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‘Ted Lasso’ cast changes: See who isn’t coming back for season 4
Season 4 of 'Ted Lasso' premieres on Wednesday, Aug. 5
More than two dozen Pa. lawmakers reported stakes in businesses with overdue filings
Twenty members of the House and five members of the Senate disclosed income or a financial interest in companies that had overdue filings.
Chile declares health alert for hantavirus
The Chile Ministry of Health issued a Health Alert for hantavirus and other diseases, such as some arboviruses and avian influenza. This is the first time this measure has been taken and it will be in effect until July 31, 2027 and it extends from the Atacama region to the Magallanes region. “Hantavirus causes a disease that is endemic to Chile, transmitted by the long-tailed pygmy rice rat that lives in rural and semi-rural areas throughout almost the entire country. As a ministry, we are constantly monitoring its behavior and are very concerned and actively working because this year the virus's lethality has increased, and for this reason, we decided to declare this alert. As of last week, there were 46 confirmed cases and 18 deaths, representing a 39% lethality rate,” reported the Undersecretary of Public Health, Dr. Alejandra Pizarro. Cases have occurred in the regions of Valparaíso, Metropolitan, O'Higgins, Maule, Ñuble, Biobío, La Araucanía, Los Ríos, Los Lagos, and Aysén. By comparison, in 2025, there were 44 infections and eight deaths (18% case fatality rate). The health alert, which is preventative and prepared, will allow for the granting of extraordinary powers in the event of serious health emergencies to strengthen surveillance, ensure timely resource management, hire specialized personnel, implement health control measures, and expedite the acquisition of supplies through direct procurement. The alert does not imply that there is an ongoing epidemic or that the healthcare system is overwhelmed. Subscribe to Outbreak News TV on YouTube “Hantavirus is not exclusively a summer virus, as the long-tailed pygmy rice rat is present year-round. Therefore, we urge everyone to take extreme precautions: avoid touching rodents, ventilate homes before entering if they have been closed, clean unused spaces with water and bleach, and keep garbage covered and food stored away. Furthermore, it is crucial to be aware of the symptoms: fever, intense muscle pain, and difficulty breathing. If someone experiences these symptoms and has been in rural or semi-rural areas where the long-tailed pygmy rice rat may have been present, they should immediately go to a health center and inform the medical staff so that a hantavirus diagnosis can be considered promptly,” the official added. Since December 2025, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has maintained an epidemiological alert due to the rise in hantavirus cases throughout the Southern Cone, and that the Ministry of Health had an epidemiological alert in place since November of last year. Chile eliminates leprosy As mentioned above, the Health Alert decree also covers diseases transmitted by the Aedes aegypti, Aedes vexans, and Anopheles pseudopunctipennis mosquitoes, such as dengue and Zika, which, according to the alert, “have a high epidemic potential, which could generate high demand and overload for health facilities.” For these diseases, the alert is in effect from Arica to Los Ríos. The authority stressed that it is essential to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in stagnant water and to monitor any suspected cases of people arriving from abroad infected with any of these diseases, in order to prevent any of these vectors from biting a sick person and starting to spread the disease. In the case of avian influenza, the alert was extended to the entire country, because unlike other years, the disease has been concentrated in wild and farm birds, not in poultry farms, increasing the risk of exposure for people. Outbreak News Today is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe
Editorial: Pennsylvania health insurance rates need triage
The cost of staying healthy is climbing. The cost of getting sick is even worse. Prescription drug costs are up. So is the amount of money people spend in urgent care — and that’s affordable compared with an emergency room visit. Testing, diagnostics, office visits, the little extras you don’t
Helping others: Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ and its golden rule [Unscripted column]
Walking out of Penn Cinema a few Sundays ago, in the crowd of people filing out of the dark theatre and shoving their popcorn buckets in the overflowing trash cans,
PSU rural health expert says coming Medicaid changes could mean more struggles for hospitals
As states and people who get their health coverage from Medicaid get ready to meet new requirements that take effect Jan. 1, 2027, a Penn State expert on rural health says the new rules will impact healthcare providers and hospitals too.
PENN Entertainment (PENN) Nears Earnings, Is The 74% Undervalued View Too Optimistic?
PENN Entertainment (PENN) is back in focus as investors look ahead to its upcoming June quarter earnings report on August 6, with Wall Street expecting higher revenue and year over year earnings growth. See our latest analysis for PENN Entertainment. PENN Entertainment's recent share price has held around $20.53, with a 90 day share price return of 18.88% and a year to date share price return of 38.25%. The 1 year total shareholder return of 15.34% contrasts with weaker 3 and 5 year total...
'Primarily an itchy nuisance' in Pennsylvania, fleas still pose health risks
This is the latest installment of Pittsburgh Pests, an occasional series examining the insects and other creatures that pose health risks in our region. It...
