Valerie M. Fridland, University of Nevada, Reno

You may call him Santa Claus, but the bearded guy in the red suit is a man known by many names. That doesn’t make him disreputable, just a reflection of changing American culture.

Climate of fear is driving local officials to quit – new study from California finds threats, abuse rampant

Rachel Locke, University of San Diego

Researchers surveyed hundreds of elected officials in three Southern California counties. They found 2 in 3 respondents had been threatened or abused – and that many worried for their safety.

Detroit’s reparations task force now has until 2025 to make its report, but going slow with this challenging work may not be a bad thing

Kamri Hudgins, University of Michigan; Erykah Noelle Benson, University of Michigan; Mara Ostfeld, University of Michigan; Vincent Hutchings, University of Michigan

19 US cities have introduced local reparations initiatives to address historic harms against Black residents. But designing a program that is both popular and sustainable isn’t easy.

What does the US attorney general actually do? A law professor explains

Jennifer Selin, Arizona State University

The combined political and legal roles and responsibilities of the US attorney general can create conflicts. Some attorneys general yielded to political pressure from the president – many did not.