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Zach Bryan fires back at enraged fans over shortened concert with three-word response
Country star Zach Bryan fires back at upset fans with "Karen" comments after lightning forces him to cut his Nebraska concert short on tour.
NVIDIA Bumps RTX 5070 Laptop GPU To 12GB Using New 3GB GDDR7 Memory, Offers 50% Boost While Tackling Supply Constraints
NVIDIA is launching a new configuration of its highly popular GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU, which features 12 GB of memory.
Golden Grove Elementary awarded grant to improve student health
West Palm Beach, Fla. April 28, 2026 — The American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere, and the National Football League (NFL) recently awarded Golden Grove Elementary an NFL PLAY 60 Active Recess...
Playoff chances already dwindling, hard decisions nearing for Phillies
The Phillies are already in a dangerous hole, and history suggests their path back could force major decisions soon.
Municipalities join forces to host free Charleston-area small business workshops
Charleston County and the cities of Charleston and North Charleston are co-hosting free workshops for small business owners next week.
🥐☕️FC breakfast: Dembouz's touching gesture, PSG's rugby wows!
Dembélé and Upamecano, united before hostilities ⚔️An initiative that reminds us football remains a powerful social force. Hailing from the same town, Ousmane Dembélé and Dayot Upamecano will ...
In Warning Shot, Oregon Insurance Regulators Oust Alternative Health Plan From the State
State takes first enforcement action against health care sharing arrangement since 2021.
Montana leaders seek public comment on future of shooting sports
Montana leaders are asking for public input as they shape the future of shooting sports facilities across the state.A new task force created under House Bill 89
Investigators Seeking Attacker’s Motive Comb Through an Archive of Posts
Federal authorities are looking into whether Cole Tomas Allen posted on Bluesky as “coldforce,” who wrote and promoted liberal views that did not stand out on the left-leaning platform.
New SCAI President Dawn Abbott outlines workforce, training and inclusion priorities
SCAI President Dawn Abbott, MD, MSCAI, aims to turn attention toward the long-term sustainability of the interventional cardiology field.
Trump dismisses UTEP president, others from National Science Foundation Board
by Daniel Perez The White House fired all members of the National Science Board Friday, including Heather Wilson, president of the University of Texas at El Paso. President Donald Trump appointed Wilson – who previously served as his secretary of the Air Force – to the board in March 2020. The six-year term was to have
Kroenke Sports & Entertainment Partners with Humanforce to Elevate the Workforce Experience at KSE Colorado Venues
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Humanforce, a leading global provider of intelligent, AI-driven human capital management (HCM) solutions for frontline workforces, today announced a strategic partnership with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE) to optim...
White House condemns 'political violence' after correspondents' dinner shooting
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt began a press briefing by thanking the law enforcement response to the White House Correspondents' Association dinner and condemning "political violence" and rising rhetoric in the country.
DEA Will Start Accepting Applications From Medical Marijuana Businesses That Want Federal Rescheduling Protections This Week
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has announced that it will begin accepting applications this week for medical marijuana businesses to apply for federal protections being granted under the Trump administration’s cannabis rescheduling process. The agency’s “Medical Marijuana Dispensary Registration Portal” is set to go live on Wednesday at 9 AM ET. The move follows last […]
Denver business owners worried they'll be forced to close following plans for Asia Center demolition
The Asia Center's owner has submitted plans to the city to demolish the strip of stores for a mixed-use development project, including affordable housing and retail.
Data-Driven Research is Helping Health Policy
Dr. William Schpero has seen firsthand how public policy drives patient outcomes at the population level, cementing a core idea that continues to guide his work as a health economist: that policy can be a powerful force for improving health equity — or, if poorly designed, a barrier to it.
Supreme Court takes up appeal from Trump administration over living conditions for migrant farmworkers
The Supreme Court agreed Monday to decide whether the US Department of Labor is empowered to enforce working conditions for foreign farm laborers, delving into an immigration program that the Trump administration is attempting to expand.
Commentary: Chicago’s arts and culture is essential infrastructure. Here’s why.
They are not optional amenities. They are vital to GDP, workforce competitiveness and the city’s standing as a global capital of creativity.
Column: After Swalwell scandal, a 'safe choice' for Democrats emerges
Xavier Becerra's appeal as a steady, non-flashy candidate for governor may be his biggest advantage after former Rep. Eric Swalwell was forced to drop out amid scandal.
Great Lakes Maritime Initiative aims to strengthen shipbuilding, jobs and the environment
University of Michigan launches Great Lakes Maritime Initiative to boost shipbuilding, innovation and workforce development across the region.
NYC Council speaker, fledgling foil for Mamdani, gets into political pickle of her own
Julie Menin moved to pass a bill now roundly opposed by Democratic forces in New York.
Political appointments surging, career SES workforce shrinking under Trump 2.0
The federal government has reached its highest level of political appointments in decades, while also undergoing a significant loss of career senior leadership — a combination that one organization warns will lead to poor outcomes across agencies.
