Opinion

• Experts highlighted the growing significance of public opinion surveys in Indonesia's democratic transition during a recent awards ceremony. • The surveys are increasingly used to shape election strategies and evaluate the effectiveness of government policies. • This trend underscores the critical role of public sentiment in influencing political decision-making and democratic accountability.

• In *Mullin v. Al Otro Lado*, the court ruled that the Immigration and Nationality Act prevents individuals who have not yet "arrived in" the U.S. from seeking asylum. • Similarly, in *Mullin v. Doe*, the court decided that the Temporary Protected Status statute does not allow for judicial review of the Trump administration's decisions regarding Haiti and Syria. • These rulings effectively uphold the Trump administration's ability to deport Haitians and Syrians by overturning previous administration determinations.

Adam O’Neal did not give reason for his departure at end of August, in another major shakeup at US publicationThe Washington Post had realized a state of relative calm in the five months since the paper was turned upside down in February, when nearly half the newsroom was laid off and its unpopular publisher, Will Lewis, abruptly resigned.But on Friday, staffers were shocked to find out that Adam O’Neal, a millennial hired last year to lead its opinion section, was already leaving. Continue reading...

• Author Moyn argues that the prevalence of aging politicians in the United States is merely the "tip of the iceberg" of a larger systemic issue. • The piece suggests that the age of political leadership is a direct reflection of an aging American electorate. • This dynamic matters because it indicates that the demographic shift in the voting population is driving the lack of generational turnover in government.

• India faces significant energy import vulnerabilities, highlighted by the 2026 oil price surge and critical chokepoints at the Strait of Hormuz. • The nation has the potential to meet up to 25% of its domestic energy demand growth through internal resources by 2047. • This situation underscores an urgent need for the Indian government to diversify its energy sources to ensure national security and economic stability.

• India is losing its regional dominance due to increasing influence from Beijing and Washington. • Professor Syed Munir Khasru highlights the need for India to find a new path, rather than trying to restore its old hierarchy. • This shift in power dynamics could have significant implications for the region's balance of power and India's strategic relationships.

• Asian nations, including Japan, South Korea, and Australia, are increasing their own defense spending and military capabilities to shoulder more of their own security burdens. • Key developments include Japan deploying longer-range missiles, Australia investing in nuclear-powered submarines, and South Korea debating the development of its own nuclear weapons. • This shift is driven by China's steady expansion of its armed forces and nuclear arsenal, creating a regional arms race.

• IBM reported its Q2 2026 earnings, characterized by modest revenue growth and a sharp decline in stock price despite non-GAAP earnings per share edging higher. • The company's software segment emerged as a positive highlight, while the infrastructure division faced headwinds and consulting revenue remained flat. • Analysts suggest the lack of a typical post-earnings rally is due to investors having already adjusted their expectations prior to the release.

• Former President Donald Trump and his allies are claiming that noncitizen voting poses a significant threat to the integrity of American elections. • The author argues that these claims are based on fear-driven rhetoric rather than empirical data or evidence. • This tension highlights a critical balance between securing election processes and ensuring that eligible citizens are not disenfranchised by restrictive measures.

• The author argues that physical media, such as Blu-rays and DVDs, is essential for preserving art in an era where streaming services frequently delete content. • The piece highlights "Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies" as a key example, noting that a posthumous DVD release rescued the series from being functionally erased from public memory. • This trend underscores a critical vulnerability in digital ownership, where major film and TV events can vanish due to corporate decisions or licensing shifts.

• Indonesia and India have signed an agreement to develop the Sabang port and enhance connectivity between the Andaman islands and Aceh. • The project focuses on providing critical on-shore services to support recent large-scale gas discoveries in the Andaman Sea. • This strategic partnership is framed as a response to U.S. unpredictability, which has pushed regional powers to seek more independent security and economic ties.

• A South Korean court has sentenced ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol to two years in prison for his involvement in a polling scandal. • The court found that Yoon illegally received manipulated opinion polls for free from a political broker to potentially aid his political standing. • This ruling highlights the legal consequences for electoral manipulation and the misuse of political influence within the South Korean government.

• A South Korean court sentenced ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol to two years in prison on Monday for illegally receiving manipulated opinion polls. • The court found that Yoon received these polls for free from a political broker in exchange for political favors to help secure his party's 2022 presidential nomination. • This ruling highlights the legal consequences of electoral manipulation and the misuse of political influence during the 2022 campaign cycle.

• Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to two years in prison for accepting 14 free opinion polls in exchange for political support. • The Seoul court found that Yoon colluded with his wife, Kim Keon Hee, to receive these polls from power broker Myung Tae-kyun to support a specific candidate. • This conviction adds to the legal challenges facing Yoon, who already faces a life sentence on insurrection charges related to his 2024 martial law declaration.

• The U.S. Supreme Court concluded a historic term characterized by landmark opinions and a heavy reliance on the "shadow docket" for emergency rulings. • Key legal battles focused on the intersection of gun rights and property rights, specifically through cases such as US v. Hemani and Wolford v. Lopez. • The term's decisions are significant as they address critical national issues, including the definition of U.S. citizenship and the impact of political policies on judicial rulings.

