Background On June 5th, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt released a joint statement, announcing their severance of all diplomatic and trade ties with the gulf state of Qatar. This announcement came on the heels of rising tensions between Qatar and their fellow Arab states. The official reason given for the severance …
Background The year was 1986. The Oprah Winfrey Show made its debut. Mike Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion of all time. And in October, the Tax Reform Act of 1986 was signed, marking the last time the United States federal tax code underwent large-scale reform. The global economy has changed drastically since 1986: free … Continue reading
In an increasingly digital world, social media has emerged as a new soap box for public figures to speak from. Particularly in politics, outlets such as Twitter and Facebook have proved to be valuable tools for rallying supporters from areas across the United States. However, President Trump’s use of Twitter has been notably different than … Continue reading
Overview On May 18th Congress was given official notice of the administrations’ intention to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). President Trump has repeatedly stated his discontent with NAFTA, often referring to the agreement as “the worst deal of all time”. In the notice sent to Congress, Trade Representative Robert Lightizer, stated that … Continue reading
Introduction The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) supports individuals from sectors across society who are looking for employment, training, or other workforce assistance. WIOA is a federal program implemented by states and it has only been active since July 1, 2016. The program is supported by a bipartisan majority and has been praised by … Continue reading
Overview Late June, legislation that would transform California’s health care system to a single-payer system was brought to a halt by Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, despite approval in the state Senate and loud public support. Single-payer health insurance eliminates the numerous private and government health insurers and replaces them with a single public organization that … Continue reading
Introduction In May 2017, under the conservative Chairman Ajit Pai’s leadership, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) proposed to roll back the recently-approved net neutrality regulations. Net neutrality advocates for equality in Internet services, under its principle, all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) should treat consumers equally. Experts holding different opinions vehemently argued against each other and … Continue reading
Overview Since Fidel Castro took power in 1959, the United States has adopted policies to isolate Cuba both diplomatically and economically. Former President Barack Obama began the process of normalizing relations between the United States and Cuba during his tenure. The Obama administration’s policies signal a shift in 50 plus years of American foreign … Continue reading
