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Ebola Crisis Sparks Debate Over Global Health Double Standards
To some Africans, the claim that the continent’s largest health agency had already bungled its response scratched a familiar wound.
US plans to indict former Cuban president Raúl Castro
The US Justice Department is working to secure criminal charges against former Cuban president Raúl Castro, according to sources familiar. Follow here for the latest.
Sony 1000X The ColleXion in for review
Sony's WH-1000X series is now 10 years old, and this is a celebratory release. If you're into headphones, then you're no doubt familiar with Sony's...
Experts: Maine-famous names might be liability this year
With early voting already underway leading up to the June 9 primary, Maine voters are seeing familiar family names on both parties’ ballots.
Google to Create AI Cloud Business With Blackstone, WSJ Says
Alphabet Inc.’s Google is set to create an artificial intelligence cloud business with Blackstone Inc., aiming to compete with companies like CoreWeave Inc. in a burgeoning market, according to people familiar with the matter.
Scientists claim our dreams are real in another dimension
You know those dreams that feel way too real? The ones with full storylines, familiar places, recurring people like you didn’t imagine them but went there.
Power Families of Chicago: Crown, Duchossois, Melman and Wirtz
Some long-familiar names — Crown, Duchossois, Melman and Wirtz — are among Chicago's most powerful families.
Microsoft Brings Back Windows 10-Style Taskbar and Start Menu Customization in Windows 11
If you were a user of the Windows 10 operating system with a customizable Taskbar location, you were familiar with Taskbar customization and different placements. However, Microsoft kept this feature restricted in Windows 11 for a long time. The company is now introducing full support for Taskbar an...
Elliott Builds Stake in Life-Science Firm Bio-Rad, WSJ Says
Activist investor Elliott Investment Management has built a sizable stake in Bio-Rad Laboratories to boost the firm’s underperfoming stock price, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
Report: Cancelled Star Wars KOTOR Remake Version Surfaces With Opening Cinematic
MP1st has come across a newly surfaced cinematic from Aspyr's canceled Star Wars KOTOR Remake, showing familiar characters for fans.
‘Won’t be anything left’: Trump issues warning to Iran after national security team meeting
President Donald Trump met with top members of his national security team on Saturday to discuss the path forward on the Iran war, a source familiar with meeting told CNN, a day before he said Tehran “better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them.”
The Vikings Have a Few Schedule Nightmares Afoot
Sportsbooks believe the 2026 Minnesota Vikings will finish around 8-9 or 9-8 this season, a familiar win forecast that seems […]
Drone strike sparks fire at UAE nuclear plant
Israel is coordinating with the U.S. about a possible resumption of attacks, said two people familiar with the situation.
EY Pays Over £100 Million to Settle NMC Health Legal Claim
EY UK has paid more than £100 million ($133 million) to the administrators of NMC Health Plc to settle claims it was negligent in its audits of the failed firm, according to people familiar with the matter.
Lawmakers considering raising taxes on sports betting operators
People familiar with state budget negotiations told WRAL that lawmakers have discussed increasing the tax rate paid by sports betting operators to generate more money for the state.
Apollo’s West Technology Is in Talks to Sell Remaining Business
Apollo Global Management Inc.-backed West Technology is engaged in exclusive talks to sell its remaining operating business to a counter-party, according to people familiar with the matter.
Justice Department considers settling Trump’s $10 billon IRS leak lawsuit
The Justice Department is discussing whether to settle President Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service in the coming days, according to two sources familiar.