Computer science and engineering major named College of Engineering marshal
Ranjani Suraj has been named the summer 2026 student marshal for the Penn State College of Engineering. Suraj will receive bachelor's and master's degrees in computer science and engineering through Penn State's Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate Program, along with a minor in mathematics, during the University's undergraduate commencement ceremony, which will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15 at the Bryce Jordan Center.
Have questions about Penn State sports? Submit them here for our monthly mailbag
This month’s mailbag comes on the heels of Penn State football’s fall camp starting and amid ongoing consternation over Penn State men’s basketball’s finances.
Investment firm acquires majority stake in Indianapolis-based ShipSigma
Pennsylvania-based Inverness Graham has acquired a majority stake in Indianapolis logistics-tech firm ShipSigma in a deal valued at an estimated $100 million-plus.
Turning fermented food into precision-nutrition for oral and gut health
A new review by researchers at Penn Dental Medicine examines how fermented plant-based foods interact with the microbes that live in the mouth and gut, providing a roadmap for developing fermented foods into nutrition strategies to support health.
Penn State Health expands tuition program to strengthen workforce, support patient care
Penn State Health is expanding its employee tuition program to provide all full-time employees and their eligible dependents with significant tuition discounts at Penn State and Pennsylvania College of Technology, reinforcing its commitment to workforce development, retention and educational advancement.
August Concerts and Shows at Hershey Entertainment Venues
Hersheypark Stadium and Hershey Theatre, located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, will host a variety of concerts and shows in August 2026.
Philly’s Academy of Natural Sciences has 200 years of ‘firsts’ in America’s science community
The Academy was home to the first mounted dinosaur on display, and was one of the first spots for Philadelphians to celebrate natural science.
Penn State Health expands tuition program to strengthen workforce and support patient care across health system
Penn State Health is expanding its employee tuition program to provide all full-time employees and their eligible dependents with significant tuition discounts at Penn State and Pennsylvania College…
Department of Health advises public after report of rabid kitten in Hanover
The Pennsylvania Department of Health has issued an alert advising the public of a confirmed rabid kitten that was found in Hanover.Paws Animal Hospital confirm
PENN Entertainment (PENN) Earnings Expected to Grow: Should You Buy?
PENN Entertainment (PENN) doesn't possess the right combination of the two key ingredients for a likely earnings beat in its upcoming report. Get prepared with the key expectations.
Is PENN Entertainment, Inc. (PENN) Stock Undervalued Right Now?
Here at Zacks, our focus is on the proven Zacks Rank system, which emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find great stocks. Nevertheless, we are always paying attention to the latest value, growth, and momentum trends to underscore strong picks.
Michigan Football 2026 Opponent Preview: Penn State
Next up in our Michigan Football 2026 opponent preview series, we discuss Penn State’s extensive program overhaul and what to expect when the Nittany Lions travel to Ann Arbor:
Proposals to lower health costs get broad support in battlegrounds
Voters in battleground states and congressional districts tend to voice support for proposals in Congress that would expand access to health care or lower drug costs — often irrespective of their party affiliation — according to new polling from the University of Maryland. The poll, first shared with CQ Roll Call, surveyed people in 11 competitive states like Pennsylvania, Georgia […]
Packers rookie Dani Dennis-Sutton talks about Micah Parsons
Green Bay Packers rookie defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton talks about fellow Penn State alum Micah Parsons.
Titans' Mike Borgonzi still looking to add to offensive line
The Tennessee Titans are evaluating interior offensive line depth after working out free agents Joshua Gray and Jared Penning.
PENN Entertainment (PENN) to Release Earnings on Thursday
PENN Entertainment (NASDAQ:PENN) will be releasing its Q2 2026 earnings before the market opens on Thursday, August 6. (View Earnings Report at https://www.marketbeat.com/earnings/reports/2026-8-6-penn-national-gaming-inc-stock/)
Zacks.com featured highlights include PENN Entertainment, Carriage Services, General Motors and AMN Healthcare Services
PENN Entertainment, Carriage Services, General Motors and AMN Healthcare are highlighted as value stocks with strong cash flow metrics for the second half of 2026.
Clinton, Obama-era Democratic heavyweights Penn and Emanuel rip NYC's Mamdani over taxes, Israel, blast DSA
Democratic power players Mark Penn and Rahm Emanuel publicly criticize NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani over his property tax plan and Israel positions.
The Medical Minute: Back-to-sports season: Injury prevention tips for young athletes
Millions of young athletes get injured each year. Penn State Health sports medicine experts share practical tips to help prevent injuries and keep kids healthy, safe and in the game.
