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Culture

Following the Football

The article explores the cultural significance of football, examining how the sport reflects societal values, community identity, and the complexities of fandom in contemporary life.

United States
Politics

No Party For John Cornyn

The outgoing Texan senator has failed to adapt to Trump’s GOP. The post No Party For John Cornyn appeared first on The American Conservative

United States
Politics

What does the Supreme Court's decision about presidential power to fire officials mean for the independence of government agencies?

The Supreme Court on Monday cleared the way for President Trump to freely fire officials from the Federal Trade Commission and most — though not all — agencies that have long been politically independent. Why it matters: It is a historic unraveling for agencies that have long been shielded from politics. The ruling will vastly expand presidential power and influence. The big picture: The ruling overturns Humphrey's Executor, a nearly century-old precedent that says independent agency commissioners cannot be fired without specific cause. What they're saying: "If anything more is left of Humphrey's, we overrule it," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court. Trump celebrated the ruling on Truth Social, calling it a "BIG WIN" that confirmed he had the power to remove officials. "It is such an Honor to be the sitting President who won this Historic and Unprecedented Ruling, one of the most important ever given with respect to Presidential Powers." Yes, but: The 6–3 ruling came with a carve-out for the Federal Reserve, in line with earlier signals that Supreme Court sees the central bank in a different light. The ruling was released alongside a separate 5–4 decision blocking Trump from immediately firing Fed governor Lisa Cook.Roberts emphasized the ruling does not necessarily apply to the Federal Reserve, citing the central bank's "distinct historical tradition." Zoom out: The case centers on Trump's firing of two Democratic appointees, Rebecca Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya. Trump said that allowing Slaughter to remain at the regulatory agency would be "inconsistent with my Administration's policies," according to the letter that announced the firing. Zoom in: With no Democrats set to return to the Republican-led agency, regulatory decisions will be made without real pushback or checks within the building. Democrats had a minority at the FTC to start with, but historically, dissents from the minority over major decisions were a transparent way to peek into decision-m

United States
Geopolitics

How should countries address their past actions in tragic events like the Rwandan genocide?

Annette Young is pleased to welcome Phil Clark, Professor of International Politics at SOAS University of London. He specialises in conflict and post-conflict issues. As French President Emmanuel Macron and Rwandan President Paul Kagame inaugurate a new memorial in Paris dedicated to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, profound questions remain about France's historical role and the limits of reconciliation between Paris and Kigali. Beneath the symbolism of remembrance lies a deeply unresolved historical dispute. While describing the memorial as significant, Clark contends that "the French government has never fully come to terms with its involvement in the genocide," and suggests that for many survivors, "some of the great truths of the genocide and France's involvement in it have never really been fully acknowledged." France and Rwanda are seeking a mutually beneficial partnership driven by "a huge amount of political pragmatism."

France