The Conversation

Militia extremists, kicked off Facebook again, are regaining comfort in public view

Written by Amy Cooter, Director of Research, Academic Development, and Innovation at the Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism, Middlebury

Militias have been kicked off Facebook as they seek to reemerge into the public sphere.gorodenkoff/iStock / Getty Images Plus

When journalists sounded alarm bells in early May 2024 that more than 100 extremist militia groups had been organizing and communicating on Facebook, it wasn’t the first time militias had garnered attention for their...

9 justices, many opinions: How the Supreme Court tells lawyers, judges and the public about its decisions and disagreements

Written by Ilisabeth S. Bornstein, Lecturer in Legal Studies, Bryant University

The decisions made by the U.S. Supreme Court are important to Americans, including these people demonstrating on April 25, 2024. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

When the U.S. Supreme Court issues opinions, you may hear that the nine justices reached a 6-3 or a 5-4 decision. You may also hear that certain justices wrote a concurrence or that there were...

How Iran selects its supreme leader − a political scientist and Iran expert explains

Written by Eric Lob, Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations, Florida International University

A mourning ceremony for President Ebrahim Raisi at Vali-e-Asr Square in downtown Tehran, Iran, on May 20, 2024.AP Photo/Vahid Salemi

The sudden death of President Ebrahim Raisi is unlikely to drastically alter Iran’s foreign and domestic policies, but it has left a power vacuum.

As stipulated by the constitution, Raisi was replaced by his...

The US has always had ‘big government’ – even in the Colonial era

Written by Sidney Shapiro, Frank U. Fletcher Chair in Law, Wake Forest University

Big government fans. John Trumbull/Grafissimo via Getty Images

Paralyzed by its most radical members, the House of Representatives passed just 27 bills that became law in 2023 — down nearly 90% from the previous year. Republicans who see big government as a threat to liberty view this failure as a “success.”

The idea of small...

Successful city parks make diverse communities feel safe and welcome − this Minnesota park is an example

Written by Dan Trudeau, Professor of Geography, Macalester College

'Meditation,' by Lei Yixin, near the picnic pavilion in Lake Phalen Regional ParkCity of Saint Paul, CC BY-ND

What makes a city a good place to live? Practical features are important, such as well-maintained streets, good public transit and reliable trash collection. So are amenities that make cities attractive and interesting, such as museums and...

Pets give companionship, cuddles and joy – and also unavoidable stresses

Written by Emily Hemendinger, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Pets can bring joy and companionship, as well as financial worries, loss and logistical challenges.Dann Tardif/Stone via Getty Images

Owning a pet can be a roller coaster. There are the highs, like when your dog greets you with a full-body wiggle when you return home, or when your cat purrs loudly as you cuddle next to one another. Then there are...

Heat waves can be deadly for older adults: An aging global population and rising temperatures mean millions are at risk

Written by Deborah Carr, A&S Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for Innovation in Social Science, Boston University

Older adults face health risks from high heat for many reasons, including medications.AP Photo/Manu Fernandez

A deadly heat wave gripped large regions of Asia for weeks in April and May 2024. As temperatures climbed past 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 Celsius) in India on May 7, campaigning politicians, local news announcers and voters waiting in...

Heat waves can be deadly for older adults: An aging global population and rising temperatures mean millions are at risk, as Asia is experiencing

Written by Deborah Carr, A&S Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for Innovation in Social Science, Boston University

Older adults face health risks from high heat for many reasons, including medications.AP Photo/Manu Fernandez

A deadly heat wave gripped large regions of Asia for weeks in spring 2024, sending temperatures in India’s capital region over 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 Celsius) in late May. Officials in Delhi warned residents that they could face po...

More military veterans and active duty service members are dying by suicide than in battle – understanding why can help with prevention

Written by April Smith, Associate Professor of Psychological Sciences, Auburn University

Active duty service members and veterans experience unique stresses that can lead to suicide.MivPiv/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Although service members know they may lose their lives in combat in service of their country, they may not expect to lose their lives – or those they love – to suicide. A 2021 study estimated that four times...

How opioid treatment centers can overcome bipartisan NIMBYism to build local support

Written by Justin de Benedictis-Kessner, Assistant Professor of Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School

Democrats and Republicans are equally less likely to support a drug treatment clinic if it's in their neighborhood. Can Merey/picture alliance via Getty Images

Some residents of Fairmount, an upper-middle-income neighborhood of Philadelphia, are irate that a nearby homeless shelter is being turned into an addiction “triage” center withou...