Our story republished in The Washington Post https://wapo.st/49uMm1P
Many across the Americas woke up to the news about Venezuela with déjà vu for the US arrest of Panama’s president in 1989. An expert on U.S.-Latin American relations explains what’s different this time:
The Conversation
A predawn op in Latin America? The US has been here before, but the seizure of Venezuela’s Maduro is still unprecedented
The operation in Venezuela has echoes of Panama in 1989. But in ordering President Maduro’s capture, Trump has broken with long-standing US polic...
Trump did not seek congressional approval before the U.S. attack on Venezuela, raising questions about its legality. Important context from a political scientist on the struggle between Congress and U.S. presidents over authorizing military action.
The Conversation
I wrote a book on the politics of war powers, and Trump’s attack on Venezuela reflects Congress surrendering its decision-making powers
Congress has a legal, constitutional and even moral responsibility to assert itself as a branch when it comes to military actions by the US, says a...
I study rat nests − here’s why rodents make great archivists
The Conversation
I study rat nests − here’s why rodents make great archivists
An archaeologist reveals what she learned from sifting through a 200-year-old rat nest recovered from a historic Philadelphia home.
#AI systems began a major shift in 2025 from content creators and chatbots to agents capable of using other software tools and acting on their own. A computer scientist looks at what’s ahead for governance, trust, and reliability.
The Conversation
AI agents arrived in 2025 – here’s what happened and the challenges ahead in 2026
AI systems began a major shift in 2025 from content creators and chatbots to agents capable of using other software tools and acting on their own.
Loving-kindness meditation isn’t just personal self-care. It also benefits society, a scholar of mindfulness explains. It supports democracy by helping people work with strangers and opponents, not just those they agree with.
The Conversation
What loving-kindness meditation is and how to practice it in the new year
The practice of this meditation often involves quietly reciting to oneself several phrases that evoke and visualize the beings who will receive lov...
Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers militia group, plans to relaunch the organization after his seditious conspiracy sentence was commuted by Trump. A political anthropologist explains why the group's emphasis on the military’s oath poses a particular threat. #Jan6 #J6
The Conversation
The ‘sacred’ pledge that will power the relaunch of far-right militia Oath Keepers
Founder Stewart Rhodes says he will relaunch the group, serving as an important outlet for thousands of members who have felt lost since his impris...
Has the Fed “fixed” the economy? Inflation is down and growth is holding up, but many of us still feel uneasy about 2026 Questions about labor markets and housing costs remain front and center, according to finance professors whose 2025 and 2024 predictions held up notably well https://buff.ly/lzgl4Gr
West Coast levee failures reveal a bigger problem: America’s flood defenses are old, underfunded and not built for today’s storms. A civil engineer who studies water infrastructure explains why millions are at risk:
The Conversation
West Coast levee failures show growing risks from America’s aging flood defenses
Levees protect more than 7 million buildings in the US today, yet they got a D-plus grade in 2025. A new study found 487 cases where rising water o...
Research says trying to be funny at work usually backfires. Except for you, of course. You’re hilarious.
The Conversation
Why you seriously need to stop trying to be funny at work
Cracking jokes at the office is more likely to backfire than boost your career.