The Sunset of a Legend: Rafael Nadal’s Farewell and the Evolution of Greatness in Tennis

As the sun sets on Rafael Nadal’s tennis career, his impact on the sport and its fans remains indelible. He leaves not just as a champion but as a symbol of resilience and humanity, reminding us that even the greatest athletes are defined by more than just their triumphs. They are also characterized by the challenges they overcome and the character they display along the way. Not only will the loss of Nadal be a loss for his livelihood, but also the loss of the tennis world as a whole.

ColumnsEleanor GoldsteinDecember 10, 2024Opinion, Columns, Column, Nadal, SportsComment

What’s Next For Kamala Harris?

For the first time since the beginning of her public life, Kamala Harris has no obvious career trajectory. While the Vice President has been lying low since the election, she has notably been telling close aides to “keep her options open,” a particularly thought-provoking statement considering Harris’ relative youth. This begs the question, what’s next for Kamala Harris? Here are her options:

Election 2024, NationalAndrew AslaksonDecember 10, 2024National, Kamala, Kamala Harris, Election 2024Comment

How the Lingering Ghost of Kevin McCarthy Killed Gaetz’s AG Run

It was unclear if McCarthy’s confidants were willing to risk the wrath of an incitive Trump by crossing the aisle and voting with Democrats to force the report’s release. However, their public disapproval put the nail in Gaetz’s coffin before a vote on the report could even be held. On Thursday, November 21, the President-elect called Gaetz to deliver the tough news, he didn’t have the votes and the Senators weren’t budging.

National, Editor's PicksJulia HallinanDecember 10, 2024National, Attor, Attorney General, Gaetz, McCarthyComment

The Climate Crisis Won't Wait for Politics

With seven in ten Americans believing climate change is a serious problem, true solutions won’t come from waiting for the political winds to shift but acting now at every level possible. The destructive lessons of Helene and Milton make it clear: our choice isn't between acting and doing nothing but between proactive change and being forced into adaptation as the climate becomes increasingly hostile. With 2024 already shaping up to be the hottest year on record, this second-term vision of Trump's is an extreme contradiction in climate science. While the federal leadership falters, communities are leading the charge, businesses are leading the charge, and local governments are leading the charge.

Columns, OpinionNikhil UchilDecember 2, 2024The climate crisis, Climate, Climate Change, Opinion, Columns, ColumnComment

Marco Rubio as Secretary of State: The Future of U.S. Foreign Policy

With reports confirming Senator Marco Rubio as President-Elect Donald Trump’s pick for Secretary of State, speculation grows over how Rubio’s hawkish foreign policy views may influence the administration’s approach. Known for his strong support of U.S. alliances and democratic advocacy, Rubio could steer American diplomacy toward a more traditional yet assertive stance on the global stage.

NationalNicole MolinaNovember 25, 2024Rubio, Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, Florida, Trump Administration, NationalComment

Virginia’s Controversial Election Year Voter Roll Purge Upheld by Supreme Court

Despite warnings that Virginia’s voter purge was not narrow enough to catch only noncitizens, the state pushed on. Disturbingly, many citizens were unaware they were removed until contacted by advocacy groups or news outlets.

Election 2024, NationalElise ChangNovember 20, 2024National, Voter ID, Voter Purge, Virginia, Virginia Politics, Election 2024Comment

The Cost of Drowning Out Dissent: Why Arab Voters Turned Away from Kamala Harris

For Vice President Harris, invoking the horrors of a potential Trump presidency cannot mask the real, ongoing tragedies many of her Arab and Muslim constituents are already experiencing. For the Palestinian community, the conflict in Gaza has taken more than 43,000 lives, including over 16,000 children. Thousands remain buried under rubble, vulnerable to disease and starvation, with no end in sight.

Editor's Picks, Election 2024, NationalSalma MouradNovember 19, 2024Election 2024, National, Editor's PickComment

Donald Trump Wins North Carolina. Again?

Democratic leaders find themselves wondering what happened not only in North Carolina but in the other six battleground states Trump swept this election cycle.

Columns, Opinion, Election 2024Elise ChangNovember 14, 2024Trump, Trump Victory, Donald Trump, Election 2024, National, Opinion, Column, ColumnsComment

Democrats Suffer Decisive Loss of the Senate to Republicans

With Republicans in control of the Senate, there will be few roadblocks to confirmation for Trump’s picks of cabinet officials and Supreme Court if Justices Alito and Thomas step down during the upcoming term. The president-elect will not have to appeal to centrists like Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Susan Collins (R-ME).

National, Election 2024Elise ChangNovember 12, 2024Democrats, Kamala, Kamala Harris, Trump, Trump Victory, Election 2024, NationalComment

From City Hall to Courtroom: The Indictment of Eric Adams

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is now facing a federal indictment, accused of accepting bribes and illegal foreign donations, marking an unprecedented event for a sitting NYC mayor. Prosecutors argue that Adams misused his office for personal gain, leading to intense public debates about the integrity of city leadership. Despite these serious allegations, Adams asserts his innocence and has vowed to remain in office as the case progresses.

