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Johnson & Johnson to acquire Atraverse Medical
The move, once finalized, helps Johnson & Johnson add multiple FDA-approved technologies to its EP portfolio.
Sikich buys Manpower division for $100M
The acquisition follows a private-equity infusion by Bain Capital two years ago.
Anne Frank exhibit at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry opens the door to her secret annex
The full-scale recreation of the Frank family’s hideout during World War II in Amsterdam is the stunning centerpiece of a new exhibition opening Friday.
Light Phone Is Making Its Dumb Phone More Useful With Third-Party ‘Tools’
A new developer program for LightOS allows anyone to create tools for the Light Phone, whether that’s a local public transit app for your city or a way to read ebooks.
What draft experts said about new Jaguars WR Josh Cameron
Here is what several draft analysts had to say about new Jaguars' WR Josh Cameron in their pre-draft scouting reports.
Bengals draft picks assigned jersey numbers, and their historical significance
These are some good numbers for the rookies.
Will King Charles' visit clear tensions in US-UK friendship?
King Charles III has won praise for his deft diplomacy and dealings with President Donald Trump in his visit to the United States. Is it enough?
Popular Science: Orleans Elementary School Celebrates STEM education
ORLEANS – Who says learning can’t be fun? Parents and family members were invited to take part in STEM Night at Orleans Elementary School on April...
Notre Dame alumna discusses Artemis lunar science
NASA scientist and Notre Dame alumna Kelsey Evans Young returned to campus to discuss the Artemis II mission, sharing insights on lunar science, astronaut training and how her Notre Dame education shaped her path to Mission Control.
Who was invited to dinner with King Charles: Justices, business leaders and Palm Beach friends
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump hosted a white-tie dinner at the White House with King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Nearly 130 guests enjoyed Dover sole meunière and a beehive-shaped chocolate dessert on Tuesday night. The guest list included business leaders, tech CEOs and friends from Palm Beach, Florida. The six conservative justices on the Supreme Court also attended, despite Trump’s recent criticism over tariffs. Fox News stars and other conservative media figures were present, along with three of Trump’s children, his father-in-law, sports figures and lawmakers, including House and Senate leaders.
Trump welcomes Artemis II astronauts to Oval Office — and fields questions on Iran, Comey and UFOs
The Artemis II astronauts’ journey to the moon and back landed them at the White House Oval Office on Wednesday afternoon — standing by while President Donald Trump talked UFOs, the Space Force and the Iran war.
Who was invited to dinner with King Charles: Justices, business leaders and Palm Beach friends
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump hosted a white-tie dinner at the White House with King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
From The Sports Desk: Short leash
The Red Sox and Phillies fired their managers amid early-season slumps.
NASA Chief Hits Capitol Hill in Defense of Trump’s Science Cuts
White House is calling for yet another substantial decrease to the space agency’s overall budget.
What 76-team NCAA Tournament fields would mean; Joel Embiid extends 76ers' season; new manager for Phillies
Plus, the first leg of the second UEFA Champions League semifinal is on CBS this afternoon
See photos from Artemis II Lunar Science lead's talk at Notre Dame
Kelsey Young, the Artemis II Lunar Science lead and Artemis Science Flight Operations lead for NASA, spoke at DeBartolo Hall at the University of Notre Dame on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. See our photos.
Final Fantasy VII Trilogy Director Says Part 3's Development Is "On Time And On Schedule"
"We know many fans are eagerly waiting"
Jeff Bezos and Tim Cook Among Guests at State Dinner Honoring King Charles III and Queen Camilla
Business leaders, Supreme Court justices, cabinet secretaries and Trump family members attended the white-tie festivities at the White House.
Joel Embiid takes over, leads 76ers from 13 down in Game 5 to extend series vs. Celtics
The 76ers dominated the fourth quarter and silenced a stunned TD Garden crowd.
Time to Leave the College Nest. Now What?
Searching for a job right after graduation can be a perilous task. Here's what I learned from my journey that might help others.
