The Blunt Strategy Behind Trump’s Bombastic Facade President Donald Trump’s theatrical bombast and mercurial speech—marked by swaggering declarations and off-the-cuff remarks—have the air of a showman, rather than a statesman. His behavior delights the mass base of his ardent followers, but frequently clashes with traditional American presidential norms, especially overseas. A recent example: an AI-generated … Read more
How to See Fashion’s Biggest Night: The 2025 Met Gala By Leanne Italie, Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Pharrell Williams has big plans for the Met Gala this year. It’s the first to be entirely devoted to Black designers and the first in more than two decades to focus on menswear. “I hope it’s … Read more
Who is George Simion, the MAGA-Type Nationalist Front-Runner in Romania’s Presidential Race? President Donald Trump and his “Make America Great Again” crusade, George Simion, claimed the number-one position in Romania’s presidential election following a landslide win in a re-run of the election that was mandated by court. His populist agenda and hard-right platform have brought … Read more
Star Wars Gift Ideas Moms Will Love ☕ JoyJolt Grogu Coffee Mug Set Start her morning off with a touch of cuteness. This double-walled glass two-piece coffee mug set features Grogu’s watchful eye, directly infused into the artwork. A sweet addition to her kitchen that is both fun and functional. 🧱 LEGO Star Wars The … Read more
Editor’s Note: Everyone Can Play Sports and Recreation I’m not a good soccer player—and I don’t have to be. Every week, under summer heat and even on cold winter mornings, I play with a queer and trans soccer league. The collective was established a couple of years ago with a simple aim: provide space for … Read more
After Devastating Fire at Will Rogers’ Historic Home Shortly after sunset on Jan. 7, Jennifer Rogers received a 14-second video message at her home in Claremore, Oklahoma. The sky in the video was orange with smoke. A friend’s voice, steady but grave, delivered the blow: “OK, Jenn, it’s in the park. No doubt.” The park … Read more
Operation Gideon’s Chariots – Gaza Conflict Escalation Overview On May 4, 2025, the Israeli Security Cabinet approved a full-scale military operation named Operation Gideon’s Chariots. The campaign is aimed at expanding Israeli military activity throughout the Gaza Strip, marking a major escalation following the collapse of a mid-March ceasefire. Strategic Objectives The key goals of … Read more
UCLA Protest Lawsuit Overview Background of the Protests The protests began on April 25, 2024, as part of a national demonstration against Israel’s military incursion into Gaza. At UCLA, the Palestine Solidarity Encampment was formed to demand that the university divest from companies engaged with the Israeli military. The encampment was repeatedly attacked by counter-protesters … Read more
Introducing Our May/June 2025 Issue Dear Texas Observer readers, With three months into a second Trump presidency, nearly a decade into his tenure, over a decade under Governor Greg Abbott’s leadership, and 22 long years of unbroken GOP control of Texas government, political progress in our state is at a crossroads between stagnation, retreat, and … Read more
5 Revolutionary Advances in Industrial Manufacturing Industrial manufacturing is changing at a breakneck speed, and revolutionary advances are transforming design, manufacture, and distribution. From additive manufacturing to widespread use of robots, advances are transforming how things are made, improving efficiency and quality of production. Following are five of the most exciting advances in the sector … Read more