international
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Humphrey History Minute: Mirza Saleh, A Persian With The Love Of Learning
If you want an uplifting, quick slice of history, here it is. I encountered this story today, and must share it with others. Continue reading
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Laughter In The Midst Of Trump’s Iran War, ‘Can You Help Me Lift The Couch?’
Donald Trump spent the weekend pleading with other countries, including China, to help him out of the mess he created in the Strait of Hormuz with his erratic and needless war with Iran. Perhaps my upbeat mood today is because of the blizzard that socked in much of our state and brought calm to many… Continue reading
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Another Legal Defeat For Trump’s Attack On Voice Of America
I firmly believe in the relentless legal process to bring order to the chaos that has resulted from Donald Trump’s second term in the Oval Office. This home, like many others across the nation, has sent money to organizations that do the work with court cases and legal procedures to ensure our democracy does not… Continue reading
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This Is What Happens When An Autocrat Is Not Checked By Congress
Congress’s abdication of its constitutional responsibilities has rarely been as conspicuous as in the recent escalation toward armed conflict with Iran. The War Powers Clause was designed as a deliberate constraint, a structural safeguard meant to prevent unilateral martial adventurism by any president. Yet the latest round of strikes—undertaken without deliberation, authorization, or even meaningful… Continue reading
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Iran Fiasco Is Proof Why VOA Matters
The killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the joint U.S.–Israeli strikes this weekend marks one of the most consequential geopolitical ruptures in decades, and it underscores—more starkly than ever—why a fully empowered Voice of America is not a luxury but a strategic necessity. The breaking of international law by Donald Trump and his administration, along… Continue reading
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The Presidency Is Bigger Than The President
This weekend, another of those embarrassing incidents occurred featuring Donald Trump. He wrote a letter to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Every lesson of global maturity, of basic common decency, and the most basic of niceties taught in childhood was upended. If you think it is a bad joke, let me make it clear… Continue reading
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Rule Of Law Broken In Trump’s Military Strike On Venezuela, Process Matters
Process matters. People who engage with me about topics of the day, whether it is stated in words or not, know that I am a process democrat. I firmly believe that the manner in which governing takes place is the ultimate test of a republic. I know this line of thinking seems as if we are… Continue reading
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Donald Trump Had No Legal Authority To Invade Venezuela, Proves To Be Authoritarian Thug On World Stage
The United States has crossed a stark red line that cannot be blurred by spin or cheap patriotism theater. The invasion of Venezuela—launched without congressional authorization, without even the traditional courtesy of notifying the Gang of Eight—marks a rupture in American governance so profound that future historians will struggle to explain how a republic tolerated… Continue reading
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Weakness In Standing Up To Putin Emboldens Xi
The calendar has opened to a New Year, but the severe tests confronting the world remain the same as when we closed out the old year. Once again, the threats from large, powerful militaries are ever-present and must be met with firm resolve and a united front. Over the past few years, the danger of… Continue reading
Caffeinated Politics 