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289-million-year-old mummified reptile reveals how breathing began on land
A remarkably preserved, mummified reptile from 289 million years ago is rewriting what we know about how animals first breathed on land. This tiny creature, Captorhinus aguti, reveals the earliest known version of the rib-powered breathing system used by modern reptiles, birds, and mammals — a crucial innovation that helped vertebrates thrive outside water.
Scientists discover hidden forces are warping Earth deep beneath the surface
Scientists have mapped how Earth’s deepest mantle is being deformed—and the results point to long-lost tectonic plates buried thousands of kilometers underground. Using a massive global dataset of seismic waves, they found that most deformation happens in regions where these ancient slabs are thought to reside. The findings confirm long-standing theories but, for the first time, show the pattern on a global scale. It’s a major step toward understanding how the planet’s interior slowly churns over time.
KOCO 5 Sports breaks down Thunder’s chances against Suns in Game 2
After a dominant performance against the Phoenix Suns during Game 1 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, the Oklahoma City Thunder are looking to bring their offensive and defensive energy back to the Paycom Center for Game 2.
Wilson's final 2026 NFL mock draft: What I'm hearing with Round 1 one day away
One last projection of the top 32 picks as teams finalize plans for the first round
Hochul’s stealth business-tax hike proves she doesn't care about NY's future
Embracing a special NYC pied-a-terre levy turns out not to be Gov. Kathy Hochul’s only violation of her "no new taxes" vows — nor even the first or the biggest.
Jake Rogers turns 'crappy situation' into career moment with knuckleball
Detroit Tigers C Jake Rogers pitched in the ninth inning of Tuesday's blowout – and he recorded the first (pitching) strikeout of his MLB career.
Rural health task force meets for first time to lay out how to handle new federal money
The Rural Health Transformation Task Force meeting for the first time in the 2026 legislative interim. Hearing an overview of the program they're charged with o
Tim Cook Regrets Maps Flub, Sees Apple Watch as His Proudest Work
Apple Inc. Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook, who plans to step down in a few months, cited the launch of Apple Maps on the iPhone in 2012 as his “first really big mistake” as the company’s boss.
Black River Entertainment Partners With Akando Music For Radio Promotion
Black River Entertainment has partnered with AKANDO Music for radio promotion. The first [...]
New York Red Bulls open training facility that's so impressive, it made Jurgen Klopp consider coaching again
The facility, a decade in the making, will jointly house the Red Bulls' first team, MLS Next Pro team and academy for the first time
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES REPORTS FIRST QUARTER RESULTS, BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVES DELIVER MEANINGFUL MARGIN EXPANSION
Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV) today reported first quarter 2026 financial results, representing an important milestone as the transformational plan announced just 18 months ago is now fully implemented.
Tesla Q1 earnings, sales top forecasts as company sees 'tailwinds' boosting auto business
Tesla will report first quarter earnings after the bell on Wednesday, with Wall Street focused on the company's slow-to-evolve Robotaxi rollout and capital expenditures, which are expected to balloon due to the company's AI ventures.
Tesla earnings, sales top forecasts as company sees 'tailwinds' boosting auto business
Tesla will report first quarter earnings after the bell on Wednesday, with Wall Street focused on the company's slow-to-evolve Robotaxi rollout and capital expenditures, which are expected to balloon due to the company's AI ventures.
College basketball transfer portal 2026-27 winners and losers: Duke, Florida lead free agency victors
The good, the bad and the ugly from the first wave of college basketball's free agency period
Why are other kids starving?
Witnessing poverty as a child sparked Luiza Lima Vieira’s quest to vanquish hunger — but first, she had to learn to listen to her own body.
Westover Taco Makes History as Northern Virginia’s First Women’s Sports Fan Headquarters
Westover Taco in Arlington officially marked a major milestone by becoming the first women’s sports–focused fan headquarters in Northern Virginia.
