Minnesota is making waves with its new social studies standards, set to roll out in fall 2026. These standards include a new "liberated" ethnic studies strand, which will be taught in classrooms across the state. Sixth-graders will dive into "Protest Art and the Movement for Black Lives, " learning about the Black Lives Matter movement's principles and creating their...
Oklahoma is making waves with a new rule for teachers moving from California and New York. They must pass a test created by a conservative group called PragerU. The state's education chief, Ryan Walters, says this is to keep "radical leftist ideology" out of classrooms. But others see it as a "MAGA loyalty test. " The test has 50 questions. The first few ask about t...
The rise of right-wing populism over the past decade has left many on the socialist left puzzled. They often blame the surge on the betrayal of the working class by center-left parties. These parties, they argue, embraced free trade and neoliberal policies, leading to job losses and stagnant wages. This, combined with the 2008 financial crisis and the rise of the bil...
A heated debate is unfolding between Harvard University and the federal government. The core issue? Tax-exempt status and the limits of federal control over academic institutions. The government has threatened to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status, a move that has sparked intense discussion. This isn't the first time such a threat has been made. Earlier in t...
The way people view knowledge and science can greatly influence their beliefs in climate change conspiracies. This is a big deal because these conspiracy beliefs can really mess with efforts to tackle climate change. So, let's dive in and see how our views on knowledge and science play a role in all of this. First off, let's talk about epistemic beliefs. Thes...
Conservatives in the US often report feeling better mentally than liberals. This might seem surprising, but there are a few reasons behind it. For one, conservatives tend to accept societal inequalities more easily. This acceptance can make them feel better about their own lives, even if things aren't perfect. It's like they have a built-in way to cope with unfairnes...
The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division is undergoing a significant transformation. Many lawyers and staff are leaving. This is happening because the new leadership has different priorities. The new head, Harmeet K. Dhillon, has made it clear that the division will focus on new types of cases. This shift has led to a wave of departures, with over 100 lawye...
The cost of locking people up is a big deal for governments. It is a hot topic to discuss how much of a sentence should be reduced for those in jail. There are policies out there that aim to cut down the number of people behind bars. These policies are often called "second chance" mechanisms. They offer reductions in sentences. The question is, how much support ...
Russia is grappling with a significant HIV crisis, but the approach to tackling it is deeply entwined with politics and traditional values. Since the early 2010s, the Putin administration has been pushing a strong agenda of traditional values. This agenda has shaped how the country views and responds to HIV. Instead of treating HIV as a straightforward health issue, ...
In the world of politics, beliefs play a huge role. They can shape how people see the world and how they interact with others. Two big ideas have been studied a lot in the United States. The first is that people with conservative views often think their beliefs are better than others. The second is that people with extreme views, no matter where they fall on the ...