Editorial Content — Carolina Political Review

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The Perpetual Allure of Space

The Perpetual Allure of Space

“Carl Sagan wrote in his 1980 bestseller Cosmos, “The Cosmos is all that is or was or ever will be. Our feeblest contemplations of the Cosmos stir us — there is a tingling in the spine, a catch in the voice, a faint sensation, as if a distant memory, of falling from a height. We know we are approaching the greatest of mysteries.” Since then, and indeed well before, humans have been captivated by the allure of space. We learn about Galileo, Newton, Kepler, and Copernicus in school. We see this fascination nearly every day reflected in the news, movies, television shows, books, and games. With new advances in science and technology, the space programs of SpaceX and Blue Origin, and the advent of the U.S. Space Force, the perpetual allure of space in the minds of humans continues.”

NationalAdam TatumFebruary 21, 2022Space, NASA, Space Force, Telescope, Cosmos, Federal SpendingComment

Arguments Over Stock Ban Reveal Greater Disconnect Between the Public and Federal Government

Arguments Over Stock Ban Reveal Greater Disconnect Between the Public and Federal Government

“A study by the Pew Research center found that only 24% of Americans trust the federal government to do what is right “most of the time.” This percentage has significantly decreased from 60% in 2001 and 77% in 1964. This growing disconnect largely stems from disparities in wealth between politicians and the public.”

NationalJohn PowersFebruary 16, 2022Stock Market, Insider Trading, Congress, Pelosi, Public OpinionComment

Biden’s Build Back Better: Dead, Dead, Dead.

Biden’s Build Back Better: Dead, Dead, Dead.

“While on the surface, Manchin is the clear culprit for the bill’s failure to pass, there are deeper factors that have influenced Biden’s sluggish legislative start.”

NationalEvan TarrFebruary 14, 2022Biden, Manchin, Infastructure, Social Spending, Infl, InflationComment

NFL and 3 Teams Named In Major Lawsuit Regarding Racial Discrimination

NFL and 3 Teams Named In Major Lawsuit Regarding Racial Discrimination

“Regardless, the Flores lawsuit underscores the presence of racial issues and race politics in this country. The suit may have greater implications for the country as the NFL garners enormous interest from the public.”

Culture, NationalTanner BaileyFebruary 9, 2022NFL, Race Relations, SportsComment

Simulacrum and Cynicism: How New Media Shapes Political Discourse

Simulacrum and Cynicism: How New Media Shapes Political Discourse

“Competition pressures from the increasingly crowded infotainment genre force shows to progressively lower their level of political discourse, relying increasingly on elements like conflict, sensationalization, and humor in an attempt to attract and retain this new class of viewers. This “race to the bottom” of overly simplistic political discourse driven by new political media’s incentives is still amplified by the incentives of the politicians using the mediums to engage the public.”

Editor's Picks, NationalCole MurphyJanuary 31, 2022News, Media, Social, Social Media, Polarization, Editor's PickComment

After a Rocky 1st Year in Office, Biden Looks to 2022 to Achieve His Goals

After a Rocky 1st Year in Office, Biden Looks to 2022 to Achieve His Goals

“2022 holds an opportunity for Biden to help improve the lives of Americans and pass his policy goals. His legacy likely depends upon what he can facilitate this calendar year.”

NationalTanner BaileyJanuary 27, 2022President Biden, Midterms, 2022Comment

Self Defense: How Kyle Rittenhouse Escaped Life in Prison

Self Defense: How Kyle Rittenhouse Escaped Life in Prison

“Wisconsin law states the use of deadly force to be permissible when a person has a reasonable fear of death or bodily harm. Due to the defense’s claim of self-defense, the burden is on the prosecution. Therefore, they would have to prove that Rittenhouse had no reasonable fear of death or bodily harm.”

NationalSeth MooreDecember 1, 2021Kyle Rittenhouse, Criminal Justice, Self Defense, Gun LawsComment

America Ranks Lowest in Media Trust in Recent Reuters Report

America Ranks Lowest in Media Trust in Recent Reuters Report

“A recent report from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at Oxford University found that the United States has the lowest level of overall trust in the news among those 46 countries surveyed. What is the problem and how can American institutions solve it?”

Editor's Picks, NationalNoah GottliebNovember 29, 2021Media, Social Media, United States of America, Polarization, Editor's PickComment

Biden’s Infrastructure Bill and Climate Change: A Step in the Right Direction or Too Little Too Late?

Biden’s Infrastructure Bill and Climate Change: A Step in the Right Direction or Too Little Too Late?

“The resilient infrastructure the bill provides does show action by the federal government to address climate change, something that it has largely lacked throughout the 21st century. But it is arguably less than the bare-minimum.”

