When Will We See “Joint” Support in North Carolina?
When Will We See “Joint” Support in North Carolina?

“It is likely that marijuana will be legalized in North Carolina, however, whether it will be for recreational use or medical use remains to be seen. Additionally, a legalization timeline is still unknown. There is no doubt many people believe marijuana could be beneficial, especially for those with medical issues; there could also be economical benefits that could cause a boom in North Carolina’s economy. Democrats are already in support of the issue, but they will need more Republican support if they want to secure “joint” support on the issue.”

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LocalSeth MooreWeed, Marijuana Reform, North Carolina, Drug War Comments
Election Reform and Its 2022 Impact
Election Reform and Its 2022 Impact

“The rationale of these laws from Republican legislators is to protect election integrity, and the pushback from Democrats is that election fraud impacts elections so little, that passing these laws does not combat fraud, but prevents key populations from voting. A large part of the narrative that elections are not secure come from former President Donald Trump as he continues to share that he should have won the 2020 presidential election.”

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NationalKatharine KurzElections, 2022, Election ReformComment
Citizens United to... Megadonors United?
Citizens United to... Megadonors United?

“Now, over 11 years after the Citizens United decision, it’s both the wealthy corporations and individuals putting their money —and by extension — influence into campaigns and their outcomes. Recent data from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks federal election spending, shows that just 12 megadonors — at least eight of whom are billionaires — contributed a combined $3.4 billion to federal candidates and political groups between January 2009 and December 2020.”

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NationalManav ShahCitizens United, Elections, Megadonors, Campaign ReformComment
North Carolina Voter ID Law Back in Court
North Carolina Voter ID Law Back in Court

“North Carolina voters could be forgiven for forgetting about North Carolina’s Voter ID requirements, as they did not have to deal with them last fall due to injunctions issued by a federal judge and by the North Carolina Court of Appeals in separate cases. The State’s current Voter ID Law, Senate Bill 823, was passed in late 2018, over the veto of Governor Cooper, and is currently being challenged as unconstitutional for intentionally discriminating on the bases of race in the case of Holmes v. Moore, a tough thing to prove given the legislative history of the bill.”

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LocalDavid WoodliefEditor's Pick, North Carolina, Election, Voter ID, ElectionsComment
A Buildup of Troops and Tension Between Russia and Ukraine
A Buildup of Troops and Tension Between Russia and Ukraine

“Tensions between Moscow and the West have escalated even further this week, with Russia running military exercises in the Black Sea and massing a large number of troops in Crimea and at Ukraine's border. This comes at a time when internal protests and international pressure around the health of Alexi Navalny already have eyes on Russia and coordinated sanctions have been launched by the US and EU.”

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GlobalKay LangleyRussia, Conflict, Putin, warComment
Do All Republican Roads Lead to Donald Trump?
Do All Republican Roads Lead to Donald Trump?

“Much speculation about the future of the Republican Party and its prospects in the 2024 presidential election has already entered the realm of political discussion. However, former President Donald Trump’s continued displays of dominance in GOP internal politics further widens the divide between staunch Trump allies and other Republicans who seek to move past the era of Donald Trump. In light of the recent closed-door donor retreat held at Mar-a-Lago to gear up for the 2022 midterm elections last weekend and the party’s inability to move on from the former president, the question remains: do all Republican roads lead to Donald Trump?”

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NationalAdam TatumEditor's Pick, Trumpism, trump, GOP, ElectionComment
What the Johnson and Johnson Pause Means For America
What the Johnson and Johnson Pause Means For America

“Last Tuesday, Johnson and Johnson vaccine injections were halted across the country after six recipients reported blood-clotting. Health officials nationwide have exaggerated the very low risk for those who already received the vaccine, emphasizing that the vaccine was taken down out of an “abundance of caution” for the safety of Americans, as stated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).”

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National, Editor's PicksKatharine KurzCOVID-19, Vacc, Fauci, BidenComment
Yet Another Officer-Involved Shooting Increases Tensions in Minnesota
Yet Another Officer-Involved Shooting Increases Tensions in Minnesota

“Following the shooting, Officer Potter announced she would resign from the force stating it would be “in the best interest of the community, my department, and my fellow officers.” Resignation is not sufficient for some in the community as tension is already high due to the murder trial of Derek Chauvin, prompting many to flood the streets outside the Brooklyn Center Police Department and protest. Protesters have reportedly thrown fireworks and bottles at police who responded with teargas; additionally around 20 businesses nearby have been broken into. In response, the Minnesota National Guard has been deployed.”

