Congress
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Executive Power Play: Trump and the Return of Impoundment
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Within the deluge of policies coming out of the second Trump administration, impoundment has resurfaced as a battleground between legislative and executive power. Impoundment is a practice in which the President can refuse to spend federal funds appropriated by Congress. Those who support the restoration of this practice see it…
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An Interview with Senator Jon Tester: The Media Ecosystem in Today’s Democracy
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Former U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) has devoted his life to public service as a music teacher, a Big Sandy school board member, and a leader in the Montana State Senate and U.S. Senate. But if you ask Tester what he does for a living, he will say first and…
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Is TikTok a National Security Threat?
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On March 7th, 2023, a bipartisan group of senators introduced a bill to empower the Department of Commerce to ban the popular short video app TikTok. Over the past two years, the Federal Government has beleaguered TikTok, owned by the China-based company ByteDance. TikTok is the target of investigation because…
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Sitting on a Ticking Bomb: Introducing Congressional Oversight for Zero-Day Vulnerabilities
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Each new military paradigm and technological development promises new legal and policy questions. Every innovation in weaponry brings new range, cost, and training while impacting civilian life, posing new questions to the leaders of the day. The Constitution attempts to timelessly outline the parameters around which the government make war,…
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Congressional Staff Shock Therapy: Fellowships and Internships as Diversity Superchargers?
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Latinos are roaring into political relevance in the United States, with a population growth of 23% over the last decade, compared to the national rate of 7%. This includes significant dispersion beyond traditional Southwestern states. Yet, the United States’ changing demographic is not well reflected in congressional offices. While Congress…
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It’s Time for a New Constitution
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On Thursday September 17, the United States celebrated Constitution Day—a holiday celebrating the signing of the Constitution in 1787. In the intervening 233 years, the document has undergone 27 revisions that have aimed at making the United States and its institutions more inclusive, responsive, and democratic. Yet for the entirety…
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Purple State Extremism? How Two-Party States Polarize
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Many Americans believe national politics are more polarized than ever. The common narrative is that Americans increasingly self-segregate their neighborhoods, media consumption, and even dating lives along partisan lines. This self-sorting creates enclaves of like-minded Americans — “red” and “blue” neighborhoods, counties, and states. As a result, voters elect politically…
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How Fear of the Future Causes Political Gridlock
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Gridlock can occur even when the same political party controls both houses of the U.S. Congress, as we have seen through the beginning of the Trump presidency. Gridlock bogs down the wheels of bureaucracy and makes it difficult to agree even on legislation that is beneficial to both parties. A…
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State of the Union, Part 1: Obama’s Push to Break Internet Monopolies
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Obama’s State of the Union proposal to promote internet service competition may delight consumers, but will face vigorous opposition from current providers and state governments.
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Congress Derailed: Fear and the American Dream, Redux
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Field research demonstrates that immigration reform might rely less on racial conservatism and more on nature, neighborhoods, and the melting pot.
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The Mindfield: Navigating Veterans Mental Health Policy
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OIF and OEF heroes team with mental health professionals in the closest armed services-to-research relationship to date on the issues of PTSD and Veteran’s affairs