The days leading up to Donald Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration were busy ones for many of the nation’s social justice organizations. Civil rights, immigration, education and other groups were busy hosting webinars, issuing press releases and blasting out emails warning…
Circular firing squads are an inevitable pitfall in extremist movements
After spending a better part of the last decade investigating extremism, I have learned one thing is consistent within every movement: circular firing squads. Although the group embraces a common disdain for an external enemy, in-fighting somehow always manages to…
Evangelical leaders urge Trump to preserve refugee resettlement program
Leaders of some of the most prominent evangelical organizations in the U.S. are urging Donald Trump to preserve the nation’s refugee resettlement program when he takes office. The groups released a statement Jan. 14 imploring Trump to set a refugee…
Here’s the real reason Hegseth should not be confirmed
Pete Hegseth is unfit to lead the U.S. Department of Defense, but not for the reasons most liberals are highlighting. Even if he’s a drunk misogynistic ass — which his critics contend — that’s not enough to get Republicans in…
‘Your actions do matter,’ panelists urged those fearful of Trump authoritarianism
Americans overwhelmed by the prospect of authoritarianism under Donald Trump must not abandon hope or succumb to inaction in the struggle for democracy, activists cautioned in a webinar organizing faith-based political opposition to the incoming administration. The lure of just…
Russell Vought: The gung-ho Christian nationalist who helps Trump be Trump
Deporting millions of immigrants. Deploying the military to quell riots in the U.S. Eliminating the Department of Education and the EPA. Firing tens of thousands of insufficiently loyal federal employees. If Donald Trump’s ambitious campaign promises are to become reality,…
Harsh times offer progressives an opportunity to restore Christianity’s good name
Through deeds of kindness and love, progressive Christians will have a chance to redeem the good name “Christian” during the harsh era to come. This restoration is needed as never before in our lifetimes. But it is not unprecedented. Early…
Less than half of Americans believe Trump will reduce price of groceries
After a presidential election that reportedly turned on fears about inflation, less than half of Americans now say they believe President-elect Donald Trump will be able to reduce the price of groceries. Debates about the price of food staples such…
Rule No. 1
Rule No. 1 in Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny is “Do not obey in advance.” The subtitle of the Yale historian’s handbook on dictatorship is, “Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century.” And they are as relevant today as they were in…
Beware the billionaires who promise to make America great
The growing number of billionaires joining the Trump administration seemed humorous at first. “How many billionaires does it take to change a light bulb at the White House?” None. Billionaires don’t change light bulbs. Thirteen billionaires — a baker’s dozen…
Trump says Biden’s Death Row commutations ‘make no sense’
President-elect Donald Trump spent Christmas wishing ill to his enemies and wondering why President Joe Biden wouldn’t want to execute inmates. On Christmas Eve, Trump responded to Biden’s commutation of death sentences for 37 of the 40 inmates on federal…
What will it take for you to care about transgender people?
Of all the people justifiably living in fear of the incoming Trump administration, there is one group that stands out for its vulnerability and, to quote the late Tony Campolo, you don’t give a damn. Campolo was famous for the…