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Cultural differences I experience as Australian married to American
I'm an Australian who's been married to an American for over 10 years. I've noticed differences in the ways we talk, travel internationally, and tip.
Lyft to Buy Gett’s UK Taxi Business, Marking Its Third International Acquisition
Lyft Inc. has agreed to buy London black cab app Gett, its third acquisition in the past year, as the company works to expand its presence beyond the US.
Xavier Becerra pressed on 'rumors' he knew about Eric Swalwell's alleged misconduct during CA governor debate
Xavier Becerra was pressed on his knowledge of Eric Swalwell's sexual misconduct rumors during a California gubernatorial debate Wednesday.
How low can Ohio go? The gubernatorial race might show us
Ohio governor candidates on the right seem determined to answer one question: How low can you go and still get elected?
Bethel student launches Girls in Science Day for Maine middle schoolers
Hands-on labs, mentorship and a student-led vision drew 40 girls to the inaugural program at Gould Academy in Bethel.
Middle, High School Students Given a Spark to Explore Pathway into Science at Mission College
To connect middle and high school students to a possible career in science, El Nido Family Centers partnered with Bioscience Los Angeles County Inc. (Bioscience LA) and LA Mission College […]
Big Ten Men's Lacrosse 2026 Tournament bracket
The Ohio State men's lacrosse team will be trying to match its regular season conference title in the Big Ten Tournament. Here is the bracket.
Big Ten Women's 2026 Tennis Tournament bracket
The Ohio State women's tennis team won a share of the Big Ten regular season and it'll look to double down with a conference tournament championship.
John Seymour, California’s last Republican US senator, dies at 88
After losing his Senate race, the Orange County politican returned to housing work with renewed intensity.
Focus at Four: College Station rising as a Summer sports destination
College Station is leveling up its summers. From the Savannah Bananas to international soccer, the city is landing big-time events to boost its local economy and put itself on the map beyond Aggie football.
Jason Campbell Named to Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2026 Top 100 Lawyers List
Winston partner Jason Campbell was named to the Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2026 Top 100 Lawyers list. This honor recognizes lawyers who not only set the standard for excellence in law but also…
Ace tanks spearhead vehicular carnage with new Armoured Gauntlet rules
Fight big armoured battles with the new Armageddon: The Return of Yarrick expansion.
Wisconsin basketball gets commitment from Mount Horeb's Josh Manchester
Wisconsin men’s basketball has added some homegrown talent to its backcourt, as Mount Horeb's Josh Manchester has committed to the Badgers.
Kroenke Sports & Entertainment to renovate 24 suites at Ball Arena
Kroenke Sports & Entertainment is planning to renovate 24 luxury suites at Ball Arena during the summer and debuting in time for the 2026-27 Nuggets and Avalanche seasons.
Crown Center businesses welcome new Royals stadium — ‘as long as we can stay’
Several managers and employees who work in businesses inside Crown Center feel optimistic about the new baseball stadium location.
GOP gubernatorial Bruce Blakeman promises tax relief for restaurants, small businesses as he blasts 'Hochul Special' tax crisis
Red Bull New York Opens RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center in Morris Township, N.J.
Red Bull New York today unveiled its new RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center in Morris Township, New Jersey. The cutting-edge complex is the most innovative soccer training facility in North America and further positions the Club to attract and develop the best talent for the organization.
Looking to start an Overtown business? This grant program can help
This grant program can help your Overtown business thrive.
APM’s Gutknecht looks back on ESPN work ahead of NFL Draft
In advance of the NFL Draft, which APM Music will be soundtracking, APM VP/Sports Entertainment Matthew Gutknecht revisits some of the company’s high-profile work with ESPN.
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.
Spanberger signs bills to improve maternal health care in Virginia
Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Wednesday signed a bipartisan package of bills aimed at improving maternal health care and expanding support for mothers.
Would you accept any of these No. 1 pick offers?
Yes, the NFL draft is a day away and the Las Vegas Raiders are fully expected to take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall draft pick. It would be stunning if the Raiders trade the pick, but, anything is possible and let’s some some fun. Using the Pro Football Network draft simulator, […]
Journalists urge protest of Trump at correspondents' dinner
A coalition of 200-plus journalists and press freedom groups urged the White House Correspondents' dinner organizers to call out Trump at the event.
Showing Up, Still Misread: The Perception Gap Facing Black Men In Politics
Black men keep showing up in democracy, but media and politics misread their role—fueling disillusionment and opening space for alternatives.
Sayonara Wild Hearts, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes Nintendo Switch 2 Editions have just released
Two more Nintendo Switch 2 Editions have just dropped with Annapurna releasing new versions of Sayonara Wild Hearts and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes. Right now we’re only seeing it in Japan, but it should be rolling out in other regions over the next day. Sayonara Wild Hearts now includes a Remix Arcade mode in which players are tasked with aiming...
