politics
The New South Asian Power Brokers
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.
The Iran War and Its Gulf Discontents
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.
How Zohran Mamdani Rekindled My Faith in Politics
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.