Leaked Files Threaten International Court’s Prosecution of War Crimes in Kosovo
Leaked Files Threaten International Court’s Prosecution of War Crimes in Kosovo

“Like the Nuremberg Trials, Tokyo War Crimes Trials, and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers was created to serve justice in hopes of moving society forward after terrible atrocities had been committed. Yet, if Kosovo and former KLA veterans are still reinforcing an environment of fear and manufacturing a narrative of their innocence, there is little hope for the creation of a united Kosovo equipped to face the challenges and struggles on their road to globally recognized independence.”

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GlobalCourtney HalversonKosovo, Serbia, War CrimesComment
Why Democrats fear a conservative supermajority
Why Democrats fear a conservative supermajority

“There is no doubt the makeup of the Court will be different. This is the case any time a new justice arrives, but too many are blaming their fears on the possibility of breaking precedent when in reality they are scared how the Court will handle future cases. If anything, the Court is more likely to limit federal power. Politicians have made the Court political when it is not. The justices care deeply about the law, so much so, it would be hard for them to break precedent. What Democrats and Republicans desire is not necessarily what the Court desires and this is an important distinction to make.”

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NationalSeth MooreSupreme CourtComment
RBG’s Death Exposes Bigger Problems with American Government
RBG’s Death Exposes Bigger Problems with American Government

“The current state of American democracy is so flimsy that we cannot even celebrate the life of Justice Ginsberg without the dark shadow of politics looming over. The corruption of the Trump administration, coupled with the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic and the heightened tensions of an election year has intensified many people’s focus on our current political system. Americans are realizing just how fragile our system is, and how much fundamental change we really need.”

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Editorials, OpinionEditorial BoardRBG, Supreme Court, Opinion PickComment
UN Hosts Tense Virtual Meetings in First Session Since Onset of COVID-19 Pandemic
UN Hosts Tense Virtual Meetings in First Session Since Onset of COVID-19 Pandemic

“Many hoped the UN meeting would bolster diplomatic relations as countries struggle to contain the coronavirus. However, despite calls for cooperation in the predominantly virtual setting, some tensions were still evident. In a security council meeting, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called out the world’s efforts saying, “The pandemic is a clear test of international cooperation – a test we have essentially failed,” before adding that he fears for the worst should the world treat the climate crisis the same.”

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GlobalAbbey KormanUN, International Relations, COVID-19Comment
How the 2020 Presidential Candidates are trying to win NC's swing state electoral votes
How the 2020 Presidential Candidates are trying to win NC's swing state electoral votes

“Even though the United States is extremely polarized, there is a “silent majority” that is not as involved as politics and loyal to one particular party. This group of people is instrumental in ensuring one candidate’s win over another. Both Joe Biden and Donald Trump seem to be targeting this part of the population, who may prove instrumental to winning the 15 electoral votes from North Carolina.”

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LocalEsha Parikh2020 Election, trump, Biden Comment
School Choice in North Carolina: A Complicated Battle for the Preservation of Liberty
School Choice in North Carolina: A Complicated Battle for the Preservation of Liberty

“This topic is one of the most pressing issues facing the two candidates for North Carolina Superintendent, Democrat Jen Mangum and Republican Catherine Truitt. Mangum is championing the prioritization “of funding… [for] traditional public schools to ensure that they remain the best alternative,” as she seeks to uphold the traditional standing of public schools as a trustworthy institution of the state. However, Truitt, over her career, has “come to believe that charter schools can and should exist wherever there is a desire to create one.” Furthermore, Truitt supports closing down underperforming public schools, but her same qualifiers extend to charter schools as well. Ultimately, this election for the NC superintendent’s seat will determine the future of the NC educational system, and quite possibly the future of North Carolina as a whole.”

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LocalNicholas LongSchool Choice, NCPOLComment
North Carolina Added to National Ten-Year Moratorium on Offshore Drilling
North Carolina Added to National Ten-Year Moratorium on Offshore Drilling

“On Monday September 21, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced that President Trump would include North Carolina in a Presidential Memorandum banning offshore oil and gas drilling in the Atlantic Ocean for ten years. This action follows a letter sent to the President from NC Governor Roy Cooper urging for the state’s inclusion along with South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. In the letter, Cooper stated that offshore drilling could lead to the loss of coastal tourism and jobs. Fishing, tourism, and natural resources in North Carolina’s coastal communities generate $3 billion annually and support 30,000 jobs.”