Australia becomes the 30th country to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem
The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Australia for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem, marking a significant milestone in the health of indigenous peoples and in global efforts to combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Trachoma, the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness, no longer represents a public health problem in the country.Australia is among a growing number of countries that have successfully eliminated trachoma, contributing to global progress towards the targets set out in the WHO road map for NTDs 2021–2030.Trachoma is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and spreads through close contact with infected individuals, contaminated surfaces, and flies that carry eye and nose discharge. Repeated infections can lead to scarring of the eyelids, turning eyelashes inward, and ultimately causing blindness if untreated.“WHO congratulates Australia on this important achievement,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This success reflects sustained commitment, strong partnerships, and a focus on reaching populations most affected by health inequities. It brings us closer to a world free from the suffering caused by trachoma.”Australia’s journey to eliminationAustralia’s achievement reflects decades of targeted public health action, particularly in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, where trachoma persisted despite its earlier disappearance from the rest of the country.National efforts intensified with the establishment of the National Trachoma Management Programme in 2006, which implemented the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy: surgery for trichiasis, antibiotics to treat infection, promotion of facial cleanliness, and environmental improvement. Regular screening of all communities classified as at-risk of trachoma by teams of qualified health workers formed an important part of the Programme. Interventions were delivered through coordinated partnerships between federal and state governments, Aboriginal community-controlled health services, and local communities.Over time, sustained screening, treatment, and prevention activities, including improvements in housing, water, sanitation and hygiene, led to a steady decline in trachoma prevalence. Australia’s approach included adaptations to reflect its context, such as targeted treatment based on community-level data rather than mass drug administration, and strong integration with environmental health programmes.“Elimination of trachoma is a win for the eye health of communities across Australia, particularly those whose lives have been impacted by a disease that is entirely preventable,” said Mark Butler, Minister for Health and Ageing, Australia. “This major milestone is thanks to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, community commitment and sustained investment over many decades.“The lessons from this work will inform how we approach other preventable health conditions in remote and regional Australia. Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and local health workers have been central to this success, delivering culturally safe care and community-led solutions.”“This recognition from the World Health Organization reflects decades of work led by Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, alongside local health workers in remote First Nations communities,” said Malarndirri McCarthy, Minister for Indigenous Australians. “Their work has been critical to eliminating trachoma as a public health problem in Australia.”Advancing global efforts against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)Trachoma is one of 21 diseases and disease groups that are regarded by WHO as NTDs. Together, NTDs affect more than 1 billion people worldwide, primarily in underserved populations with limited access to essential services such as clean water, sanitation, and health care.Australia’s elimination of trachoma as a public health problem highlights the importance of sustained political commitment and cross-sectoral collaboration in addressing the underlying determinants of health. It also underscores the feasibility of eliminating trachoma even in geographically challenging settings.In addition to trachoma, Australia has several endemic NTDs, including Buruli ulcer, leprosy and scabies. Validation of elimination of trachoma as a public health problem marks the first time that WHO has confirmed the elimination of an NTD in Australia, which becomes the 63rd country globally and 16th in the Western Pacific Region to have eliminated at least one NTD.“Tackling neglected tropical diseases in the Western Pacific Region has long been a challenge for countries across the socioeconomic spectrum, given the complexities in reaching the most vulnerable communities, including in remote areas,” said Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. “As a doctor from Tonga, I’ve experienced these challenges for myself. But I also know that with strategic commitment underpinned by optimal resources and partnerships in health, success is possible as other countries in our region have also demonstrated. I commend Australia on eliminating trachoma as a public health problem and urge all involved to remain vigilant to ensure this status is maintained.”WHO continues to support countries working to eliminate trachoma and other NTDs, ensuring that progress reaches those most in need and that gains are sustained through strong surveillance, appropriately integrated into national health systems, and mainstreamed within the wider health sector and beyond.Editor’s notesNeglected tropical diseases and trachoma elimination effortsNeglected tropical diseases are associated with devastating health, social and economic consequences. Their burden is mainly felt among impoverished communities in tropical areas.Public health targets for the control, elimination and eradication of these conditions were set in the road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030 (https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240010352).In 1996, WHO launched the WHO Alliance for the Global Elimination of Trachoma by 2020 (GET2020), creating a network of governments, non-governmental organizations and academic institutions dedicated to the fight against trachoma. WHO continues to support endemic countries to accelerate progress towards the global target of eliminating trachoma as a public health problem worldwide; 2030 is the new target date.Elimination of trachoma as a public health problem is defined as: (i) a prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis (TT) “unknown to the health system” of < 0.2% in ≥15-year-olds; and (ii) a prevalence of trachomatous inflammation—follicular (TF) in children aged 1–9 years of < 5%, in each formerly endemic district, plus (iii) the existence of a system to identify and manage incident cases of TT.Other countries validated by WHO as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem are: Algeria, Benin, Burundi, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, India, Iraq, Islamic Republic of Iran, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Togo, Vanuatu and Viet Nam.
