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鈥淐oup plot鈥� drama is sparking global concern for a key Mideast kingdom of calm. Our reporter looks at how a royal family feud threatened to roil a region.

President Biden鈥檚 broad definition of infrastructure links it to the welfare of the people it serves. It鈥檚 also meeting with a rethink, by some Americans, of the role of government in their lives.

The moment in history, as well as an aspiring parent鈥檚 own time of life, is of course part of the calculus around when to start a family. We look at some personal responses to the current uncertainty.

Momentum toward clean energy continued even during an administration that didn鈥檛 prioritize it. Here鈥檚 a graphic-based look at where the U.S. stands 鈥� and how much more there is to do.

Finally, the breaking of baseball鈥檚 color barrier is a more nuanced story than the one often shorthanded by the citing of the big-name pioneers. We found two great reads that hail some unsung contributors and fill in some important gaps.

Long a constitutional monarchy 鈥� more monarchy than constitutional 鈥� Jordan has been an island of convenient stability in the Middle East. That image was shattered over the weekend when the government of King Abdullah accused his half brother, former Crown Prince Hamzah, of 鈥渄estabilizing Jordan鈥檚 security.鈥� Prince Hamzah claims he is under house arrest. With suggestions of an attempted coup, the palace intrigue continues like a segment of 鈥淭he Crown鈥� or 鈥淕ame of Thrones鈥� or even an Oprah Winfrey interview of disaffected British royals.聽

But the real spotlight should be on Jordanians. Their growing embrace of political equality has laid a broader groundwork for a challenge to hereditary rule in one of the Arab world鈥檚 many monarchies or emirates.

Jordan鈥檚 king, who can easily disband Parliament, has become more authoritarian as citizens increasingly demand basic rights and liberties. Last year, voter turnout was near a historic low for seats in a parliament described as merely decor. Hundreds of teachers were arrested for demanding better benefits. As more Jordanians connect by internet, they discover shared concerns. And as the historical demise of monarchies shows, they feel less like subjects and more like individuals capable of self-governance.

Prince Hamzah says he was not part of any conspiracy against the king. Rather, he said, 鈥淓ven to criticize a small aspect of a policy leads to arrest and abuse by the security services.鈥� That assessment of Jordan鈥檚 political climate is backed up by two global watchdogs, Freedom House and The Economist Intelligence Unit鈥檚 Democracy Index.

Monarchs, which claim authority by a belief that bloodlines bestow legitimacy, often feel threatened by their extended family. Issues over succession are often a source of instability. Jordan鈥檚 palace turmoil is a case in point. Yet these days such challenges to dynasties more often come from an awakening of people about the key concept of sovereignty 鈥� that each individual is worthy and democracies are best able to recognize that.

The era of personalization of power is giving way to one of power by persons who see each other as equals and demand institutions that are accountable to all. That recognition of shared equality is thicker than bloodlines.