How a once serious party surrendered judgment, subordinating institutions to a single strongman—and what must be done before the republic dangerously erodes from within How is it possible that the Republican Party, at the peak of American power and at the new dawn of the country’s 250th anniversary, became a cult of personality around a…
As the United States marks its 250th anniversary—a testament to endurance, sacrifice, and democratic aspiration—it does so under a dark and foreboding shadow. At this defining moment, the nation finds itself led not by steadiness or vision, but by a figure whose erratic conduct, corrosive narcissism, and moral decay mock the very ideals this milestone…
As midterm campaigns accelerate and disillusionment with Trump’s domestic and foreign policies widens, a stark scenario emerges: America faces a perilous inflection point demanding immediate action before democratic erosion becomes irreversible Donald Trump did not invent America’s vulnerabilities, but he has driven them to a breaking point. His contempt for democratic norms, alliances, and international…
A war launched to reshape the Middle East has instead exposed the limits of force—and the cost of misunderstanding a nation that has spent millennia learning how to endure The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was finally unveiled a few days ago only reaffirmed how misguided the joint US-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28…
Today’s podcast guest is Nguyễn Ngọc Như Quỳnh, a blogger and activist who has written extensively since 2006 on environmental and human rights issues in Vietnam. She has been arrested twice for her activism, and received a 10-year prison sentence. She was released after two years, on the condition of exile from Vietnam.
In this episode, we discuss the current political status inside Vietnam and its status in the region, Quynh’s experience of activism and persecution, including her arrests and imprisonment, environmental and human rights issues in Vietnam, and what role the US has and can play in supporting democracy and freedom in the country.
Listen now; link in bio.
Full bio
Nguyễn Ngọc Như Quỳnh is a blogger and activist who has blogged extensively since 2006 on environmental and human rights issues in Vietnam, publishing principled arguments to inspire change and greater transparency. Ms. Quynh co-founded the Network of Vietnamese Bloggers, an independent writers’ association that encourages members to “protect people’s rights and freedoms from restrictions and censorship.” She was arrested on October 10, 2016 under the charge of “conducting propaganda against the state” and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. She was released from prison on October 17, 2018, and sent into exile in the United States.
In 2014, she received a Human Rights Defender award from the Stockholm-based NGO Civil Rights Defenders, and was awarded the 2017 International Women of Courage Award by the US Department of State.
Today’s guest is Ambassador Frederic C. Hof, Bard College’s Diplomat-in-Residence, who served as ambassador and special adviser for transition in Syria under President Obama, and as special coordinator for regional affairs in the US Department of State’s Office of the Special Envoy for Middle East Peace. A US Army Vietnam veteran, Ambassador Hof served two tours of duty in the US Department of State.
In this episode, we discuss Ambassador Hof`s recent Track II diplomacy work in Lebanon regarding the prospects of a future Israeli-Lebanese agreement and the elements of the consensus document developed from this work, and the impact of the war on Iran on this delicate diplomacy work.
Listen now; link in bio.
A new Human Rights Watch report reveals that Russia is using schools in occupied Ukrainian territories to erase Ukrainian identity. Children are denied education in their own language, pressured to obtain Russian passports, subjected to propaganda, and even prepared for future military service. Families who try to keep their children connected to Ukrainian education face surveillance, threats, and intimidation. Education should nurture identity, critical thinking, and hope—not become a weapon of war. The international community must do more to protect these children, support their education and mental health, and hold those responsible accountable. A child`s classroom should never become a battlefield.
Trump’s primetime address about the election was baseless delivered with unhinged temper tantrum from our Toddler-in-Chief. After his deranged babblings about transgender people and crime rates, he spewed baseless and outright disproven claims about election security, whining about the 2020 election, only this time accusing China instead of Russia, contrary to official intelligence assessments, while rambling on about burn bags and shadow governments. Yet Republicans won the White House in 2024; they won the House and Senate, and the Supreme Court has a conservative majority with three Trump appointees on the court. In what world is this election rigging in favor of Democrats? This is instead nothing but the delusional screams of a demented fool, who sees the writing on the wall for a midterm swing in favor of Democrats in the House, laying the groundwork now to call any Democrat victories in November the result of corruption and cheating, especially if the SAVE America Act doesn’t pass. Mr. Trump, this isn’t rigging, corruption, or conspiracy – this is a blazing, neon sign narcissist that is destroying America.
Vietnam has sentenced prominent social media commentator Hoang Thi Hong Thai to six years in prison simply for criticizing the government online. Prosecutors relied on the country's sweeping "anti-state propaganda" law, one of several provisions long used to silence peaceful dissent. Human Rights Watch condemned the conviction, calling for her immediate release and warning that Vietnam continues to criminalize freedom of expression. Authorities have increasingly targeted journalists, writers, activists, and online commentators, with dozens prosecuted under the same law over the past two years. No one should face prison for peacefully expressing their opinions. Vietnam should overturn this conviction, release all those jailed for exercising their fundamental rights, and end the misuse of laws that suppress free speech.
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Government forces, opposition fighters, and allied militias committed widespread abuses against civilians during fighting in South Sudan's Nagero County, according to a new Human Rights Watch report. The alleged violations include killings, rape, torture, arbitrary detention, and the burning and looting of homes, schools, and health facilities. More than 21,000 people were forced to flee the violence, while many who returned reported living in fear amid continued insecurity and limited humanitarian aid. Human Rights Watch condemned the attacks and called on South Sudanese authorities to conduct credible investigations, hold those responsible accountable, protect civilians, ensure justice for victims, and allow unrestricted humanitarian access to affected communities.
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Eight civilians, including three children, were killed in central Mali after an airstrike allegedly carried out by Russia's state-controlled Africa Corps, according to a new Human Rights Watch investigation. The June 15 attack struck homes and a cattle market in Kyrnia village, despite no evidence that Islamist fighters were among those killed. Human Rights Watch says the attack appears to violate the laws of war and warns that both Russian forces and Mali's military authorities could be held accountable. The findings are supported by witness testimony, satellite imagery, and video analysis. As foreign military involvement in Mali deepens, the report raises urgent questions about civilian protection, accountability, and the human cost of counterterrorism operations in conflict zones.
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The brief unipolar moment after the Cold War has given way to a crowded field of major and “middle” powers competing through sanctions, tariffs, energy, and supply chains as instruments of coercion rather than cooperation. The result is a geoeconomic confrontation that corrodes trust, stalls collective action on climate and arms control, and turns every regional conflict into a potential proxy war. Order becomes just a result of who holds more power, not the rule of law. Inequality and economic uncertainty have hollowed out social contracts. The global financial crisis, the pandemic, and inflation shocks have left many societies with rising debt, stagnant wages, and soaring wealth concentration. For hundreds of millions, life has grown more insecure even as aggregate wealth has increased. That insecurity is politically explosive: it feeds grievance, fuels demagogues, and weakens the middle ground that democracies depend on.
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