• The author argues for a constitutional amendment to protect voting rights in response to the proposed SAVE America Act. • The legislation, supported by Donald Trump and congressional Republicans, would change how states register voters and maintain data, potentially requiring original birth certificates for registration. • This shift is viewed as a significant barrier that could disenfranchise many Americans and hinder participation in upcoming midterm elections.

• The United States has shifted its South Asian foreign policy by engaging regional players independently, rather than seeking prior alignment or permission from India. • Washington is pursuing pragmatic cooperation with Pakistan on trade, minerals, and stability, while simultaneously recognizing Bangladesh as a strategic manufacturing powerhouse. • This shift marks a departure from previous strategies where the U.S. viewed nations like Bangladesh primarily through the lens of development aid or Indian security interests.

• In a 6-3 decision on Tuesday, the Supreme Court struck down limits on campaign expenditures made by political parties in coordination with candidates. • This ruling expands the legal precedent set by Citizens United v. FEC, further removing restrictions on how money flows into political campaigns. • Critics argue that this decision grants wealthy donors and parties disproportionate political power, potentially undermining democratic integrity.

• Col. Saikat K. Bose argues that the United Nations' value is often underestimated because critics focus on its failure to prevent major wars. • The author highlights that the UN's true strength lies in its routine, less visible functions, such as providing global coordination, legal frameworks, and trust to prevent smaller crises from escalating. • This perspective suggests that the primary danger is not the UN's inability to stop conflict, but the steady erosion of its credibility.

• Legal scholar William Baude analyzes several high-profile legal challenges involving former President Donald Trump, including cases regarding birthright citizenship and Election Day. • The discussion focuses on the "no ifs, ands or buts" nature of these legal problems, specifically examining the boundaries of executive power and Federal Reserve independence. • These cases matter because they test the limits of presidential authority and the stability of long-standing democratic and financial institutions.

• The author argues that U.S. diplomacy under the Trump administration has shifted from impartial professional diplomats to real estate investors. • Specific concerns are raised regarding Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, alleging their roles in negotiations with Iran create significant conflicts of interest. • The piece highlights the "emoluments" clause of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits government officials from accepting payments or titles from foreign states without Congressional consent.

• Traders are increasingly adding Upwork (UPWK) to their buy lists, viewing it as a "value name" likely to benefit from safety flows into lower-priced equities. • Market sentiment remains measured, as there are currently no major catalysts driving a significant surge in stock activity. • Investors are drawing parallels between Upwork's business model and emerging AI agent platforms, sparking debate on how AI will evolve the freelance market.

• An opinion piece from the Australian Financial Review (AFR) challenges the prevailing "economic doomsday" narrative surrounding AI's impact on the workforce. • The author argues that sensationalized press coverage creates artificial volatility in practitioner environments, unfairly influencing hiring sentiments, budget cycles, and tool adoption. • This critique matters because it highlights how exaggerated long-run disruption forecasts can lead to miscalibrated business decisions and reactionary corporate strategies.

• The Opinions Editor argues that while immediate economic troubles have eased, the structural foundations necessary for sustainable, long-term growth remain absent. • Key sectors are struggling: high-skilled IT services are under pressure, manufacturing is failing to gain traction, and the financial sector is not creating enough low-to-medium skilled roles. • Job growth is currently concentrated in low-end services, exemplified by Zepto, which saw its delivery rider workforce surge from 49,278 in 2024 to 2.21 lakh in 2026.

Trump’s immigration agenda is on the supreme court docket with rulings still to come on birthright citizenship and TPS for Haitian and Syrian immigrantsSign up for the Breaking News US emailHello and welcome to the US politics live blog.The supreme court is expected to render at least one judgment today as the term is set to come to an end later this month. There are a series of cases yet to be decided that are relevant to Donald Trump, including his attempt to limit birthright citizenship and plan to remove legal protection from Haitian and Syrian immigrants.Donald Trump has signed a 14-point agreement with Iran, claiming it delivered a “major win” for the US. The Guardian’s Andrew Roth argues that the US entered war with maximalist goals and exited it with a pragmatic decision to end conflict despite political cost.A teenager has died after being thrown to the ground on Wednesday when a Central Park carriage horse bolted away from its driver, police in New York have said.On Wednesday, court proceedings revealed that Luigi Mangione’s legal team plans on pursuing a psychiatric defense during his upcoming Manhattan state court trial over the killing of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson. Continue reading...

• Europe's natural gas market has successfully navigated a "Hormuz stress test," maintaining stability despite potential disruptions to energy flows. • The market's resilience is attributed in part to a US-Iran peace deal, which suggests that the most severe risks of a supply shock may have subsided. • This development is critical as it reduces the immediate threat of energy shortages and price volatility across the European continent.

• Former Twitter employee Ahmad Abouammo was paid $300,000 by a Saudi official in exchange for confidential data on dissident users while working in San Francisco. • In a separate legal matter, the U.S. Supreme Court addressed the case of Hain Celestial Group, Inc. v. Palmquist on February 24, 2026. • This case involves Texas parents who are suing a baby food manufacturer and seller after their child developed serious physical and developmental disorders.

• The author argues that the current board lacks the necessary number of confirmed members to overturn legal precedents established during the Biden administration. • The piece emphasizes that without a full roster of appointees, the board cannot effectively challenge or reverse "rotten" policies. • This situation matters as it creates a legal stalemate, preventing the board from implementing a new ideological direction or correcting perceived administrative errors.