The Root

The Pope has called on Europe to draw from its Christian roots in order to confront what he described as a thirst for domination that is driving wars. He framed the continent's spiritual heritage as a resource for peace at a time of ongoing armed conflict. The remarks come amid continued European debate over the continent's identity, security and response to war.

The Nation examines the historical origins of the Trump administration's confrontation with Iran, arguing that current tensions are rooted in decades of US-Iran hostility rather than recent events alone. The piece places the administration's Iran policy within a longer arc of sanctions, regime-change advocacy and regional conflict stretching back through multiple presidencies.

Pope Leo said during a visit to the French shrine town of Lourdes that the 'scourge' of abuse must be rooted out, addressing the clerical abuse scandals that have rocked the Catholic Church. The remarks came as part of his pilgrimage to one of the world's most important Marian pilgrimage sites, and were reported widely by international media.

A Wall Street Journal report says a dispute rooted in World War II history is endangering an alliance important to Ukraine's war effort. The friction is widely understood to involve historical grievances between Ukraine and Poland, a key Kyiv partner, where wartime massacres and contested memory politics have repeatedly strained relations. Observers warn the rift could complicate Western support for Ukraine at a critical stage of the war.

Pope Leo said Europe must return to its Christian roots while remaining open to migrants, pairing a call for cultural and spiritual renewal with an appeal for generosity toward newcomers. The remarks touch two of the continent's most sensitive debates: the role of Christianity in European identity and how the EU and its member states should handle migration.

European far-right movements are gaining ground by appealing to voters' feelings of loss — of status, identity and economic security — rather than simply winning them over with policy. Commentators argue that understanding this emotional root is key to explaining radicalism's rise across the continent and the growing challenge it poses to mainstream politics.

The New York Times profiles Mary Peltola, tracing her bumpy path to political power in Alaska and the enthusiasm behind the slogan 'She's One of Us.' The piece examines how her personal background and local roots shaped her appeal to voters in a state long dominated by Republicans, and the challenges she has faced along the way.

Zohran Mamdani is framing his politics around what he calls the 'greedy algorithm' of corporations, arguing that profit-driven corporate behavior is at the root of problems facing ordinary Americans. The approach signals a sharpened anti-corporate message as he builds a distinctive political brand, drawing attention from commentators and sparking debate over how far this new style of economic populism will reach beyond his base.

Israeli historian Ilan Pappé has published an analysis arguing that the October 2023 Al-Aqsa Flood attack was, in his words, "a breakout from the ghetto" by Palestinians who had endured thousands of deaths, tens of thousands of injuries among women and children, and mass home losses, particularly since the 2014 Gaza war. The piece is being widely shared as debate continues over the attack's roots and Israel's response.

Commentators are accusing public figures and media of ignoring antisemitism rooted in radical Islamist ideology, calling it the 'elephant in the room' in debates over rising anti-Jewish sentiment. The argument is that concern over antisemitism focuses on other sources while this strand is downplayed for fear of appearing discriminatory. Critics of the accusation counter that such claims risk stigmatizing Muslims broadly.

A new report argues that Black women's wages point to a different picture of the US economy than headline figures suggest. The analysis, covered by The Root, examines pay trends for Black women workers and what they reveal about economic conditions, inequality, and the gap between overall growth data and lived experience.

NPR's Sunday Story examines whether Democrats running for office as ordained or former clergy can strengthen the party's appeal in conservative states. The discussion focuses on whether a ministerial background of moral messaging, community trust and service can resonate with voters who have drifted from the party, and what it would take for faith-rooted candidates to compete statewide.

A professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville argues in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that artificial intelligence could push higher education back toward its Socratic roots. His argument is that as AI takes over the transmission of information, universities will place renewed value on dialogue, questioning and face-to-face mentorship rather than lectures and content delivery. The piece adds a distinctive voice to the ongoing debate about AI's impact on classrooms and the purpose of a university degree.

A laboratory at Caltech in Pasadena has been awarded $2.4 million to investigate where infertility may begin. The funding will support research into the earliest biological roots of infertility, an issue affecting many people worldwide. Details on the specific researchers or lines of study involved have not yet been made widely available.

Researchers are developing soybean varieties with deeper root systems, aiming to help crops endure droughts and extreme weather while locking away more carbon in the soil. The work reflects broader efforts to make staple crops more resilient as climate change disrupts growing seasons and threatens yields for farmers worldwide.

Databricks has agreed to pay $22.8 million for naming rights to the University of California, Berkeley's football field, a landmark corporate deal for college sports. The data software company, founded by Berkeley alumni, is framing the investment as part of a broader push tied to its Bay Area roots, its growth ambitions, and its deepening relationship with the university's talent pipeline.

Fortune argues that cryptocurrency, once a rebellious outsider movement of hackers and free-market idealists, has become institutionalized, with major exchanges, stablecoin issuers and lobbying groups now operating like established financial powers aligned with regulators and governments. The piece asks what happens next for an industry that has traded its pirate roots for mainstream power, and what that shift means for its original ethos and users.

Milan Fashion Week's Spring/Summer 2027 editions have wrapped, with Vogue rounding up the main takeaways under the theme of being 'rooted in reality'. The season's collections reportedly emphasized wearability and grounded design over fantasy, offering a direction for the industry's coming year. Fashion watchers are weighing what this pragmatic turn means for designers, buyers and upcoming shows in Paris.

A Wall Street Journal opinion column asks why Ireland takes such a strongly critical stance toward Israel, examining the historical, political and cultural roots of Irish-Israeli tensions. The piece has stirred debate about Ireland's recognition of Palestinian statehood and its outspoken positions, which have repeatedly strained relations between Dublin and Jerusalem.

The Presidency of COMECE, the Catholic Church's body linked to the European Union, is gathered in Metz for an address by Pope Leo XIV on Europe's roots and future. The event draws attention as the new pope outlines his vision for the continent's Christian heritage and its political direction.

A new analysis argues that Jewish Democrats in the United States still face an informal barrier to higher office rooted in their religion, even as they break through in other areas of American politics. The piece frames antisemitism as a lingering obstacle within the party's own ranks, prompting debate over representation, electability and how openly Jewish politicians can express their identity in public life.

A writer from Green Bay who previously worked at Facebook has released a new book examining how technology affects democracy. The book draws on firsthand experience inside one of the world's largest social media companies and its influence on public discourse. Local interest is growing in the author's Green Bay roots, while the subject taps into ongoing national debate about social media's role in elections, misinformation and democratic institutions.

In the ODI against Sri Lanka, England are bowling Liam Dawson and Joe Root to speed through to the 20-over mark, which would make the match a completed game under the DLS rain rule. That way, even if the weather intervenes, the Duckworth-Lewis adjustment would hand England both the match and the series. Fans are debating whether it is smart tactics or against the spirit of the game.