Society

The director of the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change, Vishal Prasad (2nd R), speaks to the media in The Hague on July 23, 2025. The world’s highest court on July 23 declared that states have a legal obligation to tackle climate change and that failing to do so was a “wrongful act” that could open the door to reparations.

The World Court Adds Muscle to the Climate Fight The World Court Adds Muscle to the Climate Fight

After a “landmark” ruling from the International Court of Justice, journalists can expect more lawsuits against fossil fuel companies.

Jul 31, 2025 / Mark Hertsgaard

US President Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn of the White House after arriving on Marine One in Washington.

The Rule of Law Is Dead in the US The Rule of Law Is Dead in the US

The rule of law presupposes that there are rules that provide a consistent, repeatable, and knowable set of outcomes. That’s no longer the case.

Jul 30, 2025 / Elie Mystal

A sign in Alabama, 2018.

This Far-Right Movement Is Hijacking Local Churches This Far-Right Movement Is Hijacking Local Churches

Local faith leaders are fighting back, refusing to let the Bible and the church be hijacked by extremists.

Jul 30, 2025 / Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis and Noam Sandweiss-Back

Facing the Sixth Extinction

Facing the Sixth Extinction Facing the Sixth Extinction

Species are disappearing before our eyes.

Jul 30, 2025 / OppArt / Paula Hewitt Amram

A man in a collared shirt and tie rides a motorcycle in Little Rock, Arkansas.

“Declared Intention”: My Immigration Story, and Ours “Declared Intention”: My Immigration Story, and Ours

Like many Americans, I may only be one generation away from birthright citizenship—a concept that defined this country’s promise for so many immigrants.

Jul 30, 2025 / Robert Pinsky

100 Monkeys

100 Monkeys 100 Monkeys

Check out all installments in the OppArt series.

Jul 29, 2025 / OppArt / Steve Brodner

People wade in the waters of the Great Salt Lake at Antelope Island in August 2021.

The Great Salt Lake Is a Ticking Time Bomb The Great Salt Lake Is a Ticking Time Bomb

Retreating water levels are exposing stretches of cracked, arsenic-laden lakebed in Utah. Future dust storms will carry an extra hazard.

Jul 29, 2025 / StudentNation / Adelaide Parker

A person places their hand on a window inside a jail as demonstrators make noise outside during an anti-police protest on January 24, 2021 in Tacoma, Washington.

A Trip Through Hell A Trip Through Hell

In a Washington county jail, solitary confinement is the worst, most degrading, foulest experience you could ever imagine.

Jul 29, 2025 / Christopher Blackwell

Ronald Reagan signing the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act.

What We Can Learn About Immigration From an Unlikely Source: Ronald Reagan What We Can Learn About Immigration From an Unlikely Source: Ronald Reagan

Rather than deporting millions of migrants, this Republican president opted for the opposite strategy—legalizing them.

Jul 28, 2025 / Brad Swanson

Zohran Mamdani smiles in front of a microphone with his hand on his chest.

Zohran Mamdani Is Keeping Hope Alive Zohran Mamdani Is Keeping Hope Alive

The doom-obsessed Democratic Party remains as unpopular as ever—but there is another path.

Jul 28, 2025 / Jeet Heer

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