Charlotte and Chicago: The Coming Battle for Control of the Democratic Party

Much has been written about what the ongoing Chicago teachers strike means for education reform and teachers unions. While the implications for education policy are undoubtedly fascinating, the political implications of the strike go far beyond both education and Chicago. When considered along with recent events at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, the strike … Read more

Three Under-Reported Takeaways from Convention Season

After several weeks of expertly crafted rhetoric, unmitigated hullabaloo, and grand ceremony, the Republican and Democratic National Conventions have finally come to a close, with the end result being that both parties have set forth their platforms for the 2012 general election. National media outlets were apt to juxtapose the ambience and quality of each … Read more

The Shutdown

Stephen Strasburg’s season is over. Baseball fans will be deprived of the joy of watching baseballs fastest fastballs, sharpest curve balls, and most devastating changeups for the rest of the season. This while Strasburg’s Nationals are fighting to secure their first first place finish ever. What makes this event especially unbearable is that Stephen Strasburg … Read more

New Hampshire: Wicked Awesome or Wicked Weird?

Recently ranked by CNBC as “America’s Best State to Live in 2012,” the Granite State has a lot going for it—low crime rates, relatively healthy people, and some of the coolest recreation and sightseeing spots in the country. Moreover, New Hampshire is one of five states in the Union not to have a general sales tax and … Read more

The Not-So-Green Alternative: Mitt Romney

As an intern at the Center for American Progress Action Fund, I was delegated to research Romney’s stance on science. Though “science” is a very broad term, Romney has said relatively little on the topic. On the campaign trail he has flip flopped his position on stem cells, laughed at Gingrich’s space plan, and failed … Read more

Summer Schooling

It’s a highly under-discussed issue of our time, yet it also happens to have the greatest impact on this country’s future. And when it garners the attention of the media, it’s never for the progress that’s being made. Welcome to the world of education reform in the 21st century, when the story that grabs headlines … Read more

Summer Living

“Let me be something every minute of my life,” she says, “Let me be cold; let me be warm. Let me be hungry…have too much to eat. Let me be ragged or well dressed. Let me be sincere – be deceitful. Let me be truthful; let me be a liar. Let me be honorable and … Read more

Summer in South Korea

One day during lunch break from my summer journalism internship, I found myself sitting at a table across from two North Korean defectors at a Japanese restaurant in the backstreets of Seoul. I was filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude to be sharing a meal with two individuals who had lived through so much. … Read more