Editor's note

A group of online political activists who espoused extreme racist views and who helped Donald Trump win the White House has set its sights on getting right-wing politicians into top offices across Europe. West Virginia University’s Saiph Savage and Claudia Flores-Saviaga have identified how different online communities are sharing expertise in this effort.

And former U.S. ambassador and Penn State professor Dennis Jett explains why there may be a few reasonable places to trim funding for UN peacekeeping operations, as Trump has proposed. “The question,” he writes, “is whether the work of these operations contributes to peace or just makes the status quo and the lack of a final resolution of the conflict permanent.”

Overseas development aid could also see deep cuts in the Trump budget. Joannie Tremblay-Boire, an assistant professor at Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, explains what U.S. foreign aid does and debunks three common myths, noting that the U.S. spends less – as a share of its economy – on this aid than other rich countries.

Jeff Inglis

Editor, Science + Technology

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Online backers are looking to Trump’s success as a preview of Le Pen’s candidacy. ID1974 / Shutterstock.com

'Making Europe Great Again,' Trump's online supporters shift attention to the French election

Saiph Savage, West Virginia University; Claudia Flores-Saviaga, West Virginia University

Some of the same people who played significant roles in a key pro-Trump subreddit are sharing their experience with their French counterparts backing Marine Le Pen.

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