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‘Below Deck’ Transport Boat Goes Up in Flames in Dramatic Video
More unintended drama has hit the set of ‘Below Deck,’ and this time, it’s an inferno at sea.
Cut in half: Nike ACG Ultrafly Trail Review (2026)
Nike ACG Ultrafly Trail review: Nike clearly listened to feedback from the first Ultrafly, and the ACG reboot delivers a much better product. We found in the lab that the new dual-plate setup, upgraded ZoomX foam, and lower weight create a true trail super shoe that surprised us right away. It's perfect for flying over gravel roads or easy, flat trails. The premium price is hard to ignore, and the high drop may divide opinions, but in our view, this is an amazing weapon for crushing all your personal bests.
Harvard scientists link gut bacteria to depression through hidden inflammation trigger
A gut bacterium may be quietly fueling depression through an unexpected chemical twist. Researchers found that when Morganella morganii interacts with a common pollutant, it produces a molecule that triggers inflammation—something strongly linked to depression. This finding helps explain how gut microbes can influence brain health at a molecular level. It also raises the possibility of new treatments that target the immune system rather than just the brain.
15 Healthy Trader Joe’s Finds a Dietitian Recommends for Spring
These products have spring-forward flavors, and they're convenient and affordable.
The applicability of Hungary’s election to our politics
American conservatives, largely synonymous these days with MAGA save for a few lonely voices of courage and dissent, have plenty to lament. Their domination of the political landscape is waning. Various special elections hither and yon have presented bright, flashing caution signs. A very difficult, perhaps devastating, off-year election beckons. Major fractures have surfaced within […]
I shopped Gap's Victoria Beckham collection. It's good, but flawed.
The Gap x Victoria Beckham line is full of high-quality basics and chic designs. Unfortunately, many of the items seemed too tight or too long on me.
Mason Miller's next outing could make history; A look at the flame-thrower's dominance since arriving in San Diego
Heading into the 2025 trade deadline, the Padres arguably sported the league's best bullpen.
Trump’s political headwinds pile up after gerrymandering, Iran setbacks
New polls showed voters prefer Democrats on the economy for the first time since 2010 and Republicans disapprove of Trump’s handling of inflation.
Hackers Can Abuse Entra Agent ID Administrator Role to Hijack Service Principals
A flaw in Microsoft Entra let the Agent ID Administrator role hijack service principals and escalate tenant privileges.
Maryland becomes 18th state to sanction girls flag football
Maryland has sanctioned girls flag football as a varsity sport, becoming the 18th state to do so. The season begins August 12.
It's Official: Girls' Flag Football is a sanctioned sports for Maryland high schools
Maryland is adding another championship sports to high schools. The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) officially sanctioned girls'
It's Official: Girls' Flag Football is a sanctioned sports for Maryland high schools
Maryland is adding another championship sports to high schools. The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) officially sanctioned girls'
Hochul pushes lawmakers to back car insurance reforms
Her critics say it’s not that simple, and the plan is flawed.
Even as businesses spend $4 million to cross Panama Canal, they say ‘it’s safer and less expensive’ than the Strait of Hormuz
While passage through the canal usually comes at a flat rate via reservations, companies without bookings can pay more to cross through an auction that awards slots to the highest bidder. The alternative would be waiting for days off the coast of Panama City.
#IMOMSOHARD
In this segment of 2 Plus You Nevada, host Sarah Johns highlights the all-new #IMOMSOHARD: Flashback Tour, coming to Reno for one night only!
Some Northwest Florida businesses ready to file for tariff refunds as online portal opens
PENSACOLA, Fla. -- $166 billion in federal refunds is now up for grabs. The billions of dollars were all collected from President Donald Trump's sweeping tariff
Maryland makes girls' flag football a varsity high school sport
Maryland is making girls' flag football a varsity sport. The inaugural season will kick off in fall 2026.
AMD’s Flagship Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Outsells Every Intel CPU On Amazon As X3D Chips Dominate Top 10
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 is a top 10 selling CPU on Amazon at $899, outpacing Intel's offerings, but lacks significant performance improvements.
New ‘Pack2TheRoot’ flaw gives hackers root Linux access
A new vulnerability dubbed Pack2TheRoot could be exploited in the PackageKit daemon to allow local Linux users to install or remove system packages and gain root permissions.
Girls flag football is a family affair at Des Moines Lincoln
With a couple of father-daughter duos on the sidelines in the last two seasons, Des Moines Lincoln girls flag football is all about family.
