United States
The Healing Without the Journey
A proposed corporate approach to psychedelics, which promotes a “risk-free” quick fix in a pill, leaves deeper questions unanswered. Will this new approach, unfolding in a very different context from that in which the psychedelics evolved, potentially cause more harm than good?
Third Party Time?
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.
They Wanted a Better Future in the US. Now They Are Jailed in El Salvador
The Trump administration has deported dozens of Venezuelan men to CECOT, El Salvador’s notorious megaprison built under President Nayib Bukele. In Venezuela, the families of the deportees are taking to the streets in protest, demanding answers and the release of their loved ones.
How South Korea’s Directors Took Their Discontent Global
Contemporary South Korean film and television present the capitalist system that emerged following the peninsula’s war over 70 years ago as fundamentally broken, generating class divisions that cannot be penetrated through perseverance or hard work. Their message is uniform: Either we destroy it, or it destroys us.
From Hollywood to Hockey, Russians Are Counting Wins on the Cultural Battlefield
With Donald Trump’s rapprochement with Moscow, the success of the blockbuster film “Anora,” Russian athletes breaking records and even a viral pop hit from remote Bashkortostan, the cultural isolation surrounding Russia has eased. The mood in Moscow is unmistakably triumphant, and Russians seem to be saying, “We’re back.”
The Russian Nationalists Pushing for Ukraine’s Destruction
Nationalist factions have been a key part of Russia’s war effort in Ukraine since 2014, but are often at odds with the state. Now they fear the Kremlin could be duped by the West into a negotiated settlement that falls short of their goal: dismantling Ukraine as a sovereign state.
Pakistan Struggles to Maintain Strategic Relevance
Since Kabul’s fall, Pakistan has struggled to maintain strategic relevance and its attempts to reengage the U.S. have been largely unsuccessful. Domestic political turmoil, the popularity of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and a rise in militant attacks have complicated this engagement, as have the country’s ties with China.