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Despite Trump’s push, most Americans still oppose his ballroom, poll finds
The president’s planned 250-foot arch and a Treasury department plan to put Trump’s signature on paper money are also unpopular ideas.
John Roberts’ legacy of removing race protections sees defining moment
The Supreme Court’s decision Wednesday rolling back protections for Black and Latino voters marks another dramatic turn in the long-fought effort by conservative justices to reverse measures vital to overcoming America’s legacy of race discrimination.
House Adopts Budget to Unlock $70 Billion for Immigration Enforcement
The measure will allow the G.O.P. to begin working on a filibuster-proof bill to fund ICE and C.B.P., part of their plan to reopen the long-shuttered Department of Homeland Security.
Congressional Republicans Struggle to Do the Basics as Chambers Clash
House Republicans toiled to pass major measures as lawmakers scramble to fund homeland security, extend spy powers and deliver a farm bill.
Justice Department rolls back gun control measures days after Trump assassination attempt
Days after a gunman charged security at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in what investigators say was an attempt to kill President Donald Trump with legally owned firearms, his Justice Department is further rolling back gun control measures.
Politics’ Third Law: Equal and Opposite Gerrymandering
On a national scale, parties’ skeevy redistricting largely cancels out. Voters are the casualty.
Germany: Merz hails 'historic' health care reform
The Cabinet has greenlit a health care draft law designed to lower insurance rates. The bill heads to parliament next, but doctors' associations and patient protection advocates say it amounts to austerity measures.
What's on the Ohio ballot for the May 5 primary election?
Ohio voters face big choices May 5 with races for governor, U.S. Senate, attorney general, treasurer, secretary of state and the state Supreme Court.
Business briefs, April 29
Ventas expects 2026 senior living investments will total $3B by year’s end … RFK Jr.’s recent comments on paid family caregivers ‘deeply concerning,’ advocates say … DHS interim final rule codifying immigration fees goes into effect May 29 … Assisted living provider groups back new HCBS quality measures, with caveats … Fitch rates Lebanon Valley Brethren Home at BBB
Senate Republicans block measure to curb Trump's power to invade Cuba
Trump has been hinting at military action in Cuba, prompting anxiety among Democrats, who tried to block him with a war powers vote.
A one-in-a-million supernova seen five times could reveal the Universe’s true speed
A spectacular cosmic event nicknamed “SN Winny” could help solve one of astronomy’s biggest mysteries: how fast the universe is expanding. This rare superluminous supernova, located 10 billion light-years away, appears five times in the sky thanks to gravitational lensing, creating a dazzling “cosmic fireworks” effect. By measuring the slight delays between each appearance—caused by light taking different paths around two foreground galaxies—scientists can directly calculate the universe’s expansion rate.
50-foot ancient snake discovered in India may be one of the largest ever
A massive prehistoric snake discovered in India may rank among the largest ever to slither across Earth. Named Vasuki indicus, this ancient giant lived around 47 million years ago and is estimated to have stretched an astonishing 11 to 15 meters long—rivaling the legendary Titanoboa. Fossilized vertebrae unearthed from a lignite mine in Gujarat reveal a thick-bodied, powerful snake likely built for slow, stealthy ambush attacks, similar to modern anacondas.
First-gen political science student named New College Outstanding Undergraduate
Emra Muslim, a first-generation college student graduating this spring with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Arizona State University’s New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, has been named the college’s Outstanding Undergraduate.
OLED TVs have long trailed Mini LED in brightness, but Samsung's S95H narrows the gap
I measured the Samsung S95H at 2,780 nits, making it the brightest OLED TV I've tested. Here are my first-look impressions of its picture and design.
Mission accomplished as king’s speech to Congress goes down a storm
Charles quoted Wilde and Dickens in measured masterclass – and no tirade as yet from mad monarch in White House
Global health PhD grad gains perspective through real-world health care experience
Instead of relying solely on the classroom to learn about global health systems, Adrienne Madhavpeddi took a different route during her time in graduate school, working with multiple organizations to gain real-world experience in the health care field.Originally from Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, Madhavpeddi will be graduating from Arizona State University’s School of Human Evolution and Social Change with her PhD in global health this May.
We need AI, but the political backlash cannot be ignored
The rapid development of data centers to support AI has sparked a grass-roots political backlash, threatening to result in extreme measures such as the ban on data center development imposed by Mai…
How science can create a more consistent cup of coffee
Scientists borrowed technology used in battery research to show that measuring the current that runs through coffee can quantify a cup’s strength and flavor.
ASUS' dual-screen ROG Zephyrus Duo is now on pre-order starting at $4,500
ASUS is often best when it's weird, and this year at CES the company decided to resurrect one of its weirdest laptops ever: the ROG Zephyrus Duo.
