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  The Privateers - How...

  Josh Cowen

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  A deep-dive investigation of education privatization that reveals voucher programs as the faulty products of decades of work by wealthy patrons and influential conservatives 
   
   
   
  This thought-provoking work traces the origins of voucher-based education reform to mid-twentieth-century fears over school desegregation. It shows how, in the intervening decades, a cabal of billionaire conservatives supporting a host of special political interests—including economic libertarianism, religious choice, and parental rights—have converged around the issue of education freedom in an ongoing culture war. Through deliberate policymaking, legislation, and litigation, Cowen reveals, an insular advocacy network has enacted a flawed system for education finance driven largely by dogma. 
   
   
   
  Far from realizing the purported goal of educational equity, privatization is failing students and exacerbating income inequality, Cowen finds. He cites multiple research studies that conclude that voucher programs return poorer academic outcomes, including lower test scores on state exams, especially among students who are at greater academic risk because of their race, their religion, their gender identity, or their family's income. Continued advancement of these policies, Cowen argues, is an assault on public education as a defining American institution.

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  Fort Donelson: The History of...

  Jonathan Gianos-Steinberg

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  In January of 1862, Grant persuaded General Henry “Old Brains” Halleck to allow his men to launch a campaign on the Tennessee River. As soon as Halleck acquiesced, Grant moved against Fort Henry, in close coordination with the naval command of Flag Officer Andrew Hull Foote. The combination of infantry and naval bombardment helped force the capitulation of Fort Henry on February 6, 1862, and the surrender of Fort Henry was followed immediately by an attack on Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River, which earned Grant his famous nickname “Unconditional Surrender”. Grant’s forces enveloped the Confederate garrison at Fort Donelson, which included Confederate generals Simon Buckner, John Floyd, and Gideon Pillow. In one of the most bungled operations of the war, the Confederate generals tried and failed to open an escape route by attacking Grant’s forces on February 15. Although the initial assault was successful, General Pillow inexplicably chose to have his men pull back into their trenches, ostensibly so they could take more supplies before their escape. Instead, they simply lost all the ground they had taken, and the garrison was cut off yet again. 
  During the early morning hours of February 16, the garrison’s generals held one of the Civil War’s most famous councils of war. Over the protestations of cavalry officer Nathan Bedford Forrest, who insisted the garrison could escape, the three generals agreed to surrender their army, but none of them wanted to be the fall guy. General Floyd was worried that the Union might try him for treason if he was taken captive, so he turned command of the garrison over to General Pillow and escaped with two of his regiments. Pillow had the same concern and turned command over to General Buckner before escaping. Despite all of these successful escapes, General Buckner decided to surrender to Grant, and when asked for terms of surrender, Grant replied, “No terms except an unconditional and immediate surrender.” 

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  The Supreme Court - Power...

  Newbury Publishing

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  As the highest court in what has become the world's most powerful nation, The Supreme Court of the United States sits at the faultline between the ideal and the real, between justice and power, between the serene majesty of The Law and the sometimes bombastic, sometimes grubby disputes that define our politics. 
  In the arguments before the court, principles clash with ambition and avarice, and it can be difficult to tell which is which. The decisions that the justices hand back are often wise and reasonable, but there have been moments of folly as well, and on more than one occasion it has taken decades for Americans to recognize the difference. 
  Learn more about the Supreme Court through this series.

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  The Rise of Social Media - How...

  Fredrich Hazelton

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  The rise of social media has reshaped the way people connect, communicate, and consume information. Over the past two decades, digital platforms have evolved from niche online communities to global networks that influence nearly every aspect of modern life. Social media is no longer just a tool for staying in touch with friends and family—it has become a powerful force in politics, business, entertainment, and culture. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, understanding the impact of these platforms is essential.  
    
  Social media's rapid development can be traced back to the early days of the internet, when online forums and chat rooms allowed people to engage with others beyond geographical boundaries. The introduction of platforms like MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter in the early 2000s marked the beginning of a new era of digital interaction. These sites enabled users to create personal profiles, share updates, and engage in real-time conversations, setting the stage for the social media boom that followed. Today, platforms like Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn serve diverse purposes, from entertainment and networking to news dissemination and activism.  
    
  The influence of social media extends far beyond personal connections. Businesses have embraced these platforms to market products, engage with customers, and build brand identities. Political campaigns rely on social media to reach voters and shape public opinion. Activists use digital platforms to mobilize communities and raise awareness about pressing social issues. At the same time, the widespread use of social media has introduced challenges, including concerns about data privacy, misinformation, cyberbullying, and the mental health effects of constant digital engagement. 

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  A Tale of Two Unions - The...

  Mark Corner

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  Brexit is a tale of two unions, not one: the British and the European unions. Their origins are different, but both struggle to maintain unity in diversity and both have to face the challenge of populism and claims of democratic deficit.
  Mark Corner suggests that the »four nations« that make up the UK can only survive as part of a single nation-state, if the country looks more sympathetically at the very European structures from which it has chosen to detach itself. This study addresses both academic and lay audiences interested in the current situation of the UK, particularly the strains raised by devolution and Brexit.

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  Free Thought and Official...

  Bertrand Russell

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  Russell discusses how governments and institutions use propaganda to shape the beliefs and actions of citizens. He argues that propaganda is often used to create a sense of unity and to suppress dissent, rather than to inform and educate the public. This can lead to a situation where people are unwilling or unable to question the status quo, which can be detrimental to the progress of society. Overall, "Free Thought and Official Propaganda" is a powerful critique of the use of propaganda in society and a passionate defence of free thought. It remains a relevant and thought-provoking essay in today's world, where propaganda and the manipulation of information continue to be pressing issues. Read in English, unabridged.

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