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NationalSeth MooreGeorge FLoyd, Police Brutality, Police Reform, ViolenceComment
Biden’s $2 Billion “Infrastructure” Plan
Biden’s $2 Billion “Infrastructure” Plan

“President Biden’s first 100 days in office have been an improbable three months of steady progress, kicking off a Biden administration that aims to be far more transformative than progressives initially expected. Few of us expected that this president — given his record, a knife’s-edge Congress, and a COVID-19 crisis that makes it hard to look an inch beyond one’s nose — would begin to be talked about as, potentially, transformational. One of the highlights of this progress is the $2 trillion infrastructure plan the president proposed in March, a plan that he has called ‘a once-in-a-generation investment in America.’”

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NationalManav ShahBiden, Joe Biden, CongressComment
What You Should Know About The Derek Chauvin Murder Trial
What You Should Know About The Derek Chauvin Murder Trial

“George Floyd died after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pinned him on the ground with his knee, sparking protests around the world. Now, ten months later, arguments in the momentous trial that will determine Chauvin’s legal consequences are coming to a close. Chauvin faces charges of second-degree unintentional murder, third degree murder and second degree manslaughter.”

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NationalBrennan MaynardGeorge FLoyd, Derek Chauvin, Black Lives MatterComment
Giving Everyone Their Shot: How To Combat Anti-Vaccine Sentiment
Giving Everyone Their Shot: How To Combat Anti-Vaccine Sentiment

“While the CDC is working to find a balance between promoting messages of caution concerning new strains of COVID-19 and pitching the vaccine as a means to return to “normalcy,” American’s have resumed old practices. The CDC has produced comprehensive plans to distribute the vaccine on a widespread level, but skepticism from vaccine-eligible individuals could be a detriment to these plans.”

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National, Editor's PicksKatharine KurzVaccines, COVID-19, BidenComment
N.C. Legislature Introduces School Choice Legislation
N.C. Legislature Introduces School Choice Legislation

“As many state legislatures across the U.S. have introduced “school choice” bills to divert public education funding to private schools, the North Carolina General Assembly has joined the fray. Republicans in the North Carolina State House of Representatives introduced HB 32 during the first week of the legislative session in January. Last week, on April 1st, the bill moved to the Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House, as it progresses through the governmental process on its way to a vote on the House floor. What exactly is included in this bill and what is its intended consequence for both public and private schools?”

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LocalAdam TatumNCPOL, Education, NCGAComment
Despite Video of Killing, Chauvin Murder Trial Hinges on Cause of Death
Despite Video of Killing, Chauvin Murder Trial Hinges on Cause of Death

“On March 29th, the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin commenced as the defense and prosecution stated their cases for the charges of second and third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Chauvin is accused of killing George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, by kneeling on his neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds in an event that highlighted police brutality and racial injustice in the United States. The killing and subsequent violent police to protests has spurred calls for police reform and abolition. With the trial nationally televised, the country waits with bated breath anxious to see if Chauvin will be held to account for his actions.”

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NationalDavid WoodliefDerek Chauvin, Police Brutality, George FLoydComment
Regulation of Tech Companies is Easier Said than Done
Regulation of Tech Companies is Easier Said than Done

“There is no doubt more should be done to hold tech companies accountable, however, the issue is how should they be held accountable? This is when things become difficult because there is no clear answer, every action has a consequence. One thing is certain, tech companies are powerful and influential and this power needs to be reigned in before the situation spirals out of control leading to more events similar to that of January 6th.”

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NationalSeth MooreTech, Big TechComment
World Leaders Call for Pandemic Treaty
World Leaders Call for Pandemic Treaty

“One thing is for certain in light of the pandemic-plagued days in which we live: there is no shortage of political and morally divisive policies on the horizon. On March 30th, over 25 heads of state called for an international pandemic treaty to greater combat and alleviate the risk of future life-altering pandemics from arising. The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated that “the world cannot afford to wait until the pandemic is over to start planning for the next one,” and during a news conference he campaigned on its urgency due to the WHO’s lack of ability for surveillance and oversight within member nations. Origins of the treaty stem from member nations, such as China over the past year, being able to deny WHO access to novel epidemic data or disease materials that could prove crucial in combating a novel pathogen.”

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GlobalNicholas LongWHO, COVID-19Comment
China and Iran Settle on A $400 Billion Economic Partnership Agreement
China and Iran Settle on A $400 Billion Economic Partnership Agreement

“This maneuver will directly undercut America’s influence in the Middle East as China is opting in to buying Iranian oil, who is currently under American sanctions. These sanctions have isolated Iran in the Middle East and have limited Iran’s opportunities for foreign investment. Historically, sanctions have been an effective form of punishment as long as the nation has no one else to turn to economically. With China’s economic extension to Iran through a 25 year deal, this offers both a relief to Iran economically while also allowing it to think freely concerning other issues such as the Iran Nuclear Deal.”

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GlobalAllison HolbrooksChina, Iran Comment