Democracy Brynn Tannehill Feb 4, 2026

America’s Polycrisis Has Arrived

Brynn Tannehill Feb 4, 2026

Democracies do not fall from a single blow, but from cascading failures that overwhelm public attention. The U.S. is now in the midst of deliberate, converging assaults on American life and political structure to the benefit of no one but Trump.

Trumpism Zeb Larson Jan 27, 2026

How Trump Turned the Presidency Into a Profit Engine

Zeb Larson Jan 27, 2026

‘State capture’ systematically rewires government so public power feeds private wealth, and it’s an authoritarian framework undoing American democracy.

Explain This Zeb Larson Jun 11, 2025

We Aren’t Headed Toward Authoritarianism. We’re Here

Zeb Larson Jun 11, 2025

The U.S. has a long, dark history of deploying troops to attack protestors that dates back to the 19th century. What can we learn from it to counter Trump’s latest attacks?

The Fourth Estate Karl Bode Jan 2, 2025

America’s Right-Wing Propaganda Problem Might Be Terminal

Karl Bode Jan 2, 2025

Our media landscape has been overrun with clickbait and disinformation, which is largely responsible for Trump’s return to the Oval Office. And when lies replace real news, this authoritarian administration might be able to hold onto power for a very long time.

An image of former president Donald Trump wearing his signature red tie. His mouth is open as if yelling. jibberish is coming out of his mouth and floating onto newspaper

The Fourth Estate Parker Molloy Mar 5, 2024

Trump’s Extremism Isn’t a Footnote—It’s the Story

Parker Molloy Mar 5, 2024

The media has normalized Trump’s extreme, outrageous statements, which has made them appear mundane—and now that coverage has the potential to help the wannabe autocrat at the voting booths this November.

Authoritarianism Catherine Caruso Feb 20, 2023

Florida is the Testing Ground for Extreme Conservatism

Catherine Caruso Feb 20, 2023

Governor Ron DeSantis’ plot to reshape education in Florida is a blueprint for other states to follow—or avoid.

An elephant with a "Make America Great Again Hat" on kicking apart the Statue of Liberty.

State of Disunion Kaitlin Byrd May 6, 2022

The Present Is Our History Now

Kaitlin Byrd May 6, 2022

Many of us screamed into the wind about the importance of voting, the cold danger of apathy, the sheer cruelty that would be unleashed, the searing reality that too late is too soon. But we can still reassemble our past and break our present—we have to.

A black book on top of a book white a blue and yellow cover, and other yellow and blue books in the background. A picture of a bombed building in Ukraine is in the background.

Power Structures Brynn Tannehill Apr 27, 2022

We Have a Lot to Learn From the War in Ukraine

Brynn Tannehill Apr 27, 2022

Putin may be losing the war militarily, but he very well might be winning in his battle against democracy here in the U.S. Here are some crucial takeaways.

GOP Emily L. Hauser Sep 28, 2021

The Price We Pay for the GOP’s Delusions of Grandeur

Emily L. Hauser Sep 28, 2021

Conservatives like to present themselves as clear-eyed realists, but when mistakes are made, who holds them accountable?

A photo of Donald Trump, where only the bottom half of his head is visible, and he is talking.

Election2020 Brynn Tannehill Oct 28, 2020

What If He Wins Again?

Brynn Tannehill Oct 28, 2020

For many Americans, envisioning a second Trump term is terrifying. But it’s not wrong to imagine the worst.