Since assuming office, President Trump has dramatically upended the federal government to fulfill many of his campaign promises. He authorized Elon Musk to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to reduce government spending, initiated a campaign of mass deportation, and enacted major tariffs on important trade partners. But one of the major promises Trump made on the campaign was to uphold Americans' right to free speech.
Read MoreAt the beginning of the 2nd Trump administration, the president announced that Russel Vought, the previous director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) during the 1st administration, would resume his post.
Read MoreIn the last five months, the U.S. public health sector has been hit by a wave of budget cuts, policy changes, and pseudoscience rhetoric from the Trump administration. Public health, in itself, is “the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private communities, and individuals,” according to Charles-Edward Amory Winslow.
Read MoreIn this installment, we look at the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, Lee Zeldin, and how he has fundamentally reshaped the agency — turning an agency focused on the Silent Spring to one aiming for a silenced future.
Read MoreOver the past year, we’ve seen numerous women of color take center stage — making history and transforming our perception of what our politicians should look and act like. In November 2024, Kamala Harris, of Jamaican and Indian descent, was one of the most important figures in American politics — until everything came crashing down.
Read MoreWhat once was air is now smog. The foundation of your house penetrates a gas field. The water you drink is spoiled by chemicals from the abandoned factory outside your window. The constant threat of extreme weather has you and your neighbors living in fear; one day, your house will be swept away by a flood or burnt to a crisp by the hand of a raging fire.
Read MoreIf you’ve paid any attention to discourse related to California politics, you know that housing is a topic that frequently gets brought up. People talk about having to pay higher interest rates on mortgages, having trouble finding a home to buy, or, as famed political activist Jimmy McMillan would say, “the rent is too damn high.”
Read MoreOn the first day of his second term, President Donald Trump issued an executive order entitled Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship. The order directs federal agencies to stop granting or recognizing citizenship for children born to parents who were unlawfully or temporarily in the United States at the time of their birth, fulfilling one of the President’s campaign promises.
Read MoreThe practice of utilizing tariffs against perceived foes has become commonplace. The proposal of expanding United States territory hangs over the country, invoking the idea of Manifest Destiny. China is viewed as a potential dominant superpower, with United States policy shifting to handle its emergence on the global stage.
Read MoreYour small town is about to be hit by a hurricane, and you’re in the middle of an evacuation zone. With only days’ notice, your family is packing up their belongings and getting ready to flee the area for safety. You’re told that if you don’t leave, you’ll die — but as your friends and loved ones go, you remain in place. As an inmate, you cannot make that decision for yourself.
Read MoreThough much of it feels like a distant memory now, certain occurrences from that summer will undoubtedly have lasting effects on our country, altering the shape of our government for centuries to come. Amongst all that happened, one event from early July stands out as particularly momentous: the decision of Trump v. US.
Read MoreOn October 27, 2024, Tony Hinchcliffe, a stand-up comedian, spoke at a Donald Trump rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. While several speakers and attendees endorsed former President Donald Trump throughout the event, Hinchcliffe faced criticism over his choice of words.
Read MoreImagine playing a game where you score the most points, but someone else decides who wins based on their own rules. That’s essentially what the Electoral College does to our presidential elections, and it’s time we rethink this outdated system.
Read MoreHave we finally reached the time where our world resembles movies? Where robots take over the world and destroy the human race, like in The Terminator and M3gan? No, I do not think we have reached that point just yet. We can take comfort in the fact that these movies are still far away from being representative of the near future.
Read MoreThe late Justice Antonin Scalia, testifying to the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2011, recounted the experiences he had with high school, college, and law students interested in the law. “I ask them, what do you think is the reason that America is such a free country? What is it in our Constitution that makes us what we are?”
Read MoreI know it, you know it. Corporations suck. They get to do whatever they want, with no repercussions. It feels like nobody in our government cares to fight back against them, that everyone in the federal branch is just as beholden to special interests as our House Representatives or Senators. But what if I told you that there was one person fighting for the rights of consumers, and the American working and middle classes?
Read MoreThroughout the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, from 2020 to now, the mishandling of public health policy and messaging has led to a complete breakdown of public health in the United States. From small inefficiencies to large-scale negligence, the government and its public health institutions have failed the American people, which has led to a complete distortion of how we define illness as a society.
Read MoreAs the United States suffers an attack on the public education system by Republican policymakers, which has been a contributing factor to the widespread educator shortage, it is imperative that legislators who run on campaigns of diversity, equity, and inclusion take initiative to ensure that students enrolled in K-12 schooling receive an education that effectively utilizes culturally responsive pedagogies that focus on teaching students how to understand topics that have been heavily politicized — like race, gender, and socioeconomic status.
Read MoreAs a poster child of the declining liberal city, San Francisco has gained quite a reputation for itself. Most notably, regarding its growing homelessness encampments; the city has been in the spotlight with talk of rampant crime rates, abandoned buildings, and the infamous "poop map." Yet down the blocks of San Francisco’s tent-lined streets stand luxury apartments. The characterization of this issue is full of contradictions — as these newly developed units await incoming residents, the number of those on the street continues to grow.
Read MorePicture this: you’re at Disneyland. As you walk into the park, you are struck by a variety of sensations. The smell of cinnamon and pineapple — foreshadowing churros and DoleWhip — wafts through the air. The sounds of laughter and excitement surround you; everyone is eager to find the rides they've been looking forward to. In the distance, you can see costumed characters roaming Main Street, and you feel hopeful, secure in the knowledge that you’re about to have a great day.
Read More
