Posts by Topher McDougal
Trump’s tariffs are an authoritarian power grab, pure and simple
In early April, the Trump administration announced a sweeping new round of tariffs, targeting imports across a wide array of sectors. These measures, which build on his earlier trade war during his first term, have been roundly described by economists as a mistake. They will likely raise prices for American consumers, disrupt global supply chains,…
Read MoreGaia Wakes on the History of Philosophy podcast!
I was honored, gratified, and in all other ways delighted to have GaiaWakes as the main topic of conversation on Will Engels’ hyper-smart History of Philosophy podcast. Such a fun and wide-ranging conversation!
Read MoreHumanitarianism in crisis and the collapse of pluralism
Humanitarianism, if you hadn’t noticed, is in crisis. As expected, the “stop work” notices issued in the US by the Trump administration have now turned into termination notices for most humanitarian and aid work. It’s important to understand that the engineered collapse of the US and possibly wider humanitarian systems is not a standalone event.…
Read MoreWhat would Alice Amsden do? International Development & the Dismantling of USAID
In the wake of the Trump Administration’s dismantlement of USAID, I find myself struggling to hold (without necessarily seeking to resolve) various tensions. On the one hand, the utter contempt with which the administration has treated the decades of hard work, the dedication, and impressive depth of knowledge of so many tens of thousands of…
Read MoreKilling Camelot: Oligarchy & CEO Assassination
The Kind and his Champion Marvel Arthurianism, CEO assassination, and populist resistance in the age of techno-oligarchic feudalism On January 20th, a would-be king strode onto the inauguration / coronation stage and declared the dawn of America’s “Golden Age”. No miracle, no heavenly sword pulled from a stone, had graced his rule with a divine…
Read MoreThe Gaza Wedge & Moral Dilemma Facing American Voters
This is an op-ed I originally wrote for the Kroc School of Peace Studies’ Innovating Peace blog in October 2024, reposted here as a kind of “told you so” 🙂 As Americans enter the final two weeks before Election Day, we once again find ourselves – unbelievably, for those of us who cling, even halfheartedly, to…
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