Author Archives
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Conscription Into Revolutionary Guards Haunts Iranian Dual Nationals Decades Later
As he took his seat in an interrogation room at Calgary International Airport, Moe Toghraei felt little cause for alarm. A wastewater management engineer based in Madison, Wisconsin, he had returned to Canada, where his wife and children lived, for… Read More ›
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At a Pivotal Moment, Democrats Failed to Modernize Elections
Throughout 2020, as then-President Donald Trump issued baseless claims of voter fraud, local election officials called on the federal government to spend more to ensure a secure election season. Turnout was expected to break records; the pandemic had upended voting plans and safety… Read More ›
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Russia’s Newest Weapon in Ukraine May Be Mercenaries Linked to Putin
Since Russia invaded Ukraine, news reports have warned that the hostilities would soon include mercenaries working for a private paramilitary force with close ties to the Kremlin. Some of those reports noted that the Wagner Group — as the mercenary… Read More ›
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Kathy Hochul Is Ready to Spend Millions on New Police Surveillance
In January, when New York City Mayor Eric Adams released his highly publicized inaugural “blueprint” to combat gun violence, it set the stage for political commotion. His plans for ramped up policing — including new gun detection technology, increased patrols,… Read More ›
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Google Ordered Russian Translators Not to Call War in Ukraine a War
In early March, contractors working for Google to translate company text for the Russian market received an update from their client: Effectively immediately, the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine could no longer be referred to as a war but rather… Read More ›
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Joe Manchin Has Some Thoughts on Green Energy
The Biden administration is drafting an executive order to invoke the Defense Production Act to develop green energy storage technology — an essential element for a clean energy future. The war in Ukraine and soaring oil and gas prices have renewed… Read More ›
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Congress Is Already Blowing a Key Chance to Reform Nuclear Weapons Policy
Speaking to CNN on Tuesday, Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin, reiterated a well-known tenet of Russian military doctrine: The country could resort to the use of nuclear weapons if it perceives an “existential threat.” Russian Deputy Ambassador… Read More ›
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Biden Administration Drafting Order to Invoke Defense Production Act for Green Energy Storage Technology
The Biden administration is drafting an executive order invoking the Defense Production Act to alleviate shortages of key minerals needed for the technology to store clean energy. The act, which would bolster the manufacturing capacity of electric vehicle producers in… Read More ›
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Corporate PACs Save Face by Claiming Worker Power
Corporate PACs are having a public relations crisis. Four years ago, a quickly successful effort led by the liberal advocacy group End Citizens United sparked a national conversation about the corrupting influence of money. More than 200 Democratic congressional candidates… Read More ›
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Why Aren't We Hearing for More Diplomacy to End War in Ukraine?
This week, President Joe Biden is visiting European nations — including Poland — as the war in Ukraine rages on. This follows on the heels of Biden pledging to send $800 million worth of weapons to Ukraine, on top of… Read More ›