Solitary confinement is a form of punishment used in jails and prisons that isolates incarcerated individuals for up to twenty-three hours per day for weeks, or even months at a time. The actions that condemn incarcerated individuals to solitary confinement range from serious infractions, like engaging in a physical fight, to minor violations, like talking […]
In 2024, Boston had the fourth highest congestion rate in the United States with each driver spending approximately seventy nine hours in traffic. On average, this cost each driver $1,414 and the city $2.7 billion in total. Beyond the nuisance and cost of sitting in traffic, congestion causes numerous health issues. The longer people commute […]
In his 2025 inaugural address, the commander-in-chief of the United States promised, among other things, that “the vicious, violent, and unfair weaponization of the Justice Department (DOJ) and our government [would] end.” This bold statement identifies three flawed, un-democratic characteristics within our Justice Department, and promises to bring these flaws to an “end.” This is […]
The 2012 Presidential Debate between President Barack Obama and Senator Mitt Romney opens up with a cordial meeting: a handshake and congratulations on an anniversary. Viewers saw a constructive, mature discussion on policies between two opponents. Four years later, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton took the debate stage. The two threw around words like “crooked” […]
Democracy: the esteemed pillar of American values that many deem as the foundational bedrock of the United States of America. An educated society is essential for a thriving democracy, as it empowers citizens to engage in critical discourse, make informed decisions, and safeguard democratic principles. Yet, with 54 percent of American adults holding literacy skills […]
With thirteen Academy Award nominations, twelve British Academy Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) nominations, and ten Golden Globe nominations, Netflix’s Emilia Pérez defined the 2024 awards scene. Critics initially praised the movie-musical for its inclusivity, covering underserved topics such as Mexico’s cartel crisis and, within that, the struggles of the transgender community. Yet, with a […]
A law derived from a 1950’s legal battle over obscene books currently dictates freedom of speech on the internet. Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act ruled that social media platforms cannot be blamed for the content posted on their site, just as a bookstore cannot be held liable for the sale of obscene […]
The United States has long been a dynamic force of creativity, media, and entrepreneurship, using the idea of the market economy to limit government interference in business activities. From this position of influence, US politicians have cultivated an “America-first” narrative that inflates the US’ economic success and demeans the economies of competing nations—a narrative that […]
America is not healthy. Despite being a world economic leader and carrying the designation of the “greatest country in the world,” the American life expectancy is 78.4 years, while the average for all other comparable countries is 82.5 years. Furthermore, the United States drastically outperforms its peer countries in negative birth outcomes, heart disease, chronic […]
In his second inaugural address, president Donald Trump rattled off a list of legislative initiatives that he claimed would “completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal” that had been levied upon the American people. Among them were solutions to various hot-button issues which compelled voters to elect Trump to a second term, such as illegal […]
