Politics + Society – The Conversation – US Presidential election, Congress and political issues

A group of women standing and making speeches, with some behind lecterns.

A group of women standing and making speeches, with some behind lecterns.

Why the political ambition gap between men and women persists even at the local level

Emma Schroeder, Texas Christian University; Fiona Rodger, University of Notre Dame, and Samantha Chapa, University of Texas at Arlington

An illustration of a government building with digital code behind it.

An illustration of a government building with digital code behind it.

How governments worldwide are shaping what AI can say about politics

Jordi Calvet-Bademunt, Vanderbilt University

Offering cash for votes is quite common – but here’s why it doesn’t work

Kenneth Greene, The University of Texas at Austin

President Donald Trump dances on a stage at a campaign rally in Kentucky on Oct. 17, 2026, next to a 'Make America Great Again' sign.

President Donald Trump dances on a stage at a campaign rally in Kentucky on Oct. 17, 2026, next to a 'Make America Great Again' sign.

Are transgender sports bans really about protecting women? Survey data tells a different story

Tatishe Nteta, UMass Amherst; Jesse Rhodes, UMass Amherst, and Lane Cuthbert, UMass Amherst

Seen from behind, track athletes sit in chairs in a stadium at night, one with a trans pride flag tucked in her hair.

Seen from behind, track athletes sit in chairs in a stadium at night, one with a trans pride flag tucked in her hair.

Are partisan politics even changing up our accents? They just might be, y’all

Valerie M. Fridland, University of Nevada, Reno

An acoustic guitar, antique american flag, cowboy hat and boots.

An acoustic guitar, antique american flag, cowboy hat and boots.

Young voters fear mass shootings like the one in Oregon, but that fear divides them on gun control

Jillian Turanovic, University of Colorado Boulder and Kristin Lloyd, Clemson University

A man carries a child as he and others walk past law enforcement officers and police vehicles in a crowded parking lot

A man carries a child as he and others walk past law enforcement officers and police vehicles in a crowded parking lot

Maine Sen. Collins’ success bringing home federal funds is a perfect example of the thin line between political favoritism and effective representation

Nicholas Jacobs, Colby College; Institute for Humane Studies

A man in a red and black checked shirt holds a sign aloft that says 'Thank You Susan.'

A man in a red and black checked shirt holds a sign aloft that says 'Thank You Susan.'

Why the 26 secretary of state races this November matter more than they did before Trump’s drive to assert federal authority over elections

Thom Reilly, Arizona State University

Ballot boxes covered in American flags.

Ballot boxes covered in American flags.

Why the GOP’s voter fraud messaging may backfire

Christopher Miller, University of Richmond

A bumper sticker in a post reads 'Stop Voter Fraud.'

A bumper sticker in a post reads 'Stop Voter Fraud.'

Republicans can confirm a Supreme Court justice if Democrats take the Senate, but at what cost?

Paul M. Collins Jr., UMass Amherst

A view of a federal building in the background with large columns in the foreground.

A view of a federal building in the background with large columns in the foreground.

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Midterms 2026

A crowd of people at a rally with some holding a sign that says 'HANDS OFF OUR ELECTIONS.'

A crowd of people at a rally with some holding a sign that says 'HANDS OFF OUR ELECTIONS.'

I’ve been studying election integrity for 26 years, and here’s why I expect a normal election this November instead of chaos

Justin Levitt, Loyola Law School Los Angeles

Democrats distance themselves from trans rights – close midterm races may show whether that pays off

Dorian Rhea Debussy, The Ohio State University

A Pride flag is held above a large crowd with a domed building in the background.

A Pride flag is held above a large crowd with a domed building in the background.

Federal spending on climate change before 2024 election boosted incumbents of both parties

Kayla Morton, University of Delaware

A view of the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, with people at the desks and on the dais.

A view of the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, with people at the desks and on the dais.

How candidates are (quietly) talking about climate change – 3 election strategies you’ll see across the US

Geoffrey Henderson, University of Michigan and Nathaniel Geiger, University of Michigan

A candidate speaks to a crowd of supporters with red signs.

A candidate speaks to a crowd of supporters with red signs.

What the law says about armed officers at polling places

Danielle Friedman, University of Wisconsin-Madison

A 'VOTE HERE" sign in three languages, at a polling place.

A 'VOTE HERE" sign in three languages, at a polling place.

Meet the ‘independent voters’ who will likely decide which party triumphs in the 2026 midterm elections

Julio Borquez, University of Michigan-Dearborn

Three people stand in front of voting booths.

Three people stand in front of voting booths.

