Military activity was seen in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, after the U.S. attacked Venezuela and deposed its long-serving autocratic President Nicolas Maduro in Washington's most direct intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama. Planes were seen taking off, landing and taxiing at two bases on the island situated around 500 miles or 800 kilometers from Venezula. Ahead of the overnight strikes, the U.S. had accused Maduro of running a "narco-st

What leads to the rise of autocratic leaders in a nation? Dr. Michele Gelfand, a professor of psychology at the University of Maryland — and the author of the new book "Rule Makers, Rule Breakers" — proposes that when working-class families feel threatened, particularly in environments where they perceive the rules have become "too loose," they are more likely to vote for figures who promise to institute a strong rule of law. | Big Think Science