Even before the pandemic, divisive politics was affecting mental health, and political topics were being raised in therapy. Now, patients want therapists that share their views.
The Department of Justice indicted six officers of Russia’s GRU military intelligence service in October 2020 on charges of hacking and deploying malware.
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Russia probably has the means to attack US electrical grids and otherwise create havoc but probably won’t go that far. Instead, watch for disinformation aimed at undermining the US and NATO.
A man wearing a protective mask rides his bicycle past a face mask mural during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto.
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People can counter the helplessness felt during the pandemic and build power by creating a sense of purpose and community amid the confusion of COVID-19.
Protesters and counter-protesters face off at a political rally in September 2021.
AP Photo/Nathan Howard
Deep-seated disagreement is healthy for a democracy. But when people lose the ability to navigate those differences, they risk seeking anti-democratic unity of thought.
A cutout display at a protest highlighted the connection between social media and the real-world effects of misinformation.
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Misinformation will continue to strain society in 2022 as the lines between misinformation and political speech blur, cynicism grows and the lack of regulation allows misinformation to flourish.
Agreeing to disagree? Showing empathy or compassion about why someone holds opinions very different from yours can help defuse polarization.
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Decades of data indicate that over time, the foundations gave less to the founder’s own community and religious causes. But the share of their donations supporting social movements rose.
Opinion journalism can rile people up – or it can bring them together.
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The best op-ed pages operate like a town square, allowing readers to discuss and debate issues important to their communities and beyond. But many now focus on divisive national political issues.
President Joe Biden signs the $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill into law Thursday.
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Jeb Barnes, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
The idea that Washington, D.C., is paralyzed by gridlock rests on half-truths about the legislative process and a basic misunderstanding of how contemporary policymaking works.
Laws and policy are being made in Washington – both inside Congress and out.
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Jeb Barnes, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
The idea that Washington, DC is paralyzed by gridlock rests on half-truths about the legislative process and a basic misunderstanding of how contemporary policymaking works.
As vice president, Joe Biden – seen here on left, in 2016 – had a working relationship with the Republican Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell. Is that possible now?
Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
A survey of 800 foreign policy experts identified four international issues where Republicans and Democrats may actually cooperate to get something done – and one area of severe disagreement.
U.S. President Donald Trump removes his mask as he stands on the Blue Room Balcony upon returning to the White House Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, in Washington, after spending time in hospital with a COVID-19 infection.
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
New research suggests that if Donald Trump had handled the COVID-19 pandemic better and kept outbreaks under control, he might have won the Nov. 3 election.
A woman views a manipulated video that changes what is said by President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama.
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Using machine learning to study over 85 million YouTube comments, a research team has, for the first time, identified linguistic differences among cable news viewers.
Richard Nixon, celebrating his election on Nov. 7, 1968, campaigned against a backdrop of racial inequality, civic unrest and polarized politics.
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There are similarities between the law-and-order language used by the 1968 and 2020 presidential candidates and the racial tension and political polarization both years. But much is different.
Tucker Carlson is a big fan of the phrase ‘they hate.’ Usually, he’s talking about Democrats.
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The conservative cable news channel particularly favors the term when explaining opposition to Donald Trump. This framing of the news can lead Fox viewers to see the world as us versus them.
Both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump have been accused of using hate speech.
AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi
My research shows that when politicians use hate speech, it’s not just empty rhetoric or political theater: Domestic terrorism increases, in the US and in other countries.
Demonstrators outside the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 21 called on the Republican-controlled Senate not to confirm a new justice until the next president is in office.
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The Supreme Court doesn’t have to be so polarized. Many European countries make judicial appointments in a term-limited, intentionally depoliticized way to promote consensus and compromise.
Masks Up, Surf City, banner campaign in Huntington Beach, Calif.
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