Author: TheConversation

By Jennifer D. Oliva, Professor of Law, Indiana University Over the past decade, health insurance companies have increasingly embraced the use of artificial intelligence algorithms. Unlike doctors and hospitals, which use AI to help diagnose and treat patients, health insurers use these algorithms to decide whether to pay for health care treatments and services that are recommended by a given patient’s physicians. One of the most common examples is prior authorization, which is when your doctor needs to receive payment approval from your insurance company before providing you care. Many insurers use an algorithm to decide whether the requested...

By Ronald S. Green, Professor and Chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Coastal Carolina University I have spent years studying and teaching Japanese anime, exploring how its narratives intertwine with cultural, philosophical and religious traditions. One of the most compelling aspects of Japanese anime is its ability to merge thrilling action with deep spiritual and ethical questions. “Demon Slayer: Mugen Train,” which shattered Japanese box-office records for earnings and ended up as 2020’s highest-grossing film in the world, is a prime example of how anime engages with these profound themes. With “Demon Slayer” continuing its global...

By Dawne Moon, Professor of Social and Cultural Sciences, Marquette University; and Theresa Tobin, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Marquette University Kai found Jesus as a teenager. A person of White and Hawaiian descent, Kai now goes by gender-neutral pronouns and identifies as “māhū,” the traditional Hawaiian term for someone in-between masculine and feminine. But when they first became Christian, the high-schooler identified as gay, and was committed to celibacy. Kaim a pseudonym to protect their privacym embraced their church’s “welcoming but not affirming” teachings about LGBTQ+ people, agreeing that same-sex intimacy was incompatible with being Christian. It felt good...

By W. Carsten Andresen, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, St. Edward’s University During his first few months in office, President Donald Trump has been establishing a framework for deporting undocumented immigrants en masse. It is something he has previously vowed will be “the largest deportation operation in the history of our country.” Part of that operation includes what’s known as the federal 287(g) program. Established in 1996, it allows U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, whose work is normally carried out by federal officials, to train state and local authorities to function as federal immigration officers. Under 287(g), for example,...

By Jamie Rowen, Associate Professor of Legal Studies and Political Science, UMass Amherst Veterans across the United States will gather on June 6, 2025, to protest the Trump administration’s cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as the slashing of staff and programs throughout the government. Veteran-led protests will be held at the National Mall, 16 state capitol buildings and over 100 other venues across 43 states. Veterans are disproportionately affected by federal cuts, in part because they make up only 6.1% of the U.S. population but, because of “veterans preference” in federal hiring, they compose 24%...

By Linggong Kong, Ph.D. Candidate in Political Science, Auburn University Chinese authorities in the northeastern city of Shenyang reportedly arrested a North Korean IT specialist in late April 2025, accusing him of stealing drone technology secrets. The suspect, apparently linked to North Korea’s main missile development agency, was part of a wider network operating in China, according to the story, which first appeared in South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency. In response, Pyongyang was said to have recalled IT personnel in China. The story was later circulated by several Chinese online outlets. Given the tight censorship in China, this implies...