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S. C. Harist

Reform-minded writer exploring power, policy, and representation. Essays on governance, society, and the systems that shape us—written to rethink what we accept as normal.

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When Is It Their Turn? How Trump’s Republican Allies Could Be the Next to Face the Handcuffs, Arrests, and Retaliation They Once Justified Author’s Note: I was considering releasing this next week because other articles were scheduled first. However, this is too important. It will be under a

What Makes the “Big Beautiful Bill” Different

A rhetorical artifact, not a legislative blueprint — and why that matters. Author’s Note I’ve spent years reading legislative history, political speeches, and budget texts. And I’ve never come across anything quite like Donald Trump’s oft-mentioned “Big Beautiful Bill.” It sounds familiar but doesn’t behave

Why We’re Temporarily Locking the Door (And When We’ll Open It)

A Paywall Policy for Sustainable Writing That Still Keeps the Public Informed Author’s Note Starting Monday, June 14, 2025, all new articles published Monday through Friday will be placed behind Medium’s paywall for one week. After that, they will become freely accessible to everyone. This change does not

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The Semantics of Free Market Capitalism Freedom for Whom? A History of a Phrase That Shapes the World Author’s Note This essay began with a simple question: What does “free market capitalism” actually mean? But like most questions worth asking, the answers are layered, contradictory, and political. This isn’

Mirror Nations: How the World Sees America — And How We See Ourselves

Perception, Projection, and the Global Identity of the United States Author’s Note As a citizen of a global superpower, I’ve learned the hard way that influence doesn’t equal respect—and projection isn’t perception. What we tell ourselves and what the world sees are not the same.

Evolving Ourselves: Can Reason, Habit, and Will Rewrite the Future?

AAuthor’s Note This essay began as a question I couldn’t shake: Can we change ourselves so deeply that we change what we pass down—not just emotionally, but biologically and culturally? The more I read, the more I realized that the answer is yes. But that “yes” comes

People Who Challenge Well-Being—and People Who Respect It

How to recognize, respond, and rebuild Author’s Note I’ve often wondered why some people bring calm and healing into a room, while others seem to drain it of oxygen. This essay comes from that place of wondering—not out of judgment, but a search for understanding. The traits

Sunday Spin Filter: June 8, 2025

Sunday Spin Filter: June 8, 2025 A 10,000-word breakdown of America’s weekly political theater—who speaks, who spins, and who never gets the mic. By S. C. Harist I. Author’s Note Sunday talk shows aren’t just news—they’re ritual. The roundtables. The opening monologues.

Week’s End: June 7, 2025

Understand the news, its processes, and why it matters. Author’s Note This week unfolded with a series of events that, while seemingly disparate, collectively underscore the intricate interplay between policy decisions, geopolitical dynamics, and societal shifts. From the expansion of travel restrictions to escalating international conflicts, the underlying processes

Understand the Week Ahead: June 1, 2025

A Preview of What You Need to Understand to Understand This Week’s News Author’s Note What’s shaping your week isn’t just what trends — it’s what’s quietly decided. The hearings that aren't televised. The court rulings no one frames. The rules rewritten in