Behold the crown jewel of outrageous gaming laptops
It’s like r/battlestations in laptop form.
Stressed out teen? Sleep and sports may be the cure
It seems like everyone is a little stressed out these days — and not even children in their “carefree” teen years are immune.In fact, the changes that adolescents go through during that time of their life make them particularly susceptible to stress.
Scientists catch antimatter “atom” acting like a wave for the first time
Quantum physics once shocked scientists by revealing that particles can behave like waves—and now, that strange behavior has been pushed even further. For the first time, researchers have observed wave-like interference in positronium, an exotic “atom” made of an electron and its antimatter partner, a positron. This breakthrough not only strengthens the weird reality of quantum mechanics but also opens the door to new experiments involving antimatter, including the possibility of testing how gravity affects it—something never directly measured before.
Spanberger marks first 100 days with focus on healthcare, housing and energy affordability
Gov. Abigail Spanberger celebrated her first 100 days in office Monday in Richmond by touting her administration’s progress on healthcare, housing, and energy affordability measures. She had less to say, however, about the delayed state budget, which lawmakers haven’t finalized but must send to her desk for signature in the coming weeks.
State Treasurer John Fleming proudly waves the MAGA flag as he campaigns for Senate
John Fleming plays up his White House role in President Donald Trump’s first term and the fact that he is a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus. Can he unseat Sen. Bill Cassidy?
Russian superyacht Nord sails through blockaded Strait of Hormuz
The Nord, a multideck 464-foot pleasure vessel, is one of the few private ships to have made it past the blockaded strait.
Denver Health ended up on a list of at-risk hospitals — but it's not as bad off as you might think
Denver Health’s CEO says any talk of service reduction is “premature,” after a new report lists it among Colorado hospitals most at risk.
The Case for ‘Pothole Politics’ in Local Government
It’s about competence. To build residents’ trust, cities need to focus on delivering core services efficiently, setting measurable standards and meeting them consistently.
Efforts to eliminate hepatitis delivers gains but more action needed to meet 2030 targets
Global efforts to combat viral hepatitis are delivering measurable progress in reducing infections and deaths, but the disease remains a major global health challenge, according to a new WHO report released today at the World Hepatitis Summit.
Political science grad earns academic recognition with Dean’s Medal award
Arizona native Mirei Shikama will graduate this spring as the School of Politics and Global Studies’ Dean’s Medalist, obtaining degrees in global studies and English (creative writing) with a minor in political science.
Political science grad earns academic recognition with Dean’s Medal award
Arizona native Mirei Shikama will graduate this spring as the School of Politics and Global Studies’ Dean’s Medalist, obtaining degrees in global studies and English (creative writing) with a minor in political science.
The Tech Elite Sure Have a Boring—and Expensive—Idea of Immortality
If you’re one of the lucky few who can afford to live forever, at least do something more interesting than measuring the “quality and durability of nocturnal erections.”
From Casual to Costly: How Rising Prices Make Entertainment Less Accessible
The rising costs of entertainment make it difficult for consumers to afford media and leisure.
Businesses Working With Iranian Airlines Risk Sanctions, Warns U.S. Treasury Secretary
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that the U.S. will place sanctions on anyone conducting business with sanctioned Iranian airlines as commercial flights resume from Tehran. “Doing business with sanctioned Iranian airlines risks exposure to U.S. sanctions. Foreign governments should take all
Record-breaking Sun Devil 100 class recognized during honoree luncheon
An abundance of maroon-and-gold pride filled the second-floor ballroom of the Omni Tempe Hotel on Friday, April 24, as a record-breaking cohort of alumni business leaders gathered to celebrate their Sun Devil roots.Each year, the Sun Devil 100 recognizes the fastest-growing Arizona State University alumni-owned or -led businesses across the globe, spanning all industries and sizes.
Measure C: Oakland business tax relief, explained
At the June 2 primary, voters will decide whether to give one-year tax breaks to small and new businesses in the city.
Rachel Reeves considering rent freeze to limit Iran war fallout
Exclusive: Sources say chancellor is examining exceptional measures to protect household budgets
Studio shows aren't for sports fans anymore
Have networks left educated sports fans behind in a quest to cater to casuals and grab as many eyeballs as possible?
The Science Behind the Headlines: Understanding Attribution Science
When devastating weather events make headlines, a question increasingly follows: Did climate change play a role? Where did the emissions driving that risk come from? And what harms result when those risks materialize? This isn't just casual curiosity. Communities facing floods, families displace
What is the state treasurer responsible for?
Before you vote, we want to explain what exactly the treasurer oversees.
How Do You Measure A.I. Firms’ Gargantuan Energy Plans? In ‘Bragawatts.’