Business journalism studies took her to the White House | UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media
The story by UNC Hussman alumni Brennan Doherty ’19 and video by John Roberts ’16 (M.A.) was originally published on unc.edu. This story is part of a four-part series on Carolina alumni working in Washington, D.C. Soon after her 2015 graduation from UNC-Chapel Hill, Megan Cassella was an intern for the Reuters news agency, eagerly awaiting and prepping for a special assignment. “Every now and then they needed an intern to run over to the White House last minute,” Cassella said. “You have to send your information the night before, so I started proactively sending my information to the White House every single night to be able to go the next day if they ever needed an intern.” Since then, she’s made many return trips to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in a career that’s included roles at Reuters, Politico, Barron’s and now CNBC, where she works as an on-air Washington correspondent. A longtime newswriter, Cassella made the move to TV in 2024, appearing on broadcasts multiple times daily to report on the biggest political and business stories. But the keys to doing a good job — knowing how to research, asking insightful questions, building relationships and explaining complex topics to a broad audience — remain the same. Did you know: Outside of the state of North Carolina, the Washington region is home to the largest concentration of Tar Heel alumni in the country. Cassella’s time as a Tar Heel was crucial in sharpening those skills, both in the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media and through roles at student-run publications like The Daily Tar Heel. She excelled in Carolina’s business journalism program with former professor Chris Roush, which led to an internship at The Charlotte Observer and helped Cassella find her journalistic niche. A data journalism course with Associate Professor Ryan Thornburg taught her how to find stories in numbers, and former professor Paul O’Connor’s reporting class took Cassella to the North Carolina Capitol weekly, where she gained invaluable experience interviewing politicians. “Those hands-on experiences that Carolina gave me really kept my interest and have really benefited me since I’ve been up here in D.C.,” said Cassella. “I have UNC to thank for the fact that I even went into business journalism in the first place.” Megan Cassella ’15 “You’ve got to thrive on adrenaline in this job. You’ve got to do well with last-minute changes, with running by the seat of your pants.” Megan Cassella ’15 ‘There’s nothing else like it’ In recent months, Cassella has reported live from the G7 Summit in Geneva, covered the latest developments in the U.S.-Iran war and followed changes to trade policy, including tariffs. “Anything in this realm that influences Wall Street, I’ll be covering,” Cassella said. Her working hours are long and variable. After waking up, Cassella immediately checks her phone to see what news broke overnight. By 8:15 a.m., she usually learns which newscasts she’ll be on, and then she heads to the newsroom, White House or wherever her assignment is. “We want you in the 9 a.m. show and the 11, and then the 3 o’clock show wants you, too,” Cassella said, referring to a hypothetical day. If Cassella gets an exclusive or major news breaks, she might be told, “We want that on TV right now.” Within five minutes, she’d be expected to get to the camera, figure out what to say and deliver the news to a live audience. “It’s exciting. It’s nerve-wracking,” Cassella said. “But there’s nothing else like it.” A well-rounded education Cassella grew up in Maryland, the youngest of four kids. Her oldest brother, Brian Cassella ’05, attended Carolina, became a photojournalist and recently won a Pulitzer Prize. She remembers visiting campus as a young child and loving it. “I just always wanted to go,” she said, and that desire grew when she, like her brother, gravitated toward journalism. But it wasn’t just the journalism school that drew Cassella to Carolina. “It was also the whole liberal arts curriculum,” she said. “Even though I always wanted to be a journalist, I got to college, and I sort of felt I had to think about other things. I had to explore my options and see if that’s what I really wanted.” Did you know: In April UNC-Chapel Hill opened its Carolina in the Capital office in Washington. She combined her journalism schooling with a global studies major and a history minor. That broad range of academic experiences in Chapel Hill molded her, preparing Cassella for a career that’s taken her to the highest levels of political journalism and inside the Oval Office. “When you sit back and remember you’re actually sitting inside the White House and asking questions of the president, it’s a cool feeling,” Cassella said. “No matter who is in office, no matter what administration or party, it’s a privilege to be there.” Megan Cassella on… Being a Tar Heel in Washington: I run into Tar Heels all the time. My husband’s a Tar Heel. We actually met here in Washington, not at Carolina, even though we were the same class. Probably most of our friends are still Tar Heels. Even up here in D.C., we all get together for games and March Madness. And through work, there’s Tar Heels all over the place. It’s often used as a connection. Favorite Franklin Street spot: When we go back, our first stop is always IP3. That’s more my husband’s doing than mine. In college, I was a huge Spanky’s fan. Felt like it was a classic spot. May it rest in peace. Advice to journalism students: Reps, reps, reps! Nothing beats the experience you’ll gain by simply starting to do the work — asking the questions, reporting and writing the stories, doing the TV hits. When you can, go places in person. Talk to more people than you think you’ll need. Read as much as you can, from different sources and on different topics. If you’re not sure how to start your story, that usually means you need more reporting. When you’re not sure, ask.
