United States' traditional brand of partisan, hardball politics into today's much darker reality.
‘Virtue Signalling’ May Annoy Us. But Civilisation Would Be Impossible Without It — A more balanced look at "virtue signaling" and the critical role it plays in organizing communities around the pursuit of the common good. And, like all virtues, it can be destructive if misapplied or taken too far.
Ten years after ‘The Coddling of the American Mind’: What we warned, what happened, and what’s still at stake — An update on one of those rare books that was able to predict, ahead of time, a great social upheaval.
Steven Pinker on How Common Knowledge Rules Our Lives — An interview with Steven Pinker and an exploration of his new book on cognitive psychology: "When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows…:Common Knowledge and the Mysteries of Money, Power, and Everyday Life."
The Rot Creeping Into Our Minds — An especially good and detailed account of the way in which hyper-polarization has undermined the way we think, the values we live by, and the actions we take.
Politics As Self-Deception — An analysis of the logical contradictions and hypocrisies at the core of the debate over free speech.
The Decline of Deviance — If one measure of freedom is our willingness to deviate from mainstream orthodoxies and behaviors, this article suggests that we are not doing very well.
Your Personality Traits Are Bets About How the World Works — Reflections on the evolution of personality traits and the role that they play in helping us navigate a dangerous world.
Attention Is Power — An analysis of what free speech means in a smart phone/social media environment in which complex algorithms favor some speech at the expense of other speech.
Ethical Diversity — An insightful analysis of the surprising and often hypocritical ways in which our ethical beliefs turn into self-serving excuses.
Heterodox Orthodoxy — A reminder that those challenging prevailing orthodoxies have an obligation to consider their criticisms seriously and to offer more positive alternatives.
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The Nature of Complexity

There Has to Be a Better Way to Run the Government — A readable case study of the complexities of contemporary policymaking and an explanation of why we can't seem to fix much of anything.
Keeping our options open -- Frantic human activity has reduced both cultural and biological diversity. Now we must protect the dwindling alternatives — A provocative essay on the nature of complex biological and social systems, the importance of diversity, and threats to that diversity.
Change Makes Fools of Us All — In the complex and chaotic social environment in which we live, we have to recognize that irreducible uncertainties will, at times, make our most careful plans look foolish. Still, we need to do the best we can.
A Syllabus for Generalists — For a society dominated by specialists who have trouble seeing the big picture, a syllabus for those who also want to be generalists. What would you add?
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The Scale and Complexity Problem

Future Population Growth — Eye-opening, often surprising, and extremely important charts showing where populations are exploding, stable, and contracting and by how much.
From Spontaneous Order to Ordered Spontaneity — From Jonathan Rauch, thought-provoking reflections on how his view of the complex system that is modern democracy has evolved.
Governing in Complexity - Principles Paper — A rare and important paper that tries to think through one of today's most important challenges -- societal complexity.
Probability and Subjective Certainty — For a world in which so many people are convinced that they know the "truth," an exploration of uncertainty and probability theory.
The Certainty of Uncertainty — For a world in which risk is everywhere and uncertainty is omnipresent, a retrospective look at the work of Frank Knight and his pioneering work on strategies for dealing with uncertainty.
The Nobel Prize Winner Who Thinks We Have the Universe All Wrong — A reminder that everything we think we know is haunted by irreducible uncertainties -- uncertainties that may be resolved in surprising ways by rigorous science.
Adam Kucharski: The Uncertain Science of Certainty — Thoughts on how to navigate the inevitable uncertainties that characterize even the most trustworthy sources of information.
Unreliable parts make a reliable whole — Food for thought for those looking for more realistic and sensible ways of thinking about the staggering complexity of contemporary society.
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Positive Perspectives

America Is on the Right Track — One of the most encouraging and uplifting essays I've read in a long time. It asks us to put aside our worst-case cognitive biases and look at the bigger picture -- one that is far more positive.
America's economic outperformance is a marvel to behold — A good news story that challenges the popular belief that the US economy (and the larger society) is collapsing and won't be able to meet the needs of its citizens.
Models of antiquity — For those tempted to discount the lessons of the past, a story about how earlier radicals in the "Age of Revolution" saw the classical world as a common inheritance that could aid their fight for liberty.
We Will Never Run Out of Resources — A reassuring update on Julian Simon's classic observation that human ingenuity is the "ultimate Resource" -- a resource capable of overcoming all material shortages.
Never Bet Against Democracy in the Long Run — An important and timely reminder that, despite its many problems, democracy has enormous advantages over other systems of social organization.
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Interstate War

Playing With Fire in Ukraine — A reminder that, while we've grown accustomed to (and started to tune out) the Ukrainian War, it still threatens to explode into something globally catastrophic.
Ukraine's New Offensive Is Fueled by Captured Russian Weapons — A report on the war in Ukraine with stunning statistics revealing that Ukrainians have captured and are using more heavy equipment from the Russians than they have been receiving from the West.
Russia's Defeat in Ukraine Would Be America's Problem — An important appeal to the US and its allies -- think carefully about the lessons we learn from the war in Ukraine and don't make the mistake of thinking we are more powerful than we really are.
We Are Suddenly Taking On China and Russia at the Same Time — As it fights its internal battles over racial and cultural issues, the world is sliding toward the kind of major confrontation that could make United States' internal battle seem trivial.
Elon Musk, Tucker Carlson, and Midterm Candidates Peddle Russian Propaganda — Disturbing news for those who thought that the United States was united in its opposition to the kind of brutal aggression on display in Ukraine.
Tactical Nukes: A Primer — An only slightly reassuring exploration of what everyone ought to know about the tactical nuclear weapons that now threaten to take us to the first nuclear war since 1945.
The Sources of Russian Misconduct — From a defecting Russian diplomat, an explanation of how an environment in which dissent was not tolerated led to the tragedy in Ukraine (with important lessons for those suppressing dissent in the US).
The Future of American Warfare Is Unfolding in Ukraine — Thoughtful reflections on the differences between US interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Ukraine and what this means for the future of war (and prospects for preventing war).
The End of the New Peace — One of history's great accomplishments has been the expansion of Boulding's regions of stable peace (places where nobody considers war a serious possibility). With Ukraine, that peace is now in jeopardy.
