The Trump administration is likely to feature the largest number of retired generals in modern history. Retired four-star generals James Mattis and John Kelly have been selected to lead the Defense and Homeland Security Departments, respectively, while retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn has been appointed to serve as National Security Adviser. Several academics, commentators, and … Read more
This past fall, the University of Chicago welcomed incoming freshman to campus with an unambiguous message on safe spaces. “Our commitment to academic freedom means that we do not support so-called trigger warnings, we do not cancel invited speakers because their topics might prove controversial, and we do not condone the creation of intellectual ‘safe … Read more
On January 20, I went to Washington, D.C looking for hope. President Donald Trump has inherited a divided nation, and one that is largely against him. America’s split was obvious on inauguration weekend—the presidential festivities were marred by protests and upstaged by the Women’s March a day later. Reconciling this divide is frustrating work when … Read more
Early media reports lauded the “Free Syrian Army” as the secular saviors of Syria: generals committed to overthrowing Assad and instituting an American-style liberal democracy. Five years later, the Free Syrian Army is more myth than reality (if it ever was real). Taking its place as the standard-bearer in the fight against ISIS and the … Read more
Just days ago, Barack Obama’s tenure in the Oval Office came to a close, but citizens of the United States and the world have already begun to chronicle the history of his presidency. From the Affordable Care Act, to the 2011 Navy SEALs Operation to kill Osama Bin Laden, to his approach to the Syrian … Read more
“For every two steps forward, it often feels we take one step back.” With this quote, President Obama’s farewell address highlighted the potential challenges that could roll back the economic progress of the last eight years. Marked by a tone of cautious optimism, his speech both acknowledged the economic progress we’ve made and offered a … Read more
In the 2016 Presidential Election, nearly half of all eligible voters in the United States chose not to vote. Most among this demographic have no regrets about doing so, even though they would have likely changed the election’s outcome. It is in the context of this deep disillusionment that President Obama, who so inspired America … Read more
“Because you did change the world. You did. And that’s why I leave this stage tonight even more optimistic than when we started. Because I know our work has helped so many Americans; it has inspired so many Americans.” With these words, President Obama reminded the American people that they are the ones who wield … Read more
In his 1796 farewell address, President George Washington cautioned against the “baneful effects of the spirit of party,” warning that hyper-partisanship would lead to “permanent despotism.” This past Tuesday, departing President Barack Obama echoed his predecessor’s words of warning, emphasizing that the founders “knew that democracy does require a basic sense of solidarity—the idea that … Read more
When asked to say the first word that came to their mind after hearing “MBTA”, people at the Harvard Square T stop supplied “broken”, “old”, and one woman said “very very late … like late-all-the-time-late.” Citizen’s feelings are justified; the system has been deteriorating for years. David Luberoff, Lecturer on Sociology and the Senior Associate … Read more