Keep an open mind but don't overdo it | Top 10

+ how to protect yourself from rabies US Edition - Today's top story: In the 'big tent' of free speech, can you be too open-minded? [View in browser]( US Edition | 14 January 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Happy Sunday − and welcome to the best of The Conversation U.S. Here are a few of our recently published stories: • [US-UK airstrikes risk strengthening Houthi rebels’ position in Yemen and the region]( • [Wayne LaPierre leaves a financial mess behind at the NRA − on top of the legal one that landed him in court]( Regular readers of our Sunday newsletter may recall that I’m a huge fan of our intellectual humility series, which explores how to open yourself to new information, even when it challenges your core beliefs and ideas. At a time when political divisions in the U.S. and across the globe seem starker than ever, developing the ability to acknowledge the strength in others’ views is immensely valuable. But our latest installment, brought to us by religion and ethics editor Molly Jackson and one of last week’s reader picks, poses a provocative question: Can you be too open-minded? John Corvino, a philosopher at Wayne State who studies culture war issues, has an interesting answer. He juxtaposes John Stuart Mill’s “big tent” approach to free speech – in which we’re expected to engage with a wide variety of viewpoints – against Jeremy Fantl’s take that some perspectives are too abhorrent or deceptive to openly entertain. The best strategy, as Corvino explains, [is somewhere in the middle](. Bryan Keogh Managing Editor Readers' picks In the ‘big tent’ philosophy of free speech, the more views, the better. But how does that hold up in practice? imageBROKER/Manuel Kamuf via Getty Images [In the ‘big tent’ of free speech, can you be too open-minded?]( John Corvino, Wayne State University Intellectual humility doesn’t mean anyone can change your mind, a philosopher writes – but it might mean learning from the ‘other side’ in surprising ways. - [South Korea’s gender imbalance is bad news for men − outnumbering women, many face bleak marriage prospects]( Dudley L. Poston Jr., Texas A&M University Following a 30-year boy-to-girl birth rate imbalance, up to 800,000 ‘extra’ men born since the mid-1980s will be unable to find a South Korean woman to marry. That has big demographic consequences. - [Trump’s arguments for immunity not as hopeless as some claim]( Ofer Raban, University of Oregon The former president has raised several legal arguments that do not yet have clear answers. A constitutional scholar says they’re questions worth asking. - [Rabies is an ancient, unpredictable and potentially fatal disease − two rabies researchers explain how to protect yourself]( Rodney E. Rohde, Texas State University; Charles Rupprecht, Auburn University An unexpected case of rabies found in an animal can raise concerns for a potential outbreak. Proactive vaccination of both wildlife and people can help protect everyone. - [Why both Israel and Hezbollah are eager to avoid tit-for-tat attacks escalating into full-blown war]( Asher Kaufman, University of Notre Dame Israel and Hezbollah are engaged in tit-for-tat attacks, but a diplomatic path still exists to avoid an escalation. Editors' picks The U.S. Supreme Court. Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images [US Supreme Court decision on Trump-Colorado ballot case ‘monumental’ for democracy itself, not just 2024 presidential election]( Derek T. Muller, University of Notre Dame The US Supreme Court faces a case with huge repercussions for the 2024 presidential election – and American democracy. An election law scholar explains why. - [Plagiarism is not always easy to define or detect]( Roger J. Kreuz, University of Memphis About two-thirds of students admit to plagiarizing material. Faculty are expected to know better, but they do it, too. How should universities respond? - [A Supreme Court ruling on fishing for herring could sharply curb federal regulatory power]( Robin Kundis Craig, University of Southern California An important but controversial legal doctrine, known as Chevron deference, is at issue in two fishing cases. The outcome could affect many sectors across the nation. - [Church without God: How secular congregations fill a need for some nonreligious Americans]( Jacqui Frost, Purdue University A sociologist of religion explains how atheist churches are helping people find meaning and community – serving many of the same purposes as religious churches. - [Data brokers know everything about you – what FTC case against ad tech giant Kochava reveals]( Anne Toomey McKenna, University of Richmond It’s no surprise that corporations harvest vast amounts of data about people, but documents in an FTC lawsuit detail the stunning amount that data brokers know about you and everyone else. News Quiz 🧠- [The Conversation U.S. weekly news quiz]( Fritz Holznagel, The Conversation Test your knowledge with a weekly quiz drawn from some of our favorite stories. Questions this week on Zepbound, Nintendo and the dictionary Like this newsletter? 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