These state supreme court races could decide abortion access and trans rights

Rachel Rebouché, The University of Texas at Austin

A polling station is seen with two voting booths with American flags and the word 'vote' on them.

A polling station is seen with two voting booths with American flags and the word 'vote' on them.

We’ve tracked $80M of spending on almost 170 AI-generated political ads this year – it’s weird

Travis N. Ridout, Washington State University; Erika Franklin Fowler, Wesleyan University, and Michael Franz, Bowdoin College

A wall of video screens shows various images, with the word 'REAL' in the upper left corner and 'FAKE' in the lower right.

A wall of video screens shows various images, with the word 'REAL' in the upper left corner and 'FAKE' in the lower right.

The White House & Congress

Delegates at a curved table watch Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei on video screens.

Delegates at a curved table watch Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei on video screens.

Trump wants an AI Force like Space Force, but that could make AI’s risks harder to manage

Jason M. Blazakis, Middlebury College

Trump frames unregulated AI as a way to keep ahead of China – but in fact, it harms US national security

Stephen Collins, Kennesaw State University

Two men walk down a white path next to a green lawn.

Two men walk down a white path next to a green lawn.

Other presidents have let white-collar criminals dodge financial penalties – but not like Trump

Caren Morrison, Georgia State University

A man in a suit sits at a desk in front of flags and holds up an open folder with a signed document inside.

A man in a suit sits at a desk in front of flags and holds up an open folder with a signed document inside.

How Trump’s crypto winnings undermined the industry’s push for looser regulation

Lee Reiners, Duke University

As presidential candidate, Donald Trump speaks at the Bitcoin 2024 Conference in Nashville, Tenn.

As presidential candidate, Donald Trump speaks at the Bitcoin 2024 Conference in Nashville, Tenn.

Pete Hegseth is rebuilding the Army’s ‘brass ceiling’

Jeremiah Favara, Gonzaga University

Dan Driscoll, Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump walk together across a tarmac.

Dan Driscoll, Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump walk together across a tarmac.

Security clearances don’t determine whom a president can trust – they reveal risks the president may not know

Brian O'Neill, Georgia Institute of Technology

President Donald Trump walks across a tarmac, followed by several others, including Natalie Harp at right.

President Donald Trump walks across a tarmac, followed by several others, including Natalie Harp at right.

The Pentagon is using polygraphs to hunt leakers, but the tests are more theater than fact

Brian O'Neill, Georgia Institute of Technology

A person's right hand rests on a table; three of their fingers are connected to a polygraph machine.

A person's right hand rests on a table; three of their fingers are connected to a polygraph machine.

What comes next for the 1 million people who have lost – or will soon lose – Temporary Protected Status

Jean Lantz Reisz, University of Southern California

People at a rally hold signs that say 'permanent status for immigrant families' and 'TPS holders make the US stronger.'

People at a rally hold signs that say 'permanent status for immigrant families' and 'TPS holders make the US stronger.'

Race, Identity & Society

A crowd of people in an 18th century scene of a public hanging.

A crowd of people in an 18th century scene of a public hanging.

In newly independent US, Americans debated whether public executions taught a lesson or just showed off the state’s power to destroy

Maurizio Valsania, Università di Torino

Why the Paramount-Warner merger is a problem for democracy

Seth Ashley, Colorado State University

Several people stand in front of a large billboard in a city square.

Several people stand in front of a large billboard in a city square.

US inequality is getting worse in ways you might not expect

Markus Schneider, University of Denver

From left, Priscilla Chan, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Lauren Sanchez, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Elon Musk attend President Donald Trump's inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 20, 2025.

From left, Priscilla Chan, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Lauren Sanchez, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Elon Musk attend President Donald Trump's inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 20, 2025.

Across the US, people don’t want data centers coming to their communities

Neha Gour, George Mason University; John Kotcher, George Mason University, and Teresa Myers, George Mason University

A large building is under construction.

A large building is under construction.

Today’s irreverent politics ignore ancient wisdom: The need to know your limits

Robert A. Ballingall, University of Maine

A dark-colored painting shows a balding man with a white beard, holding a book and wearing a brown cloak.

A dark-colored painting shows a balding man with a white beard, holding a book and wearing a brown cloak.

Why the assault weapons debate is a culture debate

Robert Spitzer, State University of New York Cortland

An image of an assault rifle in crosshairs with a red background.

An image of an assault rifle in crosshairs with a red background.

