Access to Air Conditioning, Threats to US Democracy, and More

July 26, 2022

Amid soaring temperatures, U.S. cities are scrambling to protect their residents and physical infrastructure from the dangers of extreme heat. Rebecca Mann and Jenny Schuetz highlight disparities in home air conditioning access and emphasize the need for short- and long-term strategies to address extreme heat’s impacts.

As the January 6 committee hearings make clear, Donald Trump is a danger to U.S. democracy—but he is not the only threat. Drawing from his new book, “Power Politics: Trump and the Assault on American Democracy,” Darrell West discusses other concerning trends impacting the political health of the country, including the widespread prevalence of counter-majoritarianism, legal coups, and a toxic information ecosystem.

Sri Lanka’s new president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, took office recently as the country faces economic collapse, political instability, and ongoing food and fuel shortages. On the latest episode of The Current, Constantino Xavier explains how Sri Lanka’s governing choices over many years led to crisis, the difficult reforms ahead, and the implications of the country’s collapse for other developing nations throughout Asia and Africa.

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