Analysis | What the midterms mean for Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2028 hopes
A Democratic sweep of Pennsylvania’s competitive U.S. House and state legislative races could boost the case for Shapiro in his party’s presidential primary.
Pennsylvania health insurance providers request steep rate increases for 2027
Health insurance providers in Pennsylvania have requested significant rate increases for 2027, with proposals affecting both individual and small group markets.
Pennsylvania Democrat targets data centers in drive to oust Republican from House seat
Democrat Paige Cognetti is taking a shot at data centers in her challenge to freshman Republican Rep. Rob Bresnahan, saying “we’re not for sale” in a new TV ad.
Penn State Health celebrates naming of Golisano Children’s Hospital
Penn State Health unveiled new Golisano Children’s Hospital signage on July 24, marking the next chapter in celebrating philanthropist Tom Golisano’s transformational $50 million gift…
Roundtable: How Science Journalism Residencies Can Shape Careers at All Stages
Science journalism residencies give writers the chance to embed at a research institution for several months or longer.[/lead] Akin to a sabbatical, these residencies are a chance to step off the treadmill of one’s career to learn something new, immerse in the day-to-day of science, launch a project, or make a big move. Here, several writers discuss their recent experiences with residences—including how these programs can be accessible to writers at many stages of their careers.
Essay Penned by UNC Health Physician Published in Annals of Family Medicine
Family doctor draws on his experience to highlight relationship-centered care, especially in rural and underserved communities.
Huck Institutes announces recipients of nine interdisciplinary seed grants
Penn State’s Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences has awarded nine research teams seed funding for 2026-27. These grants support high-impact, innovative research projects that align with the Huck’s strategic research priorities and have the potential to drive scientific breakthroughs and generate significant return on investment.
Delaware County, Pennsylvania, launches mobile health clinic to offer measles vaccines
Boyle Gives History Lesson, Advice For Fellow Democrats and Insight Into Political Future At PA Press Club
Left to his own devices, Rep. Brendan Boyle would rather talk sports. But the six-term congressman from Philadelphia thought it more appropriate to give a little history lesson and answer questions about politics and his political future at the Pennsylvania Press Club luncheon on Monday in Harrisburg. Boyle, the ranking…
Penn State 2026 Breakout Candidates: Defensive Tackle
There was a ton movement at defensive tackle for Penn State over the offseason, and it’s clear with the moves that were made, Matt Campbell wanted to get bigger — much bigger — inside. While this group currently lacks anyone who projects as an all-conference performer, there’s a couple guys I’m keeping my eye on […]
49,065 Shares in PENN Entertainment, Inc. $PENN Acquired by Whitebox Advisors LLC
Whitebox Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of PENN Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:PENN - Free Report) in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm acquired 49,065 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $737,000. Other lar
Zacks.com featured highlights include PENN Entertainment, Chemours and Lumentum
PENN Entertainment, Chemours and Lumentum stand out after broker rating upgrades, supported by stronger earnings growth outlooks and improving analyst sentiment.
Pennsylvania budget boosts mental health funding. Will it be enough?
Pennsylvania increased funding in the 2026-27 budget for key mental health programs while communities continue to face service gaps.
Cubs Celebrate Javier Assad's First MLB Save
Javier Assad and the Chicago Cubs are sitting atop the National League Wild Card standings at 59-46. Chicago trails the 65-39 Milwaukee Brewers by 6.5 games for the NL Central pennant and is three games ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies for the top Wild Card spot. Assad is a flexible pitcher for Chicago, with the right-hander placed into any situation necessary.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries kicks off 100 days till midterms with affordability agenda
The stage is in battleground Pennsylvania
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries kicks off 100 days till midterms with affordability agenda
The stage is in battleground Pennsylvania.
Business Briefcase: Chamber boosts efforts with PSU Schuylkill
POTTSVILLE — The Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce has announced an “exclusive chamber benefit discount on cultural intelligence and grant writing courses.” The offer is via a “Developing a Cultural Intelligence” initiative with Penn State Sch…
Dean Conway's Return to the Faculty: Politics at Work?
Austen Parrish offered a wonderful post on Dean Danielle Conway’s legacy as dean at Penn State Dickinson Law. A true visionary and dear friend to many, Dean Conway is returning to faculty as a Distinguished Professor of Law after a tremendously impactful seven years as dean at Penn State Dickinson Law. She is the current President of […]
Blue Eyed Soul joins Yates Concert Series July 29
PENN YAN — Blue Eyed Soul brings its blend of 1960s’ and ’70s’ funk, soul, and rock and roll to the Yates Concert Series next week.
