There is nothing inevitable about the expansion of democracy. Among countries with populations above one million, there were only 11 democracies in 1900, 20 in 1920 and 29 in 1974. Only for the past quarter of a century has democracy been the world’s predominant form of government. By 1993, the number of democracies had exploded to 77—representing, for the first time in history, a majority of countries with at least one million people. By 2006, the number of democracies had ticked up to 86.

Reminiscing on the surprises, thought-provoking questions, and variety of renowned guests over twenty-three years of Uncommon Knowledge.

In a Rose Garden speech yesterday afternoon (a beautiful mid-May Thursday that is 18 months before the next presidential election), President Trump offered some lengthy remarks about the long-awaited White House proposal to modernize the legal immigration system. This morning, leading newspapers and networks are mistakenly dismissing the plan and missing two watershed changes that Trump’s Plan embodies.

I won’t take up much of this space talking about New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s presidential prospects, now that he’s formally joined the crowded Democratic field.

immy Carter may be the one to blame if President Trump goes to war with Iran, thanks to his handed-down Carter Doctrine. The 94-year old ex-president is recovering from a turkey shoot hip injury, but while he was in the White House refusing to pardon Thanksgiving turkeys, he changed the course of America’s Iran policy.

Hoover Institution fellow Richard Epstein and John Yoo discuss the following legal controversies: what do Alabama’s new restrictions on abortion mean for the future of Roe v. Wade? What’s the proper libertarian position on compulsory vaccinations? Does Congress have a leg to stand on in its pursuit of Bill Barr? Was Harvard wrong to turn its back on a professor who’s defending Harvey Weinstein? And then, the professors finally answer the question you’ve waited years for: are bans on toplessness unconstitutional?

Hoover Institution fellow Michael Auslin discusses his RealClear Politics article "Trump Has 'Promise Fatigue' From Dealing With China."

Hoover Institution fellow Lanhee Chen discusses how President Trump's immigration plan may affect the US economy.

In his new Hoover Institution Press book, Thinking About the Future, George Shultz reflects on more than half a century of public service to offer solutions to some of America’s most pressing contemporary problems.

That Americans are being bombarded by warnings of economic calamity arising from the escalating trade war with China is no accident. For decades, the nation has been sold a globalist bill of goods whereby international trade — regardless of the consequences it engendered domestically — was to be pursued with unrelenting vigor. That we’re getting cheap consumer goods from Communist thugs who wish to rule the world? For the globalists, who also see the nation-state as an anachronism, any moral component attached to “free” trade is irrelevant.

Recent nominations to join the board of governors of the US Federal Reserve have raised concerns about political threats to the independence of monetary policy-making. The Economist has explained the dangers of weakened central banks, not only in the United States but also elsewhere in the world. And economists and economic journalists have questioned the economic ideas of US President Donald Trump’s latest Fed board picks, both of whom have now withdrawn their names from consideration for the post.

When the Trump administration blocked U.S. firms last year from providing critical parts to ZTE Corp., it quickly paralyzed the Chinese telecom company and threatened to force it into bankruptcy — until President Trump issued a last-minute reprieve as a favor to Chinese President Xi Jinping.