“Despite desperate calls to protect Ukraine from Russian military forces, divisions between Democrats and Republicans meant the Senate adjourned for their week-long recess without passing any measures to deter an invasion.”
Read More
“On November 9th, the UNC’s Institute of Politics hosted a town hall meeting for the upcoming 2022 Senate Race in North Carolina. In attendance for the Democratic Party were State Senator Jeff Jackson — the front-runner of the group — former State Senator Erica Smith, Dr. Tobias LaGrone, and Dr. Richard Watkins, who just recently announced his exit from the Senate race in order to run for North Carolina’s 6th Congressional District. Jen Banwart was the lone Republican of the group, showing a certain level of bravery by bringing conservative views into an environment dominated by young, left-leaning college students.”
Read More
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced in October that its investigation into NC GOP Senator Richard Burr and his brother-in-law Gerald Fauth was still underway. Burr sold $1.65 million in stock in “February 2020, just before the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic. The court filings by the SEC state "Among other things, the Commission is investigating whether, on February 13, 2020, Senator Burr sold stocks on the basis of material nonpublic information in violation of the federal securities laws." One of these laws in question is the 2012 STOCK Act which prohibits legislators from trading stock based on private information. Senator Burr notably voted against this bill.”
Read More“Jeff Jackson: current state senator, major in the Army National Guard, UNC-Chapel Hill Law school alum, and most recently one of the two main Democratic candidates vying for the United States Senate seat, vacated by the retiring Richard Burr, paid “the Pit” a visit last week as part of his statewide college town hall tour. In his town hall, last week, Jackson addressed a crowd of around 500, comprised primarily of UNC-Chapel Hill students. Jackson touched on gerrymandering, climate change, the rural-urban divide, criminal justice reform, mental health, and the increasing permeance of politics in public schools, in his introductory address and answered students’ questions afterwards.”
Read More
“While both parties are understandably eager to advance their legislative and judiciary agendas, the rapid increase in polarization over the last 20 to 30 years should be considered at least somewhat alarming.”
Read More
“The town hall, which was held in the Pit at UNC-Chapel Hill and directed at student journalists, is one of several events throughout Beasley’s campaign to connect to North Carolina college students.”
Read More
“On Monday March 15, the U.S. Senate voted 51 to 40 to confirm former New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland as Secretary of the Interior, making her the first Native American cabinet secretary in American history. Four Republicans - Senators Graham (SC), Collins (ME), Sullivan (AK), and Murkowski (AK) - joined the Democrats in yay votes. This is not the first time Haaland has made history. In 2018 she and Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS), became the first Native American women elected to Congress. Haaland’s nomination and confirmation represented a positive step toward President Biden’s promise to create the most diverse cabinet in U.S. history. Haaland also assumes the office at a particularly challenging time when battling climate change is at the forefront of the national political conversation. She will be tasked with carrying out the Biden administration plan to reduce carbon emissions on a nationwide scale.”
Read More
“Sanders and other progressive Democrats pushed on, attempting to pass an amendment which would re-include the $15 minimum wage. The harshest roadblock to their efforts came when Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, who oversees the legitimacy of Senate activities, ruled that the $15 minimum wage could not be included under the existing budget reconciliation limitations.”
Read More
“In a move indicative of partisan loyalties and potential for political gain surpassing decency, common sense, and basic morality, the vast majority of Republican senators acquitted Trump in his incendiary role in the attempted coup on Capitol Hill.”
Read More
“Many Democrats think Republicans have historically abused the filibuster to force their minority views on the entire country but, in recent years, the filibuster has been used by Democrats to block funding for Trump’s border wall, to protect unemployment benefits, and to stop Republicans from restricting abortion access. Abolishing the filibuster could allow Democrats to get things done while they are in power, but without a filibuster, the next time Republicans have the Senate majority Democrats will not have as immediate and effective a measure to prevent them from restricting voting access and eliminating reproductive rights.”
Read More
“Georgia is the only state in the country with two Senate elections this year. According to Emory University political science professor Andra Gillespie, “All eyes will be on Georgia for the next two months, there will be record spending, unprecedented campaigning and tons of mudslinging in these races - more than we’re used to seeing.”
Read More
“The idea of a Democrat-controlled Senate may have taken a hit - but it isn’t gone yet. Two seats in historically conservative Georgia are projected to head to runoffs on January 5th.”
Read More
“North Carolina’s Republican incumbent Senator Thom Tillis and Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham faced off last Monday in the first of three televised debates. The debate, which took place exactly 50 days before election day, gave voters the opportunity to closely examine the contrast between the two candidates and to hear their views on several contentious issues that have swept the nation in recent months.”
Read More
It didn't have to come to this.
Read More