Political Science Club

The goal of the Political Science Club is to create a space for students to discuss topics that are important to them. We encourage healthy discussion and debate from a wide range of perspectives. Ideally, the membership of the Political Science Club should reflect the diversity of views among the student population. And while there is nothing wrong with having strongly-held views, in keeping with the values of the Department of Political Science and the discipline itself, the discussions MUST be civil and fact-based.

TOPIC SUGGESTIONS: While the Political Science Club officers typically determine which topics are going to be discussed, we want to give others an opportunity to suggest topics that are of interest to them. To do so, .

DISCORD: The Political Science Club hosts a discord server for all of its members to mingle and continue discussion of topics from club sessions. If you would like to join the server, .

EMAIL: Any questions or concerns can be communicated to the club officers as well as the faculty advisor through the Political Science Club email address: cocpolisciclub@my.canyons.edu

Club Meeting Time: Tuesday @ 4:00 p.m. in Bonelli Hall 306 or via

Political Science Club Information

May 21, 2024

Topics: DJ Hamburger, Met Gala Protests, China Shock 2.0

1. DJ Hamburger: The COC Political Science Club will welcome to campus DJ Hamburger, who ran for the 23rd District of the California Senate, finishing third. He will discuss his experience running for political office in California.

Topics 2 and 3 will be covered on a time-permitting basis. They are the same topics from last week, which we could not cover for reasons of time.

2. Met Gala Protests: The first Monday in May is one of the most anticipated Avant Garde nights of fashion, since 1948. Last Monday, May 6, made headlines for more than the convergence of carefully crafted ensembles and exclusive multiple culture celebrity attendees. Outside of the Metropolitan Museum of Arts, where the yearly Costume Institute fundraiser is held, more than 1,000 Anti-Israel (or Pro-Palestinian) demonstrators attempted to disrupt one of America鈥檚 longest-standing fashion events. The protest was part of a 鈥�Day of Rage鈥� demonstration organized by the Palestinian activist group, Within Our Lifetime, began at Hunter College, located just 1.7 miles from the Met Museum. En route to the gala, at least one demonstrator was witnessed burning the American flag, meanwhile historic monuments, like the 107th Infantry Memorial, were defaced with graffiti reading 鈥淕aza鈥� and 鈥淔谤别别 Gaza鈥� at the base. Another Central Park monument, the Civil War General William Tecumseh bronze statue, was also vandalized. New York鈥檚 finest successfully managed to divert the crowd, deciding to form a barricade outside of the Gala in anticipation of Pro-Palestinian demonstrators arresting a little over 2 dozen protestors in the process. This took place at the same time Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside of Auschwitz, where thousands of Israelis come together to commemorate the 6 million Jews killed by Nazi Germany in the yearly March of the Living memorial. As participants marched with Israeli flags from the Auschwitz site into the Polish town of Oswiecim, they were met with pro-Palestinian protestors waving Palestinian flags staging the first anti-Israel rally in the 36 years of the memorial march鈥檚 existence. Omar Faris, president of the association Palestinians in Poland, stated their intent through this protest was to display they bow down to the victims of the Holocaust too, at the same time, they demand an end to war, an end to genocide. The protesters were witnessed wearing keffiyehs around their necks or faces, shouting to the marchers through a sound amplification system, 鈥淎re you not ashamed of what your government is doing?鈥�. While no true connection can be drawn from both events, the events of Oct 7 have roiled global populations calling for some sort of political action or intervention, but to what end?

3. China Shock 2.0: Coined by economists David H. Autor, David Dorn, and Gordon H. Hanson in their 2016 paper, the 鈥淐hina Shock鈥� refers to the sizable increase in Chinese imports into the United States in the 2000s, which they find to have eliminated more than 2-million American jobs. Now both the US and the European Union are bracing for a possible second China Shock as China threatens to flood Western markets with an 鈥渙versupply鈥� of clean-energy technologies, especially solar panels and electric vehicles (EVs). China鈥檚 President Xi Jinping wrapped up a five-day trip to Europe last Thursday, May 9, during which he gave no grounds on calls from French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to address accusations of overcapacity in Chinese the clean-energy industry. Chinese authorities deny their industries are in 鈥渙versupply鈥� and have called accusation of product 鈥渄umping鈥� mere 鈥渉ype鈥� aimed at justifying protectionism. Xi has called for more Chinese state-led investment in high-end manufacturing, or what he calls 鈥渘ew productive forces,鈥� in areas such as EVs, solar panels and batteries in order to outstrip US and EU-based rivals. Economist say a large portion of state-funds that were once invested in China鈥檚 debt-stricken property sector are pouring into clean-tech industry, while household consumption remains low by global standards as a share of GPD, resulting in excess supply. This is fueling deflation, supercharging China鈥檚 exports at a time when its currency, the renminbi, is also weaker against the dollar and euro. Western politicians accuse China of supporting its industry with subsidies and government benefits, leading the EU to begin multiple anti-subsidy investigations into Chinese products, including EVs. The Chinese EV company Build Your Dreams (BYD) aims to topple Volkswagen, Stellantis, and Peugeot to becomes the largest battery-electric vehicle seller in Europe this decade, a top executive said. BYD鈥檚 plans include a cut-price model based on the Seagull, which sells in China for less than $10,000. The European version of the model should cost less than 鈧�20,000. The US-based Telsa had been the top seller of EVs in Europe until the final quarter of 2023, when it sold 484,507 vehicles compared to the 526,409 sold by BYD. Meanwhile, the Biden administration is preparing to raise tariffs on clean-energy goods from China, with the levy on Chinese EVs set to roughly quadruple. Higher tariffs will also hit critical minerals, solar goods and batteries sources from China. Whether to adjust the Trump-era levies had divided the Biden administration. However, signs that China is ramping up exports of clean-energy goods prompted concern in Washington, where officials are trying to protect a nascent American clean-energy industry from China. Officials are particularly focused on EVs, and they are expected to raise the tariff rate to roughly 100%, up 75% from the 25% tariff set by the Trump administration.

May 14, 2024

Topics: Kathye Armitage Visit, Met Gala Protests, China Shock 2.0

1. Kathye Armitage: The COC Political Science Club will welcome to campus Kathye Armitage, who sits on the Board of Directors of the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency. She will discuss the role of the SCV Water Agency Board of Directors as well as her campaign to win reelection in 2024.

Topics 2 and 3 will be covered on a time-permitting basis.

May 7, 2024

Topics: Boeing's Quality Complaints Mount, Russian Troops Enter US Military Base in Niger

1. Boeing鈥檚 Quality Complaints Mount as Second Whistleblower Dies: Last Tuesday, April 30, Joshua Dean, a former quality auditor at a key supplier to Boeing, died at the age of 45, his family announced on social media. Dean was among the first of a number of whistleblowers this year to raise concerns about potentially dangerous defects with the fuselage of Boeing鈥檚 737 Max jets. The fuselages are made by Spirit AeroSystem, a major Boeing supplier that was spun off from Boeing in 2005. Now federal investigators are looking more closely at both Spirit and Boeing to understand what went wrong with the door panel that blew off an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 in midair in January 鈥� yet the latest of a number of recent quality-controls scandals at Boeing, the world鈥檚 fourth largest producer of airplanes, satellites, rockets, military jets, missiles and other military equipment. Dean is now also the second Boeing-related whistleblower to die in the past three months. In March, John Barnett, 62, died in Charleston, S.C., "from what appears to be a self-inflected gunshot wound," the local coroner said. At the time, Barnett had been testifying in his retaliation lawsuit against Boeing. Police in Charleston say that they are still investigating his death. Dean and Barnett were both represented by lawyer Brian Knowles. "Josh's passing is a loss to the aviation community and the flying public," Knowles said in a statement. "He possessed tremendous courage to stand up for what he felt was true and right and raised quality and safety issues. Aviation companies should encourage and incentivize those that do raise these concerns." Dean started feeling sick around two weeks ago, his mother, Virginia Green, told reporters. He stayed home from work for a couple days, but things got worse. Initially treated at St. Joseph hospital in Wichita, as he got worse, he was sent to an Integris hospital in Oklahoma City. Green said that her son was very healthy 鈥� someone who went to the gym, ran nearly every day and was very careful about his diet. But within days, Dean's kidneys gave out and he was relying on a life support machines to do the work of his heart and lungs. Green says she has asked for an autopsy to determine exactly what killed her son. Results will likely take months, she said. Dean took his quality-control job at Spirit seriously and grew increasingly frustrated with what he described as a "a culture of not counting defects correctly". During two interviews in January, Dean said that Spirit pressured employees not to report defects in order to get planes out of the factory faster. He was fired in April of last year 鈥� in retaliation, he said, for flagging improperly drilled holes in fuselages. Boeing is currently in talks to acquire Spirit as the planemaker's leaders concede they may have outsourced too many parts of the manufacturing chain. Boeing agreed last month to advance $425 million to Spirit as it works to improve its manufacturing quality.

2. Russian troops enter US military base in Niger: Last Thursday, May 2, Russian military personnel entered an air base in Niger that is currently hosting US troops, a senior defense official told reporters. The move follows a decision by Niger's junta to expel the American military. Niger experienced a coup d'茅tat in July of last year when the country's presidential guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum, and General Abdourahamane Tchiani proclaimed himself the leader of a new military junta. Tchiani subsequently told the US to withdraw its nearly 1,000 military personnel from the country. A senior US defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Russian forces were not mingling with US troops but were using a separate hangar at Airbase 101, which is next to Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, Niger's capital. The move by Russia's military puts US and Russian troops in close proximity at a time when the nations' military and diplomatic rivalry is increasingly acrimonious over the conflict in Ukraine. It also raises questions about the fate of US installations in the country following a withdrawal. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has played down any risk to American troops or the chance that Russian troops might get close to U.S. military hardware. "The Russians are in a separate compound and don't have access to U.S. forces or access to our equipment," Austin told reporters at a conference in Honolulu. The US and its allies have been forced to move troops out of a number of African countries following coups that brought to power groups eager to distance themselves from Western governments. In addition to the impending departure from Niger, US troops have also left Chad in recent days, while French forces have been kicked out of Mali and Burkina Faso. At the same time, Russia is seeking to strengthen relations with African nations, pitching Moscow as a friendly country with no colonial baggage in the continent. Mali, for example, has in recent years become one of Russia's closest African allies, with the Russia鈥檚 Wagner Group mercenary force deploying there to fight jihadist insurgents. Russia has described relations with the United States as "below zero" because of US military and financial aid for Ukraine in its effort to defend against invading Russian forces. After the coup, the US military moved some of its forces in Niger from Airbase 101 to Airbase 201 in the city of Agadez. It is not clear what US military equipment remained at Airbase 101. The US built Airbase 201 in central Niger at a cost of more than $100 million. Since 2018 it has been used to target Islamic State and al Qaeda affiliate Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) fighters with armed drones. Niger's move to ask for the removal of US troops came after a meeting in Niamey in mid-March, when senior US officials raised concerns including the expected arrival of Russia forces and reports of Iran seeking raw materials in the country, including uranium. While the US message to Nigerien officials was not an ultimatum, the official said, it was made clear US forces could not be on a base with Russian forces. A two-star U.S. general has been sent to Niger to try and arrange a professional and responsible withdrawal. While no decisions have been taken on the future of US troops in Niger, the official said the plan was for them to return to US Africa Command's home bases, located in Germany.

Professor Showdown: Thursday, May 2th @ 4:00 p.m. in Bonelli Hall 306 or at meeting ID: 823 5428 8863

Please join the College of the Canyon鈥檚 Political Science Club as we host the Political Science Department faculty for our annual Professor Showdown, a panel-discussion of the most pressing local, national and international political issues of 2024. The event will feature an hour-long period of questions, responses and discussion with the faculty, followed by half-an-hour of audience Q & A. You can attend either in-person at Bonelli Hall, room 306 or via Zoom, meeting ID: 823 5428 8863

April 30, 2024

Topics: Pro-Palestinian Protests Rock College Campuses, Sudan Civil War 1-Year Anniversary

1. Pro-Palestinian Protests Rock College Campuses: Last Thursday, April 18, Minouche Shafik, president of New York City鈥檚 Columbia University, one of America鈥檚 elite Ivy League campuses, asked the New York Police Department (NYPD) to clear an encampment of pro-Palestinian student protestors. Over a hundred students were arrested, although a larger encampment was reestablished the next day. In a letter posted on Columbia鈥檚 website Shafik wrote that she asked the NYPD to intervene after other efforts failed: she did so "out of an abundance of concern for the safety of Columbia鈥檚 campus." Yet the move only inflamed matters. In the days that followed, a firestorm of protests spread to other college campuses, with tent encampments appearing far beyond the Ivies. The demands by student protestors are largely the same: that schools divest their endowments from Israeli firms and all weapons manufacturers; that they end academic partnerships with Israeli universities; and that they condemn Israel鈥檚 actions in its war against the terrorist organization Hamas, which controls the Palestinian territory of Gaza. As at Columbia, administrators elsewhere are increasingly adopting a tougher response. On Monday, April 22, nearly 50 protesters were charged with trespassing for taking part in a week-long occupation of a plaza at Yale University (as with Columbia, protestors return the next day). At New York University police broke up a copycat encampment, arresting more than 130. At the University of Texas at Austin dozens were arrested after state troopers in riot gear swept through the campus. "These protesters belong in jail," Texas鈥檚 governor, Greg Abbott, wrong on X. Police also clashed with protestors at the University of Southern California (USC), Emory University, and Northeastern University. Long before the debacle at Columbia, instances of disruptive behavior by pro-Palestinian protestors had put administrators on edge. In February, activists at UC Berkeley shattered a glass door at a lecture given by an Israeli speaker, causing the event to be cancelled. Weeks later, others interrupted an event at the home of Erwin Chemerinsky, the dean of Berkeley鈥檚 law school. Last year, Columbia suspended two student groups, Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace, for organizing unauthorized demonstrations. The New York Civil Liberties Union has sued over the move. Equally controversial was USC鈥檚 decision to cancel the graduation speech of its pro-Palestinian valedictorian, who is Muslim, citing safety threats. USC later cancelled its entire main stage graduation ceremony. College and university presidents face critics on both sides of the issue. On the one hand, civil liberty groups claim that schools that crack down on protests are suppressing free speech. On the other hand, alumni donors and politicians argue that schools that fail to do so are fostering antisemitism. On Sunday, April 21, President Joe Biden issued a statement that "blatant antisemitism is reprehensible and dangerous 鈥� and it has absolutely no place on college campuses, or anywhere in our country." On Wednesday, April 24, the House speaker, Mike Johnson (R-LA), visited Columbia and said that calling in the National Guard should be an option. At Columbia, life is now being disrupted for students not taking part in protests. Classes have been moved online, news helicopters circle above, and bullhorns from chanting protesters are so loud that students complain that they cannot study for their final exams.

2. Sudan Civil War 1-Year Anniversary: Monday, April 15 marked the 1-Year anniversary of the Sudanese Civil War. The COC Political Science Club discussed the outbreak of the conflict in our April 25, 2023 meeting; scroll down to that date to see how we covered that event. The conflict began as a seemly clear-cut fight between two generals, each vying for control of Africa's third largest country by territory. On one side were the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan; on the other the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary unit under the command of Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo (a Darfuri warlord known as Hemedti). In the one-year since, the conflict has transformed into a nationwide conflagration so vast and anarchic it could yet destabilize several of Sudan's neighbors. The two originally coherent armed sides have grown into a mosaic of competing militias and rebel movements, each with its own interests and agendas. Arms and mercenaries are pouring over the border from Chad, Libya, and the Central African Republic, and across the Red Sea from Saudi Arabia. Even fighters from as far as Russia and Ukraine have reportedly joined the gray. Neither side has managed to land a decisive blow, and both the SAF and RSF have begun to splinter. "We are hurtling towards a failed state," said Tom Perriello, America's recently appointed special envoy to Sudan. "There is a real risk of a 20- to 25-year setback for the people of Sudan and the wider region." US and international donors have pledge around $2.1 billion to fund humanitarian efforts, yet this may already be too little to avert a famine, which is expected by June and may kill 500,000 people, according to the Clingendael Institute, a Dutch think-tank. In its "extreme" scenario forecast, over 1 million may die. Because of the war, large parts of Sudan collected almost no harvest in 2023. National cereal production collapsed by almost half; the price of basic food commodities shot up by as much as 83%. These trends are set to worsen with fighting having now reached Gezira, Sudan's main farming region. Both sides are obstructing humanitarian assistance. RSF fighters regularly attack aid trucks and loot warehouses belonging to international aid NGOs. In February the SAF banned aid agencies from delivering supplies via Chad. Also, crossing the lines between territory controlled by the SAF and RSF to deliver assistance is "cumbersome and deliberately time-consuming," notes a UN official. As a result, whole regions have for months been cut off from emergency supplies. Across larges parts of the country soldiers from both sides are raping women and girls, in some cases because of their ethnicity. In the region of Khartoum, more than 1,000 rapes have taken place, according to human-rights lawyers. Elsewhere there are some hopeful signs. Discreet ceasefire talks are under way in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. A separate peace process backed by America is set to resume in Saudi Arabia. However, in recent weeks the SAF has reversed some of the RSF's earlier gains in Khartoum, raising hopes among its supporters of a decisive victory. Just a few weeks earlier it was the RSF making gains. With both sides still determined to gain the upper hand, the prospect of peace is slim.

April 23, 2024

Topics: Speaker Mike Johnson Defies GOP on Ukraine Aid, Iran and Israel Trade Limited Military Strikes

1. Speaker Mike Johnson Defies GOP on Ukraine Aid: Last Monday, April 15, House Speaker Mike Johnson (Republican - Louisiana) finally made his big decision. For months, he had resisted putting a fresh round of funds for Ukraine on the House floor, saying that money for Kyiv depended on enacting policies to secure America's border with Mexico. But on Monday, he announced plans to put about $60 billion for the war-ravaged country up for a vote despite fierce pushback from within his own party. Johnson explained his decision on Wednesday: "My philosophy is you do the right thing and you let the chips fall where they may," he said. "History judges us for what we do. This is a critical time right now, a critical time on the world stage." The Ukraine funding is part of a broader package including aid to Israel and Taiwan, as well as another crackdown on the Chinese social media application TikTok. The package will get a final vote in the House on Saturday. With a historically thin margin - 218 Republican-seats to 213 Democratic-seats - Johnson will likely have to rely heavily on the opposition party, both to get the measure through procedural hurdles and for final passage. The Senate could take up the measures as early as this week. The money for Kyiv mirrors funding contained in a package that passed the Senate earlier this year, with almost identical amounts for military aid and economic assistance, although the economic aid is structured as a loan that could later be forgiven. With the Ukraine money seemingly on course for passage, Johnson鈥檚 decision has set in motion the possibility of his own ouster. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (Republican - Georgia) last month filed a motion to force Johnson out of the speakership, putting him on notice that she would hold a vote on the motion if Johnson went through with Ukraine funding. Another member, Representative Thomas Massie (Republican - Kentucky), joined the effort this week and said Johnson should resign to spare the caucus another drag-out fight, like the one that ensued after Kevin McCarthy (Republican - California) was ousted last year. The decision completed an evolution for Johnson, who before he became speaker had never voted for money for Ukraine, not after Russia invaded the country in 2022, not months later when Kyiv surprised the world with the continuing strength of its resistance, not in December 2022 when more funds were packed into a giant spending bill. Once Johnson took the gavel, he said he was open to providing new funds to Ukraine, but also steadfastly insisted on tying strict new border policies to any new money. Johnson said Wednesday that the intelligence briefings he received as speaker made a difference in his thinking. He also has been under pressure from both the White House and congressional leaders of both parties, as well as from overseas allies, to provide funding for Ukraine before it was too late. Those efforts, combined with no support for the House Republicans鈥� border plans in the Democratic-controlled Senate, led him to ditch his insistence on immigration policy changes.

2. Iran and Israel Trade Limited Military Strikes: Israel and Iran backed away from the brink this past Friday, April 18. After a small-scale Israeli strike on Iran late at night on Friday 鈥� a response to Iran鈥檚 far broader missile and drone assault on Israel last Saturday, April 13 鈥� leaders in Tehran signaled it was time to de-escalate. But while the foes appear intent for now on returning to the shadow war of covert strikes and counterstrikes that has characterized the conflict for years, the past week鈥檚 pair of direct attacks on each other鈥檚 territory have raised the stakes and increased the risks of miscalculation. Israel鈥檚 limited strike near the city of Isfahan appeared to provide an off-ramp from the recent cycle of direct conflict. No serious damage was reported, and it was played down by both sides, neither of which are seen as having an interest in going to war. Israel, which is still deeply entangled in its war against Hamas in Gaza, is also under pressure from the Biden administration to tamp down tensions. Iran, because its less capable air force and air defenses would leave it at a disadvantage in a full-scale conventional war with Israel or the U.S., also has an incentive to defuse the current crisis and return to its previous strategy that centered on asymmetrical warfare. The stand-down has stopped for now the back-and-forth strikes that the U.S., Europe and Gulf nations feared could send the region spiraling into war. Still, the attacks have raised the risk that one side or the other could miscalculate as they feel their way to the new rules of their conflict. The animosity that has driven the two countries to fight a long-running shadow war has not diminished. But it will now play out in a context in which both sides have demonstrated a willingness to come out of the shadows and escalate to direct bombardment, security analysts said. Iran and Israel鈥檚 exchange of direct fire reflects the new reality in the wider Middle East since Hamas鈥檚 October 7 attack on Israel and the resulting Israeli offensive in Gaza, a conflict that has spawned a broader regional confrontation and upended the previously accepted terms of the Israel-Iran proxy war. In that slow-burning war in recent years, Iran built up a network of allied militias throughout the region that lobbed strikes at Israel, which in turn is suspected of killing nuclear scientists in Iran and launching hundreds of airstrikes on Iranian forces and their militant partners, mainly in Syria. Israel鈥檚 strike near Isfahan, a city with military and nuclear facilities, was intended to signal that it can hit Iran鈥檚 most important targets when it chooses, a senior Israeli military official said. The relatively small scale of the attack likely reflected the pressure on the Israeli government from the U.S. to de-escalate the situation. Within Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under pressure from far-right members of his government, and some within the Israeli security establishment, to take more aggressive action against Iran. For years before the October 7 attack, Israel and Iran kept their conflict in the shadows. Iran鈥檚 strategy was predicated on using its militia network including Iraqi and Syrian armed groups, Lebanon鈥檚 Hezbollah movement, and Yemen鈥檚 Houthis, to attempt to drive the U.S. from the region and put pressure on Israel while keeping itself at arm鈥檚 length from the fighting. The crisis surrounding the Gaza war ultimately pushed the shadow war into an open conflict. For example, Israel launched an increasingly aggressive campaign against Iran鈥檚 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Syria and other countries surrounding Israel. Iran, with its missile and drone attack on Israel, also demonstrated its willingness to engage in direct conflict, despite the great risk to itself in any open war.

