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 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.
On April 15, a jury in the Southern District Court of New York found Live Nation Entertainment, the leading enterprise in the live event space, guilty of violating antitrust laws. Live Nation’s consolidation of market power allowed the company to achieve extremely high profits at every stage of the live event production process. The recent District Court ruling ultimately brings a glimmer of hope for concertgoers, as there is now increased pressure on Live Nation to end dynamic pricing and enact structural changes to its business model.
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
What was officially confirmed in mid-May as a new Ebola outbreak has spread to 452 confirmed cases and 82 confirmed deaths in the Congo. The CDC estimates that the spread could reach 20,000 cases or more within the next three months, depending on the efforts made. With numerous challenges plaguing efforts to contain the virus, the DRC needs significant international action to prevent regional devastation.
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.
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.
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.
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.
DAILY
A large generation, mobilized around a single exam scandal but animated by broader economic frustration, is not obviously satisfied by a resignation alone. Whether the protests recede with the ministerial change or persist as a standing challenge to the BJP’s twelve-year hold on power will depend less on the exam investigation than on whether either side’s account of what the movement is actually about comes to be seen as accurate.
What the vehicle-stop suspension confirms, independent of which explanation proves correct, is that ICE leadership found the operational status quo untenable after two fatalities in a week. Whether that reflects a course correction on tactics or a temporary pause pending investigation will likely depend less on official statements than on what the Maine and Harris County investigations surface in the coming weeks.
SpaceX, the largest valuation in history, is making its mark on American ethics. What the SpaceX IPO ultimately illustrates is a gap that predates Musk and could outlast him. American ethics law was built for officials who enter government from the private sector, not for private actors who enter government while retaining and expanding their commercial empires. The record-breaking valuation is, in that sense, a monument less to innovation than to a regulatory architecture that never anticipated needing to contain it.
LOCAL
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.
In April 2026, the North Carolina Advisory Council on Cannabis recommended that lawmakers set a path for the legalization of marijuana for adults. Two top Republican lawmakers are continually pushing back on such legislation, resurfacing marijuana debates in Raleigh.
GLOBAL
What was officially confirmed in mid-May as a new Ebola outbreak has spread to 452 confirmed cases and 82 confirmed deaths in the Congo. The CDC estimates that the spread could reach 20,000 cases or more within the next three months, depending on the efforts made. With numerous challenges plaguing efforts to contain the virus, the DRC needs significant international action to prevent regional devastation.
As Pope Leo enters the second year of his papacy, the battle lines are clearly drawn: between the desire for domination he observes in modern statecraft and the way of Jesus Christ he seeks to promote, the American pope finds himself at the center of a struggle for the very soul of the faith in his home country.
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.
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.