Women over 50 outperform in business. Why are they still overlooked?
A double-whammy gender and age bias keeps some of the workforce’s most valuable members at a disadvantage.
LIA Expands Entertainment & Content Jury to Reflect Culture as Creative Force
Little Black Book, Geoff Edwards, managing director, creative at GALE, will serve as jury president for the newly expanded Entertainment & Content and Cultural Catalyst categories, as LIA introduces a broader focus on work shaping culture
White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting: Minnesota leaders condemn political violence
Shots were fired outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington D.C. Saturday. Minnesota elected officials on both sides of the aisle condemning acts of political violence and thanking law enforcement.
Forced Windows updates can now be paused forever
You can now continually put a pause Windows 11 updates, 35 days at a time.
Viral browser app forces you to stop scrolling with a giant cat you can’t remove
A viral browser extension called Cat Gatekeeper forces users to stop scrolling by sending a giant cat overlay onto their screen.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s biggest rivals merge Israeli political parties
Former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid combine forces ahead of this year’s election
Two former Israeli prime ministers join forces against Netanyahu
Two Israeli political heavyweights say they plan to join forces in upcoming elections in a united effort by their parties to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Video: Skyrocketing Health Insurance Forces Americans to Scramble for Care
Older people who are medically high risk, but too young for Medicare are facing unaffordable health insurance premiums after federal health care credits lapsed earlier this year. Now that the grace period has expired, some Americans are struggling to get the care they need.
Gunman Was Tackled by Law Enforcement Near Correspondents’ Dinner Security Checkpoint
The gunman did not make it inside the hotel ballroom where President Trump, top officials and hundreds of journalists had gathered for dinner.
Trump Unharmed After Shots Fired at White House Correspondents’ Dinner
'Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely.'
Black-owned Tennessee business sues workforce board over limiting federal funds
A Black-owned West Tennessee forklift training business has sued the nonprofit in charge of funneling federal workforce training grant funds to students.
Shooter opened fire inside hotel where Trump was attending dinner, law enforcement official says
President Trump evacuated after security incident at White House correspondents dinner.
Apple wanted to blow us away for the 20th anniversary of the iPhone, now it’s not so sure
The iPhone 20 Pro sounded so good. Now Apple might be forced to abandon the plan entirely.
Behavioral Health Services North expanding workforce through Glens Falls job fair
We're on the heels of May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month.
Scientists just discovered Africa is closer to breaking apart than we thought
Beneath East Africa’s Turkana Rift, scientists have found the crust is thinning to a critical point, suggesting the continent is gradually breaking apart. This “necking” process marks an advanced stage of rifting that could eventually lead to a new ocean forming millions of years from now. Surprisingly, the same geological forces that are splitting the land may also explain why the region holds such a rich fossil record. Instead of being the birthplace of humanity, Turkana may just be where the story was best preserved.
Democrat Josh Shapiro tests political muscle in swing-state Pennsylvania's midterms
Shapiro is urging Democrats in the battleground state to turn out in force as a rebuke to President Donald Trump and give Democrats control of the state legislature.
The law sets a 60-day limit on unauthorized wars. Will Trump respect it?
A post-Vietnam law puts a 60-day clock on the use of military force without congressional authorization.
Windows 11 will let you skip updates, pause longer, and avoid forced restarts
New controls let you skip updates during setup, extend pauses, and avoid forced reboots.
Windows Update gets new controls to reduce forced restarts
Microsoft is rolling out Windows Update improvements that give users more control over how updates are installed while reducing disruption from frequent or poorly timed restarts.
UF expands certificates in business and education
By: Erin Moran Morane@findlay.edu The University of Findlay has announced a graduate certificate expansion, adding new opportunities in accounting, business fundamentals, finance, human resources, operations management, and trauma-informed education. The additions are part of the university’s effort to meet the evolving needs of the workforce and prepare their students post graduation. Kirby Overton, dean of […]
Breaking Point: Why the Affordable Housing Business Model Is Unraveling
With rising insurance, debt, and operating costs outpacing rents and subsidies, affordable housing is becoming harder to finance.
East Hempfield Twp. sauce maker plans upgrades creating 60+ jobs
Lancaster Sauce Co. has a five-year plan to double its workforce and increase production capacity at its East Hempfield Township manufacturing facility, which recently changed hands for $13.75 million.
Two Kansas alternative political parties merge in quest to build support for centrist candidates
The Free State Party and United Kansas Party are joining forces to form an alternative party drawing support from the center-right and center-left.
Scientists just uncovered a 3 million-year climate mystery in Antarctic ice
Ancient Antarctic ice is revealing a surprising new chapter in Earth’s climate story, stretching back 3 million years. By analyzing tiny pockets of trapped air and rare gases, scientists have discovered that while the planet cooled significantly—especially in the oceans—levels of key greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane changed only modestly. This unexpected mismatch suggests other powerful forces, such as shifting ice sheets, ocean circulation, and Earth’s reflectivity, played major roles in driving long-term climate change.