Here’s how to join my IMCC8 symposium, “Ocean Science Communication: What’s New and What’s Next?”
I am pleased to announce that I’ll be leading a symposium at the upcoming 8th International Marine Conservation Congress in Scotland! We’ll be discussing new developments and emerging t…
CBL Scholars Program Opens Pathways to Business Law Careers - UC Law San Francisco (Formerly UC Hastings)
First-year law students and 2026 CBL Scholars Deniz Masjedi, Alvaro Flores, and Tavia Pappaly gain mentorship connections with leading industry professionals as they prepare for careers in business law. Created by the UC Center for Business Law San Francisco (CBL), the CBL Scholars Program aims to develop the next generation of business law leaders, supported by contributions from individuals and corporate sponsors. The highly competitive program provides funding along with academic and professional mentorship to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Scholars gain exposure to the Bay Area’s technology and venture capital ecosystems and access to UC Law SF’s broad network of senior legal professionals. Now in its sixth year, the CBL Scholars Program provides a scholarship and academic and professional mentorship to students entering the business law community from disadvantaged educational, economic, social, or physical backgrounds. The program is generously sponsored by the law firms Gunderson Dettmer and Goodwin Procter. Meet this year’s CBL Scholars: Deniz Masjedi, Alvaro Flores, and Tavia Pappaly. All three have secured summer associate positions at prestigious law firms. Deniz Masjedi: A Passion for Helping Founders Grow Companies Deniz Masjedi, who was born in Iran and moved to Southern California as a teenager, traces her interest in law to her family’s immigration journey and her desire to advocate for herself and her family. She earned a bachelor’s degree at UC Berkeley, where she studied political science and sociology. At UC Law SF, she serves as a 1L representative for the Iranian Law Students Association and is active in the Business Law Society and Technology & Law Society. Next fall, she will serve as director of mentorship for the Technology & Law Society and director of professional development for the Business Law Society. She will join Sidley Austin this year as a 1L/2L summer associate. Q: What draws you to business law? A: Prior to law school, I worked in Cooley LLP’s Private Companies practice group as a corporate paralegal for three years, supporting over 100 venture-backed startups and venture capital funds. I found purpose in helping founders transform their vision into successful companies. It was incredibly rewarding being part of their journeys—from company formation and initial financing to major transactions such as M&A deals. What excites me most about this field is the potential for a small, innovative company to become the next Google or Zoom, shaping how people communicate and access information. I hope to continue supporting entrepreneurs and investors as a corporate attorney. Q: What does it mean to you to have been awarded this scholarship? A: As the first person in my family to attend law school in the United States, receiving this scholarship is a tremendous honor. My parents and I left everything behind so that I could enjoy the freedom to practice my religion without persecution and pursue a career in law as a woman. This award is an acknowledgment of my dedication to business law and motivates me to continue pursuing excellence in this field. It also recognizes years of hard work—learning a new language, navigating the college and law school application process, and ultimately building a career in the legal profession. Q: How will this scholarship help support your future goals? A: This scholarship will provide access to mentorship from leaders in the field, enabling me to develop the skills necessary to offer practical advice and effective representation to future clients. It also eases the financial burden of law school, letting me focus on my coursework and deepen my commitment to corporate law. As an immigrant, breaking into the legal profession has not always been easy, and the time that mentors have invested in me has been instrumental to my progress. This scholarship will allow me to continue building those relationships while positioning me to one day mentor others pursuing similar paths. Alvaro Flores: Inspired by Entrepreneurs The son of Mexican immigrants raised in San Antonio, Texas, Alvaro Flores says he has long been interested in how policy, markets, and culture shape society. He studied international relations and global economy at the University of Southern California, with minors in business finance and legal studies. His experiences span local political organizing, venture capital and startup work, and teaching entrepreneurship. At UC Law SF, he is involved in the Business Law Society, Technology & Law Society, and the Latinx Law Student Association. He will join Perkins Coie as a 1L/2L summer associate with the firm’s Emerging Companies & Venture Capital practice. Q: What draws you to business law? A: I’m drawn to stories of entrepreneurs whose simple ideas become companies that shape the economy and society. Spending time in venture capital and working directly with founders has shown me that many important decisions in the scaling process are ultimately legal ones, particularly how companies are structured and how capital is raised. Business law sits at the intersection of innovation and equity. It offers a way to stay close to the pace of technological change while also helping expand who gets to participate in it. There is something special about being part of that process here in the Bay Area, where the American Dream feels like it is reimagined in real time. Q: What does it mean to you to have been awarded this scholarship? A: I am truly grateful for the support and belief this scholarship represents. I see it not just as recognition, but also as alignment. The CBL Scholars Program’s focus on developing individuals who engage deeply with the business and technology ecosystem reflects the path I have been intentionally