The U.S. celebrated Iran’s agreement to release 20 additional cargo ships of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a “sign of respect.” However, this celebration seems to be a tactic to present the negotiations as more successful than they truly are. What the U.S. is framing as a victory appears to be another attempt to disguise failure and desperation as success. If the negotiations were genuinely productive, why has the U.S. recently deployed hundreds of Special Operations forces to the Middle East?

The Oscars is one of the most widely watched and anticipated ceremonies in the world. For nearly a century, the Academy Awards have claimed superiority in an inherently subjective analysis of film. A key philosophical question surrounding ceremonies like the Oscars is whether we can objectively evaluate art, or if such evaluations are entirely based on interpretation and personal opinion. Some may argue that there are objective metrics for assessing films, such as technical production and cinematography, which could serve as criteria for the Academy Awards. However, I question this perspective, as the Oscars have repeatedly named “Best Picture” winners…

Are wars ever justifiable? Morally? Legally? Philosophically? Any ally’s analysis might seem pointless when applied to something as atrocious as war. In international relations, “Just War Theory” offers a framework for conducting war legally. On Feb. 28, 2026, the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran. The attack resulted in the murder of the state’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Since then, there has been controversy regarding the legality of the operation, especially in light of similar operations in Venezuela, which were largely criticized by the international community. The United Nations (UN) seems to have made up its mind on the subject.…

The decision to attack Iran is not only morally reprehensible, but also economically foolish. The ongoing war has caused an increase in fuel prices as oil exports are stifled due to armed conflict in the Middle East, which is responsible for around 40% of global oil exports. This not only impacts markets and industries that are reliant on Middle Eastern oil, but also raises gas prices for the average American consumer.

The current international community has a new game: presidents stand in a quick-draw duel position, tumbleweeds flying around their feet as they turn to pull their weapons, surveying and screaming at each other while they decide who has the biggest guns, who inflicts the most damage. This might sound dramatic, but given the recent attacks in Iran and Venezuela, it could be what international affairs has come to. On Feb. 28, 2026, the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran. The attack was done to several military sites to target the country’s political figures. It was also spread out to other areas:…

Trump has repeatedly shown complete disregard for the lives of innocent civilians—viewing them as mere pawns in a greater game. In the Venezuelan operation, there were several civilian casualties. In the ongoing operation in Iran, 201 people have reportedly been killed across the country, while 747 have been injured. Is it ever justifiable to support a strike on a primary school which resulted in at least 85 deaths? The answer seems obvious. Also, the explanations for this operation are far from satisfying. If this is a question of establishing power, the U.S. has already proven themselves as a military superpower.…

The Supreme Court’s recent decision to strike down Trump’s extensive tariff policies comes as a breath of fresh air. Following a series of rulings that seemed overly accommodating to Trump, this decision restores hope in the impartiality of the nine justices. This is not solely because it goes against the President, but because it demonstrates the Supreme Court’s independence from the executive branch. This independence is particularly significant in an environment where many have been concerned about the potential overlap between the executive and judicial branches in recent months.

When applying to universities, the average experience requires some sort of diversity statement. These are only one of the aspects considered to be part of a university’s holistic review of candidates. You might have to scratch your head and think back to discover how exactly your background, race, ethnicity, gender, or whatever other immutable characteristic is now considered as important as your character, and makes you stand out from the crowd.  In June 2023, the Supreme Court ruled against the affirmative action policies employed in Harvard’s and University of North Carolina’s (UNC) admissions system. The court found that the use of…

The system surrounding ICE’s arrests requires less deference to police officers and greater emphasis on human rights. According to ICE’s website, ICE agents do not need judicial warrants to make arrests. Like other law enforcement officers, they are allowed to “initiate consensual encounters” and “briefly detain aliens” when they have “reasonable suspicion that the aliens are illegally present in the United States. There are two issues with such deference. Firstly, “reasonable suspicion” is a vague and, although it aims to be otherwise, subjective form of analysis. It gives the opportunity for bias that clouds judgment to be used as a justification…

As the Supreme Court delays its decision on Trump’s tariffs, these policies remain in effect. Without a promised set date to release the ruling, the impacts of the tariffs continue and, alongside it, the detrimental effects on international trade and cooperation.  On Feb. 1, 2025, Trump fulfilled the promises he made before even officially entering office by implementing the “Trafficking” and “Reciprocal” tariffs against Canada, China and Mexico. All of which were framed as a response to a case of national emergency against undocumented immigration and drug trafficking.  The Trump administration wanted to kill two birds with one stone –…