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politics + society

How political leaders use combat spectacles to symbolize national power and purpose

How political leaders use combat spectacles to symbolize national power and purpose

(ANN ARBOR, MI) Throughout history, rulers and political movements have used public spectacles of combat to evoke courage, sacrifice, collective strength and national purpose. From Roman gladiator contests to modern mixed martial arts, combat spectacles have served not merely as entertainment but as public rituals through which people experience belonging

Prediction markets are opening many new opportunities for unregulated insider trading and unethical bets – in the name of making a game out of politics

Prediction markets are opening many new opportunities for unregulated insider trading and unethical bets – in the name of making a game out of politics

Arrests for betting on the U.S. military operation that removed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Death threats from gamblers to a journalist reporting on an Iranian missile attack on Israel. Fears of government officials manipulating world events – including the Iran war – to make a quick buck. These are some of

Trump’s US-Iran ceasefire deal is a costly return to prewar conditions – and resolving nuclear questions will run into the ‘indivisibility problem’

Trump’s US-Iran ceasefire deal is a costly return to prewar conditions – and resolving nuclear questions will run into the ‘indivisibility problem’

Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister of Pakistan, which served as the key negotiator between the U.S. and Iran, announced on June 14, 2026, that the two sides had agreed on a deal to end the war. It will be officially signed on June 19 in Switzerland. President Donald Trump

Conspiracy theories that emerged from a civil rights shooting 60 years ago resonate today

Conspiracy theories that emerged from a civil rights shooting 60 years ago resonate today

(MEMPHIS) On June 6, 1966, on a stretch of Highway 51 just south of Hernando, Mississippi, a portly, middle-aged white man named Aubrey Norvell stepped out of a gully, lifted his shotgun and fired three shots at James Meredith, a Black civil rights activist and Air Force veteran. Famous

How money exchanges between House members shape the balance of power in Congress

How money exchanges between House members shape the balance of power in Congress

(LOS ANGELES) When Americans think about campaign finance, they usually picture wealthy donors, political action committees and super PACs pouring money into elections. But some of the most revealing money moves happen inside Congress itself. Members of the U.S. House of Representatives routinely give campaign money to fellow members

Why the director of national intelligence needs more than political loyalty to do the job

Why the director of national intelligence needs more than political loyalty to do the job

President Donald Trump’s choice for acting director of national intelligence, Bill Pulte, has proved controversial. Pulte’s lack of background in national security matters has sparked resistance from Democrats on Capitol Hill, which is not surprising. But some Republicans, too, have expressed dismay at the president’s choice, a

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, The Federalist remains an indispensable guide to understanding the constitutional system and the nation’s enduring independence

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, The Federalist remains an indispensable guide to understanding the constitutional system and the nation’s enduring independence

(EAST LANSING, MICH.) More people are talking about the Declaration of Independence now than they likely have for decades, largely because of the festivities, exhibits, historical commemorations and other public events associated with the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence. But even as they discuss the historical meaning, purpose and