The Science is Not Settled: How Weak Evidence is Fueling a National
As statehouses ramp up for 2026, we’re seeing a familiar and concerning trend of lawmakers rushing to regulate the internet based on shockingly shaky science. From the California State Assembly to
Introducing Northwood Insights, a New Blog for the Next Generation of Business Leaders
New content platform strengthens the university’s digital presence, broadens its reach among prospective students, and establishes Northwood as a thought leader in business, free enterprise, and entrepreneurial education. Northwood University has launched Northwood Insights, a new blog designed to position the university as a leading voice in business education, free enterprise, entrepreneurship, and career development. The platform delivers expert, research-informed content to prospective students, current students, and the broader professional community, meeting audiences where they already are online and searching for answers. “Northwood has always been about preparing people to move forward with clarity and confidence,” said Marketing and Communications Officer Rachel Valdiserri. “With Northwood Insights, we’re meeting students where they are with content that’s relevant, direct, and built for how they discover and learn today. It’s not about adding more noise; it’s about delivering ideas, perspectives, and insights that help them make more informed decisions earlier in their journey.” The blog features a growing library of articles spanning Northwood’s core academic strengths, including business administration, automotive and mobility studies, sports management, and entrepreneurship. Each piece is written to inform and guide, answering the real questions students are asking while organically connecting readers to the academic programs, faculty expertise, and career outcomes that define a Northwood education. Each article is crafted to reflect Northwood’s institutional voice while being optimized for the search behaviors of today’s prospective students, a generation that begins researching universities long before they apply. By appearing in those early search results, Northwood establishes credibility, builds familiarity, and creates a meaningful connection with students the moment they are most open to influence. “This platform is a natural extension of our enrollment strategy,” said Dr. Matthew Bennett, vice president of enrollment and strategic alliances. “When a prospective student searches for career paths, we want Northwood to be the source they trust. Northwood Insights makes that possible at a global scale.” Beyond enrollment, Northwood Insights serves the university’s broader advancement mission. As a platform built to demonstrate expertise and institutional relevance, it reinforces Northwood’s standing as a thought leader in free enterprise education and entrepreneurial leadership, directly supporting alumni engagement, donor confidence, and community partnerships. The content signals that Northwood is not only preparing students for the careers of today but actively shaping the conversations defining the industries of tomorrow. “Attention isn’t given anymore; it’s earned,” said Milada Dzevitski, Northwood’s digital content and technical writer who manages the Northwood Insights blog. “This platform is built to meet that standard, with content that’s relevant, direct, and worth engaging with.” Northwood Insights is live now and will continue to grow with new content published regularly. Share this page
Vault: W&M diving into sports tax
The House Ways and Means Committee is preparing for a hearing to investigate a slate of sports-related tax issues, according to multiple sources familiar with the plans.
FDA chief to depart after Trump signed off on ousting him
Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary is leaving the Trump administration, according to two people familiar with the situation, after President Donald Trump signed off on a plan to fire him last week.
FDA commissioner Makary is resigning, sources say
U.S. Food and Drug Commissioner Marty Makary plans to resign on Tuesday, according to two sources familiar with the situation, the latest leadership change at the federal health department which comes after weeks of public speculation and a mounting pressure campaign.
In war with Iran, China sees a familiar pattern of U.S. mistakes
President Trump arrives in Beijing this week for talks with a Chinese government that is confident as ever in its ascendance on the world stage.
Trump pushed DOJ to subpoena reporters over alleged Iran war leaks, sources say
President Donald Trump personally pushed the Justice Department to issue subpoenas to reporters covering the war in Iran in an effort to flush out their sources, according to officials familiar with the matter.
Elon Musk Set to Join U.S. Business Delegation for Trump's China Visit
Tesla CEO Elon Musk will be part of a U.S. business delegation for President Trump's upcoming visit to China, according to people familiar with the matter. Musk, who also runs SpaceX, is expected to be among at least a half dozen CEOs and business leaders traveling to China to represent American bu
Mookie Betts set to return Monday against Giants
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers are about to get a familiar spark back at exactly the right time.
Zavion Thomas Already Familiar with Bears Royalty
Rookie Zavion Thomas brings explosive versatility to Chicago, drawing inspiration from return legend Devin Hester and embracing a rumored family connection to the iconic Walter Payton.
Iran’s injured supreme leader out of public view but still shaping strategy, US intel assesses
US intelligence assesses that Iran’s new supreme leader is playing a critical role in shaping war strategy alongside senior Iranian officials, according to multiple sources familiar with the intelligence. The reports found that precise authority within a now-fractured regime remains unclear, but that Mojtaba Khamenei is likely helping direct how Iran is managing negotiations with the US to end the war.
Exclusive: Kennedy's health officials explored US ban of some widely used antidepressants, sources say
U.S. health department officials last week explored whether they could ban certain drugs in a widely prescribed class of antidepressants as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. prepared to roll out a plan to reduce their use, according to two people familiar with the discussions.