NationalAdriana ConcepcionNovember 11, 2024Eric Adams, New York, New York City, New York Politics, Mayor, NationalComment

I was the National Communications Director for the High Schoolers 4 Harris Campaign. Here’s What Went Wrong:

Kamala Harris is on track for the largest electoral defeat of any Democrat since 1988… Despite a recession, two impeachments, 6 bankruptcies, 34 felony convictions, and more than 400,000 Americans dead from COVID-19 under Trump’s watch, how could Harris have possibly managed to lose this badly? Here’s my take:

Election 2024, NationalAndrew AslaksonNovember 10, 2024Election 2024, National, Trump, Kamala, DNCComment

Trump’s Already Contentious Relationship with the FBI Grows More Difficult

Donald Trump’s increasing reliance on the agency has created an interesting dynamic where he is directly at odds with the people responsible for protecting him. Inwardly, the FBI is providing him and his team with necessary security information to ensure that another assassination attempt or further hacking is avoided. Outwardly, Trump continues to discredit the intelligence community and plots to reduce their power and autonomy if he is to win the presidency.

Nasir Ahmed Tawhedi Arrested for Election Day Terror Plot

In its investigation, the FBI uncovered evidence that suggested that Nasir Ahmed Tawhedi intended to attack the United States during election day on behalf of ISIS. Tawhedi’s phone revealed communications between himself and someone who recruited and trained people for terrorist activity, and investigators found saved ISIS propaganda and contributions to a charity that funnels money to ISIS.

National, Election 2024Abby LudwigNovember 4, 2024Election 2024, National, Nasir Ahmed Tawhedi, Terrorism, CounterterrorismComment

Climate and Energy: What Trump’s Proposed Policy Actually Entails

Chapters 1, 3, and 5 of the 2024 GOP platform, linked on the home page of Trump’s platform website, explicitly champion the complete deregulation of the American fossil fuel industry and ambiguously mention the rollback of regulations and policies implemented during the Biden administration. But what does this actually mean?

Pennsylvania and the 2024 Election: The Race for America’s Most Crucial Swing State

No matter the outcome of the presidential race, one thing is certainly clear: winning Pennsylvania is a prerequisite for gaining the keys to the White House for either candidate. Reaching this point will undoubtedly be an uphill battle for both camps—one that might extend far past election night. For Trump, this means blocking efforts by Democrats to gain electoral ground in historically safe red districts. For Harris, this means combating egregious disinformation and a deluge of litigation from her opponent.

Election 2024, NationalJustin GoldmanNovember 3, 2024Pennsylvania, Swing states, Swing state, Trump, Kamala, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Election, Election 2024, NationalComment

Cuba in the Dark: Blackouts Fueling Public Protests

Cuba faces one of its most severe crises, with a nationwide blackout on October 20, 2024, plunging millions into darkness and exposing deep-seated economic and political failures. This infrastructure collapse has disrupted daily life and public services, amplifying the struggles endured under the current regime.

Global, Editor's PicksNicole MolinaNovember 3, 2024Cuba, Blackouts in Cuba, Protests, Manuel Marrero, U.S. Embargo, Global, Editor's PickComment

UNC’s Reliance on Coal Limits Local Rail Conversion

Last month, the Chapel Hill Town Council agreed to participate in planning the Co-Gen Rail Transformation Project alongside Orange County and Carrboro. This project aims to convert a 10-mile rail line into a multimodal greenway that would bring economic and environmental benefits. Still, it is currently limited by UNC’s reliance on the coal the rail line provides.

LocalDanny BardenNovember 3, 2024Coal, Rail, UNC, Chapel Hill, LocalComment

Breaking Down ‘X’s’ First Transparency Report: Implications for the Platform and Its Users

Elon Musk’s first transparency report for ‘X’ revealed the removal and suspensions of millions of posts and accounts. As the platform aims to balance transparency and free speech, the report raises questions about the future of X and its broader implications for social media platforms.

Opinion, Editor's Picks, Columnists, ColumnsAdriana ConcepcionNovember 3, 2024Opinion, X, Editor's Pick, Twitter, Musk, ColumnsComment

Presidential Candidates’ October 7th Commemorations Represent America’s Divide

November 5th will be an important day in Israeli history” declared former president Donald Trump. The conflict in the Middle East is undoubtedly one of the most contentious issues on the ballot for the 2024 Presidential Election. Their relationship with the conflict-stricken region was seen through their commemorations of October 7th.

Mark Robinson: A Fascinating Case Study of the Failure of Cultural Conservatism

Mark Robsinson’s recent digital footprint has marred both his campaign and represents a larger failure of the Republican party to put forth a competent nominee for the position. But this scandal demonstrates a deeper fallacy in conservative ideology. By studying Mark Robinson, we can learn much more valuable insights about the GOP and the mechanisms of conservatism than Robinson’s character itself.