Criminal Justice

Billie Allen, an artist and writer who has maintained his innocence since being sentenced to death in a sham trial more than 25 years ago.

An Appeal to President Biden: Pardon Billie Allen An Appeal to President Biden: Pardon Billie Allen

Biden’s decision to commute Allen’s death sentence deserves praise and gratitude, but the president should go even further—and free an innocent man.

Jan 14, 2025 / Yusef Salaam

Donald Trump appears remotely for a sentencing hearing with his attorney Todd Blanche on January 10, 2025.

Despite Trump’s Felony Conviction, Prosecutorial Liberalism Has Failed Despite Trump’s Felony Conviction, Prosecutorial Liberalism Has Failed

When voters are consumed with anti-system rage, a criminal rap sheet is no barrier to high office.

Jan 13, 2025 / Jeet Heer

Mugshots of Ethel Rosenberg in 1951, the year of her conviction alongside her husband, Julius, for passing atomic secrets to the Soviets.

President Biden Should Pardon Ethel Rosenberg President Biden Should Pardon Ethel Rosenberg

A newly released classified document shows that the National Security Agency knew Ethel Rosenberg was not a spy—and that the government executed her anyway.

Jan 2, 2025 / Phillip Deery

Rahsaan

Prison Journalism Is Having a Renaissance. Rahsaan Thomas Is One of Its Champions. Prison Journalism Is Having a Renaissance. Rahsaan Thomas Is One of Its Champions.

Thomas and his colleagues at Empowerment Avenue are subverting the established narrative that prisoners are only subjects or sources, never authors of their own experience.

Dec 13, 2024 / Piper French

President Joe Biden walks out of Nantucket Bookworks with son Hunter Biden, grandson Beau and daughter-in-law Melissa Cohen Biden in Nantucket, Massachusetts, on November 29, 2024.

OF COURSE Joe Biden Was Right to Pardon His Son OF COURSE Joe Biden Was Right to Pardon His Son

People need to stop asking Democrats to play by different rules than Republicans, and they need to stop asking Biden to be a worse father than any of us would be in his place.

Dec 6, 2024 / Elie Mystal

Takes one to know one: Sammy “the Bull” Gravano, former underboss of the Gambino crime family, who confessed to 19 murders when he testified against his boss, John Gotti, is a fan of President-elect Trump.

Donald Trump’s Government of Gangsters Donald Trump’s Government of Gangsters

Who is being naïve now?

Dec 2, 2024 / Jeet Heer

Donald Trump Is Waging a Shock-and-Awe War Against His Own Senate

Donald Trump Is Waging a Shock-and-Awe War Against His Own Senate Donald Trump Is Waging a Shock-and-Awe War Against His Own Senate

By nominating Matt Gaetz and other dangerous cronies, the president-elect is testing congressional servility.

Nov 14, 2024 / Jeet Heer

Former New York governor Andrew Cuomo: a white guy.

Andrew Cuomo Is Not Black Andrew Cuomo Is Not Black

But he’s hoping no one notices as he tries to crowbar his way back into power.

Oct 30, 2024 / Column / Alexis Grenell

Marijuana Could Be Legal in Half of US States After the 2024 Election Marijuana Could Be Legal in Half of US States After the 2024 Election

Florida’s Amendment 3 would legalize recreational cannabis, along with similar ballot proposals in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska.

Oct 29, 2024 / StudentNation / Cameron Driggers

Why We Need Prison Journalism More Than Ever

Why We Need Prison Journalism More Than Ever Why We Need Prison Journalism More Than Ever

If we lose incarcerated journalists, we lose a whole voice from the conversation.

Oct 25, 2024 / Christopher Blackwell and Emily Nonko

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