Lessons for the Next War — The continuing horror and destruction in Ukraine is just the latest reminder of why developing and pursuing realistic strategies for avoiding war ought to be near the top of our priority list. As we think about this, here are some ideas to consider.
What Really Took America to War in Iraq — As the war in Iraq slides further into history, we now have a chance to reflect on articles like this that offer a more detached and objective account of events (and lessons for the future).
Year Two of the Ukraine War Is Going to Get Scary — From the onset, it was clear that the Ukrainians, the Russians, and the West would almost anything to avoid losing. We are getting closer to the point where we find out what "almost anything" means.
We are already at war with Russia — A critically important reminder of how dangerous the war in Ukraine has become. Somehow we have to find a way to prevent Russia's brutal invasion from succeeding, while also preventing a wider and much more catastrophic war.
This War May Be Heading for a Cease-Fire — As the death and destruction in Ukraine continues, and as the risks of an even more major super-power confrontation loom, a creative idea for bringing an end to the violence from the Korean War.
How Estonia Is Planning for the Worst — For small countries seeking ways to defend themselves from larger and more powerful rivals, lessons from Estonia's efforts to strengthen its defenses.
Sometimes, Consensus Can Be Ruinous — As we, with the benefit of hindsight, reflect on the 20th anniversary of the war in Iraq, a cautionary argument about how consensus can lead us astray.
Why Force Fails -- The Dismal Track Record of U.S. Military Interventions — A follow-up on our newsletter on the power strategy mix and the limited utility of force. This article on US military failures over the last 75 years
Orders of Disorder: Who Disbanded Iraq's Army and De-Baathified Its Bureaucracy? — A detailed look at exactly how two of the most consequential and catastrophic decisions of the Iraqi war were made (and an example of exactly how the course of history gets determined).
World War III Will Be Fought With Viruses — Yet another reason why we should not assume that catastrophic world wars are a thing of the past. The time has come to give war prevention the additional attention it deserves.
What the U.S. Military Still Hasn't Learned From Iraq — Key to not repeating the mistakes of the past is an ability to learn from those mistakes -- something that the United States is not doing very well as it looks back on the war on terror.
Here's why supplying Ukraine with cluster munitions would be a terrible mistake — In the context of Ukraine, an assessment of the complex issues surrounding attempts to ban weapons of war that cause death and destruction long after the fighting ends.
Should Ukraine Negotiate With Russia? — In the context of the war in Ukraine, an examination of the tough choices that would-be peacemakers have to make.
The Risks of One of the Most Severe Tools in America's Foreign Policy Arsenal — We tend to think of economic sanctions as an effective and generally nonviolent way of confronting geopolitical rivals. Is that true? What are the upsides and the downsides?
Slow counteroffensive darkens mood in Ukraine — News that the dream of a decisive victory in Ukraine is fading and that we may be entering into a protracted "hurting stalemate" (a period where prospects for a negotiated end of the fighting increase).
Ukraine's Sea Drones Alter Balance of Power in Black Sea — In times of war, military technology advances very quickly with profound implications for the strategic balance. Ukraine is no exception.
Why U.S. Presidents Really Go to War — A review and summary of a new book that examines the complex forces that have led to the United States' wars -- forces that are not as rational, dispassionate, and honorable as we would like to believe.
Reinvigorating Peace: A Critical Look at the UN's New Agenda for Peace — Boutros Boutros Ghali's 1992 "Agenda for Peace" taught us the word peacebuilding. This article looks at the United Nations' recent update of this important document.
Beware the False Prophets of War — For anyone who thinks that we understand war and can reliably predict its outcome, a review of failed predictions (and an argument for not trying to "ride the tiger").
China's Weapons of Mass Destruction — A report on China's rapidly growing nuclear arsenal and the emerging 21st-century nuclear standoff -- something that, because of rapidly advancing technology, is likely to be even more dangerous.
How an "Endless War" Begins — As wars continue to proliferate across the planet, an assessment of the reasons why some wars never seem to end and why the killing goes on and on.
As if We Didn't Have Enough to Frighten Us ... — A worrying argument that we may have to add another flashpoint (nuclear-armed North Korea) to our list of global conflicts that may be emerging as the power and influence of the US and its allies declines.
Thinking the Unthinkable — For a time when we prefer not to even think about the possibility of a global military conflagration, tough questions that, like it or not, demand consideration.
The World May Be Entering a Much Bloodier Era — News that our gut level impression that the world is rapidly spinning out of control is, unfortunately, backed up by solid data.
Sweden is joining Nato, but it's hopelessly unprepared for war — A profile of Sweden -- a country that took peace and security for granted and is now waking up to the very real threats which are now emerging.
In Defence of the EU — As the world slides toward increasing global tensions and the rising risk of war, it is worth reflecting on the EU's success in bringing peace to war-torn Europe.
War and Peace Data — An extensive compilation of data on the full range of war and peace issues.
Meet Necessities Like Necessities — Despite its somewhat confusing title, this essay makes critically important points about the importance of making the sacrifices necessary to combat true threats.
Russian trolls target U.S. support for Ukraine, Kremlin documents show — News from another, often neglected, front in the Ukrainian war -- the clandestine information battle being fought in the West,'s complex media environment.
What Do I Owe the Dead of My Generation's Mismanaged Wars? — For Memorial Day, thoughts about how to remember those lost in ill-conceived and mismanaged conflicts and how to remember the wars in which they heroically fought.
Do We Still Understand How Wars Are Won? — Reflections on the fact that, since World War II, the United States is not been in war that had absolutely, positively had to win -- a war like the one Ukrainians are now fighting.
Putin wants Ukraine ceasefire on current frontlines, say sources — A hopeful report suggesting that a "ripe" moment for negotiating an end of the war in Ukraine may be approaching.
U.S. Shrugs as World War III Approaches — A quick summary of the report of the Commission on the National Defense Strategy -- a politically neglected, but critically important, warning about the West's declining ability to deter war and defend itself.
Four Ways Ukraine's Drone Innovations Are Changing Warfare — We live in a time when extraordinarily rapid innovation is ever present. This article offers a case study of how the war in Ukraine is accelerating this process.
War & Genocide in Modern Times — A long and thought-provoking essay that provides a valuable framework for thinking through the complex tensions that exist between war and peace.
Why America Stopped Winning Wars — For an era in which so many wars never seem end, a controversial and provocative argument for taking the steps needed to truly win.
