Posts in Fellows
Biden Administration Reverses Trump-Era Changes to the Endangered Species Act

While the new guidelines are certainly an improvement from the Trump administration’s cuts, many activists still feel that they aren’t enough. By leaving some Trump-era rules in place, including one requiring agencies to prove “reasonable certainty” that a species would suffer unless listed, critics argue that today’s protections still fall short of what existed under the Obama administration.

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The Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments on Common Abortion Pill Mifepristone

The Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine is relying on a series of hypotheticals: that a woman might have serious complications from a medication abortion with mifepristone, that one of these women might end up in the emergency room, and that they might feel compelled to offer care to these women against their personal moral codes.

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Republican Politicians Didn’t Kill Nex Benedict, but They Certainly Don’t Seem to Mind When Trans Kids Die.

When the highest levels of a school system not only fail to protect trans students but portray them as the opposing side of a civil war, is it any surprise that Nex “didn’t really see the point” of taking his bullying to school officials?


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A Brief Introduction to the Invasive Species Crisis in North Carolina

10 foot pythons. Giant African snails. Lizards the size of cats. In Florida, the invasive species crisis takes center stage: the invasive animals are large, often threatening, and visibly foreign.  According to Dr. Johnny Randall, retired Director of Conservation at the North Carolina Botanical Garden, many North Carolinians don’t even know invasive species when they see them.

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Abbey Speaker Series: The Politics of the Israel-Palestine Conflict

Before the October 7 attack by Hamas, the Middle East had fallen into a state of relative equilibrium between Israel and its neighbors. Many Arab states in the region, including Saudi Arabia, had become considerably more open to diplomatic relationships with Israel in the preceding years, according to Professor Spinner-Halev. The October 7 attack and Israel’s brutal response, however, have caused rippling effects from within the country to the surrounding region and, ultimately, the world. 

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“Day of the Forest Defender:” Communities Gather to Remember Tortuguita, One Year Later

Dubbed “Day of the Forest Defender,” community and political groups in 30+ U.S. cities and beyond gathered to memorialize Tortuguita in a number of ways. Some took on a politically activist approach, taking the opportunity to discuss community organizing and how to get involved in the movement. Others hosted artistic events, vigils, and communal meals, all with a common theme: “bring what you can.”

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Does Faith Belong in the Discussion About Abortion?

“Abortion seems to be a never-ending issue in the discussion about American politics and public policy. Faith, and specifically Christianity, has long played a role in this discussion and has been a dominant force as of late. While it is a dominant religion in the country and it has played a large role thus far, does faith have a place in the political discussion about abortion?”

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The Supreme Court Leaves Millions of Americans in Limbo Awaiting Student Loan Debt Forgiveness

“Colleges give their students new experiences away from home, friends who love unconditionally, memories to last a lifetime, and, in many cases, crippling debt. However, President Biden announced a three-part plan to erase student loan debt for borrowers who need it the most. When the application for debt forgiveness opened, 26 million borrowers applied and began anxiously waiting to see if their debt would be forgiven. However, the wait will have to continue.“

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Controversial CNN Host Don Lemon Allowed to Return to the Air Pending Completion of Training

“In today’s world, social media reports on nearly every issue before the media does. This fundamentally alters what the media’s original role was supposed to be – that of gatekeepers. In response, the media has shifted in a variety of different directions, oftentimes reporting on media from competitors only to bash it. Television news is now more about analysis of news, or putting a certain spin on things, than it ever has before.“

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Meet Anderson Clayton: A Fresh Face Looking to Breathe Life Back Into Her Party as North Carolina Democratic Chair

“To say the 2022 elections were disappointing for North Carolina Democrats would be an understatement. However, the Democratic party’s strategy is bound to change with the entrance of a fresh face bringing with it new energy. In February 2023, Anderson Clayton was elected the North Carolina Democratic Party Chair, becoming the youngest party chair in the country at only 25 years old.“

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Jen Psaki Launches New MSNBC Show

 “Jen Psaki launched her MSNBC program, Inside with Jen Psaki. Political experience -- such as Psaki’s former job as the White House Press Secretary under President Biden -- allows for TV hosts to lend their own lived experience to their shows. This experience, however, calls into question the host’s credibility, as their former boss may still be in office. Whatever the optics of Psaki’s former employment are, this show represents the newest trend in political media and coverage.”

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Youth Voter Turnout Shatters Midterm Records

“Looking at the country overall, 27% of young people (aged 18-29) turned out in the 2022 midterm elections, making up 13% of the overall electorate, according to day-after estimates from the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University. If young voter participation had increased to even just 50%, it could have been a much better night for Democrats, possibly allowing them to have kept control of the U.S. House of Representatives, and not just the U.S. Senate.”

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