Wahoo & COROS Hook Up: Here’s What Happening!
Wahoo Fitness & COROS have joined forces, connecting the two companies products together - here's what it means, and what's changing.
Newport a 'strong force' for critical Oldham game
Christian Fuchs says belief is strong in his Newport County side, as they face Oldham Athletic on Saturday with the potential to secure League Two survival.
“A Picayune Detail:” Nazi Science Heads West
As Allied forces crossed the English Channel during the D-Day invasion of June 1944, some 10,000 intelligence officers known as T-Forces were right behind the advance battalions. Their mission: seize munitions experts, technicians, German scientists and their research materials, along with French scientists who had collaborated with the Nazis. Soon, a substantial number of such scientists had been picked up and placed in an internment camp known as the Dustbin. In the original planning for the mission, a prime factor was the view that German military equipment – tanks, jets, rocketry and so forth – was technically superior and that captured scientists, technicians and engineers could be swiftly debriefed in an effort by the Allies to catch up.
Trying to find common ground? Look to sports and the athletes who inspire
Olympic gold medalists Brandi Chastain and Elana Meyers Taylor joined NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for a conversation with NBC Sports' Mike Tirico about sports as a unifying force.
US special forces soldier arrested after allegedly winning $400,000 bet on Maduro raid
A US special forces soldier involved in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was arrested for allegedly betting on that operation, netting him $400,000 in profits, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Star Wars trilogy playing Science Center dome theatre
The Force is strong at Arizona Science Center this May, where the Dorrance DOME theatre will play the original "Star Wars" trilogy on its 60-foot 8K screen
Republicans fail to attach SAVE America Act to party-line funding package
Senate Republicans Tom Tillis, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins and Mitch McConnell voted against a voter ID amendment to the GOP immigration enforcement funding bill.
FWD.us and Georgia Chamber of Commerce Host Georgia Business Leaders to Discuss Protecting America’s Workforce
Leaders from Georgia’s business and legal communities joined FWD.us and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta to discuss immigrants’ vital role in the state’s economy and the need to preserve protections Atlanta, GA – Today, FWD.us and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce co-hosted a roundtable event bringing together Georgia business leaders and workforce experts […]
Man City weighing up move for Enzo Fernández
Manchester City are reportedly considering a move for Enzo Fernández this summer.The Citizens are keen to reinforce in midfield this summer with Bernardo Silva leaving the club and Rodri linked with ...
AI just discovered new physics in the fourth state of matter
Physicists have taken a major step toward using AI not just to analyze data, but to uncover entirely new laws of nature. By combining a specially designed neural network with precise 3D tracking of particles in a dusty plasma—a strange “fourth state of matter” found from space to wildfires—the team revealed hidden patterns in how particles interact. Their model captured complex, one-way (non-reciprocal) forces with over 99% accuracy and even overturned long-held assumptions about how these forces behave.
HHS Regional Director Visits FAU to Witness Health Impact in Action
FAU hosted HHS regional director and alumna Samantha Brown-Parks, M.D., to its Boca Raton campus for a visit highlighting workforce training, research and community health initiatives.
Governor’s power over late budget forces legislature to use the power of ‘no’
At a Wednesday afternoon news conference in Albany, state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie was frustrated as New York’s state’s budget process lags.
The Craft Challenges of Writing Political Fiction
In the 1950s, the Iowa Writers Workshop received funding from the CIA to push a writing style that centered the emotional life of the individual while decentering the social and political forces th…
Senate GOP rams through blueprint to bankroll ICE, Border Patrol through end of Trump era
Senate Republicans adopted a budget resolution funding ICE and Border Patrol for President Donald Trump's full term, advancing the reconciliation process to fund immigration enforcement.
Senate Plunges Into Vote Marathon as G.O.P. Advances ICE Funding Boost
Republicans pressed to pass a budget plan with a $70 billion increase for immigration enforcement. But first, in an overnight session, they beat back Democratic proposals aimed at lowering costs.
Senate rejects measures meant to lower the cost of gas, groceries
Senate Democrats, in a fierce political battle over immigration enforcement funding, forced Republicans to vote on measures meant to lower costs.
Jackson County task force meets to plan future of Truman Sports Complex
The task force meetings are not open to the public. LeVota said the group does not qualify as a public government entity under Missouri law.
Magic-Pistons takeaways: Cade Cunningham shines, but questions remain about consistency and supporting cast
For the second game in a row, Cunningham was the main driving force, with little contributions elsewhere, in the first half.
For the first time, scientists pinpoint the brain cells behind depression
Scientists have identified two specific types of brain cells that behave differently in people with depression, offering a clearer picture of what is happening inside the brain. By analyzing donated brain tissue with advanced genetic tools, the researchers found changes in neurons linked to mood and stress, as well as in immune-related microglia cells. These differences point to disruptions in key brain systems and reinforce that depression is rooted in biology, not just emotions.