Why America Became the Great Satan — A the evolution of Iran's antipathy toward the United States and Israel and an examination of the failure of diplomatic efforts to build a more positive relationship.
Biological warfare is a real threat. How can we deter it? — A reminder that biological warfare deserves a prominent place at the top of our mega-worry list -- a worry that really ought to be getting a lot more attention.
From Terror Tunnels to Suicide Drones — An examination of some of the ways in which the ongoing wars in the Middle East are driving a rapid cycle of both offensive and defensive innovation -- a cycle that is transforming the nature of war for everyone.
The U.S. Marines' biggest fight right now is internal — An important reminder that what the military spends its money on is as important as how much it spends. Our security really does depend on the wisdom of the choices now being made.
Chuck Hagel: Why I'm Worried About Our Military — From a former Secretary of Defense, thoughtful reflections on on the dangers facing the military and the country (and advice for our incoming president).
T-Mobile Hacked in Massive Chinese Breach of Telecom Networks — Another peek at the scale of the ongoing "hybrid" war between the US and China.
What Can Stop the Cycle of Escalation in Ukraine? — As the war in Ukraine slowly escalates, thoughts about what might be done to reverse this dangerous trend.
The Future of Warfare is Remote Controlled — The description of how cheap drones are radically altering the nature of war and the global military balance in ways that are extremely dangerous and hard to predict.
The war in Ukraine has changed --- and it's deadlier than ever. — An update on the many ways in which cheap, high-tech weapons are making the war in Ukraine ever more deadly (while also changing the nature of war).
The Age of Forever Wars — From Foreign Affairs, a carefully considered analysis of why efforts to end wars so often ended in failure.
How Trump Could Make ‘Muscular Mediation’ Work in Ukraine — The description of the promises, pitfalls, and intricacies of the "muscular mediation" strategy that the Trump administration is apparently trying to use in Ukraine.
The India-Pakistan Crisis Needs Steady Diplomacy — An explanation of the extraordinary dangers associated with the India Pakistan crisis and the kind of diplomacy that will be required to avert a nuclear catastrophe
A Russia-NATO War Would Look Nothing Like Ukraine — As Tolstoy famously said, "you may not be interested in war but war is interested in you." If we want to prevent war, we had better pay attention to the ways in which it might happen.
Ukraine just rewrote the rules of war — An analysis of yet another way in which the Ukraine war is dramatically changing the nature of warfare and highlighting weaknesses in national defenses.
How Chinese drones could defeat America — In the wake of Ukraine's surprise attack on the Russian Air Force, worrisome speculation about how China could attack the United States in much the same way.
‘Basically impossible to get them back’: Russia’s mass abduction of Ukrainian children is a war crime, say experts — Yet another heartbreaking look at the unfathomable cruelty associated with Russia's invasion of Ukraine (and another reason why this kind of aggression can't be allowed to succeed).
More conflict in 2024 ‘than any year since Second World War’ — Hard data supporting that which should be self-evident to any observer of current events, the forces taking us away from a peaceful world are stronger now than they have been at any time since the world wars of the 20th century.
Kinetic War vs. Cyber War: The Potential Battlefields Ahead — More information about radical changes now underway in military technology -- changes that are profoundly altering the balance of power and undermining our ability to prevent (or, at least, limit) war.
Wars of deception are coming for America. It isn’t ready. — More food for thought as we try to understand the rapidly evolving nature of war (and adapt our war prevention strategies to the new realities).
Why every country needs to master the Electric Tech Stack — In a world of continually shifting and unreliable alliances, an argument that self-sufficiency (with respect to today's high-tech weapons) is the key to an effective defense.
Ukraine’s Plan to Starve the Russian War Machine — Details on Ukraine's alarming, but promising, new strategy for winning the war by undermining the Russian economy through attacks on energy facilities deep inside the country.
Niall Ferguson: I’ve Seen the Future of War. Europe Isn’t Ready for It. — An important reminder for those not interested in war, war is interested in you! Now is not the time for complacency.
The Lessons of Ukraine’s Drone Warfare — An update on the rapidly changing nature of the drone war in Ukraine -- an update that tells us a lot about what both civil and international war in the near future might look like.
The Brains Behind Ukraine’s Pink Flamingo Cruise Missile — An inspiring and heartbreaking story about what war does to a society -- it turns "artsy" people into designers of sophisticated weapons.
The trafficking networks sustaining Russia’s war of attrition — This report shows that Russia's efforts to prosecute the war in Ukraine have reached another new low -- the use of trafficked individuals (modern-day slaves) to fight the war.
The future of war is the future of society — The sad fact is that all peace agreements occur within the context of power balances based on physical force. This article explains how those power balances are changing.
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Terror

Petraeus: Our Lack of Commitment in Afghanistan — For 9/11, a time to reflect on what we should have learned from the war on terror and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. How can we minimize such tragedies in the future?
Don't Believe the Generals — Also, for 9/11 another view on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq -- one that provides an important counterpoint to the views of the leadership.
How to Stay Sane in Brutalizing Times — Thoughts on how to better cope with the turbulent and increasingly violent era in which we find ourselves from people who have struggled through vastly more dangerous times.
Aiding Terror: How Terrorists Exploit Humanitarian Organizations — A timely and important look at the at the ways in which terrorist organizations have been able to exploit humanitarian aid providers (and fund the continuing cycle of violence).
When Terrorists Talk, They Listen — A profile of the Middle East Media Research Institute, an organization focused on providing a global audience with direct (but translated) access to articles on current issues intended for Mid-East audiences.
Power to the People: How Open Technological Innovation Is Arming Tomorrow's Terrorists — Something more to worry about, the many ways in which new technologies could be used by terrorists to mount more destructive and disruptive attacks.
The Terrorism Warning Lights Are Blinking Red Again — News that the US counterterrorism establishment is growing increasingly alarmed about the possibility that tensions swirling around Gaza will lead to renewed terrorist attacks in the West.
The Normalization of Terrorism in the West — Reflections on the very different way in which Western societies have responded to the terrorist attacks of September 11 and October 7.
How the War on Terror Warped the American Left — A thought-provoking exploration ways in which the war on terror influenced the thinking of those on the political left.
