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Ancient teeth hint at canoodling between early human relatives
An analysis of ancient teeth is giving scientists a rare peek into interactions between human relatives hundreds of thousands of years ago.
Saints fans out in force to push team to Wembley
Thousands of Southampton fans turned up to create a colourful atmosphere ahead of their play-off semi final.
This 4.9kg Evolve Bike Undercuts Western Brands by Thousands
It didn't even take a headline-breaking lightweight frame to build a bike that's lighter than anything offered by major Western brands — for thousands less than you'd expect.
Colorado is short thousands of mental health workers. A nonprofit is working to close the gap.
Part of the problem starts before clinicians ever see a patient.
Thousands of Scientists Sign Letter to Combat Science Board’s Firing
Thousands of Scientists Sign Letter to Combat Science Board’s Firing: The signatories, including more than 35 Nobel laureates, decry the “alarming attack on the ability of the US to engage in basic and applied research”
Study finds digital therapy app improves student mental health
WashU researchers led a population-based study of thousands of college students showing that a phone app with text coaching increased access to care and eased symptoms of depression, anxiety and eating disorders.
Shortage of beds, staff force Michigan kids out of state for mental health treatment
Michigan kids with serious mental health needs are being sent thousands of miles away from their families to receive proper treatment.
Water main break forces Oakland County businesses to close during busy weekend
A water main break forced businesses along South Broadway in Lake Orion Township to close during one of their busiest weekends, costing some owners thousands of dollars in lost sales and canceled reservations.
They sent their teens away for treatment. Then, everything unraveled.
After two suicides led to the sudden closure of Asheville Academy, families who had spent thousands were left scrambling to help their kids in crisis.
National Academy of Sciences experts denounce Trump’s NSF board purge
In an open letter, thousands of researchers criticized the White House’s firing of the research agency’s board as ‘an alarming attack’ on U.S. science
Retail Giants Spend Billions to Make Stores Look Nicer
Walmart, Target and Dollar General are among those investing in remodeling thousands of existing stores, even as shoppers take their dollars online.
Valkyries home opener brings excited fans, big business to Thrive City
Thousands of fans packed Chase Center for the Golden State Valkyries’ second-season home opener. Local businesses also saw a major boost from the game day excitement.
Florida seniors face growing mental health crisis, Humana Foundation study finds
A new report from the Humana Foundation is shedding light on a silent crisis unfolding across Florida — one that affects hundreds of thousands of older residents and often goes unnoticed.
Thousands drop Medi-Cal in Ventura County. Here's what it means
Enrollment in the Medi-Cal insurance program is falling in Ventura County and the decline is expected to continue.
Science & Medicine: For veterans with traumatic brain injuries, AI offers a new weapon against post-traumatic headaches
Hundreds of thousands of veterans live with traumatic brain injuries that can trigger chronic headaches, often made worse by PTSD. A researcher at UT Health San Antonio is using AI to help predict and prevent the pain before it starts.
Made Mobb, EPICC Recovery create apparel for Mental Health Awareness Month
Made Mobb partnered with EPICC Recovery to create an apparel line that puts the organization's phone number directly in the hands of thousands of people who then act as walking billboards.
Black licorice compound shows promise against inflammatory bowel disease
Researchers have developed a stem cell-based model of the human intestine that may transform how new IBD treatments are discovered. After testing thousands of compounds, they identified glycyrrhizin — a natural substance found in black licorice — as a promising anti-inflammatory candidate. In both lab-grown tissue and mice, the compound reduced intestinal damage and cell death linked to IBD.
Eduardo Dominguez of VML Health on ‘Chasing the Miracles of Science’ for Sanofi
Eduardo is a global creative director with VML Health. His work includes the groundbreaking “Dogs Without Borders,” in which trained dogs detect cancer through scent, offering early diagnosis in remote regions such as the Amazon, the Sahara,and Los Pueblos Negros. Beyond his creative work, Eduardo regularly writes for medical sector magazines, sharing insights on enhancing Eduardo is a global creative director with VML Health. Over the course of his 10+ year career, he has worked with some of the industry's top talent, delivering projects that have helped improve the lives of thousands.His work includes the groundbreaking “Dogs Without Borders,” trained dogs to detect cancer through scent, offering early diagnosis in remote regions such as the Amazon, the Sahara, and Los Pueblos Negros.
Kansas City bar owner says mayor’s World Cup hours decision will cost his business thousands
Mayor Quinton Lucas said he will introduce a measure to prevent Kansas City bars from staying open 23 hours per day during the World Cup, despite state law allowing the extended hours.
