Politics + Society – The Conversation – US Presidential election, Congress and political issues

A man in a suit sits at a desk in front of flags and holds up an open folder with a signed document inside.

A man in a suit sits at a desk in front of flags and holds up an open folder with a signed document inside.

Other presidents have let white-collar criminals dodge financial penalties – but not like Trump

Caren Morrison, Georgia State University

A blck map of the U.S. shattered into pieces.

A blck map of the U.S. shattered into pieces.

No cheery time for election pollsters in run-up to US midterms

W. Joseph Campbell, American University School of Communication

When presidents ban journalists from the White House, the First Amendment is not the only constitutional right at stake

Wayne Unger, Quinnipiac University

A woman in a black dress standing on a street corner, waiting for something.

A woman in a black dress standing on a street corner, waiting for something.

How red went from the color of revolution to the color of Republicans in US politics

Andrew Latham, Macalester College

A map of states colored red or blue.

A map of states colored red or blue.

Pete Hegseth is rebuilding the Army’s ‘brass ceiling’

Jeremiah Favara, Gonzaga University

Dan Driscoll, Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump walk together across a tarmac.

Dan Driscoll, Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump walk together across a tarmac.

Why Hispanic Americans are losing faith in the American Dream

Diana Orcés, American University

Two people wearing and holding American flags walk down the middle of a street in a parade, facing away from the camera.

Two people wearing and holding American flags walk down the middle of a street in a parade, facing away from the camera.

What happened at the end of the Revolutionary War? Here’s how Americans set up a brand-new country once the fighting ended

Sandra Slater, College of Charleston

a black and white image of cornwallis and british forces surrendering to george washington at the battle of yorktown in 1781

a black and white image of cornwallis and british forces surrendering to george washington at the battle of yorktown in 1781

How the American revolt against Flock cameras mirrors the Boston Tea Party of 1773

G. Patrick O'Brien, University of Tampa

A camera on a stand and blue sky.

A camera on a stand and blue sky.

8 rules to help you understand what campaign finance reporting reveals about influence and support – or doesn’t

Robert Boatright, Clark University; Institute for Humane Studies

U.S. map with American cash and dollar banknotes flying around, isolated on white background.

U.S. map with American cash and dollar banknotes flying around, isolated on white background.

How ‘portfolio reasoning’ explains Trump’s constant reevaluation of America’s value

J. Christian Spielvogel, Penn State

A man in suit and tie points his finger at a crowd while on stage.

A man in suit and tie points his finger at a crowd while on stage.

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The White House & Congress

A man in suit and ties speaks on a stage.

A man in suit and ties speaks on a stage.

How anti-bribery laws apply to Trump’s promise of $5,000 payments if Republicans keep control of Congress

Austin Sarat, Amherst College

The Pentagon is using polygraphs to hunt leakers, but the tests are more theater than fact

Brian O'Neill, Georgia Institute of Technology

A person's right hand rests on a table; three of their fingers are connected to a polygraph machine.

A person's right hand rests on a table; three of their fingers are connected to a polygraph machine.

Security clearances don’t determine whom a president can trust – they reveal risks the president may not know

Brian O'Neill, Georgia Institute of Technology

President Donald Trump walks across a tarmac, followed by several others, including Natalie Harp at right.

President Donald Trump walks across a tarmac, followed by several others, including Natalie Harp at right.

What comes next for the 1 million people who have lost – or will soon lose – Temporary Protected Status

Jean Lantz Reisz, University of Southern California

People at a rally hold signs that say 'permanent status for immigrant families' and 'TPS holders make the US stronger.'

People at a rally hold signs that say 'permanent status for immigrant families' and 'TPS holders make the US stronger.'

From the Freedom Caucus to the democratic socialists, small groups inside parties can wreak havoc with leaders’ agenda in Congress

SoRelle Wyckoff Gaynor, University of Virginia and Charlie Hunt, Boise State University

Supporters for Democratic congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier celebrate during an election night watch party, June 23, 2026, in New York.

Supporters for Democratic congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier celebrate during an election night watch party, June 23, 2026, in New York.

Lake Ontario to Lake America – who gets to decide what goes on maps?

Innisfree McKinnon, University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic

A map labeling Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' is displayed in the Oval Office as President Donald Trump presents an executive order.

A map labeling Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' is displayed in the Oval Office as President Donald Trump presents an executive order.

USS Abraham Lincoln’s record deployment highlights shortfalls of US military readiness

Monica Duffy Toft, Tufts University

A warship is seen as a small aircraft lands on it.

A warship is seen as a small aircraft lands on it.

Darline Graham’s inherited Senate seat revives the ‘widow’s mandate’ with a sibling twist

Gibbs Knotts, Coastal Carolina University and Christopher A. Cooper, Western Carolina University

Race, Identity & Society

A tattered U.S. flag hangs from a pole mounted to the side of a gray building.

A tattered U.S. flag hangs from a pole mounted to the side of a gray building.

Americans agree their democracy is in crisis – yet the solution is as simple as it is elusive

Kenneth Michael White, Kennesaw State University

What we remember when we remember 9/11

Jennifer Talarico, Lafayette College

A man in suit and tie speaks into the ear of a man in suit in tie sitting on a chair.

A man in suit and tie speaks into the ear of a man in suit in tie sitting on a chair.

25 years after 9/11, what disasters reveal about Americans’ ability to reconnect

Tonya Cross Hansel, University of Texas at Arlington

A group of people hold signs that read 'You're Our Heroes,' 'United We Stand' and 'Thanks for Your Bravery.'

