As we watch and worry about the dismantling of our democracy, the tools of empire are being built. The foundations were laid quietly, in the early months of the Trump administration. As Elon Musk w…

For those who fear autocracy is coming—or already here—there is real hope in the legal response that rose to meet it. Indeed, the legal defense of democracy stood up faster than many expected, and …

On my way to downtown DC to march in the No Kings rally, I was unsure of what I would find. * * * * * We all knew what to expect as the year began. It had been laid out for us very clearly in the d…

Find a No Kings 2 event near you and sign up: the live map is here. The matter was settled. The founders broke from monarchy and built a republic ruled by law. The crown was thrown aside. But the d…

Hadrian’s Library In Athens last week, I walked among ruins around which the modern city had grown. Stone columns beside electric vehicles. The air itself carries argument between old and new…

As the authoritarian regime continues its march to undermine constitutional democracy, it is clear that only through solidarity and action can we have a hope of retaining the American way of life. …

This week, a massive banner featuring President Donald Trump’s portrait was draped across the Department of Labor building in Washington, D.C., alongside an American flag and Theodore Roosevelt. It…

I have worked my entire career in the democracy space, primarily working towards bridging divides and developing stronger, deeper democratic life. The work that has occupied my decades now feels in…

YouTube video by Kettering Foundation

YouTube video by Kettering Foundation

The 47th president seems to wish he were king—and he is willing to destroy what is precious about this country to get what he wants.

Higher education has long been a space where democratic engagement, activism, and civic responsibility intersect. Yet, it has never been without its challenges—exclusion and inequity have shaped its institutions and opportunities. The goal is not to return to a flawed past but to strengthen higher education’s role in advancing democracy. As polarization grows, political pressures mount, and debates over academic freedom and access intensify, higher education must choose whether to retreat or lead. How should higher education respond to this moment? What are the current realities and the untapped potential of student activism and leadership in shaping democracy’s future? This panel discussion is moderated by Brad Rourke, Chief External Affairs Officer at the Charles F. Kettering Foundation, and features leaders David Pepper, a senior fellow a the Charles F. Kettering Foundation, Rashawn Davis, executive director of The Andrew Goodman Foundation, and Elyssa Feder, executive director of Rising Organizers. Revisit general session content from Compact25, Campus Compact's 2025 national conference. Compact conferences are the largest and most inclusive national conference focused on the role of higher education in building healthy communities and fostering a just and equitable democracy. Sessions explore topics such as civic learning and democratic engagement, publicly engaged scholarship, practice, and teaching, community-engaged partnerships, institutional action, and anchor initiatives. Learn more at compact.org.

YouTube video by Kettering Foundation

The poll finds Trump’s overall approval underwater, 44-51, after nearly three months in office, while nearly two-thirds of respondents oppose him challenging the Constitution by seeking a third term.

A practical guide to courage in Trump’s age of fear.