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Scenes from exclusive 2026 champions dinner at LPGA Chevron
Past champions such as Betsy King, Juli Inkster, Pat Bradley and Judy Rankin came in for the Monday night affair.
Oklahoma Senate says no to sports betting
The Oklahoma Senate on Wednesday rejected a bill that would have legalized sports betting.
Kalshi Bans And Fines Three Politicians For Placing Bets On Their Own Races
The prediction market issued fines and five-year bans for political candidates in Minnesota, Virginia and Texas.
Is tit-for-tat political gerrymandering the future of US politics?
Virginia voters delivered a major win to Democrats on Tuesday.A narrow majority voted to allow lawmakers to bypass the state's bipartisan redistricting commission. That means the Democratic-led legislature will create a map that’s more favorable to them in the midterms.It's the latest chapter in a redistricting saga that President Trump started last year, but is the tit-for-tat redistricting battle the future of US electoral politics?We speak with Democratic Virginia governor Abigail Spanberger to hear her perspective.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.Email us at considerthis@npr.org.This episode was produced by Tyler Bartlam and Matt Ozug. It was edited by Tinbete Ermyas. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.
Kalshi suspends 3 political candidates for betting on own races
Kalshi has suspended three political candidates for betting on their own races, the prediction market platform announced Wednesday. Minnesota congressional candidate and state Sen. Matt Klein (D) a…
Kalshi suspends 3 U.S. congressional candidates for ‘political insider trading’
WASHINGTON >> Prediction markets platform Kalshi said today it has suspended three U.S. congressional candidates for “political insider trading,” building on its efforts to block politicians and athletes from betting on contests in which they are involved.
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
Fallout: New Vegas dev says Bethesda slammed the game in a PowerPoint
Former Obsidian dev Chris Avellone dishes on contentious conversations with Bethesda after Dead Money
Battle between business partners over West Suburban hospital escalates, as more details about financial woes emerge
The owner of the West Suburban Medical Center property is ramping up his efforts to remove his business partner from the hospital, as more details emerge about the hospital’s financial woes before its closure.
The next time your health insurance denies a medication or procedure, here’s how to appeal it. You’ll probably win.
Your insurer is betting you won’t appeal — but research shows 1 million denials could have been overturned if patients pushed back.
Kalshi prediction site suspends three political candidates for betting on their own races
The prediction market suspended them from its platform on Wednesday for “political insider trading” after allegedly betting on their own campaigns.
Former Steeler Jerome Bettis, NFL Commissioner view CMU’s inventions to power sports
The intersection of sports, physical fitness and technology can be found in Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood Green. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, former Steelers running back Jerome Bettis and local officials toured Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Innovation Center for the university’s “Powering the Future of Sport” showcase. More than 16 CMU-related startups —
Medical school launches first data science-focused center on immunology
The new center is the first in the Jeffrey Modell Foundation's international network focused specifically on informatics and data science. Its designation signals a shift in how researchers approach immunology, using large-scale data to better understand immune disorders and improve patient care.
NJ health officials confirm probe of potential 'cancer cluster' in Keyport
New Jersey health officials said they are investigating the potential link between dozens of cancer cases and a former landfill in Keyport.
Mercy CEO Makes List of Great Leaders in Healthcare
Mercy President and CEO Steve Mackin was named to the Becker’s Hospital Review Great Leaders in Healthcare 2026 list. According to Becker’s, the leaders on the list are proactive changemakers, always looking ahead and striving to be better. They are building the future rather than passively waiting for it to arrive.
Preparing the next generation to tackle complex environmental challenges
Middle school science classrooms are shifting towards an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach to better prepare students to solve complex, real-world problems that require collaboration across fields.
Trump advisers privately strategize around a new midterm push: Democrats would be worse
President Donald Trump’s political team knows voters aren’t thrilled with the current state of affairs. But they’re betting they can convince them things will get markedly worse if Democrats win back power in November.
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn closed beta now available
The closed beta test for third-person action RPG The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is now available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam, developer Owlcat Games announced. A full launch will f…
Gamers sue Nintendo over tariff refunds, saying consumers should get the money back
Two gamers have filed a class action lawsuit against Nintendo, alleging that the company will be unjustly enriching itself with any refund it secures from the U.S. government over widespread tariffs last year that, among other things, hiked the prices of Nintendo hardware and accessories. “Unless restrained by this Court, Nintendo stands to recover the same tariff payments twice—once from consumers through higher prices and again from the federal government through tariff refunds, including interest paid by the government on those funds,” the suit states. Nintendo sued the U.S. government to secure a tariff refund in March, after the Supreme Court struck down the tariffs a month prior, saying they were illegally implemented by President Donald Trump.. The gamers who have sued, California-based Gregory Hoffert and Washington-based Prashant Sharan, both say they purchased Nintendo goods that had increased in price due to tariffs, according to the complaint. They filed their suit in the Western District court of Nintendo of America’s home state of Washington and are seeking class action status to represent all people in the U.S. who purchased price-hiked Nintendo goods between February 1, 2025 and February 24, 2026. They allege that Nintendo’s recovery of any tariff refunds would constitute unjust enrichment and violate Washington state consumer protection law. Similar class action lawsuits pressing companies to pass on tariff refunds have been previously filed against FedEx, UPS and eyeglass importer EssilorLuxottica. The tariffs were announced in early April, and by mid-month, Nintendo had announced $5 price increases for controllers for the then-forthcoming Switch 2. In August, it raised the price of the original Switch. In their suit, the gamers cite comments from Nintendo executives connecting the tariffs to price increases. In May 2025, a month after the tariffs were imposed, Nintendo CEO Shuntaro Furukawa told investors “Our basic policy is that for any country or region, if tariffs are imposed, we recognize them as a part of the cost and incorporate them into the price.” Nintendo’s March lawsuit, along with tariff-recovery suits from hundreds of other companies was immediately put on hold pending the implementation of a refund system. The U.S. government announced the beginning of the refund process earlier this week. Companies could receive as much as $160 billion, per CNBC. In March 2026, after Nintendo filed its lawsuit to recover the cost of the tariffs, I asked the company if they planned to pass their refund on to customers who’d paid increased prices. The company’s response acknowledged the existence of the lawsuit but avoided answering that question: “We can confirm that we filed a request. We have nothing else to share on this topic.” Even a promise to consumers may not have spared Nintendo this week’s lawsuit. FedEx previously promised to pass its tariff refunds on to consumers. They’ve been sued over them anyway.
The Gunther Werks 'Project Endgame' Turbo Speedster Is a Truly Heroic 911-Based One-Off
Gunther Werks doesn't want to name the owner, but I'm willing to bet they won't be too hard to unmask.
No. 6 Oregon State baseball vs. No. 19 Oregon Ducks: Preview, starting lineups, how to watch
Previewing Wednesday's game between the Beavers and Ducks
Trump’s $293 Million Bet to Supercharge Science Faces Spending Headwinds
US AI push faces funding tensions as DOE’s Genesis Mission competes with NSF cuts, raising concerns about long-term innovation, reports Yuqing Liu.
Beer giant pours $600M into US production in major bet on American growth
Anheuser-Busch announces a $600 million U.S. investment to boost domestic production, expand veteran hiring, and launch 15 new training centers.
The Terrible Limbo Between the Emergency Room and a Hospital Bed
Patients are getting stuck in the emergency department for days while waiting for a spot in an inpatient ward.
What to expect at Topeka's 61st annual Blintze Brunch
The annual Blintze Brunch from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 26 at Temple Beth Sholom, 4200 SW Munson Avenue, will feature Jewish food and entertainment.
Your bad habits are destroying your charging cables
Charging cables are the most overlooked technology in your life, until they break and you're stuck with a dying phone. Here's how to take better care of them.
Minnesota educators fight for a way to lower skyrocketing health insurance costs
As health insurance premiums continue to rise, Minnesota school districts – especially small, rural ones – struggle to find good, affordable health care coverage for their staff. Minnesota educators across the state want to be able to band together for better coverage and bargaining power in the marketplace.
Inside the AI coding startup Elon Musk is betting $60 billion on
The 4-year-old startup just propelled SpaceX in the AI coding race.
Science in the shadow of the Third Reich
In postwar West Germany, the link between cigarettes and cancer was ignored — with real and deadly effects
“Like Liquid Metal”: Scientists Create Strange Shape-Shifting Material
A simple bundle of staples reveals an unusual physical behavior, one that shifts between rigidity and fluidity depending on how it is handled.
What To Expect From PENN Entertainment’s (PENN) Q1 Earnings
Casino, sports betting and entertainment operator PENN Entertainment (NASDAQ:PENN) will be announcing earnings results this Thursday before market open. Here...
New Chandler casino is ready for sports betting if agreement is made at Oklahoma state Capitol
Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma Chairman Jake Keyes said his facility is ready for sports betting if this agreement makes its way to the finish line. For now, Oklahomans go out of state do place their bets.
Women’s sports win. Why aren’t fan incentives better?
