Ever since Barack Obama burst onto the political stage in 2004, pundits have taken to calling the junior senator from Illinois a rock star. He inspires, they say, with his youth, intelligence, and soaring oratory. He transcends race. This flattering picture, which makes even the senator blush, has seldom been challenged by political commentators or […]
Higher Ed’s Affordability Problem Isn’t Just the Price
New survey data suggests that more Americans might see the value of a degree if schools simplified their pricing systems.
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Leave John Fetterman Alone
Democrats have multiple paths to the Senate majority but losing their contrarian member would make every one of them harder.
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Why the U.S.-led Liberal World Order Is Only Mostly Dead
Even before Donald Trump launched his ill-advised war on Iran, America’s allies were already pronouncing the end of the era of U.S. leadership of the free world. “The West as we knew it no longer exists,” European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said in April of 2025 as she tried to rally governments in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe to counter massive tariffs that Trump had recently imposed. “The old order is not coming back,” declared Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney this past January in a widely reported speech at Davos after fresh attempts by Trump to seize…
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White House Correspondents’ Dinner Aftermath: Many Americans Entertain the Idea of Violence
Surveys show that large swaths of Americans, across parties and political beliefs, accept and even endorse political violence.
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An AI Crash Is Coming. What Then?
Risky financial maneuvers and mountains of debt mean the AI economy is in trouble, says Vanderbilt’s Asad Ramzanali. America needs to get ready.
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Hold Mallory McMorrow’s Social Media Posts to the Same Standard as Graham Platner’s
The insurgent Maine Democrat just ran the incumbent governor out of his Senate primary after overcoming his controversial Reddit posts. Will McMorrow get equal grace?
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Our Childish Debate over Michael Jackson
We can’t seem to accept that terribly gifted people can do terrible things.
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