Thousands of Endeavor Health nurses look to unionize over pay cuts, staffing conditions
Nurses accuse Endeavor of staffing too few nurses, putting patients at risk. The mobilization effort would unionize nurses at four of Endeavor’s nine hospitals.
Thousands of Endeavor Health nurses look to unionize over pay cuts, staffing conditions
Nurses accuse Endeavor of staffing too few nurses, putting patients at risk. The mobilization effort would unionize nurses at four of Endeavor’s nine hospitals.
Meet the Mad Scientist Who Helped Create Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch
A French engineer, a circular-pool dream and thousands of simulations collide in the untold story behind Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch and the next generation of wave pools.
Microsoft internal document shows buyout offers to US employees
Microsoft offered buyouts to thousands of US employees to cut costs amid AI infrastructure spending plans. The offers include cash and insurance.
Legacy Health back in Regence BlueCross network with new contract
The new deal ends a dispute that left thousands of Regence members facing higher costs at Legacy's network of hospitals, clinics and physicians across Oregon and Southwest Washington.
These companies help parents try to pick their babies' traits. Experts are wary
Prospective parents can now pick embryos based on risk predictions for thousands of diseases and odds for specific traits. But should they?
Pokemon scalpers steal Target displays to resell for thousands of dollars
It was Pokemon Day at Target on May 2, and tons of fans flocked to grab the exclusive merch and displays, the latter of which are being sold for thousands.
IU Kelley Student Competing in Open-Wheel Racing, While Also Pursuing a Business Degree
For more than 100 years, the Indiana University Kelley School of Business has created career momentum for thousands of students. But this May, a junior studying finance and accounting, will experience it faster than any Kelley student who has come before him. The Kelley School is supporting Joey Brienza, a Kelley direct admit and Hutton Honors College student and a race car driver who competes in the USF Pro 2000 Series, a premier open-wheel racing series in the ladder to INDYCAR. On May 9, he w
Thousands in WA drop health insurance coverage. Here’s why
For nearly a year, policymakers have warned that ACA enrollment could fall off a cliff. Now we know exactly how many people in Washington dropped out.
Scientists stunned by 'sheer spectacle' as sea creatures flood beaches
Scientists still have much left to learn about the creatures, even as hundreds of thousands of them wash ashore.
More than 20 local businesses, artists will fill vacant Kansas City storefronts ahead of World Cup
The city of Kansas City is working with local businesses and organizations to fill and transform vacant spaces around the community before thousands of visitors arrive for the FIFA World Cup.
Spirit Airlines shutdown leaves Houston flight attendants scrambling for jobs, health care
The sudden shutdown of Spirit Airlines has left thousands of employees without jobs, income or health insurance, forcing many to scramble for work and basic benefits.
Fulton County asks court to stop DOJ subpoena of 2020 election workers’ personal information
The Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections in Georgia wants to block the Justice Department from gaining access to the personal information of thousands of 2020 election workers.
U.S. Embassy Supports Tunisian Business Delegation at 2026 SelectUSA Investment Summit - U.S. Embassy in Tunisia
U.S. EMBASSY SUPPORTS TUNISIAN BUSINESS DELEGATION AT 2026 SELECTUSA INVESTMENT SUMMIT The SelectUSA Investment Summit is the premier U.S. investment event, connecting thousands of investors, companies, economic development organizations, and industry experts to make deals happen. Media Note TUNIS, May 5, 2026 – U.S. Embassy Tunis is pleased to support a delegation of 11 Tunisian companies traveling to the United States to participate in the 2026 SelectUSA Investment Summit at National Harbor, Maryland, May 3-6, 2026. The Summit is an opportunity for these dynamic entrepreneurs to establish new connections and explore business and investment opportunities in the United States. This year, three Tunisian women entrepreneurs and members of the delegation representing Spiraw and Sotetel were accepted into the Select Global Women in Tech year-long mentoring program which will kick off at the summit. Since 2022, more than 50 Tunisian entrepreneurs in fields ranging from e-gaming, robotics, software engineering, coding, online fashion, and green tech have participated in SelectUSA Investment Summits, where they have taken their businesses to the next level. Hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the SelectUSA Investment Summit is a one-stop shop for companies considering expanding to the United States and provides economic development organizations (EDOs) with the opportunity to meet directly with international companies to facilitate investment deals. Since inception, the SelectUSA Investment Summit has attracted tens of thousands of companies and economic development representatives, generating over $250 billion in new investment projects that support more than 125,000 jobs across the United States and its territories. The previous SelectUSA Investment Summit saw record-breaking numbers with more than 5,500 participants, including EDOs from 54 U.S. states and territories and over 2,700 business investors