Us politics news, research and analysis - the conversation

June 3, 2025 Daniel Treisman, _University of California, Los Angeles_ Autocrats today are polished, appear mainstream and use the media, not overt repression or violence, to gain public

support and consolidate power. They govern through a ‘spin dictatorship.’ May 29, 2025 Irene Gammel, _Toronto Metropolitan University_ Trump’s spectacle draws on a long history of

authoritarian leaders who use ritualized celebrations to bind personal power to national identity. May 28, 2025 Benjamin Gonzalez O'Brien, _San Diego State University_ and Loren

Collingwood, _University of New Mexico_ There’s no one set legal definition for sanctuary cities and other places with these policies. But they often limit local coordination with federal

immigration authorities. May 28, 2025 Jeff Inglis, _The Conversation_ A campaign hat and a partisan speech are unusual in a military setting in the United States. May 27, 2025 John Deni, _US

Army War College_ The Trump administration has signaled that its support for NATO countries might not be absolute. This worries European observers, who have long looked to the US for

military leadership. May 22, 2025 Fernando Pizarro, _City St George's, University of London_ There has been a lack of unified opposition from the Democratic party since Trump took

office. May 9, 2025 Mark Yenson, _Western University_ Because of the pope’s role to maintain the fullness of tradition and the unity of the Church, a pope cannot be conservative or liberal

in a political sense. May 8, 2025 Peter Kastor, _Washington University in St. Louis_ Americans often expect former presidents to not talk about current ones. But it’s not really a surprise

that several are criticizing Donald Trump. May 7, 2025 Jérôme Viala-Gaudefroy, _Sciences Po _ US President Donald Trump is not an accident of history. His re-election is in line with a

profound structural change in American society that began at the end of the Cold War. April 30, 2025 Thomas Stuart, _University of Victoria_ Surveillance of speech by algorithm raises urgent

questions about data privacy and the future of a neutral, expert public service. April 28, 2025 Russell Blackford, _University of Newcastle_ Wild Faith is a one-sided response to the rise

of Christianity’s far-right fringe. Too often, it seems more like an apoplectic rant than a serious exposé. April 23, 2025 Adrian Beaumont, _The University of Melbourne_ In January, the

governing Liberals were more than 20 points behind in the polls, but with an election just days away, they’re now well ahead. April 14, 2025 William D. O'Connell, _Columbia University_

The targeting of the FDIC could dangerously erode its ability to manage financial crises, like the one that occurred in 2008. April 8, 2025 Ned Curthoys, _The University of Western

Australia_ Israeli-Jewish historian Ilan Pappe, an advocate of Palestinian rights, looks at the pro-Israel lobby in the US and UK – and its influence on the war in Gaza. April 8, 2025 Andrew

Gawthorpe, _Leiden University_ Laura Loomer, a far-right political activist, has become one of Trump’s confidantes. April 7, 2025 Dennis Altman, _La Trobe University_ What is the gut-level

appeal that saw Trump win two elections? One progressive researcher spent six years in America’s whitest, second-poorest district to find out. April 7, 2025 Deborah Gleeson, _La Trobe

University_ The major parties say they won’t use the PBS as a bargaining chip in US tariff negotiations. They also need to resist pressure to slow down access to generic drugs. April 7, 2025

Tarek Alexander Hassan, _Boston University_ The word ‘deficit’ may sound alarming, but America’s trade gap is a sign of its financial and economic dominance. April 7, 2025 Chase Johnson,

_University of Warwick_ US aid provided crucial support for humanitarian and development projects around the world. April 4, 2025 Charlie Hunt, _Boise State University_ In some cases, long

Senate speeches don’t produce clear results. In other cases, they can help pass or prevent new legislation.