Hezbollah-Israel escalation risks regional war

+ Jefferson and Madison on religious freedom; presidential debate analysis US Edition - Today's top story: Escalating Israel-Hezbollah clashes threaten to spark regional war and force US into conflict with Iran [View in browser]( US Edition | 30 June 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: • [Supreme Court narrows obstruction statute used to prosecute Trump and Jan. 6 rioters]( • [Knowing when to call it quits takes courage and confidence - 3 case studies]( • [Supreme Court rules cities can ban homeless people from sleeping outdoors – Sotomayor dissent summarizes opinion as 'stay awake or be arrested']( About a decade ago, I spent two years living in Beirut, where I edited a local business magazine and enjoyed the amazing food and hospitality of the Lebanese. This was, for Lebanon at least, a relative high point: Investment was pouring in, the civil war next door in Syria had only just begun – its consequences not yet clear – and the famous Lebanese night life was vibrant. Things gradually deteriorated during my time there, as the war spilled over the border, manifesting as the occasional assassination, explosion or political tension. That the Lebanese, who endured their own devastating civil war from 1975 to 1990, are resilient has become a cliché, and every time there was an attack or other disruption, I was surprised by how quickly the bars and clubs filled up that same evening. A major port explosion, an economic collapse and a war in Gaza later, I worry that cliché about Lebanese resilience won’t survive much longer. Clashes between Hezbollah, an Iran-linked militant group that has tremendous power in Lebanon, and Israel are escalating, risking a regional war that could draw in the U.S. and further devastate Lebanon. In one of this past week’s reader picks, Asher Kaufman, a professor of history and peace studies at the University of Notre Dame, explains that the [stakes for Lebanon, the U.S. and the region are enormous](. “The tension between Hezbollah and Israel has exposed the basic fact that the war in Gaza is in many ways also a war over hegemonic power in the broader Middle East,” he writes. “It risks drawing the U.S. further into this potential abyss, something that has nudged Washington into increasing diplomatic efforts to keep a lid on Israel-Hezbollah violence.” One last note: Today is the final day of our summer fundraiser. We need your help to end our fiscal year in the black – as we currently have a several thousand dollar shortfall. If you have not given this year, please [donate to sustain our work](. Thank you in advance for your generosity. Bryan Keogh Managing Editor Readers' picks [Escalating Israel-Hezbollah clashes threaten to spark regional war and force US into conflict with Iran]( Asher Kaufman, University of Notre Dame A full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah would likely set the entire region on fire, involving Iran and its proxies, and could drag the US into direct confrontation with Tehran. - [How Jefferson and Madison’s partnership – a friendship told in letters – shaped America’s separation of church and state]( Steven K. Green, Willamette University More than 2,000 letters between the two founders are available online. Many attest to their deep commitment to religious freedom. - [Populism can degrade democracy but is on the rise − here’s what causes this political movement and how it can be weakened]( Gábor Scheiring, Georgetown University Economic insecurity is one factor that drives populism, a former politician from Hungary writes. - [For many Olympic medalists, silver stings more than bronze]( Andrea Luangrath, University of Iowa; William Hedgcock, University of Minnesota Researchers used AI to analyze photos of Olympic medalists and found that bronze medalists appeared happier than silver medalists. A cognitive process called ‘counterfactual thinking’ may explain why. - [China’s crackdown on ‘wealth-flaunting’ social media puts pressure on influencers − both on the mainland and in Taiwan − to echo the party line]( Gengsong Gao, University of Richmond; Dan Chen, University of Richmond Regulators in China are scouring social media platforms and censoring those deemed to be engaged in morally corrupt behavior. Editors' picks [Biden crashes, Trump lies: A campaign-defining presidential debate]( Mary Kate Cary, University of Virginia; Karrin Vasby Anderson, Colorado State University Scholars of communication and politics assess a presidential debate with a clear loser, but no clear winner. - [Journalism has become ground zero for the vocation crisis]( Matthew Powers, University of Washington Whether you’re a reporter, a teacher or a nurse, it’s becoming more difficult to find meaning in your work. - [College may not be the ‘great equalizer’ − luck and hiring practices also play a role, a sociologist explains]( Jessi Streib, Duke University A new study finds that hiring practices, not a bachelor’s degree, may be the ‘great equalizer’ of opportunity for some soon-to-be grads. - [Even the Supreme Court’s conservative justices are polarized about the state of American politics]( Kevin J. McMahon, Trinity College The secret recordings of two Supreme Court justices reveal dramatic differences in how they see American political life. - [Debate offers opportunity for errors, partisan spin − and maybe an opening for change]( Susan Fillippeli, Auburn University Featuring several unique rules, including no live audience and mics that cut off when it’s not a speaker’s turn, the debate might help shape the 2024 presidential race. 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 Bibi, Lucy and Mendax. - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? 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