A Year of Sharpening Contradictions

Juan Cole / Truthdig Dec 30, 2015 Despite the hype about Islamic State, other al-Qaida offshoots remain very dangerous. Dig deeper ( 6 Min. Read )

In Dark Times, Poetry Can Enlighten Us

By Shatha Almutawa / OtherWords Dec 17, 2015 Artists are coming together to commemorate victims of violence and create bridges between America and the Middle East. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

‘You Ain’t No Muslim, Bruv’: Retort to London Attacker Goes Viral

By Jon Queally / Common Dreams Dec 7, 2015 With anti-Muslim and xenophobic sentiment on the rise in the wake of the Paris terror attacks, a social media hashtag aims to push back against the reactionary blame game. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

VIDEO: Trevor Noah on the COP21 Conference and the Suppression of Activism in Paris

Staff / Truthdig Dec 2, 2015 The climate change conference is underway in Paris, and although French authorities have banned environmentalists from protesting after the recent terrorist attacks, activists have found a novel way to express their concerns about climate change. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

VIDEO: Refugees Appear Alongside British Rapper M.I.A. in New Music Clip ‘Borders’

Staff / Truthdig Dec 1, 2015 In a recently released music video, Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam, known as M.I.A., highlights the plight of refugees who risk their lives to cross borders. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Hollande and Putin Meet as France Considers an Alliance With the Syrian Army (Video)

Juan Cole / Truthdig Nov 29, 2015 French President Francois Hollande met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow last week, in his marathon search for a “grand and unique coalition” against Islamic State (Daesh) in Syria. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Why Government Access to Encrypted Messages Won’t Make Us Safer

Thor Benson / Truthdig Nov 25, 2015 Since the Paris attacks, some officials and pundits have argued that government agencies should have a "back door" to encoded apps But such a capability would only compromise the communications of law-abiding citizens, and terrorists would quickly find new ways to evade detectionSince the Paris attacks, some officials have argued that government should have a "back door" to encoded apps. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

The New Nativist Hysteria Is Illegitimate, Divisive and Dangerous

Bill Blum / Truthdig Nov 25, 2015 The xenophobic outburst on Capitol Hill and across the heartland won’t make us safer. In fact, it plays directly into the hands of terrorist organizations like Islamic State. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

VIDEO: Will Europe Address the Muslims of Its ‘Marginalized Ghettos’?

Staff / Truthdig Nov 23, 2015 As authorities search a locked-down Brussels for suspects in this month’s Paris attacks, Belgian-born Peter Bouckaert, emergencies director for Human Rights Watch, talks about the pockets of European cities where many migrants live. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

VIDEO: John Oliver Explains Why We Seriously Don’t Need to Make U.S. Refugee Vetting Any Harder

Staff / Truthdig Nov 23, 2015 All this anti-refugee talk in America has inspired HBO's "Last Week Tonight" host to give another impassioned speech about refugees, just in time for Thanksgiving, the commemoration of the only time in American history when "the fear of refugees wiping everyone out did actually come true." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

AUDIO: ‘Left, Right & Center’: On the Post-Paris Era

Kasia Anderson / Truthdig Nov 23, 2015 In this week's "Left, Right & Center," panelists give their take on the world after the Nov. 13 terrorist attacks in Paris, engaging in a spirited debate over the origins of Islamic State, what to do about the refugee crisis and how to tackle terrorism on a global scale. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Brussels Maintains State of Emergency as European Crackdown Grows

By Nadia Prupis / Common Dreams Nov 23, 2015 Officials tighten security measures in former border-free zone amid terror warnings. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )