Commentary
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From Collaboration to Consolidation: How Conference Realignment Concentrates Power Beyond Antitrust Reach
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College athletic conferences organize the economic and competitive structure of college sports. These leagues group universities into regional affiliations that coordinate scheduling, negotiate shared television contracts, and determine postseason competition. Two of the most prominent were the Pac-12 Conference, historically composed of major West Coast universities, and the Big 12…
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Following Illiberalism: What a Future U.S. Administration Can Learn from Poland’s Struggle with Illiberalism
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In 2028, the Trump administration’s second term will come to an end. As the United States approaches midterm elections this year, visions for what the U.S. might look like post Trump 2.0 will abound. This administration and its allies in Congress have moved the United States closer to illiberalism, defined…
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In Defense of Detemir: How US Drug Policy Let an Essential Insulin Disappear
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In December 2024, Novo Nordisk discontinued insulin detemir (levemir) in the U.S. They cited manufacturing constraints, alternative insulins, and reduced formulary coverage. This decision removed one of only three basal insulin options. No generic could replace it since the FDA does not allow compounding of insulins, and expedited pathways still…
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Iran’s Protests and the Myth of Instant Solutions
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On February 28, 2026, the United States & Israel conducted joint large-scale military strikes against Iran, hitting military and nuclear targets across cities including Tehran, Isfahan, Natanz, and Fordow. A number of key Iranian leaders have been killed, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Abdolrahim Mousavi, and…
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From Preclusive to Preventive: GLP-1 Accessibility
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Technological innovations often face backlash or skepticism at first before finding a place in everyday life. Famously, many believed the printing press would diminish human intellect, as the written word would replace memorization. Luddites opposed innovations during the Industrial Revolution in England, fearing that their businesses would be displaced by…
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AI mishaps are warning signs we can’t ignore
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Grok, the chatbot from Elon Musk’s xAI, sparked international controversy around the start of this year by creating millions of sexualized edits of users’ photos — including of minors. In replies to images on the social media platform X, users posted requests for Grok, such as “remove her clothes” or…
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Beyond Brain Drain: How Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws Undermine the Federal Workforce
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When lawmakers debate anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, the conversation is often framed as a cultural or moral dispute. House floor speeches and twitter fights are often centered on medicine, children, sports, and freedom of speech. It is effective for grabbing attention, to the point where people have built entire careers around anti-trans…
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Why Big Oil Does Not Stand To Win From Maduro’s Capture
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On January 9th, 2026, Donald Trump hosted a meeting with major executives of American oil companies to pitch them the opportunity to invest in oil production in Venezuela. Yet, the executives did not seem eager to commit to disbursing the $100 billion that Trump wanted to secure. Indeed, quite the…
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The Carney Doctrine: How Middle Powers Navigate a Weaponized Order
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At this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, two very different worlds were described. One came from Donald Trump. He spoke of America as an indispensable power, hinted again at acquiring Greenland, and told his audience that allies such as Canada owed their survival to U.S. generosity. The other…
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The Fragile Foundations of the AI Economy
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In the 1840s, Britain experienced one of the largest investment booms in modern economic history. Suddenly, an emerging, epochally transformative technology emerged, promising faster transport, lower costs, and national market integration. Railway mania was born, and capital poured in. At its peak, railway investment reached roughly seven percent of British…
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The Rise in Health Insurance Prices: How Policy Can Change American Healthcare
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Experts have been warning the public about the impending increase in health insurance prices in 2025, with even sharper increases expected this year in 2026. This anticipated increase comes with a shrinkage in coverage and a strain on low-income Americans who will not be able to afford these hiking premiums.…