The status quo has changed in the Middle East. Words have escalated to actions, but how deep will those actions go? Back in the United States, we examine how selectively our rights are applied, why accelerationism isn't the answer, and take an objective look at the most consequential campaign finance case in modern history.
U.S. and Israel launch a decapitation strike on Iran, killing Khamenei and sparking a regional war that trades deterrence for systemic collapse.
Second Amendment rights applied selectively? Explore how the Trump administration's gun stance echoes the 1967 Mulford Act's racial double standard.
Hasan Piker’s accelerationist gamble and why history shows collapse rarely delivers democratic socialism.
Citizens United (2010) barred limits on independent corporate political spending, reshaping campaign finance and sparking lasting debate over money and democracy.
A deep analysis of the Jan 2026 Iran protests. Explore how the state transitioned from persuasion to routine coercion and the death of political reform.
Is ICE becoming a paramilitary force? Explore how Robert Paxton’s theories on fascist processes reveal dangerous parallels in modern US enforcement.
Is the state a protector or a predator? Explore Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan and the "Narrow Corridor" between state power and individual liberty.
Why does the "out-party" dominate midterms? Analyze the 2014 GOP wave and see why 2026 looks like a perfect storm for a Democratic comeback.
Trump’s Greenland annexation threats spark a NATO crisis. Explore the strategic, economic, and personal motives behind the 2026 Arctic power play.
Congratulations to our 3rd winner, Sam!
You ever try to put out a newsletter and shit just keeps happening? The death count for the Iranian protests keeps rising higher and higher. Click here for live updates from AP and expect some more comprehensive coverage next week. Marlow, one of our editors, conducted an interview with one of Renee Good's neighbors, check out "Domestic Terrorists" or click here for the full video!
Hope y'all had a happy holidays! See you next week!
Trapped on a cliff face, I realized how to fight political dread. Why the Minneapolis anti-ICE protests show that local action beats nihilism.
They killed a poet mom and laughed. The chilling logic behind the GOP's "Acceptable Dead."
From liberty to hell: Is the US following Venezuela's path? How Jan 6, populism, and judicial capture link Hugo Chávez to Donald Trump.
Smokers and drunk drivers pay more. Why are anti-vaxxers getting a free ride on your insurance premiums?
Powell served with subpoenas. Why Trump’s war on Fed independence is the "irrevocable step" we feared.
How Democrats can win 2028: A pragmatic policy agenda for tax reform, border security, and NATO to win back the center.
Case put in a lot of work this volume, so give him some love!
Also unsure if we'll be releasing a volume next week, I'll make a Christmas post regardless. See you soon!
"I’m f*cked." Inside Mueller Vol. 2: The damning timeline of obstruction, from firing Comey to pressuring Sessions, and why Trump was not exonerated.
From St. Petersburg to Trump Tower: The Complete Timeline of Russian Interference, Hacking, and the Mueller Investigation.
Blood, hate, and terror. How the white power movement weaponized Vietnam trauma to declare war on the US, culminating in the slaughter at OKC.
Hegseth’s boat strikes signal war with Venezuela. Miami exiles cheer the escalation, but the move exposes deep fractures in Trump’s MAGA base.
Tariffs dominate the Executive Orders this month, with just enough space to corrupt the Foster System
Congratulations to Sterling Raiklen on the DGG Political Action Award!
Unfuck America, Destiny, and Adam Mockler are doing a fundraising livestream today! Swing on by and show your support!
unknown nodeCan soldiers refuse illegal orders? Analyzing US v. Keenan and the Law of War in the wake of Trump’s 2025 "Southern Spear" boat strikes.
An analysis of MAGA authoritarian psychology and whether Tit-for-Tat strategies, satire, and institutional action can counter the movement’s influence.
From grief to impact: How ethical clothing donations and local volunteering turn personal loss into meaningful community activism.
New 2025 convictions expose Russian and Chinese infiltration of Europe’s far-right, ranging from British bribery to espionage within the German AfD.
It won't happen, but fair warning; if there's a picture of Donald Trump blowing a horse in the Epstein files it's gonna be the cover of an issue. And my lock screen.
A deep dive into sanctuary cities, ICE detainers, legal battles, and how political messaging keeps distorting the real issues behind immigration policy.
How Republicans failed to uphold democratic norms, and what citizens must demand from future leaders to prevent another slide toward authoritarianism.
How game theory and political communication explain why quiet, firm non-cooperation is the most effective strategy for countering populist parties.
A divided Trump administration weighs covert ops, military escalation, and fragile diplomacy as rival factions push competing strategies for Venezuela’s future.
How war, security policies, and public suspicion are reshaping the lives, rights, and political future of Palestinian citizens inside Israel.
Yes Donald, we see the fit
unknown nodeDemocrats rebound in 2025, flipping key state and local races, defying polls, and signaling momentum against Trump’s agenda.
China’s space sector rapidly advances, driven by ideology, investment, and strategy, challenging U.S. dominance and reshaping global space leadership.