from 100+ countries, including Tunisia. The following Tunisian businesses will take part in this year’s SelectUSA delegation: AquaDeep – Revolutionizes aquaculture with AI-powered monitoring solutions, including a real-time larva counting system and a SaaS platform for environmental monitoring. The company is expanding operations across Tunisia, Europe, Africa, and the United States. Bouraoui Group – Specializes in event venues, hospitality experiences, innovative real estate development, and technology driven customer solutions. The business develops experience- focused and tech enabled lifestyle destinations that combine entertainment, culture, retail, and smart services, and is seeking international partners to co-develop hospitality, PropTech, smart retail, and experiential digital projects. Digital Cook – Builds HR and recruitment software solutions, including HRMS, ATS, and custom tools that streamline hiring, employee management, and talent development. It provides custom software, system integration, and scalable HR platforms for SMEs, large enterprises, and recruitment agencies seeking efficient, user-friendly ways to manage their workforce and improve recruitment. El Kanaouet – Provides high-quality and low-cost hydraulic infrastructure for the supply and distribution of drinking water. The company manufactures prestressed concrete structures based on current technological developments in the field and trends in integrated and digitalized management. El Kanaouet aims to enter the U.S. market with its production of centrifugal prestressed concrete pipes and other technical products and services. Fluoink Nanotechnologies – A deep‑tech startup developing next‑generation antimicrobial additives for paints, coatings, and industrial materials, enabling everyday surfaces to act as long‑lasting barriers against harmful bacteria and pathogens without changing their appearance or performance. Mare Custos – A subsea robotics company specializing in ROV-based underwater inspection services for offshore energy, ports, and marine infrastructure, using high-precision imaging, PAUT, and NDT to inspect structures in challenging conditions. SmartMed SA – A fast-growing digital health company operating in Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, offering an integrated ecosystem that helps patients book appointments (MedPro), enables clinics to digitize workflows and EMRs (MedLink), and supports targeted digital marketing for healthcare and pharma (MedAds). With millions of appointments and users, SmartMed has become a leading e-health platform in North Africa. Sototel – Builds telecommunications networks and services, including fixed, radio, and mobile networks. Sototel focuses on technological innovation and continuous improvement, providing high-value-added digital solutions. SOTUPRIN HGE – Specializes in manufacturing household electrical appliances under the brand HGE and OEM. Expanded from the local market to North Africa, Central Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Spiraw by Food4Future – Designs and manufactures smart, AI-powered cultivation systems allowing individuals and businesses to grow fresh, highly nutritious food – starting with spirulina – directly at the point of consumption. Combining patented hardware, controlled-environment agriculture, and a connected app with an AI assistant, Spiraw aims to decentralize food production and create a new category at the intersection of agri-tech, consumer health, and smart home ecosystems. WaterSec (Istidama) – A climate-tech startup that uses IoT, AI, and smart sensors to help high consumption facilities (such as industries, hotels, and commercial buildings) monitor water use in real time, detect leaks, and optimize consumption. The company’s digital platform turns raw water data into alerts and actionable insights, making water management more transparent, proactive, and sustainable. Learn more about the SelectUSA Investment Summit at https://www.selectusasummit.us/. Follow live developments from the summit on X at https://x.com/SelectUSA.
Fulton seeks to block federal subpoena targeting 2020 election workers
The subpoena seeks personally identifying information for thousands of paid and volunteer election workers.
The ravioli king of Brooklyn making nearly $2 million a year
George Joseph Switzer III runs Queen Ann Ravioli, a Brooklyn pasta shop founded in 1972. Inside, vintage machines make thousands of pounds of pasta.
Savannah Small Business Week kicks off highlighting local impact
Savannah, Ga. (WSAV) — Savannah Small Business Week is officially underway, bringing a packed schedule of events designed to celebrate and support the thousands of small businesses that power the r…
Las Vegas science and technology expo wraps 15th year
Thousands explore robotics and VR at World Market Center expo
Homewood Science Center served thousands in 2025
Edie Dobrez, Homewood Science Center’s executive director, said thousands of families and students visited HSC in 2025. She presented her annual update to the Homewood Village Board at the April 28 meeting on the center and its continuing success. The science center has officially been operating for 10 years now[Read More...]
Prisma Health hosts 20th Dragon Boat Festival, raising thousands for cancer research
This was the 20th anniversary of the event.
Prisma Health hosts 20th Dragon Boat Festival, raising thousands for cancer research
The Dragon Boat event mainly supports the Prisma Health Cancer Institute’s Center for Integrative Oncology and Survivorship program.
