How a once serious party surrendered judgment, subordinating institutions to a single strongman—and what must be done before the republic dangerously erodes from within How is it possible that the Republican Party, at the peak of American power and at the new dawn of the country’s 250th anniversary, became a cult of personality around a…
As the United States marks its 250th anniversary—a testament to endurance, sacrifice, and democratic aspiration—it does so under a dark and foreboding shadow. At this defining moment, the nation finds itself led not by steadiness or vision, but by a figure whose erratic conduct, corrosive narcissism, and moral decay mock the very ideals this milestone…
As midterm campaigns accelerate and disillusionment with Trump’s domestic and foreign policies widens, a stark scenario emerges: America faces a perilous inflection point demanding immediate action before democratic erosion becomes irreversible Donald Trump did not invent America’s vulnerabilities, but he has driven them to a breaking point. His contempt for democratic norms, alliances, and international…
A war launched to reshape the Middle East has instead exposed the limits of force—and the cost of misunderstanding a nation that has spent millennia learning how to endure The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was finally unveiled a few days ago only reaffirmed how misguided the joint US-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28…
Today’s guest is Ambassador Frederic C. Hof, Bard College’s Diplomat-in-Residence, who served as ambassador and special adviser for transition in Syria under President Obama, and as special coordinator for regional affairs in the US Department of State’s Office of the Special Envoy for Middle East Peace. A US Army Vietnam veteran, Ambassador Hof served two tours of duty in the US Department of State.
In this episode, we discuss Ambassador Hof`s recent Track II diplomacy work in Lebanon regarding the prospects of a future Israeli-Lebanese agreement and the elements of the consensus document developed from this work, and the impact of the war on Iran on this delicate diplomacy work.
Listen now; link in bio.
A new Human Rights Watch report reveals that Russia is using schools in occupied Ukrainian territories to erase Ukrainian identity. Children are denied education in their own language, pressured to obtain Russian passports, subjected to propaganda, and even prepared for future military service. Families who try to keep their children connected to Ukrainian education face surveillance, threats, and intimidation. Education should nurture identity, critical thinking, and hope—not become a weapon of war. The international community must do more to protect these children, support their education and mental health, and hold those responsible accountable. A child`s classroom should never become a battlefield.
Trump’s primetime address about the election was baseless delivered with unhinged temper tantrum from our Toddler-in-Chief. After his deranged babblings about transgender people and crime rates, he spewed baseless and outright disproven claims about election security, whining about the 2020 election, only this time accusing China instead of Russia, contrary to official intelligence assessments, while rambling on about burn bags and shadow governments. Yet Republicans won the White House in 2024; they won the House and Senate, and the Supreme Court has a conservative majority with three Trump appointees on the court. In what world is this election rigging in favor of Democrats? This is instead nothing but the delusional screams of a demented fool, who sees the writing on the wall for a midterm swing in favor of Democrats in the House, laying the groundwork now to call any Democrat victories in November the result of corruption and cheating, especially if the SAVE America Act doesn’t pass. Mr. Trump, this isn’t rigging, corruption, or conspiracy – this is a blazing, neon sign narcissist that is destroying America.
Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe continues to deepen. Civilians are still being killed, hospitals remain barely functional, food and medical shortages persist, and humanitarian access is repeatedly obstructed. A ceasefire without protection for civilians, accountability, and unrestricted humanitarian access is not peace. It is prolonged human suffering under another name.
The next episode of my podcast "On the Issues" is this upcoming Tuesday, July 28, at 11:00am EDT with Nguyễn Ngọc Như Quỳnh (better known by her pen name “Mother Mushroom”), a Vietnamese human rights activist and blogger and a 2018 recipient of the Committee to Protect Journalists' International Press Freedom Award.
Listeners can register for the live podcast recording on Zoom at the following link: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/6817791198888/WN_tm8omS6ySmuXio5QTGaCaQ
Archived episodes will be released the following day, on Wednesdays at noon. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app, including Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Spotify, to be sure to always get the latest episodes.
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Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: On the Issues with Alon Ben-Meir, featuring Nguyễn Ngọc Như Quỳnh (Mẹ Nấm). After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joinin...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Europe is on the verge of one of its biggest changes to migration policy in years. Under proposed new EU rules, member states could begin sending rejected asylum seekers and migrants to offshore "return hubs" outside the European Union while their deportation is processed. As highlighted in a recent Guardian analysis, several governments are already preparing to implement the policy. Supporters argue it will make deportations faster and more efficient. Critics warn it could repeat the failures of past outsourcing arrangements that exposed migrants to arbitrary detention, limited access to legal protections, and the risk of being returned to countries where they could face persecution. As Europe reshapes its migration policy, border management must not come at the expense of human dignity, due process, and international law.
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Thousands of students in India took to the streets after allegations that a major national exam was leaked, demanding accountability and fairness in the education system. Instead of allowing a peaceful protest, authorities reportedly used tear gas, batons, and other force to disperse demonstrators, while also restricting internet access and public transportation. Amnesty International has called for an independent investigation into the police response. Peaceful protest is a fundamental right. Governments should listen to people's concerns, not silence them with force. Citizens must be free to speak out without fear of violence or repression.
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In March 2026, Pakistani airstrikes struck the Omid Rehabilitation and Treatment Center in Kabul, a facility that had provided treatment for people with drug addiction for years. According to the UN, at least 269 civilians were killed. Pakistan claimed the site was being used for military purposes, but a new investigation by Amnesty International found no evidence to support that claim. Amnesty says the strike may constitute a war crime and has called for an independent investigation. As the organization concluded, "Our investigation strongly indicates that this was not a legitimate military target under international humanitarian law." When hospitals and medical facilities are attacked without accountability, international law is weakened, impunity grows, and civilians continue to bear the deadliest consequences.
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