building. More than anything, it feels like an investment in that journey. I have been thoughtful about each next step–whether teaching, working in venture capital, or building multidisciplinary experiences–and this scholarship reinforces that those efforts come together in a meaningful way. Q: How will this scholarship help support your future goals? A: It allows me to focus more on developing as a business lawyer, without the distraction of financial constraints. Beyond that, the mentorship and access to the Bay Area network are just as valuable. I’m especially interested in working with early-stage companies and investors, so the opportunity to learn directly from people operating at a high level in that space is huge. Tavia Pappaly: Working in the Wine Industry Sparked Interest in Business and Law Tavia Pappaly spent five years in the wine industry before deciding to pursue law school with a goal of becoming a corporate transactions attorney. Pappaly says she wants to use her legal skills to help business grow and thrive. A first-generation law student from Fairfield, California, she is a member of the Legal Education Opportunity Program (LEOP) and will serve as vice president of social planning for the UC Law SF Sports Law Society in her 2L year. She plans to work as a summer associate at Gibson Dunn in San Francisco after her 2L year. Q: What draws you to business law? A: Business law brings together many of my interests and personal experiences. As the daughter of immigrants who grew up around a family-owned small business, I saw firsthand both the opportunities and challenges of building something from the ground up. That perspective, combined with my experience in the wine industry, solidified my interest in helping businesses of all sizes tackle evolving legal challenges. I’m excited to grow within the corporate law space and develop the skills and experience to support businesses at every stage. I’m deeply motivated to give back to immigrant communities and small business owners, whose experiences often intersect. By building a strong foundation in corporate law, I hope to support those working to create generational stability and to contribute in a meaningful way to the communities that have shaped me. Q: What does it mean to you to have been awarded this scholarship? A: Receiving this scholarship is incredibly meaningful to me. I take great pride in my background as a first-generation student and a woman of color, so being recognized for my potential in a field that has historically underrepresented those communities is both affirming and empowering. This program will help connect me to the resources and committed mentors that will help me succeed. Beyond that, it is no secret that law school is a significant financial commitment. This scholarship helps ease both the financial burden and the stress that comes with it, allowing me to focus more on my education and long-term goals. I am incredibly grateful! Q: How will this scholarship help support your future goals? A: This scholarship has already connected me with an incredible network of faculty, business law professionals, and like-minded students. The community fostered by the Center for Business Law is deeply supportive, and I’m excited to grow alongside my cohort. I truly believe this network will play an important role in helping me thrive in law school and position me for success in business law. As I have seen firsthand how impactful both financial scholarship and mentorship are, I hope to give back in this same way later in my career.
Logan Airport travelers might have been exposed to measles, health officials warn
Travelers at Boston Logan International Airport earlier this month might have been exposed to measles, health officials warned Wednesday. The Boston Public Health Commission and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said that a person with measles visited Terminal C at Logan Airport shortly after midnight on Tuesday, April 14. The person traveled to Boston on JetBlue Airways flight 470,…
Earth Day Spotlight: Florida International University showcases world-leading ocean science — from unique undersea lab to global shark conservation
FIU's commitment to ocean science spans ecology, policy, forensics and public engagement.
Researchers express 'grave concern' over attacks on Iranian institutions and science
Almost 1400 people have signed an open letter calling on the international community to “defend academic life”
Yankees players reportedly pitched team on wearing alternate uniforms for first time in team history
Lily Sones ’25 Brings Science Down to Earth
The recent graduate has a unique role with the National Wildlife Federation: the Offshore Wind Energy team’s Storytelling Fellow.
Philip Morris Sales Rise on Smoke-Free Business Growth
Philip Morris International logged higher revenue in the first quarter, with particularly strong growth in its smoke-free business.
Pokémon Doubles Down on Decision to Penalize Pro Player
A Pokémon pro who saw his tournament win taken away from him in controversial circumstances will not be getting an official reprieve.
Movies and TV shows casting across the US
Backstage compiled a list of movies and TV shows casting across the US.
Inside Missouri’s first statewide science and engineering competition
Springfield-area students earned spots at the International Science & Engineering Fair after winning top honors at Show‑Me SCIENCE.
Australian Gas Exporter Santos Streamlines Business to Cut Costs
Santos Ltd. is restructuring the company’s oil and gas business in order to cut costs, according to an internal notice seen by Bloomberg, after a string of stymied takeover bids in recent years that have raised pressure to increase shareholder returns.
LSBF Singapore Achieves Fourth Consecutive Win at Singapore Business Review International Business Awards 2026
The London School of Business and Finance (LSBF) Singapore Campus has clinched its fourth consecutive win at the Singapore Business Review International Business Awards 2026 (Education category), reinforcing its position as one of Singapore's most consistently recognised private education institutions.
