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Trump vs. DeSantis: The simmering rivalry between two formidable foes has finally burst into public view

Trump vs. DeSantis: The simmering rivalry between two formidable foes has finally burst into public view

Posted by | Nov 20, 2022

Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis have been on a collision course from the start. Eyeing the Florida governor as his most formidable foe within the Republican Party, the former president has sought to keep DeSantis in his place, often noting the role his endorsement played in lifting the relatively obscure congressman to the leader of one of America’s largest states. DeSantis, for his part, has long praised Trump and mimicked his style, but has notably declined to put aside his own White House ambitions as the former president prepares to seek his old job again. In the clearest sign...

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What the midterms taught us: While the “Red Wave” was thwarted our fragile Democracy remains at risk

What the midterms taught us: While the “Red Wave” was thwarted our fragile Democracy remains at risk

Posted by | Nov 20, 2022

The winds blowing in Washington and many communities post-election just might be a sigh of relief. The red wave, or red tsunami as Ted Cruz boasted, evaporated. “There wasn’t even a red splash,” as New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie put it. Democracy, as President Biden emphasized, was on the ballot, and a clear majority of voters had no truck for those most aligned with a lurch toward authoritarian rule. Despite the dreams of the far right, and predictions of many pundits and pollsters that voters would overlook the insurrection and election conspiracy theories because of inflation, the results...

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Election Subversion: Why a batch of fateful trends are hitting Democracy like a political tornado

Election Subversion: Why a batch of fateful trends are hitting Democracy like a political tornado

Posted by | Nov 20, 2022

Three major trends are driving American politics right now and will continue to for at least a decade. If Democrats fail to understand and respond in a meaningful way to each, expect a Republican White House, House, and Senate in 2024. And, with it, the probable end of democracy in the United States. These three political megatrends are: generational “social” changes in America and the Republican Party’s exploitation/demonization of them; he entrance of rightwing billionaires into America’s political scene with the blessing of 5 corrupt Republicans on the Supreme Court; the Republican Party’s rejection of democracy. Much has been...

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Federal legislation to protect same-sex marriages clears key Senate hurdle with bipartisan support

Federal legislation to protect same-sex marriages clears key Senate hurdle with bipartisan support

Posted by | Nov 19, 2022

Legislation to protect same-sex and interracial marriages crossed a major Senate hurdle on November 16, putting Congress on track to take the historic step of ensuring that such unions are enshrined in federal law. Twelve Republicans voted with all Democrats to move forward on the legislation, meaning a final vote could come as soon. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the bill ensuring the unions are legally recognized under the law is chance for the Senate to “live up to its highest ideals” and protect marriage equality for all people. “It will make our country a better, fairer place...

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Oegugin Influencers: Why foreign enthusiasts of Korean culture miss the dark side of “pop nationalism”

Oegugin Influencers: Why foreign enthusiasts of Korean culture miss the dark side of “pop nationalism”

Posted by | Nov 18, 2022

By Jin Lee, Research Fellow, Curtin University; and Crystal Abidin, Associate Professor & ARC DECRA Fellow, Internet Studies, Curtin University Anyone who has scrolled through YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram would not be surprised to glance upon calming minimalist aesthetics of Korean cafe decor, pilgrimages to the locations of popular K-dramas, and even the polite decorum of Korean public transport commuters. In South Korea, oegugin (foreign-national) influencers often produce social media content focused on the global interest in K-pop, K-drama and K-film for audiences inside and out of Korea. These influencers are most prominent on YouTube, where the most popular...

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The “Fake News” Crisis: Surviving America’s daily servings of spin, misdirection, and outright lies

The “Fake News” Crisis: Surviving America’s daily servings of spin, misdirection, and outright lies

Posted by | Nov 16, 2022

Can a nation survive as a democratic republic without an honest and trusted news ecosystem? Is it an actual fact that truthful and reliable news, combined with the kind of cultural trust people have in both government and each other as the result of a shared reality, are both historic and necessary preconditions for a democracy to work at all? Thomas Jefferson once famously said that if he was given the ultimatum of choosing to live in a functioning nation without newspapers or a place with newspapers but no national government, he would surely choose the latter. It was...

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