The Distance between September and October is Far More than a Month — Important reflections on the differing ways in which the world has responded to the terrorist attacks of September 11 and October 7
When a Terror Group's Brutality Backfires — A hopeful argument that terrorism, as a political strategy, is ineffective and counterproductive (at least over the long run).
Behind Afghanistan's Fall, U.S.-Backed Militias Worse Than the Taliban — Based on the US experience in Afghanistan, a cautionary tale for those trying to figure out how to free oppressed societies from the rule of brutal tyrants.
America, Afghanistan and the Price of Self-Delusion — As the world slides ever closer to another series of military confrontations, an appeal for the United States to look honestly at what it did in Afghanistan and why the mission ended in failure.
Islamophobia is making a dangerous comeback. — Controversial, but important, reflections on the distinction between the irrational and unfounded Islamophobia and legitimate concerns about Islamic terrorism.
As Bangladesh Reinvents Itself, Islamist Hard-Liners See an Opening — From Bangladesh, report on the increasing influence of "Islamic hardliners" -- groups that have, in other contexts, been at the center of so many conflicts.
When Women Are Radicalised — A challenge to the widespread assumption that radical political beliefs are the product of toxic masculinity and something that only men believe in.
My Summer with Jihadis — An example of a genuinely positive bit of journalism -- writing that actually lets us spend some time inside a community that we have little contact with or understanding of.
Left-Wing Terrorism Is on the Rise — Sobering news for those on the left that always assumed that political violence was something only practiced by those on the right.
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Violence

How Civil Wars Start,' a Warning About the State of the Union — One key to avoiding war is to take the threat seriously and not fall into the "it could never happen here" trap.
The New Era of Political Violence Is Here — A look at a possible next step in the escalation of our social and political conflicts --- a step that will start crossing the taboo line that separates violent from nonviolent conflict.
The Rise of Political Violence in the United States — An exhaustive analysis of recent trends in political violence in the United States -- violence that, thankfully, is still far below what the US experienced in the 1960s and early 1970s.
Do 'Ordinary' People Commit War Crimes? — Evidence that, under sufficiently terrible circumstances, normal people can commit unspeakable atrocities and another reason why we have to prevent such circumstances.
Go See What Happened to My City, Then You'll Know How I Am — From Syria (before the earthquake) a heart wrenching story about the kind of dystopia that authoritarianism and civil war can produce (and another argument for fixing our politics).
Take Threats of 'National Divorce' Seriously — For those thinking in terms of victory over, rather than accommodation with, the other side of the political divide, a warning about where this is taking us.
America's Terrifying Cycle of Extremist Violence — A detailed look at the most dangerous and violent aspect of today's hyper-polarized politics.
What Peace in Northern Ireland Looks Like Now — After a quarter century, an update on one of the most successful (though still struggling) efforts to bring peace to a war-torn society.
The United States Needs a Moonshot to Prevent Extremism from Metastasizing — From the RAND Corporation (and the military-industrial complex), an overview of the latest thinking on strategies for combating extremism.
The Fury in France---and Across the West — An essay that helps explain large-scale civil unrest that has been sweeping France and how it is different from the United States' superficially similar George Floyd protests.
The Age of Mass Protests: Understanding an Escalating Global Trend — The fact that mass protests seem to be increasing worldwide suggests that there are deeper dynamics at play -- it's not just local politics.
With civil war dangerously close, seven leading Israeli activists and thinkers have an idea ... — In Israel, where the process of hyper-polarization has brought the country to the brink of civil war, creative ideas for diffusing the crisis.
In France, Nihilistic Protest Is Becoming the Norm — From France, the story about a new kind of political upheaval -- one in which large numbers of people have become so alienated from the rest of society that they just want to tear it apart.
Anger and radicalization': rising number of Americans say political violence is justified — Yet another poll indicating that the United States is precariously close to crossing the taboo line that normally prevents our hardball politics from crossing the line into outright violence.
India Is on the Brink — From India, a story about how hyper-polarized politics has inflamed social tensions to the point where true authoritarian rule and large-scale violence are imminent. (This is what we are trying to prevent (and reverse).
Terrorism — From Our World in Data, statistics that look at the threat of terrorism from a more informed perspective.
I Might Have Once Favored a Cease-Fire With Hamas, but Not Now — From longtime peace negotiator, Dennis Ross, a description of what he sees as the most promising path toward a better future for both Israelis and Palestinians.
What a Ground Campaign in Gaza Will Look Like — From a military perspective, an especially detailed and honest assessment of the unfathomable horrors likely to accompany Israel's invasion of Gaza and an explanation of why some better method of defeating Hamas is so badly needed.
A World at War -- What Is Behind the Global Explosion of Violent Conflict? — A thoughtful exploration of the many ways in which global efforts to limit large-scale violence are eroding.
Putin Is Making His Plans Brutally Clear — An update on the evolving nature of Vladimir Putin's aggressive brand of violent authoritarianism -- something that it seems like we no longer want to bother opposing.
Iraq's Twenty Years of Carnage — As we agonize over the human costs of the war in Gaza, a timely reflection on the human costs of the US invasion of Iraq.
Will Political Hatred Spill Into the Streets? — Reflections on past instances in which political divisions boiled over into large-scale violence and the possibility that this could happen again as this year's political campaigns heat up.
The Government Isn't Ready for the Violence Trump Might Unleash — An argument for engaging in worse case (or near worse case) contingency planning as the US heads into uncharted political territory.
1 in 5 Americans think violence may solve U.S. divisions, poll finds — Sobering news about the increasing number of Americans who are starting to embrace violence as an alternative to our dysfunctional political system.
Rachel Kleinfeld on the Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump and the Rise of Political Violence in America — In this emergency podcast, Yascha Mounk and Rachel Kleinfeld discuss how to prevent a spiral of violence.
Small drones will soon lose combat advantage, French Army chief says — With respect to drones, an important reminder that, in war, military technology advances very rapidly -- often in ways that can quickly alter the balance of power.
An Expert on Political Violence Sees a Way Out of America's Crisis — An interview with Rachel Kleinfeld outlining her concrete suggestions for limiting political violence.
Who Normalized Political Violence in America? — As modern societies slide ever closer to the abyss of large-scale political violence, thoughts about who is contributing to the problem and how.
How Cycles of Political Violence End — As the taboos against political violence in the United States continue to erode, a timely analysis of where we are likely to be headed (and how we might reverse that trend).
