Posts in National
Hollow Promises or Real Progress? The Biden Administration’s Commitment to Native Americans

“Starkly contrasting the previous administration’s open celebration of Columbus Day - in seemingly direct defiance of revisionist critiques of Columbus’ role in the “discovery” of the Americas — President Biden and Vice President Harris’ statements constitute a recognition of the centuries of atrocities and injustices committed against Native Americans in U.S. history, and a pledge to rectify the pervading conditions of systemic oppression that were thus erected.”

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The Supreme Court is Set to Hear Some Difficult Cases

“On the heels of deciding not to intervene in the highly controversial Texas abortion case, the Supreme Court recently began its 2021-2022 session. In the new session, the highest court in the land will hear cases dealing with some highly debated issues — with the most anticipated being the Mississippi abortion law. However, let’s look at some of the less publicized — but perhaps equally important — cases set to be heard this term.”

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What Does the Supreme Court’s Impending Decision on the Boston Marathon Bomber Mean for the Future of Federal Executions?

“Even if the court reinstates the death sentence, the prospects that Tsarnaev will actually be executed is…puzzling. For one, there is a paradox between the publicly stated positions of the Biden administration and the actions that have taken place concerning this case.”

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A Tightly Contested Governor’s Race in Virginia Promises Insights for National Politics

“The Virginia gubernatorial race is much more than a contest to decide the next governor of The Old Dominion. The state holds its governor's election in the year immediately following every presidential election, making it a de-facto referendum on the current federal administration’s performance and a potential indicator of future national trends.”

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Future of Social Security Threatened as Cost of Living Rises

“Social Security is politically untouchable, and both Republicans and Democrats know that a reduction in benefits is practically a non-starter. Unfortunately, as it stands now, America is trending towards a massive fiscal gap: the money it plans to spend grossly outweighs the money it is projected to take in in revenue. This gap is equal to 10 years’ worth of U.S. GDP. In an article from The Hill, John Goodman states it plainly: ‘This is fiscal child abuse, pure and simple.’”

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Facebook’s Latest Whistleblower Sends Shockwaves

“Although both political parties are showing support to curtail the influence and effect of Facebook and its products, we must question whether real change can happen. According to Steven Levy, author of “Facebook: The Inside Story,” there have been obvious solutions, such as increasing privacy protection, that have been known for years; however, Congress has done little to act upon them. With a convincing story and demanding evidence, one can only hope Frances Haugen’s actions will lead to the removal of the negative influence Facebook and its products have on society.”

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Government Shutdown Avoided… But Another Fiscal Crisis Looms

“Breaching the debt ceiling will result in the U.S. government defaulting on debt payments. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen stated that the government would run out of funds on October 18th. An economic crisis would certainly be born if the U.S. failed to meet its debt obligations for the first time in history. As it stands now, it is unknown if the ceiling will be raised or not.”

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Nowhere Left to Go: Biden Has No Clear Way Forward on Immigration

“Biden and his administration find themselves in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic, facing an influx of refugees from a country rife with political turmoil, and situated in a political landscape so polarized that one group has compared the actions at the border to chattel slavery, while on the other extreme, Tucker Carlson of Fox News accused Biden of purposefully attempting to change racial demographics in the U.S. through immigration.”

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President Biden Struggles to Regain Footing as Approval Rating Sinks to All-Time Low

“President Biden’s rise in disapproval has been driven primarily by a drop in support among independent voters. 62% of independent voters in Iowa disapprove of the president, a troubling shift for a president who won the 2020 election by winning over moderate voters. Biden’s 32% approval rating is lower than both Obama and Trump’s lowest approvals in the state during their presidencies.”

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More Than a Recall: Gavin Newsom’s Decisive Victory in California Offers Insight into National Attitudes on Covid-19 Response, Trumpism, and More

Does the outcome of the recall and the margin by which Larry Elder was handily defeated indicate that the fanatic high of Trumpism has begun to wear off within the Republican party? Or does the mere fact that a candidate like Elder got this far suggest the very opposite?”

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Mere Words: Biden Pledges for Carbon Neutrality, but Has Achieved Little Action

“As world governments fight in over stagnating debates on climate policy, oceans continue to rise, smokestacks continue to run, and emissions continue to increase. The world is down to the wire, and even America, as a global hegemon, cannot escape these impacts. California already battles wildfires that grow in intensity and breadth each year, putting lives and communities at risk. With such culling approaching, President Biden issued a dire message: America only has a decade left to confront climate change before irreversible impacts manifest.”

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Republicans Rally to Support Trump’s Potential Bid for Re-Election in 2024.

“As other candidates emerge, however, most Republicans remain loyal to Trump 2024. A poll conducted in August showed 72% of conservatives believe Trump should be the nominee for the GOP, with his highest support from Republicans lacking college degrees. Despite the plethora of other candidates and the time that has passed since Trump led the GOP, countless Republicans remain loyal to his bid, which offers the potential to propel him once again to the frontline of the GOP race.”

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Congressional Democrats Race Against the Clock to Pass Massive Expansion of Nation’s Social Safety Net

“Racing towards a self-imposed September 27th deadline of passage, Democrats in Congress are fighting tooth and nail to pass the largest expansion of the United State’s social safety net since the New Deal. The bill, with a whopping $3.5 trillion price tag, has caused divisions within the Democratic Party and has staunch opposition from Republicans in Congress — meaning the reconciliation process is likely the only path forward.”

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19 Months In: Misinformation Is An Infectious Disease Too

“This pandemic has already altered our way of life on a day to day basis and will more than likely have long-term consequences in the political sphere, as well as interactions between the government and its constituents. Nineteen months in, and misinformation still persists, emphasizing the ignorance, privilege, and entitlement that exists in the United States.”

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