IN THE NEWS
“Let’s Just Round Them Up”: The Rise of Islamophobia in the Post-9/11 Domestic War on Terror
We learned long ago that liberty could be preserved only by limiting in some way the freedom of action of individuals; that otherwise liberty would necessarily yield to absolutism; and in the same way we have learned that unless there be regulation of competition, its excesses will lead to the destruction of competition, and monopoly will take its place.
Nazis del espacio: ¿qué hay tras la creciente estética dictatorial de Trump?
September 9, 2026
Que Donald Trump no es exactamente el árbitro de la elegancia se sabía antes de que transformara la Casa Blanca en un Versalles del Temu. Después de todo, éste es un hombre al que conocíamos por sus casinos de Atlantic City, con nombres como Taj Mahal, y su apartamento enteramente dorado de Manhattan. Pero durante esta legislatura, y especialmente estos últimos meses, el Presidente de los Estados Unidos de América está dando rienda suelta a sus delirios estéticos más totalitarios, jaleado por los miembros de su partido y por la base…
... full articleThe challenge that faced the English in the seventeenth century was how to curb the absolute power of the monarch. In the twenty-first century, it is the markets that have taken on the mantle of absolutism, placing themselves above the jurisdiction of national governments. Holding the king to account was unprecedented and went against custom and tradition – holding the global markets to account is just as audacious and just as necessary.
Yosemite, Again in Corporate Crosshairs, Embodies the Long War Over US National Park Privatization
September 9, 2026
Reports that the Trump administration is working to transfer part of Yosemite National Park to a private land developer have heightened concerns among park advocates and the public about privatization of public land.
The proposed deal, which a government spokesperson said has not been finalized, would involve a land swap: The government would give the developer a small area of the park’s land on which to build a private access road between a proposed resort and the park itself. In exchange, the developer would buy land of similar value near the park, or elsewhere in California, and transfer that land to federal ownership.
... full articleAll human beliefs contain within them the seeds of absolutism. As citizens it is our duty to respect the beliefs of others without resorting to the extremes of condoning morally reprehensible behaviour or condemning ideas we can’t understand. Ultimately, the only way to fight absolutism is to first fight the absolutist tendencies that lie within ourselves.
How Civilizations Fall—With Patrick Wyman
September 9, 2026
What can ancient human prehistory teach us about fighting fascism today? It turns out, quite a bit! So says historian Patrick Wyman, whose recent book, Lost Worlds, covers the 10,000 years between the end of the Ice Age and the Late Bronze Age collapse. Together, we discussed what makes societies fall apart, what is lost when they do, and how history demonstrates that human agency—and our decisions today—really do matter in determining what comes next for our civilization. Check out Patrick’s wonderful book Lost Worlds: How Humans Tried, Failed, Succeeded, and Built Our World. And his great podcast, Past Lives.
... full articleIf he were allowed contact with foreigners he would discover that they are creatures similar to himself and that most of what he has been told about them is lies. The sealed world in which he lives would be broken, and the fear, hatred, and self-righteousness on which his morale depends might evaporate. It is therefore realized on all sides that however ofter Persia, or Egypt, or Java, or Ceylon may change hands, the main frontiers must never be crossed by anything except bombs.