Editor's note

The world was disturbed last week by images of yet another chemical weapon attack in Syria. The U.S., France and the U.K. responded on Friday by bombing chemical weapons facilities in that country. Although the strikes are generally considered illegal under international law, 12 out of 15 members of the U.N. Security Council on Saturday refused to support a Russian proposal condemning them. Andrew Bell of Indiana University argues that this refusal is evidence that international law is fundamentally broken when it comes to chemical attacks. And James Gelvin of UCLA sees the strikes as little more than theater.

It’s been five years since the Boston Marathon bombing. Since then, researchers have found that terrorist groups are using new social media apps to promote the kind of “how-to” jihadi propaganda that inspired the brothers who carried out the attack, writes Mia Bloom, an expert of violent extremism at Georgia State University.

Twenty years ago yesterday, Pol Pot, the leader of Cambodia’s genocidal government during the late 1970s, died in his sleep. During his rule, almost 2 million Cambodians perished. University of Massachusetts-Lowell’s George Chigas, who has studied responses to the genocide for three decades, writes that survivors were able to find healing in literary responses to the horror.

And, whether you finished your taxes months ago or you’ll still searching for your W-2, check out our collection of stories related to Tax Day.

Emily Costello

Deputy Editor/Politics + Society Editor

Top stories

A Syrian soldier films the damage of the Syrian Scientific Research Center which was attacked by U.S., British and French military strikes. AP Photo/Hassan Ammar

Syria, chemical weapons and the limits of international law

Andrew Bell, Indiana University

The United Nations Charter doesn't allow the use of military force to prevent chemical weapons attacks — no matter how evil — without UN Security Council approval. That needs to change.

A woman holds a Syrian flag during a protest against air strikes on Syria in Baghdad, Iraq on April 15, 2018. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani

Syrian Kabuki

James L. Gelvin, University of California, Los Angeles

Are air strikes really a way to hold the Syrian regime responsible for its alleged atrocities against humanity? History says no.

Telegram, an encrypted messaging app. vfhnb12 / Shutterstock.com

Since Boston bombing, terrorists are using new social media to inspire potential attackers

Mia Bloom, Georgia State University

These attacks do not involve direct contact with terrorists in the Middle East. Instead, individuals already living in the US are learning the “how-tos” of jihad online.

How do survivors find healing? Chum Mey, a survivor of the Khmer Rouge regime, walks past a portrait of Nuon Chea, a former Khmer Rouge leader. AP Photo/Heng Sinith

Bearing witness to Cambodia's horror, 20 years after Pol Pot's death

George Chigas, University of Massachusetts Lowell

The accounts of survivors of Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge show how they were able to find justice and healing by breaking their silence and speaking on behalf of those who were killed.

Environment + Energy

Economy + Business

Tax Day

  • How to stay honest this tax season

    Christian B. Miller, Wake Forest University

    While people often want to cheat in certain cases if it would benefit them, they also want to think of themselves as honest. Here are three steps to stay honest while filing taxes.

Charity and taxes: 4 questions answered

Patrick Rooney, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis

The lost incentives to give are likely to make a bigger difference than the small uptick in economic growth expected from the new law.

How the new estate tax rules could reduce charitable giving by billions

Patrick Rooney, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis

Philanthropists give for many different reasons, but bequests could decline by about $7 billion a year.

The real IRS scandal has more to do with budget cuts than bias

Philip Hackney, Louisiana State University

The tax agency, as it happens, singled out both conservative and liberal groups seeking tax-exempt status for extra scrutiny. But the myth that it picked on the tea party movement hasn't gone away.

Why you may be paying more income tax than you should

Youssef Benzarti, University of California, Los Angeles

The burden of filing our taxes appears to be growing, especially for those who tend to wait until the last minute to fill in their 1040s.

Why Americans have chosen to pay income tax

Matthew C Weinzierl, Harvard Business School

As you wrestle with figuring out what you owe Uncle Sam, consider why the United States opted for an income tax back in 1913.

What to do if you owe the IRS money

Tameka E. Lester, Georgia State University

Million of taxpayers receive notices from the IRS about unpaid tax debts. Believe it or not, the agency understands.

Today’s quote

Drama at the FBI is nothing new. Given its 109-year history, the FBI has seen many scandals and numerous directors come and go.

 

The FBI: With great power comes great scandal

 

Douglas M. Charles

Pennsylvania State University

Douglas M. Charles