The red-state dispute over divorce

+ grief over Flaco's death shows how owls’ fortunes have changed US Edition - Today's top story: Why are Americans fighting over no-fault divorce? Maybe they can't agree what marriage is for [View in browser]( US Edition | 21 March 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Is democracy coming to an end in Hong Kong?]( - [‘Shōgun’ gets a makeover for a new generation]( - [How frustrated voters make their voice heard]( Lead story Of all the seismic cultural shifts in the 20th century, the rise of no-fault divorce sometimes goes unheralded. Today, Americans take it for granted that unhappy spouses are free to leave their marriages for any or no reason at all. But for much of U.S. history, divorce was actually illegal or severely restricted. In recent years, no-fault divorce hasn’t been a big culture-war issue – perhaps because it’s been legal across the country for decades and there’s evidence it reduces female suicides and domestic violence. But in Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana and other states, lawmakers have been quietly – and in some cases, loudly – pushing to make it illegal again. 

 University of South Carolina law professor Marcia Zug – author of “You’ll Do: A History of Marrying for Reasons Other Than Love” – sees this growing campaign as proof that Americans [can’t agree on the purpose of marriage](. On one side is today’s common view that nothing matters more than love. On the other is a more transactional idea of marriage that has faded since the 19th century – but never truly disappeared. 
 One last note: Today is the first day of our spring fundraising drive. It runs for only a week and will be over by the end of next week. We’re a nonprofit, and we need you as we create the research-based journalism you read in this newsletter each day. [Would you please support us to make this work possible](? [Donate today]( Thank you! Tracy Walsh Economy + Business Editor For love or money? Kameleon007/iStock/Getty Images Plus [Why are Americans fighting over no-fault divorce? Maybe they can’t agree what marriage is for]( Marcia Zug, University of South Carolina A growing number of Republicans say that you shouldn’t be able to divorce simply because you’ve fallen out of love. It’s an idea with a long history. International - [What Article 23 means for the future of Hong Kong and its once vibrant pro-democracy movement]( Michael C. Davis, O.P. Jindal Global University In the space of two decades, Hong Kong’s liberal constitutional order has been transformed into a security regime that grants citizens few civil liberties - [‘He just vanished’ − missing activists highlight Tajikistan’s disturbing use of enforced disappearances]( Steve Swerdlow, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences The Central Asian nation has long figured among the ‘worst of the worst’ in regards to political and human rights. A new report shines light on cases of activists being seized and then going missing. Ethics + Religion - [For centuries, owls were considered to bring bad luck in many cultures as well as in the US, but the outpouring of grief in New York over Flaco shows how times have changed]( Arjun Guneratne, Macalester College Owls, once seen as harbingers of death, are now celebrated in popular literature and culture in North America and Britain. - [Purim’s original queen: How studying the Book of Esther as fan fiction can teach us about the roots of an unruly Jewish festival]( Esther Brownsmith, University of Dayton Whether thousands of years ago or right now, fans have always created new stories based on familiar characters, weaving their own experiences into the tale. Arts + Culture - [James Clavell’s ‘Shōgun’ is reimagined for a new generation of TV viewers]( Constantine Nomikos Vaporis, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Compared to its 1980 predecessor, the new FX series presents a more authentic portrayal of early modern Japan. Health + Medicine - [New studies suggest millions with mild cognitive impairment go undiagnosed, often until it’s too late]( Soeren Mattke, University of Southern California; Ying Liu, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Medicare covers an annual well-check visit that could potentially identify cognitive issues, but only about half of beneficiaries take advantage of them. Economy + Business - [How safe are your solar eclipse glasses? Cheap fakes from online marketplaces pose a threat, supply-chain experts say]( Yao "Henry" Jin, Miami University; Simone Peinkofer, Michigan State University Don’t skimp on your eye safety. Politics + Society - [Legislative inaction and dissatisfaction with one-party control lead to more issues going directly to voters in ballot initiatives, with 60% of them in six states]( Thom Reilly, Arizona State University Voters frustrated by statehouse politics are bypassing elected representatives and enacting laws using direct democracy to preserve abortion rights, raise the minimum wage and rein in state spending. Environment + Energy - [California is wrestling with electricity prices – here’s how to design a system that covers the cost of fixing the grid while keeping prices fair]( Yihsu Chen, University of California, Santa Cruz; Andrew L. Liu, Purdue University California is considering a controversial proposal for utilities to charge customers for electricity based partly on household income. Two scholars explain how this approach could benefit everyone. 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