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Amid an escalation of strike and counterstrike, conflict between the U.S. and Iran may never reach a stage similar to a traditional war. But the risks from both physical and cyber attacks are very real.

For many of the 25,000 people marching across the Brooklyn Bridge Sunday, words like 鈥減luralism鈥� and 鈥渄iversity鈥� aren鈥檛 out of favor. They are a reminder that 鈥渁ll human dignity matters.鈥�

Adults often dismiss video-sharing apps as wastes of time. But with聽more than 700 million daily active users, the app TikTok has become a cultural touchstone for young people globally.

In a pluralistic society, are a woman鈥檚 鈥渞ight鈥� to wear shorts and a religious man鈥檚 鈥渞ight鈥� not to see her on an equal footing? It's a pressing issue in Israel. The second of two parts.

Conversations about conserving the Amazon rainforest often focus on global impact. But stewardship also stems from direct experience 鈥� just ask this former exporter of rare tropical wood.

The Supreme Court, at most times the least visible of the three legs of the U.S. government, is about to be drawn reluctantly into the national spotlight by the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.聽

That likelihood was undoubtedly on the mind of Chief Justice John Roberts as the new year dawned.

The Trump impeachment trial, when it does occur, will convene with Chief Justice Roberts presiding. The founders expected that the chief justice would provide an impartial facilitator for what would be a confrontation between the legislative and executive branches.

In his recent annual year-end remarks Chief Justice Roberts wrote of the need for civics education, and the eternal public vigilance necessary to ensure a healthy democracy endures. In some other year the document might have earned a shrug, a set of truisms deserving little comment. But in the current political atmosphere they took on heightened relevance.

Over the past 15 years the chief justice, an appointee of President George W. Bush, has consistently shown a conservative point of view in his rulings. But he鈥檚 also made a few significant departures from that camp, including a vote along with the court鈥檚 liberal justices that upheld the Affordable Care Act, also known as 鈥淥bamacare,鈥� and another that rejected the inclusion of a citizenship question as part of the U.S. Census.

In the chief justice鈥檚 recent remarks he took care to defend the independence of the judiciary, which by staying out of partisan politics, he said, is then able to supply 鈥渁 key source of national unity and stability.鈥澛�

He made a plea for civic education which, he said, 鈥渉as fallen by the wayside.鈥� An informed public is needed to 鈥渦nderstand our government, and the protections it provides鈥� in an age where 鈥渟ocial media can instantly spread rumor and false information on a grand scale.鈥� Many observers saw those last words as a reference, at least in part, to the president鈥檚 frequent tweets.

鈥淲e should reflect on our duty to judge without fear or favor, deciding each matter with humility, integrity, and dispatch,鈥� Chief Justice Roberts said. In an earlier 2018 statement he wrote of how politics should not intrude on the judiciary. There are no 鈥淥bama judges鈥� or 鈥淭rump judges,鈥� he wrote. 鈥淲hat we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them. That independent judiciary is something we should all be thankful for.鈥�

The chief justice himself will come under intense scrutiny as he presides at the impeachment trial. Will he show any favoritism on behalf of the president or his accusers?聽

The role of the Supreme Court, the chief justice has said, is like that of a baseball umpire, who must call the balls and strikes as he sees them, unswayed by either competing team.聽

In the coming impeachment trial, his ability to maintain a perception of total neutrality will greatly influence whether or not the trial is seen as fair and impartial.