April 16, 2024

Topics: Abortion Emerges as Key 2024 Election Issue, South Korean Parliamentary Election

1. Abortion Emerges as Key 2024 Election Issue: Abortion is the most powerful issue driving suburban women who could decide the November presidential election, according to an by the Wall Street Journal. President Joe Biden is now trying to harness that energy, while former President Donald Trump is looking to redirect it, according to the newspaper. The poll of seven battleground states found that 39% of suburban women cite abortion as a make-or-break issue for their vote 鈥� making it by far the most motivating issue for the group. Nearly three-quarters of suburban women say that the procedure should be legal all or most of the time, and a majority thinks that Trump鈥檚 policies are too restrictive. Abortion has been top-of-mind for voters since the June 2022 Supreme Court decision of , which eliminated federal protection for the procedure, returning the issue to state governments. A messy patchwork of state laws on abortion resulted, arguably causing Republicans to underperform in the November 2022 midterm elections. That spotlight intensified this past week, as Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, said on Monday, April 8, that the issue should be left to the states and announced his opposition to a national abortion ban, angering many conservative groups. The next day, Tuesday, April 9, the Arizona Supreme Court revived a Civil War-era ban on most abortions, heightening the issue in the key swing state where voters will likely cast ballots in November on a measure that would again legalize abortion. Those events are now reverberating in suburbs throughout the country where women helped deliver the White House to Trump in 2016 only to swing to Biden in 2020. Biden beat Trump nationally in 2020 among suburban women by 19 percentage points, according to the of the electorate. The Wall Street Journal swing-state poll showed Biden leading by 17-points with that voter group in a two-way matchup, though roughly a third of suburban women were either still undecided or had not fully committed to Trump or Biden. Interviews with roughly two-dozen women in key suburban areas in recent weeks found that many were motivated by abortion, naming it as a leading reason to back Biden. Still, the interviews showed that Biden faced the risk of having other issues crowd out abortion as areas of concern, including the war in Gaza and inflation. And some of the women said they planned to stick with Trump. According to the poll, 57% of suburban women thought Trump鈥檚 policies on abortion were too restrictive. Just 20% said Biden鈥檚 policies were not restrictive enough. Biden has campaigned on a promise to restore abortion rights and has used the issue to assail Trump, who as president appointed three justices to the Supreme Court who voted to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. Following the Arizona ruling, Biden's campaign moved quickly, that blamed Trump for the difficulties of a women who could not get an abortion in Texas after receiving a likely fatal fetal diagnosis. Trump, meanwhile, has struggled to find his footing on the issue. While he has repeatedly bragged about the 2022 decision, saying Friday, 鈥淲e broke Roe v. Wade,鈥� he has also sought distance by saying abortion policy should be made by states. But the Arizona ruling underscored the risks with that strategy: After initially saying it was a state issue, Trump later said that the Arizona court has gone too far and that the governor and state legislature should 鈥渞emedy what has happened.鈥�

2. South Korea Parliamentary Election: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's ruling conservative People Power Party (PPP) stumbled badly in legislative elections last Wednesday as exit polls indicate an outcome that could spawn new foreign-policy questions for allies and foes alike. All 300 seats for the country's unicameral parliament, the National Assembly, were up for grabs. Based on exit polls from major South Korean television networks, the opposition liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and their coalition allies were expected to comfortably retain their majority control of the legislature, picking up six seats, giving them a 176-seat majority compared to the PPP's minority coalition of 108-seats. Turnout had been the highest in more than three decades, with roughly two-thirds of South Korea's 44.3 million voters casting a ballot. President Yoon, a 63-year-old career prosecutor, had never held public office before winning the presidency two years ago by a narrow margin. By law, he cannot run for reelection. His five-year term ends in 2027. The election's results suggest that Yoon - who strengthened military ties with the U.S. and Japan and took a tougher line with North Korea - will face major difficulties in his final three years in office. At home, Yoon faces hurdles to pursue a domestic agenda, with the National Assembly controlled now still by the opposition. But outside the country, the apparent voter rejection of Yoon creates questions as to whether conservatives will be able to retain power during the next presidential election. If those doubts persist, friends - and even foes - of Seoul may operate with the assumption that Yoon's foreign-policy direction could have an expiration date. Yoon's approval ratings have largely remained in the mid-30s over the past year. About a year ago, he traveled to Washington for a state visit at the White House, meeting President Joe Biden. Back home, it was a less momentous story: South Korea's economy grew last year at a far lower rate than other wealthy democracies, and inflation that had been tamed locally over the decades began to spiral upward. The election results hand a major victory to South Korea's opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who lost by a razor-thin margin to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election. The 2024 election also again saw a large gender gap, with men preferring the conservatives and women preferring the liberals. In 2022, 59% of male voters between ages 18 and 29 voted for the conservative presidential candidate Yoon, while young women under 30 were the least supportive of Yoon, with only 34% voting for him, according to exit polls. The driving issue behind the gender voting gap is South Korea's collapsing birth rate, the lowest in the world. The average number of babies a South Korean woman is expected to give birth to during her life fell to 0.72 in 2023, down from 0.78 in 2022, and projections estimate that this will fall even further, down to 0.68 in 2024. These levels are far below the 2.1 children needed to maintain a country's population. Young men in South Korea largely blame feminism for the demographic crisis. Young women, by contrast, blame the gender pay gap, with men earning on average 34.6% more than women in South Korea, the largest among developed OECD countries, among which the gender pay gap is on average 13.1%. After winning the presidency in 2022, Yoon abolished the Korean Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, a government agency formed in 2010 to address the pay gap and declining fertility. This decision weighed heavily among younger female voters in the recent election, according to exit polls.

April 9, 2024

Topics: California $20-an-hour Fast Food Law, Uganda Upholds Anti-Gay Law

1. California $20-an-hour Fast Food Law: Last Monday, April 1, California鈥檚 new minimum wage law for fast-food workers, AB 1228, signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 28, 2023, officially went into effect. The law raises the base-wage for employees of fast-food restaurants to $20-an-hour, a 25% increase. The law applies only to restaurants with at least 60 locations, impacting chains like McDonalds, Pizza Hut, KFC, Subway, In-and-Out, Chipotle, Starbucks, among others. Local franchisees have raised alarms about the increase labor costs and the resulting need to raise prices. California鈥檚 minimum wage for jobs outside fast-food remains $16-an-hour, the third highest in the U.S., behind only Washington D.C. ($17-an-hour) and the state of Washington ($16.28). While the law applies only to the larger chains, employers paying under $20-an-hour will likely face stiffer competition for workers and will likely have to raise their wages as well. California restaurant chain owners and franchises say that higher labor costs will not only force them to raise prices, but will also lead to automation, cuts to workers鈥� hours, and even closures. In December, Pizza Hut franchisees laid off hundreds of delivery drivers ahead of the wage hike and switched to apps like Uber Eats and Door Dash, which pushes more delivery fees onto customers. Chains including Jack-in-the-Box, McDonald鈥檚 and Chipotle say they plan to raise prices more than they have already. The cost of eating out has stubbornly inched higher in the U.S. in recent years because of inflation. Brian Hom, who runs two franchise locations of Vitality Bowls, a salad and panini chain, says the price of smoothies, salads and other items on his menu will increase 5 to 10% starting this month to offset the higher wages for his 30-odd employees. Before Monday鈥檚 raise, the minimum wage at his stores was $17.55. 鈥淚鈥檓 happy that my employees are going to make more,鈥� Hom said. 鈥淏ut the impacts to the business are the concern. Will I be able to sustain the business?鈥� Other restaurant owners expect workers will be working fewer hours. That was the main side-effect of a minimum wage hike in Seattle a decade ago, research suggests, with workers overall not losing jobs, but losing hours, though still generally earning more. California鈥檚 pay hike is a result of a contentious deal struck by labor leaders, including the large Service Employees International Union, and fast-food companies. Some restaurant chains with 60 or more locations are exempted from the law if they are bakeries or smaller outposts inside grocery stores, airports, or other venues. There was some speculation that the bakery exemption was a political gift to Panera Bread, which is owned by Greg Flynn, a major financial donor to Governor Newsom. Flynn has denied the accusation and has pledged to raise the minimum wage at Panera to align with the new law. In addition to raising the minimum wage, the new law also forms a new Fast Food Council as part of California鈥檚 industrial relations department. The council, which will include both restaurant workers and owners, will develop standards, rules and regulations for the fast-food industry in the state.

2. Uganda Upholds Anti-Gay Law: Last Wednesday, April 3, the Ugandan Constitutional Court upheld large parts of a sweeping anti-LGBTQ law that has prompted the U.S. to expel Uganda from a preferential trade deal, and the World Bank and others to suspend some development funding. Justice Richard Buteera on Wednesday said that the panel of five judges had decided to strike down several sections of the legislation, but said significant parts of the law, known as the Anti-Homosexuality Act, were in line with the East African country's constitution. The court upheld a provision that imposes prison sentences of up to 20 years for what the law calls promoting homosexuality and that effectively criminalizes teaching students that it is natural for some people to be attracted to someone of the same sex. It also affirmed colonial-era legislation that allows a life sentence for same-sex intercourse. But the judges nullified other sections of the law, including making it a crime to rent out "premises for homosexual purposes" or failure to report "acts of homosexuality" to the police. The court also struck down a provision that allowed the death penalty for the unintentional transmission for HIV and other illnesses during same-sex relationships. It upheld the death penalty for other crimes that the law refers to as "aggravated homosexuality," including same-sex relations with a minor or a disabled person. Frank Mugisha, a Ugandan gay-rights activists and one of the petitioners who had challenged the law at the constitutional court, said he would appeal the ruling at Uganda's Supreme Court. Since President Yoweri Museveni signed the law into effect in May, many openly gay Ugandans have gone underground, while hundreds have fled the country. At least 58 people have been arrested and five formally charged under the legislation in Ugandan courts. There is broad support for the legislation in Ugandan society, which is predominantly Christian and socially conservative. But Uganda has been under intense international pressure. The Biden administration in January expelled Uganda from the African Growth and Opportunity Act, making Ugandan good ineligible for preferential access to the U.S. market. Washington has also imposed visa restrictions on Ugandan officials, cut back defense funding for the government in Kampala and redirected financing for HIV and AIDS relief to nongovernmental organizations. John Kirby, a spokesman for the U.S. National Security Council at the White House, said on Wednesday that the law undermines public health, human rights and Uganda's "international reputation." Kirby said the language delineating prison terms for up to 20 years for promoting homosexuality and life sentences for same-sex conduct was of particular concern. "As the president [Joe Biden] has said, time and time again, no one should have to live in constant fear nor be subjected to violence or discrimination," Kirby said. "It's just plain wrong."

March 19, 2024

Topics: TikTok Ban, Haiti Crisis

1. U.S. House Passes Bill to Ban TikTok: Last Wednesday, March 13, the U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to approve a bill that would ban TikTok from operating in the U.S. or force a sale, setting the stage for a showdown in the Senate, where lawmakers signaled a more cautious approach on the legislation. The measure passed 352-to-65, with one present, showing broad bipartisan support for cracking down on the app. Wednesday鈥檚 vote moved Congress closer to an unprecedented potential ban of one of the most popular apps in the country, with lawmakers balancing national-security worries with concerns about free speech, the impact on TikTok users and creators, and misgivings about interfering with a company鈥檚 business operations. The popular short-video app has faced scrutiny over the way its algorithm works to select content for users, both on sensitive issues like teen depression as well as on contentious global debates like the Israel-Hamas war. U.S. officials have said TikTok鈥檚 China-based ownership potentially gives Beijing a way to both collect data on U.S. citizens and influence public opinion, driving years of efforts to rein in the app. 鈥淭ikTok cannot continue to operate in the United States under its current ownership structure,鈥� said Representative Mike Gallagher (R., Wisconsin), who wrote the bill with the White House and Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (D., Illinois). The bill now heads to the Senate, where many lawmakers share House colleagues鈥� concerns. But the measure鈥檚 fate is unclear due to questions about possible changes to the bill鈥檚 language, uncertainty about leaders鈥� positions and internal Senate dynamics. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., New York) declined to say whether he would bring up the measure for a vote, saying he would consult with Democratic committee chairs. President Biden supports the bill, and the White House said Wednesday it hoped the Senate would take swift action. The House legislation calls for parent ByteDance to divest itself of TikTok or the platform will be banned from app stores and web-hosting services in the U.S. ByteDance would have about six months from the enactment of the bill to comply. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a ban based on zero evidence,鈥� TikTok spokeswoman Jodi Seth said. 鈥淲e are hopeful that the Senate will consider the facts, listen to their constituents, and realize the impact鈥� on business and users. Opponents of the bill鈥� ranging from the left鈥檚 Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., New York) to the right鈥檚 Marjorie Taylor Greene (R., Georgia)鈥攁ired concerns that the legislation was rushed and voiced reservations about bills that limit what information people could see. TikTok said it sees the legislation as an effective ban, as separating the U.S. portion of its app through a sale or divestment would not be practical, and some lawmakers were sympathetic. The U.S.鈥檚 adversaries 鈥渟hut down newspapers, broadcast stations and social-media platforms. We do not,鈥� Representative Jim Himes (D., Connecticut) said. Many members disagreed, pointing to a sale as a way for TikTok to remain in operation. 鈥淚鈥檓 a grandmother of teenagers,鈥� said Representative Nancy Pelosi (D., California), a former House speaker. 鈥淭his is not an attempt to ban TikTok. It鈥檚 an attempt to make TikTok better.鈥� Lawmakers and administration officials have expressed worries that Bytedance would give U.S. users鈥� data to China鈥檚 government. TikTok, accessed by more than 170 million Americans, has fended off past efforts to rein it in. In 2020, then-President Donald Trump tried to ban the app via an executive order. Courts blocked that attempt. In recent days the presumptive GOP presidential nominee has criticized the new legislation, indicating his position had flipped.

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2. Haitian Prime Minister Agrees to Resign: Last Monday, March 11, amid surging gang violence, embattled Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry agreed to resign once a transitional presidential council and an interim prime minister are named to prepare for new elections. The agreement was made after a day of meetings in Jamaica involving heads of state from the region, Haitian civic leaders, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The proposal allots seven seats on the council to different political groups and a representative from the private sector. Individual representatives have not yet been named. Haiti鈥檚 political system features an elected president who shares executive power with an appointed prime minister. One of the council鈥檚 first measures would be to approve the rapid deployment of a proposed multinational security force to take back control of roads, ports and hospitals from the country鈥檚 more than 300 gangs. The force is to be funded by the U.S. and headed by Kenya, which is expected to provide at least 1,000 police officers, though it remained unclear when it would arrive in Haiti. 鈥淲e know there鈥檚 a lot of work ahead, but these are positive steps to pave the way for the Haitian people to elect their leaders and stabilize their country and determine their future,鈥� said Jake Sullivan, national security adviser to President Biden. He urged other nations to contribute support for the Kenya-led force. The U.S. hopes that Henry鈥檚 resignation will satisfy gang leaders who had called his rule illegitimate and vowed to oust him. Henry has led Haiti since the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Mo茂se under what remain mysterious circumstances. But the proposal faces likely opposition from heads of gangs and other powerful interests who would be excluded from the council. Prominent warlords have already pledged to combat any foreign security mission that is deployed to Haiti. The country鈥檚 most powerful gang leader, Jimmy Cherizier, a former police officer nicknamed 鈥淏arbecue,鈥� has threatened a 鈥渃ivil war鈥� if a foreign mission is sent to the country. The force is also opposed by Guy Philippe, a former police chief who has become a potent political force in the three months since his return from serving six years at an Atlanta federal prison after pleading guilty to a money-laundering charge. 鈥淲e are going to mobilize,鈥� said Philippe. 鈥淐aricom鈥檚 decision is not our decision,鈥� he said, referring to the intergovernmental Caribbean Community organization, which proposed the council. Philippe also said Haiti鈥檚 police were defenders of a corrupt status quo. 鈥淭he police kill the people to ensure the system stays in place for their bosses,鈥� he said. The Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, was relatively calm on Tuesday after days of looting and violence that forced businesses to close and interrupted flights in and out of the international airport. As part of a continuing turf war between gangs and police, warlords have choked off vital food and fuel distribution routes and the country鈥檚 main ports, leaving about half of Haiti鈥檚 11 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. Gangs also control all but three of the capital鈥檚 24 potable water pumping stations. It remained unclear how soon a transitional authority would be formed and how quickly a foreign security mission would be deployed. The Pentagon on Monday increased its pledge to finance the foreign security force for a total U.S. commitment of $300 million.

March 12, 2024

Topics: Super Tuesday Results, State of the Union

1. Super Tuesday Results: Last Tuesday, March 5^th, Donald Trump took an emphatic step toward becoming the Republican presidential nominee, while Nikki Haley, his last remaining challenger, announced that she was suspending her campaign. Super Tuesday, the biggest day of nomination voting, delivered the former president over 800 delegates, giving him 1,015 in total, only 78 shy of clinching the nomination, which he will likely do during primaries this week. Tuesday鈥檚 results also paved the way for a rematch against President Joe Biden, who also secured enough delegates to virtually clinch the Democratic Party nomination. Close to a third of the U.S. held nominating contests on Super Tuesday. Republicans voted in 15 states, while Democrats held primaries and caucuses in 15 states plus American Samoa. Like Trump, Biden won most of those states by large majorities. Heading into Super Tuesday, Trump had won 10 of 11 contests. The Associated Press called Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia for him. Haley won Vermont. Her only previous victory was Sunday in the District of Columbia, which like Vermont is heavily liberal. 鈥淭hey call it Super Tuesday for a reason,鈥� Trump told supporters at his Mar-a-Lago compound in Palm Beach, Florida, in a victory speech that focused heavily on immigration and criticism of Biden. 鈥淣ovember 5^th is going to go down as the single most important day in the history of our country,鈥� he said, referring to the date of the general election. Biden likewise won all but one contest on Tuesday, losing only in American Samoa, where he was beaten by businessman and investor Jason Palmer, a Baltimore resident, who campaigned heavily on the island, falsely claiming to be 鈥渨ell-known on the mainland.鈥� Biden, in a statement issued by his campaign, said that the night鈥檚 results offered voters a clear choice: 鈥淎re we going to keep moving forward or will we allow Donald Trump to drag us backwards into the chaos, division, and darkness that defined his term in office?" In addition to Palmer鈥檚 surprise victory over Biden in American Samoa, Minnesota Democrats also issued a warning to Biden as 19% of voters cast ballots for 鈥渦ncommitted鈥� in protest of the Biden administration鈥檚 support of Israel in its war against Hamas. The protest votes follow a 13% share of uncommitted votes last Tuesday in Michigan, a key election battleground. In another surprise, in other races, Republican candidates did better than expected in California. In the race to replace Dianne Feinstein as California鈥檚 second Senator, Democrat Adam Schiff, currently a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and Republican Steve Garvey, a former first baseman for the LA Dodgers, finished first and second respectively, with Schiff winning 32.9% of vote to Garve鈥檚 31.9%. In California鈥檚鈥渏ungle primary,鈥� the top-two candidates advance to the general election regardless of political party. Katie Porter and Barbara Lee, who like Schiff are Democratic representatives in the House, finished third and forth with 14.6% and 8.4% of the vote respectively. After the election, Porter falsely claimed that the election had been 鈥渞igged,鈥� as Garvey鈥檚 campaign had received substantial support from supporters of Schiff. In the race to represent Santa Clarita鈥檚 27^th District in the House of Representatives, incumbent Republican Mike Garcia won 56.8% of the vote while Democrat challengers George Whitesides and Steve Hill finishing second and third with 31.6% and 11.7% of the vote respectively. Garcia and Whitesides will face off in November. Kathryn Barger won her reelection campaign to hold her seat as the Supervisor of the 5^th District of Los Angeles County with 58.74% of the vote. Republican Suzette Martinez Valladares and Democrat Kipp Mueller will face off in November for the 23^rd District of the California Senate, winning 33.9% and 28.1% of the vote respectively. Republican challenger Patrick Lee Gipson and incumbent Democrat Pilar Schiavo will likewise face off in November for the 40^th District of the California Assembly after winning 51.9% and 48.1% of the vote respectively.

2. State of the Union: Last Thursday, March 7^th, President Biden gave his final State of the Union address to Congress. He sought to convince Americans that his policies have bolstered the economy and protected their freedoms, in a speech designed to draw a sharp contrast with Republicans and former President Donald Trump. Biden鈥檚 delivered a feisty election-year speech before a joint session of Congress two days after Trump cemented his position has the likely Republican nominee with victories in nearly all of the Super Tuesday primary states (see Topic 1). Biden appeared to relish a give-and-take with congressional Republicans who largely oppose his agenda. At one point, he asked, 鈥淥h, you don鈥檛 like that bill, huh?鈥� referring to the bipartisan border agreement in the Senate that would have allowed the government to expel migrants if crossings surpassed a daily threshold of 4,000. Trump denounced the plan and urged congressional Republicans to reject it. Biden also responded to calls from Republicans in the audience to say the name of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student who was murdered by an unauthorized migrant when she was jogging on February 22, 2024. Biden mispronounced her name, referring to her as "Lincoln Riley," the head-coach of the USC football team, and acknowledged that she had been killed by an "illegal," a term considered politically incorrect within his party. The president opened his speech pointing to the threats to democracy at home and abroad. He urged members of Congress to back another round of military aid for Ukraine, warning that the country鈥檚 ability to defend itself from Russia鈥檚 attacks has reached a crossroads. 鈥淗istory is literally watching,鈥� Biden said. 鈥淚f the United States walks away, it will put Ukraine at risk.鈥� He also called our former President Donald Trump 鈥� without mentioning him 鈥� for his role in disseminating fraud allegations about the 2020 election, which led to the riot by Trump supporters on the Capitol on January 6, 2021. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 love your country only when you win,鈥� Biden said. The speech also addressed the economy and taxes. 鈥淚 inherited an economy that was on the brink,鈥� he said. 鈥淣ow our economy is the envy of the world.鈥� Biden alluded to a plan he supports that would impose stiffer limits on companies鈥� ability to deduct the wages of their highest-paid workers. He wants to raise the corporate tax rate to 28% and boost taxes on U.S. companies鈥� foreign profits, claiming that the $2 trillion tax cut approved during the Trump administration helped the wealthiest and large corporations and 鈥渆xploded the federal deficit.鈥� Abortion rights played a prominent role in the speech as well. Democrats view the Supreme Court鈥檚 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade that eliminated a national right to the procedure as a powerful persuasive force in November鈥檚 general elections. Biden said his predecessor had been 鈥渄etermined to see Roe v. Wade overturned,鈥� and added, 鈥淟ook at the chaos that has resulted.鈥� He said, 鈥渕any of you in this chamber and my predecessor鈥� want to pass a national abortion ban, adding, 鈥淢y God, what freedoms will you take away next?鈥� He also addressed the prominent division within his own party over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Progressives have urged Biden to seek a tougher line against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and demand a permanent cease-fire. Those concerns surfaced in the form of a heavy 鈥渦ncommitted" vote in Michigan and Minnesota鈥檚 presidential primaries (see Topic 1). Biden said the U.S. military would install a temporary pier off the Gaza coast for cargo ships to unload food, water, and other emergency supplies to help address the humanitarian crisis amid the fighting between Israel and Hamas. The televised address, watched by more the 27 million people last year, offered Biden what will likely be his largest audience of viewers until he addresses the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August.

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March 5, 2024

SUPER TUESDAY!

Topics: Michigan Votes Ahead of Super Tuesday, Sweden Joins NATO while Russia Threatens Use of Nukes

1. Michigan Votes Ahead of Super Tuesday: Last Tuesday, February 27, the state of Michigan held its primary elections, one week before Super Tuesday, March 5, the day when 15 states, including California hold their primaries. Both President Biden and former President Donald Trump won their party鈥檚 respective vote in Michigan. However, both also drew sizable protest votes, inviting the question: What will those voters do in November? Although Biden faced minimal opposition in the Democratic primary, an effort to persuade voters to cast ballots as 鈥渦ncommitted鈥� garnered more than 100,000 votes as Michiganders went to the polls. The vote marked one of the most high-profile protests to date over the president鈥檚 handling of the Israel-Hamas war and the resulting humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed. For the Trump team, Michigan offered a change to see if the former president could improve his support among voters with college degrees, a notable weak spot in early 2024 Republican primary contests. Some of those problems appeared again last Tuesday as his opponent, Nikki Haley, captured more than 25% of the vote just days after getting to close to 40% of her home state of South Carolina. A coalition of pro-Palestinian groups had set a modest target of 10,000 uncommitted votes鈥擳rump鈥檚 margin of victory in Michigan in 2016鈥攖o send a message that voter frustration over Biden鈥檚 backing of Israel鈥檚 military campaign could cost him in November. Uncommitted blew past the 10,000 target and clocked in at a figure substantially higher on Tuesday than it has been in recent Michigan primaries. With roughly 99% of the expected vote tabulated, uncommitted had netted nearly 101,400 votes, about 13% of the tally. Biden earned more than 80% of the vote, but the number of uncommitted votes were enough to send two "uncommitted" delegates to the Democratic Party鈥檚 national convention in August. In the lead-up to the primary, pro-Palestinian groups held rallies, ran digital ads and sent mailers in which they said a dramatic change in the administration鈥檚 policy was required to earn their support. The movement was backed by House Representative Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.), the only Palestinian-American member of Congress, who recorded a robocall urging Michiganders to vote uncommitted. The focus on Michigan鈥攁 battleground that was crucial to Biden鈥檚 victory over Trump in 2020鈥攇arnered attention in part due to its high percentage of Arab and Muslim Americans. Both Biden and Trump will look to solidify their hold on their party鈥檚 nominations on Super Tuesday. While neither will be able to lock up the nomination, more than one-third of the total delegates available in the Republican and Democratic presidential primaries will be awarded. On the Republican side, 854 of 2,429 will be at stake, while Democrats will award 1,420 delegates. Trump needs 1,093 more delegates to hit the insurmountable count of 1,215 and become the presumptive Republican nominee. Biden鈥檚 magic number is 1,968 delegates, although that number can shift given his party鈥檚 more complex nominating process. The earliest Biden can hit that figure is March 19. He currently holds 206 delegates.

