Turkey Reaffirms Desire to Join the European Union - will This Time be More Fruitful Than the Past?
Turkey Reaffirms Desire to Join the European Union - will This Time be More Fruitful Than the Past?

“An influential NATO ally, Turkey has sought membership into the EU since 2005, and the country has been a member of NATO since 1952. Yet accession negotiations to join the EU -- beginning in 2005 -- have followed a cycle of slow progress and disappointment. Notably along the way, Turkey has been at odds with several EU nations (and sometimes the entire EU altogether), with two of the most notable countries being France and Greece. So, the question that the international community and world order asks itself is: How, if at all, will Turkey’s current push to join the EU result any differently than before?”

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GlobalOmar FarragTurkey, France, Greece, European UnionComment
Violent Pro-Trump Riot Breaches the US Capitol Building Over Election Results
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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NationalBrennan MaynardUS Capitol, Trump, MAGAComment
The Two Authorized COVID-19 Vaccines and Who Is Next in Line to Receive Them
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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NationalBrennan MaynardCOVID-19Comment
Trump May Have Lost the Presidency, but He’s Not Going Anywhere
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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NationalSeth MooreTrump, Trumpism, GOPComment
Reopening 2.0: Examining How UNC's Reopening Plans Have Changed for Spring 2021
Reopening 2.0: Examining How UNC's Reopening Plans Have Changed for Spring 2021

“Moving the semester’s starting date is just one of many changes designed to prevent a repeat of the fall’s disastrous reopening. Within a week of welcoming students back to campus in August, UNC’s administration reversed the decision to reopen, sending thousands of students back home for a full semester of virtual learning.”

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LocalAurora CharlowUNC, Spring, boardofgovernorsComment
Social Media: Misinformation Machine or Activism Apparatus?
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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National, 2020 ElectionMichaela AusbrooksSocial Media, Twitter, 2020 Election, Editor's PickComment
Russia Sends Peacekeepers to Preside Over Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict Resolution
Russia Sends Peacekeepers to Preside Over Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict Resolution

“The deal that ended this 6-week long battle was signed by Russian President Vladmir Putin, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The deal states that Nagorno-Karabakh would remain under Azerbaijiani control and Armenia would withdraw troops there and several surrounding regions. Additionally, President Putin announced that there would be an exchange of all prisoners of war. Russian peacekeepers have arrived in the region and continue to patrol for at least 5 weeks.”

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GlobalMichaela AusbrooksArmenia, AzerbaijanComment
Why U.S. involvement in the World Health Organization is critical now more than ever
Why U.S. involvement in the World Health Organization is critical now more than ever

“Last month, senior U.S. health official Garrett Grisby claimed that the World Health Organization (WHO) was not sharing enough information on an investigation into the origins of COVID-19. Despite the WHO’s shortcomings, it would be a major policy blunder for the United States to limit their involvement in the organization. Permanently cutting all funding to the WHO as Trump vowed in May and permanently withdrawing from the organization would be ceding influence to China, which would dramatically increase their power on the world stage.”

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GlobalAaron SugarmanWHO, United NationsComment
One America, Two Realities: Biden-world and Trump-world
One America, Two Realities: Biden-world and Trump-world

“It’s highly unlikely that we will see any sort of acknowledgement from the Trump Administration on Biden winning the presidency without claims that the election was rigged. Nonetheless, both Biden and Trump’s timelines will be forced to collide on January 20th as the constitutional process for electing a president states in its 20th Amendment that the candidate who receives the most electoral votes will become President of the United States at noon on January 20th. Bottom line: Trump does not need to concede for this to happen.”

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National, 2020 ElectionLucia HagertTrump, Joe BidenComment
Major Changes in the Pentagon and How They Could Affect the Presidential Transition
Major Changes in the Pentagon and How They Could Affect the Presidential Transition

““In the midst of controversy surrounding the transition from the Trump administration to President Elect Biden’s administration, major staff changes at the Pentagon have been pushed through amidst the chaos. Beginning with the firing of former Secretary of Defense, Mike Esper, many high ranking officials were replaced. Here is a list of important staff changes and how it could affect both the Presidential transition.”

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NationalBrennan MaynardtrumpComment
Who are North Carolina’s New Supreme Court Justices?
Who are North Carolina’s New Supreme Court Justices?

“In a year of tight races, three of the tightest came in races for seats on the North Carolina Supreme Court. Composed of seven members serving staggered eight year terms, the court, like many throughout the country, is composed of members elected in partisan elections. With a current 6-1 majority in favor of Democrats, Republicans were hoping for a good night, and seem to have gotten it.”

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LocalDavid WoodliefNCPOLComment