Primary Night in North Carolina and Texas Raises Questions for Democrats
Primary Night in North Carolina and Texas Raises Questions for Democrats

On March 3, voters cast their ballots for the North Carolina and Texas primaries, with heated races for both Democratic and Republican candidates. These primary elections have been among the most closely watched across the states, as incumbents, former state officials, and left and right-leaning challengers gear up for the November midterms. In Texas and North Carolina, Democratic results have raised major questions about party values, with Chapel Hill’s own District Four as a prime example.

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NationalCole JonesFoushee, North Carolina, ElectionComment
A Triangle Primary Race PAC-ed with Surprise
A Triangle Primary Race PAC-ed with Surprise

Voters in North Carolina’s Fourth Congressional District, including Durham and Chapel Hill, have chosen Representative Valerie Foushee as the incumbent in a controversial primary against County Commissioner Nida Allam. Claims of dark money, misshapen foreign policy, and AI funding shaped the outlook of this race, prompting national interest in the outside groups and super PACs that played a role.

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LocalYogee SamalNorth Carolina, Foushee, Nida Allam Comment
Trump Threatens an Increase in Global Tariff Rate
Trump Threatens an Increase in Global Tariff Rate

The Supreme Court recently struck down Trump's use of emergency powers to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). In a 6-3 decision, the court ruled that the tariffs exceeded the authority given to the president by Congress under the 1977 law, which allows the executive branch to regulate commerce during national emergencies created by foreign threats. 

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GlobalMarlowe SimpsonTrump Tariffs, TariffsComment
Trump’s Grip on Texas Amid Turning Point’s Endorsement in the Texas Senate Race
Trump’s Grip on Texas Amid Turning Point’s Endorsement in the Texas Senate Race

With Turning Point’s endorsement of Attorney General Paxton reminiscent of grassroots loyalty to President Trump and the anxiety of major donors to hear what the President himself has to say, the race underscores an ongoing struggle between established conservatism and the growing “America First” movement. With the primaries rapidly approaching, the outcome will not only determine who will compete to represent Texas in the Senate but also reveal how Trump’s influence will determine the future of the GOP.

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Khadija Mohammed Comments
Donald Trump Calls on Republicans to “Nationalize” Elections
Donald Trump Calls on Republicans to “Nationalize” Elections

On Tuesday, February 2, President Trump called on the federal government and the Republican Party to “nationalize” elections in the United States. The President was interviewed by Dan Bongino, his former deputy FBI director, on his podcast, where he suggested Republican officials “take over” voting procedures in 15 states. President Trump’s suggestion that the federal government intervene in certain elections blatantly undermines the Constitution, highlights major divisions within the Republican Party, and is a clear effort by the Trump administration to claim fraud in the 2020 election and to prepare for major losses in the 2026 midterms.

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NationalHannah GhaliTrump, SAVE Act, Save Act, Trump ElectionsComment
UNC Campus: A Site for ‘Fellow-Feeling’ in the Face of Conflict
UNC Campus: A Site for ‘Fellow-Feeling’ in the Face of Conflict

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.

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Columns, Opinion, FellowsShahid S. KhanUNC, UNC School of Civic Life and Leadership, UNC Administration, UNC Area Studies Comments
Political Expression Takes the Gold: American Athletes at the Winter Olympics
Political Expression Takes the Gold: American Athletes at the Winter Olympics

The Olympics often unite Americans across political divides, offering a rare moment when national pride outweighs partisanship. Yet, this year’s Winter Games in Milan have sparked debate after several U.S. athletes expressed discomfort representing the American government amid deep domestic political conflict. The conflicting reception of their comments by the American public and politicians has raised a broader question: should political expression have a place at the Olympics?

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Opinion, ColumnsPaige ChristmanOpinion Piece, Olympics, Olympic BoycottComment
Japan’s Conservative Turn: Takaichi’s Agenda and Its Global Implications
Japan’s Conservative Turn: Takaichi’s Agenda and Its Global Implications

Following Japan’s lower house elections on February 8, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) now holds a two-thirds majority. This marks the most power any political party in Japan has had since post-war times. Led by the recently elected Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, the LDP stands as the political majority within the Japanese government. Campaigning on conservative ideals, Takaichi’s goals for Japan could have many implications for its citizens and relations abroad.

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GlobalMina KimJapan Prime Minister, Japan-USComment
Armed Man Shot and Killed Trying to Enter Mar-a-Lago
Armed Man Shot and Killed Trying to Enter Mar-a-Lago

21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin was shot and killed at 1:30 a.m. on February 22 while attempting to enter Mar-a-Lago, one of President Trump's private residences located in Palm Beach, Florida. Reports indicate that he trespassed 20-30 yards onto the property before he was confronted by law enforcement, who proceeded to fatally shoot Martin.

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NationalMarlowe SimpsonTrump Assassination, Mar a Lago, Trump Kilelr, Trump attemptComment
The Strait That Shook the World
The Strait That Shook the World

84% of the crude oil that passes through the Strait of Hormuz is destined for markets in China, India, and South Korea, among other Asian countries. China also buys more than 90% of Iran's oil exports, and around 53% of India's imported oil in early 2025 came from Middle Eastern suppliers. Meanwhile, Europe faces a second large disruption in the energy market over the last decade, after previous complications stemming from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

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Editor's Picks, GlobalHolden RayGas, Gas Prices, Strait of Hormuz, Iran, Iran War, Iran USA, Trump IranComment
Setting the Narrative of the Deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good
Setting the Narrative of the Deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good

The homicides of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti represent a larger trend in which federal agents murder American citizens, and then attempt to manipulate public narratives. The rash labeling of Pretti as a “domestic terrorist” and the forced reversal of a court order that limited DHS’ supervision of evidence reveal how government institutions attempt to influence the story, even when the facts are not fully confirmed.

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NationalKhadija MohammedAlex Preeti, Nicole Good, Renee Nicole Good, Minneapolis, ICE Minneapolis, ICE, Trump ImmigrationComment
El Mencho’s Death is a Tactical Victory, Not the End of Cartels
El Mencho’s Death is a Tactical Victory, Not the End of Cartels

On February 22, the Mexican army carried out an operation resulting in the death of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes (“El Mencho”), notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). On the surface, this marks a significant victory for the Mexican Government in its battle against cartel power. For years, CJNG has been one of the most dominant and violent criminal organizations in Mexico, heavily involved in trafficking synthetic drugs, particularly fentanyl and methamphetamine, into the United States and Canada. However, the immediate aftermath, along with the historical pattern of similar “kingpin” operations, suggests that long-term change remains uncertain.

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GlobalMina KimEl Mencho, Mexico, Mexico Cartels, US-Mexico, Trump MexicoComment
Pam Bondi Takes to the Stand: Political Theater and the Lack of Accountability in American Democracy
Pam Bondi Takes to the Stand: Political Theater and the Lack of Accountability in American Democracy

On February 11, U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi testified before the House Judiciary Committee regarding the handling and heavy redaction of the Epstein Files. Her behavior was the subject of intense scrutiny, as she responded combatively to questions and acted excessively protective of President Trump. Bondi’s refusal to resign in the face of impeachment threats, as well as her unending loyalty to Trump, sets a dangerous precedent that reputation takes priority over the protection and dignity of the American people.

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Columns, OpinionJaya NadellaBondi, Epstein, Pam Bondi, Trump Bondi, Bondi Testimony, House JudiciaryComment