The fiery effects of political memes
Despite their simplicity, memes can both inspire new political voices and reinforce false narratives and are affecting online discourse around the globe.
Scientists discover hidden forces are warping Earth deep beneath the surface
Scientists have mapped how Earth’s deepest mantle is being deformed—and the results point to long-lost tectonic plates buried thousands of kilometers underground. Using a massive global dataset of seismic waves, they found that most deformation happens in regions where these ancient slabs are thought to reside. The findings confirm long-standing theories but, for the first time, show the pattern on a global scale. It’s a major step toward understanding how the planet’s interior slowly churns over time.
Rural health task force meets for first time to lay out how to handle new federal money
The Rural Health Transformation Task Force meeting for the first time in the 2026 legislative interim. Hearing an overview of the program they're charged with o
Apple fixes bug that cops used to extract deleted chat messages from iPhones
The iPhone and iPad bug allowed law enforcement using forensic tools to read messages that had long been deleted by the Signal app.
Enforcement update: Kalshi continues crackdown on political insider trading
Three cases target candidates trading on their own races.
RFK, Jr. set to overhaul key committee that issues disease screening recommendations
Lawmakers grilled Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on cuts and changes to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which focuses on preventive health screening
Black-owned Jackson business sues workforce board over limiting federal funds for student training
A Black-owned West Tennessee forklift training business sued the nonprofit in charge of handing out federal workforce training grant funds.
CBL Scholars Program Opens Pathways to Business Law Careers - UC Law San Francisco (Formerly UC Hastings)
First-year law students and 2026 CBL Scholars Deniz Masjedi, Alvaro Flores, and Tavia Pappaly gain mentorship connections with leading industry professionals as they prepare for careers in business law. Created by the UC Center for Business Law San Francisco (CBL), the CBL Scholars Program aims to develop the next generation of business law leaders, supported by contributions from individuals and corporate sponsors. The highly competitive program provides funding along with academic and professional mentorship to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Scholars gain exposure to the Bay Area’s technology and venture capital ecosystems and access to UC Law SF’s broad network of senior legal professionals. Now in its sixth year, the CBL Scholars Program provides a scholarship and academic and professional mentorship to students entering the business law community from disadvantaged educational, economic, social, or physical backgrounds. The program is generously sponsored by the law firms Gunderson Dettmer and Goodwin Procter. Meet this year’s CBL Scholars: Deniz Masjedi, Alvaro Flores, and Tavia Pappaly. All three have secured summer associate positions at prestigious law firms. Deniz Masjedi: A Passion for Helping Founders Grow Companies Deniz Masjedi, who was born in Iran and moved to Southern California as a teenager, traces her interest in law to her family’s immigration journey and her desire to advocate for herself and her family. She earned a bachelor’s degree at UC Berkeley, where she studied political science and sociology. At UC Law SF, she serves as a 1L representative for the Iranian Law Students Association and is active in the Business Law Society and Technology & Law Society. Next fall, she will serve as director of mentorship for the Technology & Law Society and director of professional development for the Business Law Society. She will join Sidley Austin this year as a 1L/2L summer associate. Q: What draws you to business law? A: Prior to law school, I worked in Cooley LLP’s Private Companies practice group as a corporate paralegal for three years, supporting over 100 venture-backed startups and venture capital funds. I found purpose in helping founders transform their vision into successful companies. It was incredibly rewarding being part of their journeys—from company formation and initial financing to major transactions such as M&A deals. What excites me most about this field is the potential for a small, innovative company to become the next Google or Zoom, shaping how people communicate and access information. I hope to continue supporting entrepreneurs and investors as a corporate attorney. Q: What does it mean to you to have been awarded this scholarship? A: As the first person in my family to attend law school in the United States, receiving this scholarship is a tremendous honor. My parents and I left everything behind so that I could enjoy the freedom to practice my religion without persecution and pursue a career in law as a woman. This award is an acknowledgment of my dedication to business law and motivates me to continue pursuing excellence in this field. It also recognizes years of hard work—learning a new language, navigating the college and law school application process, and ultimately building a career in the legal profession. Q: How will this scholarship help support your future goals? A: This scholarship will provide access to mentorship from leaders in the field, enabling me to develop the skills necessary to offer practical advice and effective representation to future clients. It also eases the financial burden of law school, letting me focus on my coursework and deepen my commitment to corporate law. As an immigrant, breaking into the legal profession has not always been easy, and the time that mentors have invested in me has been instrumental to my progress. This scholarship will allow me to continue building those relationships while positioning me to one day mentor others pursuing similar paths. Alvaro Flores: Inspired by Entrepreneurs The son of Mexican immigrants raised in San Antonio, Texas, Alvaro Flores says he has long been interested in how policy, markets, and culture shape society. He studied international relations and global economy at the University of Southern California, with minors in