2. Sweden Joins NATO as Putin Threatens Use of Nukes: Last Monday, February 26, Hungary's parliament finally approved Sweden's petition to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), after nearly two years of discussions. Sweden will become the 32nd country to join the military alliance, following Finland, which entered NATO last year. The two Nordic nations applied for membership at the same time in May 2022, in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in late February of that year. However, Sweden's admission was initially opposed by both NATO-members Hungary and Turkey. Admission to NATO requires unanimous support among all members. Turkey decided in July 2023 to support's Sweden's application. The addition of Sweden will reinforce the eastern region of the alliance and increase NATO's presence around the Baltic Sea. Until Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Sweden have avoided military partnerships for more than 200 years. Although Sweden does not border Russia, it is very close to it. Political factions in Sweden and in Finland, which does shares a 830 mile border with Russia, determined that their countries required the security guarantees reserved to membership in the alliance directed by the United States. Sweden and Finland's approval to join will help bolster NATO's military forces, with their 24,000 and 30,000 active-duty soldiers, respectively. In addition, Sweden has upgraded its Gotland-class submarines, which will strengthen NATO's military might in the Baltic Sea, which Finland has allowed U.S. troops to have access to 15 military areas and facilities near the Russian border. Both Sweden and Finland also bring to the alliance a more holistic approach to national defense, engaging teenagers, retirees, teachers and police officers. "Everyone between the ages of 16 and 70 living in Sweden is part of Sweden's 'total defense,'" states the government emergency information website. Finland likewise takes an expansive position on military readiness, with 870,000 additional reservists. By conveying to ordinary people the need for security, Sweden also wins broad support for its military industry, which ranks among the world's top in technology and exports. The "Total Defense" philosophies of the new Nordic members bring a whole new mindset, say European officials. A 20-page government brochure, titled "If Crisis Or War Comes," warns citizens that, "If Sweden is attacked, resistance is required." Two days later, on Wednesday, February 28, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that it will take "military-technical" steps in response to NATO's further expansion. Russian President Vladimir Putin has been outspoken about his opposition to the expansion of NATO, and cited its expansion to former Soviet states like Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania as one of the justifications for his invasion of Ukraine. Ironically, as noted, given that it was the Ukraine war that spurred Sweden and Finland to submit applications to join NATO. The next day, on Thursday, February 29, Putin told Western countries that they risked provoking a nuclear war if they sent troops to fight in Ukraine, warning that Moscow had the weapons to strike targets in the West. Addressing lawmakers and other members of the country's elite, Putin repeated his accusation that the West was bent on weakening Russia, and suggested that Western leaders did not understand how dangerous their meddling could be in what he cast as Russia's internal affairs.

February 27, 2024

Topics: Alabama Supreme Court on Embryos, Russia-Ukraine War 2-Year Anniversary

1. Alabama Supreme Court Rules Embryos Are Children: This past Friday, February 16, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos qualify as children under the state's Wrongful Death of a Minor Act, enacted in 1872, which allows parents to recover punitive damages in the event of a child's death. Unlike a woman's eggs, which can be retrieved from the ovary and frozen prior to fertilization, an embryo is created after the egg and sperm are fertilized. Such embryos can likewise then be frozen, a practice common among couples looking to delay starting a family or who are having difficulties concieving. The case was brought by several couples whose embryos were destroyed when a patient dropped them on the floor in a fertility clinic's cold-storage section. The court said that nothing in the act's language stops it from being applied to frozen embryos. The ruling added it was not the court's role to make such an exception - especially considering a 2018 constitutional amendment that made it state policy to "recognize and support the sanctity of unborn life and the rights of unborn children." According to Chief Justice Thomas Parker, in a concurring opinion to the ruling, "Carving out an exception for the people in this case, small as they were, would be unacceptable to the People of this State, who have required us to treat every human being in accordance with the fear of a holy God who made them in His image." Justice Greg Cook wrote in a dissenting opinion that the decision would likely force in vitro fertilization (IVF) providers in Alabama to stop freezing embryos. "No rational medical provider would continue to provide services for creating and maintaining frozen embryos knowing that they must continue to maintain such frozen embryos forever or risk the penalty of a Wrongful Death Act claim," he wrote. Indeed, just days after the ruling, on Wednesday, February 21, a major Alabama health system announced that it would suspend IVF treatment. "We are saddened that this will impact our practices' attempt to have a baby through IVF, but we must evaluate the potential that our patients and our physicians could be prosecuted criminally or face punitive damages for following the standard of care for IVF treatments," a spokesperson for the University of Alabama at Birmingham said. IVF, which accounts for an estimated 2% of births in the U.S., entails extracting eggs from a woman, fertilizing them in a lab and transferring the embryos into the woman's uterus. Embryos that are not immediately transplanted are typically placed in cold-storage to be preserved. The UAB spokesperson said all parts of the process through egg retrieval would continue, but egg fertilization and embryo development at the health system's division of reproductive endocrinology and infertility was pausing while it assesses the ruling's legal implications. The UAB is the state's largest hospital and the eighth largest hospital in the U.S.

2. Russia-Ukraine War 2-Year Anniversary: This Saturday, February 24, marks the 2-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. While Ukraine has so far been able to fend off the invasion - regaining half of the land initially occupied by Russian forces and inflicting staggering casualties on Russia's much more powerful military - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently admitted that the situation on the front lines has become "". Since the failure of Ukraine's summer counteroffensive, it is no longer time for major maneuvers aimed at finding a breech in the Russian strategy, according to high-ranking Ukrainian sources. "We changed from an offensive to a defensive operation," admitted the country's new army chief, General Oleksandr Syrsky, in an interview on February 13. Indeed, it is hard to imagine any other option for the Ukrainian army. For months it has been up against an imposing Russian defensive line of trenches, concrete cones and minefields stretching 10 to 15 miles deep, preventing any armoured vehicle from piercing through. In the Ukrainian battlefield, the massive use of drones is also having a serious impact on offensive operations. With these "eyes" positioned all along the front lines by both sides, the battlefield has now become "transparent," rendering obsolete the element of surprise so important in earlier Ukrainian victories. As a result, the front line is deadlocked and neither side seems able to bend their opponent. "As in World War I, we have reached such a technological level that we find ourselves at a dead end," said Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who recently lost his position as commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces. The alarming shortage of ammunition is also forcing Ukraine to adopt a more cautious stance. In such static warfare, hundreds of thousands of shells are fired by each army every month. However, the blockage of further U.S. military aid by Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, along with failures in artillery deliveries promised by European states, have severely handicapped Ukraine's capacities. According to military experts, the "fire ratio" - which measures the difference in the rate of artillery fire between enemies - is currently one to ten in favor of Russia. Along with flagging stocks of ammunition, dwindling manpower is another of the Ukrainian army's major problems. According to a declassified document sent to the U.S. Congress, Ukraine has suffered losses at around 70,000 dead and 120,000 wounded in two years. Russian losses are estimated at 315,000 dead or wounded. In addition to the losses, the exhaustion of Ukrainian soldiers, some of whom have been deployed since the start of hostilities, means that rotations will also be necessary over the coming months. Ukraine's official objective remains unchanged: to reconquer the territories annexed or occupied by Russia since 2014, which represents 18% of its territory. According to analysts, only increased Western support could enable such an objective. Such a scenario is far from certain, both given Republican opposition in the U.S. House of Representatives to further military aid without major Democratic concessions on border enforcement and the inability - or unwillingness - of key European states like Germany to increase military spending and ammunition production.

February 20, 2024

Topics: US-Russia Weapons Space Race, Israel-Hamas War New Developments

1. US-Russia Weapons Space Race Heats Up: This past Thursday, February 15, the Biden administration announced that Russia is pursuing an "antisatellite capability" that represents a serious concern but did not yet present an active threat to Americans' safety. The statement was made after the administration declassified intelligence at the behest of a member of Congress. The system is still in development, said John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council. "There is no immediate threat to anyone鈥檚 safety," he told reporters Thursday. "It is not an active capability and it has not yet been deployed." The intelligence the White House declassified was limited, and Kirby didn鈥檛 confirm if there is any nuclear component to the Russian antisatellite device鈥攖hough he did say it would violate banning the deployment of nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction in space. Intelligence that remains classified indicates that Russia is seeking to develop a nuclear weapon in space that could be used to target satellites, according to . The disclosure by the White House came a day after Representative Mike Turner, the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, issued a cryptic statement about an unspecified "serious national-security threat" to the U.S. and requested that Biden declassify information around it. The unusual maneuver caught administration officials and lawmakers alike by surprise, and fueled fevered speculation in Washington about the nature of the threat that so alarmed Turner. White House officials were eager to reassure lawmakers and the public that Russia鈥檚 capability, while serious, was not something that posed an imminent danger to Americans or allied countries. U.S. intelligence officials have had concerns about Russia and Chinese space capabilities for decades, and have long viewed satellite infrastructure as a vulnerable target in the event of a major conflict with either adversary. But those fears, which they have sometimes expressed publicly, have grown more urgent in recent years as satellites have become increasingly integral to military capabilities and global communications systems.

2. Israel-Hamas War New Developments: Last week, Israel gave Hamas, the terrorist group that governs Gaza, a deadline to return the hostages still in their captivity or face a ground offensive in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza Strip. The first timeline it has provided for looming operations in the city that have become a source of tension with the US and the Biden administration. Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, is set to begin around March 10 and has in recent years been a flashpoint for violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Israel has launch airstrikes on Rafah in recent weeks and threatened to send in troops, as heavy fighting continues around Khan Younis, a city further north. Israel says the two cities are Hamas's last strongholds in the strip in thinks hostages are being held there. Also last week, Israel rescued two hostages from a residential area of Rafah. The Biden administration warned Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against conducting group operations without a credible plan to ensure the safety of civilians in Rafah, which had a prewar population of 300,000. Netanyahu said over the weekend that he had spoken with President Biden and other world leaders. "I tell them clearly: Israel will fight until complete victory is achieved," Netanyahu said. "And yes, that also includes operating in Rafah, of course after we allow civilians in the fighting areas to evacuate to safe areas." Aid organizations and civilians living in Gaza have said people have nowhere else to go, having been displaced by the war and followed Israeli instructions to move south to Rafah. The Ramadan deadline may be a part of efforts by Israel to increase pressure on Hamas to reach a hostage deal, some analysts said. In Islam's lunar calendar, the beginning of Ramadan is determined by the sighting of a crescent moon, meaning the start and ending of the month can only be approximated ahead of time. Any ground offensive would likely severely hamper further aid for Gazans in Rafah, where a food crisis is taking hold. Hunger and desperation have caused fights to break out between Gazans over aid deliveries. Israel has warned for weeks it is preparing to enter Rafah, where more than half of the population of Gaza is sheltering in around 20% of the strip, but its government has faced international criticism for the plan because of the toll it could take on civilians.

February 13, 2024

Topics: Border Deal Collapses, Pakistan Elections

1. Senate Border Deal Collapses: This past Tuesday, February 6, US Senators threw in the towel on a $118 billion national-security and border package after sharp opposition from Republicans scuttled the deal, forcing frustrated lawmakers to urgently seek a backup plan to deliver aid to Ukraine as it loses ground in its campaign to repel Russia. The abandonment of the plan left Democrats seething over what they called a bait-and-switch by Republicans after four months of talks, while GOP lawmakers said the deal's border provisions weren't strong enough. Both sides, however, signaled that they could try to move to a narrow bill focused on foreign assistance and weapons. Later Tuesday, House Republicans failed to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas after they accused him of failing to enforce immigration laws and stop illegal entries from Mexico. The vote failed with 214 in favor and 216 against, after a handful of Republicans joined Democrats in rejecting the measure. Senator Mitch McConnel of Kentucky, the Senate's Republican Minority Leader, said of the border compromise: "It looks to me and to most of our members as if we have no real change here to make law." The deal was the result of talks that started last year, after Republicans insisted on border changes as a condition for sending billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine. They later soured on the emerging deal, fueled by criticism from former President Donald Trump, the front-running for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. Democrats said Trump wanted to deny President Biden a policy win ahead of the election, which Trump denied. Trump called the deal a "trap" meant to shift blame regarding Biden's border record to Republicans. The next day, on Wednesday, February 7, the deal failed to pass the Senate, with 49 votes in favor and 50 opposed, well short of the 60 votes necessary to secure against a possible filibuster. With the border measure dead, Senate Democrat Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York moved to schedule a procedure vote to advance a narrower, $95.3 billion version of the package that would fund Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan but exclude border security provisions. The failure of the immigration deal followed months of private negotiations between Senators James Lankford (Republican, Oklahoma), Krysten Sinema (Independent, Arizona), and Chris Murphy (Democrat, Connecticut), who took to the Senate floor Wednesday to express their deep disappointment. The deal would have established a new asylum process at the border to deliver faster case resolutions and swifter deportations for migrants who do not qualify. It would also have set a higher bar for those claims and created new limits on the number of immigrants seeking asylum to prevent the system from getting overwhelmed. The bill would have required the government to "shut down" the border to asylum seekers if more than 5,000 migrants attempt to cross in a day. There are currently over 10,000 illegal-crossing a day at the US-Mexico border, a record high.

2. Pakistan Elections: This past Sunday, February 11, former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held talks with other parties to form a new government in Pakistan, as followers of jailed opposition leader Imran Khan took to the streets to protest the alleged rigging of this past week's election. Thursday's election, in which no party won a majority and which has been marred by allegations made by Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Isaf (PTI) party, who was barred from competing, of vote tampering after official results were heavily delayed, has left Pakistan's next government and the country's stability in question. Sharif held negotiations Sunday with both of the parties he would need to form a coalition government, but no agreement was announced. Thousands of follows of Khan, who previously served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022, came out in cities across the country, adding to the pressure building over the disputed election. It was the first demonstration since a crackdown against its protests in May of last year saw some 10,000 arrested. Those protests were the result of Khan's imprisonment following a corruption conviction. He is currently serving a three-year jail sentence. Khan's party is facing off against not only the other major parties but also Pakistan's powerful, and US-backed, military, which it believes to behind the past week's alleged rigging as well as the prior crackdown. Khan, who was barred from running himself, was dismissed from office in a parliamentary vote in 2022 after tensions with the military. Pakistan's military, which has appealed for calm, admits to interfering in politics in the past but says in no longer does. Candidates associated with Khan's party emerged with the largest haul of seats, which confounded predictions of a Sharif victory based on a series of moves by the authorities that hobbled the PTI party's chances, including making its candidates run as independents. Candidates associated with the party won 97 of the 265 seats, but it says that rigging robbed it of dozens more. Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) party came in second place, with 75 seats, even after the three-time prime minister returned from exile to lead the campaign. Any coalition he is able to hammer out will be potentially shaky, making it hard to carry through tough decisions needed to stabilized the fragile economy. There was anger against the other parties and the military at the protests Sunday, which were held outside local election offices in locations across the country. In Rawalpindi, those blocked from reaching the protest sites staged spontaneous mini-demonstrations on the roadside. Later in the day, police used tear gas and made baton charges against the crowd, protestors said. Police said that protesters were in breach of a law that is currently being enforced which prohibits a gathering of four or more people. "Who will save Pakistan? Prisoner 804," was a popular chant by the crowd in Rawalpindi, referring to Khan's prisoner number.

February 6, 2024

Topics: Welcome Back, the Super Election Year

Welcome Back!

Our first meeting of the Spring semester will feature an informal introduction of the club offices and current office-holders as well as a reminder that all positions will be up for election for the coming Fall semester! Please consider running for a club office: club involvement will improve your changes of transferring to the four-year college of your choice!

American Elections: Not only will our club feature elections, but so will our county, state and country! 2024 is a presidential election year, obviously, and the likely Republican and Democratic Party candidates will respectively. But the and Trump and Biden do still face challengers within their parties. Former South Carolina Governor and UN Ambassador is still challenging Trump for the Republican Party nomination while US House Representative (MN - 3rd) of Minnesota and best-selling author are still challenging Biden for the Democratic Party nomination. California, like most states in the US, will hold its or "." The death of long-serving California Senator (D) on September 29, 2023 means that Californians will also vote for a new senator. Twenty-seven candidates are running for the position, with the top candidates including three prominent Democrats from the US House Representatives, (CA - 47th), (CA - 30th) and (CA - 12th), as well as Republican and former Los Angeles Dodger . Setting aside the presidential primary, all other political offices contested in the March 5th primary election will be ," meaning that the top two vote-getters, regardless of political party, will advance to the general election on Tuesday, November 3rd. The Santa Clarita Valley is in the of the US House of Representatives and is currently represented by Republican (CA - 27th). Garcia is facing two Democrat challengers, comedian , who goes by the nickname "," as well as, more seriously, businessman and former NASA official . Turning to state elections, Santa Clarita is located in the of the California State Assembly, currently represented by Democrat and in the newly redistricted of the California State Senate. Shiavo is being challenged by Republican and former sheriff deputy . There are five candidates currently running for the California State Senate seat, Democrats , , and , as well as Republicans and former California Assembly representative . It should be mentioned that both Hamburger and Valladeres are COC alumni. Californians will also vote on , which if passed would authorize $6.38 billion in bond funding to build mental health treatment facilities. LA County voters will decide the fates of three of the five offices. Santa Clarita is in the 5th District of LA County, currently represented by , who is running for reelection. Additionally, LA County voters will also decide whether to reelect the controversial District Attorney , who faces .

International Elections: The year 2024 is also notable for the large number of elections internationally, with . In addition to the US, the other six countries are Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Russia, Mexico. Overall, countries that are home to nearly half of the world's population will hold elections in 2024. Two widely reported elections have already happened in January. Taiwan elected a new president, , of the more pro-independence, anti-Chinese (DPP). However, voters gave the rival and more pro-Chinese (KMT) the majority in the legislature. In Bangladesh, President was reelected, although the election was criticized for irregularities on election day and the previous arrests of thousands of opposition members, leading to the conclusion that the elections were not free and fair. Of the other mentioned countries, will holds its election on February 8th while will hold its election the next week, on February 14th. will vote on March 17th. , the world's largest democracy, will vote in late April and early May. Finally, will vote on June 2nd.

November 30, 2023

Gavin Newsom vs. Ron DeSantis Governor Showdown!

Please join the COC Political Science Club as we host a viewing party for the epic debate between California Governor , a Democrat, and Florida Governor , a Republican, in what may be a potential preview of the 2028 presidential election.

Time: Thursday, November 30, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm

Place: Canyons Hall 211

"" (Hint: join us!)

November 28, 2023

Topics: Biden to Skip Climate Conference, Argentina Elects Libertarian

1. Biden to Skip Climate Conference: This past Sunday, November 26, White House officials announced that , skipping an annual gathering of world leaders focused on addressing global warming. While the officials did not say why Biden will miss the summit, known as , other top administration officials including , the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, will participate in the forum. Officials have said privately for weeks that the president was unlikely to attend the summit this year, but his expected absence has who say that his administration has . Since taking office, Biden has attended the annual gathering - first in Glasgow in 2021 and then in Egypt in 2022 - and used the opportunity to highlight his administration's climate-change agenda. The event this year comes as the president and his administration are , which in recent days has reached a critical juncture amid a . The COP28 summit, which is expected to draw leaders form nearly 200 countries and public figures such as is set to begin Thursday. One that day, Biden is to attend the in Washington and meet with Angolan President , according to a schedule released by the White House. Vice President is also not expected to attend the gathering. Addressing global warming and climate change has been one of the Biden administration's central policies. Last year's climate law, the , is distributing billions of dollars to clean-energy companies, promoting the shift to electric vehicles and supporting the domestic production of rechargeable batteries. Earlier this month, Biden referred to climate change as "." Some environmental groups, however, say the administration is not doing enough. A group of scientists recently urging him to commit to more action on climate change. "There's no question it's unfortunate if the president chooses not to go," said , a climate-policy direct at the , a nonprofit advocacy group, which sent the letter. Government officials and business leaders gathering in Dubai will discuss how nations will reach their climate goals and debate whether to issue a statement on phasing out fossil fuels. The summit is also expected to showcase plans by the world's biggest fossil-fuel producers to address climate change. "This is your opportunity to show the world that, in fact, you are central to the solution," the Emirati official leading COP28, , of top oil-and-gas officials in the United Arab Emirates. Climate activists have complained that the conference, held this year by one of the world's top crude-oil producers, is and its claims that it is playing a key role in addressing climate change. Jaber highlights the seeming contradictions that will play out at COP28. He is the chief executive of , one of the world's biggest crude producers, and the founding chief executive of Abu Dhabi-based renewable-energy firm .

2. Argentina Elects Libertarian: Last Sunday, November 19, , a libertarian economist and political outsider who pledged to , in a major shift for a country buffeted by one of the and mounting poverty after years of populist rule. Milei, a 53-year-old congressman, took nearly 56% of the vote to 44% for Economy Minister with 98% of the ballots counted in the runoff election, the National Electoral Directorate said. "Today, the reconstruction of Argentina begins," Milei said to an ovation as he celebrated victory with supporters. "It鈥檚 the end of Argentine decadence," he added, calling the results Sunday "the miracle of electing a liberal, libertarian president." Massa conceded the loss in a speech shortly after 8 p.m. The 51-year-old had been hobbled by his role for 16 months in President Alberto Fern谩ndez鈥檚 leftist administration, which was blamed by Argentines for what economists called the . Massa said he had called Milei to concede and congratulate him on the victory. "Starting tomorrow, the challenge of issuing political, social and economic guarantees to Argentina is the responsibility of the new president-elect, and we hope that鈥檚 what he鈥檒l do," Massa said in a speech as he announced his retirement from politics. He assured a smooth transition to the new government. The victory of the firebrand economist over the ruling opens the door to a broadscale economic overhaul that he has promised for this country of 46 million people. Milei鈥檚 proposals include , scrapping the central bank, prioritizing commerce with capitalist nations like the U.S. over China, and reducing a bloated state sector. Milei鈥檚 agenda is likely to face , the biggest bloc in that body, and in provincial and municipal governments. It means that Milei, a self-described anarcho-capitalist who became known to millions through TikTok and YouTube but had no entrenched movement of his own, will have to who would likely moderate his more radical proposals. Among the most daunting challenges for Milei when he takes office on December 10 will be trying to led by Fern谩ndez and his vice president, Cristina Kirchner. Inflation is running at 143%, more than 40% of the population is living in poverty, and factories have been forced to halt production because of a shortage of dollars to pay for imports. Argentina鈥檚 crisis is considered by economists to be the worst since a $100 billion debt default in 2001 that led to a revolving door for five presidents in two weeks and riots that resulted in more than 30 deaths.

November 21, 2023

Topics: House Passes Stopgap Bill, Biden-Xi Summit Meeting

1. House Passes Spending Bill: On Tuesday, November 14th, the U.S. House of Representatives , in a critical step in averting a partial government shutdown, with new House Speaker (R-LA) relying heavily on Democratic votes to get his bill across the finish line. The 336-95 vote exceeded a two-thirds threshold required under a special procedure employed by Johnson to sidestep internal GOP disagreements. The measure was subsequently , on November 15th, with a final vote of 87-11. The bill's passage showed many lawmakers had just ahead of their Thanksgiving break, that extends funding at current levels but pushes off fights over issues including border security, federal spending levels and Ukraine funding. Just ahead of the vote, , saying in a statement that it avoided "harmful cuts and ... extreme right-wing policy riders." The short-term proposal for some federal agencies until mid-January and for others, including the Defense Department, until early February, while lawmakers work on fiscal full-year funding plans. Lawmakers missed their initial annual deadline of September to finish that work, prompting the needed for an initial extension to November 17. In remarks Tuesday before the vote, Johnson said he was no fan of short-term spending patches - called , or CRs. But he said the measure's passage would avert a shutdown, give the GOP more time to pass conservative full-time spending plans and prevent House Republicans from being jammed by Senate Democrats' own budget ideas. The House currently has 434 members - 221 Republicans and 213 Democrats. The bill needed the support of 290 lawmakers to reach the two-thirds threshold, and all but two Democrats - Representatives (D-MA) and (D-IL) voted in favor of the measure. Among Republicans, 127 voted for passage, and 93 voted against passage. Three lawmakers did not vote. Some Republicans complained the measure that they favor. Some also reject short-term spending patches on principle. Relying on House Democrats comes with some risk for Johnson, who was elected to the speakership less than three weeks ago. Previous House Speaker (R-CA) was . Johnson's bill also shelved for now several priorities that congressional leaders have said they want. Lawmakers from both parties have said they want to pass billions of dollars for Israel's military against Hamas, and Democrats and some Senate Republicans want to send more money for Ukraine in its battle against Russia. The White House that includes funding for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, as well as the border and some domestic projects.

2. Biden-Xi Summit Meeting: US President and Chinese President struck a last week on Wednesday, November 15th, a reset that will be quickly tested by . With relations between the two countries at near a low point, Biden and Xi agreed to , cooperate on and begin a dialogue on the . Their four hours of talks at a included a walk in the wooded grounds. "We made some real progress," Biden said in a tweet. The talks, he later told reporters, were "some of the most constructive and productive conversations we've had." The outcome is likely to face pressure in coming months, with and the , a US ally. The US and China have differed sharply over the Israel-Hamas war. Biden, a Democrat who is running for re-election next year, also faces political risk at home from . Biden and his top aides spend months negotiating with top Chinese officials over the summit, hoping that face-to-face communication would prevent tensions between the two world powers from escalating. Xi too had an incentive to meet as he grapples with and seeks to . The agreements reached last Wednesday, though incremental, and the more positive tone, contrast with the meetings of recent years and give Washington and Beijing more time to steady ties that have been on a downward pitch for years. Biden said that he an Xi agreed that if there is "any concern about anything between out nations, or happening in our region, we should pick up the phone and call." Still, both countries are . Washington and Beijing find themselves in as well as the . A senior Biden administration official said Biden made clear to Xi Washington's concerns about Ukraine and asked for China's help in . Meanwhile, Xi urged Biden to and supports China's "peaceful reunification" with the self-governing island. Xi also appeared to , saying that he rejects the idea of a "major-country competition." Asked if he trusts Xi, Biden said, "Trust but verify, as the old saying goes. That's where I am." Responding to a separate question of , Biden said, "Well look, he is." In June, China lashed out at Biden after he described Xi that way. The summit is likely to be the last meeting between the two leaders before the intense US presidential election campaign, in which China could become a hot-button issue. That fact lent a greater sense of urgency to use the meeting to steady relations.

