Blaming Western countries and civilization for the world’s tragedies and inequalities is common among progressives on virtually every issue, and environmental protection is no exception. The United States and countries in the European Union are widely criticized for their high ecological footprints and greenhouse gas emissions but the methodologies used to calculate their environmental damages are likely severely flawed. This becomes apparent when they are compared to many non-Western countries, whose cultural norms have led to massive pollution, environmental destruction, and inefficient resource usage that plague their lands’ sustainability. The governments’ reluctance to encourage their citizens to become more environmentally…

If every plank and sail is replaced in the Ship of Theseus, does it assume a new identity? If the specific wood and fabrics are of different types for the replacement parts, most would say yes. Applying this logic on a larger scale, what happens to a country once its population’s composition becomes radically altered through immigration? In the 21st century, immigration to the United States has reached all-time highs, often from regions whose institutions and cultures are strongly different, such as India, the Middle East, and Africa. As this influx continues, and these immigrant communities gain political influence as…

Are Trump’s tariffs more about protecting American small businesses, or rewarding political allies? Trump has recently announced a deal to waive tariffs on beef imports from Argentina under the guise of lowering food inflation for consumers. However, if that is the case, it is strange that he has not made this tariff waiver global. His continuation of tariffs on the European Union, combined with his desire to halt trade with its members for refusal to help with his war in Iran, suggests that his concern for American households is a ruse.

Despite being United States citizens, Puerto Ricans are often restricted from importing goods from the mainland. As a tropical island, Puerto Rico is accustomed to hurricanes and flooding during the summer. But after every hurricane season, sending aid there is expensive compared to mainland support in the US. This stems from the 1920 Jones Act, which requires that all cargo transportation between two American ports is done on American-manufactured vessels. But the decline of American shipbuilding within the past century and high costs of maintenance and labor aboard said ships has made trade with Puerto Rico increasingly expensive. Cheaper foreign…

Iceland will soon vote on a referendum to reopen its application to formally join the European Union. After World War II, the European Continent transformed from one marked by centuries of violent conflict between competing superpowers into one marked by unparalleled stability under the European Union (EU), which today encompasses 27 member states across the continent. However, there are four additional countries economically connected to it via the European Single Market (ESM). The ESM is governed by the EU’s member states, which aim to spur economic growth across the continent by removing international barriers to trade and economic activity. Specifically,…

Striking McDonald’s Workers Support a Long-Overdue Hike in the Federal Minimum Wage Adjusted for inflation, $7.25 in the year 2009 had the purchasing power of over $11 in 2026. The cost of living has surged in the past seventeen years across America, but the increase in minimum wages has been less steady. After the last hike in the federal minimum wage occurred in 2009, many states have not codified a pay over $7.25 per hour for their working populations. These states, like Texas, Tennessee, and Wyoming, are strongholds for the GOP on an overwhelming level. But, a closer inspection at…

Senator Rand Paul has led the fight against Fauci for his contempt of congress. Last week, Dr. Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment 111 times when questioned about his actions and advice during the COVID-19 pandemic. But given that Fauci was pardoned by President Biden for offenses between 2014 and 2025, his right to remain silent while under investigation is not legally protected. Consequently, Senate Republicans aim to prosecute him for contempt of Congress, which could result in severe fines or prison time. Perhaps Fauci is only just the beginning of crimes against humanity during COVID. Not only did he refuse…

Gianni Infantino has faced widespread calls to resign amidst his controversial proposals for the future of the FIFA World Cup. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime In preparation for the 2030 World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has explored several proposals to commemorate the championship’s centennial. These included an expansion to 64 teams for the tournament and the hosting of three matches in South America away from the main host countries. But most controversially, he proposed to sell stakes in a for-profit operational subsidiary for the World Cup, which received massive backlash from continental and national soccer federations. FIFA,…

The 2028 Olympics will be hosted in Los Angeles, only two years after the city hosted FIFA World Cup matches. The FIFA World Cup may be long over, but America’s commitment to hosting international athletic events will not for another two years due to the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. But this next global championship may be the breaking point for the city. Every single Olympic Tournament in the past 60 years has gone over budget, often by billions of dollars in the 21st century. And during that time period, returns on investment have worsened for host cities due to…

After decades of building Microsoft, Bill Gates is the top owner of farmland in the United States today. With a net worth of over 100 billion dollars, William Henry Gates III has cemented his legacy as one of America’s most historically important businessmen, especially in the technological sector. As a co-founder of Microsoft with Paul Allen, Gates was largely responsible for the boom of the production and usage of personal computers in the late 20th century. This led to Microsoft dominating the world of technology in the 1990s, which came with its own controversy. Microsoft took aggressive, corrupt, and often…