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Our bitter polarization won’t end with the election
By Michael Murphy and Steve Richardson Virginians have a proud legacy of significant contributions to the creation and preservation of the Republic. The words “Give me liberty, or give me death!” were uttered by Virginian Patrick Henry in Richmond. The decisive victory at Yorktown won our independence. And of course, Founding Fathers George Washington, Thomas […]
Packing the court: Lincoln and his Republicans remade the Supreme Court to fit their agenda
By Calvin Schermerhorn, Arizona State University As a political battle over the Supreme Court’s direction rages in Washington with President Donald Trump’s nomination of Amy Coney Barrett, history shows that political contests over the ideological slant of the court are nothing new. In the 1860s, President Abraham Lincoln worked with fellow Republicans to shape the […]
Trump’s decade-old audit illustrates why the IRS targets the working poor as much as the rich
By Hayes Holderness The New York Times’ exclusive on President Donald Trump’s taxes contains a lot of startling new findings. A few noteworthy examples: He paid only $750 in federal income tax in 2016 and 2017 – and nothing at all in 10 of the previous 15 years; he took massive income tax deductions for […]
The melting Arctic won’t wait for climate action
By Juan Hernandez In the last few months, our country has been facing the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and unfortunately, a lot has ground to a halt. But through it all, the climate crisis has continued unabated, including through the melting of the Arctic. While the world’s focus is rightly pointed towards halting the […]
Your child’s vaccines: What you need to know about catching up during the COVID-19 pandemic
By Dr. Irene Mathieu This spring, after stay-at-home orders were announced and schools shut down across the nation, many families stopped going to their pediatrician. As a result, kids have fallen behind on important childhood vaccinations. Vaccination rates declined starkly after mid-March, with up to 60% reductions in some areas of the country. Nationwide, vaccination […]
Making a governor’s school more diverse isn’t ‘anti-Asian’
By Sookyung Oh Asian American opponents of changing the admissions process at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, a governor’s school in Alexandria which students call TJ, describe reform as “anti-Asian.” It makes for a sensational and provocative soundbite. But it is wrong. Labeling the proposed educational reform efforts aimed at furthering racial […]
Kids’ perceptions of police fall as they age. For Black children the decline starts earlier and is constant.
By Kathleen Padilla and Adam Fine The deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and most recently Dijon Kizzee at the hands of officers come in an age when overpolicing and underserving minority communities has, as some experts believe, resulted in a “legitimacy crisis” in American policing. The reality is that these events are also impacting […]
How to watch a political debate — it’s not about winners and losers
By Diana Carlin Critics of presidential debates argue that they are not necessary because they don’t change many votes. Since 84 million people watched the first 2016 presidential debate and according to polls 90 percent had decided for whom they were going to vote, they must watch for reasons other than to be persuaded. Some of those 90 […]
Proposed redistricting amendment leaves some out
By Jamaa Bickley-King This election, the redistricting reform amendment will be on the ballot for Virginians, and that vote is just as critical as choosing our next president. Although this is considered the most significant piece of redistricting reform in Virginia’s history by its supporters, there are areas of grave concern where the amendment is […]
How and when will we know that a COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective?
By Dr. William Petri With COVID-19 vaccines currently in the final phase of study, you’ve probably been wondering how the FDA will decide if a vaccine is safe and effective. Based on the status of the Phase 3 trials currently underway, it is unlikely that the results of these trials will be available before November. […]
It’s past time for Congress to act and pass the next federal relief package
By Chris Duncombe The pandemic has devastated the economy, and people in Virginia are struggling to stay afloat. Yet, even though the House of Representatives passed a major relief package on May 15, the U.S. Senate has failed to find agreement on a comprehensive relief bill since March. Their inaction threatens to leave families to […]
Virginia should lead the way on redistricting reform
By Sam Wang, Aaron Barden and Jason Rhode This year, Virginia once again has the chance to act as history-maker. Amendment 1 on the statewide ballot will create a hybrid, bipartisan redistricting commission that meaningfully includes citizens for the first time. We are proud to endorse Amendment 1 because never before has the commonwealth seen […]