EDITORS’ PICKS
In the decades following Apollo, the absence of a clear rival to the United States has reduced the urgency of lunar exploration, while domestic priorities focused on lower-cost missions in low Earth orbit made sustained investment in Moon expeditions difficult. In the 2020s, however, China’s growing space capabilities have reintroduced external pressure, creating the conditions under which multiple administrations have supported a consistent lunar strategy.
The debate of whether celebrities should entangle themselves in politics remains a divisive one. Even so, both the Democratic and Republican parties have used music to push certain messages and attract specific voter demographics.
NATIONAL
In 2023, the conservative think tank, The Heritage Foundation, published its dream plan for a second Trump presidency in an initiative titled Project 2025. The foundation wrote, “funding for scientific research should not be controlled by a small group of highly paid and unaccountable insiders at the NIH (National Institutes of Health).” Three years later, the Trump Administration has begun a push to shift oversight of NIH grants to a politically appointed committee.
In its monthly assessment of the economy, the U.S. Federal Reserve must take into account developments in the war in Iran, such as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, along with the usual domestic factors, including job growth. The decision to keep rates the same in April reflects the tension between the escalating conflict in Iran and the labor market.
Increasing gas prices have widespread economic consequences, specifically with higher fuel costs increasing inflationary pressures and elevating the costs of goods. With gas being a core input for transportation and production, a rise in price means businesses face higher costs, which are then passed on to consumers.
OPINION
Because of the SAVE America Act’s ambiguous nature, states could feel emboldened to dictate not only which documents are acceptable, but also whose documents will be accepted as “sufficient proof of citizenship.” Its potential effects on married women are not solely about name change; they also concern whom the woman marries.
Electoral politics is a zero-sum game. There is no such thing as a moral victory. If Democrats throw their hands up after the Virginia Supreme Court's ruling and unilaterally disarm, they would not only relegate themselves to permanent minority status short of an exceptional wave election but also reduce the likelihood of partisan gerrymandering ever being outlawed. The time has come for Democrats to embrace the nuclear option: all-out, maximum gerrymandering by any means necessary.
Iran has officially named Mojtaba Khamenei the supreme leader following his father’s death, but their leadership may still be due for a tremendous change. Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi hopes the turmoil of war will elevate him to power, transforming the country and its government.
LATEST
Whether the agreement represents a genuine resolution or a pause in a longer dispute may depend on details yet to be worked out. As written, the deal lets both sides claim victory: Trump can claim a permanent, expanded security footprint while Frederiksen and Nielsen walk away with a Kingdom left intact.
Israel’s expansion into the West Bank has rung alarm bells in Western Europe as the existence of a two-state solution faces a growing existential threat. EU countries such as the Netherlands, Spain, France, and soon-to-be Belgium have all joined the UK in its stance against Israeli expansion. What is left to ask is whether this message will penetrate Israeli leadership, force Israel to stop or, on the flip side, expedite the process, or push the geographically distant countries like the U.S. towards or away from the opinion of its European allies.
On September 18, President Donald Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. Among other measures, the law allows the United States to impose tariffs on major importers of Russian oil and gas, thus putting renewed pressure on India amid concerns over energy affordability. Although Washington presents the measure as a way to limit Moscow’s trade profits amid its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, for India, the law became a trade-off between economic well-being and preserving its relationship with the United States.
The incident raises questions that UNC-Chapel Hill has long resisted answering. When an athlete breaks the same rules as any other student, who decides the consequences, and do they parallel one another? Despite student-athletes in the NIL era of college football mirroring professional athletes more closely than regular students, all university students are subject to the same code of conduct.
In 2023, the conservative think tank, The Heritage Foundation, published its dream plan for a second Trump presidency in an initiative titled Project 2025. The foundation wrote, “funding for scientific research should not be controlled by a small group of highly paid and unaccountable insiders at the NIH (National Institutes of Health).” Three years later, the Trump Administration has begun a push to shift oversight of NIH grants to a politically appointed committee.
