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ali

California's Proposition 4: A Borrowing Binge or Wise Investment?

September 12, 2024

California's Proposition 4 is set to borrow $10 billion to fund a plethora of environmental projects. But is this measure more about politics than sound policy? After this year's budget debacle, the state should be focusing on cutting debt, not increasing it. The measure's 100+ programs lack a sens

politics

The Godfather of the Trumpist Right's Gender Politics: Unpacking Mansfield's Neopatriarchy Movement

September 12, 2024

Imagine a world where men and women are equal, but not the same. Harvey Mansfield, a renowned Harvard political theorist, wants to create. In his book, he argued that traditional gender norms are not just outdated, but dangerous. He believes men and women have different strengths and weaknesses, and

finance

Tackling Social Security's Future: Can Closing Tax Loopholes Fund the Program Until 2100?

September 12, 2024

Imagine if Social Security's sacred guarantee wasn't on the chopping block, but rather, it was fully funded for decades to come. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) claims that cracking down on mega-rich tax dodgers could keep the New Deal program whole until the end of this century. Wyden estimates that the ul

education

A Constitutional Crackdown: SC's ESTF Ruled Unconstitutional

September 12, 2024

The Supreme Court of South Carolina has dealt a major blow to the Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF) program, ruling it unconstitutional for using public money to fund private school education. The ESTF, signed into law by Governor Henry McMaster in May 2023, allowed qualifying parents to appl

health

The COVID-19 Surge: Has the Peak Passed?

September 11, 2024

Is the summer COVID-19 surge finally dipping? Or is it just a temporary reprieve? The data is mixed, but there are some early signs that the surge may have peaked. However, not all metrics are moving in the rosy direction. For instance, positivity rates are still relatively high, and COVID-19 deaths

health

Healthcare in Hoosier Country: A Step in the Right Direction?

September 11, 2024

Think about it: Indiana consistently ranks among the worst in the nation in terms of overall health. But what if we told you there's hope on the horizon? The Lake County Health Department has received a whopping $4.87 million in state funding to improve the health of Hoosiers, and we take a closer l

politics

The Cannabis Conundrum: Is the Industry Leaner Left or Right?

September 11, 2024

It's time to rethink the assumption that the cannabis industry is a liberal bastion. Ten years ago, it would've been easy to assume so – the Democratic Party had been driving progress on cannabis legalization. But fast-forward to today, and the picture is murkier. Why are business owners and executi

business

Global Markets Stir as U.S. Debate and Economic Data Shape the Future

September 11, 2024

As the world holds its breath for the U.S. presidential debate, Asian markets are reeling from key economic data. In South Korea, unemployment plummeted to a historic low of 2.4%, a feat not seen since 1999. But in Japan, business confidence among manufacturers took a seven-month hit, according

politics

The Racial Divide: How Prejudice Could Shape the 2024 Election

September 11, 2024

In imagine a presidential election where a candidate's racial identity becomes a decisive factor in their success. Unfortunately, this is not a hypothetical scenario, as our recent polling suggests that racial attitudes are playing a significant role in determining white voters' choices in the 2024

technology

Cops Go Virtual: Apple's Vision Pro Revolutionizes Surveillance

September 11, 2024

Imagine a world where police officers can access real-time crime data, monitor surveillance feeds, and deploy officers to a location all from the comfort of their own virtual reality headset. The Orange County Sheriff's Department has started piloting the VR headsets to create a virtual version of