Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Follow Us:
Top Stories

Podcast: when religion and Democracy collide

Podcast: when religion and Democracy collide

Around the world, religion is being used to fuel “us vs. them” narratives and undermine the foundations of democracy. This week, we dive into what this means and how people of faith can chart a different path forward.

Faith, Nationalism, and the Future of Liberal Democracy highlights the use of religious identity to fuel the rise of illiberal, nationalist, and populist democracy. It examines the ways religious identity is weaponized to fuel populist revolts against a political, social, and economic order that values democracy in a global and strikingly diverse world.


The book is intended for readers who value democracy and are concerned about growing threats to it, and especially for people of faith and religious leaders, which is why we’re excited to have author David M. Elcott on the show this week. Elcott is the Taub Professor of Practice in Public Service and Leadership at the Wagner School of Public Service at NYU and director of the Advocacy and Political Action specialization.

Listen now


Read More

Trump’s Racism Carries No Consequences—And That’s Scary

Trump's unchecked racism reveals just how fragile the state of American democracy is.

Cage Rivera/Rewire News Group

Trump’s Racism Carries No Consequences—And That’s Scary

Donald Trump posted a video online depicting the Obamas as apes.

This isn’t shocking—or at least it shouldn’t be. Trump has built an entire political career out of saying the quiet racist part out loud and then daring the country to do something about it.

Keep ReadingShow less
A President in Sheep’s Clothing and a Democracy in Decline

President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media traveling on Air Force One while heading to Miami on March 7, 2026.

(Photo by Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images)

A President in Sheep’s Clothing and a Democracy in Decline

Like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, America’s president is undermining the Republic by evading checks, consolidating power, and attacking democratic norms. He disguises his malicious intentions as innocence while dismantling policies and programs that would help citizens.

In earlier opinions, I wrote about three forces that corrode democracy: hypocrisy, corruption, and confusion. Hypocrisy creates a false image of leadership; corruption erodes public trust and suppresses voter participation; confusion keeps the public from seeing the truth. Together, they weaken the Republic.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump’s Iran war without rhyme or reason

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters during a news conference at Trump National Doral Miami on March 9, 2026, in Doral, Florida. President Trump spoke on his administration's strikes on Iran.

(Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images/TCA)

Donald Trump’s Iran war without rhyme or reason

If you ask President Trump, he’ll tell you we’ve already won the war in Iran.

When asked for an update by Axios on Wednesday, Trump responded with the kind of upbeat nonchalance and flippant boastfulness you’d usually see when asked about the progress on one of his hotels.

Keep ReadingShow less
Trump: The King of Fake

President Donald Trump speaks to the Republican Members Issues Conference at Trump National Doral Miami on March 9, 2026 in Doral, Florida.

(Photo by Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images)

Trump: The King of Fake

Donald Trump has created his own Alice in Wonderland world, where everything is flipped on its head, where things are the opposite of what they in fact are. He has conquered by labeling things that present the truth as "fake," whereas in fact he himself and what he presents as "truth" to his supporters are fake. What follows is just a small sampling of his manipulation of facts.

1. The latest fake news is Trump's rationale for military action against Iran. He claims that 1) Iran has restarted its nuclear program, 2) that it could build a bomb within days, and 3) will soon have long-range missiles capable of hitting the U.S.

Keep ReadingShow less