All USA
‘He poked mama bear’: Education clashes shape Virginia governor’s raceParental concerns over school closures and curriculum changes are making Virginia’s suburbs – which had been shifting Democratic – newly competitive.
First LookBoston mayoral race brings Arab American identity into focusAnnissa Essaibi George will face off against Michelle Wu on Tuesday in Boston’s mayoral elections. Ms. Essaibi’s campaign has highlighted the challenges of Arab Americans who struggle with racial definition in the United States.
First LookSupreme Court hearing on gun permit case could boost gun rightsThe U.S. Supreme Court plans to hear a case on a New York gun permit law on Wednesday that could expand the eligibility to carry firearms in public. The court last issued major gun rights decisions a decade ago, supporting the right to keep a gun at home for self-defense.
How coup in Sudan challenges Biden’s desire to support democracyThe U.S. is invested in helping Sudan toward democracy. But the coup poses a challenge: How far should the Biden administration go to reach that goal?
The Explainer‘Does Facebook reward outrage?’ What leaked papers show the company knew.A Facebook employee secretly copied tens of thousands of pages of the company’s internal research. What do The Facebook Papers show?
First LookGerrymandering isn't just a GOP ploy. Dems in IL use it, too.Democrats in Illinois are redrawing political maps to secure congressional seats through the next decade. The new district maps could be pivotal as the party tries to hold on to a Democratic majority in the U.S. House.
Why Biden and the Democrats need a deal – nowThe course of Joe Biden’s presidency will likely be set by the fate of two signature bills in the coming days. Perceptions of Democratic incompetence could fuel a Republican wave.
First LookAs Biden leaves for global summit, a push to pass domestic billPresident Joe Biden plans to visit Capitol Hill Thursday to rally support for his pared-back social spending proposal before he departs for the United Nations climate summit in Scotland. The bill has faced significant cuts. What remains?
First LookMale, female, X: US introduces gender-neutral passport optionIn a milestone for the LGBTQ community, the United States issued its first passport with an “X” gender designation, for people who don’t identify on the gender binary. The U.S. joins over a dozen countries that allow a third gender option.
How should billionaires ‘pay their fair share’? Democrats can’t agree.Democrats say taxing the ultra-rich more would mark a big step toward a more equitable America, but there’s disagreement about how to do that.
First LookCourts weigh if video and audio feeds count as 'public' trialsAs courts across the United States re-open with limited in-person capacity because of the pandemic, they’re grappling with how to guarantee the public’s right to an open trial. Is watching virtually the same as being in the courtroom?
First LookA Black teen defied segregation in '55. She wants a clean record.Before Rosa Parks there was Claudette Colvin. Ms. Colvin was 15 years old when she refused to give up her seat on a segregated Alabama bus and placed on probation. She never received a notice that her probation ended, and she wants her records expunged.
First LookBiden looks to ‘wealth tax’ to fund plans. What would that mean?President Biden’s proposal to finance social spending through tax hikes on large corporations and wealthy Americans met with internal party resistance. Now he’s floating a new idea – a tax on the assets, not income, of billionaires.
First LookWisconsin audit confirms 2020 election results, looks to futureThe state of Wisconsin has completed one of two investigations into the results of the 2020 presidential election. The audit shows the elections were “safe and secure” and also makes recommendations for how the state could improve.
The ‘profound power’ of vote by mail: Evolving a new ritual of democracyOregon’s former secretary of state, who pioneered the practice there, says reducing logistical hurdles to voting is good for democracy.
Did Fauci mislead Congress? NIH letter deepens concerns.A lack of transparency has undermined trust in public health officials who are not only dealing with the current pandemic, but trying to understand how to prevent future ones.
First LookCalifornia proposes buffer between neighborhoods and oil drillingOn Thursday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a proposal to ban new oil and gas drilling within 3,200 feet of communities, a move that would create the largest buffer zone in the country. Over 2 million Californians, most low income, live within these zones.
Americans are angry about ... everything. Is that bad?Americans are angry, but what are they doing with their outrage? We talk to people of all political affiliations who have channeled emotion in creative or productive ways.
‘Not ivory towers’: HBCU activist-in-residence nurtures hope, activismWith interest in historically Black colleges and universities on the rise, one HBCU finds a new way to nurture students’ lifelong fight for justice.
First LookHow will jurors be chosen for the Ahmaud Arbery trial?In Georgia, 1,000 residents were mailed jury notices for the trial of Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man who was fatally shot. The court needs 16 jurors who will be selected based on their knowledge about the case, news they consume, and social media platforms they use.
