Editorial Content — Carolina Political Review

Carolina's Premier Undergraduate Political Affairs Journal

America Has No King

America Has No King

In February 2025, President Donald Trump posted an image of himself wearing a golden crown with the words “Long Live The King.” Days later, he shared another image dressed in papal robes, joking about becoming Pope. These posts sparked backlash, with critics pointing to Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution, which forbids titles of nobility. Trump’s rhetoric, while styled as humor, reflects a deeper erosion of democratic norms. In a nation founded on the rejection of monarchy and the embrace of rule by the people, such gestures are not just symbolic—they are dangerous. The presidency is not a throne; it is a public trust. Treating it otherwise threatens the very foundations of the republic.

Columns, OpinionNick SwisherMay 18, 2025Opinion Piece, Columns, Trump, President Trump, DictatorshipComment

Who’s Running for North Carolina’s U.S. Senate Seat in 2026?

Who’s Running for North Carolina’s U.S. Senate Seat in 2026?

North Carolina’s 2026 Senate race is shaping up to be one of the most competitive—and unpredictable—contests in the country. With high-profile contenders emerging in both parties and a vulnerable incumbent caught between factions, the outcome will depend heavily on who actually enters the race.

Local, Editor's PicksAbram GregoryMay 17, 2025local, Roy Cooper, Thom Tillis, Senate, Elections, Editor's Pick Comment

Two Truths in Tension: When Law Meets the Transgender Experience

Two Truths in Tension: When Law Meets the Transgender Experience

Prior to 2021, the State of Oklahoma allowed transgender individuals to change the sex on their birth certificates to reflect their gender identity after transition. In 2021, as a wave of anti-trans sentiment spread across many conservative states, Governor Kevin Stitt signed an Executive Order barring the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) from amending the sex of any individual on their birth certificates. Rowan Fowler, a transgender woman who had been affected by the Order, joined with several other similarly situated individuals to sue the Governor, on the grounds that his order violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s guarantee of Equal Protection. After losing in the District Court, and winning on appeal at the Tenth Circuit, Fowler and her fellow litigants now face one final legal hurdle at the Supreme Court. What merit is there to her Equal Protection claim?

Columns, OpinionAndy GongMay 15, 2025Opinion, Columns, Supreme Court, Transgender Legislation, Gender RightsComment

Transgender Women’s Rights Left in Limbo Following U.K. Supreme Court Decision

Transgender Women’s Rights Left in Limbo Following U.K. Supreme Court Decision

On Monday, April 16th, the United Kingdom Supreme Court ruled that the official definition of a “woman” solely refers to an individual’s biological sex. This decision overlooks the rights to security, freedom, and individuality of people who are already some of the most heavily marginalized in society. While the impacts of the law are still unfolding, it could eventually make it so that discrimination against transgender women in the U.K. becomes much more commonplace. Even more so, it risks undermining the social legitimacy of transgender identities as “real.” Finally, it could easily influence policies relating to transgender and gender non-conforming individuals in other nations, especially in fragile political climates where political leaders are already leaning towards limiting LGBTQ+ rights.

Opinion, ColumnsJaya NadellaMay 7, 2025Opinion, Columns, Transgender Legislation, UK PoliticsComment

The Politics of Control: The Hunger Games, MAGA, and the Rebranding of Dissent

The Politics of Control: The Hunger Games, MAGA, and the Rebranding of Dissent

The Hunger Games offers a framework for understanding how narrative functions as a tool of political control through the lens of media, rhetoric, and perception. In Panem, the Capitol doesn’t just eliminate opposition, it controls its image. President Donald Trump’s political strategies have relied on similar mechanisms, creating a parallel between him and President Snow (and the Capitol). In 2016, grievance became branding. In 2020, the campaign prioritized spectacle. Now, in 2025, after a return to the office, that approach has only intensified. This emphasis has shifted from confronting dissent directly to influencing how it is publicly interpreted and politically leveraged.

Columns, OpinionAdriana ConcepcionMay 5, 2025Opinion, Columns, Trump, Media, MAGAComment

A Weakening Dollar, Recession Fears, and Economic Uncertainty: What the Economy Looks Like in the New Trump Era

A Weakening Dollar, Recession Fears, and Economic Uncertainty: What the Economy Looks Like in the New Trump Era

The weakening of the dollar can be attributed to many factors, including uncertainty about the future, political instability, and declining investment. As a country whose primary export is its currency and financial services, the United States is a critical player in the international economy, and the value of the dollar can have massive impacts domestically and globally.

Columns, OpinionAllie LynchMay 4, 2025Opinion, Columns, Economy, Inflation, TaxesComment

Due Process in the Age of Deportation: The Legal Divide Over Immigration

Due Process in the Age of Deportation: The Legal Divide Over Immigration

A legal catastrophe perpetrated by Donald Trump and his administration. The only “clash” happening is the clear disregard for the law by the Trump administration, and their continued non-compliance. This is no longer a partisan issue — we are beyond politics when we begin ignoring due process and violating the Constitution.

Columns, OpinionSofia PadovanoMay 2, 2025Opinion, Columns, Due Process, Immigration, Trump Comment

Harvard Pushes Back

Harvard Pushes Back

The impacts of this $2.3 billion-dollar gamble stretch far beyond Cambridge, Massachusetts. Harvard’s confrontation with the Trump administration is more than a single university’s defiance—its outcome is a test case for the future of higher education in America with the potential to redefine the power balance between federal authority and institutional independence.

NationalAakanksha SinhaApril 30, 2025National Comments

Red, White, and Green: Can American Patriotism Fuel Environmental Reform?

