James R. Schlesinger, 1973

Politicizing Intelligence: Nixon’s Man at the CIA

James R. Schlesinger was only head of the CIA for six months, but he nevertheless ranks as the least popular director in the agency’s history.
A man stands alone at a party

What Did the COVID Pandemic Do to Our Minds?

The pandemic’s transformation of daily lives around the world led to a loss of the bodily feeling of social trust across entire communities at once.
Policia Nacional Civil de Guatemala, 2024

Police Misconduct and State Legitimacy in Central America

In countries such as Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, police corruption and misconduct have eroded public support for the political order.
Two black holes merge into one

Lite Intermediate Black Holes

Meet the supermassive black hole’s smaller, much more mysterious cousin.
Scene of Three Witches from Shakespeare's Macbeth by George Cattermole, 1840

King James I and the Macbeth Witches

The ever-pragmatic Shakespeare added witches to the Scottish play to please his new patron, King James I of England.
Alexander Hamilton by John Trumbul, 1792

Hamilton’s Real Immigration Story

The popular musical poses Alexander Hamilton as a symbol of the value of immigrants brought to America, but over time, his party became increasingly xenophobic.
Activists during the Solidarity Day march in protest at President Reagan's economic and social policies in Washington DC, 1981.

Moral Economy and the Causes of Wage Inequality

How important are labor unions for combating wage inequality in the United States?
Photo of Generic Punk Concert, 1970s

Punks vs. Cowboys in Reagan Country 

A bastion of both the Old and New Right, Orange County in the late 1970s seems an unlikely place for punk rockers.
Source: https://archive.org/details/argentoratentiislapponia01scheffer/page/n323/mode/2up

Colonialism, Resistance, and Liquor

For both the Shawnee of North America and the Sámi of northern Europe, alcohol provided by colonizing powers was a symbolic and practical political issue.
Madonna of the Magnificat by Sandro Botticelli

The Pomegranate in History and Myth

Used heavily in early medicine and at times for opposing aims, the pomegranate shows a marked versatility in its cultural connotations and connections.