Posts in National
Politicians who Incited Capitol Insurrection Feel Financial Consequences

“The insurrection attempt & attack on the Capitol by right-wing extremists on January 6th had wide-reaching political impact, such as the (second) impeachment of Donald Trump and widening the divide between our political parties. A longer term consequence in North Carolina, especially for the GOP, is the trend of local corporations and businesspeople reconsidering their donations to politicians who may be perceived as encouraging the violence on January 6th or obstructing democracy by voting against the results of the 2020 election.”

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Vaccine Tourism: The Benefits of the Privileged

“By allowing wealthier individuals the opportunity to travel to remote locations for vaccine accessibility, medical care providers set a poor precedent. When privileged individuals are going to disenfranchised communities and “jumping the line” for the COVID-19 vaccine, taking away supplies from community members, what bigger display of privilege could governments possibly condone? The pandemic has already significantly widened the gap between the wealthy and the poor, and vaccine tourism highlights yet another clear disparity between the elite and poor populations of the world. Without any clear regulation about vaccine tourism – from federal or state governments – accessibility to vaccines will become yet another gross inequity the pandemic has unveiled.”

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The Debate Over the $15 Minimum Wage Intensifies

“The controversy over the minimum wage, and the broader COVID relief bill, present the first major challenge of Biden’s presidency. As the negotiations progress, we may gain key insight into President Biden’s approach to governing. By working with Republicans, he can prove his commitment to uniting the country, but he must decide if that is worth temporarily abandoning his campaign promise of a $15 minimum wage.”

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Can’t Stop GameStop: How $GME democratized the stock market

“GameStock’s rapid ascension in stock price over the past two weeks will have far-reaching implications: it has shown that Wall Street can no longer ignore retail investors, it has shone a light on some of the illicit practices of hedges funds which contributed to the 2008 financial crisis, but perhaps most significantly—it has gotten people interested in the stock market. Even though the GME fad will eventually fade away, this event has created a new informed generation which will view the stock market as a viable way to make money, and that will likely contribute to a further democratization of the market.”

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The Fight Over The Filibuster

“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.”

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Watchdog Group Calls for N.C. Representative Cawthorn’s Expulsion

“The Campaign for Accountability, a non-profit and non-partisan watchdog group that holds public figures accountable, has filed an ethics complaint against Madison Cawthorn (R-NC 11). Cawthorn is one of three Republicans the Campaign for Accountability is alleging incited the violent attack on the Capitol Building on January 6th, 2021. The organization is also arguing that Cawthorn broke a federal regulation and local law that prevented him from bringing his firearm into the building.”

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Trump Was the Media’s Lifeline. What Will They Do Now?

“Throughout Trump’s presidency, the media repeatedly faced backlash from conservatives and Trump supporters due to their alleged bias and vendetta against President Trump. However, now that Trump is no longer president and does not have his platform, the media will need to find another method to attract viewers. This might prove to be difficult for some outlets considering they have spent the last four years focusing on Trump and his Administration in more or less wall to wall coverage.“

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An Early Look at Biden's Foreign Policy

“Given the starkly contrasting governing styles between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, it should not come as a surprise that American foreign policy is being reworked under the new administration. After relations with allies such as France and Germany were stained under the Trump Administration, several nations’ leaders now welcome the Biden Administration with open arms and have begun talks immediately”

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A New First: the Second Gentleman

“With Kamala Harris marking a historic first entering the role of Vice President, she has also created the need for a new one: Second Gentleman of the United States. Her husband, Doug Emhoff, is the first Second Gentleman in American history, taking over the role from former Vice President Pence’s wife, Karen Pence. While it is not an official governmental position, many second spouses have made the most of their prominent positions and left a mark on the office and the country.”

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The NC Representative who Fought Against the 2020 Election Results

“As was seen later in the evening of January 6th, Cawthorn’s objection to the election results did not prevent them from being certified. However, the false and baseless claims he and other prominent Republicans made have shaken the United State’s electoral system and the public’s trust in it. Going forward, it will take a significant amount of time and effort to restore faith and trust in the electoral system.”

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Trump’s Quiet Rush to Execute Inmates in his Final Days as President

“The four years of Donald Trump’s presidency had many unprecedented moments. Adding to the list of historically unfortunate acts, the Administration resumed federal executions after they had been paused since 2003. Thirteen people were executed by the Administration in the time since July 2020 and the inauguration of President Joe Biden. This is more than the number of federal executions in over 56 years combined. Additionally, five of these were ordered during the transition to the incoming Administration, something that had not been done in 135 years.”

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Voter Fraud Protestors Have Lost Their Credibility

“This event will result in some wholeheartedly supporting the election fraud investigations while others will back away due to loss of credibility and unwillingness to be associated with the event. This event also promises to be a PR nightmare for the Republican party, although many Republicans have condemned the actions. Furthermore, the raid at the US Capitol seems to be hypocritical.”

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Violent Pro-Trump Riot Breaches the US Capitol Building Over Election Results

The demonstrators stormed through barriers and broke through windows of the Capitol building as they tried to make their way to the chambers. Law enforcement officers were then dispatched to the area and many congress members evacuated with their staff to a safe place. However, the officers were not able to stop the rioters from getting into the building.”

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The Two Authorized COVID-19 Vaccines and Who Is Next in Line to Receive Them

“These vaccines are a major advancement in the fight against COVID-19. With cases still rising and the economy still falling, this could be the beginning of a recovery. Though the ethical questions surrounding who will get the vaccine still remain; millions of doses are being distributed across the nation, bringing some added protection and hope to many.”

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Trump May Have Lost the Presidency, but He’s Not Going Anywhere

“Although Trump has certainly transformed the Republican Party, it is unlikely that the party will follow him. In fact, it will be in the party’s best interest to abandon Trumpism so that they can be successful in future elections. Nevertheless, Trump will remain active and we will continue to see him, maybe more than any other former president due to Republican skepticism of the establishment.”


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Social Media: Misinformation Machine or Activism Apparatus?

“Social media platforms have revolutionized much of the 21st century — and the world of politics is not exempt. While the only direct line of communication between candidates and constituents used to be TV appearances or newspapers, social media apps like Twitter and Instagram have created a direct channel of communication between citizens and the politics.”

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