Social Issues

My thoughts on various social issues, which can cover a wide variety of topics.

How Ronald Reagan Became a Republican

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Part 2, Reagan as President, is here How Ronald Reagan Became a Republican I’m writing this two-part series because to make any sense of American politics today, I think I need to better understand Ronald Reagan. He is so enshrined by so many Americans that it’s hard for me to separate the myth from the … Read more

How Reddit Profits from Public Shaming

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How Reddit Profits from Public Shaming Have you ever left Reddit feeling worse than when you opened it? It’s not an accident. While most platforms reward users for being liked, Reddit distinguishes itself by publicly displaying when users are not. The reason Reddit sometimes feels so toxic can be summed up very simply–the downvote is … Read more

Testing Constraints: Executive Power First, Constitutional Limits Later

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Testing Constraints: Executive Power First, Constitutional Limits Later See my companion analysis: “Presidential Conflicts of Interest“ Since late 2024, executive action across four constitutionally distinct domains: foreign policy, constitutional text, separation of powers, and domestic enforcement has followed a consistent pattern: legal and institutional constraints are treated as obstacles to be tested rather than defaults … Read more

Presidential Conflicts of Interest: How Preventive Safeguards Failed in Trump’s Second Term

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Presidential Conflicts of Interest: How Preventive Safeguards Failed in Trump’s Second Term Oversight systems intended to prevent presidential conflicts of interest now act only after transactions close, rather than beforehand. In President Donald Trump’s second term, this shift created a recurring pattern: regulatory pressure decreased, private actors gained access or advantage, and oversight arrived too … Read more

Trump Venezuela Intervention: When Executive Action Exceeds Constitutional Authority

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Trump Venezuela Intervention: When Executive Action Exceeds Constitutional Authority President Trump has said the United States will “run the country” in Venezuela until a “safe, proper and judicious transition,” and that Venezuela’s oil sector will be opened to American companies, with U.S. firms prioritized in future production. The administration describes this not as war, but … Read more