Democracy
483 Articles
As Governments Silence Critics During War, Writers Are Among the First to Pay the Price
Crackdowns on writers, culture, and free expression during war emerged as a key trend in PEN America's 2025 data for the latest annual Freedom to Write Index.
Blanche Is Targeting the D.C. Bar to Remove Ethical Guardrails for the Justice Department
Legal ethics expert warns Acting AG Todd Blanche's lawsuit against the DC Bar is part of a broader campaign to free DOJ lawyers from the ethical rules governing their peers.
Timeline of Boat Strikes and Related Actions
A timeline that chronicles major events in the Trump administration’s campaign of lethal strikes against suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
The Last Check: Magistrate Judges and Federal Seizures of Election Records
A magistrate judge's review of a search-warrant application may be the last meaningful safeguard against federal interference in an election.
The Collateral Damage of Anti-Trans Policymaking
From healthcare bans to funding cuts, the consequences of hate-driven policymaking opposing transgender rights ripple broadly across communities.
The Cynicism Behind the Administration’s Proposed Forced Labor Tariffs
The labor issues the U.S. Trade Representative claims to investigate are real problems. They should not become pretexts for tariffs the administration already wants.
Making Syria’s Transitional Justice Process Meaningful for Survivors and Communities
One of the central questions facing Syria is whether its emerging justice system can earn the trust of those in whose name it is being built.
US-Central African Republic Deportation Agreement Escalates Attack on Immigrants and Puts Lives at Risk
Congress should demand transparency and require the U.S. government to publicly release third-country deportation agreements, including with the Central African Republic.
Protecting Environmental Rights Defenders Is Key to Giving Communities a Voice
Environmental human rights defenders must be empowered to design and implement their own forms of collective protection to shift the power imbalance.
A Year Later: The Stakes of Ordering Military Personnel to Police American Streets
One year since Trump sent the National Guard to LA, a new report warns military deployments for domestic policing produce escalation, disillusionment, and politicization.
The Lessons of Zambia’s RightsCon Cancellation for International Democracy Promotion
The once-lauded Zambian president's nixing of a major digital rights conference shows the risks of lionizing individual leaders without a backup plan.
Sanctions Gaps and the Governance of Corruption Risk
U.S. foreign policy expert examines how overlapping U.N., U.S., and EU sanctions regimes create legal gray zones and why that breeds corruption risk.