White nationalism’s appeal runs deeper than partisan politics

Patrick Egan, New York University; James Bisbee, Vanderbilt University, and Joshua A. Tucker, New York University

Men in white face coverings, dark jackets and khaki pants stand in a line holding flags in front of the Washington Monument as another man walks past.

Men in white face coverings, dark jackets and khaki pants stand in a line holding flags in front of the Washington Monument as another man walks past.

The trouble with Flock cameras is the surveillance system’s architecture, not just some of its users

Henry F. Fradella, Arizona State University

Several cameras are attached to a light post as clouds and blue sky appear in the background.

Several cameras are attached to a light post as clouds and blue sky appear in the background.

Courts & the Constitution

A pregnant person in a hospital gown and wristband, with an IV taped to one hand, rests in a hospital bed.

A pregnant person in a hospital gown and wristband, with an IV taped to one hand, rests in a hospital bed.

When abortion and surrogacy law collide, contracts can’t answer the hardest questions

Sonia Suter, George Washington University and Naomi Cahn, University of Virginia

Christa Pike survived a lethal injection attempt – the latest person to endure a failed execution

Austin Sarat, Amherst College

An ambulance drives through a gated entrance at night.

An ambulance drives through a gated entrance at night.

Originalism: What it is, what it isn’t and why it’s the most democratic option for the Supreme Court

Brian Fitzpatrick, Vanderbilt University

A dark-haired man with glasses, standing on a lawn and wearing a black robe.

A dark-haired man with glasses, standing on a lawn and wearing a black robe.

How due process, not the First Amendment, got the White House ban on reporters blocked in court

Wayne Unger, Quinnipiac University

A woman stands on a street corner in front of a television news camera and other broadcast equipment.

A woman stands on a street corner in front of a television news camera and other broadcast equipment.

After Supreme Court setback, Trump again targets immigration by expanding definition of birthright citizenship

Austin Sarat, Amherst College

A man seated at a desk speaks as another many standing in the background looks at him.

A man seated at a desk speaks as another many standing in the background looks at him.

Texas prosecutors are calling a teenage shooting spree ‘terrorism’ – the case could reshape American criminal law

Art Jipson, University of Dayton

Flags representing the U.S. and Texas fly outside the State Capitol in Austin, Texas

Flags representing the U.S. and Texas fly outside the State Capitol in Austin, Texas

Is withholding federal counterterrorism funds from states – as FEMA has threatened – legal?

Austin Sarat, Amherst College

A close up of a federal building.

A close up of a federal building.

When can a power company take your land for data center infrastructure?

Aaron Walayat, University of Dayton

Transmission towers and power lines above a hillside neighborhood

Transmission towers and power lines above a hillside neighborhood

State & Local Government

Shelves of colorful electronic cigarette devices for sale

Shelves of colorful electronic cigarette devices for sale

Many vapes and e-cigarettes are now banned in Pennsylvania – here’s what Philly consumers and businesses need to know

Ana Santos Rutschman, Villanova University

Philly voters care about local issues, but election integrity fears make them wonder if their vote matters

Heather LaMarre, Temple University

A sign encouraging people to vote hangs from the facade of a building

A sign encouraging people to vote hangs from the facade of a building

Murder of Black suffrage leader Octavius Catto reveals why Election Day 1871 was one of the most violent in Philadelphia history

Timothy Welbeck, Temple University

Chest and head of statue of man wearing 19th Century attire

Chest and head of statue of man wearing 19th Century attire

More than 119 million Brazilians voted in the Oct. 4 election – including about 21,000 Florida residents

Rafael R. Ioris, University of Denver

a woman signs a piece of paper while a man sitting at a table holds her id card

a woman signs a piece of paper while a man sitting at a table holds her id card

The oil market that sets today’s gas prices was invented in western Pennsylvania

Brian C. Black, Penn State

A group of businessmen in a black and white photo.

A group of businessmen in a black and white photo.

2026 midterms could be the end of Pennsylvania’s split legislature, with effects on affordability, election reform, marijuana and more

Daniel J. Mallinson, Penn State

A sheet of stickers that say 'I VOTED!'

A sheet of stickers that say 'I VOTED!'

Can development happen without displacement? Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood neighborhood is a test case

Ira Goldstein, University of Pennsylvania

A neighborhood of older homes surrounded by a hill and trees.

A neighborhood of older homes surrounded by a hill and trees.

1 in 2 Florida residents live in HOAs – how these private governments are reshaping the American Dream

Stephanie A. Dhuman, Hamilton College

A photo of a central Florida neighborhood street, including several homes, parked cars and palm trees.

A photo of a central Florida neighborhood street, including several homes, parked cars and palm trees.

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