Pennsylvania ACA health insurers propose double-digit premium increases for 2027
Nearly all health insurance companies that sell individual plans on Pennsylvania’s Affordable Care Act marketplace are asking for average premium increases ranging from 10.5% to as high as 41%
Affordable Care Act rates could increase again in Pennsylvania
People who buy their healthcare coverage in Pennsylvania through the Affordable Care Act are expected to see their premiums skyrocket.
Byron Donalds gets his biggest contribution yet: $10M from Ken Griffin
Donalds has also received $7.5 million from Pennsylvania billionaire Jeff Yass, bringing his total war chest to $92 million.
Patch towns, powwows and politics coming to the Schuylkill County Historical Society
Discussions on coal patch towns, the Civil War and Pennsylvania Dutch powwows are on the agenda at the Schuylkill County Historical Society in August and September.
Is Penn Station Really Going to Become Trump Station?
The Trump administration is calling for Penn Station to be renamed, but hasn’t yet said which current president it should be named after.
Requested 2027 Affordable Care Act rate increases average 17.1% in Pennsylvania
Health insurers serving Pennsylvanians with coverage under the Affordable Care Act are proposing to increase premiums by an average of 17.1% for individuals...
Pennsylvania Sportswatch Daily Listings
NBCS PHL, YES, MLB.TV Chicago at Pittsburgh — Marquee, SportsNet Pittsburgh, MLB.TV MLS: Seattle Sounders vs. Philadelphia Union — Apple TV The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV.
Trump administration's transit priorities include renaming Penn Station
Trump has floated a desire to rename the iconic rail hub after him in the past.
Pennsylvania ACA health insurers propose double-digit premium increases for 2027
The total average premium rate increase request in the individual market is 17%. Some insurers like Ambetter are requesting an average increase of 40%.
Chester County measles cases expected to increase as officials urge vaccination
Health officials are urging people to get vaccinated as measles cases rise in Pennsylvania, Delaware and across the U.S.
Josh Shapiro may be the biggest fundraising juggernaut Pennsylvania politics has ever produced
As the governor seeks reelection with an eye on a presidential run, he’s raising more money than any Pennsylvania chief executive since at least 2010.
What causes food poisoning? Symptoms, treatment and prevention tips
Thousands of people nationwide have become ill in an ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak. A Penn State Health infectious diseases physician shares tips on how to prevent food poisoning and recognize…
Temple partners with local business to support manufacturing in Pennsylvania
A new grant awarded to the College of Engineering and Demco Automation, a local alumni-owned business, will explore how AI can help engineers design and build automated manufacturing systems for Pennsylvania businesses.
Temple partners with local business to support manufacturing in Pennsylvania
A new grant awarded to the College of Engineering and Demco Automation, a local alumni-owned business, will explore how AI can help engineers design and build automated manufacturing systems for Pennsylvania businesses.
Is PENN Entertainment (PENN) Undervalued After Its Alberta Online Gaming Launch?
PENN Entertainment (PENN) is in focus after launching theScore Bet Sportsbook & Casino in Alberta, along with standalone theScore Casino and Hollywood Casino apps, extending its Canadian online gaming reach across the province. See our latest analysis for PENN Entertainment. The Alberta launch lands while PENN Entertainment’s share price sits at $21.23, with a 7 day share price return of 5.2% and a 90 day share price return of 43.7%. This contrasts with a 1 year total shareholder return of...
Penn College receives $1.5M state grant for Schneebeli Earth Science Center
Pennsylvania College of Technology is the recipient of a $1.5 million state grant earmarked to enhance facilities at the institution’s Schneebeli Earth Science Center in Clinton Township.
Gov. Shapiro highlights life sciences growth with visit to Philadelphia biotech incubator
The $125 million Innovate in PA 2.0 initiative aims to help startups grow, commercialize new technologies and keep life sciences companies in Pennsylvania.
Penn State Health hospitals nationally recognized for commitment to excellence in cardiovascular and stroke care
Penn State Health’s hospitals have been recognized by the American Heart Association for excellence in heart disease and stroke treatment. The awards honor sustained adherence to research-based…
Penn State Health nationally recognized for cardiovascular, stroke care
Penn State Health’s hospitals have been recognized by the American Heart Association for excellence in heart disease and stroke treatment. The awards honor sustained adherence to research-based guidelines that improve patient care and outcomes.
