SAMHSA Grant Cuts Expose the Fragility of the U.S. Mental Health System
SAMHSA Grant Cuts Expose the Fragility of the U.S. Mental Health System

These cuts halted naloxone distribution, overdose prevention efforts, mental health and substance abuse support in schools, and substance abuse recovery programs. The cuts affected nearly all discretionary funds, accounting for nearly $2 billion of SAMHSA’s budget. Less than 24 hours later, US health officials countered and began reinstating the funding to mental health and substance use programs. Some programs received notice of reinstatement on Wednesday night, while others are waiting for an official notice that they can resume work.

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NationalKate TurnerSAMHSA, Mental Health, Trump Funding, Trump cuts, Trump Mental Health, Trump, OpioidComment
Judge Refuses to Issue Restraining Order Against ICE Operations in Minnesota
Judge Refuses to Issue Restraining Order Against ICE Operations in Minnesota

At the heart of the case is a fundamental question about federalism: how far can the federal government go in unilaterally imposing law enforcement operations on a state that explicitly opposes them? The case remains open, with Menendez denying the federal government’s request to postpone their January 19 deadline to respond.

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NationalAbram GregoryICE, ICE Raids, ICE Minnesota, Minneapolis, ICE Minneapolis, Immigration, Trump ICE, TrumpComment
The Logic of Repression Following the 2026 Uprisings in Iran
The Logic of Repression Following the 2026 Uprisings in Iran

Beginning on December 28th, 2025, millions of Iranians gathered nationwide to protest the Islamic Republic government amid the country’s deepest economic crisis in modern history, marked by currency collapse, inflation, and widespread loss of public confidence. In response, the Iranian government imposed a near-total internet blackout and carried out a violent crackdown that left thousands dead or detained, signaling a deliberate turn to mass repression to preserve regime control.

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GlobalAndrew StambukIran, Iran Protests, Iran USA, Iran Nuclear Deal, Iran Repression Comment
The High Price of Reactive Storm Policy in a Warming World
The High Price of Reactive Storm Policy in a Warming World

The fiscal aftermath of the recent bomb cyclone has shown that North Carolina’s system of funding winter preparedness through 'mini-budgets' and contingency reserves is no longer sustainable. With the NCDOT exhausting half its annual winter budget in days, the state faces a choice between continuing a cycle of costly, reactive cleanup or investing in proactive infrastructure defense. As climate volatility increases, the General Assembly must establish a permanent Winter Resilience Fund to insulate the state’s economy from the paralyzing costs of future storms.

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LocalHolden RayBomb Cyclone, NC Winter Storm, Winter Weather, NC StormComment
Columbia’s New Bonnet: NATO, Greenland, and the New Age of Expansion
Columbia’s New Bonnet: NATO, Greenland, and the New Age of Expansion

It is no secret that Greenland holds some of the world’s most valuable resources, including oil and copper. In the wake of recent ice melting, the vast natural reserves have caught the eye of the international community. In particular, U.S. President Donald Trump, who seems to have centered his term around Greenland’s acquisition. Much to the dismay of Europe, which now finds its relationship with the U.S. in a tumultuous position, America has entered a new age, one of expansion not from sea to shining sea, but to the Danish-controlled island of Greenland.

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GlobalJacob DokulilGreenland, Trump Greenland, Denmark Greenland, Greenland USComment
U.S. and Iran Hold Nuclear Talks in Oman
U.S. and Iran Hold Nuclear Talks in Oman

For the United States, the coming weeks will therefore be critical in determining whether such diplomacy can decrease or increase tension. For Iran, years of sanctions have negatively affected its economy, resulting in high inflation, a loss of value in currency, reduced oil revenues, and increased unemployment rates. Over the past two decades, the struggling Iranian economy has resulted in a slow population growth, an increase in the average marriage age, and riots across Tehran.

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Editor's Picks, GlobalLuc AntonioIran, Iran Nucelar Deal, Iran Protests, US IranComment
Broader Impacts of N.C. House Bill 301 on Children’s Digital Safety and Free Expression
Broader Impacts of N.C. House Bill 301 on Children’s Digital Safety and Free Expression

 On May 6, H.B. 301, introduced by Representative Jeff Zenger, was passed in the North Carolina House of Representatives. With this bill, minors in North Carolina under 14 would be restricted from making accounts on all social media platforms, while those under 16 would need parental consent to sign up for an account. Proponents argue that this bill would make important strides in protecting youth mental health, preventing cyberbullying and exposure to harmful content, and encouraging safer recreational activities. However, opponents argue that the bill has the potential to encroach on children’s First Amendment rights, as well as introduce privacy concerns and data collection vulnerabilities.

