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

A group of people moving through a grand hallway space.

A group of people moving through a grand hallway space.

Democrats’ agenda will be set by their ability to organize and compromise — not by the socialist, progressive or centrist factions all claiming victory

SoRelle Wyckoff Gaynor, University of Virginia

A federal building with columns is seen through a window as another federal building is reflected in the window.

A federal building with columns is seen through a window as another federal building is reflected in the window.

After midterm rout, Republicans can still confirm a Supreme Court justice, but at what cost?

Paul M. Collins Jr., UMass Amherst

While California’s wealth tax failed, states are taking other steps to collect more revenue from the rich

Allison Anna Tait, University of Richmond

Supporters of Amendment 87 celebrate, while holding signs supporting the measure.

Supporters of Amendment 87 celebrate, while holding signs supporting the measure.

America’s 2-party system seems weird, but adding a 3rd party could make voter representation worse

Robin E. Best, Binghamton University, State University of New York

Rows of red elephant and blue donkey figurines on a blue background.

Rows of red elephant and blue donkey figurines on a blue background.

A thank-you on Veterans Day won’t close the growing military-civilian gap

Scott Parrott, University of South Carolina

People in dark uniforms march down a city street carrying a line of flags, tall buildings behind them

People in dark uniforms march down a city street carrying a line of flags, tall buildings behind them

Democrats in House poised to investigate the Trump Administration, taking up a long-standing power GOP-led Congress ignored for the past two years

Drew Kurlowski, Coastal Carolina University and Gibbs Knotts, Coastal Carolina University

A white domed building behind trees.

A white domed building behind trees.

I study polling failures – this time, pollsters were mostly right, if not precise

W Joseph Campbell, American University School of Communication

Several voting booths are seen in a dark hall.

Several voting booths are seen in a dark hall.

Presidents of both parties defended libraries as allies of democracy for a century – until Trump

Alex H. Poole, Drexel University

A black-and-white photo of a group of men and women in coats and hats standing outside a brick building beside a bus labeled 'Book Bus.'

A black-and-white photo of a group of men and women in coats and hats standing outside a brick building beside a bus labeled 'Book Bus.'

Georgia Gov.-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms stands on the shoulders of Stacey Abrams, Charlotta Bass and countless other Black women who dreamed

Allissa V. Richardson, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

A woman smiling with her eyes closed hugs a girl; both are dressed in bright pink.

A woman smiling with her eyes closed hugs a girl; both are dressed in bright pink.

Political information increasingly comes from pop culture, outside of partisan silos but where male creators – and sometimes misogyny – dominate

Karrin Vasby Anderson, Colorado State University; Natalie Pennington, Colorado State University, and Nick Marx, Colorado State University

An illustration of a social media mix of sources and emojis.

An illustration of a social media mix of sources and emojis.

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Midterms 2026

Several women cheer and hug each other.

Several women cheer and hug each other.

‘Epic’ blue wave helps Democrats take Congress in overwhelming rebuke to President Trump

Charlie Hunt, Boise State University

Midterms are bad for incumbents – and even worse when energy prices are high

Michael A. Mische, University of Southern California

A person stands outside a voting booth near other people already in their booths.

A person stands outside a voting booth near other people already in their booths.

Why over two-thirds of Americans say their country is in decline

Dante Chinni, Michigan State University and Ari Pinkus, Michigan State University

Two men look at vegetables and fruit displayed on a stand.

Two men look at vegetables and fruit displayed on a stand.

I’ve been talking to MAGA supporters for years, and here’s why some are sticking with Trump — and others are not

Alex Hinton, Rutgers University - Newark

A group of people standing among bleachers, raising arms and cheering.

A group of people standing among bleachers, raising arms and cheering.

Why your vote for local chief prosecutor will matter on Election Day

Ronald Wright, Wake Forest University

A man is seated at a desk with papers and a gavel on it.

A man is seated at a desk with papers and a gavel on it.

What legal experts say about the Trump administration’s attempts to make a federal case out of state elections

Naomi Schalit, The Conversation

Two men in side by side photos, one with a black hate and jacket, the other wearing a vest and red hoodie.

Two men in side by side photos, one with a black hate and jacket, the other wearing a vest and red hoodie.

Data centers are inspiring bipartisanship – for now

Barbara A. Trish, Grinnell College

Protesters hold signs that say “No data centers” and “No industrial zoning.”

Protesters hold signs that say “No data centers” and “No industrial zoning.”

Democrats are the unwitting beneficiaries of Trump’s immigration policies

Justin Gest, George Mason University; Institute for Humane Studies

A man walks along a dirt road divided by a long wall with barbed wire on top of it.

A man walks along a dirt road divided by a long wall with barbed wire on top of it.

The White House & Congress

A huge hall filled with people, standing on one side and sitting on the other, while someone speaks at the front of the hall.

A huge hall filled with people, standing on one side and sitting on the other, while someone speaks at the front of the hall.

Congress is freeing Trump of the limited legal requirements left on him by the Supreme Court

Stephanie A. (Sam) Martin, Boise State University

From 18th-century false ballots to the second JFK and double Dan Sullivans, a brief history of spoiler candidates and the unsuccessful legal challenges to them

Drew Kurlowski, Coastal Carolina University

A dark-haired woman speaking into a microphone.

A dark-haired woman speaking into a microphone.

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

Jason M. Blazakis, Middlebury College

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.

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.

Race, Identity & Society

Three police officers walk past a graffiti-covered storefront

Three police officers walk past a graffiti-covered storefront

Punishment alone won’t help gang-involved teens – a former child soldier explains why

Charles Wratto, Igbinedion University Okada

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Courts & the Constitution

Three men voting in a log building.

Three men voting in a log building.

Justice Department’s interference before midterms was unsuccessful, unprofessional and unprecedented

John E. Jones III, Dickinson College

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

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

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.

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.

State & Local Government

Two women standing

Two women standing

Black Michiganders helped push Abdul El-Sayed to victory – but the numbers show he was less popular with this key voting bloc than some other Democratic candidates

Christine Slaughter, Boston University

How Amendment 3, vaccine mandates and school vouchers will shape Florida under the leadership of Byron Donalds

Liv Coleman, University of Tampa

man speaking at lectern

man speaking at lectern

Florida just voted for lower property taxes – and that could mean cuts in government services and new housing construction

Abigail Hall, University of Tampa and Aaron D. Wood, University of Tampa

Floridians wait in line to vote at a polling place in Delray Beach, Fla., on Nov. 3, 2026.

Floridians wait in line to vote at a polling place in Delray Beach, Fla., on Nov. 3, 2026.

Pennsylvania Democrats now have power to push forward on election reform, marijuana legalization and minimum wage increases

Daniel J. Mallinson, Penn State

Two men wearing blue suits and blue ties shake hands in front of American flags

Two men wearing blue suits and blue ties shake hands in front of American flags

Disaster aid has become a political lottery – libraries, schools and places of worship are stepping into the breach

Daniel P. Aldrich, Northeastern University

Volunteers look at storm damage after a suspected tornado hit the area a day earlier.

Volunteers look at storm damage after a suspected tornado hit the area a day earlier.

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

Shelves of colorful electronic cigarette devices for sale

Shelves of colorful electronic cigarette devices for sale

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

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.

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