Is Joel Embiid playing tonight? Where to watch Sixers Celtics?
The Sixers need to win tonight in Game 5 of the NBA Playoffs. Here's where to watch.
King Charles III warns U.S.-U.K. relationship cannot rest on history
Hanging over the king’s address and trip to the U.S. is the recent strains between Trump and fellow leaders of European and NATO member countries.
King Charles' speech ‘unified’ both sides of the ‘political aisle:’ Former Margaret Thatcher aide
Former foreign policy advisor to Margaret Thatcher Nile Gardiner reacts to King Charles III's address to Congress on ‘The Story.’
Epstein scandal lingers in background of King Charles’ visit to Washington
As King Charles III and Queen Camilla were being greeted by the US president, first lady and pomp and circumstance designed for royalty at the White House Tuesday morning, a group of individuals who had been denied an in-person meeting with the king and queen took their chance to be heard a couple of miles down Pennsylvania Avenue.
For Joe Kennedy III, a new family business
For former Congressman Joe Kennedy III, energy is the new politics, and the family business.
For Joe Kennedy III, a new family business
For former Congressman Joe Kennedy III, energy is the new politics, and the family business.
Geoff Tate brings ‘Operation Mindcrime’ tour to Iowa City
Geoff Tate’s tour features the entire “Operation: Mindcrime” album and previews new material from “Operation: Mindcrime III” at First Avenue Club in Iowa City.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth gets a surprise demo today, complete with progression carry-over on Xbox, Switch 2 and PC
Play the first two chapters of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth now, then transfer your progress over when the full game launches in June.
UToledo Media Communication Senior Finds Success as a Live Sports Storyteller
Graduating Saturday, James “Trip” Floyd III is ready to launch a career in game presentation and production after earning his bachelor’s degree in media communication.
Aamir Khan CONFIRMS '3 Idiots' sequel in the works; teases 'same humour with an unusual story'
It's official, a sequel to the 2009 blockbuster '3 Idiots' is in the works and leading man, Aamir Khan is spilling all the details.Months after rumour.
Put it in pencil: NASA's Artemis III mission will launch no earlier than late 2027
SpaceX and Blue Origin tell NASA their lunar landers will be ready for Artemis III in late 2027.
Sporting KC Weekly Schedule: April 27
Sporting Kansas City II News: The official source for all SKC II news, photos, videos, highlights, and more.
Volunteers Help NASA Astronauts Record Lunar Flashes
As NASA’s Artemis II astronauts zipped around the Moon in early April, they observed flashes of light caused by meteoroids hitting the lunar surface. At the same time, volunteers for the NASA-funded Impact Flash project scanned the Moon with their own telescopes and sent their videos to scientists to share what they saw from Earth.
Miikka Muurinen commits to Arkansas: John Calipari lands another five-star in 2026 recruiting class
The Razorbacks plucked Muurinen from the Serbian professional ranks for immediate help ahead of the 2026-27 season
Sibel Health Awarded a $3.5 million ARPA-H Direct-to-Phase II SBIR Contract to Develop a First-In-Class Wearable Sensor for Continuous Edema Monitoring
/PRNewswire/ -- Sibel Health, an award winning medical technology company, today announced that it has been awarded a $3.5 million dollar Direct-to-Phase II...
Practicing today for tomorrow’s emergencies – WHO convenes countries and partners to simulate response to major disease outbreak
WHO wrapped up Exercise Polaris II, a 2-day high-level simulation exercise, based around an outbreak of a fictional new bacterium spreading across the world. Bringing together 26 countries and territories, 600 health emergency experts and over 25 partners, the exercise allowed countries to test their preparedness for pandemics and other major health emergencies.
'He realised he had beaten me in ‘Sarfarosh’': Nawazuddin recalls moment with Aamir Khan; REVEALS he is fan of Dada Kondke
Nawazuddin Siddiqui has consistently entertained audiences with his distinct and unconventional roles in the film industry. His recent outings, includ.
Meet The Oklahoman's 2026 Super 5 boys basketball first team
The Super 5 boys basketball first team Millwood's Isaiah Wilks, Norman's Beau Billingsley, Midwest City's Deshawn Denson II, Dale's Denton Forsythe and Owasso's Jalen Montonati. Norman's Cory Cole is the Coach of the Year.
Celtics-76ers Game 4 takeaways: Boston's historic night, plus the good and bad from Joel Embiid's return
Restoring Hope in Housing
Two pilot programs are helping Hawai‘i families overcome the financial barriers standing between them and a place to call home.
