Argument
Neither Islamism nor Secularism
The world is worried about the jihadism of Syria’s new leaders, but the world may be missing the point. Whether the state is religious or secular, Syria needs a strong society, not a strongman.
All in a Day’s Work
Why does open authoritarianism feel like a relief to some people? If you are going to be told what to do and can’t offer feedback that someone actually listens to, maybe it is better not to even have the pretense of democracy. Open authoritarianism is, of course, what Trump offers.
Proposed Legislation Threatens a Backslide on U.S. Democracy
A “Stop Terror-Financing” bill that has passed in the U.S. House of Representatives has raised red flags for its similarity to “foreign agent” laws — a cornerstone of repression in Putin’s Russia and Orban’s Hungary. But with the incoming Trump administration, the bill has a good chance of becoming law.
Tallying Syria’s War Dead
Determining the true scale of lives lost in Syria’s 14-year conflict is essential for accountability and transitional justice. By merging datasets, documenting on the ground and honoring each victim, Syrians and global experts can forge a path toward a new Syria — one built on truth and redress.
Musk and MAGA Fight Over Visas
Tensions within Trump’s 2024 coalition regarding the H-1B visa program — which recently led to a full-blown online war between Trump’s advisers, like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, and his more hard-line supporters — reveal anxieties about the rise of Indians and skills-based immigration in the United States.
Syria’s New Era and Its Opportunities for the US
The U.S. is right to be engaging in dialogue with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group currently dominant in Syria. Engagement, not isolation, is the way to ensure that a new Syrian government is inclusive for all Syrians and provides the country with services and security.
Lost in the Luigi Mangione Fun House
The killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson by Luigi Mangione has revealed a willingness to excuse violence directed at the powerful on the part of certain sections of the public and the press. This situation is not new, and its historical precursors help to demonstrate its danger.