Nevada regulators approve Golden Entertainment going private
The Nevada Gaming Commission Thursday signed off on Golden Entertainment taking the company private. The Las Vegas-based casino operator whose flagship property is The Strat on the Strip, has de...
Five flaws Warriors must address to upgrade their roster this NBA offseason
Monte Poole lists five factors the Golden State Warriors must address to have any chance of rejoining the contenders in the Western Conference.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Remake Dev Promises Lots Of Blood
Assassin's Creed fans have been picking over the reveal footage with lots of questions
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced "launch edition" is a European exclusive, skips US
AC Black Flag Resynced's "launch edition" is a European exclusive, which means US players won't be able to get the 34-page artbook or other extra goodies.
Sleepy in the morning? That could be a red flag
A new study links frequent, longer daytime naps in older adults to higher health risks — especially when they start in the morning.
Businesses dole out up to $4 million to cross Panama Canal during Strait of Hormuz chokehold
Businesses have doled out up as much as $4 million to move boats through the Panama Canal with the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed, according to the Panama Canal Authority, in a move that has created a seismic shift in global trade flows. While passage through the waterway usually comes at a flat rate via reservations, companies without reservations can cross by paying an additional fee in an auction for slots, which are awarded to the highest bidder rather than waiting for days off the coast of Panama City. Ships have increasingly traveled through the Panama Canal as shipments are rerouted and buyers purchase from other countries to avoid commerce through now-treacherous Middle Eastern waterway.
Ubisoft Confirms "Original" Assassin's Creed Black Flag Will Still Be Available
Resynced is a "2026 take on the original legend"
Asking AI health questions? Use with caution, researchers say
Two newly published studies offer a flashing yellow light for anyone who searches for health answers on AI chatbots.
Scientists find perfect fossils in rust beneath Australian farmland
Beneath the dry farmland of New South Wales lies a hidden window into a lost rainforest teeming with life from 11-16 million years ago. At McGraths Flat, scientists have uncovered fossils preserved in astonishing detail—not in typical rock like shale or sandstone, but in iron-rich sediment once thought incapable of such preservation. Tiny iron particles filled and captured entire cells, preserving everything from insect organs to fish eye pigments and delicate spider hairs.
Lowell Observatory highlights Route 66’s deep ties to science in Flagstaff
At Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Route 66 history meets science, space discovery and moon mission training.
iOS 26.4.2: Apple Fixes iPhone Flaw Used By FBI To Read Deleted Messages
Apple has released a new iPhone update — that has taken many by surprise — to address a vulnerability that was recently exploited by the FBI.
Welcome Back, Captain – Here’s What’s New in Assassins Creed Black Flag Resynced
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced revitalizes a fan-favorite adventure with state-of-the-art visuals, gameplay upgrades, and new content. Set sail July 9.
7+ Sports Talk | Discussing the end of the inaugural flag football season
Scott Rossman and Hayden Smith discuss the end of the inaugural flag football season.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced's Collector's Edition Includes a Gorgeous Statue and Is Available for Preorder Now
Everything you need to know to preorder Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, including pricing, availabilibty, release date, and more.
Smoking pot near a Louisiana campus could become a felony: ‘Ever been to an LSU football game?’
Louisiana could soon make it a felony to smoke marijuana within 2,000 feet of any school or college campus in Louisiana as some state leaders say people are flagrantly violating drug laws at college football games.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Out July 9: Everything You Need to Know
Get all the details on Resynced including release date, PC specs, new content, the different editions available, and more.
Thursday Morning Links
Morning, all! Wyatt Langford has a grade 1 flexor strain in his right arm, which marks the fifth IL stint for a soft tissue injury in the first two years of his career. Skip Schumaker says it’s because he “has more muscles than most people.” Langford is hoping to spend no more than the minimum […]
HRC Launches ‘100 Days of Healthcare’ Campaign to Demand Congress…
As Federal Lawmakers Work on New Appropriations Bills, HRC Will Mobilize LGBTQ+ Community and Allies to Push for Transgender Health Care Access, PrEP…
Canada’s biotech paradox: strong science, weak scaling
Canada produces a steady stream of biotech startups built on credible academic research. Universities and hospital research centers in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver generate discoveries that move quickly into company formation. Early-stage activity is not the constraint. The difficulty tends to surface later, when those companies try to grow.
