Morgan Davidson uncovers the untold dynamics of female autocrats, exploring how they navigate gender bias and power struggles in authoritarian regimes. With compelling examples from Sheikh Hasina to Catherine the Great, this piece examines how these leaders defy expectations and adopt fierce policies to maintain control.
Amid the relentless scrutiny and gender bias that define modern politics, Kamala Harris emerges as a figure of extraordinary resilience and strategic prowess. Morgan Davidson’s incisive piece delves into how Harris, and other female leaders, are not only overcoming stereotypes but also setting new standards of legislative effectiveness, making this a critical read for understanding the evolving dynamics of political leadership.
Brief #135 – Elections & Politics Policy Brief
by: Morgan Davidson
West Texas, a region defined by its rugged independence and deep-rooted conservatism, stands as a political powerhouse with its unwavering support for traditional values and industries like oil and agriculture. Amid rising challenges like water scarcity and healthcare disparities, the resilience of its people and their fervent participation in elections underscore the indomitable spirit of this often-overlooked corner of the Lone Star State.
Brief #167 – Social Justice Policy Brief
by: Morgan Davidson
Much has been made about political violence in America, with the most recent event being the assassination attempt on Donald Trump. Was the attempted assassination simply due to recent campaign rhetoric, or is it indicative of a larger issue?
The Trump administration has targeted George Soros and the Open Society Foundations (OSF) in its post-Kirk “crackdown” on what it calls radical left networks. Trump has floated the use of RICO charges, ordered agencies to scrutinize progressive donors and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and tied OSF to so-called organized political violence. OSF and other left-leaning groups have dismissed these moves as a politically motivated effort to silence dissent and restrict civil society.
Trump’s crackdown on political opposition, announced in the wake of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, is aimed at a range of Democratic and resistance groups. The first of these under examination is Antifa, a key target of the administration’s rhetoric and investigations. Yet Antifa is a far more diffuse and abstract entity than the White House suggests.
Following Charlie Kirk’s assassination, President Trump is pushing to go after ‘radical left’ groups, those he claims promote political violence and engage in hate speech. What happened to Charlie Kirk is despicable & the politically motivated murder of an American has been condemned by leaders across the political spectrum. That said, the way we do that is by coming together as Americans not targeting our fellow citizens.
As summer draws to an end, President Trump is once again utilizing federal military forces for law enforcement, this time in the nation’s capital. In California, Trump cited immigration protests for the use of the National Guard & ultimately the deployment of U.S. Marines. Now we see the President citing crime & the inability of D.C. Democrats to stop it. President Trump’s coast-to-coast use of federal military force in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. during 2025 highlights the growing tensions between public safety, constitutional boundaries, and presidential power, raising critical questions about the future of American democracy and civil-military relations.
If you have been following the news surrounding Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” one of the provisions you would see is the $170 billion for immigration enforcement & border security. Of this $170 billion, approximately $75 billion represents an increase in funding to ICE, making it the highest-funded law enforcement branch of the federal government. The funding for ICE is intended to build more detention centers, aid in retention through bonuses, & expand the total number of personnel.
I sat down with Kyle Rable to learn more about the No Kings! protests. Kyle is a new father, a Ph.D. candidate in History at Texas Tech, a U.S. Army Reserves Captain, a card-carrying union member, & self-described “hick-lib”; he is running for Congress in Congressional District 19 against Jodey Arrington. Kyle serves as Secretary for the Lubbock County Democrats and helps organize protests in Lubbock.