


The president has deleted a key tenet of American civil-rights law
The rise and fall of the “disparate impact” doctrine
IN THE DELUGE of 145 executive orders issued by President Donald Trump (on subjects as disparate as “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness” and “Maintaining Acceptable Water Pressure in Showerheads”) it can be difficult to discern which are truly consequential. But one of them, signed on April 23rd under the bland headline “Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy”, aims to remake civil-rights law. Those primed to distrust Mr Trump on such matters may be surprised to learn that the president’s target is not just important but also well-chosen.
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American cities are criminalising homelessness. Will that help?
How a Supreme Court decision paved the way for more punitive policies

Pete Hegseth is purging both weapons and generals
The US Army is keen on getting rid of obsolete kit. But there are risks

Where the Trump administration has science on its side
A government report evaluates gender therapy and medical care for children
The judge losing his patience with the Trump administration
James Boasberg is at the centre of an escalating conflict between the executive and the judiciary
Mike Waltz’s demotion is a loss for defence hawks
The reshuffle by Donald Trump portends more instability in America’s national security team