“Through a video posted to Twitter in the late hours on February 28th, President Biden announced his support in for the workers striking against Amazon in Bessemer, Alabama. ‘Every worker should have a free and fair choice to join a union,’ the video caption read.”
Read More“President Joe Biden faced his first major cabinet confirmation setback two weeks ago with the withdrawal of Neera Tanden as his pick to lead the Office of Management and Budget. Tanden faced a difficult confirmation process from the outset due to her past Twitter criticism of the GOP and some progressives, like Senator Bernie Sanders. Tanden later deleted many of these critical tweets before her confirmation hearing, though this did little to improve her chances of confirmation. How did Tanden — the former Clinton campaign aide and president of the Center”
Read More“A new round of rocket strikes on the U.S. backed Ain al-Asad airbase in Iraq prompts questions of how the Biden administration will respond to growing hostilities with Iran. Despite the U.S. desire to return to a negotiated nuclear framework, the current cycle of escalation could prevent any meaningful cooperation in the near future.”
Read More“In 2014, NC state auditors discovered that a surprising amount of NC doctors whose licenses have been revoked seeing Medicaid patients. Nearly seven years later, another audit revealed the same: North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) failed to properly verify credentials, which resulted in improper Medicaid payments. Because of improper Medicaid spending and the state’s failure to expand Medicaid, Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) subsidies are inaccessible to many North Carolinians, as subsidies from the Bill rely on the expansion of Medicaid within states.”
Read More“Former President Donald Trump made his first public appearance since leaving office at the Conservative Political Action Conference on February 28th, with much of his usual bluster. The major take away, as far as he is concerned: the Republican Party is still his party.”
Read More“In the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo received praise for his handling of the situation in New York state. However, that praise was short-lived. Owing largely to a recent string of sexual harassment allegations and new information about his mishandling of pandemic policy public opinion is quickly shifting against the Governor.”
Read More“Going into Inauguration Day, many Americans were satisfied to finally see the Oval Office reclaimed by someone who, while not perfect, seemed to have common courtesy and basic administrative competency. For others, the relief inspired by Donald Trump leaving public office was mitigated by a concern that nothing would fundamentally change under a Biden administration. While President Biden is still far from a progressive president, recent orders and proposals by him and the Democratic party which he leads should inspire some confidence in those uneasy about Biden’s capacity to affect positive change.”
Read More“Last Wednesday, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the United States would be seeking a seat on the United Nations’ Human Rights Council, a council that President Trump pulled out of in 2018. In Blinken’s video announcement, the diplomat stated that the U.S will be looking to be on the Council for the 2022 to 2024 period, even though it admittedly needs reform.”
Read More“North Carolina has a long history of racial injustice and inequality. However, this history is often narrowed down and taught in only a few classes during Black History Month. This February, the Wake County Black Student Coalition joined the many other activists advocating to broaden and deepen this education.”
Read More“Asheville was the only city in N.C. to enact budgetary changes in response to the Black Lives Matter protests, but the new bill would apply to all N.C. local governments. If the bill passes, any city or county that cuts more than 1% from their police budget will be penalized with reduced state funding.”
Read More“Beginning on March 14th, 2021, North Carolinians seeking unemployment benefits will have to provide proof that they are actively pursuing employment opportunities to qualify. Governor Roy Cooper laid down an executive order detailing the changes which negate a previously issued executive order from March of 2020. Typically, in a non-COVID time, the requirements for unemployment stipulate that one must be actively searching for a job before receiving any state issued benefits. However, Governor Cooper struck down the requirement due to the increased unemployment during the pandemic. Now, that period is closing, and within the new executive order, Governor Cooper promotes the usage of NCworks.gov to promote job opportunities and employment training.”
Read More“Alaows explains how, after arriving in Germany, he was stuffed into a gym with 60 other people, prohibited from working, and not given German language lessons. While he organized protests against these shocking conditions, he ultimately realized that the main issue was that migrants like him did not have a voice representing or advocating for them in the German Parliament. This is what he aims to change in his political run. Alaows is running as a part of the Green Party, which he joined a year ago. The Green Party focuses on human rights and social justice issues along with environmental concerns and Alaows has found a comfortable position amidst their ranks.”
Read More“While it may be the right decision on a technical level for the case to be dismissed, the Appellate Court’s decision still reeks of a miscarriage of justice. Regardless of whether the Board of Education was negligent in this particular case, it symbolizes a bleak reality: that individuals in North Carolina can be severely wronged by their state or local government and still be completely unable to recover damages.”
Read More“Last Wednesday, Estonia’s foreign intelligence agency claimed that Russia is counting on COVID-19 to weaken unity in the West. The Kremlin allegedly hopes to gain a more prominent role on the international stage through this weakening of Western global influence caused by COVID-19 disunity.”
Read More“On February 12, Orange County Superior Court Judge Allen Baddour overturned the UNC System and SCV settlement, arguing that the SCV lacked sufficient legal standing when they filed their original lawsuit. Now, the future of Silent Sam is unclear. The Board of Governors and the UNC System must head back to the drawing board and attempt to find another solution, hopefully one that will comply with existing rules and regulations without cooperating with white supremacists.”
Read More“In a statement released by his newly formed PAC, Save America, Former President Donald J. Trump publicly slandered Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, calling him a “ dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack.” The comments came after weeks of tension surrounding Trump’s second impeachment trial. Trump and McConnell have historically had a strong relationship, but their recent arguments have characterized a growing divide in the Republican party.”
Read More“Previously, President Biden has stated the cost of college “must be lowered immediately,” and that free four-year college education is a must for anyone from households making under $125,000. Now, he states that he will write off $10,000 of student debt for borrowers, but no more. What changed, and how is the rest of the Democratic Party reacting to this?”
Read More“Health officials point to vaccination as the single biggest requirement for a successful games. However, Japan approved its first vaccine just last week, citing concerns that Pzifer’s trial did not include enough Asian, and specifically Japanese, participants. This delay put the country two months behind the United Kingdom and America - which worries some experts given the time crunch.”
Read MoreUltimately, Rush leaves a mixed legacy behind. He vaulted American conservatism, and the spectacle of politics as a concept, into the mainstream. The elimination of the Fairness Doctrine Act is the sole reason for his notoriety, and with it, he was able to establish a daily listenership and millions of followers across the country. Since 1988, he has served as a trusted voice in many conservative households, and he created an avenue for others to follow in his stead. Often, however, his comments were ill regarded, made in bad faith, or outwardly offensive, reflecting a deep seated hatred of the Democratic party and pandering to a hyperconservative audience rather than journalism through the pursuit of facts.
Read More“Part of the hesitation from Senate Democrats stems from a new report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released on Feb. 8, which predicts that although the proposed minimum wage increase would lift 900,000 out of poverty, it would also put 1.7 million people out of work and increase the federal deficit by $54 billion.”
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