US Defence Secretary of War Pete Hegseth champions a “warrior ethos” that glorifies brute force, rigid conformity, and maximum lethality. By rejecting diversity, rules of engagement, and societal oversight, his vision risks undermining ethics, accountability, and public trust—raising urgent questions about the future and character of America’s military.

Europe faces a surge of fear over Russia, but how real is the threat? Exaggerated claims, misread intentions, and media hysteria fuel panic, while misconceptions about Russia’s aims in Ukraine and NATO risks distort perception. As Richard Sakwa writes, understanding the facts behind the fear is crucial for the continent’s security and future.

The Trump administration’s covert bombing campaign against alleged Venezuelan “narco-terrorists” has drawn scrutiny from legal experts and human rights observers. As evidence of cartel ties remains unproven, Canada faces troubling questions about whether its exported surveillance technology has made it complicit in unlawful US military strikes.

People experiencing crisis are not criminals; they are persons in need of help from trained professionals. Perhaps it is time we leave crime work to police and the care of mentally ill persons to health care professionals. Doing so would contribute to increased public safety, reduced harm during police encounters, and free up police resources to deal with crime.

Millions in government subsidies are fuelling risky mining projects on Grassy Narrows’ ancestral lands, enriching investors while threatening the First Nation’s water and health. Despite Indigenous opposition, provincial and federal policies quietly enable exploration, raising urgent questions about colonialism, tax loopholes, and environmental justice.

The United States is acting less like a global guardian and more like a Caribbean pirate—launching drone strikes, flouting international law, and pursuing oil under the guise of fighting drugs. From Panama to Venezuela, writes Hank Kennedy, history shows Washington’s interventions are driven by power and profit, not principle.

Almost two years after October 7, Gaza lies in ruins. Western governments have condemned the slaughter but continue to shield Israel, while Trump and Netanyahu push a “peace plan” critics see as surrender. With global opinion shifting and cracks widening among allies, the future of Palestine—and the credibility of the international order—hangs in the balance.

The University of Manitoba proclaims commitments to human rights and academic integrity, yet invests in arms manufacturers supplying Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Jonathan Jenner exposes the contradiction, framing it as a trilemma between ethics, investments, and intellectual seriousness—and argues that only divestment can resolve the university’s moral failure.

Canada’s household debt has soared to $3.07 trillion, the highest in the G7 for 15 years. James Hardwick explores how speculation, housing bubbles, and government policy created a fragile economy where ordinary families bear the costs—warning of bankruptcies, austerity, and the urgent need to confront financial elites.

Budget 2025 offers Canada a chance to make employee ownership permanent by extending tax incentives for employee ownership trusts and worker co-ops. Doing so would boost productivity, reduce inequality, and secure business succession, while keeping jobs and decision-making local. A modest investment promises significant economic and social dividends.