Stock investors in their 'own universe' where AI trumps all: Gordon
Stock investors are so enamored by AI that they're shrugging off war, inflation, job cuts, and an oil shock, business professor Erik Gordon said.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Has a $200 Collector's Edition
Ubisoft's pricing for Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has leaked ahead of the game's official unveiling — and the game will also arrive with a $200 special edition.
Young voters squeezed by economy and distrust political systems in new poll
Roughly half of young Americans said they are affected by inflation, and 45% said they are struggling to make ends meet in new Harvard Youth Poll.
Black Flag Resynced Price Details Revealed
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Price details are out for the launch and collector's editions. Here are more details.
Apple Patches iOS Flaw That Stored Deleted Signal Notifications in FBI Forensic Case
Apple fixes CVE-2026-28950 in iOS 26.4.2 after deleted notifications were retained, mitigating forensic data exposure.
Sainsbury’s and WHSmith warn war will hit customers and business
Retailers flag weak outlook as consumers rein in spending
Next-gen OnePlus 16 leak reveals key display upgrades
The next-generation OnePlus 16 has surfaced in a new leak. The upcoming flagship may see major display upgrades, including a refresh rate of up to 240Hz.
Kalshi fines, suspends political candidates for trading on own races
The cases were flagged by Kalshi’s new safeguards to block political candidates from trading on their own elections.
A flawed diagnosis of Cuban health care
Progressives who praise communist systems just prove how gullible they are.
Trump administration settles lawsuit with ex-Trump adviser Carter Page
The Justice Department has reached a settlement in a lawsuit brought by former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page, who sued the DOJ and FBI for over flawed government surveillance he faced due to his Russian contacts in 2016, according to a filing with the Supreme Court Wednesday.
Apple rolls out iOS 26.4.2 to fix a flaw that allowed the FBI to access push notifications
The latest iOS update patches a security flaw that made deleted push notification data accessible on some iPhones and iPads.
iOS 26.4.2 Patches Flaw That Let FBI Extract Deleted Signal Messages
The iOS 26.4.2, iPadOS 26.4.2, iOS 18.7.8, and iPadOS 18.7.8 updates that Apple released today address a security vulnerability that the FBI recently used to extract Signal message previews from an iPhone even after the app was deleted. A flaw with notification services allowed notifications that were supposed to be deleted to be retained on an iPhone or iPad. Apple says it fixed the logging issue with improved data redaction.
Music-based rhythm improves gait in Parkinson’s patients
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Whether it’s the simple tick of a metronome or the thumping bassline in a disco classic, not all beats are created equal. A University of…
Speakers sought for 2027 AHA Rural Health Care Leadership Conference
The AHA is seeking participants to speak at the 2027 Rural Health Care Leadership Conference, which will be held Jan. 31-Feb. 3 in Orlando, Fla. Proposals must be centered around “on-the-ground” perspectives and applicable strategies that showcase unique insights, successful case studies and cutting-edge solutions.
iPhone 18 Pro’s new color will be a mix of these three, says leaker
A Weibo leaker has offered a unique description of the iPhone 18 Pro color option that Apple is expected to market as its flagship.
Boeing’s Commercial Jet Business Improves, Reducing Quarterly Loss
The plane maker reported brisk first-quarter commercial sales, despite wiring flaws that delayed some deliveries.
An ode to IM Chron sports
If the sport is offered, it’s more than likely that we compete in it. Soccer, Kickball, Dodgeball, Flag Football (4v4 and 7v7) and Basketball (3v3 and 5v5), just to name a few.
As Trump proposes further cuts to science spending, this Pittsburgh researcher is moving to China
Amid uncertain federal funding for science research, an infectious disease researcher is trading the hills of Pittsburgh for the mostly flat terrain on the outskirts of Shanghai.
Microsoft Patches Critical ASP.NET Core CVE-2026-40372 Privilege Escalation Bug
CVE-2026-40372 scores 9.1 due to cryptographic flaw in ASP.NET Core 10.0.0–10.0.6, risking SYSTEM access.
4 Medications That May Increase Dementia Risk
Experts have flagged several over-the-counter and prescription medications.
4 Medications That May Increase Dementia Risk
Experts have flagged several over-the-counter and prescription medications.
Microsoft releases emergency patches for critical ASP.NET flaw
Microsoft has released out-of-band (OOB) security updates to patch a critical ASP.NET Core privilege escalation vulnerability.
