POLITICAL INFLUENCE

May 25 2026POLITICS

Why social media stars are changing politics—and why that could be a problem

In 2024, influencers got a front-row seat to American politics. For the first time, hundreds of content creators were given special passes to the Democratic and Republican conventions. They rubbed shoulders with politicians at parties, rallies, and even White House events. Campaigns love this trend

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May 22 2026POLITICS

Big Money and Hidden Players in Argentina’s River Project

Argentina is about to pick a company to manage the Paraná River for 25 years, a deal worth up to $10 billion. This waterway is key for moving most of the country’s farm goods to global markets. The race is tight between two groups: one led by Jan De Nul from Belgium, which already runs the river, an

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May 22 2026POLITICS

Changes in U. S. Healthcare Group Raise Questions About Science and Policy

The U. S. Preventive Services Task Force, a key group that decides which health screenings insurers must cover for free, just lost two of its leaders. They were let go without clear reasons, leaving many confused. The group has been shrinking for over a year, with meetings becoming rare and members

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May 11 2026EDUCATION

What Oregon’s education debate misses about the real classroom priorities

When local schools in Oregon grab headlines, the conversation often zooms in on union politics first. Two recent pages worth of reporting dug deep into disputes among teachers’ groups, quoting officials about budgets and contracts. But here’s the odd part—nowhere in those long discussions did anyone

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May 01 2026POLITICS

Science and Power: Who Should Really Run Research?

In 2026, dozens of top scientists received an unexpected message ending their roles on a key government board. The emails came without warning, saying their jobs were over immediately. Many had been picked for these positions years earlier. They were about to start work on a major report about Ameri

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Apr 30 2026POLITICS

The Autism Story Is Back in the Headlines – What It Means

Autism Acceptance Month, once a celebration of progress, now feels like a warning sign. The community’s hard‑won gains—like having autistic voices lead conferences and the passing of the Autism CARES Act—are being challenged by new misinformation. A recent press event featuring a health official

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Apr 28 2026POLITICS

Chaos Behind Climate Reports

The next big climate study, called the Seventh Assessment Report or AR7, is supposed to be finished by 2029 for a major global meeting. But the group that writes it, the IPCC, is stuck in Bangkok where member countries could not agree on a timetable. This marks the fifth time in a row that the sched

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Apr 26 2026POLITICS

Science Board Shake‑Up: Why It Matters

The White House surprised many by removing all 24 members of the National Science Board on April 24, 2026. The next meeting is set for May 5, but the board will be empty. The National Science Board was created in 1950 to guide the National Science Foundation, which gives about $9 billion a year f

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Apr 18 2026CRYPTO

Crypto Skeptic Turns Spotlight on Bitcoin

Ben McKenzie, once famous for a teen drama, now leads a new film that looks at the ups and downs of digital money. In his office, he wears a T‑shirt that carries the logo of FTX, the crypto exchange that collapsed after its founder was convicted of fraud. He admits his spouse won’t let him wear it a

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Apr 11 2026CRYPTO

Crypto Tokens Drop, Politicians Watch Closely

The price of the Trump‑branded crypto token, known as TRUMP, fell sharply to around $2. 86 after reaching a low of about $2. 73 in March 2026, according to CoinGecko data. Another token linked to the former president’s family, WLFI, a decentralized finance platform launched by his sons, slid to r

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