One way for a company to stand out — or to intimidate the competition — is to boast, often without evidence, about how much power it has access to.
Jules Kounde banned for Barcelona’s clash with Osasuna
But he will be back in time for El Clasico.
Patients taking weight-loss drugs often make 5 critical mistakes, doctor warns
Experts say GLP-1 drugs offer benefits beyond weight loss, but common mistakes like skipped labs and poor nutrition can undermine results or cause harm.
Joint Budget advances school separation measure - Talk Business & Politics
The Joint Budget Committee Thursday (April 23) advanced an amendment to an appropriations bill that the sponsor said is needed for four isolated schools to detach from their existing districts....
Judge appears skeptical of Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against IRS and Treasury
A federal judge on Friday questioned the constitutionality of President Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS and Treasury Department over the leak of his tax returns, ordering a hearing to determine whether the president can sue federal agencies that he oversees.
Voter ID initiative qualifies for California's November election
California makes it easy to vote, with mail-in ballots and registration at the DMV. An upcoming ballot measure would add new voter ID requirements compelling people to prove their citizenship before they cast a ballot.
Triple major aims for the big leagues in sports finance
“My No. 1 goal is to be the CFO of a professional sports team,” said Ainsley Peterson, a triple-major senior graduating with bachelor’s degrees in accountancy, finance and sports business from the W. P. Carey School of Business — along with a minor in special events management.It’s an ambitious goal, but Peterson, a spring 2026 graduate from San Diego, has been building toward it for years. Her passion for both sports and finance began at a young age, shaped in part by her family’s influence.
ASUS Announces Availability of ROG Strix and TUF Gaming Dual Mode Monitors
ASUS today announced the availability of the ROG Strix XG27UCG Gen 2 (XG27UCGR), the ROG Strix XG27UCS Gen 2 (XG27UCSR), and the TUF Gaming VG27UQEL5A gaming monitors. These gaming monitors feature 27-inch 4K Fast IPS panels with a 0.3 ms response time (minimum) for crisp visuals and smooth high...
Could your beer have health benefits? Here’s what new research says
A casual beer might come with an unexpected perk. Drinking the occasional pint could provide “substantial levels” of vitamin B6, an essential nutrient that supports brain function, blood health and…
ASU grad working to improve health care systems and provider experience
By Cindy Shirlley KolenyoFor Amber Catalan, health care is not just about treating patients, it is about improving the systems behind care.Growing up in a military family as a first-generation college student, Catalan saw firsthand how people — particularly veterans — navigate complex health care systems. Those experiences, together with what she witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic, influenced her desire to address gaps in care delivery.
‘Widow’s Bay’ review: Apple TV horror comedy feels a little underbaked
While the new Apple TV series, premiering April 29, feels disjointed, there's still pleasure to be had, writes Moira Macdonald.
'A completely new reality': Bolder measures are needed to prevent extreme water shortages in cities like Phoenix and Las Vegas that depend on the Colorado River
Cities fed by the Colorado River have taken huge steps to reduce their water consumption over the past few decades, yet water shortages are projected to grow more intense. What can be done?
US health insurers advance measures to standardize prior authorization requirements
UnitedHealth and CVS Health said on Friday they have standardized data and submission requirements for more than half of their prior authorizations, as part of an industry effort to reduce delays and paperwork for patients and doctors.
DNA study of nearly 200 Indigenous genomes reveals unknown Asian 'ghost' population contributed to American ancestry
New genetic results reveal a previously unknown wave of people settled in South America 1,300 years ago and that Indigenous Americans carry remnants of a "ghost lineage."
Birdbrained Science: My God, it’s full of stars
I’ve been a casual stargazer ever since high school when I first watched a meteor shower with some of my friends. The stars often (and rightfully, in my opinion) get romanticized; countless people …
China’s Wanda Film renamed Ruyi Film Entertainment
A company letter detailed the need to expand screening venues into more diversified entertainment complexes.
China’s Wanda Film renamed Ruiyi Film Entertainment
A company letter detailed the need to expand screening venues into more diversified entertainment complexes.
Search for Treasure During Sableye’s Gem Hunt in <em>Pokémon Pokopia</em>
Befriend Sableye and exchange red crystal fragments for unique items during this event.
Former councilman rallies against bill defunding sports complex
In a letter to the Minnesota House and Senate Taxes Committees, Bransford argues the state should not interfere with the result of a 2023 ballot measure, which approved a sales tax extension to raise $65 million for indoor and outdoor sports facilities.
‘Cold feet’: Deal to buy historic Idaho 55 business called off
A deal to sell Cougar Mountain Lodge fell apart on Wednesday night amid the buyers’ concerns about plans to convert the property into an event venue. Treasured antiques that have decorated the historic lodge in Smiths Ferry were set to be sold this Saturday, April 25, as part of a separate sale at the property, but that, […]
Doctor: Don't use fitness trackers, is obsessed with 1 health metric
Measuring our health data with wearable tech is more popular than ever. But a doctor said a lot of products make money from out health anxieties.