White House hosting anti-abortion activists amid Trump backlash
Senior Trump aides will host anti-abortion activists for a meeting at the White House on Friday, in an effort to temper growing criticism over the administration’s priorities, a person familiar with the matter told CNN.
SoftBank cuts target for OpenAI margin loan by 40% to $6 billion, Bloomberg News reports
SoftBank Group has downsized plans for a $10 billion margin loan backed by its OpenAI stake after hesitation from some creditors, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter said.
Hillhouse Is Said to Near Deal for Marsh’s Risk Adviser and Broker PCS
Hillhouse Investment is nearing a deal to buy Marsh’s financial risk manager and life insurance broker for high-net-worth individuals, primarily in Asia, according to people familiar with the matter.
FBI searches office of Virginia lawmaker who helped lead redistricting push
The search is connected to a long-running public corruption investigation into her that has roots in the Biden era, a source familiar with the matter tells NBC News.
Office of Virginia State Senator Louise Lucas Raided by F.B.I. Agents
Two people familiar with the case said the search of a Democratic lawmaker’s office was related to a Biden-era investigation of possible corruption and bribery related to marijuana businesses.
US and Iran closing in on memorandum aimed at ending war, source says
The United States and Iran are moving closer to an agreement on a short memorandum to end the Iran war, a regional source familiar with the negotiations said, although Trump administration officials cautioned that talks had previously fallen apart at the last minute.
Google Home will try to make Nest Cam ‘Familiar Faces’ more reliable – the bar is low
“Familiar Faces” in Google Home have been a bit of a mess for years now, but Google is trying to...
Bose Challenges Sonos with $299 Alexa+ Speaker and $1,099 Soundbar
Bose Corp. announced a trio of products under a new “Lifestyle Collection” that’s intended to meld the company’s audio technologies and innovative engineering with elegant hardware, pitting it against familiar rivals like Sonos Inc. and Apple Inc.
Flyers Announcer Seemingly Calls to Injure Hurricanes Goaltender
The Carolina Hurricanes are no strangers to the heated competition of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, nor are they unfamiliar with […]
Meet The Fossa — The Apex Predator That Baffled Scientists For Decades
The fossa is Madagascar’s ultimate misdirection. Here’s why this predator that looks familiar, acts unexpected and took decades for science to understand.
Helping Scientists Take Their Research Global: 7 Lessons - by Elena Brandt
The W.E.I.R.D research participant problem persists not because scientists fail to see it as a problem worth solving, but because conducting studies in new, unfamiliar places is difficult. But overcoming this difficulty is doable and essential.
Madness or genius: is this superclub now going all in?
The current situation feels strangely familiar for Real Madrid. Barça are dominating the league, while Los Blancos themselves have gone two years without winning a title. For Real, a catastrophe! Jus...
Five burning questions to help you and your kid 'survive' youth sports
What are they getting out of it? How much should we push them? Why don't they want to be on a team? We find common ground on familiar issues.
Spirit Airlines closer to a shutdown
A person familiar with the matter said preparations were being made for a Saturday shutdown.
Spirit to halt all flights as of early Saturday
Spirit Airlines is set to announce in the coming hours that that it will halt flying as of 3 am ET Saturday, according to two sources familiar with its plans, making it the first significant US airline to halt operations in nearly 25 years.
GameStop Preparing Offer for eBay
GameStop is preparing to make an offer for eBay, according to people familiar with the matter, part of CEO Ryan Cohen’s plan to turn GameStop into a $100 billion-plus juggernaut.
House Ethics Committee investigating allegations of sexual harassment against GOP Rep. Chuck Edwards
The House Ethics Committee is investigating allegations of sexual harassment against GOP Rep. Chuck Edwards, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
Comedian Craig Ferguson explains why his stand-up tour skips Trump and all politics
Craig Ferguson says he made a stylistic decision to build an entire show around comedy and personal stories rather than recycle familiar political frustration.
Pentagon’s $25 billion cost estimate for Iran war is low and does not include cost of rebuilding US bases, sources say
The $25 billion estimate that a top Pentagon official gave to lawmakers on Wednesday for the total cost to date of the Iran war is a lowball figure that does not include the cost of repairing extensive damage suffered by US bases in the region, three people familiar with the matter told CNN.
