Author Archives: briansandberg

A “Naked Power Grab”

The unlawful and unconstitutional actions of Elon Musk and his so-called Department of Government Efficiency constitute a “Naked Power Grab,” according to the ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, Representative Rosa DeLauro (D – Connecticut). “The Constitution is clear … Continue reading

Posted in Empires and Imperialism, Humanities Education, Information Management, Public History, State Development Theory, United States History and Society, Warfare in the Early Modern World | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Developing Constitutional Crisis

The United States has entered into the maelstrom of a constitutional crisis. Constitutional lawyers and legal historians seem to agree that Elon Musk’s actions and the Trump administration’s broader attempts to disrupt federal agencies have created an unprecedented constitutional crisis … Continue reading

Posted in Information Management, Political Culture, Political Theory, State Development Theory, United States History and Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

On the Rule of Law and Government Spending

Five former U.S. Secretaries of the Treasury are raising alarm about the unprecedented and unlawful changes made by the Trump administration and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to the system of payments for the entire federal government of … Continue reading

Posted in History in the Media, Information Management, Legal history, Political Theory, State Development Theory, United States History and Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Proposed Gaza Removal Plan: a Crime Against Humanity

President Trump’s outrageous suggestion that the United States annex Gaza and remove the Palestinian people from the territory would be blatantly illegal, constituting a crime against humanity. President Trump yesterday proposed seizing Gaza, leveling its remaining buildings, clearing debris, and … Continue reading

Posted in Atrocities, Civil Conflict, Civilians and Refugees in War, Current Research, Early Modern Europe, Early Modern World, Empires and Imperialism, Genocides, History of Race and Racism, History of Violence, Human Rights, Legal history, Political Culture, Political Theory, Religious Politics, Religious Violence, United States History and Society, War and Society, War, Culture, and Society, Warfare in the Early Modern World, World History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Impending Assault on the Department of Education

The long-anticipated assault on the Department of Education is now beginning. President Trump and his allies have long wanted to minimize or destroy the Department of Education, as well as broader public education systems in the United States. Educational institutions … Continue reading

Posted in Academic Freedom, Cultural History, Humanities Education, Legal history, Political Culture, Public History, United States History and Society, Women and Gender History, World History | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

OpenAI Launches Deep Research

The AI revolution is continuing to develop rapidly. OpenAI has launched a new AI search engine called Deep Research, which can allegedly conducted more targeted research than previous AI tools. The New York Times reports that “OpenAI unveiled the new … Continue reading

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On Payment Systems and Control of State Finances

Elon Musk and his so-called DOGE team of unelected officials, who are mostly drawn from the tech business sector, now have access to the U.S. Department of Treasury system that handles payment of all federal government payments to individuals and … Continue reading

Posted in Legal history, Public History, State Development Theory, United States History and Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Celebrating Black History Month in a Time of Crisis

History professors, teachers, and students across the United States are celebrating Black History Month in a time of crisis. “Feb. 1 is the beginning of Black History Month, which for decades has recognized the contributions of Black people to American … Continue reading

Posted in Academic Freedom, Historiography and Social Theory, History in the Media, History of Race and Racism, History of Slavery, Human Rights, Humanities Education, Political Culture, The Past Alive: Teaching History, United States History and Society, World History | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Would-be King Trump

President Trump’s inauguration ceremonies in Washington, D.C., have been filled with royal rhetoric and regal symbolism, promoting the new President as a would-be king. The New York Times reports that “At a late-night inaugural ball on Monday, President Trump, flush … Continue reading

Posted in Court Studies, Cultural History, Early Modern Europe, Early Modern France, Early Modern World, Empires and Imperialism, French History, History of the Western World, Monarchies and Royal States, Noble Culture and History of Elites, Political Culture, Political Theory, Renaissance Art and History, State Development Theory, United States History and Society | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Historians and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! Historians across the United States are remembering Martin Luther King, Jr., today (20 January 2025) and interpreting the significance of the Civil Rights Movement. University professors and high school teacher are confronting politicized debates … Continue reading

Posted in History in the Media, History of Race and Racism, Human Rights, Humanities Education, Illinois History and Society, Museums and Historical Memory, The Past Alive: Teaching History, United States History and Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment