Dissent

Trump’s Intensifying Campaign Against Dissent: Legal Experts Raise Alarms Over Threats to Democracy

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WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has intensified his campaign against an array of U.S. institutions, employing executive orders and social media to challenge judges, law firms, and the media among others. These aggressive moves, as noted by legal experts, seem designed to silence dissent and potentially reshape the boundaries of executive power. Legal observers suggest that Trump’s actions are reminiscent of tactics used by authoritarian regimes – undermining institutions that could provide checks on his authority. According to retired Massachusetts judge and Harvard lecturer Nancy Gertner, the goal is to delegitimize any potential sources of … Read more

Iran Amplifies Digital Surveillance Tactics to Enforce Hijab Laws, UN Report Unveils Amid Growing Domestic Dissent

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GENEVA — Iran is increasingly utilizing sophisticated surveillance technologies including drones, facial recognition, and citizen-reporting apps to enforce its strict hijab laws, a concerning trend outlined in a recent United Nations report unveiled on Friday. The comprehensive investigation led by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran illuminated severe violations of human rights, particularly following the uproar over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody in September 2022. Amini, detained for allegedly breaching the nation’s hijab mandates by the morality police, became a catalyst for one of the most substantial anti-government uprisings since … Read more

European Populist Regimes Leverage ‘Foreign Agents’ Legislation to Curb Dissent

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In several European countries, a new trend is emerging among leaders with authoritarian inclinations: the implementation of “foreign agents” laws. Such legislation, designed to label organizations and individuals receiving foreign funding as “foreign agents,” is increasingly being used as a strategic tool to suppress dissent and control the narrative. Hungary and Poland, in particular, are at the forefront of this push. In Hungary, under the leadership of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the parliament has already introduced laws that increase scrutiny on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) benefiting from international financial support. Critics argue that these laws are … Read more

Diving Deep into Justice Thomas’s Dissent: The Impact on Mass Torts and Multidistrict Litigation

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Washington, D.C. – The world of mass torts and multidistrict litigation often operates quietly behind the more sensational headlines, yet it significantly impacts American jurisprudence and the lives of countless individuals. These mechanisms are designed to manage large-scale litigation efficiently, where many individuals allege similar harms caused by the same source. Recently, the principles upending these legal procedures were highlighted in Justice Clarence Thomas’s dissent in a particular Supreme Court decision, casting a significant spotlight on the ongoing debate regarding the use of collateral estoppel in multidistrict litigation. Justice Thomas’s dissent critically examined the notion … Read more