Stories by Lisa Van Dusen
The civilizing effect (touch wood) of lockdown on social media
At the risk of jinxing it, it seems like the virtual spaces our lives have migrated to in lockdown have become more humane.
If this keeps up, comedic genius Sacha Baron Cohen may have to concoct a circumspect alter ego who keeps his clothes on to act as a foil to the political status quo.
Living next to Donald Trump’s America hasn’t really been like sleeping with an elephant at all because nobody’s slept in four years. That may be about to change.
As the IMF-World Bank annual meeting unfolds in screenspace this week, pandemic-widened inequality looms large.
With election day in America looming and a previously unthinkable coup threatened by the incumbent, let’s note the significant difference in this latest epic assault on democracy.
The Canadian comedy that just swept the Emmys can’t possibly stop now. Here’s a suggestion.
The requirements of political success haven’t changed so drastically that unelectability and disqualifying behaviour have been completely redefined. But these aren’t normal times.Author
The murderous destruction of an American landmark on live television on Sept. 11, 2001, set the stage for a new, more dramatic form of psychological warfare.
As America is predictably besieged by pre-election chaos, the consequences for humanity in the weaponization of Donald Trump could not be higher.
As an America under assault by corruption and complicity faces the hijacking of its democracy by a reality-show host, some voices of eloquent protest are notable for their absence.
The ballot question in the 2020 United States presidential election is democracy versus authoritarianism. Of course, Kamala Harris’ birth certificate has become an issue. 
As Donald Trump attacks all the narrative inputs of a free and fair election—from the U.S. Postal Service to the longstanding expectation of a peaceful transition of power—history offers some lessons.
As Beijing has reminded us repeatedly lately, Joe McCarthy gave McCarthyism a bad name. Problem solved!
John Lewis embodied a form of resistance that changed history, and a relationship to power that makes today’s so-called ‘strongmen’ look weak.
Our previously unthinkable, pandemic-besieged moment is a good time to revisit Saint-Exupéry’s humanist epic.
The dock may be outside your isolation perimeter and the barbecue could set your mask on fire, but at least we’re still a democracy.
Donald Trump’s relationship with China is not a great power competition: He’s a propaganda generator, not a geopolitical adversary.
It may say as much about Donald Trump as it does about God that some of his fiercest critics these days are leaders of faith.
Authoritarians love to leverage security, and Donald Trump would rather run against anarchy than against Joe Biden.
The reality show president is playing ringmaster to the exploitation of Black outrage in a pre-election chaos narrative only he could front.
Inevitability used to be a campaign strategy; now it’s a narrative cudgel. 
Amid an escalation of covert warfare tactics changing the global balance of power, perhaps Western intelligence agencies could start counter-operating.
You'll have to watch Tiger King yourself.
Remember that bit you used to do in the 90s about being trapped in an elevator with Donald Trump? It’s not funny anymore. 
Since Benjamin Netanyahu is extremely busy staying out of jail, here’s a quick solution to the problem he thinks has been solved but hasn’t.
Canadians are grieving compounded tragedies this week. Unbelievably enough, one man proves things could be worse.
Whatever we’re living through now, chances are Queen Elizabeth has seen worse. Which makes her perspective priceless.
Hunkering down amid a global pandemic whose containability depends on your latitude, longitude, and head of government requires mad adaptation skills.
Donald Trump has called himself a wartime president. The question is: whose side is he on?
Working from home is not for amateurs. It requires a knack for troubleshooting and a few handy props.Politics This Morning
Your email has been added. An email has been sent to your address, please click the link inside of it to confirm your subscription.