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LocalJaya NadellaNC House, NC House Bill 301, Bill 301, Social Media, Social Media Use NC, NC GAComment
Texas Becomes the First State to Drop ABA-Accreditation for Law School
Texas Becomes the First State to Drop ABA-Accreditation for Law School

On January 6th, the Supreme Court of Texas amended the state constitution so that law schools are no longer required to receive accreditation by the American Bar Association (ABA), the organization in charge of overseeing legal education in the United States. An accreditation is a recognition that the education a law school provides is consistent with standards laid out by the ABA. Graduates from ABA-accredited law schools are eligible to take the Bar, the final exam necessary to become an attorney. Instead of the ABA providing this accreditation, it is now the responsibility of the court.

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National, FellowsDaniel ReyesTexas Law School, UT Austin Law, Texas Law, ABA, Bar ExamComment
Amazon’s Expansion of Its AI Endeavors Symbolizes Changing Economic Landscape
Amazon’s Expansion of Its AI Endeavors Symbolizes Changing Economic Landscape

As artificial intelligence makes its way into more and more aspects of everyday life, it is important to remain aware of its magnitude and potential harm as it relates to our social interactions and the preservation of our originality. Recently, the decisions of companies like Amazon to expand their artificial intelligence branches have shifted the technology’s target toward the job market. AI is a massive venture, and it is growing at a pace with which the general population cannot keep up. Consequently, it is unclear just how severe these job losses and competition for employment will become.

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NationalHalle TourianAmazon, AI, AI RegulationsComment
Black History Month: The Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and the American Dream
Black History Month: The Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and the American Dream

In the United States of America, Black History Month is celebrated between 1st of February - 1st of March. It is a national moment to reflect on the historical inequalities of the past and think about the present challenges of political, social and economic polarization and look forward to the  future where there is equality of life and opportunities, regardless of one’s background based on the American Dream based on life, liberty and happiness. What lessons can we draw from the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr’s life whose day we celebrated on January 17?

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Opinion, Fellows, ColumnsShahid S. KhanDr. Martin Luther King Jr., MLK Day, ICEComment
Children of Wartime Veterans Scholarship
Children of Wartime Veterans Scholarship

 Established in 1934, the North Carolina Children of Wartime Veterans Scholarship has long helped veterans’ children afford in-state higher education. Recent funding cuts and prorated awards have created financial uncertainty for recipients, threatening their ability to stay enrolled. Through the story of UNC student William Dishmon, the article shows how these reductions undermine the program’s original mission, despite lawmakers citing fiscal mismanagement and reforms, leaving students to bear the consequences of an unstable commitment.

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Editor's Picks, LocalNick SwisherNC General Assembly, NC GA, NC politics, Children of Wartime Veterans Scholarship, Children of VeteransComment
Delays in the October Unemployment Rate Figure Present Major Risks to American Workers
Delays in the October Unemployment Rate Figure Present Major Risks to American Workers

On November 19th, the U.S. Department of Labor announced that it would delay its usual October estimate of the national unemployment rate until December. The recent government shutdown has impeded their ability to release the figures this month. This is not the first time the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has faced issues with calculating the unemployment rate, as the Trump Administration has raised issues over the integrity of its data collection methods. Recent doubts and delays over the number of unemployed workers in the United States have the potential to prolong the current rise in unemployment for American workers in the coming months.

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Fellows, NationalDaniel ReyesEconomy, US Economy, Unemployment, Inflation, Fed, Federal Reserve, DLSComment
Texas’s Blocked Map and the Growing National Fight Over Redistricting
Texas’s Blocked Map and the Growing National Fight Over Redistricting

Texas’s blocked map is more than a state dispute; it’s a preview of a brewing national crisis. As courts reconsider long-standing Voting Rights Act protections and both parties escalate their redistricting tactics, American democracy risks slipping into an arms race where voters, not politicians, pay the price.

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National, Editor's PicksKrisha PatelRedistricting, California, Newsom, Election mapsComment