US business activity recovers in April, war with Iran is boosting prices, S&P Global survey shows
U.S. business activity picked up in April after nearly stalling in the prior month, but supplier delivery times at factories worsened as the war with Iran disrupted supply chains, pushing a measure of output prices to a near four-year high.
Latest iPhone 18 Pro Max Dummies Suggest Thicker Camera Plateau, More Protruding Lenses
Apple is expected to bring several camera enhancements to the iPhone 18 Pro models this year, but there have been no fixed rumors suggesting these upgrades will require measurable, visible changes to the device's rear camera plateau. And yet a new series of dummies suggests exactly that. iPhone 17 Pro dummy (left) vs.
Regions Bank + Dash Solutions Collaborate on New Treasury Management Solution to Modernize Client Payment Operations
Regions ReimbursePro delivers fast, flexible and convenient options to help clients initiate real-time money movement. Regions Bank on Thursday announced the launch of Regions ReimbursePro , the bank’s latest Treasury Management innovation designed to help business clients modernize their payment processes and expedite real-time money movement. Regions ReimbursePro is a new, forward-thinking Treasury Management solution designed to help business clients accelerate refunds, modernize their payment processes and fuel growth. Regions ReimbursePro is powered by Dash Solutions , a leading payments enablement company also headquartered in Birmingham. The solution provides Regions’ Treasury Management clients access to a modern, secure digital platform that helps transform refund operations away from older, manual, time-consuming processes that include paper documents and physical checks. Key upgrades include: Once a reimbursement is initiated through this new solution, recipients can choose
U.S. Senate votes to advance $70 billion funding plan for ICE, Border Patrol
Two Republicans - Senators Rand Paul and Lisa Murkowski - opposed the measure.
Romanian Cabinet Loses Parliamentary Majority as Top Party Quits
Romania’s biggest political party quit the government after disagreements over unpopular austerity measures, leaving Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan in charge of a minority cabinet.
Senate Republicans bypass Democrats to advance $70bn ICE and border patrol plan in ‘vote-a-rama’– US politics live
Republicans deploy measure known as budget reconciliation to push through plan without backing from Democrats during lengthy late-night vote
Va. lawmakers OK governor's tweaks to major energy bills, reject health and labor bill amendments
The amendments that lawmakers accepted to their bills will be incorporated before the measures become law. The ones that were rejected and sent back to Spanberger have an uncertain fate. She can choose to sign them as is, or veto them.
Arizona's Petrified Forest Is Home To The World's Largest Concentration Of Petrified Wood
The region’s unique geological history is to thank for the bumper crops of fossils, but they’re not the only ancient treasures to be found here.
Jordyn Tyson injury history: Why ASU WR's lingering health issues could impact draft stock
Here is a complete history of Tyson's injuries during his collegiate career, and how it may affect his draft stock.
Senate takes key step toward funding ICE and border patrol with only GOP votes
With Congress still at a stalemate over how to end the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, Senate Republicans took a key step to tee up a party-line measure funding the most controversial immigration programs — and eventually reopen the government completely.
Senate rejects measures meant to lower the cost of gas, groceries
Senate Democrats, in a fierce political battle over immigration enforcement funding, forced Republicans to vote on measures meant to lower costs.
WHO reports measurable health impact in 2025 amid transition to new strategy
The World Health Organization (WHO) today released its Results Report, highlighting measurable improvements in people’s health worldwide in 2025, despite funding cuts affecting both the organization and the broader global health sector.
Virginia follows California, approves ballot measure to redistrict mid-decade
It’s been less than six months since California voters approved a new congressional map that could enable Democrats to flip as many as five House seats now held by Republicans. Now, Virginia is following the same playbook.
Measure to legalize sports betting fails in Oklahoma Senate
A measure that would legalize sports betting in the Sooner State failed to pass the Oklahoma Senate.On Tuesday, Sen. Bill Coleman filed new bill language throu
$28 billion and counting: Europe tallies the cost of another energy crisis
The European Union has unveiled a raft of planned emergency measures to cushion its economy from soaring energy costs.
Leaker: Apple to Downgrade iPhone 18 in Two Ways
Following the emergence of a rumor that Apple is planning to downgrade the iPhone 18 to cut costs, further detail has emerged suggesting that display and chip specifications will see downgrades. Earlier this week, the leaker known as "Fixed Focus Digital" said that the iPhone 18 features "certain manufacturing downgrades" that bring it more into line with the low-cost iPhone 18e model. The decision is said to be "a cost-cutting measure".
