While the history of Cold War intervention rightly shapes international responses to Nicolás Maduro’s kidnapping, the emphases of US policymakers today are more in line with those of the early 20th century, especially the aftermath of Cuban independence from Spain and President Wilson’s occupation of Haiti.
“Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Tom Hanks fan club?”: Modern McCarthyism in America
Recent attacks on Tom Hanks and American universities highlight parallels between 2025 and the McCarthy era. But our moment has something the Cold War Red Scare didn't: the benefits of hindsight and mass resistance.
The Industry that Stayed: How Meatpacking Remained Domestic
As the Trump administration calls for the return of domestic manufacturing, there is one industry that managed to resist the outsourcing process of the late 20th century. It only required the destruction of its labor unions.
The First 100 Days of Trump 2.0: A Foreign Policy Assessment
The first 100 days of President Trump's second term marks a departure from established US foreign policy, focusing on dismantling international aid and agreements. His administration’s actions, including cuts to USAID and skepticism toward NATO, jeopardize global partnerships. Trump's approach favors unilateralism and transactional relations over multilateral cooperation, risking America's leadership and security in an increasingly authoritarian world.
Fascism or Democracy: The Work Behind, the Work Ahead
If America’s greatness is its love of freedom, who held the firehoses in Birmingham? Who wielded clubs on Edmund Pettus Bridge?
Hulkamania Runs Wild at the 2024 Republican National Convention
On July 18, 2024, Donald Trump officially accepted the Republican Party’s nomination as its candidate for president. While there was no shortage of unconventional speeches at the Republican National Convention (RNC) held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, one speech stuck out. Merely an hour before Trump capped off his four-day coronation, Hulk Hogan, the former star of... Continue Reading →
The Red Wave That Wasn’t
History and prior political science research forecast a dismal 2022 midterm for Democrats. However, Donald Trump, the consequences of his presidency, and his chosen candidates dragged the Republicans down.
Teaching (amid a) White Backlash
White conservatives use vigilante violence and state suppressionist "backlash" tactics to undermine movements for equality. Together, we can stop them.
White Backlash and the American State – Syllabus
This syllabus, "White Backlash and the American State," examines the relationship between white vigilantism, state violence, and the American state.
There’s a Legitimate Critique of the 1619 Project. And Then There’s Sean Wilentz.
Conservatives have relied on a small group of historians to validate their criticisms of the 1619 Project. Now one of the most vocal historians against the 1619 Project is trying to distance himself from the far-Right.