UK inflation climbs to 3.3%, driven by largest increase in fuel prices in over three years
Oil prices fall on ceasefire extension but stay near $100 a barrel as strait of Hormuz remains closed
Mythos found 271 Firefox flaws – but none a human couldn’t spot
: Mozilla CTO says AI means developers finally have a chance to get on top of security
Carter, Muller Earn Top Business Student Awards
Josiah Carter of Sanford, Fla., and Ashley Muller of Cabot received the top two annual student awards presented by the Arkansas Tech University LeMoyne Smith School of Business during an awards reception at Chambers Cafeteria West Dining Room on Tuesday, April 21. Carter is the winner of the 2026 ATU…
UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital completes $30 million modernization
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Building on its reputation as one of the nation’s highest-rated centers for pediatric care, UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital completed…
Slow Starts (And Hopeful Turnarounds)
Some players get off to incredibly hot starts to the year. Very few keep it up, with most flaming out. […]
Feud between Mace and Mills flares as the Republicans trade barbs, expulsion threats
A deeply personal grudge between a pair of Republicans — Reps. Cory Mills of Florida and Nancy Mace of South Carolina — has escalated on Capitol Hill, as Mills accused his long-time foe of trying to profit off efforts to oust him.
Expert quits US HIV role, rebukes Trump global health approach
The chief science officer for the U.S. flagship HIV/AIDS program left his role this week and criticized the Trump administration's cuts to foreign assistance and what he said was its use of aid as leverage for U.S. commercial interests.
Expert Quits US HIV Role, Rebukes Trump Global Health Approach
By Simon Lewis WASHINGTON, April 21 (Reuters) - The chief science officer for the U.S. flagship HIV/AIDS program left his role this week and criticized the Trump administration's cuts to foreign assistance and what he said was its use of aid as leverage for U.S. commercial interests. Republican ...
Approval of Trump on economy falls in new AP-NORC poll, as Iran war drives up prices
The findings from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research show a president who is struggling with unfulfilled promises to tame inflation and testing Americans’ patience with a conflict in the Middle East that has dragged on longer than expected.
John Carroll University adds women's flag football as varsity sport
The move marks the third women's varsity sport that the university has added in the last four years
Warsh vows to keep monetary policy independent of politics
STORY: :: Fed chief nominee Warsh vows to keep monetary policy independent of politics:: Washington, D.C. / April 21, 2026:: Kevin Warsh, Federal Reserve chief nominee“Monetary policy independence is essential. Monetary policymakers must act in the nation's interest. Their decision is the product of rigor, deliberation and unclouded decision-making. And as Senator Warren said, I do not believe that independence of monetary policy is threatened when elected officials state their views on rates. Fed independence is up to the Fed." // :: Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Ranking Democrat on Senate Banking Committee“So, independence takes courage. Let's check out your independence and your courage. We'll start easy. Mr. Warsh, did Donald Trump lose the 2020 election?”WARSH: “Um, we try to keep politics, if I’m confirmed, out of the Federal Reserve.”WARREN: “I’m just asking you a factual question. I need to know. I need to measure your independence and your courage.”WARSH: “Senator, I believe that this body certified that election many years ago.”WARREN: “That’s not the question I’m asking. I’m asking did Donald Trump lose in 2020?”WARSH: “And I’m suggesting to you in 2020…”WARREN: “I’m suggesting you can’t answer that.”WARSH: “… the Fed had a huge inflation problem, and you certified the election…[crosstalk]… let’s keep the politics out of monetary policy.” //WARREN: "Just one little place where you disagree with Donald Trump.”WARSH: “Well, I do have a disagreement actually, Senator, with the president. I think even this morning, he said that he thought I was out of central casting. I think central casting, I'd look older, grayer, maybe show up here with a cigar of sorts.”WARREN: “Quite adorable. But, you know, we need a Fed chair who is independent. That's the only way we preserve the independence of the Federal Reserve. If you can't answer these questions, you don't have the courage and you don't have the independence.”In a confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking Committee that quickly hinted at major changes to come at a Warsh-led Fed, the 56-year-old lawyer and financier blamed the central bank for an inflation surge in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to hurt U.S. households.Warsh's hearing quickly turned contentious. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren pressed Warsh on his independence and "courage", saying President Donald Trump had made clear Warsh would be his "sock puppet".
Fact check: Trump makes false claims about inflation and birthright citizenship
President Donald Trump made false claims about inflation and birthright citizenship in an interview with CNBC on Tuesday morning.
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
In California, Israel is emerging as a defining Democratic test
As the war in Iran stretches on, it is inflaming an intraparty rift with ramifications for the midterms and the run-up to 2028.
