Democracy
Soaring electricity rates fueled Democratic victories — now comes the hard part
Soaring electricity rates fueled Democratic victories — now comes the hard part Rising electricity rates were a key factor in Democratic victories in New Jersey, Virginia, and Georgia, highlighting concerns over energy policy and infrastructure. The US power grid is struggling to keep up with growing demand from AI data centers, electric vehicles, and domestic […]
🏛️ Politics
Congress has been dodging responsibility for tariffs for decades – now the Supreme Court will decide how far presidents can go alone
Congress has been dodging responsibility for tariffs for decades – now the Supreme Court will decide how far presidents can go alone The US Supreme Court will hear a case on whether presidents can impose sweeping import duties using a Cold War-era emergency law, raising questions about accountability and democratic ownership. The shift in power […]
🏛️ Politics
A brief history of congressional oversight, from Revolutionary War financing to Pam Bondi
A brief history of congressional oversight, from Revolutionary War financing to Pam Bondi A brief history of congressional oversight has shifted dramatically during the second Trump administration, with hearings becoming increasingly partisan and confrontational. Congressional oversight plays a crucial role in keeping executive branch agencies accountable to the public, ensuring that laws are faithfully executed, […]
🏛️ Politics
Amateur hour in Congress: How political newcomers fuel gridlock and government shutdowns
Amateur hour in Congress: How political newcomers fuel gridlock and government shutdowns Amateur politicians, who have no prior experience in elected office, are more likely to fuel gridlock and government shutdowns in Congress due to their lack of bipartisanship. The study found that first-term amateur lawmakers work across party lines far less often than incumbent […]
🏛️ Politics
The shutdown – and the House’s inaction – helps pave Congress’ path to irrelevance
The shutdown – and the House’s inaction – helps pave Congress’ path to irrelevance The US Congress has been in recess for over 40 days due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, with no votes being held and Speaker Mike Johnson refusing to swear in newly elected Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva. Despite having a constitutional role […]
🏛️ Politics
Voters lose when maps get redrawn before every election instead of once a decade − a trend started in Texas, moving to California and likely spreading across the country
Voters lose when maps get redrawn before every election instead of once a decade − a trend started in Texas, moving to California and likely spreading across the country Voters are losing control over their elected representatives as states redraw congressional districts mid-decade to gain an advantage in elections, sparking a “Redistricting War” between Democrats […]
🏛️ Politics
King, pope, Jedi, Superman: Trump’s social media images exclusively target his base and try to blur political reality
King, pope, Jedi, Superman: Trump’s social media images exclusively target his base and try to blur political reality The White House’s social media strategy under Trump blurs the lines between politics and entertainment, using melodramatic and theatrical language to appeal to his base. The White House often releases AI-generated images of Trump in various roles, […]
🏛️ Politics
ICE is building a social media panopticon
ICE is building a social media panopticon ICE is expanding an online surveillance system to track millions of users on social media platforms. The agency has paid $5.7 million for an AI-powered platform called Zignal Labs, which can ingest and analyze vast amounts of publicly available data. The platform provides “real-time intelligence” that could potentially […]
📰 News
Gender is not an ideology – but conservative groups know learning about it empowers people to think for themselves
Gender is not an ideology – but conservative groups know learning about it empowers people to think for themselves Conservative groups are launching attacks on teaching about gender in colleges and universities, which they claim is an ideology that empowers people to think for themselves. However, experts argue that this is part of a larger […]
🏛️ Politics
When government websites become campaign tools: Blaming the shutdown on Democrats has legal and political risks
When government websites become campaign tools: Blaming the shutdown on Democrats has legal and political risks The 2025 government shutdown has become a messaging war, with official government communications, including website banners and automated responses, denouncing “Senate Democrats” or “the Radical Left” for closing the government. The Hatch Act, a 1939 statute that limits partisan […]
🏛️ Politics