November 14, 2023

Topic: Santa Clarita Organization for Planning and the Environment

1. SCOPE: The Santa Clarita Organization for the Planning and the Environment (SCOPE) is a grassroots organization dedicated to environmental protection in the Santa Clarita Valley. They address issues such as pollution, wildlife conservation, and plastic reduction through advocacy, legal action, and community initiatives. Their work usually involves mitigating the environmental impact of local projects and promoting healthier living conditions. The COC Political Science Club will be welcoming Lynne Plambeck, the President of SCOPE, as guest speaker this Tuesday, November 11. She holds BA from California State University and runs a recycling business. She has also served on various water-related boards and committees, and is a recognized conservationist with several awards. Lynne Plambeck will talk about the power of individual and collective actions in addressing environmental issues, such as air and water pollution and global warming. She will also go through the history of Val Verde's landfill and community action, advice on student engagement through public processes, and strategies for grassroots movements.

November 7, 2023

Topics: Labor Strike Victories, Israel-Hamas War Intensifies

1. Labor Strike Victories: Last week, on Sunday, October 29th, (UAW) leaders that includes a pay hike of at least 30% for full-time workers and could more than double pay for others, in a victory for the union's fight to roll back . Bargaining continued at the two other large automobile corporations, General Motors and Stellantis, without any deal, although there are . UAW President on Saturday at GM's Spring Hill, Tennessee, engine and assembly plant. At Ford, the new deal includes $8.1 billion in manufacturing investments and could give workers up to $70,000 in extra pay over the 4-1/2 year life of the contract. Cost-saving provisions such as paying workers at component plants less than employees at vehicle assembly lines will also be eliminated by the new contract. The deal also , an issue Fain highlighted from the start of the bargaining process. Temporary workers will more than double their pay. Permanent workers could see top wage rates rise to $42.60 per hour by 2028, including estimated cost of living allowances (COLA). The UAW was not the only labor union this year which has seen success in advocating for higher wages and better working conditions. Here in Los Angeles, both the (WGA) and the (SAG) have staged strikes this year for better working conditions. Lasting more than six months, from May 2 to September 27, WGA's 11,500 screenwriters went on strike over a labor dispute with the (AMPTP). The 148-day strike was the longest interruption to American film and television production since the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the second longest labor stoppage that the WGA has performed since the strike of 1988, which lasted 153 days. The union had sought minimum increases in pay and future residual earnings from shows between 5% and 6%, depending on the position of the writer. The studios had wanted between 2% and 4%. The compromise deal that was eventually reached will raise wages and residuals between 3.5% and 5%, . For their part, the SAG strike, which began on July 14 of this year, is on-going, although the union is currently considering what the studios have described as their "" offer. Other labor activities to watch out for include a at the campuses of the (CSU) system, as well as an on-going here in the Santa Clarita Valley.

2. Israel-Hamas War Intensifies: The Israel-Hamas War after Israel's prime minister resisted after US Secretary of State urged him to . "Israel refuses a temporary cease-fire that does not include the freeing of our hostages," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters after meeting with Blinken on Friday, November 3rd. "Israel does not allow the entry of fuel into the Gaza Strip and is opposed to transferring money to the strip." The US is , saying it has a moral imperative to pause the fighting while humanitarian relief - and particularly fuel - is delivered to Gaza, US officials say. France, Spain, and other European nations . Since the terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel on October 7th, the Israeli military, or Israel Defense Force (IDF), has carried out a but that has also , many of them , and forced their homes. Only a trickle of food, water and medicine has been allowed through. Israel has , saying that Hamas hordes fuel for military purposes. Israel's defiance over a proposed humanitarian pause has become a source of . "A number of legitimate questions were raised in our discussion today," Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv, "including how to use any period of pause to maximize the flow of humanitarian assistance, how to connect a pause to the release of hostages, how to ensure that Hamas doesn't use these pauses or arrangements to its own advantage. These are all questions we need to tackle." Western pressure on Israel to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza does appear to be . For instance, Israel has . Hamas political chief and let Palestinians flee the war. Egypt has so far . Hassan Nasrallah, the head of the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, meanwhile, , as fears grow that the conflict could spill into a, especially as , a Russian military group. Israel's Foreign Ministry , citing increased violence against Israelis and Jews around the world. Increased instances of have also spiked in the US as the war has continued. However, while polls indicate that important , most Americans .

October 31, 2023

Topics: House Gets a Speaker, Newsom Goes to China

1. House Gets a Speaker: On Wednesday, October 25th, the US House of Representatives elected Representative of Louisiana . A staunch , Johnson overcame the divisions that had paralyzed the chamber after a band of Republican hard-liners led by Representative (R, Florida) former speaker (R, California) three weeks ago. The choice of Johnson, who led an effort to help former President try to , came after the House GOP nominated and then rejected a series of leadership candidates. With a speaker now in place, lawmakers can finally return to work, with many eager to and address a looming next month. Known for his , Johnson breezed to victory in one round - unlike McCarthy, back in January - brining a measure of calm and unity to the party not seen . Democrats cast Johnson as and said Republicans had squandered three weeks in their intraparty fighting. Representative (D, California) said that the GOP had chosen in Johnson a person who "can pass their extreme litmus test" on issues such as same-sex marriage and abortion, . The new speaker faces a series of while managing the Republicans' narrow 221-212 majority, in which any single member can . Congress has a to keep the government funded. In a , Johnson proposed advancing a temporary spending measure until either January 15th or April 15th, while working to advance the that have not yet cleared the House. Lawmakers will also have to grapple with the to fund aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and manage the flow of migrants at the US border. Last month, 117 House GOP lawmakers, including Johnson, . Also making news in the House of Representatives this week were lawmakers from New York, (R, New York's 3rd District) and (D, New York's 16th District), both of whom face legal challenges. On Friday, October 27th, Representative Santos during an arraignment in a federal courthouse on Long Island, N.Y. The scandal-plagued freshman is facing a second arraignment on a growing list of corruption charges linked to his 2022 campaign. Santos, the , has acknowledge about most aspects of his life before winning office, has and says he is . The day before, on Thursday, October 26th, Representative Bowman in late September, shortly before the House was scheduled to . The building was subsequently evacuated. Bowman struck a deal with the Washington, D.C., Attorney General's office in which he pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor offense, despite the fact the punishable by imprisonment. According to the terms of the deal, Bowman's sentencing will be deferred for three months. During that time, Bowman will be on probation, will pay a $1,000 fine and will write a letter of apology to the US Capitol Police. If he fulfills these terms, prosecutors will drop the charge at his sentencing hearing on January 29th.

2. Newsom Goes to China: On Wednesday, October 25th, California Governor met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing's Great Hall of the People. The meeting of both leaders. In the case of President Xi, is likely that his meeting with the prominent Democratic Party governor is part of a in order to lay the groundwork for his . In the case of Newsom, it is likely that meeting such a high-profile foreign leader is part of a , at least in the instance that Biden is unable to run for reelection next year. China rolled out a red-carpet welcome for Newsom, who is on a . The California Democrat also took meetings with Chinese Foreign Minister and Vice President before his audience with Xi on Wednesday. "I'm here with an open hand, not a closed fist," said Newsom after the meeting, a nod to . Xi, asserting the importance of ties between the two countries, told Newsom that strengthened climate cooperation could become a "new highlight in the development of China-US relations." US climate envoy John Kerry and his Chinese counterpart, Xie Zhenhau, are planning to . China and California have a - the in a time of otherwise deteriorating ties. Launched by former California Governor in 2005, the China-California climate partnership has been for helping China develop its and establish the world's biggest . Photos released by Newsom's office as Wang smiled in the background. Han addressed Newsom, the first US governor to meet with China's leader , as an "" Xi has on the sidelines of the coming , but a drumbeat of diplomatic activity is. Before traveling to China, to meet with victims of the Israel-Hamas war. Later next month, on November 30, Newsom is also against Florida Governor and Republican presidential candidate .

October 24, 2023

Topics: Military Aid to Ukraine and Israel, Latin American Elections

1. Military Aid to Ukraine and Israel: President declared the world at an "inflection point in history," in an last Thursday, October 19, linking Israel's battle against Hamas to Ukraine's fight against Russia and stressing the need for the U.S. to continue funding both wars. "American leadership is what holds the world together," Biden said. "American alliances are what keep us, America, safe. American values are what make us a partner that other nations want to work with. To put all that at risk and walk away from Ukraine and turn our backs on Israel; it's just not worth it." The next day, Friday, October 20, Biden requested from Congress a that includes military aid to Ukraine and Israel, as well as additional funding for the US-Mexico border and priorities in the Indo-Pacific region. In a to House of Representatives Speaker Pro Tempore , the (OMB) Director outlined the funding request, which in addition to $61.4 billion in aid for Ukraine and $14.3 billion in aid for Israel, included $9.15 billion in funding for humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians, $7.4 billion in funding for Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region, and $13.6 billion to address security at the US-Mexico border. But the administration still faces challenges in securing the funding - especially in selling it to the American public, where as the war has continued. Unlike Ukraine aid, at the moment, , with 7 in 10 Americans - including 81% of Republicans and 74% of Democrats - favoring aid to Israel, with a plurality (41%) saying it would be a "good idea" to send Israel weapons if needed, according to . However, just as public support for Ukraine aid began to fall, so too could , especially among . Also of issue for the White House is the fact that , which at the moment is impossible as the over a battle for the Speaker's gavel. Two front-runners for the position, (R, Louisiana) and (R, Ohio), were both forced to withdraw their candidacies last week. Jordan's bid failed after two votes in the House: on the first ballot, while on the second ballot. Jordan needed 217 votes to become speaker, and he ended the second round with only 199. Since Jordan's decision to withdraw, . The fight was triggered on Tuesday, October 3, when a group of rebel Republicans, led by Florida Representative , staged an effort to . In the intervening 20 days, North Carolina Representative has served as interim speaker, but with .

2. Latin American Elections: Two key elections took place in Latin America last week, with citizens of on Sunday, October 15, and citizens of the following Sunday, October 22. Additionally, two months ago, on Wednesday, August 20, . In the case of Guatemala, former diplomat of the progressive political party was confirmed the winner of Guatemala's presidential election by the country's Supreme Electoral Tribunal. 础谤茅惫补濒辞, who won 61% of the popular vote, had faced a slew of legal challenges and allegations of irregularities since his unexpected victory over the candidate favored by the country鈥檚 ruling elite, former First Lady of the conservative political party. While still , he is expected to take office on Sunday, January 14, 2024. According to , 础谤茅惫补濒辞鈥檚 victory represents a crucial check on in Guatemala, itself the result of citizen insecurity, lack of economic opportunity, corruption, narcotrafficking, and other organized criminal networks, which have collectively . In Ecuador, of the libertarian and pro-business political party, became to at the age of only 35. The election was closer than that in Guatemala, with Noboa winning just 52% of the popular vote to defeat of the progressive political party, who won 48% of the vote. The eldest son of Ecuador's richest man, , Noboa campaigned both on , at one point even proposing for the most violent criminals. Meeting these promises will be a , given that he will only be president for the remainder of the term of current president , who announced a earlier this year. Lasso's term would have ended in May of 2025, which will now be the end-point of Noboa's tenure in office. Finally, Sunday's presidential election in Argentina , with none of the three candidates gaining an outright majority. Economic Minister of the liberal political party won 36% of the vote, out-spoken economist of the libertarian and populist political party, an , surprisingly won only 30% of the vote, and Security Minister of the conservative won 24% of the vote. Massa and Milei will now face off in a , on Sunday, November 19.

October 16, 2023

Topics: Independent Presidential Candidates, Conflict in the Caucasus

1. Independent Presidential Candidates: On Thursday, October 5th, prominent progressive political philosopher and emeritus Princeton University professor announced that he was . Four days later, on Monday, October 9th, prominent environmental lawyer , son of the assassinated New York senator and one-time presidential candidate , similarly announced that he was . Finally, during a multi-day trip to Charleston, West Virginia, the senior senator of the state, Joe Manchin, indicated that , possibly for the No Labels organization. How these three potential independent bids subsequently became a major topic of debate last week. West's decision to run as an independent was greeted by some Biden supporters with relief because . Likewise, Biden supporters have also argued that with Kennedy also dropping his bid for the Democratic Party nomination, . Others, however, maintain that because of his potential to tap into discontent among some Black voters unhappy with Biden's ability to secure new voting rights legislation or broad student debt relief. Indeed, it would not take much for West to . Whether Kennedy's independent bid will is another debated question. On the one hand, opinion polls complied by show , indicating that his candidacy may . On the other hand, Kennedy's , his , combined with a , may mean that Kennedy could, like West, .

2. Conflict in the Caucasus: , a transcontinental region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, comprising the states of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and parts of Southern Russia. The Caucasus Mountains, including the , have historically been considered as a . During the (1922-1991), Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia were all controlled by the as three of the 15-members of the (USSR). Following the , all three became independent countries only now loosely leagued together as part of the (CIS). Since gaining independence in 1991, Armenia and Azerbaijan have , most notably over the area of , a majority ethnic-Armenian region within the territory of Azerbaijan. In 1923, the USSR established the - home to a 95% ethnically Armenian population - within the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic, despite the area being claimed by each state. Armed fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the region was kept under relative control during Soviet rule. But as the Soviet Union began to collapse, so did peace in the region. Amid Soviet dissolution, just as Armenia and Azerbaijan achieved independent statehood, . War erupted between Armenia and Azerbaijan, each claiming the region, resulting in roughly and creating . This war is now known as the (1988-1993). By 1993, Armenia had gained control of Nagorno-Karabakh and occupied 20% of Azerbaijan's geographic territory. In 1994, Russia brokered a ceasefire known as the , leaving Nagorno-Karabakh , but still on close economic, political, and military ties with Armenia. While clashes between the two continued, the bilateral acceptance of a ceasefire lasted until September 2020, with the outbreak of the . Lasting less than two months, from September 27 to November 10, 2020, a ceasefire was , with approximately 2,000 Russian soldiers deployed as peacekeeping forces. During that war, Azerbaijan two decades prior, leaving Armenia with only a portion of Karabakh. The Russian ceasefire , a small strip of land to be monitored by Russian peacekeepers that would serve as a transit route connecting Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh. However, distracted with its invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022, . On September 19, 2023 Azerbaijan , and subsequently on January 1, 2024 and its territory fully incorporated into Azerbaijan. Faced with the prospect of rule by Azerbaijan, more than 100,000 ethnic-Armenians, about 80% of Nagorno-Karabakh's population, . Further escalation of the conflict , according to US Secretary of State .

Background: ""

October 10, 2023

Topics: Kevin McCarthy Ousted as Speaker of the House, War in the Middle East

1. Kevin McCarthy Ousted: On Tuesday, October 3rd, members of the lower chamber of the US Congress, the , voted to . The in the House of Representatives, the House Speaker decides both which bills are debated in the chamber and which bills receive a vote. The Speaker is also after the Vice-President (meaning, for example, that if both the President and Vice-President die or are otherwise removed from office, the House Speaker becomes the next US President). Despite earning the support of 210 of the 221 House Republicans, eight hardline Republicans teamed up with 208 Democrats to oust McCarthy, marking the first time in American history that a House Speaker has been removed. House Representative , who represents the 1st House District of Florida, , and was among the who voted for the motion. According to Gaetz, McCarthy . Gaetz claimed that such deal making both after 15 rounds of voting in January. After his removal, McCarthy rejected Gaetz's accusations, claiming instead that . According to McCarthy, Gaetz was upset about an into Gaetz's alleged sexual misconduct and misuse of funds, an investigation that McCarthy has allowed to continue since coming to the Speakership. House Representative (R-NC, 10th District) has become the , but has only , most regarding the , which could take place as early as Thursday, October 12th. House Republicans are expected to . At the moment, Representative (R-OH, 4th District) and Representative (R-LA, 1st District) are the . The next Speaker will face several pressing challenges, including funding the government. The McCarthy only keeps the government going with a "" or CR until November 17th. Aid for Ukraine, which was in order to placate hardliners like Gaetz, is a second concern. Representative Jordan has , stating that "The most pressing issue on Americans' minds not Ukraine. It is the border situation, and it's crime on the streets. An everybody knows that. So let's address those." Representative Scalise, by contrast, voted for a previous , as well as . Additionally, the new House Speaker will also have to in its recently declared .

2. War in the Middle East: On Saturday, October 7th, the Palestinian Islamist group , which governs the Palestinian territory known as the , launched a devastating , firing thousands of missiles as well as using bulldozers, hang gliders, and motorbikes to stage what is being called the since Arab armies waged war against Israel in the 1973 . Indeed, the attack was timed to coincide with that earlier conflict, which was also launched on the Jewish holiday of . Throughout Sunday, Israel's military, the (IDF), was still working to evacuate civilians from the towns and villages near Gaza which had been attacked, as well as to treat hundreds of wounded civilians and recover the bodies of the dead. As of Monday, more than , almost all civilians, along with 73 IDF soldiers. Another 2,150 have been reported wounded. The largest number of casualties were , near the border with Gaza, where militants opened fire on the crowd, killing at least 260. The naked and lifeless body of one of the killed concert-attendees, a 30-year-old German tourist named Shani Louk, was later filmed being . At least 150 Israelis, mostly women, children, and seniors, were also , likely to be . President Joe Biden, condemning the attack, also noted that . He admitted that . At least in Israeli counterstrikes on Gaza, in a military operation that the IDF is calling "." The Israeli cabinet approved a after Israeli Prime Minister announced Saturday a , saying in a televised address: "." Meanwhile, another Islamist militant group, , which is based in southern Lebanon, . The Hezbollah attack opening in the conflict. The endgame for Israel, Hamas and the rest of the Middle East will likely be determined in the coming days based on the scale of the Israeli counter-offensive and whether another front opens up with Palestinian militants in southern Lebanon or the West Bank, . Also of issue is the . According to a , some Hamas officials claimed on Saturday that officers of Iran's helped to plan, equip and fund the attack. Other Hamas officials, however, have , but welcomed intervention on their behalf. The Iranian government has also . Due to the hostages, Israeli's counter-offensive is . Hamas officials have claimed that the hostages have been spread out across Gaza and will be .

Background: ""

October 3, 2023

Topics: Republican Debate Recap, Shake-up in the Senate

1. Republican Debate Recap: On Wednesday, September 27, in Simi Valley, California, the Republican Party held their second presidential debate in the lead-up to the November 5, 2024 presidential elections. This time seven candidates took part in the debate: Former North Dakota governor , former New Jersey Governor , current Florida governor , former South Carolina governor , former Vice President , entrepreneur , and US Senator representing South Carolina . Former Arkansas Governor , who participated in the first debate, failed to meet the 3% polling requirement to again qualify. Former President Donald Trump, who is still leading the other candidates in polls , again chose not to participate and instead traveled to Detroit, Michigan where he . Trump's speech was aired an hour before the debate. The debate itself lasted two hours with four short intermissions. Ramaswamy, who was seen by many as the , but whose poll numbers have, again was the focus for much of time. He had the , at 12 minutes and 30 seconds. DeSantis, who is still second in the national polls behind Trump with 14.5% compared to Trump's 53.8%, spoke for the second longest amount of time, at 12 minutes and 5 seconds. Scott was third, at 11:21, then Christie at 10:27, then Haley at 10:22, then Pence at 9:38. Burgum had the least amount of speaking time, despite several direct questions from the moderators, at only 7:39. The during the debate, again based on time spent on the issue, were border security (5 minutes and 50 seconds), government spending (4:46), education policy (4:20), foreign policy (4:12), and race relations (2:59). The debate was held at the Ronald Reagan Library and during the debate. Nevertheless, the candidates were between those who favored continuing Reagan's neoliberal free trade policies and interventionist foreign policies, including Haley, Christie, and Pence, and those who instead favored moving the Republican Party in a more protectionist and isolationist direction, including Ramaswamy and DeSantis. Haley, whose poll numbers have , was the most aggressive in the debate, attacking both DeSantis and Scott over energy policies, and telling Ramaswamy that "Ever time I hear you, I feel a little bit dumber." Perhaps the oddest moments involved an , as well as two mentions of . Christie attacked President Joe Biden as too beholden to the teachers unions, referencing the fact that Biden's wife, , has spent her career as a community college professor. Pence later joked that his wife, , was also a teacher, but at a non-unionized private school. A is scheduled for November 8th, in Miami, Florida. The polling requirement to qualify for the third debate will rise to at least 4% in national polling. Whether that debate, or any of the debates so far, will matter is yet to be seen, as despite not taking part.

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2. Shake-Up in the Senate: Two events have rocked the US Senate in the last two weeks. First, on Friday, September 22nd, , the senior senator from the state of New Jersey, along with his wife and three New Jersey businessmen, were . He now faces growing calls, both from within his Democratic Party as well as from opposition Republicans, to . Second, the following Friday, September 29, , the senior senator from the state of California, and also a member of the Democratic Party, . She was 90 years old. Democrats currently hold a slim 51-seat to 49-seat majority in the Senate, although this is only because the vote as a block with the 48 Democrats. Given that state in instances of resignation or death, and given that both New Jersey and California have Democrat governors, this number will not change, even if Menendez does step down. Menendez and has despite the indictment. His current 6-year term ends in January 2025. New Jersey House Representative (D-NJ 3rd District) has announced that he will . While New Jersey is generally considered a safe seat for the Democratic Party, some within the party this November. California Governor wasted no time announcing Feinstein's replacement. On Sunday, October 1, Newsom announced that , president of , a pro-abortion advocacy group, would be his choice to , which was also set to end in January 2025. This is the second time that Newsom has appointed a California senator. He junior California Senator to the Senate on January 20, 2021 to replace the then junior California Senator , who had become Vice President. Padilla's appoint was as Harris had been the only black woman in the Senate. In response to the controversy Newsom should another Senate vacancy arrive. By appointing Butler, who is a black woman, . However, the appointment is not without its own controversy. This is because another black woman is currently running for Feinstein's seat in the November election: (D-CA 12the District). Two other prominent California Democrats from the House are also running, (D-CA 30th District) and (D-CA 45 District). Progressives in California had . Schiff, however, is the of fellow California House Representative (D-CA 11th District). The former Speaker of the House, Pelosi is the and is still seen as the de-facto leader of the party,. It is in order to not advantage Lee in her race against Schiff and to stay in the good graces of Pelosi and her donors. Feinstein, for her part, will be remembered as and as the of any state. Her legacy, however, is seen by some as from the Senate despite .

September 27, 2023

DEBATE VIEWING PARTY!

The second Republican Party Presidential Primary Debate is on Wednesday, September 27, from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California. Tickets are not for sale to the general public, however, the debate can be streamed live at the Fox News website: . The Political Science Club will host a viewing of the debate in Bonelli Hall 241 at 6 pm.

Join us via Zoom:

September 26, 2023

Topics: UAW Strike, Natural Disasters in Libya and Morocco

1. UAW Strike: On Friday, September 15th, for the first time ever, members of the (UAW) Chrysler, General Motors (GM), and Ford, the so-called "" or the three largest American car manufacturers. (Chrysler is now part of , a multinational corporation of the Italian-American conglomerate Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles and French car and kitchen equipment company Peugeot Groupe in 2021.) Contract negotiations between the union and the car companies occur every four-years. In past negotiations, the UAW negotiated its contract with one of the Big Three, with the other two usually falling in line with any agreement. In 2019, the , which reached a deal with the union only after a six-week strike by 48,000 workers had cut production by 300,000 vehicles, costing the company $3.6 billion in net profit. Even though this time the strike is affecting all three companies, . The union believes that it can afford to extend the strike, that could pay $500 a week to all the UAW's big-three members for 11-weeks. It also ; two in three Americans tell pollsters that they support unions, . The UAW argues that American carmakers' recent good fortune should be shared out more evenly, pointing to and . The self-described "" set of demands from , the UAW's new leader, includes a . Also on the wish list are a and a rapid end to a wage-tier scheme introduced in 2007 after bail-out induced by the financial crisis, whereby . The car companies have countered by offering a pay increase of around 20% and some other concessions. They contend that meeting all the union's demands would to turn themselves from manufacturers of gas-power internal-combustion engine (ICE) vehicles into software-powered makers of electric vehicles (EVs). Moreover, they argue that their wages are , such as Tesla, the leader in EVs. The strike is likely to also have political implications for next year's presidential campaign. Michigan, the traditional home-state of the Big Three, , voting for Republican-candidate Donald Trump in 2016 and then Democratic-candidate Joe Biden in 2020. The state will likely in the likely rematch between Trump and Biden. The UAW but has so-far refused to endorse either candidate, in part due to their (IRA), which provides government subsidies to non-unionized EV companies like Telsa. Both Trump and Biden will travel to Detroit this week in .