business finance and legal studies. His experiences span local political organizing, venture capital and startup work, and teaching entrepreneurship. At UC Law SF, he is involved in the Business Law Society, Technology & Law Society, and the Latinx Law Student Association. He will join Perkins Coie as a 1L/2L summer associate with the firm’s Emerging Companies & Venture Capital practice. Q: What draws you to business law? A: I’m drawn to stories of entrepreneurs whose simple ideas become companies that shape the economy and society. Spending time in venture capital and working directly with founders has shown me that many important decisions in the scaling process are ultimately legal ones, particularly how companies are structured and how capital is raised. Business law sits at the intersection of innovation and equity. It offers a way to stay close to the pace of technological change while also helping expand who gets to participate in it. There is something special about being part of that process here in the Bay Area, where the American Dream feels like it is reimagined in real time. Q: What does it mean to you to have been awarded this scholarship? A: I am truly grateful for the support and belief this scholarship represents. I see it not just as recognition, but also as alignment. The CBL Scholars Program’s focus on developing individuals who engage deeply with the business and technology ecosystem reflects the path I have been intentionally building. More than anything, it feels like an investment in that journey. I have been thoughtful about each next step–whether teaching, working in venture capital, or building multidisciplinary experiences–and this scholarship reinforces that those efforts come together in a meaningful way. Q: How will this scholarship help support your future goals? A: It allows me to focus more on developing as a business lawyer, without the distraction of financial constraints. Beyond that, the mentorship and access to the Bay Area network are just as valuable. I’m especially interested in working with early-stage companies and investors, so the opportunity to learn directly from people operating at a high level in that space is huge. Tavia Pappaly: Working in the Wine Industry Sparked Interest in Business and Law Tavia Pappaly spent five years in the wine industry before deciding to pursue law school with a goal of becoming a corporate transactions attorney. Pappaly says she wants to use her legal skills to help business grow and thrive. A first-generation law student from Fairfield, California, she is a member of the Legal Education Opportunity Program (LEOP) and will serve as vice president of social planning for the UC Law SF Sports Law Society in her 2L year. She plans to work as a summer associate at Gibson Dunn in San Francisco after her 2L year. Q: What draws you to business law? A: Business law brings together many of my interests and personal experiences. As the daughter of immigrants who grew up around a family-owned small business, I saw firsthand both the opportunities and challenges of building something from the ground up. That perspective, combined with my experience in the wine industry, solidified my interest in helping businesses of all sizes tackle evolving legal challenges. I’m excited to grow within the corporate law space and develop the skills and experience to support businesses at every stage. I’m deeply motivated to give back to immigrant communities and small business owners, whose experiences often intersect. By building a strong foundation in corporate law, I hope to support those working to create generational stability and to contribute in a meaningful way to the communities that have shaped me. Q: What does it mean to you to have been awarded this scholarship? A: Receiving this scholarship is incredibly meaningful to me. I take great pride in my background as a first-generation student and a woman of color, so being recognized for my potential in a field that has historically underrepresented those communities is both affirming and empowering. This program will help connect me to the resources and committed mentors that will help me succeed. Beyond that, it is no secret that law school is a significant financial commitment. This scholarship helps ease both the financial burden and the stress that comes with it, allowing me to focus more on my education and long-term goals. I am incredibly grateful! Q: How will this scholarship help support your future goals? A: This scholarship has already connected me with an incredible network of faculty, business law professionals, and like-minded students. The community fostered by the Center for Business Law is deeply supportive, and I’m excited to grow alongside my cohort. I truly believe this network will play an important role in helping me thrive in law school and position me for success in business law. As I have seen firsthand how impactful both financial scholarship and mentorship are, I hope to give back in this same way later in my career.
Life sciences lab real estate is clawing back from disaster. Here’s what that means for investors
Life science laboratories saw a massive drop in demand last year after the NIH was forced to cancel billions of dollars in research grants.
Restrictions on obesity drug coverage force patients to pivot
Twelve million people lost coverage for Zepbound over the last year. The same number of people lost coverage for Wegovy, according to an analysis by GoodRx, a drug discount website.
Constitutional Challenges to the False Claims Act: an Opportunity to Reconsider DOJ’s “Money Over Everything” Approach to Health Care Enforcement - Petrie-Flom Center
The False Claims Act — the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) efforts to combat health care fraud — is under constitutional attack.
California Lawmakers Seek Protections for Patients in ICE Custody
Moving through the California Senate are two bills, informed by KFF Health News reporting, that would strengthen protections for patients brought to health facilities by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Sen. Rand Paul introduces hemp regulation bill
Under the Hemp Safety Enforcement Act, states and tribal governments could get an opt-out of federal rules to take full control of hemp regulation.