Shaky political "science": breakdown of the peer review process
[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 December 2025, we examined over 40 studies focused on ranked choice voting (RCV). 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 four articles in our series: the first one summarizing the overall results of our report; the second one analyzed 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; a third article showing an admirable example of two political scientists holding two other political scientists accountable for their flawed, sloppy research; and a fourth article that analyzed seven studies sponsored by New America’s political reform program that deployed flawed methodology based on “simulated” elections instead of real-world elections, which when combined with some basic misunderstandings of RCV, produced odd and misleading results]. In this fifth article in our “Shaky Political Science” series, we examine two flawed studies on the impact of RCV on voter turnout authored by San Francisco State University professor Jason McDaniel. McDaniel’s research in these two papers stands out for its puzzling methodology, inadequate and cherry-picked data, and faulty analyses that not only misunderstands ranked choice voting but reflects a basic misunderstanding of politics in general. The first of the McDaniel studies actually passed through a peer review process and then was subsequently published by the Journal of Urban Affairs, despite its obvious errors. It is perplexing that a jury of peer political scientists did not catch the errors and send it back to McDaniel for a rewrite or outright rejection. This calls into question the credibility of the peer review process itself. The peer review process is supposed to represent the intellectual pinnacle of the profession – a way for academics to certify the quality of each other’s work, and to act as a check against sloppy research. In the case of the McDaniel study, the peer review process failed. Yet his flawed study has been cited dozens of times by other political scientists in their own flawed works — an unvirtuous circle of academic research. Here is the first Jason McDaniel study that we analyzed: “Writing the Rules to Rank the Candidates: Examining the Impact of Instant-Runoff Voting on Racial Group Turnout in San Francisco Mayoral Elections,” by Jason McDaniel, 2016, Journal of Urban Affairs. This study covered San Francisco’s use of ranked choice voting (RCV) in mayoral elections, purporting to show that RCV reduces voter turnout overall, increases voter errors, and has a negative impact on “marginal populations,” i.e. racial minorities, mainly as the result of the alleged complexity of RCV asking voters to rank candidates and having to be familiar with multiple candidates and related dynamics. McDaniel reached these conclusions by examining five San Francisco mayoral elections taking place in odd years (i.e. where there are no federal or state races on the ballot) from 1995 to 2011, comparing three earlier non-RCV races (in 1995, 1999 and 2003) with the later two RCV races (in 2007 and 2011). Only two RCV races were studied, and as McDaniel acknowledged, only the contest in 2011 was “competitive” (that contest in 2007 was the first mayoral election using RCV, and incumbent mayor Gavin Newsom won easily in the first round of counting, earning 74% of first choices and far ahead of the second place candidate who had just 6.3% of first choices). Yet even the allegedly competitive contest in 2011was won by an incumbent with a landslide margin of nearly 20 points. No other elections were studied by McDaniel, even though San Francisco elects 17 other offices besides mayor with RCV, including the 11 seats on the Board of Supervisors (the name for the city council) in even years, and six other citywide offices in odd years. Previous academic research has found that competitive elections can stimulate greater voter involvement and higher turnout. For unexplained reasons, this study ignored at least 34 other RCV races between the years 2004 to 2011, many of which were very competitive and had high voter turnout. Instead, McDaniel’s analysis based its conclusions on data from only a single, marginally-competitive mayor’s race using RCV. These 2007 and 2011 mayoral elections were the only two RCV elections that McDaniel used as the sole basis for his small data set to determine the impact of RCV on voter turnout. Despite having no meaningful data to inform his study, McDaniel nonetheless concluded that RCV lowered turnout when compared to the previous three mayoral non-RCV elections using two-round runoffs. Then, using the same inadequate database of San Francisco elections, McDaniel also found that “Instant-runoff voting is associated with a significant decline in Black voter turnout and White voter turnout…On average, Black voter turnout decreases by 18 points and White voter turnout decreases by 16 points …” But how could he credibly arrive at that conclusion when his study was based on voter turnout in two RCV contests that were not even remotely competitive? Beyond that, McDaniel tacitly admits that the key determining factor driving Black voter turnout was not RCV vs non-RCV elections, but the presence of a viable Black candidate. McDaniel wrote, “Black voter turnout was about 17 percentage points higher for the two elections that featured an African American candidate compared to the three elections that did not” — but one of those three elections did not use RCV. The same dynamic was present for White voter turnout, in which higher turnout was not correlated with RCV vs non-RCV elections, but the presence of a viable White candidate. Beyond that, McDaniel’s voter turnout results, whether correlated with the race of the candidates or RCV vs non-RCV elections, showed no clear patterns. In his Figure 1, he shows low Asian voter turnout in the non-RCV elections in 1999 and 2003 when there was no viable Asian candidate running, but in the 2007 mayoral election using RCV, there is still no viable Asian candidate, yet Asian turnout increases dramatically. For