Key U.S. science panels are being axed—and others are becoming less open
President Donald Trump and his administration downsized US science by historic margins last year as it reduced the workforce at federal research agencies by tens of thousands of people and terminated ...
Malaria didn’t just kill early humans, it shaped who we became
Long before humans spread across the globe, a deadly disease may have quietly shaped where our ancestors lived—and even how we evolved. New research reveals that malaria didn’t just threaten early human survival; it actively pushed populations away from high-risk regions across Africa, fragmenting groups over tens of thousands of years. This separation influenced how different populations met, mixed, and exchanged genes, helping shape the genetic diversity we see today.
The Moon Illusion Still Hasn't Been Solved After Thousands Of Years
NASA takes a surprisingly chill approach to the dilemma.
Photos from the 152nd Kentucky Derby: the best day in horse racing, the 'Sport of Kings'
Once again, tens of thousands flocked to Churchill Downs, dressed to the nines, to partake in one of the grandest spectacles in sport and, perhaps, travel back in time.
Thousands of workers credited as Hard Rock’s Guitar Hotel hits major milestone
The Strip’s largest resort construction project hit a major milestone Friday morning as the final structural beam was placed atop the Guitar Hotel Las Vegas.
Thousands from across NC join teachers rally in Raleigh
Thousands of teachers and supporters gathered in Downtown Raleigh on Friday for the NCAE "Kids Over Corporations" May Day march demanding higher pay and increased school funding.
Tens of thousands could lose Medicaid coverage as Nebraska becomes first state to implement GOP work requirement
Nebraska is launching work requirements in Medicaid on Friday, becoming the first state to implement a key pillar of the Republicans’ “big, beautiful bill.”
Nebraska rolls out Medicaid work requirements, putting thousands at risk of losing coverage
The state is opting to begin the program eight months ahead of the federally mandated deadline in Trump's "big, beautiful bill."
How to Build a Superteam That Keeps Getting Better
In periods of rapid change, the teams that outperform everyone else are not those with the best plans or the most talent but those that learn the fastest. Research across thousands of teams reveals a consistent pattern: High-performing teams—“superteams”—build cultures of continuous improvement. Their leaders encourage experimentation even when things are going well, make curiosity and intellectual humility contagious, surface problems early, stay close to the work, give feedback that supports learning rather than punishing mistakes, and invest in people’s growth even when it doesn’t pay off immediately. When work is tied to shared meaning and progress matters more than perfection, teams become more resilient, adaptable, and capable of sustained success—in business settings and beyond.
Senate Bans Prediction Markets for Its Members and Staff
Senators voted unanimously to prohibit betting practices in the chamber after some users made hundreds of thousands of dollars online by accurately predicting U.S. military actions.
Crime of the Week: Burglary at business in central SF
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Sioux Falls Police are trying to find out who’s responsible for thousands of dollars of damage at a local business. Authorities say someone broke into a busin…
Richmond's $100K plan to add police-linked business cameras
The new safety push focuses on businesses in 13 areas, offering thousands of dollars to install security cameras.
How G10 garage demolition will displace Tennessee football fans during gamedays
The Neyland Entertainment District could be a gem for Tennessee, but its construction will displace thousands of fans parking on gamedays.
Supreme Court hears arguments over temporary protected status for Haitian and Syrian migrants
The court’s decision could affect hundreds of thousands of people who benefit from Temporary Protected Status.
‘Make me miss California’: In deleted tweets, Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow disparaged Middle America
As Democrats brace for a bruising primary in Michigan’s US Senate race, Mallory McMorrow, one of the party’s top contenders, has quietly deleted thousands of old tweets — including posts in which she took jabs at the rural Midwest, lamented ever leaving California, and said she continued to vote there after she said she’d moved permanently to Michigan.
Fort Myers family construction business hit hard by soaring fuel prices
FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)—A Fort Myers construction company says rising diesel prices are forcing them to spend thousands more each month just to keep their trucks on the road.
Thousands of Appalachian voters flip from Democrat to Republican, narrowing registration lead
A wave of party switching in West Virginia has reshaped voter rolls, with over 68,000 voters changing affiliation ahead of the state's 2024 primary.
Thousands of Marylanders downgraded health plans on ACA marketplace amid rising premiums
As fewer Marylanders qualify for federal tax breaks that used to keep health care costs down, state officials report that higher monthly premiums have led thousands to opt for lower-coverage healthcare plans than in previous years.
Businesses impacted after Mifflin Street Block Party crowds move to State Street
Thousands of people moved from the Mifflin Street Block Party to State Street around 5 p.m. Saturday night, with police recovering multiple guns and responding to large physical fights.