With Midterms Coming Up, G.O.P. Is Bogged Down in Congress
Republican majorities are at odds on big issues as the Senate resorts to extraordinary measures to pass homeland security funding over a Democratic blockade.
Fermat's Last Theorem: still a must-read about a 350-year maths secret
Simon Singh's exploration of mathematical proof – in particular Pierre de Fermat's last theorem – remains an absolute treasure, almost three decades after it was first published
The Universe Is Expanding Too Fast and Scientists Can’t Explain Why
The most precise measurement yet shows the Universe is expanding faster than expected, deepening the Hubble tension. The result hints that something may be missing from our current understanding of the cosmos.
Ancient DNA reveals a hidden Neanderthal group frozen in time
A remarkable genetic breakthrough has uncovered what may be one of the clearest snapshots yet of a Neanderthal “community” living together 100,000 years ago in what is now Poland. The findings reveal that these individuals shared genetic ties with Neanderthals spread across Europe and the Caucasus, hinting at widespread ancient lineages that later disappeared.
Proposed ban on sports prop bets dies amid state budget woes
State lawmakers voted Tuesday morning to remove a proposed ban on prop bets from Senate Bill 131, a larger sports gambling reform measure.
Walz: ‘Next Democratic president better figure out a way to get universal health care’
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) advised the next Democratic president to focus on passing universal healthcare, a policy measure that has been hotly debated within the party in recent years. “We have t…
Sharon Tucker Named Orlando Health Endowed Chair in Nursing
The prestigious appointment from the UCF Pegasus Partner will bolster Tucker’s nationally recognized research focused on helping practitioners and patients thrive.
ASU geosciences professor named Guggenheim Fellow
S.-H. Dan Shim, a professor of geosciences at Arizona State University's School of Earth and Space Exploration, has been named a 2026 Guggenheim Fellow by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, recognizing his interdisciplinary work bridging earth science and astrophysics.
Warsh vows to keep monetary policy independent of politics
STORY: :: Fed chief nominee Warsh vows to keep monetary policy independent of politics:: Washington, D.C. / April 21, 2026:: Kevin Warsh, Federal Reserve chief nominee“Monetary policy independence is essential. Monetary policymakers must act in the nation's interest. Their decision is the product of rigor, deliberation and unclouded decision-making. And as Senator Warren said, I do not believe that independence of monetary policy is threatened when elected officials state their views on rates. Fed independence is up to the Fed." // :: Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Ranking Democrat on Senate Banking Committee“So, independence takes courage. Let's check out your independence and your courage. We'll start easy. Mr. Warsh, did Donald Trump lose the 2020 election?”WARSH: “Um, we try to keep politics, if I’m confirmed, out of the Federal Reserve.”WARREN: “I’m just asking you a factual question. I need to know. I need to measure your independence and your courage.”WARSH: “Senator, I believe that this body certified that election many years ago.”WARREN: “That’s not the question I’m asking. I’m asking did Donald Trump lose in 2020?”WARSH: “And I’m suggesting to you in 2020…”WARREN: “I’m suggesting you can’t answer that.”WARSH: “… the Fed had a huge inflation problem, and you certified the election…[crosstalk]… let’s keep the politics out of monetary policy.” //WARREN: "Just one little place where you disagree with Donald Trump.”WARSH: “Well, I do have a disagreement actually, Senator, with the president. I think even this morning, he said that he thought I was out of central casting. I think central casting, I'd look older, grayer, maybe show up here with a cigar of sorts.”WARREN: “Quite adorable. But, you know, we need a Fed chair who is independent. That's the only way we preserve the independence of the Federal Reserve. If you can't answer these questions, you don't have the courage and you don't have the independence.”In a confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking Committee that quickly hinted at major changes to come at a Warsh-led Fed, the 56-year-old lawyer and financier blamed the central bank for an inflation surge in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to hurt U.S. households.Warsh's hearing quickly turned contentious. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren pressed Warsh on his independence and "courage", saying President Donald Trump had made clear Warsh would be his "sock puppet".
🚨 Confirmed line-ups: Athletic and Osasuna must win
San Mamés opens its doors this Tuesday, April 21 (7:00 PM) for a highly even clash on Matchday 33 of LaLiga EA Sports. Athletic Club and CA Osasuna face off separated by just one point in the standin...
Virginia Ballot Measures Special Election 2026 Live Results
See live results from the 2026 Virginia Ballot Measures Special Election. Follow live outcomes as votes are added up on Election Day.