This year has been nothing short of historic for Rice women’s sports. Soccer was ranked No. 25 in the nation, volleyball had a 17-game win streak, basketball had a 22-game win streak and swim and dive won the American Conference Championships, as did the tennis team on Sunday.
Dodgers on Deck: Wednesday, April 22 at Giants
Shohei Ohtani takes the ball in the middle game of the series between the Dodgers and Giants on Wednesday night at Oracle Park in San Francisco. Ohtani has pitched exactly six innings in each of his three starts this season, with two total runs allowed, one of them earned. In three career starts against the […]
DNA reveals a hidden pitviper species in China
A vivid green pitviper hiding in Sichuan’s misty mountains has been revealed as a completely new species. Scientists had overlooked it for decades, assuming it was a common snake—until DNA analysis proved otherwise. Named after Laozi, it features striking differences between males and females, including bold stripes and eye colors. The discovery highlights just how many unknown species may still be lurking in well-studied regions.
This “quantum” material fooled scientists and revealed something new
A mysterious magnetic material once thought to host an exotic “quantum spin liquid” has turned out to be something entirely different—and possibly just as intriguing. Scientists studying cerium magnesium hexalluminate found it showed the hallmark signs of this elusive quantum state, like a lack of magnetic order and a spread of energy states. But after closer inspection using neutron experiments, they discovered the behavior came from a delicate tug-of-war between two opposing magnetic forces.
'We have to do better': GOP, Dems say there's a culture problem in Congress
Over the last week, the U.S. House of Representatives has been rocked by resignations.
Feud between Mace and Mills flares as the Republicans trade barbs, expulsion threats
A deeply personal grudge between a pair of Republicans — Reps. Cory Mills of Florida and Nancy Mace of South Carolina — has escalated on Capitol Hill, as Mills accused his long-time foe of trying to profit off efforts to oust him.
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.
How Al Gore Politicized Climate Science
An Inconvenient Truth turns 20 next month. In the 2006 documentary, former vice president Al Gore argued that human-driven climate change was an urgent, civilization-threatening crisis. The film became a cultural phenomenon, winning two Academy Awards and making climate change one of the defining political issues of our time. I am sure that there will be many retrospectives seeking to relitigate the scientific claims in the film. But the far more important anniversary story is not about the accuracy of any of Gore’s individual claims but rather about what the film helped to unleash in the scientific community: bringing partisan politics into the institutions of science. Gore did not simply make a film about climate change: He implored the scientific community to join him in overt climate advocacy. The fuel that Gore added to the fire of pathological politicization of the climate science community is the most important legacy of An Inconvenient Truth. Almost three years after the film’s release, Gore took the stage at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)—the country’s largest and most prominent scientific organization—and delivered something much closer to a revival sermon than a scientific lecture. Gore told the assembled scientists that they could no longer “in good conscience accept this division between the work you do and the civilization in which you live.” His directive was clear:
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…
SBA administrator speaks to ABC13 on economic uncertainty ahead of midterm elections: 'It's a blip'
With the war in Iran and growing costs creating uncertainty, the economy is atop voters minds heading into the 2026 midterms. While data reveals Texas is faring better economically than much of the country, growth might be slowing.
What are next steps for online sports betting in Wisconsin?
This report is in collaboration with our partners at ICT.
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.
Here's What's New in iOS 26.5 So Far
iOS 26.5 has been in beta since late March, with a third beta released this week. The update is relatively minor so far, which is not too surprising given that Apple is starting to shift its focus towards iOS 27. Apple will unveil iOS 27 during its WWDC 2026 keynote on June 8, and the update should be released in September. iOS 26.5 lays the groundwork for two changes, including end-to-end encryption for RCS in the Messages app and ads in the Apple Maps app.
Oklahoma lawmakers, tribes and OKC Thunder agree on sports betting bill
Oklahoma lawmakers, tribes, and the Thunder reached an agreement to legalize sports betting. Here's what it says and what's next.
Oklahoma lawmakers file amendment to allow sports betting after support from tribes, Thunder
Lawmakers announced on Tuesday that they are moving forward with a new version of a bill that could legalize sports betting in Oklahoma.
OpenAI Beefs Up ChatGPT's Image Generation Model
The ChatGPT Images 2.0 model is here. Our testing shows it's better at creating more detailed images and rendering text, but it still struggles with languages other than English.
Revitalizing Primary Care: Health Plan of San Mateo’s Investment Strategy
Abstract Health systems that invest in primary care have better and more equitable health outcomes. Yet primary care faces a crisis (characterized by
Framework’s New Ultra-Repairable 'Pro' Laptop Lets You Ditch Windows Entirely
The Framework Laptop 13 Pro comes with better battery life, a better chip, and—finally—a touchscreen.