DAILY
Anthropic’s move to go public puts a spotlight on the question regulators have been slow to answer: who keeps AI in check?
The pressure behind the meeting comes from a specific source: calls for oversight. Reuters reported that calls for oversight intensified after OpenAI and Anthropic disclosed that their AI agents had independently broken into customer systems. Lawmakers from both parties have also drafted bills ahead of November’s midterm elections, some of which would require companies to disclose more about how their systems work and what safeguards to use.
The largest reservoir of youth discontent may therefore sit with the group least likely to vote, suggesting the youth vote’s impact could hinge less on persuasion than on whether frustration manifests as participation. Democrats’ apparent advantage is also less secure than it looks. CIRCLE reported that young Democrats turned out at lower rates in 2024 than in other recent cycles, and that the youth electorate was more Republican and conservative than in previous elections.
LOCAL
The incident raises questions that UNC-Chapel Hill has long resisted answering. When an athlete breaks the same rules as any other student, who decides the consequences, and do they parallel one another? Despite student-athletes in the NIL era of college football mirroring professional athletes more closely than regular students, all university students are subject to the same code of conduct.
In early December 2023, contempt proceedings against Moore County Clerk Maness were filed. Following the proceedings, numerous lawsuits and claims of misconduct have emerged from all sides, illustrating how disputes inside a local courthouse escalated into a prolonged political and legal conflict.
The ongoing North Carolina Senate race has made the use of Super PACs salient, with candidates receiving large amounts of money from these organizations to fund their political campaigns. The use of these committees has raised questions about the representation of public interest in government, the impact of wealthy donors, and the potential for corruption.
GLOBAL
Whether the agreement represents a genuine resolution or a pause in a longer dispute may depend on details yet to be worked out. As written, the deal lets both sides claim victory: Trump can claim a permanent, expanded security footprint while Frederiksen and Nielsen walk away with a Kingdom left intact.
Israel’s expansion into the West Bank has rung alarm bells in Western Europe as the existence of a two-state solution faces a growing existential threat. EU countries such as the Netherlands, Spain, France, and soon-to-be Belgium have all joined the UK in its stance against Israeli expansion. What is left to ask is whether this message will penetrate Israeli leadership, force Israel to stop or, on the flip side, expedite the process, or push the geographically distant countries like the U.S. towards or away from the opinion of its European allies.
On September 18, President Donald Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. Among other measures, the law allows the United States to impose tariffs on major importers of Russian oil and gas, thus putting renewed pressure on India amid concerns over energy affordability. Although Washington presents the measure as a way to limit Moscow’s trade profits amid its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, for India, the law became a trade-off between economic well-being and preserving its relationship with the United States.
FELLOWS
Since World War II, the US and China have been the key players in the international system. The US-led reconstruction of Europe through the Marshall Plan shaped the world's order through security and containment approaches. China, during the late 20th century, began to grow as a new regional player. The first quarter of the 21st century has seen shifts in the balance of power. Will this be a zero-sum game between the two key players in the coming decades?
Non-violent resistance can be a muted reflection, standing in front of a mural at the UNC campus, reflecting all those moments of oppression, long before our generations, whose shoulders we stand on, who boldly and fearlessly gave their lives so we can breathe in a free society. All it takes is to stand in a moment of silence and reflection. Because someone, somewhere, stood in the face of oppression.
The proposed closure of study centers has mobilized both students and faculty members who are engaged in campus-wide activities such as student discussions, presentations, press conferences, and lobbying with a hope to garner more support, visibility, and demonstrate the impact of the study centers in a bid for the University to reverse its decision.
Italy’s struggles are nothing new. Their recent loss marks their third-straight World Cup qualification failure despite a history as one of the most successful national teams in World Cup history. The turmoil has set off a string of administrative changes, including the resignation of Italy soccer federation president Gabriele Gravina and the removal of coach Gennaro Gattuso.