NationalAngelo DeSantoNovember 28, 2021Climate Change, Infastructure, Federal SpendingComment

Aggressive “Self-Defense:” The Killing of Ahmaud Arbery

Aggressive “Self-Defense:” The Killing of Ahmaud Arbery

“Time and time again, a self-described upstanding citizen yields to their implicit biases and perceives innocent Black and Brown Americans as threats and, emboldened by stand-your-ground philosophies, pursues and executes them; in turn, these laws jettison the central tenets of self-defense and instead reward aggression, bequeathing any citizen a license to kill anyone they deem a potential threat.”

NationalMichael ZhangNovember 23, 2021Race Relations, Race, Stand Your Ground, Criminal JusticeComment

30 Year High Inflation Could Nullify Relatively High Increases in Wage Earnings

30 Year High Inflation Could Nullify Relatively High Increases in Wage Earnings

“On November 10th the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released a monthly report that showed some pretty grim indicators for the U.S. Economy. Inflation, or the general increase in prices, had climbed to its highest level in nearly 30 years. From Oct 2020 to Oct 2021, prices have risen nearly 6.2 percent. This is putting strain on American consumers as the economy is recovering from the COVID-19 shutdowns.”

NationalTanner BaileyNovember 22, 2021Economy, President Biden, Inflation, Gas PricesComment

University of North Carolina’s Institute of Politics Holds Senate Town Hall

University of North Carolina’s Institute of Politics Holds Senate Town Hall

“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.”

Editor's Picks, NationalEvan TarrNovember 22, 2021NCPOL, Senate, US Senate, 2022, 2022 Elections, Editor's PickComment

North Carolina to Receive Billions of Dollars from Biden’s Infrastructure Bill

North Carolina to Receive Billions of Dollars from Biden’s Infrastructure Bill

“With President Biden set to sign the bill in coming weeks, Democrats are already looking forward to projects that might benefit from the bill’s funding. One potential area of spending could be improving the 1,100 bridges across the state that the North Carolina Department of Transportation deems as being in poor condition; another might be providing broadband access to the over 400,000 North Carolinians that do not have it already.”

NationalErich HessNovember 21, 2021Biden, Infastructure, Federal Spending Comment

Democrats Faced a Difficult Reality in the 2021 Election Cycle

Democrats Faced a Difficult Reality in the 2021 Election Cycle

“The 2021 elections that occurred on November 2 proved vitally important to policy and provided insight to the 2022 midterm elections. The three most important races this election cycle were the New York City mayoral race, the Minneapolis referendum on “defunding” the police, and the Virginia gubernatorial race. The three races dealt with their own individual policy issues but they are all connected because they will provide insight to how voters will cast their ballots next November.”

NationalSeth MooreNovember 19, 2021Election Night, 2022, Midterms, Critical Race Theory, Police ReformComment

The State of The Unions

The State of The Unions

“Recently, unions have pervaded the news… With so much going on in the labor sphere, it is important to have a firm grasp on the national context for unions and recent economic research into their effects in addition to what union support means for Democrats”

NationalNoah GottliebNovember 16, 2021Labor, Union, Domestic PolicyComment

Can Crypto Save Democracy?

Can Crypto Save Democracy?

“To Srinivasan, cryptographic technologies are an integral development for societal organization and humanity at large. Maintaining that technology is civilization’s true prevailing force, he sees the emergence and growing adoption of cryptocurrency and the underlying blockchain as the cumulation of the very trends of decentralization that can be attributed to the nation-state’s decay.”

Editor's Picks, NationalCole MurphyNovember 16, 2021Editor's Pick, Crypto, DemocracyComment

Tesla Stock Soars After Hertz Buys 100,000 Teslas

Tesla Stock Soars After Hertz Buys 100,000 Teslas

“Through the creation of cheaper electric cars, incentives provided by the Biden Administration, and its proven environmental benefits, Tesla will continue to pave the path for itself and other electric vehicle manufacturers. Every year, the technology improves, its batteries last longer, and its sales increase, thereby transforming how our society travels as well as its impact on the environment. Although not completely a carbon-free process, Teslas are the stepping stone to a pathway of sustainable living.”

NationalJulian LoboNovember 12, 2021Energy, Econ, Economy, CarsComment

FED Introduces New Rules to Combat Unethical Trading, Congress Should Be Next.

FED Introduces New Rules to Combat Unethical Trading, Congress Should Be Next.

“The appearance of corruption can create a severe perception issue for the FED. Conscientious of the importance of public trust, Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell announced ethics rules would be strengthened. To his credit, the FED moved to do just that.”

NationalTanner BaileyNovember 5, 2021Fed, Financial CrimeComment

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

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.”

NationalCole MurphyNovember 2, 2021Native Americans, Indigenous Peoples, President Biden, US HistoryComment

The Supreme Court is Set to Hear Some Difficult Cases

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.”

NationalSeth MooreNovember 2, 2021SCOTUS, Supreme CourtComment