200 miles from where Trump was shot, ordinary citizens combat political violence — While Trump's attempted assassination grabbed the headlines, ordinary citizens have been taking concrete steps to reduce the level of political violence (and threats of violence) in their communities.
How to Prevent a Spiral of Political Violence in America — From Foreign Affairs, a report on new research on strategies for limiting the threat posed by political violence in the US.
What's Behind the Violent U.K. Riots — A first-rate article on the ongoing violence in Great Britain that we found to be especially illuminating (and worrying).
The Machiavellian cause of Britain's disorder — The ongoing civil unrest in Great Britain is a warning about where hyper-polarized politics in the US (and other countries) could take us. We ought to pay attention.
The Bitter Fight Over the Meaning of 'Genocide' — Genocide is one of those words that is now used in so many different (and often misleading) ways that it has become hard to distinguish genuine genocidal violence from self-serving propaganda.
Don't Blame Political Violence on Political Rhetoric — A thoughtful essay exploring the complex relationship between the violent language we often employ and the way in which we actually behave.
The Surprising Reality of Political Violence in America — A somewhat reassuring update on what we really know about US trends with respect to political violence.
A Masked Mob Outside a Lawmaker's Home — An argument that the way in which masked, anti-Israel protesters are attempting to intimidate a Jewish member of Congress is similar to the way the Ku Klux Klan tried to intimidate its opponents.
Political Violence Happens Because We Let It — An argument the political violence doesn't just happen -- that happens because we fail to nurture the norms and institutions which prevent it.
An Astonishing Level of Dehumanization — Reflections on the alarming degree to which violence against society's "oppressive" elites is now seen as justifiable.
Gov. Josh Shapiro: Finding Moral Clarity After an Arsonist’s Attack — From Pennsylvania's Jewish Governor, reflections on anti-Semitism, political violence, and what it's like to survive in an assassination attempt.
Tyler Cowen: Which Countries Won’t Exist in the 22nd Century? — A terrifying look at the number of places which are no longer subject to the control of any kind of government -- the kind of anarchy that produces lives that are "nasty, brutish, and short."
Is Rioting Acceptable? If So, How Much? — As frustrations mount and more people seem willing to consider (or at least condone) acts of limited violence, thoughts about the complex moral questions involved.
As Christians Are Slaughtered, the World Looks Away — Yet another example of the gross inconsistencies in the way that the world looks at and responds to violent atrocities.
80 years since Hiroshima. How much longer can the world’s luck hold? — On the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, alarm about increasing prospects for nuclear war and a call to do something about it.
The Most Nihilistic Conflict on Earth — For those who want to know what catastrophic social breakdown looks like in the 21st-century -- Hobb's vision of life that is "nasty, brutish, and short."
Barbarism Yesterday and Today — An historical look at the nature of barbaric violence and how, over time, it has become increasingly taboo (with thoughts on the worrying possibility that these taboos are eroding).
Daily Caller Opinion Column ‘Explicitly’ Calls for Violence — An alarming exploration of the way in which at least one right-leaning extremist is responding to recent attacks on those with more conservative views.
10 Political Violence Experts on What Comes Next for America — More food for thought as we look for more effective ways of responding to the kind of political violence exemplified by the Kirk assassination (and far too many other attacks).
Hasan Piker Is Flirting With the Revolution — A profile of one of the left's most popular, inflammatory, and extreme media influencers -- extremism exists on both the left and the right.
When ICE came for a U.S. citizen and Army veteran — A harrowing account of one US citizen's encounter with an ICE dragnet -- an account that, in at least this one case, validates our worst fears about Trump's immigration crackdown
The Left Attacks the Rule of Law — A look at why those on the right (including ICE agents) feel threatened by militants on the left (and a reminder about how close we are to large-scale violence).
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Authoritarianism

We exist but it is not a life': Afghan women face bleak prospects under Taliban — A look at the terrible consequences that result when efforts to make power-with democratic societies fail and authoritarians take over.
How Hitler's Enablers Undid Democracy in Germany — An article to help us fill in a critically important gap in our understanding of what, exactly, allowed the Nazis to come to power. We need to understand this history to avoid repeating it.
Both Left and Right Are Converging on Authoritarianism — A different and thought-provoking argument that hyper-polarization isn't the big problem. Rather it's a symptom of a bigger problem -- illiberalism on both the left and the right.
Xi Jinping Has Fallen Into the Dictator Trap — While there is plenty of reason to fear the rise of authoritarian leaders like Xi and Putin, there is also reason to believe that they may be sowing the seeds of their own (and their country's) destruction.
The Omnipotence of China's Xi Jinping — An in-depth profile of Xi Jinping with important insights into the threat posed by 21st-century authoritarianism.
When Was the Last Successful Revolution? — At a time of widespread protest in China, Iran, and (perhaps, under the surface) Russia, a sobering look at how rarely revolutionary uprising actually succeed (and why authoritarianism must be avoided).
Putin Has Assembled an Axis of Autocrats Against Ukraine — A reminder that, even in a multi-polar world, coalition building dynamics can lead to dangerous polarization and, conceivably, a major confrontation between the authoritarianism and democracy.
Why Putin's repression is worse than what I endured under the Soviets — A reminder that the terrible tyrannies of the past are not necessarily in the past. If we are not careful, the present can be just as bad -- if not worse.
My Country Was a Dictatorship Before. This Feels Worse. — A sad story from Tunisia, the one place where we had hoped that the Arab Spring had succeeded.
What Makes Putin and the World's Autocrats So Resilient? — As we think about ways of building a more resilient democracy, it's worth paying attention to what makes autocracy resilient and why it's so important that we let it get established.
The Corruption of Lindsey Graham — A lengthy and very detailed analysis of the incremental changes that led to Donald Trump's transformation of the Republican Party and its increasing embrace of authoritarianism.
The Russian Mutiny and the Inherent Instability of Autocracies — Important reminders about the limits and instability of autocratic power
Young People in China Can't Find Work, and Xi Jinping Has Only One Response — A profile of the crisis arising from China's inability to put its young, educated workforce to work (and its authoritarian response).
I Watched a Democracy Die. I Don't Want to Do It Again. — From Chile, a retrospective and agonizing account of what happens when democracies do, in fact, fail and authoritarians take over.