How Erik Prince, George Nader, and Kirill Dmitriev’s secret Seychelles meeting blurred the line between diplomacy, influence, and deception.
Geert Wilders’ rise and fall show how competence, not confrontation, best disarms populists—offering key lessons for U.S. Democrats.
A century after Versailles, Gaza’s ceasefire echoes its mistake: a peace without legitimacy, pausing war rather than ending it.
Celebrating grassroots heroes: the DGG Political Action Awards honor volunteers like Austin and Pendulum for their inspiring, hands-on work in local politics.
Need something to watch while Destiny is on hiatus?
Thomas Ullmann/Reasonriffs had a chat with Kafka about religion, give it a watch! https://www.youtube.com/live/6aBrolDiCoc?si=GNSXy7a2eLklkKW4
It gets a little weird when Kafka starts talking in a jamaican accent, but stick it out.
A portrait of Stephen Miller—the bureaucrat who turned Trump’s instincts into policy and made cruelty the organizing principle of American immigration.
How Putin’s KGB past forged a strategy to weaponize Europe’s far-right — a blueprint still destabilizing Western democracies today.
The rule of law is dead; loyalty rules now. Trump’s America shows how democracies don’t collapse—they suffocate while everyone watches.
Israel’s ceasefire with Hamas masks a deeper shift: quiet in Gaza, expansion in the West Bank, and a crisis of Palestinian legitimacy.
Higher than normal electrical usage in the downtown LA area caused blackouts that fried my internet router, apologies for the late edition!
Israel-Hamas ceasefire analyzed: a fragile pause driven by exhaustion, not resolution—exploring the political calculus, verification gaps, and regional stakes.
How Trump's team sold out democracy: Manafort's caviar deals, Cohen's Moscow tower, and the Russian connections that fueled the 2016 campaign.
Russian sabotage in Europe: drone incursions, warehouse fires, and proxy recruitment expose a coordinated campaign to undermine Ukraine's allies.
A DGG Political Action policy proposal to double Chafee Program funding, expand eligibility, universalize 2-year support, and create federal app to track ex-foster outcomes.
Tariffs, TikTok, and Labor Rights remain in the sights of the Trump Administration.
It'll be so great when Democrats win the midterms and everything just snaps back to normal, right guys?
Trump’s second term escalates as federal troop deployments in Oregon and Illinois test the limits of presidential power and America’s democratic restraint.
A sailor’s vow against America’s creeping extremism—why I refuse to become Rolf, the boy who traded love and country for blind devotion.
Trump’s Gaza peace plan promises stability—but beneath the headlines lies a blueprint for deeper chaos, foreign control, and a peace built on illusion.
How Russia’s fractured 1990s evolved into Putin’s centralized “power vertical,” and why the trade of freedom for order remains a warning to democracies.
This edition was supposed to come out yesterday, but my immune system had other plans. Sunday is the regular schedule moving forward. Thanks for reading!
Trump’s actions echo classic fascist patterns—media suppression, corruption, xenophobic rhetoric, and criminalizing dissent—posing a grave threat to U.S. democracy.
European recognitions of Palestinian statehood signal a diplomatic shift, strengthening legal standing and international pressure, though immediate relief in Gaza is limited.
The UK has recognised Palestine along 1967 borders, offering a boon to legal pressure on Israel but what effects will it have on the ground?
Charlie Kirk was fatally shot at a Utah event, sparking political blame, media bias debates, and Trump’s directive targeting “anti-fascist” groups.
Apologies for the delay! I said the next edition would be out on Tuesday in the special edition post, but that was before I knew the timing of the Tyler Robinson's charging documents being released.
Luckily nothing else happened since that point, right?
The editor's take on Kirk , GOP hypocrisy, and the urgent need for the left to respond strategically.
A brutal Gaza war sparks a global clash over law and morality, as accusations of genocide test the limits of international justice and political will.
Charlie Veitch’s escape from 9/11 conspiracies shows how belonging drives radicalization—and how empathy and new communities can unlock deradicalization.
Trump’s DC troop surge masks low crime with fear, offering a short-term drop while eroding trust and blurring the civilian–military line.
UK migration fears outpace facts: far-right narratives drive hardline policies, but data show asylum seekers are few and migrants boost the economy.
Advocating for the working poor means framing policy as a fight for fairness—boosting wages, banking access, and mobility to end systemic economic injustices.
Israel’s Gaza City offensive marks a shift from deterrence to occupation, risking legal, humanitarian, and political fallout despite military gains.
Tariffs, National Guard, and Cashless Bail. The Administration revels in its lack of accountability.
Russia’s IRA used fake accounts, stolen data, and GRU hackers to spread propaganda, sow division, and disrupt democracies worldwide.
Keep your eyes peeled for a special mid-week edition of the Pragmatic Papers! And thank you all for reading! See you soon!
John Ganz’s When the Clock Broke uncovers how Sam Francis’s radical vision of resentment reshaped U.S. politics, foreshadowing Trump-era populism.