Red, White, and Green: Can American Patriotism Fuel Environmental Reform?

America’s ecology is a critical aspect of what it means to be an American citizen, providing a framework for economic growth and a cohesive, green, American identity.

Opinion, ColumnsLily MeffordApril 30, 2025Opinion, ColumnsComment

North Korea: The Irreversible Nuclear State

North Korea: The Irreversible Nuclear State

On April 9, the North Korea state media reaffirmed that its status as a nuclear weapons state is “irreversible” and not open for negotiation regardless of how forcefully the United States or its allies push for disarmament. However, this message is likely more than a mere reiteration.

Global, Editor's PicksAakanksha SinhaApril 30, 2025Global, Editor's Pick Comment

Marine Le Pen's Embezzlment Scandal: Judicial Tyranny or Democratic Justice

Marine Le Pen's Embezzlment Scandal: Judicial Tyranny or Democratic Justice

Last Sunday, in an atmosphere coated in revolutionary temper, the Hôtel de Invalides in Paris became a rallying point for members of the National Rally (NR)–France’s far-right opposition party–to hear its leader, Marie Le Pen, speak after a Parisian criminal court found her guilty of embezzling public funds.

GlobalJacob DokulilApril 30, 2025GlobalComment

White House Ordered by Federal Judge to Restore Associated Press Admission to Press Pool

White House Ordered by Federal Judge to Restore Associated Press Admission to Press Pool

Earlier this month, a federal judge ruled that the Associated Press must be restored to the White House press pool. U.S. district judge Trevor McFadden ruled in favor of the AP’s claim that its ban from the Oval Office is a fundamental attack on free speech. The Trump administration has appealed the ruling to the U.S Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

NationalJulia RonemusApril 30, 2025NationalComment

What Clemens Leaves Behind: UNC’s School of Civic Life and Leadership and the Battle Over Academic Governance

What Clemens Leaves Behind: UNC’s School of Civic Life and Leadership and the Battle Over Academic Governance

On April 3rd, UNC announced that Chris Clemens would be stepping down from his position as the university’s provost. Jim Dean, former provost, will replace Clemens as an interim provost, effective May 17th.

LocalKate TurnerApril 30, 2025LocalComment

Rewriting History: The Political Battle Over the Smithsonian and American Memory

Rewriting History: The Political Battle Over the Smithsonian and American Memory

Though its impacts are still unfolding, the recent executive order targeting the Smithsonian appears to be part of a broader, coordinated effort by the Trump administration to assert influence over educational and cultural institutions. As the United States prepares for the 250th anniversary of its independence, which Trump has stated will “showcase the glory of every state in the Union, promote pride in our history, and put forth innovative visions for America’s future,” debates over the narrative of American history and whose version of it will dominate are likely to intensify.

NationalJosie BlackmanApril 30, 2025NationalComment

Peruvian President Calls for Early Elections Amidst Protests

Peruvian President Calls for Early Elections Amidst Protests

Peruvian President Dina Boluarte has called for general elections to occur on April 12th, a year early. Although hopeful that political instability will decrease as a result of the election, Boluarte’s decision comes amidst the extreme civil unrest caused by violent protests, the likes of which have sent Lima and the province of Callao into a state of emergency.

GlobalLaura MartinApril 30, 2025GlobalComment

The NIL Effect: UNC Basketball’s Adaptation to a New Era

The NIL Effect: UNC Basketball’s Adaptation to a New Era

Even with North Carolina being historically one of the country’s top basketball programs, it inevitably has and will continue to see some challenges when it comes to NIL deals.

LocalSofia PadovanoApril 30, 2025LocalComment

Democrats Claim that Trump is an Existential Threat to American Democracy. It's Time Their Leadership Acts Like It

Democrats Claim that Trump is an Existential Threat to American Democracy. It's Time Their Leadership Acts Like It

While the strategies of the boldest members of the Democratic caucus remain untested on a national scale, the party has already lost the White House, both chambers of Congress, the federal courts, most governors’ mansions, and state legislatures. Sticking to the same cautious playbook has only led to continued defeats. At this point, what do they have to lose by trying something new?

Columns, OpinionAndrew AslaksonApril 17, 2025Opinion, ColumnsComment

What Does Estonia’s Hike in Defense Spending Mean for NATO?

What Does Estonia’s Hike in Defense Spending Mean for NATO?

The long-term impact on NATO as a whole will likely depend on how the security situation evolves in Ukraine—and how other NATO members interpret the implications of U.S. disengagement. If Russia continues to make gains and the United States remains inconsistent in its support for Ukraine, more countries may view Estonia’s example as a necessary model for self-reliance.

GlobalAbram GregoryApril 17, 2025GlobalComment

Rwanda Cuts Diplomatic Ties with Belgium for Criticisms of Rwandan-Backed Rebel Group Actions in DRC

Rwanda Cuts Diplomatic Ties with Belgium for Criticisms of Rwandan-Backed Rebel Group Actions in DRC

Rwanda has every right to criticize Belgium’s neocolonial practices, especially in relation to mining companies. Rwanda has no excuse, however, to fund and prop up M23’s violent campaign against the people of the DRC.

GlobalElise ChangApril 17, 2025GlobalComment

Cory Booker’s Historic Speech: What Happened and What Does it Mean?

Cory Booker’s Historic Speech: What Happened and What Does it Mean?

Many Democrats, voters and leaders alike, have been critical of the party for not doing more to stand up to the Trump administration. Booker’s speech came amidst a time where there have been calls for Democrats to do more and act with a greater sense of urgency, and provides an example for how Democrats can resist the Trump administration.

NationalAbby LudwigApril 17, 2025NationalComment