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LocalAdam TatumOffshore Drilling, Environmental PoliticsComment
President Trump’s Alleged Disrespect Towards Military Heroes Follows a Pattern of Facades
President Trump’s Alleged Disrespect Towards Military Heroes Follows a Pattern of Facades

“His disrespect towards those who fight and die for our country may have been pushed out of the minds of voters due to his admiration of the niceties that come with the military and his love for the power he is granted as Commander In Chief. However, when it comes to respecting the sacrifices made by those who are actually in uniform, Trump has fallen short time and time again. This same pattern can be seen with other Republican voting groups, like white Evangelical Christains.”

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NationalBrennan MaynardtrumpComment
After New Spying Accusations, America Must Take a Tough Stance on Maduro
After New Spying Accusations, America Must Take a Tough Stance on Maduro

“Saab’s case is further weakened by the lack of identification found on Mr. Heath and the fact that the weapons found with Mr. Heath would not have been able to cause any significant damage to infrastructure. Instead of Heath being a CIA spy, it is much more likely that Maduro is attempting to draw the anger of his citizens away from internal problems such as Venezuela’s failing economy and towards the United States.”

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GlobalIan StevensVenezuela, CIAComment
North Carolina courts adjudicate lawsuits over mail-in vote restrictions
North Carolina courts adjudicate lawsuits over mail-in vote restrictions

“As voters who are new to mail-in voting fill out their ballots believing their vote will be counted, legal battles have arisen asking the courts to soften restrictive regulations such as deadlines, witness requirements, and signature matching, that exacerbate the difficulty of mail-in voting. During a time when in-person voting is not a possibility for every citizen, North Carolina's mail-in ballot regulations pose unnecessary hurdles for all voters which may amount to de-facto disenfranchisement - Black voters in particular.”

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LocalMichaela Ausbrooks2020 ElectionComment
Mail-in voting could be a logistical disaster - but we must vote anyway
Mail-in voting could be a logistical disaster - but we must vote anyway

“The U.S. postal service has warned 46 states that it cannot guarantee all ballots sent by mail for the November election will arrive in time to be counted. This has the potential to disqualify tens of millions of votes. But if we let that get in the way of us actually casting our ballots then that means we have given up on our democracy.”

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National, Editor's PicksAaron SugarmanMail In Voting, 2020 ElectionComment
NC Republicans Accuse NC Democrats of Pledging to Defund the Police
NC Republicans Accuse NC Democrats of Pledging to Defund the Police

“Republican Speaker of the House Tim Moore accused House Democrats of taking $100,000 from a group called Future Now in exchange for pledging to defund law enforcement across North Carolina. Representative Robert Reives called Moore’s accusations a blatant lie and an attempt to defeat Joe Biden in the presidential election by charging Democrats with radical policies.”

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LocalGrace KinleyPolice Reform, NCGA, NCPOLComment
Mali's Military Junta Faces International Pressure to Name Civilian Leader
Mali's Military Junta Faces International Pressure to Name Civilian Leader

“Instability in both Mali and the region has led ECOWAS to establish a deadline for the military junta to name an interim civilian leader by September 22nd, 2020. ECOWAS has also set an ultimatum for Mali’s military leaders to hold new elections within the year, as opposed to the junta’s original plan to remain in power for three more years. The leader of Mali’s transition will be a critical figure in the development of the country.”

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GlobalManav ShahMali, AfricaComment
The Role of Misogyny in a Presidential Election
The Role of Misogyny in a Presidential Election

“Misogyny is and has always been a factor in the presidential election. A Sage Journal study on the perception of male and female candidates shows that women having ambition is a turnoff for American voters. Despite the many similarities between Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden in terms of ideology and political history, he is polling significantly better than she was four years ago. One could easily argue that his surge in polls is a direct result of nearly four years of living in Trump’s America, but it is worth pondering if the results of the 2016 election would have been different if Clinton were a man.”

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NationalKatharine KurzClinton, BidenComment
North Carolina Senate Race: Debate #1 Breakdown
North Carolina Senate Race: Debate #1 Breakdown

“North Carolina’s Republican incumbent Senator Thom Tillis and Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham faced off last Monday in the first of three televised debates. The debate, which took place exactly 50 days before election day, gave voters the opportunity to closely examine the contrast between the two candidates and to hear their views on several contentious issues that have swept the nation in recent months.”

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LocalBenjamin Picciano Senate, 2020 ElectionComment