2. Natural Disasters in Libya and Morocco: If there is time in the meeting (and if not, next week), the COC Political Science Club will also address the recent natural disasters in northern Africa. Morocco's Atlas mountains were on Friday, September 8, . Only three days later, sending 30 million cubic meters of water through several cities, sweeping away entire neighborhoods. So far, , the Libyan Red Crescent said on September 14. Another 10,000 are still missing, many having been dragged by the currents into the Mediterranean Sea. The immediate impact of the two disasters are "death, injuries, fractures, shock, wounds, and mental health trauma," . Moreover, "the long term impact will be worse, depriving patients with non-communicable diseases, children, and pregnant women of access to healthcare and drugs, interrupting the supply chain, and disrupting the already strained healthcare system" of the two countries.

September 19, 2023

Topics: Constitutional Day Special: Trump and the Constitution

1. Trump and the Constitution: In honor of , which was on Sunday, September 17, the COC Political Science Club will examine the on-going political debate on former-President Donald Trump's to the presidency in 2024 under Section 3 of the to the US Constitution. The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the US Constitution, enacted in 1865, 1868, and 1870 respectively, are collectively referred to as the "" as they were passed by the US Congress and ratified by the states after the (1861-1865) as part of the (1865-1877) efforts to transition the United States away from enslavement and racial discrimination. Briefly, the (1865) abolished practices of enslavement, the (1868) granted citizenship to all persons "born or naturalized in the United States," including formerly enslaved people as well as "equal protection under the law" to all Americans and US residents, and the (1870) prohibited voter discrimination on the basis of "race, color, or previous condition of servitude." The 14th Amendment is the longest of the three amendments, consisting of five sections. What has been debated in recent weeks regarding Trump and the 14th Amendment is Section 3 of that amendment. In sum, the purpose of Section 3 was to bar those who had fought for or supported the southern in the Civil War for eligibility for future political and military offices, both at the federal and state level. This is the full-text of Section 3:

"No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or any state, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote two thirds of each House, remove such disability."

At issue now is whether Section 3 can be , include President of the United States. Those who argue that Section 3 can be used to disqualify Trump claim that his , insofar as such denials resulted in the , amounted to "support" for an "insurrection or rebellion". Advocates of this view include legal scholars Michael Luttig, a retired federal judge, and Laurence Tribe, a retired Harvard Law professor, who together made the case in a recent article, "." Also making similar arguments were law professors William Baude, of the University of Chicago, and Michael Stokes Paulsen, of the University of St. Thomas, in their 126-page article, "." Opponents of this view have responded that the (FBI) has and moreover that while Trump , no court so far has criminally charged him for inciting an insurrection or rebellion. Also of issue is whether Trump counts as an "officer of the United States," and so subject to disqualification, with an opinion article in arguing that , while another opinion article in the arguing instead that the term "officer" in the 14th Amendment .

September 12, 2023

Topics: College Rankings and Affirmative Action, North Korea meets with China and Russia

1. College Rankings and Affirmative Action: Last week, on Thursday, September 7th, the released their of US four-year colleges. Unlike other rankings, such as the of the , which is only partly (40%) based on student "outcomes" such as graduation rates, the methodology of the new Wall Street Journal ranking , with 70% of a college鈥檚 score based on a calculation of graduate rates, future salaries, and the cost of tuition. Only 20% of the ranking is based on the "learning environment," such as class-size, while 10% is based on the diversity of the student body. The U.S. News and World Report made headlines earlier this year by changing their ranking methodology to . , which is ranked first by U.S. News and World Report, also came out on top in the new ranking. was the top California private college, ranking fourth, while was the top California public college, ranking 51st. , the top transfer destination for College of the Canyons students, ranked only two spots behind at 53rd, the best of the Cal State colleges. ranked far below CSUN, at only 75^th. How to rank America鈥檚 2,832 four-year colleges has . However, that controversy was thrown into overdrive earlier this year, when the , in the case of , ruled that race-based affirmative action programs in the college admissions process violated the of the . The ruling overturned two earlier Supreme Court cases, (2003) and (1978), which had validated some affirmative action in college admissions, provided that race had a limited role in decisions. Defenders of affirmative action argue that the Supreme Court's decision insofar as Chief Justice , who wrote the majority opinion, allowed for addressed to applicants' experiences with race and racism. California's public colleges and universities have been banned from using affirmative action since 1996, when voters passed , with 54% of Californians voting for the proposition and 45% voting against. California voters reaffirmed that ban in 2020, when , which would have repealed Proposition 209, was defeated, with 57% of Californians voting against the proposition and only 42% in favor. It is important to note that , such as Princeton and Stanford, had used affirmative action previous to the Supreme Court ruling.

2. North Korea Meets with China and Russia: Last week, on Saturday, September 9th, North Korean leader with a parade of paramilitary groups and diplomatic exchanges with China and Russia, . Kim observed the parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang and held talks with a visiting Chinese delegation, state media . The parade displayed rocket launchers hidden in delivery trucks and tractors towing troops and weapons, highlighting the militia's role as guerrilla fighters in a war. China's President Xi Jinping and Russia's President Vladimir Putin both expressing their willingness to strengthen strategic communication and working-level cooperation. It is notable that both Xi and Putin this past weekend, the annual two-day (G20) in New Delhi, India. The G20 is an comprising of the heads of state of the world's 19 largest economies as well as delegations from the European Union and the African Union. "Growing China-Russia-North Korea cooperation and Xi skipping the G20 Summit in India give the appearance of a widening fissure in Asia's geopolitical landscape," said , a professor of international studies at in South Korea. According to Easley, "Most stakeholders in the region want to avoid a new Cold War, but this looks increasingly difficult as Beijing and Moscow prop up Pyongyang and North Korea aligns itself with China and Russia's challenges to the international order." Kim is expected to to discuss weapons supplies to Moscow to support its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. A major Russia-North Korea , which would breach numerous international sanctions, could worry Beijing, according to Easley, as "association with an emerging pariah state bloc could have negative repercussions for China's globalized but struggling economy." Military tensions in the Korean Peninsula , as the pace of both and US combined have intensified.

September 5, 2023

Topics: Maui Fire Recovery, China's Economic Slowdown

1. Maui Fire Recovery: This week marks . Here are the latest updates on recovery effects. The , where it has stood for nearly two weeks. Of that number, by Maui Police. The number of people on the , unchanged now for a week. Of the fires, , with 2,170 acres impacted. While the Kula fire and Olinda fire are 95% and 90% contained respectively. The has stated that putting out the fires completely will take some time, but assures residents that they pose no active threat to any communities. However, an continues for residents in some Lahaina and Upper Kula areas. On Saturday, September 2, and held a press conference after touring the disaster area and speaking with community leaders. McCarthy pledged that "we'll be here for you." At this time, residents are still not allowed to return to the disaster area in Lahaina. There will be a , with the disaster area restricted to authorized personnel only. Questions regarding the cause of the fires remain with House Republicans . President Joe Biden, who has for his handling of the disaster, . The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has estimated that the .

2. China's Economic Slowdown: China's economy limped through August. The economic slowdown as three causes. First, a prolonged slump in . Second, factories were as the US and other western countries . Finally, Chinese consumers . A also heaped further pressure on China's policy-makers to do more to revive crumbling growth, so far showing little effect. Last Thursday, China's central bank for some borrowers, an attempt to spur home buying. It also said banks can . But many economies say such piecemeal measures, while helpful, in an economy beset by , cratering exports and worsening strains in the property sector. Manufacturing activity , while services-sectors activity slowed against as consumers continued to pare back spending, according to . Sales at China's biggest real-estate developers were down by a third from the same month a year ago, . The data extend a long run of downbeat news on the world's second-largest economy, a spell of weakness that means dogged by persistent inflation and feeble growth, especially in Europe. As such, many economists believe China's present troubles . Beijing wants to and away from real-estate investment. That would be difficult for any country - but China's and its make it even more challenging.

August 29, 2023

Topics: Republican Debate Recap, BRICS Expands

1. Republican Debate Recap: On Wednesday, August 23, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Republican Party held their first presidential debate in the lead-up to the November 5, 2024 presidential election. Eight candidates took part in the debate: Former North Dakota governor , former New Jersey Governor , current Florida governor , former South Carolina governor , former Arkansas Governor , former Vice President , entrepreneur and US Senator representing South Carolina . Former President Donald Trump, who is leading the other candidates in polls , chose not to participate and instead with former Fox News host , the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, at the same time as the debate. Trump and Carlson had a 46-minute exchange that touched on topics as varied as whether the deceased sex-trafficker and billionaire financier really killed himself in jail or was murdered. Trump largely ignored his Republican rivals and spent most of the interview attacking President Joe Biden, whom Trump criticized as , noting that "He looks horrible at the beach." The debate itself lasted two hours with several short intermissions. The two leading candidates behind President Trump, Governor DeSantis, who is polling at around 14% nationally, and Ramaswamy, who is polling at around 11% nationally, were stood center stage and , with Ramaswamy especially as "bought and paid for" and "super PAC puppets," while also being attacked as sounding "." Ramaswamy also was the , calling him the "greatest president of the 21st century." While not garnering the headlines of Ramaswamy, DeSantis was , highlighting especially his governorship of Florida and his 2022 reelection to office. Former Vice President Pence, who is polling behind both DeSantis and Ramaswamy at around 6% nationally, was also often the focus of the debate, and , 12.37 minutes, compared to 11.47 minutes for Ramaswamy and 10.22 minutes for DeSantis. The will be held on Wednesday, September 27, at the in Simi Valley, California. The exact time is still to be determined. It is likely that for the next debate.

2. BRICS Expands: From Tuesday, August 22 to Thursday, August 24, leaders of the BRICS economic bloc . While initially devised in 2001 by an economist at the investment bank Goldman Sachs as a , the bloc of countries - Brazil, Russia, India and China - . Leaders have met annually since 2009. In December of 2010, South Africa was added, making for the current BRICS acronym, the process for new admission having been devised in August of that year. Led primarily by China, BRICS are now considered the , a grouping which also includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the UK, with European Union leaders more recently being invited to observe and participate in annual meetings. Like the G7, which first formed in 1973 as the Library Group to , BRICS likewise aims to promote its members' interests and values, although being composed of three democratic countries (Brazil, India and South Africa) and two non-democracies (Russia and China), the bloc places less of an emphasis on political values and far more on . BRICS especially aims to act as a counter-weight to the G7 among developing countries, especially in Africa and Latin America, and has formed several initiatives for the purpose of providing an to the G7-led and , most notably the BRICS and the . Last week's summit resulted in several headlines about BRICS, most notably its further expansion. On Thursday, August 24, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that : Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Full membership will take effect in January of 2024. While the expansion could , especially in matters of global energy supply, the additional members will also , especially given the between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

August 22, 2023

Welcome back!

For our first meeting of the Fall 2023 semester, the COC Political Science Club will preview the first Republican Party presidential debate, which is scheduled for Wednesday, August 23 at 6 pm.

The highly anticipated debate is set to take place 9 pm (6 pm Pacific) on August 23 at in Milwaukee, where the Republican National Convention will also be held in 2024. The event will be hosted by Fox News. Here are the FAQs:

When is the debate?

The debate will take place from 9 pm to 11 pm Eastern on Wednesday, August 23rd. That's 6 pm to 8 pm here on the Westcoast!

Who is moderating?

Fox News anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum will moderate the debate.

Where can I watch the debate?

The debate will be broadcast exclusively on the Fox News Channel. The Fox Business Network will also simulcast the debate. Viewers will be able to livestream the debate at .

Who will be on the debate stage?

To qualify, candidates must garner donations from at least 40,000 national contributors and poll consistently above 1 percent in three national polls or two national polls and a state poll. Candidates will also have to secure donations "with at least 200 unique donors per state or territory in 20+ states or territories." Also, and most controversially, candidates must pledge to support the Republican presidential nominee, whoever that may be.

Eight candidates have met all of these criteria:

Former North Dakota governor
Former New Jersey Governor
Current Florida governor
Former South Carolina governor
Former Arkansas Governor
Former Vice President
Entrepreneur
US Senator representing South Carolina

What about Trump?

While he has met the other criteria, former US President has to support the Republican nominee and has if he does not win the nomination. That said, he is currently by-far the .

Instead of attending the debate, President Trump has which will be aired on , the social media platformer formerly known as Twitter, at the same time as the Republican debate.

May 23, 2023

Final Meeting of the Semester!

For our final meeting of the Spring 2023 semester, the COC Political Science Club will discuss political documentary creators, most notably those creators that focus on social science and science content, including:

After looking at these sources, attendees will choose a documentary to watch. Drinks and snacks will be provided! Please join us!

May 16, 2023

Topics: Writers' Strike, Pakistan on the Brink

1. Writers' Strike: On Tuesday, May 2, the (WGA), of which there are both and associations, the labor union representing over 11,500 film and television writers, against the (AMPTP). The strike is the largest interrpution to American film and television production since , which lasted about 100 days. Every three years, the AMPTP negotiates a new contract with the WGA. This year, talks over a new contract broke down as the studios and writers . The writers' complaints boil down to two issues. First is the amount of work on offer. There were , but in the age of streaming, . Many writers' rooms than in the past. Especially controversial have been so-called "," where a few writers map out several episodes before a show gets the green light. The second problem lies with "" - what a writer gets paid each time an episode or film they worked on is rebroadcast. In the streaming-era, films and TV shows can be rebroadcast on demand. Writers argue that the industry has to account for this huge change. Also of issue are like the recently released . Writers are to replace them. A writers' strike is . When shows stop production, : camera people, costume designers, caterers and others are also out of work. Late-night talk shows are the . The , a think-tank in Santa Monica, estimates that the previous strike in 2007-2008 .

2. Pakistan on the Brink: On Tuesday, May 9, former Pakistan Prime Minister was in a sudden operation that saw officers smash their way into a courthouse in the capital Islamabad to detain him. Two days later, on Thursday, May 11, Pakistan's Supreme Court , and he was . Khan subsequently . The stated reason for Khan's arrest is . On May 10th, before being taken into custody, he was in connection to a land deal. Yet the arrest appears more likely to be related to his . On May 6, Khan claimed at a public rally that Major-General of the army's intelligence service was . He had also earlier blamed , who , and other senior officials for an , when he was shot in the leg. Khan's arrest in Pakistan, and has served to within the country that has dragged on for months. Khan has last year as legitimate. In January, he tried to force the government to , an effort in part supported by the Supreme Court, which , an order the central government and parliament . Pakistan's resulting constitutional crisis has been further worsened by its . In April, , with food-price inflation . GDP growth is , while the country has an estimated by June 2026, with no sign that the IMF will . While , the more immediate risk is a . At least during the most recent protests and . The government has , declared a across much of the country, and has to quell unrest.

May 9, 2023

Topics: Title 42 Ending, Middle East Roundup

1. Title 42 Ending: This Thursday, May 11, the COVID-19 US border restriction Title 42 , a major policy shift with both humanitarian and political implications. Part of , the codification by subject matter of general and permanent US federal laws, deals specifically with Public Health and Welfare policy, of which dictates that during a pandemic, the government can suspend entries and imports into the country in order to prevent further spread of communicable diseases. In March of 2020, on the (CDC), the Trump administration . Title 42 allows border agents to back to Mexico without an asylum hearing. Despite , President Joe Biden , despite as well as . Indeed, the Biden administration even in response to a in January of 2023. The policy's expiration would once again allow migrants seeking asylum to ask for protection without the threat of being immediately sent back to Mexico, a right normally guaranteed by the , which the US . It is expected that with the end of Title 42, . In anticipation, the Biden administration last week . Despite the administration's assurance that the troops would only assist border agents with humanitarian and logistical matters, the decision was also . The number of illegal entrants into the US had already been rising. In April, the US Border Patrol , a 13 percent increase from March. In order to deter the expected surge, the Biden administration has . The changes deny asylum to most migrants caught crossing the border without authorization if they pass through another country enroute to the US without seeking protection or who have failed to use other legal pathways, .

"'"

2. Middle East Roundup: While US public interest in the Middle East since the Biden administration's in May of 2021, the region's politics , reflective of . The most compelling story of the year so-far in the region has involved over attempts by the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to . As Israel has no written constitution, its parliament, the Knesset, and its Supreme Court have long vied for power over one-another, with the court . The reforms would allow the Knesset to appoint judges to the judiciary, including to the Supreme Court. Judges are currently , by the Judicial Selection Committee. Opponents of this process claim that such an appointment procedure allows judges to "." Giving the unicameral Knesset, and therefore the parties in power, the power to appoint judges would , opponents of the reforms argue. In light of the protests, in late March, Netanyahu , at least . The protests of the judicial reforms have not stopped Israel-Palestinian tensions from continuing to simmer. Following the in an Israel prison on Tuesday, May 2, as a result of a hunger-strike, . A shacky ceasefire, brokered by Egypt and Qatar, was . In addition, this week, the , allowing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to , which had at the start of the for its brutal repression of pro-democracy protests. The reinstatement signals a , which began in March of 2011 and which has now . Finally, next Sunday, May 14, . Presidential elections are held to elect the President of Turkey . Simultaneously, parliamentary elections are held to elect 600 members of the parliament to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. The election is drawing international attention as it may result in the who has led the country, either as prime minister or as president, . Despite Erdo臒an's dominance over the political system, , his inept response to the has for the first time in nearly two decades made him .

Professor Showdown: Thursday, May 4th @ 4:00 p.m. in Hasley Hall 306 or at meeting ID: 886 9224 9993

Please join the College of the Canyon鈥檚 Political Science Club as we host the Political Science Department faculty for a panel-discussion of the most pressing local, national and international political issues of 2023. The event will feature an hour-long period of questions, responses and discussion with the faculty, followed by half an hour of audience Q & A. You can attend either in-person at Hasley Hall, room 306 or via Zoom, meeting ID: 886 9224 9993.

May 2, 2023

Topics: News Media Shake-Up, US-South Korea Diplomatic Summit

1. News Media Shake-Up: On Thursday, April 20, the online entertainment website announced that it was , as part of move to , around 180 employees. Originally known for online quizzes and top-10 "," the company had by the late 2000s begun covering a variety of topics, including politics. In 2011, BuzzFeed , formerly the editor of the politics-focused newspaper , to expand its political reporting. BuzzFeed News grew throughout the 2010s, . By 2021, the website had won several journalism awards, including the , the , and the coveted for its investigative reporting on China's mass detention of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in its Xinjiang province in a four-part series titled "." The closing of BuzzFeed News was only the first of several major shake-ups in the news media last week. On Monday, April 24, the news channel and website (CNN) announced that it had following his short and controversial run as cohost of the morning show "." Lemon, who had worked at the network for 17 years, had been forced to , claiming that Haley, who is 51-years old, was past her prime. "Nikki Haley isn't in her prime, sorry," Lemon said, claiming that "When a woman is considered to be in her prime - in her 20s, 30s, and maybe her 40s." Lemon's remarks , Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins. The next day, on Tuesday, April 25, rival cable news channel and website announced that it had , host of its flagship evening show, "," which had been the , with over 3.5 million nightly viewers. According to reporting by the , Carlson was . Finally, on Thursday, April 27, the lifestyle magazine and website announced that it was , "," which had first aired from 2016 to 2019, only to be relaunched in 2020 on the network. The meaning of these events for the future of news is debatable. Writing in the LA Times, television critic . However, Fox News has , raising questions about the . Meanwhile, writing for the LA-based National Public Radio (NPR) station and website , business reporter Bobby Allyn argued that the ending of BuzzFeed News and "Vice News Tonight" may .

2. US-South Korea Diplomatic Summit: On Wednesday, April 26, President Joe Biden and President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea (ROK), or South Korea, to commemorate the . The summit marked the, and is only the second state visit hosted by Biden, . The two presidents reaffirmed their commitment to the alliance as "." Also unveiled at the diplomatic summit were involving (1) defense and security cooperation, (2) economic, commercial, and environmental cooperation, (3) technology, digital, and space cooperation, as well as (4) expansion to development, education and people-to-people ties. Among the biggest announcements were , with South Korea pledging in exchange for greater nuclear security protection from the US. The US . The agreement marks a . The agreement also comes in the wake of fears of nuclear build-up in North Korea, which in February . At the summit, Biden said that a nuclear attack from North Korea . The nuclear defense pledge was not universally welcomed. As the agreement on the Korean peninsula, some South Koreans worry that the US pledge . South Korean conservatives especially not to pursue nuclear weapons. Responding to the nuclear pledge, Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, announced that her country would . Russia's foreign ministry also criticized the US-South Korea agreement, . The Chinese government . Also at issue at the summit were questions about in accordance with US efforts to as well as whether South Korean-made electric vehicles (EVs) would be . According to reports, Korean chip and car industries were .

April 25, 2023

Topics: DeSantis Sinks in the Polls, Sudan on the Brink of Civil War

1. DeSantis Sinks in the Polls: Last week, were released showing that Florida Governor had former president in their so-far unofficial race for the 2024 Republican Party presidential nomination. While Trump , DeSantis, currently on a to promote his new book, , has yet to formally announce his candidacy, although he has on several occasions. In addition to Trump, on the Republican side, former South Carolina Governor , entrepreneur , and former Arkansas Governor have also formally announced their candidacies, while on the Democratic side, only author and environmental lawyer , of the , have formally entered the race. President Joe Biden is , perhaps as early as . Of the polls that show DeSantis now trailing Trump, a new conduced from April 18 to 19 among Republican voters in a hypothetical GOP presidential primary, while a new Wall Street Journal poll among likely Republican voters in a hypothetical head-to-head match-up. An earlier December poll by the Wall Street Journal had . There are likely several reasons for Trump's surge and DeSantis's slump. First, on March 30 by a Manhattan grand jury for campaign finance violations involving hush payments to a porn star, which Trump has called a , has caused Republicans to . Also earlier this month, in his on-going battle with the Disney corporation, which in his attempt long controlled by the entertainment giant. In addition, DeSantis made two legislative moves in the last two weeks which also may have harmed his presidential chances, at least in a general election. Most recently, on Wednesday, April 19, the governor signed legislation , legislation which LGBTQ rights groups have labeled as "." Earlier, on Friday, April 14, DeSantis signed legislation . The ban will only take effect if the state's current 15-week ban is upheld in an ongoing legal challenge that is currently before the state Supreme Court. The ban could have , given that neighboring states Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi have , while George forbids the procedure after a heartbeat can be detected, . For his part, Trump has , and has .

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2. Sudan on the Brink of Civil War: On Saturday, April 15, tensions between the armed forces of , General , known locally as "," and General , who only 18 months earlier , erupted into an of the resource-rich country of more than 46 million people. At least 56 were , with nearly 600 wounded. Both men, each with thousands of troops deployed in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, , despite mounting . The fighting marks a deadly setback for a country which four years ago . In recent months, negotiations had been under way for a return to the democratic transition which had been halted by the October 2021 coup. Under mounting international pressure, the paramilitary force known as the (RSF), led by Hemedti, were in negotiations with the , Sudan's official military, led by al-Burhan, as well as pro-democracy civilian groups, and had . However, the agreement provided only broad outlines of the transition, and as a result has . A key dispute - and the underlying cause of the current fighting - involves , and who would have ultimate control over fighters and weapons. On Wednesday of last week, the RSF deployed forces around the town of Merowe, north of the capital. The , as the town has a large airport and is near a key electricity dam on the Nile River. The next day, the RSF , where fighting between the RSF and the military broke out on Saturday. The clashes have subsequently , including the , where United Nations facilities were . The prospects for an immediate cease-fire appear to be slim . The conflict also has an international element, with the RSF receiving the , which has offered to provide heavy weapons, as well as Libya and the United Arab Emirates, . Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, on the other hand, has . Russia's potential impact on the conflict and its potential ability to use Sudan to exert power in the region is likely the biggest concern for the United States, .

April 18, 2023

Topics: Feinstein Pressured to Resign, Pentagon Leaks

1. Feinstein Pressured to Resign: On Wednesday, April 12, the office of California Senator announcing that she has asked Senator Majority Leader (D-NY) "to allow another Democratic senator to temporarily serve until I'm able to resume my committee work." The announcement is referring to the , which Feinstein once chaired. The request comes after the 89-year-old Senator was . Her absence from the Senate has left Democrats in a difficult position, given the party's slim 51-49 majority in the chamber. Without Feinstein, the oldest sitting senator, the . Feinstein has already . While Feinstein announced in February that upon the completion of her six-year term in January 2025, her absences in the Senate and especially on the Judiciary Committee are now . California Representative (D-CA 17th District) that her resignation was necessary in order to put "country ahead of personal loyalty." He was joined by Minnesota Representative (D-MN 3rd District), who called it a "dereliction of duty" for Senator Feinstein to remained in office and for Democrats to "remain quite." Representative Khanna is . Lee (D-CA 13th District) is running against two other high-profile Democrats, Representative (D-CA 30th District) and Representative (D-CA 47th District). If Feinstein does resign, California Governor would be able to appoint a replacement who would serve out the remainder of her term. There have already been , who is Black, in such a scenario, given that there are . Such an appointment would likely in the November 2024 election. However, at 76, Lee is . As such, others have called on Governor Newsom to , who is 69. Appointing Bass, who is also Black, would allow the governor to still , should it become available. Others have criticized calls for Feinstein's resignation as a given that other male senators, including (CA-PA) and (R-KY), have recently taken leaves of absences for health-related issues.