76ers receive encouraging Joel Embiid update ahead of Celtics playoff game
Joel Embiid is shooting before Game 4.
Aamir Khan tears up watching Junaid Khan's acting, praises Sai Pallavi at Ek Din event: 'Best actress in our country today'
Aamir Khan was seen getting emotional at a special event for his upcoming production Ek Din in the city on Sunday. The actor attended the event along .
Mason Miller breaks Padres scoreless innings record, now 7 frames away from MLB mark for relievers
"The finest stills camera ever made" wins major industry award – it shoots 100MP images in true end-to-end HDR color
The prize for the best medium format camera goes to a masterpiece of engineering: the Hasselblad X2D II 100C
Shooter opened fire inside hotel where Trump was attending dinner, law enforcement official says
President Trump evacuated after security incident at White House correspondents dinner.
State of Texas: Marijuana reclassification could expand medical research
The federal government is easing restrictions on medical marijuana, reclassifying certain cannabis products from a Schedule I drug to a less restrictive Schedule III — a move that could significant…
NASA's initial takeaways from the Artemis II mission, and more science stories
NASA has begun its initial assessments of the Orion spacecraft, SLS rocket and other systems that brought astronauts to the moon.
Lake Erie College renames program to the Master of Reading Science
Lake Erie College in Painesville has officially renamed its Mastery of Literacy program to the Master of Reading Science, reflecting the college’s full alignment with the Science of Reading and Ohio’s updated expectations for educator pre…
Harvard scientists link gut bacteria to depression through hidden inflammation trigger
A gut bacterium may be quietly fueling depression through an unexpected chemical twist. Researchers found that when Morganella morganii interacts with a common pollutant, it produces a molecule that triggers inflammation—something strongly linked to depression. This finding helps explain how gut microbes can influence brain health at a molecular level. It also raises the possibility of new treatments that target the immune system rather than just the brain.
Choice lifestyle: Family business flourishes in tough love for backcountry skiing
Grace Yancey might someday write a book about her childhood winters – the igloo playhouse, a breezy three-sided latrine and visitors from around the world at her Little House in the Purcells.
Daiichi pushes back annual report, citing reviews amid ‘rapidly changing business conditions’
Daiichi Sankyo has postponed its annual report by two weeks to allow for additional time to finalize the financial figures. | Daiichi Sankyo has postponed its annual report by two weeks, citing additional time needed to review “the supply plans for its oncology products portfolio and development pipeline.”
Bipartisan-cited science is powerful but rare
New analysis explores how policymakers engage with science
Marijuana's reclassification raises new questions for the cannabis industry
Medical marijuana is moving from Schedule I status, reserved for the most dangerous drugs like heroin and LSD, to Schedule III, like testosterone and steroids, which are less strictly regulated.
Betis vs Real Madrid, 2026 La Liga: Predicted lineups
Real Madrid visit Sevilla to face Betis, and they’ll do so without key players Eder Militao and Arda Güler. Camavinga will likely replace the Turkish player, while Huijsen is expected to start alongside Rüdiger in the center of the defensive line. Real Madrid predicted XI: Lunin; Trent, Huijsen, Rüdiger, Carreras; Tchouaméni, Camavinga, Valverde, Bellingham; Mbappé […]
How school coaches are prioritizing mental health for student athletes
To get the best out of students, "we have to learn to love them holistically," says one Virginia wrestling coach who has taken mental health awareness training.
GK Digital Ventures and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment Announce Return of “The Global Game: The Future of Soccer, Tech & Media Summit”
NEWARK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 24, 2026--GK Digital Ventures, in partnership with Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), today announced the return of “The Global Game: The Future of …
Civil-Military Relations under the Trump Administration (Part I) -- Politicians and Military Leaders | List of Articles | International Information Network Analysis
IINA provides ongoing analysis of international affairs both by region—such as North America, China, and Europe—and by such topics as human security, nontraditional security threats, and cyber security. The articles on this site, written by experts at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation and guest contributors, are carefully selected for their objectivity, accuracy, timeliness, and relevance for Japan.
‘We only had moments’: Brantley County wildfire destroys wedding chapel business & home, leaves family starting over
A Brantley County business owner, Ginger Hunter says she is starting over from nothing after a fast-moving wildfire destroyed her home, her wedding chapel, and nearly everything tied to her family’s livelihood.