Smyrna business owner under investigation after immigrants allege fraud
Smyrna police are investigating a local business owner, Laura Ward, after multiple immigrants filed reports alleging they paid thousands of dollars for immigration services that were never completed.
Facebook Has a Health Scam Problem
A new report found hundreds of thousands of scam ads for medical products, some of which were illegal or had been deemed dangerous.
Prison or treatment? Thousands participate in mental health courts. Half graduate — and millions are left out
This story is a collaboration between Illinois Answers and the Chicago bureau of MindSite News; sign up to receive their newsletter here. Bloomington native Shayla Woodworth had struggled with mental illness and […]
The Help That Many Older Americans Need Most
With shortages of medical professionals and an aging population, thousands of community healthcare workers prevent older adults from falling through the cracks.
DNA research just rewrote the origin of human species
Scientists have uncovered a surprising new picture of human origins that challenges the long-held idea of a single ancestral population in Africa. By analyzing genetic data from diverse modern African groups—especially the highly distinct Nama people—and comparing it with fossil evidence, researchers found that early humans likely evolved from multiple intermingling populations over hundreds of thousands of years. Rather than a clean split, these groups stayed connected, exchanging genes even after beginning to diverge around 120,000–135,000 years ago.
Stagecoach returns to the desert, driving local business and blending genres
INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) - Stagecoach is back in the Coachella Valley, bringing thousands of country music fans to the desert and delivering a major boost to local businesses. From hotels and restaurants to pop-up bars and local shops, the festival is one of the region’s biggest economic drivers. Business owners say the busy weekend can
Runners speed through Dollywood in park's first-ever race weekend
Before Dollywood opened for regular guests, thousands of runners were lined up bright and early for the first race of the Run Dollywood weekend.
AIDS Creeps Back in Parts of Zambia, a Year After U.S. Cuts to H.I.V. Assistance
A once-robust H.I.V. treatment and prevention system, credited with saving hundreds of thousands of lives, has begun to crumble.
Why a plan to fix health insurance for thousands of children has stalled
In 2023, Florida lawmakers unanimously approved expanding KidCare to extend health insurance to more than 40,000 children. But the expanded coverage has stalled.
Warren County teen accused of stealing $25,000 in merchandise from golf business
A 17-year-old in Warren County remains in juvenile detention after being accused of breaking into a Lebanon driving range four times and stealing tens of thousands of dollars in merchandise.
988 hotline linked to thousands of fewer youth suicide deaths since launch, study finds
Nearly 4,400 fewer U.S. teens and young adults died by suicide than projected in the first two-and-a-half years of the 988 mental health crisis hotline, a sign the program is working even as it faces long-term funding challenges.
SF workers have weeks to claim $240 million in health funds — or the city will pocket it
The city may owe you thousands. It’s a use-it-or-lose-it situation, and the clock is ticking.
Microsoft offers buyouts to thousands of US employees
Microsoft is offering buyouts to employees whose years of service and age adds up to 70 or more.
Local small business broken into and vandalized in Enfield
Local small business owners are out thousands of dollars and years of memories after thieves broke in and stole merchandise and damaged property in Enfield. David LaBerge and his wife recently closed their store, Second Floor Games, at the Enfield Square Mall and are in the process of doing inventory and moving products to their new location, Twilight Cards &…
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.
From sports stars to the attorney general himself, Hoosiers have unclaimed property
Famous athletes are among thousands of Hoosiers with unclaimed property owed to them, available to search and claim through online portal.
AI Startup Has Helped Reverse Thousands of Denied Health Insurance Claims
Americans rarely fight back when insurers reject treatments their doctors have prescribed. Claimable is working to change that, with a little help from Mark Cuban.
Delivered! - The Courier Driver Business
In many German cities, bicycle couriers deliver burgers, pizza, and other food to people's homes. Thousands of these riders come from India, lured by the promise of studying in Germany, and have incurred heavy debts.
Medical Scans Reveal Hidden Secrets Inside Ancient Egyptian Mummies
Thousands of years later.
How one disappointing order uncovered a massive ‘ghost cake’ delivery scandal in China
A customer’s complaint about a disappointing cake kicked off a massive investigation that uncovered thousands of “ghost” food vendors in China, resulting in staggering fines for some the country’s largest firms and highlighting the pitfalls of the cutthroat price competition.
A former Missouri lawmaker wins back thousands of dollars seized after sexual misconduct allegations
A former Missouri lawmaker who was censured over sexual misconduct allegations has won a court case to recoup thousands of dollars seized from his salary as a penalty | Newsradio 1140 WRVA
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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