2. Pentagon Leaks: On Thursday, April 13, the Federal Bureau of Investigation in connection with a leak of what appear to be , a security breach that . The sensitive materials show the , including details of . The leaks also , including Israel, Egypt and South Korea. The event is being described as the in the US since . The Biden Administration has subsequently that there would be no more breaches of classified intelligence. Attorney General Merrick Garland in connection with the "investigation into alleged unauthorized removal, retention and transmission of classified national defense information." The arrest caps a that appeared to have exposed details of US surveillance of adversaries and allies alike, touching off and raising worries about . Other revelations of the leaks include a as well as a . Teixeira had been in the Air National Guard since 2019 and was a member of the 102nd Intelligence Wing. The wing's states that its mission is to "provide worldwide precision intelligence and command and control." Teixeira held the rank of airman first class and was a junior Air Force communications specialist, although it is . The documents appear to have been , a social media platform popular among video game enthusiasts. The documents stayed within that small group until early March, when another member , where the material began circulating more widely. Discord .

April 11, 2023

Topics: President Trump Indicted, President Tsai Travels

1. President Trump Indicted: On Thursday, March 30, former US president on the eve of the 2016 election, marking the . The Manhattan grand jury , starting a process that continued on Tuesday, April 2, by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. The charges allege that Trump . The indictment further alleges Trump and others in his campaign staff to suppress negative stories during the presidential campaign. According to District Attorney Bragg, Trump and the other participants "mischaracterized, for tax purposes, the true nature of the payments made in furtherance of the scheme." Under New York law, the crime of . However, it is a felony to falsify records when there is a . The crime requires . "These are felony crimes in New York state, no matter who you are," Bragg said at a after the arraignment. The , although many legal experts . One the one hand, , including checks and invoices that can be used to show how the scheme to keep the payments under wraps all worked. He will also likely have the , Trump's former lawyer and a firsthand witness to many of the allegations. On the other hand, the case also represents an , and is arguably built on an unstable foundation of (Cohen), whose credibility Trump's defense team will likely assail. Relying too heavily on Cohen's testimony could therefore be risky, as he is a . Moreover, to win the case, it is likely that Bragg will have to show that in falsifying the business records, out of something. But the identity of any alleged victim is . Finally, the case also involves two possible technical challenges, first that the , and second that by breaking the one-time payment of $130,000 to Daniels into , Bragg may have , which prohibits prosecutors from breaking down a single crime and charging it as many. It should be noted that . Also, he is expected to face .

2. President Tsai Travels: On Wednesday, April 5, Taiwanese President met with Speaker of the US House of Representatives and a bipartisan group of congressional leaders at the in Simi Valley, California. The meeting occurred , which considers Taiwan a . In a , President Tsai vowed to "defend the peaceful status quo" in which the people of Taiwan can continue to thrive in a free and democratic society. She also . The "unwavering support," Tsai said, "reassures the people of Taiwan that we are not isolated, we are not alone." Paraphrasing the late US President Ronald Reagan's policy of "," she added that to "preserve peace, we must be strong." Among the Democratic and Republican officials present were Wisconsin Republican and Illinois Democrat , co-chairs of a new . Republican , who represents Santa Clarita in the House of Representatives, was also present at the event, . Outside the venue, a few dozen people . A propeller plane also flew circles about the library, trailing a banner that read: "One China; Taiwan is a part of China." In response to the meeting, the Chinese government . Also, on Saturday, April 8, , announcing the start of three-days of "combat readiness patrols" around the island. However, the patrols did not replicate the more aggressive previous exercises, , disrupting shipping and airline flights. That earlier set of provocative actions were taken in response to former Speaker of the House . Despite China's objections, , as it did not take place in Taipei, Taiwan's capital, which was what McCarthy had . While Tsai's meeting with McCarthy generated the most controversy, it was only one of a series of meetings scheduled by the Taiwanese president. On Tuesday, April 4, , including , the top Democrat in the House of Representatives, and had a breakfast meeting with Republican Senators and and Democratic Senator . After her US meetings, , visiting Guatemala and Belize to shore up ties with Taiwan's dwindling allies in the region. Those visits came after . Nevertheless, despite the loss of Honduran support, the bipartisan nature of the US meetings , a symptom of the broader .

March 28, 2023

NOTE: The Club will meet an hour early this week, at 3 pm.

Topics: Possible Trump Indictment, Xi Goes to Moscow

1. Possible Trump Indictment: On Monday, March 20, a grand jury in Manhattan . The former US president is suspected of paid to Stephanie Clifford, better known by her pornography stage name Stormy Daniels, whom he . Prosecutors must prove that this facilitated a second crime, of . The grand jury is . In response, the 45th US president . "THEY'RE KILLING OUR NATION AS WE SIT BACK & WATCH," he wrote on the social-media platform he started, Truth Social. Police set up in anticipation protesters. So far, however, Trump's call for protests have . While President Trump faces , the Stormy Daniels case is , and certainly . In 2016, Michael Cohen, the president's then personal lawyer (who later ), paid the pornstar $130,000 out of his own pocked. Trump then allegedly reimbursed Cohen with payments disguised as routine legal expenses. Falsifying business records can be a misdemeanor under New York law. The felony indictment would indicate that prosecutors are going to argue that the minor crime facilitated a more serious one: failing to declare the payment, which was made a few weeks before the election, as a de facto campaign expense. While the payment probably did benefit the campaign and was indeed undeclared, the legal theory for prosecuting Trump in Manhattan is untested. The campaign-finance rules that he may have broken are federal. The accounting rule is a state one. Linking the two in this way is unusual, and a judge is likely to find it unwarranted, . Also, even if Trump is indicted, .

2. Xi Goes to Moscow: From Monday, March 20, through Wednesday, March 22, Vladimir Putin, Russia's president, hosted Xi Jinping, his Chinese counterpart, . President Putin endorsed a . The plan or Ukraine's . Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's president, has it, . Nevertheless, while Xi is unlikely to negotiate peace between Russia and Ukraine, China did achieve a diplomatic breakthrough several days earlier, successfully brokering a . Saudi Arabia had , following the in the country. Xi appears to have personally played a role in the Iran-Saudi deal, having in December and last month. While China's proposed plan for peace in Ukraine signified more its support for Russia than for peace, the Iran-Saudi breakthrough is arguably more important, signaling Xi's willingness to China is a big purchaser of oil and gas from both countries. Moreover, the deal is also , an area that for the past few decades was , which may now be seeking to , despite President Biden pledging last summer that his administration "" from the region. The respective peace plans are also just two examples of China's new approach to foreign policy, which it unveiled on Wednesday, March 15, as the "." The document argued that countries should "refrain from imposing their own values or models on others and from stoking ideological confrontation." To attempt to counter's China's growing international ambitions, , US Vice-President Kamala Harris began a , on Sunday, March 26. Harris will also travel to Tanzania and Zambia, before returning to Washington next Sunday, April 2.

March 21, 2023

Topics: Bank Failures, Great Power Tensions

1. Bank Failures: On Friday, March 10, 2023, , marking the in US history and the largest since the financial crisis. It was one of three March 2023 bank failures, . According to a published in the wake of the failures, . The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), a mid-sized American lender, . SVB got into trouble and nervy depositors took out their money as a result. An attempt to , leading to a run on its deposits and the collapse of its market share price. On March 13, the China-based bank , but American regulators have . Two days after SVB imploded , which is based in New York. The speed and size of the failures rattled markets, . In a coordinated action, the US Treasury, the Federal Reserve, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation . The failure of the banks , as it will now have to to fight inflationary pressures. The failures also , with the passage in 2018 of the (EGRRCPA), a law supported by both Republicans and centrist Democrats which eased the banking regulations imposed by the , a 2010 law passed after the . Several Republicans and conservative commentators , such as (ESG) investing limitations as well as (DEI) hiring initiatives. Others across the political spectrum have , such as those .

Wikipedia Entry: ""

2. Great Power Tensions: On Monday, March 15, , the prime minister of Australia, and , the prime minister of Britain, met with US President in San Diego to of the three countries' , which was first . In a landmark agreement, Britain is to help design and build a new type of submarine for Australia, and America will sell nuclear-power submarines to Australia in the 2030s. The deal . In response, Chinese President , warning of "" if the deal was put into effect. Prime Minister Albanese has subsequently with China, , assuring that the deal and pledging that Australia from a Chinese invasion of the island. Rising tensions between the US and China were then matched with , Tuesday, March 16, when two Russian fighter jets intercepted a US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone flying above the Black Sea. The jets in international waters, , which if retrieved by the Russians . The encounter was the . US officials condemned the actions of the Russian jetfighters as "." The rising tensions between the US, China and Russia comes only two weeks after the published an article detailing the findings of a by the (CSIS), a foreign policy think tank, which argued that the US military was . Russian media was . Chinese President Xi is set to from Monday to Wednesday of this week, .

March 14, 2023

Topics: Walgreens and Abortion Pills, Mexico Cartel Kidnappings

1. Walgreens and Abortion Pills: On Thursday, March 9, California Governor Gavin Newsom with the drugstore chain over the company's decision . Three days earlier, the that "California won't be doing business with @walgreens - or any company that cowers to the extremists and puts women's lives at risk," signaling the decision. The pill in question is , which is to induce abortions during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. The FDA in January eased its regulations to let patients rather than healthcare providers. However, pharmacies to dispense the drug. As with other drug stores, Walgreens' decision to seek certification to sell mifepristone has been by last year's Supreme Court decision in to overturn the earlier 1973 decision in , which had legalized abortion across all US states. The Dobbs decision to the state governments. Subsequently, some Democrat-led states, like California, have moved to , while some Republican-led states have sought to . As a result, in states where abortion is now restricted, doctors likely like mifepristone. Also, many states, including states where abortion access has not be restricted, maintain stricter regulations on dispensing mifepristone than the FDA permits. Pharmacists who violate such state laws can . Given such circumstances, , it is reasonable that Walgreens would be cautious about selling mifepristone in those states. Moreover, , it is therefore also likely the other drug retailors, such as CVC, Rite Aid, and Costco, , forcing California to cut ties with them as well, leaving the state with few partners to deliver vital medical services to its residents.

2. Mexico Cartel Kidnappings: On Tuesday, March 7, , , a northeast Mexican state on the border with the US. Of the two survivors, one was shot three times in the legs, . A Mexican woman was , which occurred last Friday, March 3. Three days later a faction of Mexico's left five men tied up and handcuffed on a Matamoros street with a sign . The men admitted to involvement in the incident but denied shooting any of the victims. The handwritten message was signed by Grupo Escorpiones, a faction within the Gulf Cartel. "We have decided to hand over the people directly involved in the events who acted on their own initiative, showing a lack of discipline and action against the rules that the CDG [Cartel del Gulfo] has always operated under, respecting the life and integrity of the innocent," the sign said in Spanish. The U.S. citizens from South Carolina (specifically for abdominoplasty or a "tummy tuck") and soon after were attacked by armed men, . Zindell Brown and Shaeed Woodard were found dead, while Latavia "Tay" McGee and Eric James Williams were rescued alive. The two survivors were returned to the U.S. and the bodies of the two dead Americans were handed over to U.S. authorities late Thursday. Mexican authorities said that investigations indicate that the Americans were , but have not ruled out other possible motivations. The attack comes in the wake of . Most of the illegal fentanyl is , although ingredients for the drug are . On Wednesday, March 8, the day after the kidnapping deaths, U.S. Senator (R - South Carolina), the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with U.S. Senator (R - Louisiana) by Mexican drug cartels. Graham at the conference by declaring that "Drug cartels in Mexico have been terrorizing Americans for decades. We are going to unleash the fury and might of the U.S. against these cartels." Mexican President called Graham's remarks "" and blamed the fentanyl deaths on "."

March 7, 2023

Topics: Student Loan Forgiveness, Partial TikTok Bans

1. Student Loan Forgiveness: On Tuesday, February 28, the Supreme Court . The proposal, which would , has been last fall. Although lower courts have heard and ruled on the issues, , the Supreme Court on whether Biden's plan moves forward in a case titled . Given the tenor of Tuesday's , the answer will likely be . During questioning, the six Republican-appointee justices indicated that they . The Biden administration has framed the plan as an extension of the at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. The moratorium froze all federal student loans, penalties and interests as a way of helping stabilize the economy during the pandemic and has been . In addition to the Trump moratorium, White House lawyers that loan forgiveness is authorized by the 2003 , a law designed to pause student loan payments for U.S. soldiers serving in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The administration says the law , as it permits the secretary of education to "waive or modify" provisions of student financial assistance when a "national emergency" threatens to put borrowers "in a worse position financially." The conservative justices , with Justice Clarence Thomas noting that payment forbearance "fits more comfortably" in terms of the HEROES Act than debt cancellation, although Thomas . The three Democrat-appointee liberal justices, along with Amy Coney Barrett, a conservative, however, . If the liberal justices persuade two conservatives to side with them on this technicality, an estimated may see their debt absorbed by the federal government at an estimated . Should the Supreme Court rule against the debt relief plan, .

2. Partial TikTok Ban: On Wednesday, March 1, the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee . Titled "" or DATA, the bill would revoke longstanding protections that for decades have shielded creative content, like the short videos on TikTok, from U.S. sanctions. The bill , with all 24 Republicans voting in favor and all 16 Democrats opposing. However, many of the Democrats voting against the bill noted that they objected mostly to the bill's scope, . Rhode Island Democratic Representative said that there was "broad and maybe universal support on this committee to do exactly what this bill attempts to do. But it's incredibly important that it be done right, and that it be done well." Now that it has passed the committee, , which controls what bills get a vote on the House floor. The bill has a : should it pass a House floor vote, the Senate would have to pass companion legislation and a reconciled version would finally have to be signed by Biden. In December of last year, Senator (R. - Florida) introduced into the upper-chamber of Congress. Rubio, along with Maine Senator , an independent who caucuses with the Democratic party, in early February, 2023. Senators (D. - Virginia) and (R. - South Dakota) . Two days before the committee vote, on Monday, February 27, the Biden Administration . Agencies will have . Such a ban on government devices. The Canadian government as the White House. The European Union . The Indian government . Proponents of banning TikTok note that the app is owned by , a company based in Beijing and so . Those laws , perhaps forcing the company to give the Chinese government access to user data, which TikTok officials . In addition, proponents of the ban also argue that the Chinese government may be ordering ByteDance to . Responding to such fears, Chinese officials have accused the U.S. of "." For its part, however, China's "" has long banned many U.S.-based social media platforms on national security grounds, including YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram .

February 28, 2023

Topics: California Senate Race 2024, Russo-Ukraine War One Year Anniversary

1. California Senate Race: On Tuesday, February 14, California Senator announced that , officially creating an . Feinstein, 89, has been subject to , but defended herself against those claims, , Richard Blum, last year, as the reason for occasional mental lapses. The race to replace her is shaping up to be a from the state, Representatives (of the 30th District's Burbank area), (of the 47th District's Irvine area), (of the 12th District's Oakland area), and (of the 17th District's Fremont area). All four representatives belong to the Democratic Party. According to a , Reps. Schiff and Porter are nearly tied in voter preference and hold a strong early lead ahead of Lee and Khanna. Schiff has the support of 22% of those poll participants, with 20% backing Porter, 6% for Lee and 4% for Khanna. About 4 in 10 registered Democrats and nonpartisan voters in the poll said that they hadn't made up their minds on a candidate, so the race still has plenty of room to shift between now and the March 2024 primary. Because California has a , it is all but assured that the two candidates advancing to the general election in November of 2024 will both be Democrats. Former House Speaker (of the 11th District's San Francisco area), who is , has , perhaps . Schiff also became a due to his role on the House Intelligence Committee, which he chaired from January 2019 to January of 2023. In that role, Schiff accused former-president of . While such alleged collusion is , . Porter, a former law-professor at UC Irvine, has likewise , often using . Like Schiff as well, however, Porter has also become a controversial figure, in her case because of . For his part, Representative Khanna has as well as his calls for . Finally, Lee is the most politically experienced of the four candidates, having served in Congress since 1998. Best known nationally for her , .

2. Russo-Ukraine War Anniversary: Friday, February 24th marked the . US President Joe Biden, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Russian President Vladimir Putin , signaling that no party in the war planned to back down any time soon. Following his last Monday, where he , Biden next visited the Polish capital of Warsaw, where he gave his . Repeatedly denouncing Russian President Vladimir Putin, , even as the conflict enters a new, more uncertain phase. Speaking three days later in Kyiv, . Finally, speaking on the same day as Biden, , announcing that he had signed a degree "putting new ground-based strategic complexes on combat standby duty." Most notably in the speech, Putin said that he was , the last major nuclear arms control treaty between the US and Russia. The treaty, , was set to expire in February 2026. New START had multiple time each year. The treaty also to avoid misunderstandings or accidents. Putin's suspension of Russia's participation in the treaty raises the . In another major development related to the war, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg last week . Chinese President Xi Jinping is . If China does indeed decide to provide military aid to Russia, .

February 21, 2023

Topics: Ohio Train Derailment, Earthquake in Turkey

1. Ohio Train Derailment: On Friday, February 3rd, thirty-eight of the 141 cars of a Norfolk Southern freight train outside of , a town of 4,700 residents. The (NTSB) has since said that the derailment , saying a wheel bearing appeared to have overheated. Eleven of the derailed cars were carrying a variety of chemicals including . The crash caused a fire spanning the length of the derailed cars, igniting the vinyl chloride, . The risk of coming into contact with these chemicals, as well as possible explosions, meant that firefighters could not immediately put out the blaze. Two days after the crash, officials monitoring the situation said there was serious concern that one of the cars would explode. Authorities then ordered the evacuation of about 1,500 residents of East Palestine and , sending a toxic plume into the air. The disaster has been given the that could result. The Biden Administration, as well as Secretary of Transportation , have . Secretary Buttigieg initially for relaxing in 2018. The NTSB later called Buttigieg's claim "" as the braking regulations in question would not have applied to the derailed train. The disaster also places into newly negative light the fact that the Biden Administration in early December, 2022. Equally cast in newly negative light are the themselves, like Norfolk Southern, which the unions have .

2. Earthquake in Turkey: Three days after the Ohio train derailment, on Monday, February 6th, at 4:17 am local-time, a . Around the epicenter in Turkey as well as in neighboring Syria, . Over in Turkey alone. The initiate death-toll was , but has subsequently and is expected to rise further as . The earthquake damage may also , killing even more. As of now, it stands as the world's deadliest earthquake since 2010, , and higher than in Japan in 2011, , although most from the resulting tsunami. Turkey imposed a . Critics have lambasted Turkey's president, , for lax regulatory policies that . President Erdogan . Here in Southern California, some have argued that enforcement of the state's own earthquake safety construction standards .

February 14, 2023

Welcome Back Meeting!

For our first meeting of the Spring semester, the College of the Canyons Political Science Club will host an ice-breaking game of political trivia, along with meet-and-greet socializing. Nominations for open club leadership positions will also be taken. After, the club will discuss last Tuesday's 2023 State of the Union Address.

Topics: 2023 State of the Union Address

1. State of the Union Address: On Tuesday, February 7, President Joe Biden gave his and his first since the . Speaking for an , President Biden spent much of the address , especially the $1.9 trillion and the $1.2 trillion . He stressed the fact that that second law was passed with Republican support, along with "300 bipartisan laws," according to the text of the speech, including also the . Despite the emphasis on bipartisanship, the president was and at times , for example by accusing some Republicans of . That last accusation , as President Biden responded to Republican boos by ad-libbing: "As we all apparently agree, Social Security and Medicare is off the books now, right? They're not to be touched? . . . We got unanimity!" He then called on everyone to "stand up for seniors" - which they did. Such a public pledge against will likely with the Biden Administration over the . Republicans had in exchange for votes to raise the ceiling. Also notable about the speech was the , aside from protectionist economic and industrial policies, despite the on-going war in Ukraine, which by the president, perhaps signaling that . Newly-elected Governor of Arkansas , the state's , gave the , which was .

November 29, 2022

Final Meeting of the Semester!

For our final meeting of the semester the College of the Canyons Political Science Club will again host a game of political trivia! Please join us and test your political knowledge!

November 22, 2022

Topics: 2024 Election Campaigning Begins, LGBTQ+ Rights and the World Cup

1. 2024 Election Campaigning Begins: On Wednesday, November 15, former-president Donald Trump from his Mar-a-Lago club and home in Palm Beach, Florida. The announcement 鈥� and 鈥� came eight days after the 2022 midterm elections, which saw a in key Senate and competitive House elections. As a result, Democrats were able to . That said, Republicans did . The strongest performance for Republicans came in Florida, where , leading to speculation that than Trump. Indeed, a new YouGov poll that the former president. Other include Trump鈥檚 vice-president, , who has , Virginia Governor , who performed to win a special election in 2021, and South Carolina Senator and former-South Carolina Governor , both of whom, if either were to become the party's choice, would be the , . After the stronger-than-expected performance for Democrats in the midterms, , despite . Nevertheless, given his age, Biden is expected to be challenged for his party's nomination, perhaps by California Governor , who like DeSantis , or by Secretary of Transportation , who as a former-banker would likely . Also, while he has said that , Vermont Senator recently remarked that he 鈥�.鈥� Other potential include Massachusetts Senator , as well as New York House Representative , who will turn 35-years old the month before the November 5, 2024 election, the minimum .

2. LGBTQ+ Rights and the World Cup: Also on Wednesday, November 15, the US Senate advanced the , which would , clearing the way for the bill鈥檚 final passage. In a 62-37 vote, senators agreed to . joined all 50-members of the Democratic caucus to , surpassing the 60 votes needed to avoid a filibuster. LGBTQ+ rights were top-of-mind this week as the in the tiny but oil-rich Middle Eastern state of . The tournament, held every four years, determines the , and is the . After missing the 2018 World Cup, the qualified this time and will , which also includes Wales, England, and Iran. The top-two teams from each group qualify for the knockout stage; while , most expect the , although not to make it far beyond the first knockout round. Favorites to win the tournament include , the reining-champion, as well as , which has won the World Cup a record five-times, and Argentina, which features the , who at the . The controversial decision to was made in 2010 by the sport鈥檚 governing body, the (FIFA). Most sports analysts , which was instead given . It is likely that FIFA officials were , which until recently . Billions have been spent to construct both in the past decade, a process that has itself become . According to one estimate, . Qatar's bid for the tournament was and its then-president , likely because . Current French President , recently warning against criticizing Qatar, saying that "," a statement that was by human rights advocates.

November 15, 2022

Election Retrospective!

Topics: Midterm Results, Russia Abandons Kherson

1. Local and California Elections Results: While votes are still being counted, . In the race to represent the 40th district in the California Assembly, incumbent Republican Suzette Martinez Valladares holds a 52.2% to 47.8% advantage over challenger Democrat with 66.98% of the ballots counted. In the race to represent the 27th district in the national House of Representatives, incumbent Republican holds a 55.4% to 44.6% advantage over challenger Democrat with 67.4% of ballots counted. While no winner has been declared in the Assembly race, in defense of his House seat. In the race for the three open seats, . Despite some Republican victories, both locally and elsewhere in the states, , retaining their . Governor , although by a smaller margin, with 58.3% of the vote to beat his Republican challenger Brian Dahle, who won 41.7% of the vote (in 2018, Newsom won 61.9% of the vote). There is growing speculation that , although he has . Of the , the winning propositions were Proposition 1 (adding abortion rights to the state's constitution), Proposition 28 (mandating funding for arts and music education in the state's schools) and Proposition 31 (banning flavored tobacco-products in the state). Because of the , several races , however, in the race to be the next mayor of Los Angeles, .

2. Nationwide Election Results: Nationally, in America's midterm elections. While Republicans , this is a good result for President Joe Biden, as presidents following their election, and an , who had , especially given and President Biden's . More importantly, , picking up the , and now hold a (the state of Georgia is set to hold a run-off election next month, but even if Republican candidate Herschel Walker prevails Democrats would still hold the majority thanks to Vice-President Kamala Harris, ). Holding the Senate will to the federal judiciary. However, Republican control of the House will likely spell an , although Biden has . There was some good news for Republicans, who and , and especially in , where Republican governor . His strong performance, plus , may give DeSantis an edge over Trump as the two .