Shaky political science: using "simulated" elections over real-world elections
[Dear DSOS readers – this article is the latest in our “Shaky Political Science” series. In our 38 page report, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting,” released in early December, we examined over 40 studies focused on ranked choice voting. We found that many of these studies suffered from puzzling research methodologies, poorly constructed surveys, unrealistic simulated elections, cherry picked data, and faulty analyses that often were contradicted by results from real-world elections (a link to our full paper is here). Here are links to the first three articles in our series: the first one summarizing the overall results of our report, the second one analyzing a study co-authored by University of Minnesota academic Larry Jacobs, which was one of the most error-prone of all the research we reviewed in our report, and a third article showing an admirable example of two political scientists holding two other political scientists accountable for their flawed, sloppy research]. In this fourth article in our “Shaky Political Science” series, we shine a spotlight on seven studies that were web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group (the ERRG is an ad hoc committee headed by New America’s Political Reform Program and joined by the American Enterprise Institute, the Unite America Institute and Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law). This research consortium has been led by Lee Drutman, senior fellow with New America’s Political Reform Program. These seven studies are simply not credible from any objective standard about how political “science” is supposed to illuminate our understanding of either ranked choice voting or politics in general. The feature that six of these seven studies have in common is that they all used surveys – artificial, simulated elections -- to attempt to say something cogent or interesting about ranked choice voting (RCV) elections. None of them used real world data from actual RCV elections – either the 1000+ elections in the US or the many thousands of elections from places like Australia, Ireland and elsewhere where RCV has been used for 100 years. While a few of these studies conclude with some mixed positives about RCV, our analysis here is content neutral. The idea that, with a political reform like RCV, you can ask respondents in a mock, artificial election to vote with that method, with only the barest of explanation about how RCV works or its likely impacts (i.e. no spoiler candidates, majority winners, voters liberated to pick their favorite candidates, coalition-building), and then ask them their thoughts/reactions about voting in that system, with fake candidates and no real campaigning, no real exposure to an actual election or actual candidates, rests on some very puzzling assumptions. The findings of these seven studies actually are contradicted by the findings from many other studies based on real-world RCV elections. These New America studies also failed to list the real-world RCV studies in their own citations, instead including those studies that reinforced their conclusions. The seven studies featured in this article were chosen because they form a cohesive cohort which precisely illustrates one of the main points of our research paper, namely that using surveys, i.e. artificial elections, or mathematical/theoretical models, instead of real-world data, is in fact “shaky political science.” Below are summaries of our analysis of five of the seven New America studies. You can read our complete analysis of all seven studies at our paper, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting.” Choosing to “Vote As Usual” by Andre Blais, Carolina Plescia, and Semra Sevi. New America. (Blais et al., 2021). This study, web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group, used two surveys in which respondents completed ballots for simulated elections using plurality, approval, RCV and point (Score) voting. In both cases the authors provided the respondents with only minimal explanation of each method. For example, the entire explanation for RCV was “For this vote, rank the candidates from your first to your last choice (you do not need to rank them all). This is called the ranked vote.” That’s it. The study did not provide any context or explanation to survey respondents about why she/he might want to rank multiple candidates. Participants were not even told that ballots would be tabulated using an “instant” runoff, not to mention any description of RCVs ability to eliminate the spoiler effect or liberate voters to rank their favorite candidates without fear of helping the “greater evil” candidate to win. That’s like taking an iPhone back in time to 1970 and asking someone if they like it better than their rotary phone without explaining how it works. Their first survey targeted states that held 2020 Super Tuesday Democratic primaries and used the real candidates’ names in the survey; the second survey used fictitious candidates. In other words, they surveyed respondents who had only ever participated in plurality elections, had no history or background with using RCV or any of the other methods, had no clue about its likely impacts, and did not communicate how the alternative methods would be counted, and then asked them: “How satisfied are you with using each system?” Predictably, the winner was plurality elections, the system used for president, Congress, gubernatorial and state legislative elections – in other words, the method they have been using, year after year, all their voting lives. With so little explanation of RCV and its impacts, this study is simply not credible in discovering anything useful about real-world RCV elections. It merely shows that a basic voter education campaign is needed when adopting a new election system. Additionally, the result contradicts many other post-election surveys following real RCV elections, asking opinions from voters who had just participated in a RCV election, that showed a great deal of satisfaction with RCV (see details on that in Studies 22-25 in our paper, as well as the four studies cited in the review for Study 28). Share Other studies on “satisfaction” and “understanding” make similar mistakes, in terms of basing their surveys on inadequate explanation to respondents and lack of education about context. How could any survey ever hope to measure accurately, in essence simulate