“While Washington continues to ponder over a second stimulus bill, the American economy is experiencing its worst period of the last decade and the average American is struggling in the wake of slowed economic growth. With no certain second stimulus in sight, many Americans are hard-pressed for economic relief from their lawmakers.”
Read More“President Trump has long been an outspoken opponent of vote-by-mail, mistakenly arguing that it creates conditions for voter fraud. His Democratic opponents, however, believe that his opposition to vote-by-mail is rooted in his desire to suppress voter turnout during the COVID-19 pandemic. The postal service is a critical part of vote-by-mail infrastructure, and slowdowns could potentially disqualify millions of votes.”
Read MoreDC residents lack a representative and two senators, meaning they have never had an elected representative to vote on the confirmation of Supreme Court justices, declarations of war, the passage of federal budgets, or impeachment proceedings, despite the fact that they pay federal taxes. And, while Congress normally allows DC to pass legislation without too much pause, if a proposed law or budget is exceptionally partisan and there’s a Republican-held Congress (as DC is overwhelmingly Democratic), District laws often end up on the chopping board.
Read MoreThere is a new political agenda emanating from the streets and boroughs of America, defined by the pain and hope of Black Americans, and its advocates will not go quietly. As the nation comes to a boil, no less in the heat of the summer, thousands have resolved not to ask for change, but to make the change.
Read MoreUnfortunately, no one can say with much certainty when the outbreak will subside. Citizens are looking to their local governments for both action and reassurance, making the pandemic an intense test of trust in our institutions.
Read MoreWith Super Tuesday now in the rearview, and several candidates having dropped out abruptly before and after, it seems the Democratic primary is finally down a two-person race (apologies to Tulsi Gabbard). As it stands now, former Vice President Joe Biden has a narrow edge on Senator Bernie Sanders, leading by 639 delegates to 564.
Read MoreLast Tuesday, President Trump used his presidential pardon power to grant seven pardons and four commutations to 11 individuals out of the 14,000 clemency petitions that currently sit unaddressed in the Justice Department. The clemency orders freed celebrity felons like Rod Blagojevic and Michael Milken. Each recipient had a personal connection to Trump or was promoted and discussed on Fox News, the President’s network of choice.
Read MoreFrom Dec. 29 to Feb. 16, ten inmates in the Mississippi system have died as a result of altercations between prisoners or of apparent suicides. Activists fear that the death toll will continue to rise without much needed reforms.
Read MoreIn 2016, a grasp of social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter propelled Donald Trump to the highest office in the land. The president’s ability to genuinely connect with prospective voters shattered antiquated expectations of a neatly packaged, professional online campaign presence.
Read MoreThese critiques came to a head as what was already viewed by some as a flawed system showed signs of systematic failure. In an attempt to increase transparency, the Iowa Democratic Party allowed precincts to report to Democratic National Committee (DNC) Iowa headquarters in three ways: a now infamous smartphone app, a phone call to headquarters, and paper records to ensure accuracy.
Read MoreIn 2012, a high court’s ruling on states’ rights left millions of indigent people stranded without insurance. A single justice’s vote in favor of an individual mandate forced every citizen to purchase health insurance or pay hundreds of dollars in taxes. Nine unelected judges had the power to render an entire healthcare system plan obsolete with the stroke of a pen.
Read MoreRecently, however, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Trump appointee Ben Carson, has been working diligently to strip away protections against discrimination ensured in the FHA. One protection, the “disparate impact” standard, which outlaws discriminatory policies even if there is no proof of explicit racist intent, has been attacked profusely.
Read More“OK, boomer” stems from TikTok—a short-form video streaming service—in one video where an older man says, “[the] millennials and the Generation Z have the Peter Pan syndrome. They don’t ever want to grow up.” The response from the video’s creator is simple, “OK, boomer,” referring to the Baby Boomer generation.
Read MoreThe lead-up to the opioid crisis is not particularly difficult to pinpoint. The push to battle chronic pain by the federal government and pharmaceutical companies alike led to an aggressive marketing push and subsequent over-prescription of the drugs.
Read MoreAny reform inspired by “The Nation’s Report Card” must take into account the decentralized nature of the American education system. Local governments use property taxes to fund school construction, maintenance, teacher supplements, and ongoing, day-to-day operations, while state governments take on fiscal responsibility for teacher and faculty salaries.
Read MoreKentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, and Alabama have also passed extremely restrictive abortion bans this year. Alabama’s is the most restrictive, making performing abortions illegal and punishable by up to 99 years in prison for the doctor, with the only exception being if the woman’s life is in serious danger, making no exceptions for rape or incest.
Read MoreAlthough its effects remain to be seen, the NCAA’s announcement is at least a step in the right direction. Given the immense pressure faced by the NCAA in recent years, it is time that they address this issue.
Read MoreAs California burns, the Trump administration is rolling back Obama-era environmental protections and revoking California’s authority over its own regulations. Under the 1970 Clean Air Act, California has the power to determine its own standards with an EPA sign-off, or “waiver.”
Read MoreAfter six weeks, it became the longest GM walkout since 1970. While the strike may now be over, its effects still reverberate throughout the community.
Read MoreIn his opening statement, Taylor discusses “two channels of U.S. policymaking and implementation” at work in Ukraine: the more “regular, formal” one Taylor headed as the chief of mission, and an “irregular” channel headed by Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani. He describes the “irregular channel” as “at odds” with official U.S. foreign policy interests and goals.
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