Trump Isn't Merely Unhinged — For those contemplating a second Trump Presidency, a critical look at his latest thinking (with lots of reasons to worry).
The Age of the Elected Despot Is Here — An explanation of how electoral processes can be manipulated by authoritarian wannabes (with lots of must-learn lessons).
How the Russian Government Silences Wartime Dissent — A look into what Russia is doing to suppress opposition to its war in Ukraine and a window into how brutal, authoritarian regimes can make it impossible to effectively challenge folly and corruption.
What We Keep Fighting — For the Martin Luther King weekend, reflections on King, Rustin, Moynihan, and the continuing struggle to defend America and the pursuit of its ideals from its authoritarian enemies.
Alarming' surveillance: Feds asked banks to search private transactions for terms like 'MAGA,' 'Trump' — From the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee, documentation of the ways in which the federal government is circumventing unreasonable search protections (something that would incense Democrats if Trump did it).
On Putin's Reign Of Terror — For a time when increasing numbers of people are starting to view Putin's Russia in more favorable ways, the short history of his increasingly brutal brand of authoritarianism.
Why Authoritarians Like Saddam Hussein Confound U.S. Presidents — Based in part on detailed recordings now available of Saddam Hussein's decision-making process --- a look at why the United States has so much trouble dealing with dictators.
Seeking Authority Rather Than Authoritarians — From Francis Fukuyama, an exploration of the complex relationship between the ability to act decisively and with authority and the struggle against authoritarianism.
The Long, Twisted History of Russia and ISIS — For those trying to understand the back story behind the ISIS attack on Moscow, this is a good place to start.
The Taliban Have Restored Barbarism to Afghanistan — An update on what life in Afghanistan is like, now that the Taliban have returned and US efforts to transform the country have failed (and a reminder of how bad things can get).
The Authoritarians Have the Momentum — A must-read analysis explaining why authoritarians are enjoying so much success in their struggle against liberal democracies (and what might be done about it).
What My Soviet Life Taught Me About Censorship — From someone who lived through a life of censorship in the former Soviet Union, reflections on the kind of censorship now being promoted in Western democracies.
Xi Jinping's Recipe for Total Control: An Army of Eyes and Ears — A report on what 21st-century authoritarianism looks like in today's China.
Is this Russia's 4-Step long-game to destabilize the U.S.A.? — An extremely important article that explains a long-standing Russian strategy for destabilizing its adversaries and many ways in which the West is now falling victim to that strategy.
Trump's Plan to Expand Executive Power — In the wake of President Biden's many efforts to claim an expansive view of presidential power, a look at Republican plans to do something similar, should they win the next election.
The Cause That Turned Idealists Into Authoritarian Zealots — In the context of the history of the Communist Movement, an examination of how idealistic campaigns can turn into authoritarian movements.
Trump-Hitler — In the aftermath of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, a chance to reflect on some of the things that the left has done to demonize the Republican candidate.
The Imperial Presidency Unleashed — From Foreign Affairs, an argument that the recent Supreme Court decision in the Trump immunity case dangerously increases the power of the President.
America's Political Chaos Is Enviable When You Live in an Autocracy — Before complaining too much about living in the land of political turmoil and omnipresent politics, consider living in country where that none of that is legal or possible.
The Red Scare Was No Moral Panic — In the context of hybrid warfare, bad-faith actors, and ongoing geopolitical intrigue -- a look back at the "red scare" of the 1950s.
The West's Next Challenge Is the Rising Axis of Autocracies — The dynamics of hyper-polarization are also playing out on a global scale with autocracies increasingly forming alliances to help them more effectively challenge Western democracies.
The Return of History: Liberal Values and Global Realities — A must-read essay that raises a critically important question, does human society naturally gravitate toward power-with, egalitarian democracy or power-over authoritarianism?
The Americans Who Yearn for Anti-American Propaganda — An attempt to understand the motivations behind those who seek out information that deceptively demonizes Western democracies.
The Taliban Have Reached a New Low. How Can the World Respond? — A reminder of the enormous human costs that have accompanied, in the wake of US withdrawal, the rise of the Taliban.
America's First True Dictator — From Anne Applebaum, a profile of Louisiana Governor Huey Long -- a man that she argues figured out how to bring dictatorship to US democracy.
These Four Things Are Behind The Totalitarianism We Are Witnessing — For those on the left worried about totalitarianism from the right, and interview explaining why many of those on the right fear that the left is a totalitarian force.
The Global Struggle: Democracies vs. Dictatorships — Thought-provoking reflections on the intensifying conflict between democratic and authoritarian societies -- a conflict that may soon frame most everything else.
Von der Leyen's authoritarian plot National democracies will be subordinate to her Commission — A reminder that power grabs that exhibit authoritarian tendencies are not confined to populist movements and unstable societies. This surprising article looks at the issue with respect to the European Union.
It isn't just about '1984': Orwell's essays powerfully resonate today — A reminder of the many ways in which our future is imperiled by neglecting George Orwell's many insights.
We've Just Had a Glimpse of the World to Come — An essay exploring the possibility that the recent meeting of the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, and China might offer a preview of what a much more authoritarian world order might look like.
The Syrian Regime Collapsed Gradually---And Then Suddenly — A must read article that places Syria's collapse in the context of the larger struggle against the kind of brutal authoritarianism that characterized the Asad regime.
Tracking Putin's Most Feared Secret Agency---From Inside a Russian Prison and Beyond — For those who might think that there's no real difference between the power elites who rule Western democracies and those that rule autocracies, an inside look at the way Russia keeps its people in line.
Tyranny Is Not What It Used to Be — A report on Anne Applebaum's new book, "Autocracy, Inc." -- an examination of the crucial differences between 21st-century autocracies and those that plagued the 20th century.
'The fall of any dictator reflects badly on all autocracies' — Journalist and author Anne Applebaum joins Trevor Phillips to discuss the network of authoritarian states and the challenges they pose for the West.
It Was a Bad Year for the World's Autocrats — For those who might think that autocracies' ascendance is inevitable, welcome news that they too can have bad years.
The New Rasputins — An update on the insidious new ways that established and aspiring autocrats are using 21st-century information technologies to advance and solidify their positions.
Things Worth Remembering: 'We Fell Morally Ill' — A retrospective (but highly relevant in today's context) look at the ways in which Václav Havel helped restore his country's government and the people's faith in that government.