A week of wreckage: Greens split left, Farage plays statesman, Rayner quits, Starmer reshuffles, far-right marches on.
A policy proposal, by DGG Political Action
How Soviet disinformation campaigns like Operation Infektion set the stage for Russia’s modern digital propaganda—and how the West can respond.
Abundance misreads 2024: Democrats didn’t lose for bad policy, but for ignoring identity, values, and messaging that shape real politics.
Guys you gotta give me this one
unknown nodeRussia’s AI-fueled disinformation war spreads through fake news sites, bots, and cyber deals, undermining elections and trust worldwide.
Timothy Snyder warns: politics of ‘inevitability’ and ‘eternity’ erode democracy—only history can restore agency and defend the future.
Israelis see the Hamas war as existential yet endless—caught between survival, hostage diplomacy, and deep distrust in political leadership.
Ezra Klein’s Abundance recycles the false ‘Democrats lost the working class’ narrative—dangerous, misleading, and holding the party back.
As you may have noticed, the lead this week is focused moreso on science rather than politics. It's a deviation from our regularly scheduled programming, but it's an expertly written piece and I enjoyed reading about progress being made rather than destroyed. Tell me how you feel about it in the comments down below!
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Thank you all for your support, it's what keeps us going over here. See you next week!
Explore in-space nuclear propulsion (NTP) for faster, efficient Moon & Mars missions and humanity’s expansion into deep space.
Texas redistricting sparks a nationwide map war, exposing partisan media bias and raising questions about logic, power, and public trust.
Gaza’s people suffer war yet lack a voice in peace talks—excluded, silenced, and denied agency in shaping their own future.
China flips Trump’s trade war: tariffs backfire, U.S. blinks first, and Beijing gains leverage in long-term rivalry.
Russia escalates in Ukraine as Trump prepares Alaska summit, raising stakes for diplomacy and Kyiv’s survival.
Rising HIV in Russia’s military strains readiness, exposes soldiers to stigma, and highlights a preventable operational crisis.
Redistricting battles in Texas and California threaten fair representation—citizens, lawmakers, and activists must push back now.
Israel’s Gaza campaign advances militarily, but without a clear political plan, the territory risks chaos, instability, and future conflict.
The Administration takes on the AI Industry, Homelessness, and College Football
I get torn when doing the editors notes for the Pragmatic Papers. On one hand, I want to maintain a sense of professionalism. It feels weird to meme surrounded by the backdrop of many a serious subject. On the other hand, I do want the papers to feel organic and I don't want to hide my personality out of a fear of moving from what seems to be a standard that people may not care about, and may ultimately harm the reach of the papers in the long run. Watching last night's festivities provided some clarity in the middle of chaos. It's not a question of how much I'm willing to corrupt my ideals in pursuit of a ridiculous goal. It's a question much more fundamental than that. It's a question of moral fiber and the courage to stand on one's business. It's a question that ones destined for greatness need to answer every single day in order to achieve their goals. It's not just a question, it's a statement of self in a world determined to strip that away.
Yes, or no?
Trump and the EU strike a major tariff deal—15% baseline, $750B energy pledge, and tough talk on steel. Unity or economic blackmail?
Gaza’s collapse: How siege, strikes, and aid blockades have created a man-made famine and shattered humanitarian norms.
Zelenskyy revives peace talks as Russia escalates strikes, Musk blocks Starlink, and protests rock Kyiv over anti-corruption law—Ukraine's wild week.
A deep dive into the launch of Jeremy Corbyn’s Your Party, its roots in Labour’s left split, and the risks it poses to UK electoral unity on the left.
Trump makes his appointment process simpler
In 2017, I biked home from Armenia via Ukraine and Transnistria. That journey now fuels my Ride for Ukraine—a fundraiser for United24.
Trump shifts on Ukraine, pledging Patriot systems and a Europe-funded plan, as GOP pivots, Russia escalates, and a U.S.-Ukraine drone deal emerges.
CPI rises amid tariff-driven inflation; Trump calls for rate cuts as economists warn of overheating and public disapproval grows.
Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack was no outburst—it was a strategic, ideological bid to reclaim power, disrupt normalization, and redefine Palestinian resistance
Green energy suffers another attack by the Trump administration, while Tariffs are extended yet again.
Trump’s tariff threats rattle Europe—talks stall as the EU faces a hard choice: stand firm or surrender to economic coercion.
AfD’s leaked ‘Projekt 2029’ reveals a path to power built on culture war, CDU cracks, and coded extremism beneath polished optics.
A look at how Trump's OBBBA reshapes Medicaid access, burdens the poor, and exposes the quiet dismantling of public services.
Chaos in D.C., carnage in Ukraine—inside a week of reversals, rogue orders, and rising doubts about America's global leadership.
While Gaza burns, the West Bank is quietly emptied—how settler violence and state complicity are redrawing the map of Palestine.
Our nation's parks are drowning 100 feet off shore, and were just thrown a 5 foot rope