With new and emerging technologies including social media platforms and search engines, old problems are being brought to the forefront once again. One of those issues is political bias and it is an i…
To Spy or Not to Spy: Questions Raised by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
In June of 2008, then-presidential candidate Barack Obama stated that “Given the grave threats that we face, our national security agencies must have the capability to gather intelligence and track do…
Democrats Join the Mad Tea Party: The Contest Begins between Feinstein and De León
The December midnight was drenched in silence. A large crowd stared on from the harbor as the Sons of Liberty crept along the docks in Mohawk Native American costumes. They swept through the streets o…
The United States… And Territories: America’s Paradise Lost
On October 13, one news headline stood out among the rest: “Trump says he spoke to U.S. Virgin Islands’ ‘president’ — which is him.” “Must’ve been a one-sided conversation,” one Twit…
Separation of Church and State?: What the First Amendment Really Meant
Ronald Reagan, known for his one-liners, often joked that “as long as there are final exams, there will be prayer in public schools.” Though intended as a humorous aphorism, the debate over the role o…
Of Miscreants and Malignancy
Something is rotten in the state of the Union. Our leaders are more concerned about making the other side look bad than they are about effective governance, and have forgotten that they were elected t…
Unethical Yet Unsurprising: The GOP’s Latest Blow to Planned Parenthood
Were you to search for online testimonials of people who have received services from Planned Parenthood, you would find results overwhelmingly inspirational and hopeful, ranging from stories of women …
Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act: The Bad and the Ugly
Advocates of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act protest President Obama’s veto outside the White House. Stephanie DeSimone was pregnant when her husband, Navy Commander Patrick Dunn w…
An Open Letter to President-Elect Donald Trump
Dear President-Elect Trump, I’d like to start this off by offering my congratulations on a well-fought campaign. While you did not have my support before the election, I recognize that you are now my …
Scalia: The Absurdity and Folly of the Supreme Court
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died peacefully two weeks ago, but two hours later discord erupted among the GOP, the election campaigns and the Senate over his replacement. Republican leaders on…
Kamala Harris: A Bid For Boxer’s Seat
On Thursday, January 8, 2015, California Senator Barbara Boxer announced she will be retiring following the end of her term, leaving the first open California Senate seat since 1992, The Year of the W…
Viable Ambassadors or Bona Fide Embarrassments?
“Viable Ambassadors or Bona Fide Embarassments?” was originally published in the Davis Political Review on December 9, 2014. What do a soap opera creator, a public relations executive, and…
2014 Midterms Recap: What You Need to Know
Though one of the biggest stories from the midterm election results on Tuesday was the Republicans gaining control of the Senate, there were other significant stories as well. Not only were pollsters …
The Re-Tea-Blican Party: Is This the Return of the Prodigal Party?
By Merrill Weber The Mississippi River divides Mississippi from New Orleans just like the Tea Party divides the Republican Party. After incumbent Thad Cochran dealt Chris McDaniel a losing hand in Jun…
Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Farm Bill
The Agriculture Act of 2014, this year’s farm bill, faced a difficult road to passage this time around. After the 2008 farm bill expired at the end of 2012, it suffered a stunted nine-month ext…
The Real Effects of Filibuster Reform
Last month, for the first time in its history, the Senate changed its procedure on filibusters. Though the majority party has threatened to use the nuclear option for years, Senate Democrats finally i…