a real-world election, without actual campaigning candidates, the media writing about those candidates, organizations endorsing candidates and voters being inundated with crucial information? More than anything, what these “studies” based on surveys show is that if you ask voters about something they don’t know very much about, and fail to adequately educate them, their responses will unsurprisingly reflect their confusion. Equally puzzling is that New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group, headed by political scientist Lee Drutman, found this to be a credible enough study that they not only published it but highlighted it in Drutman’s own discussion of research related to ranked choice voting. This pattern was repeated in study after study featured by New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group. For example in Ranked-Choice Voting and Political Expression: Voter Guides Narrow the Gap between Informed and Uninformed Citizens by Cheryl Boudreau, Jonathan Colner, and Scott MacKenzie, the researchers based their analysis on a survey which found that respondents who were asked to vote in a simulated RCV election, with minimal explanation of RCV or how it works, displayed less evidence of being informed about how to use RCV effectively, with the least informed voters ranking fewer candidates. As pointed out under the study above, in a real election voters are informed by a wide variety of methods, including public education by the election administration, by interested political groups, the media, and the candidates themselves who benefit from voters being aware of how to vote in the new system. In Support for Ranked-Choice Voting across Race and Partisanship by Joseph Anthony, David C. Kimball, Jack Santucci and Jamil Scott, the researchers used respondents from different parties and races voting in simulated plurality and RCV elections, who indicated their satisfaction with each voting method. Instead of using real world election results, the authors fell back on the easy, armchair and less reliable academic research methodology of making up mock elections. As with the other studies, little explanation was given of how RCV works or what its implications might be (electing majority winners or eliminating spoilers, for example). Unsurprisingly, this study found that respondents were not very satisfied with RCV. However, when the authors added an explanation that RCV has a tendency to elect more women and people of color, they found that this greater explanation increased the preference for RCV. The more voters were familiar with it, and the more they understood potential positive impacts – surprise! -- the more they were open to switching away from the status quo. Of note, the results from this study are thoroughly contradicted by a number of other studies whose data was obtained from real RCV elections with real voters. Those studies show a great deal of satisfaction with RCV. More “fake election” research An interesting wrinkle on this “research by fake elections” approach, which only served to illustrate how unreliable such “research” can become, was taken in Ranked-Choice Voting, Runoff, and Democracy: Insights from Maine and Other U.S. States by Joseph Cerrone and Cynthia McClintock_,_ also web-hosted and funded by New America’s ERRG. It gets high marks for creativity, but an eye-roll for thinking this could possibly add anything meaningful to our understanding of real world RCV elections. This study tried to determine whether RCV, plurality or two-round runoff elections provided greater voter satisfaction and acceptance of election results. To determine that, the authors conducted a survey asking if voters were satisfied with a fictional newspaper report of an election, with three different versions given to respondents – plurality, runoff and RCV, with variations of Republican/Democrat winners and variations of “come-from-behind” winners,” i.e. candidates not initially in first place but who win the “runoff.” Again, a minimal explanation of RCV or how it works was given, and the survey showed that respondents had the greatest unfamiliarity with RCV than the other methods. The unsurprising result? Respondents were much more satisfied with “come-from-behind” victories in a traditional two-round runoff election than in RCV, even though RCV is also a runoff system but with a single round of counting. Interestingly, the dissatisfaction with RCV disappeared for those who were more familiar with RCV. In fact, among those respondents who were “very familiar” with RCV, they were equally satisfied with RCV, runoff and plurality. Surprise, surprise. Again, what this study revealed, more than anything, is not only the inadequacy of the explanation for RCV given by the authors of this study, but the failure of the research format itself, thinking that such an artificial mock election could somehow simulate what actually happens in the real world in a real RCV election. Those four studies reviewed above are fitting examples of inadequate and shaky political “science.” Other studies reviewed in our paper from the New America/Electoral Reform Research Group cohort which also used mock elections included: Ranked-Choice Voting is an Acquired Taste by Joseph Anthony and David C. Kimball. New America. (Anthony et al., 2021). Ranked-Choice Voting is No Refuge for Extreme Candidates by Melissa Baker. New America. (Baker, 2021). Also included in this New America cohort is Does Ranked-Choice Voting Reduce Racial Polarization? by Yuki Atsusaka and Theodore Landsman, which actually did use real-world election results data but applied an odd and unconventional methodology to the data which relied on shaky assumptions and non-real-world scenarios that were too divorced from reality. To determine levels of “racially polarized voting,” the researchers imagined “ethnic parties,” by which they mean political parties for each ethnic group, which was especially odd since the election data they were using came from nonpartisan RCV races. But then they made an even odder assumption, namely that since race and ethnic characteristics of studied voters were not available, the authors tried to infer that information based on who voters selected and the racial make-up of voters in each district. This amounted to little more than vague and ambiguous guesswork dressed up with a bunch of mathematical equations used to give it a veneer of scientific appearance. Indeed, it seemed to assume racial polarization