This “quantum” material fooled scientists and revealed something new
A mysterious magnetic material once thought to host an exotic “quantum spin liquid” has turned out to be something entirely different—and possibly just as intriguing. Scientists studying cerium magnesium hexalluminate found it showed the hallmark signs of this elusive quantum state, like a lack of magnetic order and a spread of energy states. But after closer inspection using neutron experiments, they discovered the behavior came from a delicate tug-of-war between two opposing magnetic forces.
Republicans launch a new effort to fund the Department of Homeland Security
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate voted on Tuesday to launch a new effort to reopen the Department of Homeland Security and end the longest partial government shutdown in history. The 52-46 vote was the first step in a budget process that Republicans hope will unlock the funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol. […]
Dallas County Republican Party sues over precinct-based voting
The lawsuit is asking that a judge force the county to conduct the May 26 runoff election using precinct-based voting.
Axios Live: North Carolina faces health care funding, staffing gaps
Health leaders at an April 16 Axios event warned that funding uncertainty and workforce shortages are colliding in the state.
Carderock Scientists Inspire Future Innovators at Calvert County MESA Day
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD) representatives engaged with students in a rural Maryland community during the Calvert County MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) Day at Huntingtown High School, April 9. Through an inspiring keynote speech and a live demonstration of a Boston Dynamics robot dog, Carderock scientists highlighted pathways to naval engineering careers, reinforcing the Navy's commitment to building the future STEM workforce by bridging the distance to underserved communities.
X makes it 1,900 percent more expensive to post links
For Techmeme, the price hike has forced a major change.
Sebastian Maniscalco gets Sirius on Harry Styles' 'SNL' imitation, Bieber's ball pit
Sebastian Maniscalco has much to talk about on his new SiriusXM channel, like golf fashion, forced dog walks and ball pit frolics with Justin Bieber.
Behavioral health data exchange challenges impede interoperability, says ONC
Technical barriers, workforce limitation, privacy concerns and cost may all contribute to lower rates of electronic exchange of health information by mental health and substance abuse treatment facilities, a new analysis shows.
Registered Nurses, Customer Service Representatives and Retail Salespersons are the Top Jobs in February - Alabama Department of Labor
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: APRIL 21, 2026 Registered Nurses, Customer Service Representatives and Retail Salespersons are the Top Jobs in February MONTGOMERY - Data collected and analyzed by the Alabama Department of Workforce’s Labor Market Information (LMI) Division shows that in February 2026, there were 104,060 job ads posted in Alabama, representing a monthly increase of […]
3 business owners file lawsuit to end Oceanfront curfew
Five Oceanfront businesses joined together on Monday to file a temporary restraining order in Virginia Beach Circuit Court to block the enforcement of the Virginia Beach City Council’s curfew. The com...
Size of Starbucks workforce in Nashville announced
At 2,000 employees, it would be more than half the head count at its current headquarters in Seattle's Sodo neighborhood, where it has been since the early 1990s.
FBI investigating possible links between deaths and disappearances of at least 10 scientists
The law enforcement agency’s announcement came after President Donald Trump highlighted the recent deaths of several scientists and government workers who may have had access to sensitive information
Union takes legal action against Build a Rocket Boy over alleged data privacy violations
IWGB union cites monitoring software installed onto employees' devices as violating "both data protection laws and the workforce's basic dignity"
Shaky political science: using "simulated" elections over real-world elections
[Dear DSOS readers – this article is the latest in our “Shaky Political Science” series. In our 38 page report, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting,” released in early December, we examined over 40 studies focused on ranked choice voting. We found that many of these studies suffered from puzzling research methodologies, poorly constructed surveys, unrealistic simulated elections, cherry picked data, and faulty analyses that often were contradicted by results from real-world elections (a link to our full paper is here). Here are links to the first three articles in our series: the first one summarizing the overall results of our report, the second one analyzing a study co-authored by University of Minnesota academic Larry Jacobs, which was one of the most error-prone of all the research we reviewed in our report, and a third article showing an admirable example of two political scientists holding two other political scientists accountable for their flawed, sloppy research]. In this fourth article in our “Shaky Political Science” series, we shine a spotlight on seven studies that were web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group (the ERRG is an ad hoc committee headed by New America’s Political Reform Program and joined by the American Enterprise Institute, the Unite America Institute and Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law). This research consortium has been led by Lee Drutman, senior fellow with New America’s Political Reform Program. These seven studies are simply not credible from any objective standard about how political “science” is supposed to illuminate our understanding of either ranked choice voting or politics in general. The feature that six of these seven studies have in common is that they all used surveys – artificial, simulated elections -- to attempt to say something cogent or interesting about ranked choice voting (RCV) elections. None of them used real world data from actual RCV elections – either the 1000+ elections in the US or the many thousands of elections from places like Australia, Ireland and elsewhere where RCV has been used for 100 years. While a few of these studies conclude with some mixed positives about RCV, our analysis here is content neutral. The idea that, with a political reform like