Trump sees blockade extension as best option for forcing Iran back to the negotiating table
President Donald Trump has told his top advisers in recent days he wants the US naval blockade of Iranian ports to continue, sources familiar with the talks said, and his team has begun laying the groundwork for such an extension, including a longer-term closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Staying Alive: Breaking Apart Bruins Game 5 Win
BUFFALO, NY – A familiar connection kept the Boston Bruins’ season alive. The Bruins (2-3) beat the Buffalo Sabres (3-2) […] The post Staying Alive: Breaking Apart Bruins Game 5 Win appeared first on Boston Hockey Now.
Motorola Signature design highlight: Striking the perfect balance between form and function
This phone may look quite familiar, but it also proves that boring can be beautiful when executed this well.
Disney has decided to hang onto ESPN
Disney had previously considered spinning out the sports network. New CEO Josh D'Amaro has decided not to, people familiar with the matter said.
Exclusive: Justice Department indicts former FBI Director James Comey for a second time
Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted a second time by Trump’s Justice Department, two sources familiar told CNN.
Military Quietly Accelerates Boat Strikes, Deploying More Aircraft
The military has increased the number of secret fixed-wing attack aircraft and armed MQ-9 Reaper drones, according to two people familiar with the matter.
Exclusive: Ghana rejects proposed US health aid deal, citing data concerns, source says
Ghana has rejected a bilateral health deal with the U.S., a source familiar with the negotiations told Reuters, the latest stumbling block to the Trump administration's effort to overhaul foreign aid.
Political violence jolts the US again - with a familiar response
In modern America, it seems violence of this kind has become an ever-present storm that can strike anywhere and at any moment.
New Orleans LIV Golf tournament set for City Park in June is canceled, source says
The LIV Golf tournament planned for late June in New Orleans is off, according to a source familiar with the matter, ending weeks of speculation about the future of the
The 1st 'Alien: Isolation 2' teaser is here, and the setting looks eerily familiar
We finally get our first look at the follow-up to 2014's Alien: Isolation, with a trailer teasing a shift planetside for the sci-fi horror sequel.
Familiar sports bar replacing shuttered uptown Hooters. It’s ‘something special’
Expect classic bar bites like chicken wings, burgers and signature sandwiches coming into a space that’s long been vacant.
Apple Planning to Launch Two New 'Ultra' Products in the Next Year
Apple has decided to market two of its new products over the next year as "Ultra" devices, Macworld reports. Citing sources familiar with the matter, the report claims that Apple's first foldable iPhone will be called the "iPhone Ultra". The device will become the highest end option in the lineup. The iPhone Ultra will not be considered part of the iPhone 18 iPhone lineup, despite arriving alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
Directive 8020's glossy, late-’90s sci-fi aesthetic gives it an edge
My hands-on shows how smart art direction can reshape familiar horror tropes.
Sports business program executive brings passion to academic, professional field
Sports business management is a side of sports most fans aren’t familiar with, but for Chris Gallagher, executive in residence in the DeVos Sport Business Management Program at UCF, the
Sports business program executive brings passion to academic, professional field
Sports business management is a side of sports most fans aren’t familiar with, but for Chris Gallagher, executive in residence in the DeVos Sport Business Management Program at UCF, the
Details emerge of alleged shooter at White House correspondents' dinner
The alleged gunman has been identified as Cole Allen, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
Jadon Canady reveals early familiarity with the Chiefs' coaching staff
During his press conference, Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Jadon Canady revealed early familiarity with the coaching staff | @EdEastonJr
Daytime TV Performer of the Week: ‘Y&R’s Stacy Haiduk Is Dressed to Thrill as Patty Spars With Diane & Phyllis
Brava to the actress for bringing edges to Patty Williams that are both new and dangerously familiar.
The 'Invincible' Game's Story Brings Action and New Voices
A new, but familiar story lies at the heart of 'Invincible VS,' and with some slightly different actors along for the ride.
SLB Seen Acquiring S&P Global’s Subsurface Oil Software Business
SLB, the world’s largest oilfield service provider, is expected to announce Friday plans to acquire S&P Global Energy Inc.’s geoscience and petroleum-engineering software business, according to people familiar with the matter.