I Ran U.S.A.I.D. Killing It Is a Win for Autocrats Everywhere. — From Samantha Power, President Biden's director of USAID, a defense of that institution.
There's a Term for What Trump and Musk Are Doing -- How regime change happens in America — From Anne Applebaum, an expert on authoritarianism and, especially, it's new 21st-century variant, an analysis of how Trump is radically reshaping our society.
One Word Describes Trump — An examination of the meaning, history, and significance of patrimonial systems of governance and an argument that this is what Donald Trump is trying to build.
'Reboot' Revealed: Elon Musk's CEO-Dictator Playbook — A critical look at the many parallels that exist between DOGE's actions and the kinds of things that aspiring dictators frequently do.
One Word of Truth Shall Outweigh the Whole World — From Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, one of history's great voices against authoritarianism, an urgent message for contemporary audiences.
If and when you live in a dictatorship, how will you know? — As we continue to agonize over whether or not we are becoming an authoritarian society, the timely essay that helps us understand what dictatorship really looks like.
America's Future Is Hungary — From Anne Applebaum, an effort to help Americans better understand their own society by looking at what has been happening in Hungary.
Europe Turns a Blind Eye to Erdogan's Crackdown Because It Needs Turkey — Evidence that, as we enter a new Cold War, democracies may again feel geopolitical pressure to embrace authoritarians.
Pluralism cannot exist under authoritarianism — Will foundations get picked off one by one as law firms have? Do we need collective security for pro-democracy organizations? There's no pluralism under authoritarianism. What does that mean for the pluralism field?
The authoritarian takeover attempt is here — An especially well-documented explanation of why so many people are so deeply alarmed by the way in which Kilmar Abrego Garcia was imprisoned in El Salvador.
The rise of end times fascism — A rare peak into the extreme and sometimes crazy aspirations of the super wealthy (and the limited obligations that they feel toward the societies that made them wealthy).
‘This Is What We Were Always Scared of’: DOGE Is Building a Surveillance State — More information about the ways in which DOGE's activities are going beyond its cost-cutting mandate and laying the groundwork for a massive surveillance state.
How Does a Stymied Autocrat Deal With Defeat? — Speculation about how President Trump might respond if effective resistance to his various initiatives materializes.
Beyond Seeing Ghosts: Recognizing the Early Shadows of Authoritarianism — When fear reshapes freedom, the ghost may already be real, argues David Beckemeyer referencing a recent article on seeing ghosts by Isaac Saul.
Donald Trump’s Cruel and Unusual Innovations — After acknowledging that the President has the right to deport people who are in the United States illegally, this article summarizes arguments against doing this in ways that violate due process rights.
The Most Corrupt Presidency in American History — Insights into Trump administration corruption from one of the world's leading experts on authoritarianism
The Real Lesson of the Iran-Israel War — A hopeful thing that we have learned from the Israeli / Iranian war -- the mutual support bond between authoritarian actors is nowhere near as strong as we might have thought.
This 19th-Century Novel Is a Playbook for Surviving Autocracy — Over the centuries, those unfortunate enough to live in autocratic societies have devised numerous strategies for constraining the power of the autocrat. For our difficult times, a reminder about what has worked in the past.
Skewing the Overton Window — An insightful essay on the ways in which the Overton Window of realistic possibilities is being expanding in ways that may make communist movements politically viable.
Domination and Reputation Management — An exploration of the complex, but critically important, process through which successful liberation and social justice movements are transformed into oppressive regimes.
Trump Triples Down on Lawfare — A comparison of the lawfare campaigns Democrats used against President Trump and the vastly more ruthless and successful campaigns that President Trump is using against Democrats.
Against Strong Gods — A timely review of Karl Popper's insightful analysis of what separates democratic societies from totalitarian fascist and communist regimes -- an analysis that has stood the test of time.
Why Authoritarians Fear Common Knowledge — An excerpt from Steven Pinker’s new book “When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows…”
Why Is the American Experiment in Trouble? Simple: A Demagogue Has Ignited the ‘Dark Passions’ of the People — A lengthy introduction plus links to reviews of four books that help us understand the darker side of the human spirit and the psychological dynamics that leave people vulnerable to the appeals of aspiring authoritarians.
After Trump, the deluge — Thought-provoking reflections on where the MAGA movement and the populist right might go once Donald Trump leaves the scene.
Our age of kings — In the wake of the "No Kings" protests, and informative article about the ways in which today's powerful, authoritarian leaders resemble historical royalty.
A New Era of Strongman Rulers Is Upon Us — From the authors, an overview of their important new book, “The Origins of Elected Strongmen: How Personalist Parties Destroy Democracy From Within.”
Trump’s Plan Is Now Out in the Open — An argument that many of the worst-case fears expressed about the Trump candidacy are now being borne out by his Administration's policies and actions.
Arctic Frost Is a Real Scandal — For those who think that the weaponization of Federal law enforcement is exclusively a sin of the right, a story about a time when the left went too far.
"Competitive authoritarianism" — An explanation of the meaning of "competitive authoritarianism" -- a word that describes many of today's existing and emerging autocracies.
Imagining What’s in Trump’s Brain — An insightful look at the complex psychology motivating aspiring and established authoritarians, and the ways in which their personality traits contribute to their success.
Trump Has Taken Only Months to Accomplish the Level of Authoritarian Consolidation That Took Orbán and Modi Years — A thoughtful, and only a little bit hopeful, comparison of the ways in which Trump, Modi, Orbán have tried to consolidate power.
The Biggest Tent — From a leading expert on the authoritarian threat, Anne Appelbaum, an explanation of why it is so important that we build the largest pro-democracy coalition possible.
Why Trump Gets Away With It — The comparative look at President Trump's often scandalous behavior and the Watergate scandal that ended Richard Nixon's Presidency.
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Domination and Oppression

Let the Tragedy in My Homeland Be a Lesson — For a time in which it is common to characterize one's political opponents in extreme terms, a look at the plight of the Uyghurs shows what extreme political violence and cultural genocide actually looks like.
Another Ethnic Cleansing Could Be Underway --- and We're Not Paying Attention — A reminder that efforts to prevent "ethnic cleansing" and genocidal violence require constant vigilance and an ability to act in low-profile cases that escape global attention.
