Posts in National
Timeline: Trump Falsely Declares Victory and Intends to Challenge Legitimate Counts
Timeline: Trump Falsely Declares Victory and Intends to Challenge Legitimate Counts

“Looking forward, Trump’s reckless strategy is certain to prolong this endless election cycle. A political battle will quickly turn into a legal one — as an avalanche of lawsuits and countersuits concerning the legitimacy of mail-in ballots likely stands in between either candidate and an official victory. It didn’t have to be this way, but with Trump throwing all democratic norms to the wind, only the final counting of votes and perhaps the courts can tell us who the President of the United States will be come January 2021.”

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2020 Election, NationalFleet Wilson2020 Election, TrumpComment
How Courts Across the Nation are Deciding Pivotal Mail-In Voting Cases
How Courts Across the Nation are Deciding Pivotal Mail-In Voting Cases

“While many Americans are voting for the candidates they wish to see in office, the procedures for how their votes are casted and counted are being litigated in almost every level of the courts. The outcome of these cases could affect who can vote and how many votes are counted. Therefore, they could affect the outcome of the election as a whole.”

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2020 Election, NationalBrennan Maynard2020 ElectionComment
Parallels Between the 2016 Election and Now: Is History Bound to Repeat Itself?
Parallels Between the 2016 Election and Now: Is History Bound to Repeat Itself?

“Four years ago, the 2016 Presidential Election was nearing an end and Hillary Clinton was expanding her lead in the polls. Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s chances of victory were looking pretty slim. As we know, though, he did win. Now, as we near yet another close Presidential Election, the question on many Americans’ minds is: can Trump do it again?”

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2020 Election, NationalAddison Skigen2020 ElectionComment
Why Climate Change Matters in the 2020 Election
Why Climate Change Matters in the 2020 Election

“Despite its lack of voter priority, climate change is one of the biggest threats to face the world, and political action is needed immediately to slow its shocking predictions. The United Nations Climate Panel warns that the world has until 2030 to prevent ‘irreversible damage from climate change.’ The five warmest Augusts have all occurred since 2015, evidently showing that the climate is warming, with the year 2020 on course to be the warmest year ever recorded. With the warmest year upcoming, it is crucial to highlight why climate change matters in the 2020 Election.”

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2020 Election, NationalLejla BrkaClimate ChangeComment
The History of 'Law and Order' Politics & What it Means in the 2020 Election
The History of 'Law and Order' Politics & What it Means in the 2020 Election

“Considering the origins and deployment of the very utterance “Law and Order,” it is clear that this slogan is used to tap into fears surrounding protests, crime, and nonwhite people, which subsequently justifies legislation that targets nonwhite communities. While law and order has been a big talking point for President Trump, it is unclear whether voters will buy his arguments or shift to Biden’s more pluralistic framework.”

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2020 Election, NationalBrennan MaynardTrump, HistoryComment
Analysis: COVID-19’s Impact on the 2020 Presidential Election
Analysis: COVID-19’s Impact on the 2020 Presidential Election

“From people losing their jobs to schools shutting down, there’s no question life has been turned upside down by the outbreak of COVID-19. And just as the virus has changed the way Americans go about their day to day lives, it has also reshaped the way we conduct elections. Now, as the nation looks toward reclaiming its future, how we vote and what we value has shifted greatly.”

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2020 Election, NationalAddison SkigenCOVID-19Comment
How does Biden’s Plan Compare to the Green New Deal?
How does Biden’s Plan Compare to the Green New Deal?

“The issue of climate change was given a brief nod during the two 2020 presidential debates, though anyone looking for substantive answers or detailed plans was surely disappointed. Both Trump and Biden dodged direct questions dealing with fracking, fossil fuels, and the role of climate science. The differences between the two candidates on these issues are profound and have been the focus of many political jabs. Joe Biden has repeatedly stated that he will be a president who “believes in science” and that he will actually listen to what scientists tell him, unlike President Trump. At his MAGA rallies, the President has repeatedly assured his supporters that Biden supports the “radical, job-killing, Green New Deal.” Is this really the case?”