US special forces soldier arrested after allegedly winning $400,000 bet on Maduro raid
A US special forces soldier involved in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was arrested for allegedly betting on that operation, netting him $400,000 in profits, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Exclusive | DOJ Met With TV Station Executives as Part of Sports TV Probe
Justice Department officials met with broadcast-television station operators earlier this week as part of its antitrust investigation into the sports-media marketplace, according to people familiar with the matter.
Apollo nears $1.6 bln deal for auto interiors business of France's Forvia, Bloomberg News reports
Private equity firm Apollo is nearing a deal to acquire the auto interiors business of France's Forvia , Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.
Trump brings his nonsense about mail-in ballots to Republicans’ Virginia defeat
President Donald Trump has lied for years that elections Republicans lost fair and square were “rigged” by mail-in ballots. On Wednesday, he brought his familiar playbook to the aftermath of the Virginia redistricting referendum Republicans lost on Tuesday.
Morningstar eyes Google’s Thompson Center revamp for potential new HQ
Google's Thompson Center is among several future headquarters options the investment research firm has explored, according to people familiar with the search.
HHS rejects publication of study showing Covid-19 vaccines prevent hospitalizations, ER visits
Covid-19 vaccines roughly halved the chances that a US adult would need to visit the emergency room or be hospitalized with their infections last fall and winter, according to two sources familiar with the findings of a new study. But you won’t hear about it from the agency that led the research: the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
CDC won’t publish report showing covid shots cut likelihood of hospital visits
The report, which had cleared the agency’s scientific-review process, had been delayed. It now won’t be published at all, people familiar with the decision told The Post.
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
Exclusive: SpaceX tries to woo Wall Street with three-day analyst meeting this week, sources say
SpaceX is moving ahead with plans for one of the most anticipated IPOs in history as it hosts analysts this week for three days of closed-door meetings at its launch facility in Texas and mega-sized data center in Tennessee, according to three people familiar with the matter.
Honeywell Said Close to Selling Unit to Brady for $1.4 Billion
Honeywell International Inc. is nearing a deal to divest its productivity solutions and services business to industrial manufacturer Brady Corp., according to people familiar with the matter.
What we learned as Phillies drop fifth straight, swept by rival Braves
The Phillies lost their fifth straight and finished a 2-7 homestand as the Braves exposed more familiar problems on Sunday night.
Analysis: Silk and steel win the day
Manchester City secured the victory that maintains their growing momentum and applied further pressure on Arsenal through the familiar route of a Erling Haaland winner. Rayan Cherki's goal was the result of a touch of genius and sleight of foot to bamboozle Arsenal's Gabriel and Piero Hincapie before sliding in a perfect finish. After Gianluigi Donnarumma's error swiftly gifted Arsenal a way back into the game, City had to dig deep to show reserves of resilience before Haaland was once more the match-winner.
Mi Tierra Expands With Full Bar, Bringing Latin Flair And Live Entertainment To Lexington Park
LEXINGTON PARK, Md. — A familiar name in Lexington Park’s dining scene is entering a new chapter, as Mi Tierra Restaurant Bar & Grill prepares to welcome guests to its newly launched full-service bar — adding vibrant nightlife energy to its already popular Latin cuisine. The expansion, set to begin Friday, April 24, introduces an […]
Ubisoft’s New Action RPG Is Devil May Cry Meets Cyberpunk
Despite a string of recent controversies, a huge overhaul of its business model, and a restructuring of its most important IP, Ubisoft is seemingly continuing to produce good games. Sure, Assassin’s Creed Shadows was a fairly enjoyable revamp of a very familiar formula, and Star Wars Outlaws, as lambasted as it was at launch, impressed […]
Mamdani and Obama set to meet face-to-face in New York City
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani will meet with former President Barack Obama on Saturday at a child care event in New York City, a source familiar told CNN.
Ogden Raptors add new broadcast voice with familiar pedigree
The Ogden Raptors are adding a new voice to the broadcast booth for the 2026 season. The team announced the hire of Arden Louchheim as an additional announcer for play by play and color commentary. Louchheim is finishing up both her sports media degree and her women’s golf career at the University of Nebraska but […]
‘Gold Rush’: Tony Beets Targets Parker Schnabel Amid Record-Breaking Season
Plus, Rick Ness welcomes a familiar face back into the fold.