The Struggle Continues: On Vincent Bevins's "If We Burn" — The review and summary of an important new book examining the many popular uprisings against oppressive regimes that have occurred in recent years (plus an assessment of their effectiveness).
Niall Ferguson: The Treason of the Intellectuals — Anyone who has a naive belief in the power of higher education to instill morality has not studied the history of German universities in the Third Reich.
Might Unmakes Right — From Foreign Affairs, a report on the ongoing and catastrophic collapse of norms against the use of force.
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Political Dysfunction

America's Democratic Backsliding Is Not Universal — For those clinging to the belief that the United States is still the most successful democracy, evidence that others are doing better (and that maybe we can learn from them).
Cacophonocracy — Important new word: cacophonocracy --what happens when the possibility of consensus among the governed deteriorates to unmanageable extremes.
How Meltdowns Brought Progressive Groups to a Standstill — An in-depth look at the many costs associated with an inability to constructively handle intractable conflicts over deep-rooted moral and distributional issues.
How to Stop 2024 From Looking Like 2016 — An explanation of an important, but often neglected, strategy for preventing extreme candidates (like President Trump) from winning their party's nomination.
'Live free and die?' The sad state of U.S. life expectancy — Yet another very persuasive reason for trying to really understand our society's many problems and pursue realistic solutions.
The New Truth -- When the moral imperative trumps the rational evidence, there's no arguing — A provocative essay exploring the conflict over whether the truth is an end in itself or whether it must be adjusted to meet some higher purpose.
We're Entering an Era of 'Total Politics' — Another reminder of the dysfunctional nature of our hyper-polarized, us-vs-them politics and the importance of efforts to address the problem.
Death by a Thousand Paper Cuts — An article for those wondering why our institutions never seem to function as intended and why the rebellion against the "administrative state" is so widespread.
Who rules the UK, parliament or the mob? Intimidation over Gaza threatens British democracy — More information about how threats of physical violence against Members of the British Parliament are influencing national policy (something that is starting to happen in the US).
How America Got Into This Omnishambles — An analysis of the factors underlying the ongoing collapse of Democratic prospects with important lessons for the future.
We're All Soviets Now — A thought-provoking comparison between the contemporary United States and the Soviet Union just before its collapse.
Is Europe Becoming Ungovernable? — An article highlighting the many ways in which hyper-polarization has made Europe so dysfunctional.
America’s Air Traffic Fiasco — A case study of one of the bigger (and scarier) examples of why the public has lost trust in its governmental institutions (and why those institutions have failed to deliver on their core missions).
Americans Agree on One Thing—We Are Our Own Worst Enemy — The good news / bad news story about the bipartisan recognition that the United States' dysfunctional politics is its own worst enemy. Unfortunately, there is no consensus about what to do about it.
The Politics of Anarchy — An explanation of the ways in which authoritarian wannabes cultivate and then exploit chaos and dysfunction.
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Runaway Escalation

Don't Buy the Mitt Romney Martyr Theory — An examination of how the Republican Party that nominated Mitt Romney came to embrace Donald Trump in the style of politics we now call Trumpism.
When Partisans Cry Wolf — An exceptionally clear explanation of how democracy is actually being undermined by the many ways in which the left and the right frame their political opponents as existential threats to democracy.
The Polarization Spiral -- How the right's monomania and the left's Great Awokening feed each other — "For every action, there is a disproportionate reaction" -- a look at the way in which the hyperpolarization spiral is being driven by the extremes of the left and the right.
Anti-Fascist. Armed to the Teeth — Disturbing news that the escalation spiral is starting to produce significant, armed militias on the left as well as the right.
The Country's Already Been Destroyed' — An especially well-informed and thorough analysis of Israel's ongoing difficulties and look at how quickly complex societal conflicts can spin out of control.
The Law of Group Polarization — Going back to basics -- one of the foundational articles outlining the nature of polarization dynamics.
Something must change: Or something will break very badly — A provocative essay that reflects on the nature of contempt and the dramatic ways in which it alters interpersonal and societal relationships.
When Intent Stops Mattering - A Political Parable — A very perceptive exploration of what happens when the motivations behind individual actions are no longer considered relevant when assessing those actions.
Government Keeps Going Too Far — An exceptionally good essay describing what hyper-polarization means in actual practice -- political parties that chronically go too far in the pursuit of once laudable objectives.
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The Hyper-Polarization Threat

We're Staring at Our Phones, Full of Rage for 'the Other Side' — A summary of the latest social science research on the intersection between social media use and hyper-polarization.
Gut-level Hatred' Is Consuming Our Political Life — A review, with lots of links, of what the latest political science research is telling us about the nature and depth of our hyper-polarized politics.
The Perils of Affective Polarization — The valuable primer on what everyone ought to know about affective polarization or what we call hyper-polarization.
Why we split the world into good and evil --- and make decisions we regret — From Amanda Ripley, reflections on the many pitfalls associated with viewing the world primarily as a battle between good and evil.
A 'National and Global Maelstrom' Is Pulling Us Under — From Thomas Edsall, a quick look (with lots of links) into what some of our most prominent social theorists think about society's deepening difficulties.
Chaos at the End of History — From a broad historical perspective, a look at the origins of today's ever present hyper-polarization..
An Antidote to the Polarization Poison — A fresh look at the threat posed by polarization along with proposals for better protecting ourselves.
The Law of Group Polarization — A more academic and scientific exploration of the dynamics that drive polarization -- dynamics that we have to find better ways of limiting.
You're Thinking About Polarization All Wrong — Another look at the problem of hyper-polarization -- one that argues that partisan blocs are less rigid than it might appear.
The new polarization that explains our politics — An article explaining a different kind polarization -- one that divides politically active citizens from those who are too busy or too disillusioned to get involved.
Once things get out of hand, there is no handling things — With respect to the ongoing crisis in Great Britain, an essay exploring the uncontrollable nature of runaway escalation and hyperpolarized conflict.
Most Voters Think America’s Divisions Cannot Be Overcome, Poll Says — Worrying news that people are concluding that there is nothing to be done about the hyper-polarization problem. We need to demonstrate that this is not the case.
The Other Martyr — An interesting comparison of the effects that the deaths of George Floyd and Charlie Kirk have had on the larger society.
The Red Flags Are Everywhere. — From the perspective of a family therapist, an explanation of how, as a society, we are falling victim to the same dynamics that tear families apart.
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