Latinos, voter turnout is virtually the same in 1999 (no viable Latino candidate, non-RCV elections), 2003 (leading Latino candidate, non-RCV elections), 2007 (no viable Latino candidate, RCV elections) and 2011 (leading Latino candidate, RCV elections). Meanwhile White voter turnout increased dramatically from a low in the 2007 mayoral election, in which the leading candidate was a white incumbent, to the 2011 election in which there were no leading white candidates that finished any higher than sixth place with 5.6% of the vote. Clearly other factors were determining voter turnout than either the race of the candidates or RCV vs non-RCV elections. Despite these inconsistent findings, McDaniel boldly marches forth to render conclusions about the impact of RCV on different groups of racial voters, even though his conclusions are not remotely supported by his data. This looks like the worst kind of “data cherry picking” to cover up a puzzling conclusion based on a poor data set involving only two RCV elections, neither of which were remotely competitive. McDaniel’s cherry picking didn’t stop there. In calculating voter turnout for the three non-RCV mayoral elections in 1995, 1999 and 2003, he failed to mention that in each of these years there was a two-round runoff election, with a first round election in November in which no candidate garnered a winning majority of the vote, followed by the decisive runoff in December. So there were two non-RCV elections in each election year. But McDaniel only decided to include one of the two elections in his data set, apparently the December runoff in each year (which had higher turnout in two out of the three mayor’s races, and lower turnout in the third). So he ignored the November 1995 election, the November 1999 election when turnout was only 45 percent, and the November 2003 election when turnout was only 45.7 percent. This is flawed methodology based on blatant cherry picking, since McDaniel simply omitted three elections worth of data that did not fit within his frame. His study should never have made it through a peer review process, and it is an embarrassment to political science that not only was it approved for publication, but it has been uncritically cited by dozens of other political scientists. Share A “study” without wider context or credible data Lacking a data set that included even a single competitive RCV mayoral race, McDaniel declared that RCV lowered voter turnout in 2011, when turnout was 42.5 percent. But he also ignored -- or did not realize -- that voter turnout in mayoral elections during 2011 had sharply declined in all big cities, including far more steeply in nearby Los Angeles and other cities. In fact, San Francisco’s election in 2011 had the second highest turnout of any mayoral election in the nation’s 22 largest cities from 2008-2011. Was 2011 just a particularly low turnout year all across the country, perhaps because the country was still reeling from the aftermath of the housing market collapse in 2008-2010? McDaniel ignored this factor and did not search for alternative explanations beyond his flawed thesis. Furthermore, while McDaniel suggested that RCV leads to more “overvotes” – which is an invalidated ballot in which a voter, in either a non-RCV or RCV race, makes a mistake and selects two candidates for a single choice – he failed to address that in the June 2012 US Senate primary contest, which used the typical “one-choice” plurality method and did not use RCV, there was more than five times as many overvotes in San Francisco and Oakland than in the RCV mayoral elections in those cities. Additionally, turnout had been significantly higher and more representative in RCV elections for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors races -- that McDaniel didn’t even bother to study -- as compared to previous “delayed two-round runoffs” for those offices, often higher by as much as 40% in the RCV races. Perhaps the most surprising irony was that an earlier study co-authored by McDaniel (Overvoting and the Equality of Voice under Instant-Runoff Voting in San Francisco by Francis Neely and Jason McDaniel, 2015, California Journal of Politics and Policy) found that overvotes are often more common in lower-income precincts, but that the pattern of overvoting is similar in both RCV and non-RCV contests. Wrote Neely and McDaniel: “[Overvote] errors appear to be a function of complexity in general and not IRV per se…. the pattern of overvoting is similar in both IRV and non-IRV contests…Even among votes cast in a top-of-the-ticket race like U.S. Senate, overvoting occurs in an uneven fashion” (IRV, or ‘instant runoff voting,’ is another name for ranked choice voting in single-winner contests). So McDaniel not only contradicted his own conclusion in his earlier study with Neely, but the earlier study had been an important corrective for one of the most frequently made mistakes made by anti-RCV political scientists – a continual failure to provide crucial context by pairing a comparative analysis of real world RCV elections with an analysis of real world plurality or other electoral methods. Unfortunately McDaniel’s earlier study does not get cited much by other researchers, and McDaniel did not even cite it in his own flawed study analyzed above. Incredibly, McDaniel cherrypicked McDaniel, even as his flawed study has been cited dozens of times. Despite being a textbook example of poor political “science,” featuring both inadequate as well as cherrypicked data, the shelf life of McDaniel’s study has been extended endlessly by other political scientists and media outlets who have cited it uncritically. Equally troubling, the Journal of Urban Affairs put this paper through its peer review process and published it despite its numerous flaws. McDaniel gets it wrong, Part II Not content with producing one shoddy, confused paper, McDaniel produced another one a few years later, here is the link: Electoral Rules and Voter Turnout in Mayoral Elections: An Analysis of Ranked-Choice Voting by Jason McDaniel. San Francisco State Univ. (McDaniel, 2019). In this paper, McDaniel