The Fight Over The Filibuster
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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NationalGrace KinleySenate, Congress, FilibusterComment
Heightened COVID-19 Restrictions Incite Violent Riots in Netherlands - Officials Warn of Potential “Civil War”
Heightened COVID-19 Restrictions Incite Violent Riots in Netherlands - Officials Warn of Potential “Civil War”

“events in the Netherlands over the past week which, in response to stricter regulations and the implementation of a curfew, saw thousands take to the streets to protest, resulting in substantial damage, from smashed windows and fireworks to the burning of a COVID-19 testing center. The riots were in protest to the implementation of a curfew and harsher regulations across the country, which went into effect last Saturday, the day the riots began. According to a statement released by the Dutch government on January 20th, the new regulations were in response to concerns about new variants of the virus, stating, “The government is gravely concerned about the UK variant of COVID-19, which is even more infectious than the virus we are familiar with in the Netherlands. There are also other variants of the virus that are sparking concern,” adding that “New measures are needed in order to get these new variants under control.”

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GlobalAsh HugginsEurope, Netherlands, COVID-19Comment
Watchdog Group Calls for N.C. Representative Cawthorn’s Expulsion
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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NationalMichaela AusbrooksMadison Cawthorn, NCPOL, North Carolina, House of Representatives Comment
Trump Was the Media’s Lifeline. What Will They Do Now?
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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NationalSeth MooreTrump, MediaComment
An Early Look at Biden's Foreign Policy
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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National, GlobalLabeeb AhmedBiden, Foreign Policy, International RelationsComment
Ugandan Presidential Candidate Bobi Wine Alleges Fraud in National Elections
Ugandan Presidential Candidate Bobi Wine Alleges Fraud in National Elections

“Prior to opening the polls there were multiple acts of violence leaving 40 individuals dead and others wounded. The government took multiple measures to limit the media’s presence and opposition candidates were harassed by authorities. Museveni won the election with 58% of the vote while Wine had 34% of the votes according to the results.”

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GlobalAllison HolbrooksUganda, Africa, Election, MuseveniComment
A New First: the Second Gentleman
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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NationalDavid WoodliefKamala Harris, Doug Emhoff, Second GentlemanComment
International Community Questions American Democracy Following Coup Attempt
International Community Questions American Democracy Following Coup Attempt

“The combination of toxic rhetoric and isolationist policies have distanced the United States from the international community so, with the ideologically conflicting events of the attempted coup by militants bearing Trump’s name and the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the past few weeks, the next few months will be crucial for the Biden-Harris administration.”

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GlobalAsh HugginsUS Capitol, RiotComment
New N.C. Social Studies Curriculum - Necessary or Traumatizing?
New N.C. Social Studies Curriculum - Necessary or Traumatizing?

“Social studies and civics teachers struggle to answer this question: how do you address the concerns of your students in the very subject you teach, which often reflects harsh truths? Although it depends where they are teaching, teachers are often required to be apolitical in classroom settings. But as students are living through an era fueled by ultranationalism and right-wing extremism, how can a teacher possibly remain apolitical?”

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LocalLejla BrkaNCPOL, History, Social Studies, EducationComment
Independent WHO Panel Outlines Pandemic Failures
Independent WHO Panel Outlines Pandemic Failures

“The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, which was established by the World Health Organization (WHO), released their second interim report in early January, outlining the myriad of things that went wrong during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 34-page report is best summarized from a line that stated, “We have failed in our collective capacity to come together in solidarity to create a protective web of human security.”

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GlobalCourtney HalversonCOVID-19Comment
The NC Representative who Fought Against the 2020 Election Results
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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2020 Election, NationalMichaela AusbrooksComment
President Biden’s Day One Agenda
President Biden’s Day One Agenda

“Following a historic inauguration amid unprecedented circumstances, President Joe Biden spent a portion of Wednesday afternoon enacting key legislative items via executive action. Of the 17 executive actions signed on Wednesday, 9 were direct reversals of Trump administration policies. In the days since the inauguration, President Biden has increased the number of executive orders and actions to 30. The administration explained that the swiftness of these actions was necessary to reverse Trump’s actions which have caused “the greatest damage.”

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Adam TatumComment
UNC Re-opens Amidst COVID: Take Two
UNC Re-opens Amidst COVID: Take Two

“Once more unto the breach as the saying goes, for once again the Carolina community is back on campus, at least partially. For many first year students, moving back onto campus was the only way to feel as if they got some college experience this year. Other students also chose to return to operate with some semblance of normalcy, albeit six feet apart, as the few in-person classes available are prime opportunities to get away from the screen and return to the feel of traditional learning.”

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LocalNicholas LongCOVID-19, UNC Comment
Trump’s Quiet Rush to Execute Inmates in his Final Days as President
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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NationalBrennan MaynardTrump, Federal Executions, Death PenaltyComment