A group of people hold signs that read 'You're Our Heroes,' 'United We Stand' and 'Thanks for Your Bravery.'

What we forget when we remember 9/11

Stephanie A. (Sam) Martin, Boise State University

'No Day Shall Erase You From the Memory of Time' is inscribed on a blue tile wall at the 9/11 Memorial Museum.

'No Day Shall Erase You From the Memory of Time' is inscribed on a blue tile wall at the 9/11 Memorial Museum.

Labor votes: Discontent will accompany blue‑collar voters to the polls in the midterms

Robert Forrant, UMass Lowell

A man in suit and tie shakes hands with a man wearing a ball cap on stage.

A man in suit and tie shakes hands with a man wearing a ball cap on stage.

Indictments against a top extremism researcher and the SPLC force a reckoning on research ethics – an extremism scholar reflects on the field’s challenges

Arie Perliger, UMass Lowell

A crowd of people at a rally, fighting each other.

A crowd of people at a rally, fighting each other.

Immigration enforcement is supplying a long-standing economic market for prisoners

Ella Siegrist, Washington University in St. Louis

A small red birdhouse hangs on a chain-link fence topped with razor wire outside a stone building.

A small red birdhouse hangs on a chain-link fence topped with razor wire outside a stone building.

The United States’ human rights practices are taking a nosedive

K. Chad Clay, University of Georgia

Officers in camouflage gear and helmets detain a man, his hands held behind his back, as rows of uniformed personnel line the road behind them.

Officers in camouflage gear and helmets detain a man, his hands held behind his back, as rows of uniformed personnel line the road behind them.

Courts & the Constitution

An illustration with the American flag, scales of justice and a person placing a ballot in a ballot box.

An illustration with the American flag, scales of justice and a person placing a ballot in a ballot box.

Why the Supreme Court blocked Trump and the Postal Service from restricting mail-in voting for the midterms

John J. Martin, Quinnipiac University

What to do if your vote is challenged: Practical advice for midterm elections

Karen Figueroa-Clewett, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Three voting booths and an American flag.

Three voting booths and an American flag.

Narrow mail-in voting ruling by Supreme Court adds uncertainty to midterm elections without addressing constitutionality of Trump’s executive order

John J. Martin, Quinnipiac University

People hold their voting ballots, while staring up at a giant mailbox.

People hold their voting ballots, while staring up at a giant mailbox.

How state constitutions became the battleground for American rights and liberties – on both the left and right

Quinn Yeargain, Michigan State University

Red and blue characters on a map outline of the U.S. with the U.S. flag.

Red and blue characters on a map outline of the U.S. with the U.S. flag.

Mail-in voting: Trump administration appeals to Supreme Court to revive executive order setting limits, rejected by lower courts

John E. Jones III, Dickinson College

A group of people sitting at tables looking at pieces of paper.

A group of people sitting at tables looking at pieces of paper.

Texas prosecutors are calling a teenage shooting spree ‘terrorism’ – the case could reshape American criminal law

Art Jipson, University of Dayton

Flags representing the U.S. and Texas fly outside the State Capitol in Austin, Texas

Flags representing the U.S. and Texas fly outside the State Capitol in Austin, Texas

Is withholding federal counterterrorism funds from states – as FEMA has threatened – legal?

Austin Sarat, Amherst College

A close up of a federal building.

A close up of a federal building.

When can a power company take your land for data center infrastructure?

Aaron Walayat, University of Dayton

Transmission towers and power lines above a hillside neighborhood

Transmission towers and power lines above a hillside neighborhood

State & Local Government

Pennsylvania is suing TikTok over ‘addictive’ features – but that’s messier than it sounds

Jonathan Caulkins, Carnegie Mellon University

How students at Colorado State helped teach their community to stop talking past each other and manage complex problems

Martin Carcasson, Colorado State University

Seen from above, a group of six people sit around a table with different color speech bubbles in the middle.

Seen from above, a group of six people sit around a table with different color speech bubbles in the middle.

Trust is a behavior, not a credential – and that explains the Rodgers-Fauci divide

John C. Besley, Michigan State University

Aaron Rodgers, wearing his Steelers jersey, stands on a field.

Aaron Rodgers, wearing his Steelers jersey, stands on a field.

Colorado is facing a housing shortage - building more duplexes and townhomes could be part of the solution

Stefan Chavez-Norgaard, University of Denver and Susan D. Daggett, University of Denver

A car appears blurry as it speeds by a housing complex made up of attached, tan units.

A car appears blurry as it speeds by a housing complex made up of attached, tan units.

Syringe litter did not increase after a needle exchange ban was overturned in Pueblo, Colorado, but health services suffered

Pranav Padmanabhan, University of Colorado Anschutz; Katherine LeMasters, University of Colorado Boulder, and Paul Christine, University of Colorado Anschutz

Used needles with orange caps lie in the dirt.

Used needles with orange caps lie in the dirt.

Michigan’s local election officials are confident in voting integrity ahead of November’s midterm election

Stephanie Leiser, University of Michigan

Female voter fills out ballot

Female voter fills out ballot

Michigan progressive Abdul El-Sayed won a combative Democratic nomination for US Senate – he’ll face new attacks this fall

Michael Traugott, University of Michigan

Man speaks to a crowd

Man speaks to a crowd

A Colorado jail hasn’t allowed in-person visits in nearly 20 years – here’s what research says about visitation’s effects

Jillian Turanovic, University of Colorado Boulder and Melinda Tasca, University of Texas at El Paso

Two hands clasp another hand, with bars separating the two individuals.

Two hands clasp another hand, with bars separating the two individuals.

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