Institute for Policy Studies

In an interview on Al Jazeera English, Phyllis Bennis, director of the New Internationalism Project at the Institute for Policy Studies, explains why Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to carry out a phased withdrawal from Gaza — despite having agreed to it — is not surprising, and why U.S. pressure in words alone will never be enough to stop the genocide.

In September 2025, Donald Trump designated “antifa” a domestic terror organization. Last month, his administration went one step further by declaring that the “extreme left” had developed the antifa network into a global threat.

Skip to content President Lyndon Baines Johnson and J. William Fulbright, June 1965 (Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain) On August 1, 1946, President Truman signed the Fulbright Act into law, creating what would become one of the world’s most prestigious educational exchange programs. Eight decades later, “Fulbright” has become shorthand for international scholarship, as hundreds of thousands of students, researchers, and educators have crossed borders under its banner.

Ceasefire supporters rally in Washington, D.C. (Shutterstock) Like me, Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi attended West Seattle High School. In September 2024, days before leaving to do advocacy work in the West Bank, she celebrated her birthday at Alki Beach — a local favorite spot for Seattleites. Not long after, Eygi was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers while observing a weekly protest against Israel’s illegal settlements.

This summer, IPS — together with The Nation, We Build Progress, and the Wallace Global Fund — hosted our third annual Wallace Symposium, entitled “Forging a Democracy That Works for All.” The event marked several significant milestones for IPS — including the launch of our new agenda of the same name, which outlines steps to break up billionaire, corporate, and Pentagon power to reinvest in democracy; a generous endowment from the Wallace Global Fund to support the future of our annual summer...

Below is a lightly edited transcript of a panel at our third annual Wallace Symposium, called “Forging a Democracy That Works for All.” Watch and read more from the symposium here. Katrina vanden Heuvel:  I come from Zohran Land. I bring joy to this city where National Guardsmen prowl. Zohran Mamdani is a candidate we endorsed. We endorse The Nation. We endorsed Bernie Sanders in 2016 and in 2020. And if you believe Bernie Sanders lost, I have something to tell you.

Below is a lightly edited transcript of the opening remarks at our third annual Wallace Symposium, called “Forging a Democracy That Works for All.” Watch and read more from the symposium here. Bella DeVaan: Hi, everyone. It is so wonderful to be here with all of you today. My name is Bella DeVaan, and along with Chuck Collins I lead the Charity Reform Initiative here at the Institute for Policy Studies.

Below is a lightly edited transcript of a panel at our third annual Wallace Symposium, called “Forging a Democracy That Works for All.” Watch and read more from the symposium here. John Cavanagh: I’m John Cavanagh from the Institute for Policy Studies, and I welcome you to panel one of three. This one is on organizing to build power, defeat fascism, and deepen democracy. As you’ve all heard, Henry Wallace had something to say and had wisdom for any possible moment.

Below is a lightly edited transcript of the keynote remarks at our third annual Wallace Symposium, called “Forging a Democracy That Works for All.” Watch and read more from the symposium here. Tope Folarin: I’m so excited about this conversation! I’ve been looking forward to it for quite some time. As John said, the Congressman will be here shortly, but I thought we’d start before he got here, so we can sort of surprise him with where we’ve gone.

Below is a lightly edited transcript of the opening remarks at our third annual Wallace Symposium, called “Forging a Democracy That Works for All.” Watch and read more from the symposium here. John Nichols: Good afternoon. My name is John Nichols, and I acknowledge up front I am a rural American. Thank you — that’s about the level of applause we get. I was born in a town of 970, I was 971, and very aware of that. Henry Wallace had roots in Orient, Iowa, a town of about 300.