Trump
Covenant and Conflict
A growing number of American Christians are eager to turn a prevailing Zionist theology and associated pro-Israel policies on their head. They might be dismissed as outliers for the moment. But the fringe has somehow repeatedly found its way to the center in American politics.
All in a Day’s Work
Why does open authoritarianism feel like a relief to some people? If you are going to be told what to do and can’t offer feedback that someone actually listens to, maybe it is better not to even have the pretense of democracy. Open authoritarianism is, of course, what Trump offers.
Musk and MAGA Fight Over Visas
Tensions within Trump’s 2024 coalition regarding the H-1B visa program — which recently led to a full-blown online war between Trump’s advisers, like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, and his more hard-line supporters — reveal anxieties about the rise of Indians and skills-based immigration in the United States.
What a Presidential Pardon Could Mean for Jan. 6 Defendants
Experts say a pardon for Jan. 6 defendants could embolden those willing to engage in political violence and legitimize the conspiracy theories that drove crowds to the U.S. Capitol four years ago.
Pete Hegseth’s Tattoos and the Crusading Obsession of the Far Right
The tattoos sported by Pete Hegseth, Trump’s pick for defense secretary, have drawn accusations of far-right symbolism and a counterattack that Christian culture is being unfairly targeted. A closer look at the history of these particular images reveals an undeniable picture of militant Christianity and its reimaginings over time.
How Democrats Lost Minority Voters
The results of the presidential election reflect a painful reality for the Democrats, as working-class immigrant and minority voters continue to shift toward the Republicans. Absent a shift in its cultural politics, the party could be heading into an electoral death spiral.
Trump’s Plans for the Intelligence Agencies Chart a Dangerous Course
The incoming Trump administration wants to subordinate and remake America’s intelligence agencies. Without these organizations operating as objective windows on reality, decision-making in the White House will suffer, and the checks and balances on both executive power and the reach of the agencies may be tested.