It was the 1960s in Washington, D.C., and the Vietnam War was running rampant. Susan Sarandon, a college student at the time, had just attended her first anti-war protest, sparking a lifetime of political activism and standing up for her beliefs. Sarandon vehemently hated war and was very outspoken about it, also protesting the 2003 invasion of Iraq after she was well into her career. She made a name for herself not only in film, but also as a prominent figure in social and political activism. She even often intertwines the two. Some of her most iconic roles are, in and of themselves, political. In films like The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Thelma and Louise, and Dead Man Walking, Sarandon has defied the status quo and refused to stay silent in the face of public scrutiny. Many say actors shouldn’t get involved in politics, and to that Sarandon said, watch this. Susan Sarandon has been vocal about presidential elections, urging people to vote and backing certain candidates. However, she also was not afraid to criticize those she supports. All before 2010, she fought against Hollywood’s portrayal of homosexuality, served on the advisory committee for the activist group 2004 Racism Watch, and advocated to end the death penalty and mass incarceration. Sarandon hasn’t been afraid to make waves and stand up for her beliefs. Even today, at age seventy-nine, she continues to get out there and protest for what she believes in. Most recently, she was even detained while protesting Benjamin Netanyahu’s arrival in New York City on September 24, 2026. That, however, is not the first time she’s been arrested for protesting. Police detained her once in 1982 during a civil disobedience protest, in 1999 for protesting the police shooting of unarmed Amadou Diallo, in 2018 during a sit-in protesting the Trump administration’s immigration and border policies, and once again in 2023 while advocating for an increase in the minimum wage. Though Susan Sarandon has had many career-defining roles, no role defines her like her political activism. Some of this has been actively detrimental to her career, causing her to be dropped from her agency and essentially become blacklisted after speaking out in support of Palestine. I think public figures should get involved in politics; they should fight for what they believe in, and urge their audience to do the same. If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything. It’s imperative to question those in charge and stand up not only for yourself, but for your peers, your friends, your children, and our future.
By Madison Curd
Recently, the Civil War in Yemen has gained much attention, as the Iranian-backed Houthis disrupt ships in the Red Sea. Though this war has been going on for over twelve years now, what has received much less attention is how it has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Started by an insurgency led by Houthi terrorists in 2014, the Yemeni Civil War has resulted in the displacement and starvation of millions of civilians since then. This crisis has only worsened with Saudi Arabia’s ruthless bombings that killed hundreds, if not thousands, of civilians. Unlike the wars in Gaza and Iran, however, this war has not been the focus of virtually any large, organized protests or social movements among progressive activists in the West. As long as selective outrage continues while ignoring this crisis, the issue will only get worse.
By Edward Kim
Jack Smith, Former Special Counsel, appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, September 29, to answer questions about his investigations and criminal prosecutions of President Donald Trump. During the hearing, Smith testified, defending the decisions and investigation methods he and his team used against President Trump. Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Smith special counsel on November 18, 2022. His primary responsibilities were to oversee two investigations: one investigation concerning Trump’s efforts to interfere with the transfer of power after the 2020 U.S. election and another investigation involving classified documents and presidential records at Mar-a-Lago resort. Political polarization has become increasingly familiar in American public life, shaping how people view political opponents and national issues. Americans have expressed frustration on issues such as the government’s handling of the economy, inequalities of wealth, and polarization over domestic issues. Even though both of Smith’s cases were dismissed in 2024, the questions surrounding them remain. Moreover, last Tuesday’s hearing shows the controversy over Smith’s actions has not faded from the political spotlight. The circumstances surrounding those cases raise a larger question: What should congressional oversight look like when the investigation itself has already ended? In my view, congressional oversight means shifting the conversation toward the issues and evidence being examined rather than personal attacks on those who testify. During Tuesday’s hearing, Republican senators argued that Smith’s decision to bring criminal charges against Trump during the 2024 election cycle was politically motivated. The Trump campaign has characterized Smith’s prosecutions against him as “witch hunts”. The Senate Hearing also included personal attacks directed at Smith. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri), called Smith “a total dirtbag”. In my view, personal insults shift the discussion away from the investigations and toward personal attacks. A congressional hearing should examine how much power federal prosecutors should have when investigating a president and what limits should apply regardless of which political party occupies the White House. That, in my view, is what makes Tuesday’s hearing more significant than the political arguments surrounding it. The hearing should not simply become another chapter in the continuing political battle between President Trump and his opponents. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) was another Senator present before the Senate Committee that challenged Smith over his team’s use of phone records from Republican lawmakers. Smith responded that obtaining the records wasn’t abuse of power, and he said he won’t remain silent in the face of ongoing threats directed at him. The exchange illustrates how difficult it can be for congressional oversight to remain separate from partisan conflict when lawmakers disagree over the conduct being investigated. How then should the House and Senate approach Congressional hearings? Congress should create an environment where lawmakers can scrutinize government actions, question witnesses and debate the limits of federal power without allowing personal attacks to overshadow the issues at hand. Acknowledgement: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the individual author, not necessarily Our National Conversation as a whole.
By Felipe Cisternas
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