Racial dog whistles during the debate

+ Prigozhin's death and Wagner's future US Edition - Today's top story: 8 GOP candidates debate funding to Ukraine, Trump's future and -- covertly, with dog whistles -- race [View in browser]( US Edition | 24 August 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [How the summer of strikes stacks up against past labor unrest]( - [A college class that enrolls dogs…]( - […and octopi who go to the spa]( Lead story With Donald Trump a no-show, the eight GOP candidates on the debate stage last night didn’t have to defend themselves from the former president’s attacks. Instead, they attacked each other. But they also answered questions on a wide range of subjects, digging into immigration, U.S. support for Ukraine against Russia, climate change and the state of the economy. The conversation was lively, sometimes nasty and, for many viewers, also enlightening. With Trump sucking up all the oxygen in the race, it was the first time some voters had the chance to hear directly from some of the candidates. We asked a panel of scholars to watch the debate and give us their reactions. Arizona State University historian Calvin Schermerhorn, American University foreign policy scholar Jordan Tama and Michigan State law professor Brian Kalt all analyzed the debate through the lens of their various disciplines. [Their dispatches take you beyond the candidates’ posturing and the spin room’s self-serving analyses](, offering what we hope is a deeper understanding of where the candidates stand on race, foreign policy and pardoning Trump. [ [Miss us on Sundays? Get a selection of our best and most popular stories (or try our other weekly emails).]([]]( Naomi Schalit Senior Editor, Politics + Society Eight GOP candidates for president after they entered the debate hall in Milwaukee on Aug. 23, 2023. Scott Olson/Getty Images [8 GOP candidates debate funding to Ukraine, Trump’s future and – covertly, with dog whistles – race]( Jordan Tama, American University School of International Service; Brian Kalt, Michigan State University; Calvin Schermerhorn, Arizona State University From immigration and federal spending to Ukraine and the state of American schools, eight GOP presidential candidates had a lot to say. International - [Wagner group’s Yevgeny Prigozhin reportedly died in private jet crash – if confirmed, it wouldn’t be first time someone who crossed Putin met a suspicious demise]( Gregory F. Treverton, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences The lesson in the presumed death of the mercenary leader two months after his mutiny against Putin: Don’t make yourself an enemy of Russia’s leader. - [Yevgeny Prigozhin: Wagner Group boss joins long list of those who challenged Vladimir Putin and paid the price]( Stefan Wolff, University of Birmingham The Wagner Group boss had died in mysterious circumstances when his private jet crashed on August 23 2023. Economy + Business - [Waves of strikes rippling across the US seem big, but the total number of Americans walking off the job remains historically low]( Judith Stepan-Norris, University of California, Irvine; Jasmine Kerrissey, UMass Amherst Many of the reasons for strikes now – low compensation, technological change, job insecurity and safety concerns – mirror the motives that workers had for walking off the job in decades past. - [Insider trading − the legal kind − is a lot more profitable if you work for a multinational company]( D. Brian Blank, Mississippi State University; Dallin Alldredge, Florida International University Executives and other high-level inside traders at US companies with global sales earned about three times as much in a month as the average investor, a new study found. Education - [Canines go to college in this class that seeks to give shelter dogs a fresh start]( Shlomit Flaisher-Grinberg, Saint Francis University Shelter dogs get a new shot at life through a college course that teaches them how to be faithful companions once again. Environment + Energy - [Secrets of an octopus’s garden: Moms nest at thermal springs to give their young the best chance for survival]( Amanda Kahn, San José State University; Jim Barry, San José State University Thousands of pearl octopuses were discovered in 2018 lining thermal vents near a deep-sea volcano. Researchers now know why octopus moms gather there. Politics + Society - [Campus sexual assault prevention programs could do more to prevent violence, even after a decade-long federal mandate]( Heather Hensman Kettrey, Clemson University ; Martie Thompson, Appalachian State University In the 10 years since the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act took effect, the measure appears to have had a greater effect on knowledge about sexual assault than on prevention. Health + Medicine - [LGBTQ+ caregivers of people with dementia face unique stresses that lead to poorer physical and mental health]( Joel G. Anderson, University of Tennessee Discrimination, isolation and stigma related to sexual orientation or gender identity likely contribute to the higher rates of depression and lower quality of life of LGBTQ+ caregivers. Ethics + Religion - [With fewer than 1,500 Catholics in Mongolia, Pope Francis’ upcoming visit brings attention to the long and complex history of the minority religious group]( Huaiyu Chen, Arizona State University The Catholic community that Pope Francis will visit later this month has a complex history that goes back to the 13th century, when the Mongol Empire was founded by Genghis Khan. Trending on site - [Memes about animal resistance are everywhere — here’s why you shouldn’t laugh off rebellious orcas and sea otters too quickly]( - [Looking for a US ‘climate haven’ away from heat and disaster risks? Good luck finding one]( - [What the pope’s visit to Mongolia says about his priorities and how he is changing the Catholic Church]( Today's graphic 📈 [23 nations and territories have been identified as formal candidates to join the five existing members of BRICS.]( From the story, [As BRICS cooperation accelerates, is it time for the US to develop a BRICS policy?]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Trying out new social media? Follow us: • [Threads]( • [Bluesky]( • [Spoutible]( • [Mastodon]( • [Post.news]( • [LinkedIn]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. 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