Plus: DHS goes after critics; Michelangelo sketch commands millions
| | | | Top headlines Lead story When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, few predicted that it would become a multiyear war of attrition. Yet tomorrow the conflict will tick into its fifth year, with no real hopes of a peace deal on the immediate horizon. But what appetite is there in Russia for more war? That's what Peter Rutland and Elizaveta Gaufman, both experts on Russian society, try to answer in their article marking the war's anniversary. On the surface, support for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his "special operation" in Ukraine remains high. But those figures are built, in part, on coercion and fear. Russians are also being fed a misleading picture of the conflict – it is, in many ways, a "Potemkin village" war, one described to everyday Russians in euphemistic and deceptive terms. "Heading into the Ukraine war's fifth year, the gulf between the Kremlin version of reality and the lived experience of ordinary Russians remains. It echoes a pattern we have seen before: In the final decade of the Soviet Union, the Kremlin became increasingly out of touch with the views of its people. History will not necessarily repeat itself – but the masters of the Kremlin should be conscious of the parallels," write Rutland and Gaufman. [ Understand what's going on in Washington and around the world. Get our Politics Weekly newsletter. ] |  | Matt Williams Senior International Editor | |  Does the nation stand behind him? Vyacheslav Prokofyev/AFP via Getty Images Peter Rutland, Wesleyan University; Elizaveta Gaufman, University of Groningen Polling in Russia suggests strong support for President Vladimir Putin. Yet below the surface, popular sentiment is more mixed. | Politics + Society | -
Seth Ashley, Boise State University The 'equal time' rule has been around for a century and aims to promote broadcasters' editorial independence and free expression – an idea that is now under threat from the FCC. -
Stephanie A. (Sam) Martin, Boise State University It's difficult to measure what is lost when an opinion is never voiced and impossible to catalogue the arguments that never form because a speaker calculates the risk and decides silence is safer. | | Environment + Energy | -
Gabriel Filippelli, Indiana University Mercury is a neurotoxic metal that can cause irreparable harm to human health – especially the brain development of young children. A scientist explains how it gets from power plants to fish to you. | | Ethics + Religion | -
Timothy J. Pawl, University of St. Thomas The word 'meekness' might seem old-fashioned – and not a positive trait. But understanding its original meaning can identify an important virtue. | | Arts + Culture | -
Anna Swartwood House, University of South Carolina A red chalk sketch for the Sistine ceiling fetched an eye-popping sum at auction, reflecting the artist's lifelong belief that drawing and design – not painting – were the wellspring of all great art. | | Education | -
Vicki Baker, Albion College; Linda M. Boland, University of Richmond Colleges and universities are taking on different approaches to how their students are using AI – but with a shared recognition that they cannot prevent it altogether. -
Abigail Leigh Phillips, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Well-designed school library policies make space for community feedback while preserving intellectual freedom. | | Science + Technology | -
Justin Pelletier, Rochester Institute of Technology AI systems are getting good at optimizing persuasion in commerce. They are also quietly becoming tools for strategic influence. -
Kathleen Keller, Penn State While genes do influence some food preferences, positive experiences can help make new tastes easier to swallow. -
Shreyas Sen, Purdue University Did you know that your wireless earbuds contain a tiny radio transmitter? | | Economy + Business | -
Shelly Tygielski, Indiana University; Pamala Wiepking, Indiana University; Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Some Americans are discovering that monetary help they received from friends, neighbors or even strangers may be treated as taxable income. | | | | Reader Comments 💬 |
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"The purpose of university is more than just a paper mill, it's producing citizens that can actually tackle some of the most pressing issues facing society. To think critically about their place in the world. To question power differences. The way the world is developing." – Reader Lukas on the story The greatest risk of AI in higher education isn't cheating – it's the erosion of learning itself More of The ConversationLike this newsletter? You might be interested in our other emails: Follow us on social media: Tell your friends about us! Forward this email to them so they can sample our journalism. About The ConversationWe're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you.
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