A month before this Independence Day, a group of 100 scholars warned about “the recent deterioration of U.S. democracy.” America has been covering this topic from all angles; here are highlights from our archives.

In her new book on 'Red State Christians,' Angela Denker seeks “greater engagement and conversation at a time when America feels pulled to its extremes, when our first national impulse is to block and unfriend anyone who disagrees with us."

The U.S. bishops need to revise—or replace— "Faithful Citizenship" in order to better reflect the teaching of Pope Francis and to respond to the authoritarian populist nationalism of Donald Trump and his administration.

Since the 2016 election, many have simply stopped trying to understand those with whom they disagree. But we can discuss politics if we ask fair questions and listen, then listen some more.

In the face of an emboldened white supremacy movement, I find the defensive posture of some conservatives more and more trying.

Who better to combat the absurd, dark joke at the heart of the rise of Trumpism than someone like Al Franken?