Politics
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The Most Dangerous Profession in the World?
The only thing authoritarians hate more than a free public is a free press, given that the latter can help arm the former with knowledge and impetus to push back. But as “fake news” goes from being an American meme to a global phenomenon, despots worldwide are taking note, invoking it in their familiar but… Continue reading
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Lessons from Estonia on E-Voting
Count on the country that helped invent Skype to lead the way when it comes to digital government. The nation of just 1.5 million, also known for having been the first to break away from the Soviet Union, has made a name for itself as a pioneer in utilizing technology to improve civic engagement. As Forbes reports:… Continue reading
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How American Healthcare Depends on Immigrants
Nearly one-third of physicians, a fifth of pharmacists, and a quarter of dentists were born abroad. Nearly one out of five nursing, psychiatric and home health aides — who perform typically low-paying work caring for the elderly, disabled, or mentally ill — are foreign-born, with one in 10 coming from the Caribbean and Central America.… Continue reading
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The Jay Treaty And It’s Lessons
On this day in 1795, the United States and Great Britain signed the Jay Treaty, resolving lingering issues from the American Revolutionary War that almost escalated to another war. Named after John Jay, who negotiated the treaty, it was drafted by Alexander Hamilton and supported by President George Washington, although Thomas Jefferson and many Americans… Continue reading
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The Trent Affair and the Importance of Diplomatic Recognition
Last week was the anniversary of the Trent Affair, one of the most interesting scandals in the U.S. Civil War. It began in 1861 when the U.S. Navy illegally intercepted and boarded a British mail ship—in contravention of diplomatic protocol—capturing two Confederate diplomats as “contraband of war”. It was revealed that the envoys were bound… Continue reading
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The Great American-Iranian Social Media War
What a time to be alive: the President of the United States and one of Iran’s top military leaders are taking jabs at each other with Game of Thrones-style social media posts. (And HBO weighed in by tweeting “what is trademark misuse in Dothraki?) I look forward to all our foreign policy pronouncements being conveyed… Continue reading
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The Murder Capitals of the World
The waves of migrants fleeing many Latin American countries is in no small part due to the horrifically high rate of homicide that collectively claims hundreds of thousands of lives annually. With just 8% of the world’s population, Latin America accounts for roughly a third of global murders. It is also the only region where… Continue reading
About Me
Humanist | Bibliophile | Writer | Wiki Editor | World Citizen | Esquire (J.D. / LL.M.)