Category: news

Sky view of the US capitol building.
Democracy Expert Larry Diamond Warns of Growing Culture of SuperPAC Intimidation in Congress
In his new regular column, Diamond on Democracy, democracy scholar Larry Diamond, acknowledges that “[h]aving won the presidency fair and square, Donald Trump has earned the right to propose, and in many cases to implement, radical new policy directions.” 
11 Mar, 2025
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3 min read
Canada flag
Canada's Next Prime Minister Was Chosen Using Ranked Choice Voting
On March 9, the Liberal Party of Canada held an election to determine who will lead the party using a reform growing in popularity in cities across the US: ranked choice voting.  The winner of that election: Former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney.
10 Mar, 2025
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2 min read
Chuck Todd
Chuck Todd to Discuss Advancing Reform in a World Without Trust
On Tuesday, March 18, the nonprofit reform group Open Primaries will host an online virtual discussion featuring a legendary figure in journalism: Chuck Todd, who moderated NBC's Meet the Press for nearly 10 years.
10 Mar, 2025
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1 min read
Donald Trump at CPAC.
Is Donald Trump Really All That Unprecedented?
Donald Trump's address to Congress last week is the latest in a string of highly partisan moves designed to please his base and needle his opponents.
10 Mar, 2025
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1 min read
Symbols for both parties on elevated positions.
A Tale of Two Parties: Democrats Are from Mars, Republicans Are from Venus
As I think about Tuesday’s State of the Union address by President Donald Trump and the response of Senator Elissa Slotkin from Michigan—a former CIA analyst and a rising star in the Democratic Party—I am reminded of the book “Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus” by John Gray published in 1992.
06 Mar, 2025
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5 min read
Symbols of both parties on a scale.
Research Shows Congress Is Getting Younger, But No Less Divided
Pew Research Center published 7 facts this week about the changing face of Congress in the 119th session. On top of an increase in diversity, the research center found Congress is also slightly younger.
05 Mar, 2025
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3 min read
American flag in front of a government building with columns.
How An Unresponsive Government Is Affecting Public Support for Foreign Aid
The heated confrontation in the White House Friday between Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump and his vice president, JD Vance, continues to spur debate across the nation as voters are split on the US's support of Ukraine in its war with Russia.
04 Mar, 2025
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4 min read
Congress
Independent Voters Have a Question: Where is Congress?
If real, lasting change is to occur, it must come through Congress—not merely through executive orders that can be reversed by future administrations or overturned in court.
04 Mar, 2025
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4 min read
Large crowd of protesters.
Is There a Party Left in America That Is in Touch with the American People?
Dan and Shawn look at recent polling and explore whether one party is guilty of being out of touch with the majority of Americans or whether either party is speaking to the majority at all?
03 Mar, 2025
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1 min read
American flag on pole.
The Illusion of Competition in American Elections
American elections are becoming less competitive, and the consequences are eroding democracy. As The New York Times journalists Nick Corasaniti and Michael Wines report this week, most congressional and state legislative races in 2024 were effectively decided by low-turnout primaries or weren’t contested at all.
28 Feb, 2025
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2 min read