Is a Conspiracy Theory Protected Speech?
The FBI labeled conspiracy mongering a domestic terror threat. What does that mean for Donald Trump and others who propagate misinformation?
The DOJ Is Finally Bridging the Gap Between Online Radicalization and Domestic Terrorism
The choice to treat the El Paso, Texas, shooting as domestic terrorism opens up law enforcement's ability to investigate 8chan and the sites where extremism finds a home.
What Would It Mean If Trump Labeled Antifa as a Terrorist Organization?
Ted Cruz and other conservatives are calling for the group to be recognized as a terror organization, and Trump tweeted he might have the DOJ define it as one.
The Supreme Court Blocked Mandatory Medicaid Expansion. A New Study Finds That Cost 15,000 Lives.
When the Supreme Court ruled that Obamacare's Medicaid expansion was optional, 13 states opted out.
The Most Disturbing Thing About Trump's Racism Is How American It Is
When asked about Americans considering his tweets racist, Trump responded, "It doesn't concern me because many people agree with me."
Conservative Political Correctness and the Colin Kaepernick–Nike July 4th Controversy
Nike pulled a sneaker line with the "Betsy Ross" flag, outraging the right wing.
Bank of America, Wayfair, and the New Age of Corporate Activism
More than ever before, employees are staging walkouts and boycotts to protest their own companies' business operations.
Does the Hatch Act Even Matter Anymore?
If an act is read in the woods, and nobody complies, does it really make a sound?
The Legacy of Japanese Internment Lives on in Migrant Detention
One year after the Supreme Court dismissed "Korematsu," the Trump administration will begin detaining migrants in a camp where Japanese Americans were incarcerated.
For Trump, LGBT Rights Are Foreign Policy, Not a Domestic Concern
The president pledged to protect LGBT people, but instead has infringed on their rights domestically.
The Empty Nationalism of Trump's Tariff Threats
Imposing tariffs on Mexican goods would have been harmful to the U.S. economy—and especially to Trump country.
Trump Discussing Pardons for Alleged War Criminals Might Be Enough to Set Them Free
Trump's comments on Eddie Gallagher might constitute a violation of military code and grounds for mistrial—even though they support the alleged civilian-targeter.
The Sad Tale of Frank Olson, the U.S. Government's Hallucinogen Fall Man
Denver residents voted to decriminalize magic mushrooms, in the process ending a 65-year smear campaign against an unwitting MKUltra study subject.
Trump's Pardon Is in Line With Americans' Views About War Crimes
Trump has spoken in favor of Michael Behenna and other alleged military criminals, but he is far from the only one to do so.
The NRA's Losing Case Against Reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act
Extreme risk protection orders have worked at the state level.
The Psychological Aftermath of Surviving School Shootings
The recent Parkland student suicides call attention to the long-term effects of school shootings on mental health, academic performance, and economic achievement.
Is Bribing Your Kid's Way Into College Actually a Good Investment?
A college degree isn't worth what it was in the 1980s. Why would the wealthy pay huge sums to get their children into college?
Trump's Budget Proposal Cuts Funding for the UNICEF Line Item
The move is expected by analysts to further diminish America's "soft power."
Republicans Are the Main Purveyors of Identity Politics
American conservatives believe in white identity politics, a new survey shows.
Is Bernie Sanders Too Old to Be President?
There's an age minimum for president. A slate of older candidates invite the question of whether there should also be an age cap.
Algorithms Are Biased. That Might Help Regulators End Discrimination, a New Paper Argues.
Algorithmic prejudices can create inequalities. But in doing so, they might help lawyers pinpoint discrimination where they could not in the past.
What Would a National Emergency Over Gun Violence Look Like?
David Hogg suggested Donald Trump declare a state of emergency over gun violence. There's Katrina-era precedent for confiscating guns during emergencies.
People Who Quit Facebook Are Less Anxious
A new study finds those who deactivate Facebook are happier than those who don't. But there are reasons to believe this might not be true of the elderly.
It's Time to Abolish the State of the Union Address
The speech was once useful for setting legislative agendas, but the digital age has made it a mostly useless spectacle.
