Blind to Racism, not Race: The Myth of French Égalité
Blind to Racism, not Race: The Myth of French Égalité

“The first article of the Constitution of the Fifth Republic states: “France shall be an indivisible, secular, democratic and social Republic. It shall ensure the equality of all citizens before the law, without distinction of origin, race or religion.” However, during his 2012 presidential campaign, François Hollande promised to remove the word ‘race’ from the constitution. From Hollande’s point of view, race does not exist, and therefore should not be mentioned in any official text. While this may sound surprising to American ears, 33% of French citizens do not believe that race exists.”

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Essays, GlobalKay LangleyFrance, Race, Liberty, Equality, Brotherhood, Editor's PickComment
The United States is at a Critical Moment for Voting Rights
The United States is at a Critical Moment for Voting Rights

“The bill, also named the “For the People Act,” was introduced and advocated for by Democrats in Congress, who consider it an essential step in preserving voting rights in the United States and it would be the largest package of voting rights laws since the 1960’s. In today’s politically charged environment, marked by former President Donald Trump and Republicans falsely claiming widespread fraud in the 2020 election, the outcome of HR-1 could affect elections and voting rights for years to come.”

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Max KobernickComment
Lt. Gov Robinson’s F.A.C.T.S. Committee Seeks to Combat "Indoctrination" in N.C. Schools
Lt. Gov Robinson’s F.A.C.T.S. Committee Seeks to Combat "Indoctrination" in N.C. Schools

“In one of his first official acts as Lieutenant Governor, Mark Robinson has formed a new committee, “Fairness and Accountability in the Classroom for Teachers and Students” (F.A.C.T.S.). This committee is dedicated to giving students, parents, and school faculty “a voice to speak out about cases of bias, inappropriate materials, and indoctrination they see or experience in schools.”

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LocalKatharine KurzEducation, NCPOLComment
Vaccines: Who deserves the credit?
Vaccines: Who deserves the credit?

“Even before Biden took office, he had praised President Trump's administration for their work in rolling out the vaccine in Operation Warp Speed, "I think that the administration deserves some credit, getting this off the ground, Operation Warp Speed,” Biden said after he received Pfizer’s vaccine. “... I'm doing this to demonstrate that people should be prepared, when it's available, to take the vaccine. There's nothing to worry about.” Things have changed since December, when Biden praised Trump, however, and the former President doesn’t want to be left behind.”

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NationalManav ShahCOVID-19, Vaccin, VaccinesComment
Governor Roy Cooper and N.C. General Assembly Debate Executive Power
Governor Roy Cooper and N.C. General Assembly Debate Executive Power

“In North Carolina, Governor Roy Cooper first evoked emergency powers in March 2020 at the onset of the pandemic and has continued to exercise his authority as we enter the end of March 2021. Currently, Cooper’s executive orders are in effect until he decides to make an amendment, however, the NC General Assembly is seeking to curtail Cooper’s power. The bill in the General Assembly, House Bill 264, would require every governor to seek approval from a majority of the Council of State before being allowed to issue a long-lasting executive order. Additionally, the bill would only allow an executive order to remain for a maximum of seven days without approval from the Council of State before being automatically voided.”

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LocalSeth MooreNCPOLComment
Why the $15 minimum wage amendment failed to pass in the Democrat-controlled Senate
Why the $15 minimum wage amendment failed to pass in the Democrat-controlled Senate

“Sanders and other progressive Democrats pushed on, attempting to pass an amendment which would re-include the $15 minimum wage. The harshest roadblock to their efforts came when Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, who oversees the legitimacy of Senate activities, ruled that the $15 minimum wage could not be included under the existing budget reconciliation limitations.”

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NationalAurora CharlowMinimum Wage, Senate, BidenComment
Should Standardized Tests Continue to be Waived During the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Should Standardized Tests Continue to be Waived During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

“Standardized tests are not only required by state and federal law, but the results are used to evaluate school and student performances, teacher accountability, and even help dictate principal salary. In the midst of the pandemic, many concerns have been raised about schools and students still being evaluated on regular conditions despite experiencing the biggest gap and setbacks in learning in the 21st century”

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NationalBreana WeaverEducationComment
The Kremlin Takes Aim at Social Media in Russia
The Kremlin Takes Aim at Social Media in Russia

““It remains to be seen whether further, more serious action will be taken by the Russian government amid their efforts to send a message to large social media conglomerates; however, it appears that this route of potential censorship has been building for quite a while and would not be totally out of the question. The further question that remains is what the backlash of younger generations would be should Russia pursue this route.”"

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GlobalMichaela AusbrooksRussiaComment
What Happens When the Ice Melts? A Look at Russian and Chinese ‘Arctic Strategies’ and their Implications for the U.S.
What Happens When the Ice Melts? A Look at Russian and Chinese ‘Arctic Strategies’ and their Implications for the U.S.

“Receding sea ice and melting permafrost in the Arctic are reshaping the security and economic landscape of the far north. New shipping lanes, previously un-navigable because of ice, could be available for commercial shipping year-round by 2030. While the Arctic Council has created a space for collaboration and exchange amongst Arctic states for the past 25 years, the potential for economic gain and unique national security concerns could erode cooperation and add a new dynamic to power competitions in the Arctic.”

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Essays, GlobalMadison UrbanArctic, Arctic Circle, Security, International Relations Comment
The Pandemic Will Never End Without Global Vaccine Cooperation
The Pandemic Will Never End Without Global Vaccine Cooperation

“It is easy for those of us who live in wealthy nations with high vaccination rates to think of those in poorer or war-torn countries as pitiable but distant. Something to be concerned about, though lacking any real impact on the success of our own COVID eradication efforts. This, however, is a grave misjudgment. Not only is vaccine nationalism and the zero-sum prioritization of one’s own population a moral failing, it is scientifically counterproductive.”

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GlobalEmma CohnCOVID-19, Vaccination, WHOComment
What Neera Tanden’s Failed Confirmation Means for the Biden Administration
What Neera Tanden’s Failed Confirmation Means for the Biden Administration

“President Joe Biden faced his first major cabinet confirmation setback two weeks ago with the withdrawal of Neera Tanden as his pick to lead the Office of Management and Budget. Tanden faced a difficult confirmation process from the outset due to her past Twitter criticism of the GOP and some progressives, like Senator Bernie Sanders. Tanden later deleted many of these critical tweets before her confirmation hearing, though this did little to improve her chances of confirmation. How did Tanden — the former Clinton campaign aide and president of the Center”

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NationalAdam TatumComment
How Doctor Billing Malpractice Paralyzes Medicaid Expansion in N.C.
How Doctor Billing Malpractice Paralyzes Medicaid Expansion in N.C.

“In 2014, NC state auditors discovered that a surprising amount of NC doctors whose licenses have been revoked seeing Medicaid patients. Nearly seven years later, another audit revealed the same: North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) failed to properly verify credentials, which resulted in improper Medicaid payments. Because of improper Medicaid spending and the state’s failure to expand Medicaid, Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) subsidies are inaccessible to many North Carolinians, as subsidies from the Bill rely on the expansion of Medicaid within states.”

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LocalLejla BrkaNCPOL, Health CareComment
Cuomo's Fall From Grace Accelerates
Cuomo's Fall From Grace Accelerates

“In the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo received praise for his handling of the situation in New York state. However, that praise was short-lived. Owing largely to a recent string of sexual harassment allegations and new information about his mishandling of pandemic policy public opinion is quickly shifting against the Governor.”

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Editor's Picks, NationalLabeeb AhmedAndrew Cuomo, DemocratsComment