NFL mock draft 2026: We prompted AI to predict the 1st round. Here are its picks
Madonna and Geena Davis' “A League of Their Own” reunion at Coachella is a home run
"Mae — so happy to see you again! Love, Dottie," Davis wrote with a photo of the former costars after both made cameos in Sabrina Carpenter's headlining set.
Blacknut Levels Up: Select Activision Publishing and Blizzard Entertainment Games Now Streamable on Blacknut
Cloud gaming hits new heights with Diablo® III, Spyro® Reignited Trilogy, Crash Bandicoot® N. Sane Trilogy, Warcraft® I: Remastered, Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II, and more via Ubisoft+ Premium on Blacknut Activision-Blizzard Games Now Streaming on Blacknut Cloud gaming hits new heights with Diablo® III, Spyro® Reignited Trilogy, Crash Bandicoot® N. Sane Trilogy, Warcraft® I: Remastered, Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II, and more via Ubisoft+ Premium on Blacknut Paris, France, April 23, 202
Cumberland takes $100M cash deal, keeps three Phase II programs
Shareholders must approve the Apotex transaction. Cumberland keeps majority ownership in CET, with top-line systemic sclerosis data next.
'I wasn't told to give up non-veg food,' says Mumtaz on marrying a Hindu: 'We never differentiated between religions'
Veteran actor Mumtaz, who began working in films as a child artist in 1952, had a challenging start before rising to stardom. In her early years, she .
Apple Patches iOS Flaw That Stored Deleted Signal Notifications in FBI Forensic Case
Apple fixes CVE-2026-28950 in iOS 26.4.2 after deleted notifications were retained, mitigating forensic data exposure.
Road Trip Close to Home: Jazz On Main brings live music, entertainment to Mount Kisco
News 12’s Scott Cohen visited the club for this week’s Road Trip Close to Home.
Artemis II’s science of resistance
Collective endeavour, humility, respect for reality… the values that took us to the moon are everything the Trump administration isn’t
Marquette business relocating to Marquette Township this summer
Cherry Creek Construction plans to relocate to the current location of Mount Manufacturing, which is moving to the former Best Buy building.
Saint Anselm College to move to Division III for sports
Saint Anselm College will soon leave NCAA Division II to compete in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference in Division III.
Enforcement update: Kalshi continues crackdown on political insider trading
Three cases target candidates trading on their own races.
Health Secy. Robert F. Kennedy Testifies on 2027 Budget Request
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on President Trump's 2027 budget request for the department.
Preorders Are Live for the Switch 2-Exclusive Splatoon Raiders and Its Three Accompanying Amiibo Figures
Everything you need to know to preorder Splatoon Raiders for Nintendo Switch 2, including pricing, release date, and where to find the accompanying amiibo figures.
My grandmother sold homemade tamales. Today’s rules wouldn’t allow that.
Home chefs should be able to build a business in Colorado.
Indigenous health can’t be separated from environmental health, leaders tell UN
At Permanent Forum, leaders connect climate change, mining, and deforestation to mounting health crisis and demand coordinated approach to land rights.
Do the 76ers have a chance against the Celtics if they prolong the series and get Joel Embiid back?
Spring Sports in Full Bloom: Soccer and Softball highlights
Highlights for both sides of the river
Hawaii elevates Mitchell to succeed Beeman as women's basketball coach
UH to introduce 9th head coach in program history in press conference Wednesday morning
RKF Jr. declares public health emergency for Hawaii in wake of storms
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has declared a public health emergency for the state of Hawaii due to the impacts of the Kona-low storms in March.
Trump, Pope Leo, William F. Buckley and John XXIII: An overview of Popes and Politics in America
A literary spat between ‘America’ and William F. Buckley 65 years ago is proving to have been eerily proleptic in light of Mr. Trump’s war of words against the pope and the latter’s assertion of church teaching on just war.
Dept. of Health and Human Services declares public health emergency for Hawaii after March storms
The declaration aims to address the health impacts caused by severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides that occurred in March 2026.
NWSL AWARDS EXPANSION FRANCHISE TO COLUMBUS,MARKING THE LEAGUE’S 18TH CLUB | News
Haslam Sports Group, Nationwide and Drs. Christine and Pete Edwards lead movement to bring globe’s top women’s soccer league to Central Ohio for inaugural 2028 season
Anthony Edwards calls his 30-piece 'a**'; Wolves defend 'disrespected' Rudy Gobert after DPOY finalist snub
Splatoon Raiders gets summer Switch 2 release date, as well as a Deep Cut amiibo to add to your collection
Nintendo has announced a release date for its single-player focused action shooter, Splatoon Raiders.
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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