politics
‘MAGAfication’ in East Asia
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.
Change I Can Believe In
Zohran Mamdani’s impending win or loss is irrelevant to what his candidacy means to me: Even in this country’s darkest moments, there is always a chance that this American experiment in multiculturalism and democracy for all may not be doomed after all.
Charlie Kirk’s Assassination Reveals a Terrifying New Reality Around Political Violence
The public assassination of Charlie Kirk reveals a shocking new reality in America: political violence as spectacle. With waning content moderation and algorithms that promote a tribalistic form of politics, social media has brought images of the murder into the mainstream, threatening to desensitize us all to its horrors.
The UK’s Fragmenting Politics
The launch of a new left-wing party in the U.K. shows that political fragmentation is unlikely to be quickly reversed, and comes at a time when small electoral changes could have outsize effects.
Zohran Mamdani’s Stunning Upset Redefines New York Politics
In the final weeks of Zohran Mamdani’s campaign, it became clear the 33-year-old democratic socialist was poised for victory. Yet when he defied the poll leads of rival Andrew Cuomo and won just 90 minutes after voting closed, he stunned New York — and U.S. — politics.
The South Asian Vote May Be Split for Zohran Mamdani in New York City
New York City mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani has won backing from several South Asian groups, but the community remains split. Some applaud his progressive agenda, others worry about rent freezes fostering dependence and many haven’t even heard of his campaign, revealing both his reach and its limits.
The Left-Wing Activists Who Want to Change American Politics
The Democratic Socialists of America hope to parlay the latest “Trump bump” into a national movement, and maybe even launch a viable alternative party. But the organization faces serious challenges — both ideological and practical — that may hinder its ability to capitalize on the moment, and possibly threaten its very existence.