The Government Shutdown Could Mean an Exodus of Public-Sector Employees
There's reason to believe Trump's willingness to freeze worker pay might have created a rift that can't be fixed.
Research Suggests Trump's Election Has Been Detrimental to Many Americans' Mental Health
Particularly that of the country's most marginalized groups.
How the Boston Molasses Disaster Ushered in the Era of Modern Regulation
In 1919, a massive wave of molasses marked one of the strangest industrial disasters in modern history. It also marked a major moment in U.S. public policy.
The Future of the Minimum Wage Is Alive in Seattle
So far, America's wage experiment appears to be a success—and it's far from over yet.
Why Would Trump Support a Criminal Justice Reform Bill?
It's all a matter of politics.
The U.S. Suicide Rate Is at Its Highest in a Half-Century
New CDC data suggests suicide is becoming more commonplace in America.
Climate Change Is Making It Harder for Forests to Recover From Wildfires
A growing body of research suggests that, thanks to various environmental symptoms of climate change, America's forests are increasingly at a disadvantage when it comes to recovering from devastating wildfires.
How a Volatile Climate Shapes the Way People Think
New research finds that people living in climatically turbulent regions tend to make riskier decisions than those in relatively more stable environments.
The Case Against Arguing About Politics With Your Family at Thanksgiving
Two years after Election Day, Trump dominates virtually every aspect of public life. How about we take a break for a day?
Despite Record Spending, the U.S. Military Would Be at 'Grave Risk' in a War With Russia or China
How can a country that spends so much on its military be at such a disadvantage?
Who Actually Benefits From Ping-Pong in the Office? College-Educated Whites, Mostly.
A new NBER report finds that fringe perks hold greater appeal for white, college-educated workers, who are generally at a relative advantage in terms of wages.
To Discuss the Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting, We Have to Discuss Trump
In his two years in office, Trump has done plenty to legitimize views previously considered too extreme for political discourse—and that, in turn, has opened the door for political violence.
The Trump Administration Is Pushing to Regulate Transgender Americans Out of Their Legal Existence
Declaring sex immutable is, in effect, discrimination by legal re-categorization.
Hurricane Michael Reminded America Why Climate Change Is a National Security Risk
For the Air Force, climate change just got personal.
Media Coverage of Climate Change Is Caught in an Equilibrium Trap
The media outlets focused on climate change are centered in areas where the actual effects of climate change generally haven't become tangible.
What Good Is an Academic Hoax in the Age of Post-Truth?
To relegate academic projects that seek to untangle the complexities of human systems to the realm of grievances is a farce—one that misses the point of the academic project in the first place.
Is This the Endgame for Trump?
There's plenty of evidence to suggest Trump won't just survive Michael Cohen's testimony—he'll thrive.
Aretha Franklin Wasn't Just the Queen Of Soul—She Was Also the Godmother of the Protest Song
Franklin didn't set out to make a mark on the anti-war movement, but she did so anyway.
When Is the U.S. Responsible for Allies' Civilian Casualties?
The U.S. is effectively fighting both sides of Yemen's ongoing civil war, with no clear definition of what victory looks like.
The Lessons Unlearned From Charlottesville
White nationalism didn't go underground after Charlottesville: It went mainstream.
QAnon Reveals How Poorly Equipped We Are for the Era of Political Trolling
We spoke with a communications professor about the relationship between trolls and the media.
A New Report Finds That Sexual Assault Cases Do Nothing to Hurt a College's Reputation
An uptick in federal investigations into the mishandling of sexual assault on college campuses has done little to affect applications or donations to universities.
Can the U.S. Save Democracy Through Civics?
A new poll shows that America's polarization problem is only getting worse.
A Massive New Study Puts a Pin in One of the Oldest Myths About Mental Illness
Researchers find that those who have a mental illness are more likely to be the victim of a violent crime.
How Racial Animosity Helped Republicans Take Control of the Post-Civil Rights South
The seeds of the Trump movement were laid more than 50 years before his bid for the White House, after Southern Democrats suffered a series of voter defections.
Trump Is Dragging American Governance Into the Fourth Regime, Whether We're Ready or Not
Social media, governmental dysfunction, and Supreme Court malfeasance have all combined to create an atmosphere ripe for constitutional chaos.