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Editor's note
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Today many Jews will celebrate “Shabbat Shirah,” the “Sabbath of Song,” a commemoration of the songs sung by Moses and his sister Miriam to celebrate the Israelite crossing of the Red Sea.
Music is an intrinsic part of religious experience. So why do people sing psalms, chant bhajans or even go into a trance? Michigan State’s David W. Stowe explains that music can work in multiple ways in the sacred space. Its power lies in how it brings people together -- whether “in expressing gratitude, praise, sorrow and even protest against injustice.”
The 59th Grammy Awards will air Sunday evening. But does the annual event actually celebrate good, quality music? Or is it more about popularity and album sales? University of Minnesota music professor Alex Lubet explores a voting process and awards ceremony that pits commercial interests against artistic ones.
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Kalpana Jain
Senior Editor, Religion & Ethics
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Top story
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The Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
George Frey/Reuters
David W. Stowe, Michigan State University
Sacred music joins people in a collective expression - whether of joy, sorrow or protest.
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Politics + Society
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Steven Mulroy, University of Memphis
The court's reasoning suggests deep skepticism of Trump's position and spotlights the main issues for the further appeals that will surely follow.
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Christopher Rudolph, American University School of International Service
Since World War II, the US and Mexico have successfully worked together on issues like trade and migration. If Trump refuses to treat Mexico as a partner, how bitter will the breakup be?
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Maria Höhn, Vassar College
When war broke out, black Americans fought in segregated units to serve their country. The breath of freedom they experienced in Europe flamed the fight for equality when they returned home.
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Erwin Chemerinsky, University of California, Irvine; Howard Gillman, University of California, Irvine
UC Berkeley had a duty to protect the free speech of right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos and those protesting his appearance. But what are the limits of free speech when it comes to campus safety?
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Science + Technology
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Ivan Oransky, New York University; Adam Marcus, Johns Hopkins University
In the wake of the Flint water crisis and with a new notably anti-science president, U.S. scientists are reevaluating how to navigate the tension between speaking out and a fear of losing research funding.
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John Cook, George Mason University
Laser-like focus on a tiny, unimportant detail can mean you miss the gorilla in the room – a tactic climate change deniers use to cast doubt on the science.
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Seth Lewis, University of Oregon; Nicole Smith Dahmen, University of Oregon
Facebook Live – and other live-video streaming services – change how we bear witness to events, and challenge how we think about visual information.
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Health + Medicine
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Jonathan Noel, University of Connecticut; Thomas Babor, University of Connecticut
Alcohol companies used controversial marketing practices in their Super Bowl commercials – including using animals and themes that are appealing to youth.
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John Burkhardt, University of Michigan; Mahshid Abir, University of Michigan
About one in four physicians in graduate medical education is from another country. Here's how a travel ban could harm them, and our health care system.
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Arts + Culture
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Alex Lubet, University of Minnesota
After winning his Grammy in 1996, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder said, 'I don't think this means anything.' Was he right?
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Adam Gustafson, Pennsylvania State University
In the 19th century, critics and audiences thought blacks were incapable of singing as well as their white, European counterparts. Greenfield forced them to reconcile their ears with their racism.
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Education
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Dustin Hornbeck, Miami University
Confirmed in a historic tie-breaking vote by Vice President Pence, Betsy DeVos will be the next secretary of education. Here's what you need to know about her past legislative actions and proposals.
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Environment + Energy
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Joseph Aldy, Harvard University
President Trump has ordered federal agencies to cut two regulations for every new one they enact – ignoring the fact that many regulations produce large social benefits.
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Laura A. Reese, Michigan State University; Gary Sands, Wayne State University
Less than four years after Detroit filed for bankruptcy, boosters say a revival is underway in the Motor City. But two scholars say new growth has not spread yet to neighborhoods that need it.
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Archer Larned, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Sarah Luttrell, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
During bird irruptions, hundreds or thousands of a single species show up outside their normal territory. Most of what we know about irruptions comes from data collected by citizen scientists.
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Economy + Business
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Wayne Cornelius, University of California, San Diego
President Trump signed an executive order to get construction started and ask Congress to pay up front, but good luck getting Mexico to foot the bill.
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Steven J. Gold, Michigan State University; Jeffrey R. Oliver, Michigan State University
Despite an entrepreneurial heritage, black self-employment rates are about half that of whites. Could a rising economy lift their boats too?
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Ethics + Religion
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Mathew Schmalz, College of the Holy Cross
A scholar explains how mercy could be a simple act of opening oneself to those with opposing views.
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