RCV, you can ask respondents in a mock, artificial election to vote with that method, with only the barest of explanation about how RCV works or its likely impacts (i.e. no spoiler candidates, majority winners, voters liberated to pick their favorite candidates, coalition-building), and then ask them their thoughts/reactions about voting in that system, with fake candidates and no real campaigning, no real exposure to an actual election or actual candidates, rests on some very puzzling assumptions. The findings of these seven studies actually are contradicted by the findings from many other studies based on real-world RCV elections. These New America studies also failed to list the real-world RCV studies in their own citations, instead including those studies that reinforced their conclusions. The seven studies featured in this article were chosen because they form a cohesive cohort which precisely illustrates one of the main points of our research paper, namely that using surveys, i.e. artificial elections, or mathematical/theoretical models, instead of real-world data, is in fact “shaky political science.” Below are summaries of our analysis of five of the seven New America studies. You can read our complete analysis of all seven studies at our paper, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting.” Choosing to “Vote As Usual” by Andre Blais, Carolina Plescia, and Semra Sevi. New America. (Blais et al., 2021). This study, web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group, used two surveys in which respondents completed ballots for simulated elections using plurality, approval, RCV and point (Score) voting. In both cases the authors provided the respondents with only minimal explanation of each method. For example, the entire explanation for RCV was “For this vote, rank the candidates from your first to your last choice (you do not need to rank them all). This is called the ranked vote.” That’s it. The study did not provide any context or explanation to survey respondents about why she/he might want to rank multiple candidates. Participants were not even told that ballots would be tabulated using an “instant” runoff, not to mention any description of RCVs ability to eliminate the spoiler effect or liberate voters to rank their favorite candidates without fear of helping the “greater evil” candidate to win. That’s like taking an iPhone back in time to 1970 and asking someone if they like it better than their rotary phone without explaining how it works. Their first survey targeted states that held 2020 Super Tuesday Democratic primaries and used the real candidates’ names in the survey; the second survey used fictitious candidates. In other words, they surveyed respondents who had only ever participated in plurality elections, had no history or background with using RCV or any of the other methods, had no clue about its likely impacts, and did not communicate how the alternative methods would be counted, and then asked them: “How satisfied are you with using each system?” Predictably, the winner was plurality elections, the system used for president, Congress, gubernatorial and state legislative elections – in other words, the method they have been using, year after year, all their voting lives. With so little explanation of RCV and its impacts, this study is simply not credible in discovering anything useful about real-world RCV elections. It merely shows that a basic voter education campaign is needed when adopting a new election system. Additionally, the result contradicts many other post-election surveys following real RCV elections, asking opinions from voters who had just participated in a RCV election, that showed a great deal of satisfaction with RCV (see details on that in Studies 22-25 in our paper, as well as the four studies cited in the review for Study 28). Share Other studies on “satisfaction” and “understanding” make similar mistakes, in terms of basing their surveys on inadequate explanation to respondents and lack of education about context. How could any survey ever hope to measure accurately, in essence simulate a real-world election, without actual campaigning candidates, the media writing about those candidates, organizations endorsing candidates and voters being inundated with crucial information? More than anything, what these “studies” based on surveys show is that if you ask voters about something they don’t know very much about, and fail to adequately educate them, their responses will unsurprisingly reflect their confusion. Equally puzzling is that New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group, headed by political scientist Lee Drutman, found this to be a credible enough study that they not only published it but highlighted it in Drutman’s own discussion of research related to ranked choice voting. This pattern was repeated in study after study featured by New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group. For example in Ranked-Choice Voting and Political Expression: Voter Guides Narrow the Gap between Informed and Uninformed Citizens by Cheryl Boudreau, Jonathan Colner, and Scott MacKenzie, the researchers based their analysis on a survey which found that respondents who were asked to vote in a simulated RCV election, with minimal explanation of RCV or how it works, displayed less evidence of being informed about how to use RCV effectively, with the least informed voters ranking fewer candidates. As pointed out under the study above, in a real election voters are informed by a wide variety of methods, including public education by the election administration, by interested political groups, the media, and the candidates themselves who benefit from voters being aware of how to vote in the new system. In Support for Ranked-Choice Voting across Race and Partisanship by Joseph Anthony, David C. Kimball, Jack Santucci and Jamil Scott, the researchers used respondents from different parties and races voting in simulated plurality and RCV elections, who indicated their satisfaction with each voting method. Instead of using real world election results, the authors fell back on the easy, armchair and less reliable academic research methodology of making up mock elections. As with the other studies, little explanation was given of how RCV works or what its implications might be (electing majority winners or eliminating spoilers, for example). Unsurprisingly, this study found that respondents were not very satisfied with RCV. However, when the authors added an explanation that RCV has a tendency to