Men in gray
What’s the Trump administration doing to the U.S. federal bureaucracy? Francis Fukuyama on the real drivers of waste in the American civil service and the democratic peril in attacking it politically.
Imperial presidency
Is there really an autocratic threat coming from inside American democracy? Daniel Bessner on the growth of U.S. presidential power and the resiliency of the remaining checks on it.
Crisis in Seoul
How resilient is democracy in South Korea? Stephan Haggard on increasing social polarization, economic inequality, and political violence.
The fourth branch
What exactly do U.S. President Donald Trump and his inner circle have in mind when they say they’re taking on the “deep state”? Hugh Wilford on the specter of an unelected government behind the American government.
Hard to pin down
Why did people around the world vote out incumbents last year? Steven Levitsky on the emerging complexity of the populist right.
Black box
Does the Chinese Communist Party really control TikTok? Emile Dirks on how it’s just like any other social-media platform—and isn’t.
Dear customer
Have banks really started closing people’s accounts because of their political views? Victoria Barnes on the dynamics of debanking.
Future blues
Why has Japan’s longtime ruling party lost its majority? Tobias S. Harris on political scandals, economic struggles, and a deep loss of public confidence in the country’s institutions.
Racecraft
What does it mean that more non-white Americans voted for Donald Trump in this year’s U.S. presidential election than in the previous two? Adolph Reed on the limits of identity politics.