3. Russia Abandons Kherson: On Wednesday, November 9th, the day after the US Midterm Elections, Russian military leaders , the only Ukrainian provincial , and pull back to the , . Russian supply chains were . Ukraine said it would . If it recaptures Kherson, a city Vladimir Putin vowed six weeks ago , Ukrainian forces will find it . Also last week, Ukraine . These will be used to , which have been in recent weeks, military actions .

November 8, 2022

Election Day Special!

Tuesday, November 8, 2022 is election day nation-wide and, in California, the final day of the state's 11-day election window. The College of the Canyon's Political Science Club will be hosting an election-day watch party. Come join us as we monitor the early returns and discuss their ramifications. All are welcome!

Below are some useful websites to monitor the returns:

- the nation's most respected election poll aggregator is the best webiste for monitoring the nation-wide election results.
California Secretary of State - the website of the California SOS will post the final state-wide election results.
- the website of the LA County Registrar will post the county-wide election results.

Other watch-parties online and in-person:

LA Mayoral Candidate will be hosting an in-person watch party at his .
The political commentary YouTube show will be hosting an live-stream watch party on their YouTube channel featuring hosts and guests from around the political specrum.
Most major TV and YouTube news channels will also have live coverage if you prefer a more partisan perspective; for a run-down of media political bias, go to the website .

November 2, 2022

Election's Eve Special!

While in the state, the first day of in-person starts on Friday, October 29 and runs through the official day of the election, Tuesday, November 8. (By virtue of the 2016 (VCA) or , Californians have an 11-day window to vote in person at their nearest . There are (SCV), located at the Castaic Sports Complex, the Higher Vision Church, and Canyon Country Park, although California citizens can vote at any Voter Center in the state.)

To help COC students and SCV residents prepare for the election, the COC Political Science Club will be hosting an Election's Eve Special Meeting. All are welcome to attend!

Election decisions that the meeting will highlight include:

The , where ; they are facing five challengers for those seats.
The race for the new Congressional , where incumbent Republican is being challenged by Democrat .
The race for the new , described as an "" by , where incumbent Republican is being challenged by Democrat .
The race for the Congressional , where incumbent Democrat is being challenged by Republican .
The race for the office of , where incumbent Democrat is being challenged by Republican .
The race for the office of , where incumbent is being challenged by .
The seven qualified : Propositions , , , , , , and .

Useful voter information websites that the meeting will also highlight include:

;
;
;
;
The , which generally favors the Democratic Party;
The , which generally favors the Republican Party.

The meeting will begin with a brief summary of Proposition 31.

Proposition 31: Californians will weigh in on a ballot proposition dealing with tobacco regulation this November, . Called the , the proposition is, as the name implies, a referendum asking voters whether the , which was , should be maintained or repealed. The law in question . As such, if passed, Proposition 31 would uphold the ban. If the proposition fails, SB 793 would be repealed, once again allowing for the sale of flavored tobacco in California. To clarify, a "Yes" vote is to uphold SB 793's ban on flavored tobacco and a "No" vote is to repeal SB 793's ban on flavored tobacco. - who support the ban on flavored tobacco - include Governor Newsom and the California Teachers Association. They argue that the ban is , claiming that flavored tobacco products are intended as a . Opponents of Proposition 31 - who oppose the ban on flavored tobacco - include the major tobacco companies as well as the California Republican Party. They argue that it is . Also, they claim that who want to use e-cigarrettes to ease their . Finally, they note that banning flavored tobacco will likely lead to both a and the , and thereby the further .

October 25, 2022

Topics: Californiba Ballot Proposition 30, Boston University's New COVID Strain and the Legacy of Past Pandemics, 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party.

1. Proposition 30: Californians will weigh in on a ballot proposition dealing with electric vehicle (EV) subsidies this November, . Called the , the states that Proposition 30 "Allocates tax revenues to zero-emission vehicle purchase incentives, vehicle charging stations, and wildfire prevention." The fiscal analysis of the proposition is that it would increase state tax revenue ranging from $3.5 billion to $5 billion annually, with the new funding used to support zero-emission vehicle programs and wildfire response and prevention activities. A "Yes" vote supports requiring Californians to pay an addition tax of 1.75 percent on personal income above $2 million annually, the additional revenue going to EV-subsidies and wildfire prevention. A "No" vote opposes the additional tax. Supporters of the proposition, including the ride-hailing service Lyft, which has for the proposition, and various environmental groups, argue that the proposition would . The proposition is also supported by the state's firefighter unions, who favor the . Opponents of the proposition, including , as well as the , argue that the proposition is , which wants California tax-payers to fund its transition to an EV-based fleet of drivers. The proposition is also opposed by California teachers unions, who oppose .

2. BU's New COVID Strain and the Legacy of Pandemics: Genetic researchers last week . The genetic variant, which , may make its modern-day carriers more at risk of , an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), as well as , a rheumatoid arthritis disease. The discovery is a timely reminder that the . It is timely because while the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, now in its third year, may be "," as President Biden claimed last month, the world is only beginning to . Among the is the future of so-called "" research, which involves researchers in order to . It is widely speculated that in a laboratory in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the pandemic began in December of 2019, although many scientists . This debate came to a head last week when the UK-based first reported that . According to the preliminary publication of the research, the new variant . The university pushed back against the Daily Mail's reporting, calling it "," and stressed that its researchers were . Nevertheless, the National Institute for Health (NIH) .

3. China's 20th Communist Party Congress: The 20th (CCP) concluded this Saturday with the , the highest position within the party's leadership structure. The congress, held every five years, also saw the election of new members to the party's main leadership bodies, including (PSC), which effectively controls both the party as well as the Chinese government. In addition to Xi, the two members reelected to the PSC were Zhao Leji and Wang Huning. The newcomers to the committee are . All four are seen as , signaling Xi's now total control over the CCP. China analysts note that Xi is now the in 1976. Xi's consolidation of power will likely mean a , involving continued lockdowns in China's major cities, despite the . Another consequence will likely also be a , nicknamed by some as "" after the popular 2015 Chinese military action film, . Indeed, before the start of the seven-day congress as a result of a . Also making headlines was the fact that the previous leader of the CCP before Xi, , was , an action likely also meant to signal Xi's absolute ascent. A spokesperson for the CCP said that Hu was simply "" Chinese Premier , who had been , was , although in a less public fashion.

October 18, 2022

Topics: California Ballot Proposition 29, Racism Scandal at LA City Hall, Military Takeovers on the Rise in Africa

1. Proposition 29: Californians will again weigh in on a ballot proposition dealing with dialysis clinics this November, . The states that Proposition 29 "Requires physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant on site during treatment" at dialysis clinics. Also, the proposition would require clinics to "disclose physicians' ownership interests; report infection data." The fiscal analysis of the proposition is that it would increase state and local government costs, "likely in the tens of millions of dollars annually." A "Yes" vote means that chronic dialysis clinics would be required to have a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant on-site during all patient treatment hours. A "No" vote means that such clinics would not be required to have a physician nurse practitioner, or physician assistant on-site during all patient treatment hours. argue that it will help ensure that dialysis patients receive safe treatment in dialysis clinics under the care of a doctor or another highly trained clinician in case of emergencies, without risk of infection, and without discrimination. argue that it would shut down many of the state's dialysis clinics and threaten the lives of 80,000 California patients who need dialysis to survive. This is the . Voters rejected similar propositions in 2018 () and again in 2020 (). The proposition is sponsored by the , a union of California healthcare workers affiliated with the . The union's members would benefit from passage of the proposition.

2. Racism Scandal at LA City Hall: Fallout from what is continues. Last week an audio recording of a meeting between LA City Council President Nury Martinez, councilmembers Kevin de Le贸n and Gil Cedillo and labor leader Ron Herrera was for the city of Los Angeles. In the meeting, which concerned the based on the 2020 census, the four can be heard making . Martinez especially and referred to the . After first only resigning from the position of council president, Martinez . Also last Monday, . So far, de Le贸n and Cedillo have refused to resign, although Cedillo had , who was scheduled to assume his office as the representative of District 1 on December 12, 2022. Nevertheless, both Cedillo and de Le贸n are . Councilmember of the council. O'Farrell and also announced that the council will , citing concerns about COVID-19 exposure. Both decisions were criticized as attempts to limit public protest. Also up for debate is as well as whether more serious reforms to the council should be introduced,.

3. Military Takeovers on the Rise in Africa: On September 30, the over his inability to deal with an Islamist insurgency. Damiba himself had . Captain Ibrahim Traore . Burkina Faso's multiple coups are illustrative of a concerning trend in West Africa: . Including the most recent coup in Burkina Faso, there have been . Such coups have succeeded in Burkina Faso (now twice), , , (also twice), and ; in and the coups failed. There are several potential reasons for the political instability, including . In a , the , a US-based foreign policy think tank, argued that the international community should do more to bolster the capacities of regional governance bodies, such as the (ECOWAS), as well as strengthen civil society and democracy in fragile West African states between elections rather than just focusing on elections themselves, among other suggestions. That many of soldiers in Burkina Faso were also is illustrative of another concerning trend: . After being severely sanctioned by the West in 2014 following their invasion of Crimea, Russia began . And their engagement appears to have paid off, , this despite the fact that Russia's now full-scale war in Ukraine will .

October 11, 2022

Topics: California Ballot Proposition 28, LA Mayoral Race Tightens, OPEC+ Cuts Oil Production

1. Proposition 28: Californians will weigh in on a ballot proposition dealing with education funding this November, . The official summary of the proposition states that Proposition 28 would provide "additional funding from state General Fund for arts and music education in all K-12 public schools (including charter schools)." According the fiscal analysis, if passed, the proposition would increase annual state costs for arts education in public schools by about $1 billion. A "Yes" vote supports with ballot initiative to (i) require an annual source of funding for K-12 public schools for arts and music education equal to, at minimum, 1% of total state and local revenues that local education agencies receive under ; (ii) distribute a portion of the additional funding based on a local education agency's share of economically disadvantaged students; and (iii) require schools with 500 or more students to use 80% of the funding for employing teachers and 20% to training and materials. A "No" vote opposes the ballot initiative, meaning that funding for arts education in public schools would continue to depend on state and local budget decisions. Supporters of the proposition, including the and the , argue that in the light of the fact that barely one in five California public schools have a full-time arts or music program, the proposition would expand access to arts and music education. Opponents of the proposition, including the , argue that while more funding for arts and music education is a good idea in theory, spending mandates unnecessarily constrain the ability of lawmakers to adapt the budget in response to changes in revenue or possible emergencies.

2. LA Mayoral Race Tightens as Candidates Debate for a Second Time: On Thursday evening, October 6, the for the office of debated for the second time. The debate was hosted by the LA-based radio station (97.1 FM) and a . Both candidates are members of the . However, , who finished second in the June 7 primary with 36% of the vote, and who owns a best known for its and malls, is a former-Republican and is seen as the of the two candidates. , who finished first in the June 7 primary with 43.1% of the vote, and who currently represents the 37th District in the U.S. House of Representatives, is seen at the , although she has faced some . During the debate, which one news outlet described as "," Caruso criticized Bass for for a master's degree in social work, implying a . Caruso also criticized Bass for in a 2010 speech. Bass in turn criticized Caruso for while he , and which he . Bass also argued that Caruso would not be a strong advocate for abortion-rights given his . While Bass had built-up a during the summer, the race has . Among registered voters, Caruso is in recent polling. The third and final mayoral debate is scheduled for Tuesday, October 11 at 7 pm at the Brokaw News Center and will be . It is expected that a scandal over made by LA City Council President Nury Martinez, councilmembers Gil Cedillo and and LA County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera, and , will be a central topic of the debate.

3. OPEC+ Cuts Oil Production: On Wednesday, October 5, members of the (OPEC) as well as their ally oil-rich states, including Russia and Mexico - a group - agreed to , equal to 2% of global supply. OPEC+'s de-facto leader Saudi Arabia claimed that the cut was . Crude prices have fallen to roughly $80 a barrel from a high of more than $120 a barrel in early June. The move is expected to , especially in California, which already had the . The decision to cut production was seen by many as a by the OPEC+ states, given that , as voters tend to . The White House responded by in its invasion of Ukraine. Some Democrats in Congress have . Also, the Biden Administration announced the from the . The administration may additionally , although Republicans would likely .

October 4, 2022

Topics: California Ballot Propositions 26 and 27, Hurricane Ian, and Russia's "Partial" Mobilization

1. Propositions 26 and 27: Californians will weigh-in on this November, . Called the , Proposition 26, if passed, would . A "Yes" vote supports this ballot initiative to (i) legalize sports betting at American Indian gaming casinos and licensed racetracks; (ii) tax profits derived from sports betting at racetracks at 10%, and (iii) legalize roulette and dice games, such as craps at tribal casinos. A "No" vote opposes this ballot initiative, thus continuing to prohibit sports betting in California and roulette and dice games at tribal casinos. Called the , Proposition 27, if passed, would . A "Yes" vote supports legalizing online and mobile sports betting for persons 21 years of age or older, establishing regulations for mobile sports betting industry, imposing a 10% tax on sports betting revenues and licensing fees, and allocating tax revenue to account for homelessness programs and an account for tribes not operating sports betting. A "No" vote opposes this ballot initiative, thus continuing to prohibit sports bettingin California. Advocates of the propositions argue that ever since the , such gambling has spread, so California would be better off regulating and taxing the practice. Opponents of the propositions, such as the , argue that both would increase gambling addiction in California, would they maintain is .

2. Hurricane Ian: After causing damage to both and the US territory of , (already ), , a category 4 hurricane, on Thursday before and eventually dissipating Sunday morning. The hurricane, to ever hit the mainland US, has , , and left . Most experts expect the as recovery efforts begin. Clean-up is expected to , according to insurance experts, and could . Responding to the hurricane will likely prove , who has emerged as a . Also, given that DeSantis may stand in the way of his reelection, President Joe Biden's may also become an issue.

3. Russia's "Partial" Mobilization: Following a in early September, Russian President Vladimir Putin involving the conscription of at least 300,000 Russians. In addition, President Putin announced that he will in defiance of international law. News of the mobilization was , as hundreds of thousands of draft-eligible men have in the days since. Nearly , according to reports. The referendums in the Ukrainian providences have also been denounced as "" and "," given that residents have been forced, , to participate by occupying Russian soldiers. Once fully annexed, President Putin could claim that Ukrainian troops defending their own country .

September 27, 2022

Topics: California Ballot Proposition 1, Santa Clarita Elections, Women's Rights Protests in Iran

1. Proposition 1: Californians will weigh-in on this November, Propositions 1, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31. In the build-up to the November 8 General Election, the Political Science Club will examine each proposition, beginning with . Called the , if passed, the proposition would amend the to enshrine a right to abortion and contraceptives. While abortion and contraception rights are under California law, argue that elevating those rights into the state's constitution is important given the US Supreme Court's 2022 decision in case of , which overturned the nation-wide right to abortion formerly guaranteed by the 1973 Supreme Court case of . However, opponents of the proposition argue that the amendment could be interpreted as guaranteeing a right to an abortion , even up to the point of birth and even if the baby is healthy and the mother's health is not threatened. While most Americans support the right to abortion, , opponents of the proposition claim. A more cynical take on the proposition is that it represents an effort on behalf of the state's governor, Gavin Newsom, .

2. Santa Clarita Elections: Santa Clarita Valley residents will weigh in on two partisan election races this November, the first for the 40th District of the and the second for the 27th District of the Congressional . These district numbers reflect the resulting from the : the Santa Clarita Valley was formerly part of the 38th Assembly district and the 25th House district, respectively. , a member of the , and the current incumbent of the 38th Assembly District, will again run for reelection to represent the new 40th Assembly District. Her opponent in the race is , a member of the . In the June 7 primary, Valladares finished first with 47.4% of the vote (48,053 votes), Schiavo was second with 33.9% (34,386) and , also a Democrat, finished third with 18.6% (18,879). In California's , Valladares and Schiavo advanced to the General Election. , a member of the , and the , will again run for reelection to represent the new 27th House District. His opponent in the race is , a member of the . In the June 7 primary, Garcia finished first with 49.6% of the vote (33,653 votes), Smith was second with 35.4% (24,007), and , also a Democrat, finish third with 5.9% (4,037). Garcia and Smith advanced to the General Election. Writing in the , Brianna Lee has argued that , a more conservative area formerly part of the 25th district.

3. Women's Rights Protests in Iran: On Tuesday, September 13, Mahsa Amini, a 22-year old woman, was , or , by the Iranian , a morality police which enforces in the theocratic republic. After allegedly being , Amini was taken to hospital for severe head-trauma, where she . While the Iranian government , her death has sparked , prompting government authorities to in the hopes of limiting organizing-efforts. Iranian women have reportedly cut off their hair and in support of Amini and in opposition to the Guidance Patrol. Analysts have described the protests as the Iranian regime's "." Supporters of the , which came to power in the , have organized .

September 20, 2022

Topics: Freight Railroads Unions Reach Deal, Ukrainian Breakthrough Against Russia

1. Freight Raidroad Union Deal: On Thursday, September 15, the biggest freight railroads and union leaders that would have crippled segments of the US economy. President Biden and White House officials, as well as , helped to that would have futher entangled supply chains, putting at a time when. Business leaders and key railroad customers, including energy companies and national retailers, had been . The deal . If approved, the deal includes an without fear of being punished. Workers had gone three years without a raise despite facing and , even as railroads were . In an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times, labor historian argued that the deal "."

2. Ukrainian Breakthrough Against Russia: On Monday, August 29, Ukrainian generals began a , which Russia had capture . On Thursday, September 6, taking advantage of a , the Ukrainian army broke through a weak point in the front lines east of the city of Kharkiv, next encircled the city of Balakliya and then advanced to the village of Volokhiv Yar, . The , which the UK-based newspaper described as "," is a significant reversal of the war so-far, which had seen in the eastern Donbas region. In addition to the territorial gains, the Ukrainian military also , including , Ukrainian officials reported. On Thursday, September 15, the Biden administration announced that the US will send an . However, military experts are divided on whether the victory will , or alternatively, whether Russia will now , perhaps even .

September 13, 2022

Topics: The UK'S Dual Political Transitions and California's Green Transition

1. The UK's Dual Political Transitions: On Tuesday, October 6, after meeting with Queen Elizabeth at her royal residence in Balmoral, Scotland. Truss was voted to the position by members of her center-right , also known as the Tories, following the in July. The Conservatives hold a 357-seat majority in the 650-seat of the British Parliament, the UK's main legislative body. Truss, herself a member of Parliament, will now . Two days later, on Thursday, October 8, at the age of 96. Her 70-year reign was the . While the Prime Minister, Truss, is in the British political system, the monarch is , or the symbolic leader. In the US, the President acts as both head of government and head of state. Elizabeth's son, Charles Philip Arthur George, will now . The UK will face a challening dual political transition in a time of both due to high inflation and rising energy prices and due to the and related to the UK's 2020 exit from the European Union.

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2. California's Green Transition: Meanwhile, , less dependent on fossil fuels. The state aims to like solar and wind by 2030. As part of this plan, state regulators voted to . However, as the , in part because of the state's , which cannot generate electricity after sun-set, a time when many of the state's residents return home from work, turn on their air-conditioners, cook dinner, do laundry, watch TV and - in some cases - plug in their electric vehicles (EVs) to charge. Ironically, the state's governor, Gavin Newsom, , an announcement that generated and even .

September 6, 2022

Welcome Back!

For the first meeting of the new academic year, the College of Canyons Political Science Club will host a general introduction and welcome meeting for new and returning members.

Please join us either in person in Hasley Hall 306 or via Zoom (use link above) at 4 pm.

Part of the meeting will include a Trivia Game! Come and test your political science knowledge!

Topics: Biden steps into the Midterm race

1. Biden Midterm Speeches: This Tuesday marks the two-month starting gun in the race for the , to be held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Yesterday, Labor Day, September 5, President Joe Biden gave his , given with variations both in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, meant to rally his Democratic Party by highlighting his achievements in office. Liberal media outlets . Conservative outlets, on the other hand, criticized what they characterized as . Such criticisms mirror that of Biden's given in the build-up to the Midterms, from last Thursday, September 1, 2022. In that speech, titled "The Continued Battle for the Soul of the Nation," Biden criticized what he called "MAGA Republicans" for threatening the country's democracy (MAGA is the abrieviation of former's president Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign slogan, "Make America Great Again"). As noted, conservative media outlets also criticized that speech as "." Liberal outlets, however, praised the speech as "." It is likely that as the Midterm elections near, .

May 24, 2022

Political Science Club Trivial Contest

For the club's final meeting, the College of the Canyons Political Science Club will host its Second American Politics Trivia Contest! Come and compete!

Elections for the Fall 2022 Political Science Club leadership board will also be held. Come and participate or run for an office!

May 16, 2022

Topics: Opiod Deaths, Latin American Elections

1. Opiod Deaths: New was released this month by the federal government estimating that nearly 108,000 peopled died from drug overdoses from January to December, 2021. This figure represents about at 15% increased from the number of deaths in 2020, according to Farida Ahmad, a research scientist from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's . Nearly 94,000 died in 2020. That said, the rise in deaths did slow in 2021 compared to the year-to-year rise from 2019 to 2020, which saw a historic 30% jump. Of the 108,000 overdose deaths, over 80,000 involved pain-killer opiods, a 15% increase from 2020. Of that figure, around 71,000 deaths involved illegally manufactured , most of which is and brought into the US .

2. Latin America Elections: Colombia and Brazil will both hold presidential elections this year, Colombia on and Brazil in . The current-front runner in Colombia is of the , while the current front-runner in early polling in Brazil is of the Workers' Party, who previously served as president of Brazil from 2003 to 2010. Both Petro and Lula have been described as "" and "" and their success reflects a larger trend of resurgent populism in Latin America in recent years. Following left-wing populist election as president in Mexico in 2018, a string of similar leftists have also come to power, including winning the presidency in Argentina in 2019,winning the presidency in Peru 2021, winning the presidency in Chile in 2022, and winning the presidency in Honduras, also in 2022. In addition, was elected president in El Salvador in 2019 and Brazil's current president, , elected in 2019, has also been described as a .

May 10, 2022

Topic: Roe v. Wade and Abortion

1. Roe v. Wade and Abortion: On Tuesday, May 3, the online political news outlet published a leaked of the Supreme Court case , which was argued on December 1, 2021. While the issue before the Court in that case was whether all pre-viability prohibitions on elective abortions are unconstitutional, the leaked majority opinion, however, written by George W. Bush appointee , went further, arguing that in the 1973 Surpeme Court case , which established a nation-wide right to abortion, had been "egrigiously wrong." Alito's majority opinion, should it hold, would overturn the Roe v. Wade , returning the issue of abortion . It is estimated that and possibility would ban abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned; which would automatically go into effect. Many Democrat-controlled states, such as and , have pledged to become in response. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts but noted that its text is not final. He also condemned the leak as a "" of the Court's trust and ordered the Court's marshall to . While abortion opponents , abortion supporters and argued that it could .

May 3, 2022

Topics: Nuclear Proliferation, Internet Privacy

1. Nuclear Proliferation: Russia's invasion of Ukraine entered its third month last Wednesday, an anniversary which prompted Russian state TV to claim that Russian President Vladimir Putin would be . The threat of nuclear escalation came just days after Russia tested a new nuclear-capable missile which Putin . These developments not only prompt questions about the growing possibility of nuclear war but also about the dimming prospects of nuclear disarmamanet. Indeed, with the US and China also looking to , and with North Korea likewise looking to , some scholars now speculate that the world may be entering into a .

2. Internet Privacy: On April 19, Washington Post cultural reporter Taylor Lorenz publishing an article Her article also controversially linked to the home address of the creator (the link was ), leading conservatives to accuss Lorenz of "." The incident has renewed debate on the in the digital era and the extent to which individuals who become influential in political and cultural spheres can expect a .

April 26, 2022

Topics: Elon Musk and Twitter.

1. Musk and Twitter: First, the founder of the electric car company , launch a bid to , arguing that the platform had become the public sphere of the digital age and as such . While free speech advocates , advocates of online content-moderation . Twitter's board has .

April 19, 2022

Topics: French Presidential Election, Politics of Social Media

1. French Presidential election: France held the first first round of its presidential election on April 10. Current president of the centrist (La Republique En March!) finished first with 9,783,058 votes (27.8%), of the (Rassemblement National) fisinished second with 8,133,828 votes (23.1%) and of the (La France Insoumise) finished third with 7,712,520 votes (22%). The top-two finishers Macron and Le Pen with face each other in the second round vote, Sunday, April 24. This will be a, when Macron won with 20,743,128 votes (66.1%) over Le Pen's 10,638,475 votes (33.9%). Most polls .

2. The Politics of Social Media: Two major stories about the politics of social media made headlines last week: First, the founder of the electric car company , launch a bid to , arguing that the platform had become the public sphere of the digital age and as such . While free speech advocates , advocates of online content-moderation . Twitter's board has . Second, the Center for Diseas Control and Prevention (CDC) released a ." This number is : a 2009 study found that 26% felt this way and a 2019 study saw the number rise to 37%. Many commentators on the study argued that .