extended his previous flawed research focused on San Francisco, about voter turnout and voter impact, to multiple RCV cities through the 2018 elections. In his data set he included San Francisco, Minneapolis, St Paul, Oakland, Berkeley, San Leandro and Santa Fe. He then compared their turnout in mayoral elections to non-RCV cities, and to mayoral elections in those cities held before first RCV usage, and concluded “a significant decrease in voter turnout of approximately 3–5 percentage points in RCV cities after the implementation of RCV.” But he replicated many of the same mistakes as his first study presented above. While in this study McDaniel attempted to distinguish between various factors, such as odd year vs. even year elections, competitive races vs. noncompetitive, contests with open seats and other factors, the analysis is superficial and inadequate. He attempts to incorporate so many often-conflicting variables that his conclusions are once again unsupported by the actual data, and ultimately unconvincing (this second study never underwent a peer review process). For example, McDaniel declared that for RCV cities “in elections that are more competitive than average (margin of victory less than 20%), there is no significant RCV effect on voter turnout.” Yet McDaniel is a professor in a city, San Francisco, in which the 2018 special election using RCV to fill a mayoral vacancy was exceedingly close, decided by a margin of only one percentage point, and resulted in the second highest turnout in San Francisco history for a mayoral election. Illustrating the complexity involved in assessing the critical factors in turnout, that special election was held on the same election day as federal and state offices, which tends to boost turnout. Yet more voters participated in that RCV mayoral election than voted on the same day in the non-RCV primary for governor in which former San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom was running. Even more puzzling, in this study McDaniel inaccurately cited his own previous study from 2015 with Neely. McDaniel wrote, “Neely and McDaniel (2015) examine individual ballot image files within a natural experiment, and find higher rates of ballot errors in RCV elections compared to non-RCV elections” (emphasis added). However, we quoted from that 2015 study several paragraphs above, and in actual fact Neely and McDaniel actually concluded the opposite -- that the pattern of overvoting – which is the most common form of ballot error – is similar in both RCV and non-RCV contests. McDaniel also ignored the fact that in Bay Area RCV elections held in even years – at the same time as federal and state elections, when turnout is highest -- the “undervote” (that is, the dropoff in ballots cast for governor or mayor) has declined, which contradicts his thesis that the act of ranking ballots in RCV elections is too complex and presents a barrier for certain demographics of voters. To his credit, McDaniel actually acknowledged another contradiction in his own paper, which found a negative RCV turnout effect in some odd-year elections but not others, admitting that “may present a challenge to the theory that increased complexity [from RCV] will have a marginal negative effect on voter turnout.” But he tried to wallpaper over that contradiction by blaming it on an unlikely source -- bad election administration. McDaniels wrote, “This would suggest that the negative impact of RCV on voter participation may be alleviated by high quality election administration,” without presenting any data or even anecdotes to support such an unfounded theory. While competent election administration of any election, whether RCV or non-RCV, is crucially important, there is no credible research that supports the far-fetched notion that the quality of election administration has much of an impact on voter turnout in US elections, whether using RCV or otherwise. Upgrade to a $5 subscription The unvirtuous circle of academic research It is puzzling how McDaniel’s first study could have survived the peer review process for the Journal of Urban Affairs. The mistakes in McDaniel’s first study above should have been obvious to anyone with a basic understanding of ranked choice voting as well as elections in general, and elections in San Francisco specifically. It undermines faith in the credibility of the peer review process to think that a jury of peer political scientists did not catch the egregious errors and reject McDaniel’s sloppy research and paper. And it remains a black mark on political science that this thoroughly discredited study has been cited dozens of times by other researchers. Indeed, in our research paper it became apparent that many political scientists cite each other’s flawed research to pad their list of citations and to legitimize their own flawed research, creating an unvirtuous circle of political science. More broadly, McDaniel’s voter turnout studies, like other studies evaluating RCV’s impact on turnout, lacked a recognition that no credible opinion or research can claim that RCV increases voter turnout merely because so many voters are excited to vote for their favorite candidates instead of “lesser evil” candidates without worrying about spoilers. Instead, with respect to turnout, the advantage of RCV has always been that, in most places where it has been used, it has eliminated a pre-November primary or post-November runoff, which usually saw about half the turnout of the November general election. This is especially true during even years when there are state and federal elections on the ballot which substantially drive turnout more than local contests. Any study that does not adequately account for this non-November primary/runoff vs November general election dynamic, or odd year vs even year election factors, is simply not credible. Both of McDaniel’s studies largely failed on those grounds. Steven Hill and Paul Haughey Share Upgrade to a $5 subscription Thanks for reading DemocracySOS…your 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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