Three Women Compete in a Close Oregon Governor’s Race
While most of the coverage surrounding the coming 2022 midterm elections this November encompasses control of the Senate and House of Representatives, here in Oregon we have the first open gubernatorial race in over 10 years. This exciting and unpredictable race for the state’s top job features three women on the ballot for the first…
A Belated Birthday Celebration for Angela Davis
Photo by Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images The capitalist “girlbossification” of feminism has been an issue ever since the start of the movement, but it has been the subject of some discussion lately in light of Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty being criticized for using child labor in India to mine the mica used…
The University: A Locus for Divestment
In the previous issue, we investigated the cumulative effect of the divestment campaign in colleges and universities across the US in supporting the struggle of South African people against the Apartheid. We learned one example of a coherent divestment campaign that eventually led to significant pressure on the Apartheid economy, signaling the end of its…
Overruling Roe: Just Moving the Goalpost
How the Court Has Already Redefined the Right Image courtesy of National Review Ruth Bader Ginsburg had ideological problems with the abortion argument presented in Roe v. Wade. The case in Roe was made on privacy grounds, and former Justice Ginsburg believed that the best argument would be one made on equal protection grounds. An…
An Introduction to Divestment
On April 3, 1986, Jonathan Simon, a graduate student at the University of California (UC), Berkeley School of Law, noticed the Alameda County Sheriff’s deputies taping over their badges. He grew a bit worried as time passed. Earlier that day, he recalls, rumors around the campus said that if the demonstration continued, it would provoke…
Oregon Passes New Congressional Maps
Increase in Population Results in Additional Congressperson On Monday, Sept. 27, Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed new congressional district maps into law; they will define Oregon’s representation in the U.S. House of Representatives for the next decade. Following results from the 2020 census, which showed a 10.1% population growth in Oregon, the state was awarded…
The Future of Concealed Carry Guns in New York May Affect Us All
A unique case provides an opportunity for The Supreme Court to speak on the nature of the Second Amendment At issue in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association (NYSRPA), Inc., et al., Petitioners v. Kevin P. Bruen, in His Official Capacity as Superintendent of New York State Police, et al is whether New York…
Portland Mayoral Recall Bid Likely to Flop
This past July, only six months into his second term, an effort began organizing to force a recall vote against Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler. However, with only a month left to collect the required amount of valid signatures to do so, it is looking increasingly unlikely. The campaign is led by a local progressive volunteer…
2020 Vision: Ted Wheeler Reelected, Democrats Hold State Control
Ballot measures approved, drug possession decriminalized Although votes are still being counted and many races are too close to call across the nation, in Oregon, Election Day provided clear victories for Democrats. Former Vice President Joe Biden won the state by 16 points and Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley was reelected by 18 points. All four…
2020 Vision: Oregon Elections!
In less than a week, hundreds of races across the country will be decided on Election Day, including multiple important seats in Oregon. Democrat Jeff Merkley is seeking his third term as Oregon’s junior senator. He has a significant lead on the Republic challenger Jo Rae Perkins, and the seat is considered a “safe Democrat”…
2020 Vision: Senate Race Roundup!
Five Republican incumbents with well-funded Democratic challengers Graphic Courtesy of The Washington Post With less than two weeks until Election Day, competitive Senate races across the country are reaching their final push. The majority party of the Senate wields significant power and influence including control of judicial confirmations, and currently, Republicans hold a three seat…
Voter Engagement at Reed College and Beyond
Few would disagree that the 2020 United States presidential election is unprecedented. Nationwide protests against racial injustice have continued since mid-May, the COVID-19 pandemic shows no sign of stopping, and American voters are faced with a vote-by-mail system. Illustration by Mychal Miller In light of all this, members of the Reed College community have worked…
2020 Vision: Your Guide to Oregon and National Ballot Measures
Taxes, criminal justice reform, marijuana legalization, and more! On Nov. 3, in addition to electing national, state, and local officials, voters will decide on state ballot measures on a variety of impactful issues. Oregon has four ballot measures: Measure 107 allowing campaign finance reform, Measure 108 increasing nicotine product taxes, Measure 109 legalizing psilocybin research,…
2020 Vision: New Developments Affect North Carolina Senate Race
A sexting scandal and coronavirus case cast doubt on a flippable seat On Friday, Oct. 2, Republican incumbent Senator Thom Tillis announced he had tested positive for COVID-19, and newly released screenshots embroiled Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham in a sexting scandal. Tillis attended the White House party for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett on…
2020 Vision: Electoral Implications of RBG’s Passing
Potential Role of SCOTUS in Presidential Election On Sept. 26, 2020, President Donald Trump announced Amy Coney Barrett, a judge in the Seventh Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals, as his nominee to fill the seat on the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) vacated by Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing on…
2020 Vision: Across the River in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District
On the other side of the Columbia River, Washington’s 3rd Congressional District is a rematch between Republican incumbent Jaime Herrera Beutler and Democratic challenger Carolyn Long. The 3rd District is located in the Southwest corner of Washington state and includes Vancouver and its suburbs as well as significant rural land. In 2018, Herrera Beutler won…
Opinion: The Notorious RBG
A tribute to a titan of the US judicial system Our nation mourns the loss of arguably one of the most brilliant minds our legal system has seen, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Her death comes following countless ailments, all of which never stopped her from sitting on our nation’s highest court. Ginsburg’s death, according to…
2020 Vision: TWO Senate Elections in Georgia!
Georgia is the only state with two United States Senate seats up for election on Nov. 3, 2020, with both a regular and a special election. Both seats are currently held by conservative Republicans who loyally support President Donald Trump. While the state is usually safely red, strong Democratic challengers with aggressive campaigns have made…
Opinion: Turning Outwards
A consideration of U.S.-China relations With so much happening within the U.S., let alone right here in Portland, it is difficult to keep track of what is going on in our own backyards. So a call to extend our field of vision beyond the confines of our national boundaries, themselves wracked by conflict and controversy,…
Trump Administration Rescinds Visa Rule for International Students Amid Pushback
Reed’s International Students still face uncertainties and challenges In what has been called a stunning reversal in policy, the Trump administration agreed on Tuesday to rescind a directive issued last week that would have required international students to transfer or leave the U.S. if their schools held classes entirely online because of the coronavirus pandemic. …
Chaos, Confusion, and the Iowa Caucus
The first nominating contest of 2020 was off to a rocky start Nearly two weeks ago, on Monday, Feb. 3, the first nominating contest of the 2020 primary season was held. It began at 7:00 p.m. in Iowa, as 176,000 people across the state gathered in school gyms and other community centers to support their…
Impeachment: What is it, and Will it Happen?
Professor of Political Science Chris Koski walks through the likely outcomes of the Democrats’ impeachment process The Democratically-controlled House is now starting the impeachment process to oust President Trump from office. What they’re finding, and all of us are finding through them, is that the process is a lot more complicated than anyone had anticipated,…