Framework is building a better couch keyboard because everyone hates the Logitech one
Logitech K400 must die, it seems.
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".
'Sports come second': Student-athletes work to balance between classroom, competition
For many college athletes, balancing academics and athletics isn’t achieved through last-minute emails or excuses about missed assignments.
Beyond DTC: Finding the Best Business Model for Your Brand with Molly Sims and Randy Goldberg
The best brands aren’t choosing between online and in person retail—they’re doing both, intentionally. Bombas co-founder Randy Goldberg and YSE Beauty founder Molly Sims break down how to expand your model without diluting your brand.
Entertainment’s Battle Between Scale and Originality
Scale is not the enemy. The real danger is forgetting why people cared in the first place.
Chris 'The Bear' Fallica's Best Bet, Prediction for NFL Draft Round 1
Chris "The Bear" Fallica is back with a best bet for the Over/Under of wide receivers to get selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Warren grills Warsh on whether he's Trump's 'sock puppet'
Sen. Elizabeth Warren grilled Fed chair nominee Kevin Warsh during his confirmation hearing on Tuesday.
The World’s Forests Won’t Be Saved by Science Alone: We Need Better Communication
Research tells us that we need sustainable forest practices. But how does this knowledge lead to action?
Proposed ban on sports prop bets dies amid state budget woes
But a ban on using credit cards to sports gamble remains in the bill. A proposed ban on "prop bets" was removed from a proposed gambling bill.
Mississippi Better Business Bureau warns of travel scam surge ahead of Memorial Day weekend
Officials said crooks are using fake travel sites and social media listings to steal money from people looking for travel deals.
FBI investigating possible links between deaths and disappearances of at least 10 scientists
The law enforcement agency’s announcement came after President Donald Trump highlighted the recent deaths of several scientists and government workers who may have had access to sensitive information
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
WhatsApp Testing Paid 'Plus' Subscription Tier
WhatsApp has started testing a paid subscription tier called WhatsApp Plus, which adds a set of personalization options on top of the standard messaging experience, according to WABetaInfo.
They Built a Legendary Privacy Tool. Now They’re Sworn Enemies
There’s a lot of love all over the world for GrapheneOS, the gold standard of mobile security. There’s very little love between the two guys at the center of its history.
Pens Points: Another No Show
Maybe Pens Points can help make you feel better after last night.
J.P. Morgan lifts S&P 500 year-end target to 7,600 on AI-driven earnings
J.P. Morgan on Tuesday raised its year-end target for the S&P 500 index to 7,600, citing AI and tech-driven earnings, just weeks after lowering its forecast, with a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran aiding sentiment.
Between Providence And Boston Is A Vibrant Massachusetts Town Bursting With Diverse Entertainment
Foxborough, known as "Foxboro," is a lively Massachusetts town that's home to the Patriots, Gillette Stadium, and a diverse selection of local entertainment.
FSU's "Art in STEM" exhibition shows the beauty of science
The exhibition helps the FSU community "bridge the gap between scientific discovery and popular interest." Neighbors can view the exhibition at FSU's Dirac Science Library through the summer.
India’s Decades-Long Political Truce Is Over
India’s five-decade-long political compromise between an overpopulated, impoverished north and more successful, faster-growing south has just imploded.
Carderock Scientists Inspire Future Innovators at Calvert County MESA
HUNTINGTOWN, Md. (April 9, 2026) – To bridge the distance between a national naval research center and students in rural communities, representatives from the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock
Drama between software engineer and Google heats up
Computer programmer and ex-Googler Steve Yegge said he had heard AI use within the the company varies widely, sparking a firestorm of public pushback.
Drama between software engineer and Google heats up
Computer programmer and ex-Googler Steve Yegge said he had heard AI use within the the company varies widely, sparking a firestorm of public pushback.
‘WhatsApp Plus’ subscription launching soon with new features
WhatsApp is planning a new ‘WhatsApp Plus’ paid subscription, and it just went live in the app’s Android beta ahead of an iOS launch.
Disallowance of COVID-19 Leave Credits: A Review of Substantiation and Trade or Business Requirements — Current Federal Tax Developments
Marie M. Kanda v. Commissioner, T.C. Summary Opinion 2026-3 (Docket No. 3772-24S. Filed April 20, 2026) Between 2015 and 2023, Marie M. Kanda suffered from several serious health conditions, including breast cancer and severe osteoarthritis, which led to her doctor determining she was disabled and
Democrat Betty Yee exits California governor’s race
Betty Yee — a former state controller — announced Monday she was suspending her campaign, just over a week after fellow Democrat and former US Rep. Eric Swalwell left the race following sexual assault allegations that he denies.