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NationalAdam Tatum2020 ElectionComment
Will the ‘Green Tsunami’ of Democratic Fundraising Translate to a ‘Blue Wave’ in the Senate?
Will the ‘Green Tsunami’ of Democratic Fundraising Translate to a ‘Blue Wave’ in the Senate?

“With a little more than a week left until Election Day, these Senate races are largely anyone’s game as both parties continue to push for last minute advertisements. This ‘green tsunami’ does not guarantee a win for Democratic challengers, but it does show that voters are paying attention and rallying around Democrats in their states and others.”

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NationalCourtney Halverson2020 ElectionComment
Hunter Biden’s Scandal: Russian Meddling or Genuine Cause for Concern?
Hunter Biden’s Scandal: Russian Meddling or Genuine Cause for Concern?

“Last week, a damning set of emails and a laptop belonging to Hunter Biden were released into the public sphere. This discovery could prove harmful to the prospect of Joe Biden’s election. However, with the recent confirmation from the United States intelligence community that Russia and Iran have been actively meddling in the 2020 election, the validity of the Hunter Biden hard drive has come into question.”

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NationalNicholas LongHunter BidenComment
The Supreme Court is a Partisan Institution
The Supreme Court is a Partisan Institution

“Last week’s Senate hearings for the Supreme Court appointment of Judge Amy Coney Barrett have re-ignited the contentious debate on the role of the Supreme Court in contemporary American politics. The nominee has tried to cement herself as an impartial figure throughout the hearings. When pressed by Senator Dian Feinstein about her views on abortion, for example, Barret responded “if I express a view on a precedent one way or another, whether I say I love it or I hate it, it signals to litigants that I might tilt one way or another on a pending case.” This interaction highlights a pair of key questions when it comes to the Supreme Court: how much does individual political ideology influence Supreme Court justices and is the Supreme Court actually nonpartisan?”

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NationalManav ShahSCOTUSComment
What Happens If the 'Blue Wave' Comes Ashore in the 2020 Election?
What Happens If the 'Blue Wave' Comes Ashore in the 2020 Election?

“With the contentious 2020 election season coming to a close, polls and simulations predict Democrats are poised to secure the White House and the House of Representatives, and at least hold a competitive edge in securing the Senate. As of October 12th, Joe Biden claimed a 12% lead over incumbent President Donald Trump, according to a poll of likely voters conducted by The Washington Post and ABC. Ultimately, with the statistics of the race and the lackluster Republican counter efforts failing to make a dent in the polls, Democrats gaining control of both chambers of Congress and the Executive branch is probable. If the Democrats accomplish such a daunting task, it is likely American institutional norms that have been established for decades will likely face some serious reflection and reform.”

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NationalNicholas Long2020 ElectionComment
Why this Election Season Poses a Unique Threat to American Democracy
Why this Election Season Poses a Unique Threat to American Democracy

“The 2020 election could be one in which baseless accusations of fraudulent voting result in the sitting president refusing to adhere to the outcome of the votes. This refusal could then move to the Supreme Court, a third of whom was appointed by the sitting President. They would decide on an election which the American people have already reached a verdict on. No matter how likely this outcome is, the risk it poses is a great threat to American democracy.”

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NationalBrennan Maynard2020 Election, Opinion PickComment
Key Takeaways from the Vice Presidential Debate
Key Takeaways from the Vice Presidential Debate

“Twelve feet apart and separated by plexiglass barriers, Senator Kamala Harris and Vice President Mike Pence engaged in their one and only debate on Wednesday night. This debate had a starkly different, “politics as usual” mood that was absent from the earlier presidential debate. While there were still questions dodged by both sides and attempts to speak over the moderator, largely the debate maintained civility and allowed the participants the opportunity to speak on policy.”

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NationalCourtney Halverson2020 Election, Mike Pence, Kamala HarrisComment