The next space race may be in a different place: behind your face. According to The New York Times, President Obama will unveil his $100 million initiative to “map the human brain” later today. The goal of charting the interactions between millions of brain cells is ambitious and scientifically interesting. However, the broader purpose of … Read more
Sino-U.S. strategic interactions have played a critical role throughout the standoff over Iran’s nuclear program. In particular, China’s continued economic engagement with Iran, despite increasingly stringent U.S. sanctions, has led to tension. Yet the Obama administration’s characterization of its relationship with China on this issue remains predominantly positive. Speaking at Harvard last November, U.S. National … Read more
In the fallout of the 2012 presidential election, the American media has continually discussed the nature of the GOP’s alleged “race” problem. The Republican Party, which lost in the election black, Hispanic, and Asian votes by 89, 47, and 51 percent, respectively, began to deliver rhetoric of reform. Apologies gave way to admissions of guilt … Read more
Before his election in 2008, Barack Obama promised the Latino community that he would produce a plan for comprehensive immigration reform within his first year. The fallout from a divisive health care debate and the stinging 2010 midterm elections effectively derailed any plans Obama may have had to engage with another controversial policy topic. Depending … Read more
Sometimes life proves that God has a sense of humor. When Governor Nikki Haley (R-S.C.) appointed Representative Tim Scott (R-S.C.) to replace Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), it triggered a special election to find Scott’s replacement, and the race has received the usual excess of attention that special elections do. The seat is an otherwise safely … Read more
You may have seen the change.org petition circulating around Facebook asking Harvard to cancel Tyga’s appearance at Yardfest. Here are some quick thoughts in response to the torrent of news feed reactions I’ve seen: There seem to be two valid sides to this debate (ignoring all the dumb stuff like, “Can’t Harvard students just have … Read more
Facebook arguments almost never end well, and last night’s debate about a Harvard student’s petition to disinvite rapper Tyga from the upcoming undergraduate concert, Yardfest, proved no exception. The petition took off quickly, garnering attention and posts from across Harvard’s many newsfeeds. Perhaps surprisingly though, a comparison of Tyga to Hitler or an off-color reappropriation of … Read more
Facebook arguments almost never end well, and last night’s debate about a Harvard student’s petition to disinvite rapper Tyga from the upcoming undergraduate concert, Yardfest, proved no exception. The petition took off quickly, garnering attention and posts from across Harvard’s many newsfeeds. Perhaps surprisingly though, a comparison of Tyga to Hitler or an off-color reappropriation of … Read more