'Electric': Bills QB Josh Allen buys into Sabres buzz around Buffalo
The NFL star says Buffalo is a better place when the Sabres are playing well.
Is Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodríguez off to better start?
Julio Rodríguez isn't tearing the cover off of the ball, but there is a difference to his early production for the Seattle Mariners this season.
Former state Controller Betty Yee drops out of the governor's race
Yee, lacking financial resources and voter recognition despite being elected to statewide office twice, dropped out of the 2026 governor's race.
Lagging in polls and fundraising, Betty Yee drops out of California governor’s race
Yee's departure from the race for governor leaves six leading Democrats in the running with two leading Republicans.
Sen. Mark Warner's daughter dies of juvenile diabetes and other health issues at 36
The death of Madison Warner, 36, rendered lawmaker and wife "heartbroken beyond words."
Franciscan Health blesses new St Elizabeth Garden
Built on a former school site, the St. Elizabeth Garden offers a new educational and reflective space at Franciscan Health.
Graham Platner nets another endorsement in high-interest Maine Senate race
Sen. Elizabeth Warren calls Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner "a real fighter" who's ready shake things up and make changes in DC.
Apple releases iOS 26.5 beta 3 for iPhone
Apple has released the second iOS 26.5 beta for developers. The previous beta introduced a new splash screen that signaled the...
Lily Allen’s ‘West End Girl’ tour is a brutal, brilliant look at romantic betrayal
"Lily Allen Presents West End Girl" is a fearless display from a woman reclaiming her dignity. Here's how the concert show unfolds.
Missouri sports betting is now live: Get the best sports betting apps to scoop over $3,000 in launch promos
Missouri sports betting is now live, and the top Missouri sportsbooks are offering Missouri sports betting promos
The Conversation: As Renaissance Fairs Become Big Business, Can They Retain Their Counterculture Roots?
Renaissance festivals now sit at an uneasy crossroads between countercultural expression and commercial spectacle.
Leaked Memos Reveal Just How Much the Supreme Court Has Betrayed the Constitution
All in service of its corporate patrons.
Deezer says 44% of songs uploaded to its platform daily are AI-generated
Deezer says consumption of AI-generated music on the platform is still very low, between 1-3% of the total streams, and that 85% of these streams are detected as fraudulent and are demonetized.
Is stevia actually healthy? What to know when cutting back on sugar
Research has shown diets high in added sugar can be linked to several health issues, including obesity, Type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease.
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner’s daughter dies after decades-long health battle
The 36-year-old daughter of U.S. Senator Mark Warner has died after experiencing a decades-long battle with juvenile diabetes, the Warner family said Monday.
A game of split-second decisions: Putting health and human performance to the test
When athletes step onto the field, reacting a fraction of a second too late can be the difference between making a play and sustaining an injury. At the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, faculty in the Department of Health and Human Performance (HHP) are studying what drives those split-second decisions and how sleep, mental health and cognitive processing affect performance and injury risk.
Elon students inducted into Phi Beta Kappa Society
“What’s so brave about being sick?” It’s a question Prosanta Chakrabarty often asked himself in the early days of his ongoing fight against cancer. It wasn’t until initial treatment...
NZXT AIO leak damages RTX 5090 ROG Astral, company offers $2,855 but user says it is not enough to replace the card
Leaking Kraken AIO damages RTX 5090 ROG Astral A Reddit post details a long-running dispute between an NZXT customer and the company after an NZXT Kraken
Galaxy S24 and Fold 7 get Galaxy S26 AI features with latest One UI 8.5 beta
Samsung is making good on its promise to bring new Galaxy AI features from the Galaxy S26 lineup to existing devices. It has released new One UI 8.5 beta updates today that include these features for several devices, including the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Galaxy S24 series. The Galaxy S25 series has also […]
The pope's English fuels a Trump feud
No translation, no buffer: A pope Americans hear directly.
Nike's comeback attempt: better shoes, more retail sales, sports focus
The sportswear giant got lapped by competitors like New Balance, On, and Hoka. Now Nike is racing to catch up.
Galaxy S25’s ninth One UI 8.5 beta update now available in India
Samsung has released the One UI 8.5 Beta 9 update for the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra in India.
Kalshi’s fight over sports betting is hurtling towards the Supreme Court—and the future of gambling is at stake
Kalshi is in a make-or-break fight to preserve a lucrative new prediction-markets industry expected to grow to over $200 billion this year.