All The Monitor's View
Europe鈥檚 future pivots on a Hungarian electionVoters in the Central European nation 鈥測earn鈥� for integrity after nearly 16 years of antidemocratic misrule by Viktor Orb谩n. They largely back a new party promising clean governance.
A glint of liberation for VenezuelaThe country is gradually releasing political prisoners. But some say a recent offer of 鈥渁mnesty鈥� implies they have broken the law 鈥� when, in fact, they have been exercising legitimate democratic rights.聽
The audacity of Trump鈥檚 choice as Fed chiefBy probing nominee Kevin Warsh on his views about tapping the ingenuity of Americans to fight inflation, the Senate may uncover new thinking on a bold approach.
Amid big-power politics, small nations forge bondsFrom the Caribbean to West Africa to Southeast Asia, lesser powers build bridges to not 鈥渁llow fear and insecurity to define us.鈥�
A Europe grateful for reproofsAmid criticism from friendly leaders, the EU holds an emergency summit to find ways to boost innovation and productivity. Its leaders even thank the continent鈥檚 bashers.
The civic future of America鈥檚 pastIn the to-and-fro attempts to define the good and bad parts of U.S. history, people can find a shared understanding to 鈥渄o our jobs as Americans鈥� better
Memphis鈥� different take on a federal surgeThe city鈥檚 Democratic mayor works with federal agents to direct those resources to fighting violent crime while barely tolerating enforcement of immigration law. His goal: 鈥渢o uplift our community.鈥�
Rebuilding two-way trust, city by cityParticipatory budgeting, which allows residents to have a say in government spending, continues to grow around the world. The results are an innovative counter to civic apathy and disengagement from party politics.
Global power in freely given gratitudeIn their speeches in Davos, U.S. and Canadian leaders differ over ways to order the world. One demands gratitude, the other tries to earn it.
Defining peace in a Trumpian eraLeaders worldwide, confronted by a U.S. president who styles himself as a peacemaker, reflect anew on the inner qualities necessary for peace.
An alternative path for Trump鈥檚 revolutionLike a few presidents before him, President Donald Trump is asserting full authority over all executive branch workers. Looking to some states, he may find better models for altering federal policies while upholding ideals of accountability.
Why Iran鈥檚 protesters look to IraqEven the top Muslim cleric in Iraq tries to avoid politics, a separation of religion and politics that Iranians now see as a way to secure democracy and prevent economic mismanagement.
The duo tapping a new Japanese-Korean beatA more-than-symbolic summit between the odd-couple leaders of South Korea and Japan might help shape a more peaceful Asia.
A credible hand on the nation's economic engineA probe into the Federal Reserve, coming after the president鈥檚 harsh critiques, is sowing bipartisan concern about political meddling in setting interest rates. Americans need trust in the integrity, expertise, and long-term perspective of the Fed.
For Greenland, partnership over pugnacityEyeing the abundance of minerals under the frozen soil of this Arctic territory, the U.S. is threatening a forcible takeover. But a reset emphasizing respect and cooperation would better preserve a longtime Western alliance.
Helping ICE be saferAs the agency and those resisting mass deportations have increasingly clashed, many agents are seeking mental health services 鈥� to help them have a calmer mindset in their difficult work.
Crowdsourcing the awe of natureAs discoveries of species on Earth as well as objects in space speed up exponentially, new technology and 鈥渃itizen science鈥� are broadening channels for learning 鈥� and connecting.聽
Why Iran鈥檚 protests are different this timeWidespread street demonstrations since Dec. 28 reflect a 鈥渘ew moral order鈥� of dignity that has slowly undercut the regime鈥檚 legitimacy.
Discernment that shatters online falsehoodsA French court鈥檚 ruling on the cyberharassment of Brigitte Macron underscores the tension between free expression and algorithms that amplify untruths. Exercising moral and spiritual judgment can help online contributors bless rather than injure others.
An opening for Venezuelans鈥� intrinsic sovereigntyThe dictator who disregarded his citizens鈥� 2024 election of a new leader has been captured by the U.S. Even as the legality of U.S. action is debated, Venezuelans are reclaiming the rights that exiled Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mar铆a Corina Machado says are 鈥渄ivinely鈥� theirs.