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When We Choose Knaves
 

The Alien and Enemies Act gives the President nearly unfettered power to expel non-citizens in times of war and the Supreme Court has given the President great leeway to determine what is and what is not a war. What we are witnessing is less a constitutional crisis than a cold and cruel manipulation of existing laws to stoke fear that is shocking to our humanist sensibilities. 

Democracy and Dissent

Today, it is worth recalling Arendt’s foundational defense of public dissent as well as her outspoken resistance to legalized denaturalization based on political opinions. 

Children of Light and Children of Darkness

When Melvin Rogers went looking for insight about politics today, he skipped over his old friend John Dewey and chose Reinhold Niebuhr.

More on Saving the Open Society

An 'open society' doesn’t endure simply because it promises freedom. Without a deeper sense of purpose, sacrifice, and shared values, people will turn to the structure and certainty of closed societies. Liberalism’s weakness lies in its rejection of the very virtues—duty, listening, loyalty, and struggle—that give life meaning. If an 'open society' cannot offer something equally compelling, people will inevitably seek purpose elsewhere.

A More Open Society

The future demands a genuinely open and participatory society—one built on awareness, deep listening, and ethical responsibility. Yet history moves in cycles, and the rise of strong gods reflects a reaction to the excesses of an "open society." The struggle is not openness vs. closure, but participation vs. domination. Power must be returned to the people through institutions that prevent both stagnation and authoritarianism. Governance must be driven by engagement, where citizens actively shape their future. The challenge is not just to defend an "open society," but to ensure openness does not become its own form of exclusion.

A Constitutional Crisis?

Is the U.S. facing a constitutional crisis, or is it all political theater? This analysis breaks down the escalating tensions between the executive branch and the courts—separating fact from fiction and exploring what’s really at stake for American democracy.

Only Power Can Check Power
 

Hannah Arendt saw America’s strength in its dispersion of power, rooted in civic engagement and local governance. As executive authority expands, the true challenge is not just legal resistance but the reinvigoration of collective action. Can we reclaim the founding spirit of self-governance, or will we cede our power to those who seek to consolidate it?

Project Presidential Power

The consolidation of presidential power through executive actions and the theory of the unitary executive poses a fundamental threat to the constitutional separation of powers and democracy, exacerbated by media failures to address these actions beyond partisan framing.

On Political Contingency

This article delves into the precarious balance of power, tracing historical parallels and the unpredictable dynamics of human action to explore the implications of Donald Trump’s second presidency. Through the lens of Hannah Arendt’s philosophy and the lessons of history, it challenges readers to consider whether America stands on the brink of renewal, revolution, or stagnation.