Barack Obama
Does the Hatch Act Even Matter Anymore?
If an act is read in the woods, and nobody complies, does it really make a sound?
Will the Plaintiffs Suing the Government Over Climate Change Ever Get a Trial?
The young people suing the government over climate change are hoping that Tuesday’s hearing has convinced the Ninth Circuit to allow their case to proceed.
The Military Is the Largest Single User of Fossil Fuels. Elizabeth Warren Wants to Change That.
When it comes to climate change, the Department of Defense has historically focused on preparation rather than prevention.
A New Study Confirms (Again) That Race, Not Economics, Drove Former Democrats to Trump
Research on Iowa counties that swung from Obama to Trump indicates that GOP success was driven far more by sexism and racism than by economic anxiety.
Why Trump Reversed Himself on WikiLeaks
Yesterday's indictment of Julian Assange had as much to do with the precedent of the Obama administration as Trump's anti-press zeal.
No, Fake News From Facebook Did Not Elect Trump
New research finds social media is not the main driver of why so many people fall for misinformation about candidates and issues.
Can You Be Pro-White Without Being Racist? A Political Scientist Weighs In.
Political scientist Ashley Jardina reports that up to 40 percent of American whites feel solidarity with, and protective of, their racial group.
The Problem With Personality-Based Campaign Coverage
A profile of John Hickenlooper demonstrates how journalism that focuses on candidates' charisma often makes incorrect assumptions, and favors white male politicians.
Democratic Candidates Need to Call to Abolish the Filibuster
Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, and Kirsten Gillibrand have all defended the Senate's filibuster. But any progressive agenda relies on it being ended.
Many Conservatives Only Trust Government When Their Party Is in Power
New research finds that liberals' confidence in government is not affected by the party affiliation of the president. That's not true of the right.
No, Democrats Do Not Need to Nominate a White Man in Order to Defeat Trump
It's the conditions of the economy, the popularity of the incumbent party, and the state of foreign relations that really affect a presidential nominee's chances—not their race or gender.
Did Democrats Support Border Barriers Before Trump Took Office?
In the president's Tuesday night address, he claimed Democrats supported barriers but changed their tune once he took office.
The BLM Deletes Information on the Endangered Sage Grouse, Just Ahead of Public Comment Period
One webpage, now removed, touted the current policies' successes—and praised the bird's mating dances.
How Has the National Climate Assessment Changed Since 2000?
The latest assessment paints a bleak picture of the future.
Dispatches: Obama's Science Adviser on the Fukushima Nuclear Accident
News and notes from Pacific Standard staff and contributors.
The Roots of Trump's Deportation Policy
The bureaucratic machinery pulling families apart was built long before the sitting president assumed office.
Fear of Coming Minority Status Drives White Opposition to Welfare
New research shows whites are less supportive of government benefits if they believe the recipients will primarily be people of color.
PS Picks: Nigerian Creatives and the Art Scene in West Africa
PS Picks is a selection of the best things that the magazine's staff and contributors are reading, watching, or otherwise paying attention to in the worlds of art, politics, and culture.
The Norms We Won't Miss
Donald Trump has upended our view of the presidency. Are there some conventions that are better off dead?
Inside the Last Days of Obama's Foreign Policy
Director Greg Barker talks about following Obama all over the globe while filming The Final Year.
For Some Americans, the Gun Is a Sacred Object
New research finds a sub-group of white male gun owners feel symbolically empowered by their weapons.
House Republicans Announce Investigation Into Obama-Era Russian Uranium Deal
The House Intelligence Committee will investigate an alleged racketeering scheme, dating to 2009, perpetrated by Russian commercial nuclear executives.
The Language Ta-Nehisi Coates Taught Me
Coates' new book shows how he developed a set of linguistic tools that have opened up new ways for black Americans to describe the world.
The Secret to Presidential Humor: Lessons From Obama's Funniest Speechwriter
A conversation with David Litt about the Obama White House, his new book, and the funniest joke that Obama never delivered.