March 29, 2022

Political Science Club Trivial Contest

Using Rich Rubino's newly published book, (2021), the College of the Canyons Political Science Club will host its First Annual American Politics Trivia Contest! Come and compete!

March 22, 2022

Topics: Supreme Court Nomination, Inflation (continued from last week)

1. Supreme Court Nomination: On February 25th, 2022, President Biden made his first Supreme Court nomination, with Judge Kentaji Brown Jackson being his pick as the 116th Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, in light of Justice Stephen Breyer's announcement to retire. Judge Breyer's historic nomination comes as a promise from President Biden to nominate a black woman as his own pick for the next SCOTUS justice. As hearings to confirm Judge Jackson, like many other nominations in the past, her presence has come under both praise and scrutiny. This week, we will discuss the implications of this nomination, as well as how it compares to past nominations.

2. Inflation: and the subsequent war has caused European natural-gas prices almost to double and . That has added to the i. And this is likely only the beginning. Last week, US President Joe Biden announced an . Also, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz likewise announced that that would have brought natural gas directly from Russia to Europe. Both actions will likely further increase the price of energy, and so price inflation: . While they have generally, Republicans have criticized Biden鈥檚 2021 decision to , which would have increased oil imports into the US from Canada, as well as his decision to halt new federal oil and gas leases and permits on public lands. They argue that . Democrats have responded that , which they argue is more the than actions taken by the Biden administration to address climate change.

March 15, 2022

Topics: Inflation, Florida's Parental Rights in Education bill

1. and the subsequent war has caused European natural-gas prices almost to double and . That has added to the i. And this is likely only the beginning. Last week, US President Joe Biden announced an . Also, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz likewise announced that that would have brought natural gas directly from Russia to Europe. Both actions will likely further increase the price of energy, and so price inflation: . While they have generally, Republicans have criticized Biden鈥檚 2021 decision to , which would have increased oil imports into the US from Canada, as well as his decision to halt new federal oil and gas leases and permits on public lands. They argue that . Democrats have responded that , which they argue is more the than actions taken by the Biden administration to address climate change.

2. On Tuesday, March 8 the Florida legislature passed a bill titled "." Florida Governor Ron DeSandis has . The controversial bill, dubbed the 鈥溾€� bill by its critics, would limit classroom instruction on sexual orientation in Kindergarten through 3^rd grade classes in Florida鈥檚 public schools. The key provision of the reads: 鈥淐lassroom instruction by school personal or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.鈥� Defenders of the bill argue that this restriction is necessary to ensure the rights of parents to introduced matters of sex and sexual orientation to their children in those grades, if they see fit. Opponents claim that the bill and may lead to bulling of LGBQT students as well as students with same-sex parents.

March 8, 2022

Topics: State of the Union Address, LA mayoral primary campaign begins (continued from last week)

1. On Tuesday, March 1, President Joe Biden delivered his first to a joint-session of the US Congress. Biden opened the speech by rebuking Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to , calling it "premeditated and unprovoked." Biden sought to reassure Americans that the US was in the hopes of convincing him to stop the conflict. In addition to harsh , Biden announced that he would and that the US Justice Department will in Putin's inner circle. Beyond Ukraine, Biden called for law-makers to send him several bills that stand little chance of passing in the closely divided Congress, including his "" spending bill (which he did not mention in name), which recently died because of opposition from every Republican and Democratic Senator Joe Manchin (D - W.Va.). Biden asked Congress to send him legislation that includes Build Back Better's proposals to reduce prescription drug costs, tackle climate change and reduce the deficit. Biden also touted the administration's successes, such as the COVID-19 stimulus bill known as the , a bipartisan infrastructure bill known as the , and the nomination of federal Judge to become the first black woman on the Supreme Court. While the speech was criticized by Republicans as "," the speech did receive for its largely moderate tone. Many progressive groups criticized the speech, however, for and for expressing .

2. On Tuesday, February 22nd candidates for participated in the . The primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, June 7, with the top-two finishers competing in the general election, Tuesday, November 8. Of the six declared candidates, five participated in the debate: LA City Attorney , realtor Mel Wilson, LA City Councilman , U.S. House Representative Karen Bass and LA City Councilman . Absent from the debate for scheduling reasons was real-estate developer . Polls show that are the main issues on voters' minds. However, pledges among the candidates to maintain or even increase LA policing was met with . The LA Police Union recently , after he pledged to . Representative Bass, who has proposed maintaining current police numbers but , currently .

March 1, 2022

Topics: Russia invades Ukraine, LA mayoral primary campaign begins

1. On Tuesday, February 22nd Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into the . The following day, Russia began a , launching a multi-pronged . With Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, facing , Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy and to participate in a counter-offensive. US President Joe Biden against Russia, as have . So far, however, European states have , fearing rising . It is expected the conflict between Russia and Ukraine will and especially in the and .

February 22, 2022

Topics: Homelessness in Los Angeles, Canadian Anti-Mandate Protests

1. In January 2019, Los Angeles County had 58,936 people experiencing homelessness. By January 2020, the number had risen to 66,433. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the county's annual count of the unhoused was cancelled in 2021, but is , in February, 2022. Most expect the count to again reveal an increase, this despite the passage in 2016 of LA City , which authorized $1.2 billion in bond funding to address homelessness and the passage in 2017 of LA County , which authorized a 10-year, quarter-cent sales tax increase to further fund homeless services. With , and with the up-coming June 7 primary election for the LA Mayoral race, on how to address the issue, from the to the .

2. On January 28, 2022, a "Freedom Convoy" of tens of thousands of protesters in pick-up trucks, eighteen-wheelers and SUVs shut down much of downtown Ottawa, Canada's federal capital. The cause of the protest was the introduction of a law which requires truck-drivers who enter the country, including Canadian ones, either to be fully vaccinated or to stick to quarantine rules. The protest has , including in and . To clear the protesters, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau and his governing Liberal Party invoked the for the first time, granting authorities , including the ability to of those participating in the protests. Critics of such measures, including the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, warn of the involved in such a response.

February 15, 2022

Topics: Ukraine-Russia Potential Invasion, Congressional Stock Trading

1. Despite diplomatic efforts, America and Europe are still no closer to ending Russia's military threat to Ukraine. After talks in Moscow, French president Emmanuel Macron said that Russian president Vladimir Putin had promised not to escalate the situation, but Russia denied that. In Washington, American president Joe Biden said a Russian invasion would prompt the cancellation of Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany; Oalf Scholz, Germany's new chancellor, however, did not confirm if Germany would support such a cancellation.

2. In 2012, the US Congress passed the , meant to ban its members from trading stocks on non-public information obtained as sitting members of Congress. However, the issue was far from resolved, as enforcement of the act has been flawed. As a result, some contend that members of Congress should be completely banned from trading stocks while in office. Three Senators have recently introduced two bills to that effect. Jon Ossoff, a Democrat elected in George in 2021, introduced the on January 12 with Mark Kelly, a Democratic senator for Arizona. The next day, Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, introduced his . Despite broad public support, both bills face large hurdles to surmount.

October 28, 2021

Topics: IATSE and Workers Rights

1. In the past week, a major strike within the film industry was averted, preventing the the shut down of thousands of productions across the country. The strike pertained to the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) calling for the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers' (AMPTP) to address ongoing workplace problems, such as excessive working hours and unlivable wages, specifically as they relate to new media. This week, we will discuss the strike as it relates to the recent trend towards workers demanding more rights, better wages, and better working conditions, reflected not only by the strike, but the labor shortages seen in the past few months.

October 7, 2021

Topics: Current debate in Congress over infrastructure bills and the role of the United Nations.

1. In early August, the Senate passed a huge bipartisan infrastructure bill that included funding to fix roads, bridges, transportation, broadband improvement, and some environmental remediation. During a time of intense partisan polarization, the bipartisan support for the bill in the Senate was striking. However, the bill has yet to pass the House because progressives are trying to pass President Biden's "Build Back Better" proposal, a $3.5 trillion 鈥渉uman infrastructure鈥� bill, which includes child care support, affordable housing, affordable education, and investment in clean energy.

2. In recent times, the United Nations has faced several issues that have major implications for the international community as well as being a test to the institution. Just this past week, Ethiopia鈥檚 federal government declared seven senior UN officials as 鈥減ersona non grata,鈥� unwelcome in the country. The expulsions reflect a broader trend of government hostility toward aid agencies and obstruction of humanitarian assistance in violation of international humanitarian law. At the same time, in a statement released on Sunday, North Korea warned the U.N. Security Council not to criticize its missile program. The statement included unspecified threats against the international body. The Political Science Club will be examining the relevance of the United Nations.

September 30, 2021

Topics: Haitian migrants and the Australia, United Kingdom, United States (AUKUS) submarine deal.

1. Thousands of Haitian migrants who had gathered on the southern border were deported back to their home country last week, even though some of them haven't lived there for a decade. They'd been living in Chile. But increasingly, Haitians in that country are fleeing, in response to a pandemic-battered economy, rising anti-immigrant sentiment, and new government policies.

2. Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom have all signed onto a deal -- referred to as AUKUS -- with each other to create a new nuclear-powered submarine class. The announcement of the deal came as an unwelcome surprised to the French government which had already signed a deal to build submarines for Australia. The deal, originally signed in 2016, has faced a series of legal challenges in France. As a result, none have been produced. When the AUKUS deal was announced, the French government recalled their ambassadors from the United States and Australia because they were upset by being kept in the dark and for not being included in the deal. This is happening at a time when President Biden promised to begin to mend relations that were strained under the Trump administration.

September 23, 2021

Topics: In a special Political Science Club meeting, Prof. Karl Striepe (pronounced streep-uh) discussed journals of importance to political scientists, emphasizing those of particular value to students including , , among others. In future presentations, Prof. Striepe will discuss important books in political science.

September 16, 2021

Topics: The California Gubenatorial Recall Election and President Biden's recent vaccine plan.

1. California Gov. Gavin Newsom staved off an attempt to remove him from office on Tuesday, September 14, 2021. Newsom, a Democrat, faced serious headwinds and multiple crises as polls over the summer showed him in real jeopardy of being recalled. With the help of party leaders including President Joe Biden, Vice President Harris and others, Newsom succeeded in rousing Democratic voters with a message that warned a Republican replacement would roll back Covid protections and betray the state's progressive character. The recall election asked voters whether Newsom should be removed 鈥� "yes" or "no" 鈥� and gave voters who wanted him ousted the choice of 46 alternatives. As of this posting (9/15/2021 at 11:35am), nearly 64% voted against recalling the governor.

2. On 9 September 2021, President Biden announced a series of vaccine mandates that will affect over 100 million Americans: all federal employees and contractors, workers at companies with over 100 employees, federal workers who are employed at a health care provider receiving Medicare or Medicaid funding, and employees at schools receiving Head Start funding, among others. Republican governors immediately announced their intention to challenge these mandates in court, including Govs. Brian Kemp (R-GA) and Kristi Noem (R-SD). Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose state has lifted virtually all pandemic mitigation measures, said in a press conference that he opposes mandates of any kind.

September 9, 2021

Topics: The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report -- since we did not have to discuss it last week -- and the Texas law pertaining to abortions.

1. The recent IPCC report, which characterizes climate change as (1) clearly "human-caused," (2) "unequivocal," and (3) "an established fact,鈥� makes more precise and warmer forecasts for the 21st century than the report issued in 2013. The report exams five possible scenarios for the future, based on realistic assumptions about how much carbon emissions are likely to be cut. In all five scenarios, carbon emissions exceed the thresholds set in the 2015 Paris climate agreement. Under each scenario, the report indicates that the world will cross the 1.5-degree-Celsius warming mark in the 2030s, earlier than some past predictions.

2. Gov. Abbott (R-TX) recently signed a law that allows private citizens to sue anyone who helps a woman obtain an abortion after the point at which medical professionals can detect cardiac activity (i.e., usually around six weeks), before many women are even aware they are pregnant. The law not only allows private citizens to sue abortion providers. If a person drives a woman to a clinic or provides financial assistance to obtain an abortion, they can be sued. The law makes no exceptions for pregnancies that are the result of rape or incest. Additionally, the private citizens who bring these suits don't need to show any connection to those they are suing.

September 2, 2021

Topics: The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report and the situation in Afghanistan.

2. The last U.S. plane departed Afghanistan's Hamid Karzai International Airport a few hours before dawn, marking the end of America's longest war and leaving the country's future in disarray and uncertainty under Taliban rule. Taliban fighters and their supporters rallied across Afghanistan to celebrate the end of 20 years of foreign military presence on Tuesday, while in Washington, President Biden defended his decision to end the conflict as well as the execution of the evacuation and withdrawal.

SPRING 2021 MEETINGS

May 14, 2021

Topics: Removal of Rep. Cheney from GOP leadership, Israeli-Palestinian conflict

1. After the January 6th riot at the Capitol Building, a schism has emerged between those who support former President Donald Trump and those who do not. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), the third highest ranking Republican in the House of Representatives, has been one of the most vocal of those who have rebuked Trump for inciting the attack on January 6th. In response, the House Republicans, with the support of Minority Leader McCarthy, voted to remove her from her position of Conference Chair.

2. The Israeli-Palestine conflict escalated erupted into violence after protests over the hreatened eviction of dozens of Palestinian families by Jewish settlers from East Jerusalem. Israel appears to be pressing ahead with a fierce military offensive in the Gaza Strip, killing as many as 10 senior Hamas military figures and toppling a pair of high-rise towers housing Hamas facilities in airstrikes. Hamas, the Islamic militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, showed no signs of backing down and fired hundreds of rockets at Israeli cities. The United Nations is warning that there is a potential of an "all out war."

April 22, 2021

Topics: Derek Chauvin guilty verdict, DC Statehood,

1. Derek Chauvin, the police officer primarily involved in the death of George Floyd, was found guilty of second degree murder, third degree murder, and manslaughter on Tuesday April 20, 2021. This court decision has sparked a variety of opinions on the outcome of the case as well as the implications of this court decision for future similar situations.

2. The House of Representatives voted on Thursday to pass a bill that would grant statehood to Washington, DC, a Democratic priority that faces obstacles to final passage even with the party now in control of both chambers of Congress and the White House. The party line vote was 216-208.

March 26, 2021

Topics: Spa Shootings/Stop the Asian Hate, Crisis at the southern border.

1. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Asian Americans have received hate crimes as a result of the COVID-19 disease originating from Wuhan, China. On March 16, three different shootings occurred throughout spas in Atlanta, Georgia. Unfortunately eight victims were found dead, six of them being Asian. This shooting was suspected to specifically target Asians, causing outrage in the Asian American community for hatred and discrimination against their culture. Robert Aaron Long has been identified as a suspect for the shootings and was arrested with charges for murder.

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2. Currently at the United States southern border thousands of immigrants are being kept in border patrol detention centers with children and teens separated from their families. The United States government has fallen under heavy scrutiny for the treatment of the immigrants along side not allowing media sources in to document the situation withing the border detention centers. On Wednesday, March 25 President Joe Biden formally appointed Vice President Kamala Harris to assess and respond to the current crisis at the southern border

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April 2, 2021

Topics: Crisis at the southern border, Trial of Derek Chauvin

1. Currently, at the southern border of the United States, thousands of immigrants are being kept in border patrol detention centers with children and teens separated from their families. The Biden administration was being heavily criticized for not allowing media sources to view the detention centers. They have since allowed some media outlets to view the facilities. On Wednesday, March 25 President Joe Biden formally appointed Vice President Kamala Harris to assess and respond to the current crisis at the southern border. Since then, the number of unaccompanied minors continues to rise.

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2. On May 25, 2000, George Floyd died after being detained by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. When Floyd's final moments, , were made public, demonstrations erupted in scores of cities across the country as veteran activists and newfound allies alike rallied to the cause of racial justice. While the vast majority of the demonstrations were peaceful, there were also incidences of looting and destruction of property. Chauvin faces three charges: second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and a lesser charge of second-degree manslaughter. He has pleaded not guilty. For many, the significance of the trial extends beyond determining the guilt or innocence of Derek Chauvin. Many view it as an opportunity for the judicial system to demonstrate that people of color, especially those in the black community, can seek and receive justice in court. Although it has received less attention, former officers J. Alexander Kueng and two other officers, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao, were also charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and manslaughter.

March 26, 2021

Topics: Spa Shootings/Stop the Asian Hate, Crisis at the southern border.

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March 19, 2021

Topics: The Filibuster, Legislative Obstructionism, and Voter Suppression and other topics TBD.

1. With the Senate evenly split 50/50, some Democrats are calling to either abolish or fundamentally modify the filibuster after Republican state legislatures started passing bills designed to make it more difficult for people to vote. Democrats claim the voting restrictions are intended to reduce voter turnout among groups that typically support the Democratic Party (e.g., blacks, Hispanics, young people). Under the normal rules of the Senate, Democrats need the support of 10 Republican Senators to pass any legislation. (This is because 60 votes are needed to end debate and vote on a bill). Senate Republicans, led by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) have made it clear that they plan to use the filibuster to prevent Congress from passing legislation in support of President Biden's agenda.

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March 12, 2021

Topics: (1) Governor Cuomo Allegations (2) Texas and other states opening up (3) the Filibuster and Legislative Obstructionism

1. Governor Cuomo (D-NY) has recently been accused of sexual harassment. A Times Union article published complaints from a woman (who has not been identified) stating that Gov. Cuomo engaged in inappropriate misconduct in the governor's mansion. This is the sixth allegation of sexual harassment. Gov. Cuomo continues to deny the allegations made against him. However, some Democratic party members are calling for his resignation or possible impeachment.

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2. On March 2, Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX) announced that the mask mandate for Texas would be lifted through an Executive Order against the advice of public health experts. Gov. Abbott plans to completely reopen Texas by March 10. The Governor of Mississippi, Tate Reeves has also taken the initiative to reopen Mississippi along with Texas. President Joe Biden has expressed his concerns towards the reopening of states while vaccines are still being administered.

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3. With the Senate evenly split 50/50, some Democrats are calling to either abolish or fundamentally modify the filibuster after Republican state legislatures started passing bills designed to make it more difficult for people to vote. Democrats claim the voting restrictions are intended to reduce voter turnout among groups that typically support the Democratic Party (e.g., blacks, Hispanics, young people). Under the normal rules of the Senate, Democrats need the support of 10 Republican Senators to pass any legislation. Senate Republicans, led by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) have made it clear that they plan to use the filibuster to prevent Congress from passing legislation in support of President Biden's agenda.

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March 5, 2021

Topics: (1) Protests in Myanmar, (2) COVID Relief Bill, (3) President Biden orders bombing of Syria.
1. In Myanmar's 2020 parliamentary election, the National League for Democracy (NLD) competed with various smaller parties, including the military-affiliated Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). The NLD, under the leadership of Suu Kyi, won the election in a landslide, winning 396 out of 476 elected seats in parliament. The USDP, regarded as a proxy for the Myanmar military, won only 33 of the 476 elected seats. (According to Myanmar's 2008 Constitution, which was written by the military, the NLD retains additional unelected seats amounting to 25% of the parliament -- allowing it to veto constitutional changes). As the election results began emerging, the USDP rejected them, urging a new election with the military as observers. While more than 90 other small parties contested the vote, Myanmar's Union Election Commission (UEC) declared there were no major irregularities in the voting. The military, which claimed to have found 8 million irregularities in voter lists in over 300 townships, called on the UEC and government to review the results. The commission dismissed the claims for lack of any evidence. On February 1, the day parliament was set to convene, Myanmar's military detained the head of the NLD and other members of the ruling party. The military declared a state of emergency for one year and began closing the borders, restricting travel and electronic communications nationwide. Protesters have been battling in the streets ever since. (Wikipedia)

Sources:

Myanmar protesters undeterred after bloodiest day

2. On February 27th, the House of Representatives passed its $1.9 trillion Coronavirus Relief Package by a vote of 219-212. The vote was mostly along party lines with two two Democrats joining all Republicans in opposing it. The Senate is currently debating the bill. Democrats hope to pass the legislation by March 14, when current unemployment aid programs expire. The bill likely to pass the Senate differs from the House bill in two important respects. First, the House bill included a provision that would have increased the federal minimum wage to $15.00 over a number of years. The Parliamentarian, who is responsible for ensuring that the rules of the Senate are followed, determined that the minimum wage increase could not be passed using the reconciliation process. Additionally, the House bill provided $1,400 checks to couples and individuals making $200,000 or $100,000 a year, respectively. The Senate version of the bill lowered the income caps to couples and individuals making $160,000 and $80,000, respectively. Republicans in the Senate are employing a number of tactics to slow down passage of the bill but it appears to be on target to pass within the next week.

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3. On February 26, President Joe Biden ordered airstrikes on buildings in Syria that the Pentagon said were used by Iranian-backed militias to attack U.S. targets in Iraq.
Citing unconfirmed local reports, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the strikes killed at least 22 people. Pentagon press secretary John Kirby portrayed the bombings as carefully calibrated, 鈥減roportionate鈥� and 鈥渄efensive.鈥� According to NBC News, "The president鈥檚 decision appeared aimed at sending a signal to Iran and its proxies in the region that Washington would not tolerate attacks on its personnel in Iraq..." Senators from both parties expressed frustration that they were not notified ahead of time about the strikes. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) told Politico, 鈥淚 learned about it on the news. I鈥檓 on the Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees. I don鈥檛 think I should be learning about it that way.鈥� Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Republican hawks said they supported Biden鈥檚 decision, underscoring the blurring of partisan lines on the issue of presidential war powers.

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February 26, 2021

Topics: (1) Trump at CPAC, (2) Biden nominations, (3) Report on Death of Jamal Khashoggi
1. Former President Trump will give his first political speech since leaving office on Sunday at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), a four-day event that began last night. The annual event, which is hosted by the American Conservative Union, is attended by conservative activists and elected officials from across the United States. A handful of would-be presidential hopefuls will be on hand for this year's conference, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, as well as Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Josh Hawley of Missouri. However, recent polls suggested that former President Trump is the overwhelming favorite among CPAC attendees. Additionally, GOP leaders who have been critical of former President Trump, such as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Sen. Mitt Romney (Utah), Trump鈥檚 former ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, or Rep. Liz Cheney were not given any speaking time. Is former President Trump the de facto leader of the Republican Party, despite losing his re-election bid? And, if so, what does that mean for the Republican Party in 2022 and 2024?

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2. The first task of any incoming administration is to have the new president's Cabinet choices approved by the United States Senate. As of Thursday, the Senate has confirmed 10 out of 23 of President Biden's Cabinet members including Avril Hanies (Director of National Intelligence), Anthony Blinken (Secretary of State), Llyod Austin (Secretary of Defense) among others. However, President Biden's nominee for Chief of the Office of Management and Budget, Neera Tanden, is running into opposition. Most troubling for President Biden is the fact that Sen. Manchin (D-WV) publicly announced his intention to oppose her nomination. The challenge President Biden is facing in securing Tandem's nomination may be a harbinger of things to come. In order for President Biden enact his agenda, he will need the support of every Democratic Senator including progressives such as Sens. Sanders (I-VT) and Warren (D-MA), centrists such as Sens. Tester (D-MT) and Kelly (D-AZ) and conservatives such as Sens. Machin, and Sinema. How will the ideological diversity of the Democratic Party affect President Biden's ability to carry out his agenda?

Sources:

Key senators oppose Biden budget pick, confirmation at risk

3. On October 2, 2018, Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi citizen living in Northern Virginia and writing columns for The Washington Post, entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain documents related to his planned marriage. He was never seen again. Although the Saudi government initially denied any knowledge of his death, Saudi Arabia's Attorney General eventually stated that the murder was premeditated and convicted five Saudi citizens. In November of 2018, the Central Intelligence Agency concluded that Mohammed bin Salman, the crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, had ordered Khashoggi's assassination. The Biden administration is expected to release a report soon that addresses the key question in the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi: What role, if any, did Saudi Arabia's crown prince have in the death?If the report by the U.S. intelligence community implicates Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, it could damage the already complicated relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia.

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February 19, 2021

Topics:
We will begin by discussing the continued power outages and disruption of water service in Texas and elsewhere as a result of the recent storm.

Sources:

Political Science Club Officers

Fall 2023 Officers

President - Neo Sola
Vice President - Yousseff Youssef and Brandon Naaman
Secretary - Carlos Guti茅rrez
Treasurer - Alexander Baghdassarian
ICC - Arlin Munoz
PR - Karen Machado

Spring 2024 Officers

President - Arlin Munoz
Vice President - Carlos Guti茅rrez
Secretary - Scott Sonksen
Treasurer - Calvin J. Garigan
ICC -
PR - Karen Machado and Mason Freed

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Political Science Club

Club Meeting Time: Tuesday @ 4:00 p.m. in Bonelli Hall 306 or via

Political Science Club Information

May 21, 2024

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Professor Showdown: Thursday, May 2th @ 4:00 p.m. in Bonelli Hall 306 or at meeting ID: 823 5428 8863

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Professor Showdown: Thursday, May 4th @ 4:00 p.m. in Hasley Hall 306 or at meeting ID: 886 9224 9993

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