elect more women and people of color, they found that this greater explanation increased the preference for RCV. The more voters were familiar with it, and the more they understood potential positive impacts – surprise! -- the more they were open to switching away from the status quo. Of note, the results from this study are thoroughly contradicted by a number of other studies whose data was obtained from real RCV elections with real voters. Those studies show a great deal of satisfaction with RCV. More “fake election” research An interesting wrinkle on this “research by fake elections” approach, which only served to illustrate how unreliable such “research” can become, was taken in Ranked-Choice Voting, Runoff, and Democracy: Insights from Maine and Other U.S. States by Joseph Cerrone and Cynthia McClintock_,_ also web-hosted and funded by New America’s ERRG. It gets high marks for creativity, but an eye-roll for thinking this could possibly add anything meaningful to our understanding of real world RCV elections. This study tried to determine whether RCV, plurality or two-round runoff elections provided greater voter satisfaction and acceptance of election results. To determine that, the authors conducted a survey asking if voters were satisfied with a fictional newspaper report of an election, with three different versions given to respondents – plurality, runoff and RCV, with variations of Republican/Democrat winners and variations of “come-from-behind” winners,” i.e. candidates not initially in first place but who win the “runoff.” Again, a minimal explanation of RCV or how it works was given, and the survey showed that respondents had the greatest unfamiliarity with RCV than the other methods. The unsurprising result? Respondents were much more satisfied with “come-from-behind” victories in a traditional two-round runoff election than in RCV, even though RCV is also a runoff system but with a single round of counting. Interestingly, the dissatisfaction with RCV disappeared for those who were more familiar with RCV. In fact, among those respondents who were “very familiar” with RCV, they were equally satisfied with RCV, runoff and plurality. Surprise, surprise. Again, what this study revealed, more than anything, is not only the inadequacy of the explanation for RCV given by the authors of this study, but the failure of the research format itself, thinking that such an artificial mock election could somehow simulate what actually happens in the real world in a real RCV election. Those four studies reviewed above are fitting examples of inadequate and shaky political “science.” Other studies reviewed in our paper from the New America/Electoral Reform Research Group cohort which also used mock elections included: Ranked-Choice Voting is an Acquired Taste by Joseph Anthony and David C. Kimball. New America. (Anthony et al., 2021). Ranked-Choice Voting is No Refuge for Extreme Candidates by Melissa Baker. New America. (Baker, 2021). Also included in this New America cohort is Does Ranked-Choice Voting Reduce Racial Polarization? by Yuki Atsusaka and Theodore Landsman, which actually did use real-world election results data but applied an odd and unconventional methodology to the data which relied on shaky assumptions and non-real-world scenarios that were too divorced from reality. To determine levels of “racially polarized voting,” the researchers imagined “ethnic parties,” by which they mean political parties for each ethnic group, which was especially odd since the election data they were using came from nonpartisan RCV races. But then they made an even odder assumption, namely that since race and ethnic characteristics of studied voters were not available, the authors tried to infer that information based on who voters selected and the racial make-up of voters in each district. This amounted to little more than vague and ambiguous guesswork dressed up with a bunch of mathematical equations used to give it a veneer of scientific appearance. Indeed, it seemed to assume racial polarization in order to prove racial polarization. Based on this questionable methodology, the authors concluded that RCV doesn’t reduce racial polarization. But the premise of this study missed an obvious reality: since RCV incentivizes more candidates to run and can result in more diverse fields of candidates, one would expect more racially-polarized voting in voters’ top rankings, not less, because more voters would have someone on that ballot who represents their racial or ethnic identity and more freedom to vote for their real first choice. By encouraging more diverse candidates and eliminating the spoiler effect, RCV facilitates voting for a favorite candidate of your own race and then selecting a second choice with the best likelihood of winning. The real measure is what voters do with their additional rankings – do they consider other candidates and vote “for the best of the rest”? This study didn’t tell us anything useful about that. But readily available data shows this is common in real RCV elections, and candidates act on this knowledge by engaging with voters outside their racial group. So the authors of this study failed to consider or account for what actually happens in real-world elections, and their conclusions are tainted by this failure. New America has contributed a great deal over the past 2.5 decades to our understanding of many policy areas, including politics and political reform (full disclosure: Steven Hill, one of the authors of this article and of the “Shaky Political Science” research paper and series, is a former senior fellow and former director of New America’s political reform program, 2005-2010). So it was especially disappointing that New America funded and published such a large batch of dubious studies about ranked choice voting. The stated praiseworthy goal of its Electoral Reform Research Group was to inspire new academic research about ranked choice voting that would shed light and help the public better understand the impacts of RCV. Instead, the ERRG research did just the opposite. It produced dubious research that created more confusion and misinformation. In so doing, New America’s political reform program contributed to “shaky political science.” Steven Hill and Paul Haughey Share Upgrade to $5 subscription Thanks for reading DemocracySOS, a reader-supported digital portal for the pro-democracy movement. Subscribe for only $5 per month to receive full benefits and to support our work. Subscribe
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