Nov 22, 2024
A memorial display for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, featuring a framed portrait, flowers, and candles, with a quote reflecting her wish for a new president before her replacement.
What Happens Next: RBG’s Passing and the Fate of the High Court

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away Friday evening, September 18, 2020, after serving nearly three decades on the nation’s highest court. Known affectionately as the “Notorious RBG,” she left an immediate wake of grief among her most ardent supporters and ideological opponents alike—but the aftermath of Ginsburg’s... Read More »

A person standing at a crossroads with signs indicating "Gun Rights" and "Gun Control" on either side.
Please, Sir. May I Have Some More Guns? Gun Restrictions in California

Recently, California placed a ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines. Magazines are considered “high capacity” if they hold more than 10 bullets. However, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, repealed this ban because it goes against the 2nd Amendment, which gives Americans the right to own guns.... Read More »

A close-up of an Uber and Lyft sticker displayed on a car windshield, highlighting the ride-share services.
Proposition 22: California Workers in the Age of Uber

A time before ride-share apps seems like a distant memory, but California law may be steering the state back in that direction this November. Californians will vote on Proposition 22, a ballot measure that will determine whether companies like Uber and Instacart will endure on the West Coast. The App-Based... Read More »

A hand writing "Religion" on a chalkboard, with books in the foreground.
Espinoza v. Montana Blurs Line Separating Church and State

On June 30, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue that Montana’s public-funded scholarship program for students to attend private schools cannot exclude religious schools. “A state need not subsidize private education,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the 5-4 majority opinion. “But once... Read More »

A representation of Lady Justice holding scales against the backdrop of the American flag, symbolizing the judicial system.
The Packed and Politicized Judicial Landscape

If Joe Biden were to secure the presidency, he would face a scene not unlike President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s late-1930s America. The nostalgic similarities have some wondering if a Biden presidency, too, might seek to rework the lifetime-tenured, nine-Justice stalwarts of the U.S. Supreme Court. In the shadow of the... Read More »

A hand rearranging letter blocks to change "OLD PRESIDENT" to "NEW PRESIDENT."
Transfer of Power: The Coming Storm of November

This year, the U.S. Presidential election contends with a tensely polarized nation and electorate, an ongoing global pandemic, foreign interference, and mail-in voting controversies that threaten to tarnish the shining face of the USPS. The current president has been mentally prepping the country for months—perhaps even years—to expect foul play... Read More »

A masked priest holds a wooden cross and a rosary, symbolizing faith during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Should Churches be Closed in the Midst of a Pandemic?

In order to avoid large groups of people and help slow the spread of COVID-19, churches have been forced to close down and not offer in-person services. Many churches responded with live streams of their services as an alternative. With some states slowly reopening, some churches are now providing in-person... Read More »

Demonstrators holding signs advocating for electors to "Vote Your Conscience" during a protest related to the Electoral College.
Faithless Electors: Supreme Court Rules That Penalties are Proper

Presidential elections in the United States use a system referred to as the Electoral College. Under this system, elections are not determined based on which candidate received the most votes, but rather on which candidate secured the largest number of Electoral College votes. Each state is assigned a certain number... Read More »

A woman wearing a mask points a handgun out of a window.
Couple Charged for "Defending" Home Against Protestors

A St. Louis prosecutor filed charges against a local couple after the pair brandished firearms at protesters. Footage of the scuffle, which began after the agitators swarmed onto the couple's lawn, was widely circulated on social media. "It is illegal to wave weapons in a threatening manner — that is... Read More »

A man wearing a mask grips prison bars, highlighting the struggles of inmates during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prisoners Across the Country File Pandemic-Related Lawsuits

COVID-19 is wreaking havoc on the U.S. incarceration system. Multiple COVID-related lawsuits, brought forth by prisoners, are percolating through courts across the country. At the center of theses suits lie allegations that prison workers are neglecting inmates' safety and exposing them to unsafe conditions. Officials claim that they're doing their... Read More »

Image depicting the U.S. Constitution with a focus on the First Amendment and a gavel.
Federal Judge Protects the Power of the Press in Portland

The power of the press, a cornerstone of holding the government accountable, is considered sacred in witnessing injustice and informing the public without government limitation through censorship or exertion of influence. Throughout global history, particularly in times of war and national strife, political corruption walks hand-in-hand with the suppression of... Read More »

A statue wearing a traffic cone hat and a face mask, symbolizing protests against racial injustice.
Tennessee Ratifies New Penalties Rife with Racial Disparity for Protestors

So far, in the indisputably turbulent year of 2020, Tennessee has already seen several controversies bring its legislators into the national spotlight. Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally posted (and subsequently deleted) a menacing “warning” to the Black Lives Matter community. The state Supreme Court made headlines when it ruled that fear... Read More »