Sphere Entertainment in talks to build venue at Nashville East Bank scrapyard
Sphere Entertainment Company recently entered into conversations with the owners of Nashville’s East Bank scrapyard property about developing a potential venue, according to people familiar with the discussions. Axios reported last month that representatives tied to the Las Vegas Sphere had been in discussions with Nashville executives about bringing a smaller version of the high-tech concert venue to the market. A spokesperson for the scrapyard ownership group declined to comment, and Sphere Entertainment did not respond to a request for comment. More discussions occurred as recently as the past two weeks, the Nashville Business Journal reported, though the status of […]
Trump administration considers unfreezing $20 billion in Iranian assets as peace talks hit home stretch
The Trump administration is considering unfreezing $20 billion in Iranian assets as part of ongoing negotiations with Tehran, according to a source familiar with the discussions.
Bills expected to focus on defense in NFL draft
There’s a new coach and yet a familiar question in Buffalo: Can Joe Brady do what Sean McDermott failed to accomplish over nine years?
iPhone 18 Pro's Four Rumored Colors Revealed, Including 'Dark Cherry'
A source said to be familiar with Apple's supply chain today revealed the color options Apple is planning for the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the upcoming foldable iPhone. Image via Macworld. The information comes from Macworld, which says the signature new color for this year's Pro models will be Dark Cherry, a deep wine-like red. While other sources had previously reported on a "Dark Red" option, the hue is said to be considerably closer to wine than a brighter red.
Jardines and CK Hutchison pursue Hong Kong supermarket megadeal, FT reports
Hong Kong-based Jardines is in talks with CK Hutchison to buy its supermarket division, which trades as ParknShop, and merge it with Wellcome, the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.
Trump put Vance in charge of Iran peace talks. He’s now quizzing people on his vice president’s performance
With Vice President JD Vance, a one-time Iran war skeptic, now tasked with brokering a deal to end it, President Donald Trump has been monitoring his progress closely and inquiring with various friends and advisers how they’d rank his performance, according to three people familiar with the conversations.
Can the Cavs Set Their Playoff Tone Against the Raptors?
The 2026 NBA playoffs have taken shape, and the Cleveland Cavaliers look to right the wrongs of years past. This year, the wine and gold will face an old playoff foe in the Toronto Raptors, a team the franchise has familiarity with from its days with LeBron James leading the charge. However, this is a […] The post Can the Cavs Set Their Playoff Tone Against the Raptors? appeared first on The Lead.
Goldman Sachs rates business hit by Iran war volatility, sources say
Goldman Sachs' rates business suffered losses on some positions towards the end of the last quarter as fixed-income market volatility due to the Iran war forced it to hold on to certain positions as a market maker, two people familiar with the matter said.
Apple Sends Siri Staffers to Coding ‘Bootcamp’ in Latest Shakeup For Organization
Apple is sending a portion of its Siri programmers back to coding school just two months before the company is expected to unveil a major, AI-powered revamp of the voice assistant, people familiar with the team said. The company plans to send a significant chunk of people working on Siri—a group ...
Pragmata is just OK, but it could’ve been great
A handful of new ideas and plenty of familiar ones.
Why does déjà vu happen, and can science explain it?
Learning with TOI News: You’re walking into a place you’ve never been to before. And yet, for a fleeting moment, it feels known. Not vaguely familiar, but specific, like a me.
China’s TCL Is Said to Consider Stake Sale in India TV Business
TCL Electronics Holdings Ltd. is considering selling a stake in its Indian television manufacturing unit to local buyers to help grow the business, people familiar with the situation said.
Minneapolis public safety debate back in a familiar place: anger, political squabbling
The Minneapolis City Council’s rejection of Mayor Jacob Frey’s public safety commissioner renewed the angry divisions over policing that have characterized city politics in recent years.
Exclusive: US intelligence indicates China is preparing weapons shipment to Iran amid fragile ceasefire, sources say
US intelligence indicates that China is preparing to deliver new air defense systems to Iran within the next few weeks, according to three people familiar with recent intelligence assessments.