Kamala Harris’ middle name means “goddess," let’s be wary of falling into the worship trap
Vice President Kamala Harris has remained poised under pressure during an intense campaign, reminding listeners of Donald Trump’s record as president and promising that, if elected, she will work for them. Harris has credited her passion…
What Trump and Hillary Have in Common: Running Again After Losing
According to much of the punditry, the 2022 mid-term elections were supposed to result in a Republican “Red Wave,” because the media assumed voters would punish Democrats for rapid inflation and a President too old…
Translations Help Counter Disinformation As American Voters Speak Many Languages
With only weeks to go until the U.S. presidential election, recent news about Russian disinformation adds to the concerns about Russian interference with voters. During the recent vice presidential debate between J.D. Vance and Tim Walz, discussion of…
Shattering a Century of Silence: The DOJ Finally Investigates the 1921 Tulsa Massacre
In the early hours of June 1, 1921, a piercing whistle shattered the quiet of Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was the signal for a devastated premeditated attack on Greenwood, a thriving African American community. As dawn…
My Reasonable Doubt about the Death Penalty
It’s impossible not to consider the futility of the death penalty after Missouri executed Marcellus Williams. He was convicted of murdering Felicia Gayle during a burglary of her St. Louis-area home in 1998, but serious questions about…
The modern-day lynching of DNA
With a month left before the presidential election, Donald Trump and JD Vance have doubled down on racist attacks of Haitian migrants, leading to bomb threats against schools with Haitian children. Trump has continued to…
Necessity, Not A Relic: Why We Need Libraries Now
McDonald’s Corp.,which has more than 13,000 stores in the U.S., has recently given a classic menu item a makeover, reportedly amid efforts to boost sales. However, there is another institution that outnumbers McDonalds in the U.S. and…
The case for Tim Walz – why geographers make good leaders
A lot has been made about Walz’s experience as a football coach. While I love a good football game, ahead of the VP debate, I am most interested to see how Tim Walz leverages his…
Step Up: Physicians, Nurses Insist On Contract Negotiations
Mass General Brigham (MGB), the largest private employer in Massachusetts, has a problem. Resident and fellow physicians—the house staff that comprise a critical mass of the hospital system’s workforce—remain disrespected and underpaid. Chances are, the…
America’s Achilles Heel: Do Not Let Them Kill Another Innocent Black Man
“And where is that band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion, A home and a country, should leave us no more? Their blood has washed out their foul…
Violence and Hate Speech in American Democracy. How Did We Get Here?
The 1872 elections were the most contentious in American history. After both parties complained of corruption, neither candidate would concede. Multiple candidates claimed victory for the same office, and chaos erupted. Rival newspapers engaged in…