politics
Protests and Profanity
India’s Gen Z is rewriting the rules of public speech. As profanity moves from private jokes and internet culture into protests, the backlash reveals a deeper generational divide over authenticity and respectability.
All Eyes on Michigan
Tuesday’s Democratic primary between Abdul El-Sayed and Haley Stevens for the open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan is a microcosm of the struggle for the future of the Democratic Party — the war of position between progressives and centrists that is playing out all over the country.
The Protests Gripping India — and Rattling Modi
Mass demonstrations that began over exam scandals and student suicides have transformed into the largest challenge to the prime minister’s authority for years. They signal that frustration with his government now extends far beyond any single issue and may mark a turning point for India’s politics.
Slopaganda Comes of Age
As we enter the realm of “slopaganda,” the use of AI-generated content for political propaganda, Trump’s base is now taking his memes both literally and seriously.
The New South Asian Power Brokers in the United States
For decades, “South Asian” in the U.S. meant affluent Indian Americans in tech and business tied to corporate power and Hindu nationalism. But Zohran Mamdani’s rise signals a more expansive identity, one that is also working-class, coalition-driven, critical of nationalist politics — and includes Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Nepali and Indo-Caribbean communities.
‘Those Who Wrap Themselves in America Are Naked’
A growing debate among Arab leaders and elites reflects deep divisions over the war with Iran, with some blaming the United States for dragging the region into conflict and others stressing the long-standing threat posed by Iran’s expansionism. Both groups agree that the region’s alliance with America is fraught.
How MAGA-Inspired Politics Are Reshaping Japan and South Korea
In Japan and South Korea, a culture war playbook inspired by MAGA is fueling a new political wave on the right. Its supporters rail against supposedly rigged elections and the communist “menace” from China and North Korea, demand zero immigration and oppose civil rights for the LGBTQ+ community.