The US's declining accountability, ranking 117th in the Atlas of Impunity, marks the worst transatlantic crisis since WWII. This shift, driven by an 'America First' policy and Europe's own weaknesses, is eroding democratic norms and is now being funded by US democracy funds channeled to European populist movements.
Recent White House events, including a UFC fighter's controversial speech and algae in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, highlight America's deep political divisions. Critics decry vulgarity and conspiracy theories, while supporters see authenticity and 'owning the libs.'
Three US presidents born in 1946—Clinton, Bush, and Trump—are turning 80 and are seen as central figures in the decline of American political discourse, characterized by tribalism, coarseness, and a focus on moralizing over substance.
The crypto industry, once facing regulatory crackdown after FTX's collapse, has become a major political force in the US. Spending millions across parties, it influenced elections and reshaped regulations, moving from a target to a powerful lobbying machine.
The international order is under mounting strain. In recent years, unilateralism, protectionism and the selective application of international law have eroded confidence in the rules-based frameworks that once underpinned global cooperation. The return of Donald Trump to the centre of American politics, along with the policy instincts the US president represents, has only reinforced concerns that the United States may continue to privilege narrow domestic calculations over international...
On Earth Day, we take a look back at the rocky history of "tree-huggers." The term originated in the 1970s in the Himalayas and was later co-opted by American politics in the 1990s. Now, environmentalists are reclaiming the word.