in order to prove racial polarization. Based on this questionable methodology, the authors concluded that RCV doesn’t reduce racial polarization. But the premise of this study missed an obvious reality: since RCV incentivizes more candidates to run and can result in more diverse fields of candidates, one would expect more racially-polarized voting in voters’ top rankings, not less, because more voters would have someone on that ballot who represents their racial or ethnic identity and more freedom to vote for their real first choice. By encouraging more diverse candidates and eliminating the spoiler effect, RCV facilitates voting for a favorite candidate of your own race and then selecting a second choice with the best likelihood of winning. The real measure is what voters do with their additional rankings – do they consider other candidates and vote “for the best of the rest”? This study didn’t tell us anything useful about that. But readily available data shows this is common in real RCV elections, and candidates act on this knowledge by engaging with voters outside their racial group. So the authors of this study failed to consider or account for what actually happens in real-world elections, and their conclusions are tainted by this failure. New America has contributed a great deal over the past 2.5 decades to our understanding of many policy areas, including politics and political reform (full disclosure: Steven Hill, one of the authors of this article and of the “Shaky Political Science” research paper and series, is a former senior fellow and former director of New America’s political reform program, 2005-2010). So it was especially disappointing that New America funded and published such a large batch of dubious studies about ranked choice voting. The stated praiseworthy goal of its Electoral Reform Research Group was to inspire new academic research about ranked choice voting that would shed light and help the public better understand the impacts of RCV. Instead, the ERRG research did just the opposite. It produced dubious research that created more confusion and misinformation. In so doing, New America’s political reform program contributed to “shaky political science.” Steven Hill and Paul Haughey Share Upgrade to $5 subscription Thanks for reading DemocracySOS, a reader-supported digital portal for the pro-democracy movement. Subscribe for only $5 per month to receive full benefits and to support our work. Subscribe
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During the recent measles outbreak, the largest in more than 30 years, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. refused to clearly recommend the measles vaccine, saying instead that it was a “personal decision,” and that parents should “do their own research.” Similarly, during her recent confirmation hearing for United States Surgeon General, Casey Means was questioned by Senator William Cassidy (R, La). “You’re the nation’s doctor,” said Cassidy. “Would you encourage [a mother] to have her child vaccinated!” “I’m not an individual’s doctor,” Means said. “And every individual needs to talk to their doctor before putting a medication in their body.” In June 2025, Marty Makary, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), said that COVID vaccines for pregnant women should be a “personal choice”, even though every other country in the world recommended the COVID vaccine during pregnancy due to a higher risk for severe disease. It doesn’t end there. On January 5, 2026, RFK Jr. reduced the number of routinely recommended vaccines from 18 to 10. For vaccines that protected against influenza, COVID, and rotavirus, parents were urged to speak with their doctors—to make an individual choice. (On March 16, 2026, in a ruling by a federal court in Boston, RFK Jr.’s revised schedule was invalidated.) What’s happening? Why are public health officials moving away from making recommendations for the public? The origin of this change might be rooted in the first two years of the COVID pandemic. In 2020, during the first year on the pandemic, we didn’t have anything to stop a virus that was killing hundreds of people a day and could be spread asymptomatically. We didn’t have antivirals until October, monoclonal antibodies until November, and vaccines until December. All we could do was restrict travel, close businesses, shutter schools, and mask, isolate, quarantine, test, and social distance. During the second year of the pandemic, when we had vaccines to prevent COVID, people couldn’t go anywhere without their vaccine cards. They couldn’t go to their favorite bar or restaurant or sporting event or place of worship without proof of vaccination. Some people were fired from their jobs for refusing to get vaccinated. For many, this was seen as massive government overreach and energized what has been called the “medical freedom movement.” Indeed, a headline in the New York Times declared, “How Health Freedom Became a Winning Rally Cry.” As expressed in the comments of RFK Jr., Casey Means, and Marty Makary, the medical freedom movement focuses on the individual not the community—the opposite of public health. In an article titled “Ethics and Social Value Judgments in Public Health,” ethicists from Yale University distinguished public health from medical freedom. “Public health policies,” they wrote, “are population oriented. Because individual health affects the health of others, public health measures regulate individual behavior to achieve population health goals. All raise questions about how individual autonomy and freedom should be balanced against public health interests…which respects individuals’ sovereignty over their bodies and actions as long as their actions do not harm others.” The medical freedom movement fails to recognize that it often limits the freedom of others. For example, a parent who is afraid to send a child to school where many of the students are unvaccinated. Or immune compromised children who depend on those around them to for protection. The question then becomes “Freedom for whom?” Is it your right, in the name of medical freedom, to catch and transmit a potentially fatal infection—and in so doing, take away the freedom of others? In Four Essays on Liberty, Isaiah Berlin sums it up best. “Liberty for the wolves,” he wrote, “is death to the lambs.” Thanks for reading Beyond the Noise! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Subscribe
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