Scientists just captured trees glowing with electricity during storms
Scientists chasing thunderstorms in a retrofitted minivan finally captured something never seen before in nature: faint electrical glows shimmering from treetops during a storm. These “corona discharges,” long suspected but never observed outside a lab, appeared as tiny UV flashes at the tips of leaves. The discovery could reshape how we understand forests, since these bursts may help clean the air by breaking down pollutants.
Old Sears store in Central Austin gets new life as health center for low-income residents
The flagship administrative and medical center for Central Health, the local public hospital district, opens in Hancock Center for limited services starting Friday.
Opinion | The University of Minnesota’s vision for health care is flawed
"Based on our years of experience with the U and its health sciences, we would argue that moving the clinical practice of the university’s medical school back inside the university is a bad idea," the authors write.
UnitedHealth Group Reports Flat First-Quarter Earnings
One of the nation’s largest insurers, the company’s profits were higher than analysts’ expectations but still fell short of showing a significant comeback.
UnitedHealth Group Reports Flat First-Quarter Earnings
One of the nation’s largest insurers, the company’s profits were higher than analysts’ expectations but still fell short of showing a significant comeback.
"We know you know, but how about we tell you some more now?" - Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced worldwide reveal announced for this week
Ubisoft will officially unveil Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced with a dedicated showcase later this week.
Inside Montclair State's Red Hawks Rising
Danbury, Conn. —The race is on as the inaugural ECAC/Jets Flag Football season barrels toward an electrifying finish, and Montclair State is making sure every moment is remembered. The Red Hawks have been rolling cameras all season long, capturing the highs, the grind, and the defining moments of their very first campaign in a behind-the-scenes documentary series
A ‘burgeoning black market’, inflated dosing and the over-judicialization of health care: reporters around the world tell stories about Keytruda
In a yearlong investigation led by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, reporters from more than 37 countries found the cancer drug’s high price impacts patients and health systems differently.
South African rand flat as traders eye business confidence index, central bank policy report
The South African rand was flat in early trade on Tuesday as investors tracked geopolitical developments and awaited the release of a domestic business confidence survey and a central bank monetary policy review later in the day.
How will inflation impact business this Mother’s Day?
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) – With Mother’s Day is just around the corner, some have expressed concern about whether inflation will impact the way business owners approach the holidays. Many noted spikes in co...
Sony’s major Xperia 1 VIII redesign looks unconvincing in a new leaked render
Sony may introduce a major redesign to its flagship phones, though some details remain unclear.
Poll flags vaccine politics as risk ahead of Special Session
Poll shows strong voter support for existing vaccine requirements statewide.
NASA Plans to Test Fire on The Moon Ahead of Future Missions
Flames burn differently in space.
Nike's 'walkers tolerated' Boston Marathon ad falls flat with runners
Nike faced backlash over an ad for the Boston Marathon, with runners criticizing the "Walkers tolerated" sign. It has since been taken down.
Science Expeditions Campus Open House brings STEM wonder to the whole family - Morgridge Institute for Research
The Discovery Building and other venues across campus brought the magic of STEM discovery to visitors of all ages at Science Expeditions Campus Open House, a flagship spring event for science engagement.
Scientists Discover a Major Flaw in How We Search for Life on Other Planets
Planets can't remain habitable for long without a massive hidden supply of water.
$50M 'entertainment destination' planned for downtown Clearwater
WFLA News Channel 8 On Your Side in Tampa Bay Florida
Tune In to Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Showcase on April 23
You won’t want to miss the game’s official unveiling.
NBA playoffs 2026: Can the Knicks rely on Jalen Brunson/Karl-Anthony Towns two-man attack in Game 2?
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Will Finally Be Revealed This Week
Though a Switch 2 release is still unclear
Ubisoft confirms Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag remake reveal: ‘The iconic pirate adventure returns’
Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced will be revealed via a live stream this week…
iPhone 18 coming later than usual with new cost-cutting measures, per leaker
Apple’s flagship iPhone 18 launch could look fairly different than usual, with later timing and new cost-cutting measures for the base model.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Showcase Announced
Players will finally be able to see Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced in all its glory through a showcase later this week.
$50M ‘entertainment destination’ planned for downtown Clearwater
A $50 million entertainment destination is coming to downtown Clearwater.
Column: Swalwell scandal exposed flaws in top-two primary
California Democrats caught a huge break with Eric Swalwell’s sexual assault scandal.