World Cup 2026: Pick your favourite kits from the tournament
BBC Sport has highlighted some of the most interesting kits which will be seen at this summer's World Cup. Pick your favourites.
At 25, INSAR needs to bring autism scientists together more than ever
As the International Society for Autism Research’s annual meeting in Prague this week celebrates its quarter-century anniversary, its president reflects on the field’s past successes, current challenges and needs for the future
GE HealthCare touts international expansion of its partnership with RadNet
The companies say they’re entering the next phase of collaboration, offering GEHC mammography systems paired with AI offerings from DeepHealth.
Samir Patel on science journalism and curiosity
On April 19, Humanities in Medicine, the Duke Program in Literature, the DeWitt Wallace Center, Duke English and Duke’s Program in Education hosted “Storytelling Through Science Journalism,” a speaker event featuring Samir Patel (Pratt ‘97), the editor and chief of Quanta Magazine.
REPORT: Marquette & Missouri Are Playing In Chicago
The Golden Eagles and the Tigers will meet for the first time since the 2009 NCAA tournament.
Arizona Diamondbacks Gameday Thread, #23: 4/21 vs. White Sox
Today’s Lineups WHITE SOX DIAMONDBACKS Andrew Benintendi – DH Ketel Marte – 2B Munetaka Murakami – 1B Corbin Carroll – RF Miguel Vargas – 3B Geraldo Perdomo – SS Colson Montgomery – SS Adrian Del Castillo – C Everson Pereira – RF Lourdes Gurriel – LF Sam Antonacci – LF Jose Fernandez – DH Chase […]
Slow Starts (And Hopeful Turnarounds)
Some players get off to incredibly hot starts to the year. Very few keep it up, with most flaming out. […]
Mara Brock Akil And Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove Share How Storytelling Shapes Black Maternal Health
On Saturday, April 18, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda brought together elected officials, TV and film writers, creators, and community leaders for a powerful conversation unpacking how media narratives can impact policy.
Local student turns science into savings
At a time when many students are just beginning to explore the basics of science, Thomas Jones, current 8th grade student at Lincoln County Middle School, is already applying advanced […]
Internal documents shed light on Trump’s crusade to vet state voter rolls
The Trump administration has been working for nearly a year on an effort to weed out noncitizens from voter rolls using a faulty data system while keeping those plans hidden from courts and Democratic election officials, internal Justice Department communications obtained by CNN show.
Crew Studies Biotech on Tuesday to Advance Health and Space Economy
Biotechnology research seeking to advance human health and the space economy packed the science schedule aboard the International Space Station on Tuesday. The Expedition 74 crew members also explored space physics, updated robotics software, and conducted an emergency drill.
Meta's new AI tool tracks staff activity, sparks concern
Meta deploys keystroke-tracking software on US employees' computers, sparking privacy concerns and internal backlash.
Wisconsin political leaders mourn Daniel Bice's death
A veteran Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter, Bice broke national scoops and dug into local stories with same tenacity.
RWJBarnabas Health and Harvest Earn “Companies That Care” Honor from Commerce Magazine
RWJBarnabas Health was recognized by Commerce Magazine and The Commerce & Industry Association of NJ (CIANJ) at the 2026 "Companies That Care" Awards Ceremony on April 16th, 2026 for its engagement in partnerships that improve New Jersey.
Deep Sea Mining Symposium Announcement
Abstract submissions are now open for the 8th International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC8), taking place November 13–17, 2026, in Edinburgh, Scotland—and we’re excited to announce an open sym…
Daniel Bice, veteran Wisconsin political reporter and columnist, dies at 62
Daniel Bice, who worked for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for 33 years, died from complications of esophageal cancer on April 21, his birthday.
Trueline music venue contractors file mechanic's liens alleging unpaid bills
Contractors file millions in liens against Greenville’s Trueline venue project, citing unpaid costs as developers push toward a 2027 opening.
Americans killed in Mexico car crash following drug raid worked for the CIA, sources say
The two US embassy officials who died in a car accident in Mexico on Sunday worked for the CIA and had been collaborating with Mexican officials on expanded counternarcotics operations in the country, two people briefed on the matter confirmed to CNN.
Leading with heart: Juan Salazar’s mission to advance pediatric health care for all children
An internationally recognized pediatric infectious diseases specialist and investigator, Salazar brings decades of leadership and experience to Vanderbilt Health.
Iran’s World Cup participation depends on team’s safety in the US: Minister
Iran's team is preparing for the FIFA World Cup but may not travel to the tournament, Sport Minister Donyamali says.
Sports extravaganza brings international military students together at Fort Lee
FORT LEE, Va. — It was a hot day, but that didn’t stop the energy on the field.Laughter and competition filled the air as international military studen...
How Poughkeepsie ranks in best and worst small cities to start a business
A new study ranks New York's small cities for starting a business, including Poughkeepsie. See which ones are best and worst.
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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