Meet Jenni Peters, one of the Capital Region 500
Jenni Peters, a former USA Track & Field athlete and a competitor in the first-ever Olympic Marathon Trials in 1984, turned her passion for running into a thriving business. She launched Varsity Sports in 2000 near the Perkins Road overpass, growing it into a beloved local chain with four locations. The stores, often set in […]
A first for the Tack Lecture: Business, AI and the liberal arts
Rachel Chung will present a lecture on “Wisdom & Machines: How Liberal Arts & AI Learn from Each Other.”
Tennessee Leaders Gather in Memphis to Chart the Future of Rural Health
Health care leaders met at the first Tennessee Rural Health Care Center of Excellence Innovation and Practice Conference.
2026 NFL Draft: Five win-win trades that could actually happen in the first round
There's plenty of potential for drama Thursday night
Rep. David Scott, a Georgia Democrat seeking 13th term in Congress, dies at 80
Scott, the first Black chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, was once a leading voice for his party on issues related to farm aid policy and food aid for consumers.
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.
Georgia Rep. David Scott dies at 80
Scott, the first Black chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, was first elected to Congress in 2002 and was running for re-election.
New Michigan measles case in Ottawa County. What you need to know
The first case of measles since 1991 in Ottawa County was identified April 21. It is the ninth confirmed case in the state since March 11.
Where to watch Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Game 2 NBA playoffs: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Wednesday, April 22
The Thunder and Suns meet in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Ecco the Dolphin: Complete announced, includes remasters of the first two entries and brand-new game
Ecco the Dolphin: Complete announced, including the two original games with new features and improvements plus an all-new entry from the original devs.
Ecco the Dolphin Complete announced, containing the first two games and a new ‘contemporary’ game
The collection’s development is being led by Ecco creator Ed Annunziata…
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.
Sony’s PlayStation 5 is $200 off for the first time since December
No need to spend $599.
AMD Launches the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition Processor
Today, AMD released the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition processor, the first processor that brings dual AMD 3D V-Cache technology to the desktop, unlocking a new level of performance for developers, creators and gamers. Built for demanding developers, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition proce...
Samsung is increasingly worried about first-ever mobile division loss in RAM crisis, report
As AI continues to eat up the market’s RAM output, smartphones are in crisis as costs continue to skyrocket. A...
Braves Minor League Recap: Eric Hartman Hits 3 Home Runs
Hartman had the first three home run game for a Rome hitter since 2007
Tottenham advertise sport psychologist roles
Tottenham are looking to appoint a lead psychologist for their men's first team after head coach Roberto de Zerbi said they need to "change the mentality".
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book gets first gameplay on Nintendo Switch 2
Check out the first actual gameplay of Yoshi and the Mysterious Book on Nintendo Switch 2.
Yankees players reportedly pitched team on wearing alternate uniforms for first time in team history
Capcom provides a first look at Ingrid's in-game render before the debut of her gameplay trailer tonight for Street Fighter 6
Ingrid is the next character coming to Street Fighter 6 as DLC. She's set to be the final challenger of Season 3.Needless to say, fans are already discussing the rumors surrounding the Season 4 lineup. While that rumor ...
The Medical Minute: Your daughter’s first gynecological visit: A parent’s guide
From painful periods to questions they’re afraid to ask, a first gynecology visit can help your teen feel understood. A Penn State Health expert tells how care boosts reproductive health.
World Cup last-minute ticket sales phase re-opens 50 days from kick-off
With 50 days remaining until the start of the 2026 World Cup, FIFA's last-minute sales phase re-opens on Wednesday with tickets for all 104 matches available on a first-come, first-served basis.
2026 NFL Draft: Every team's most ideal pick in Round 1
Here's the player each team would like to select in the first round to address biggest need
TeamSnap and XbotGo Partner to Redefine Youth Sports Streaming with Industry-First Fully Integrated, AI-Powered Experience
/PRNewswire/ -- TeamSnap, the #1 youth sports management platform, and XbotGo, a leader in AI-powered sports cameras, today announced an exclusive partnership...
iPhone 18 Pro to Kick Off Apple's Four-Part Camera Upgrade Plan
Apple is evaluating four camera upgrades for future iPhone models, with the first new feature scheduled for this year's iPhone 18 Pro models, according to a reputable Chinese leaker.
So, You Want to Buy a Telescope?
Are you getting ready to buy your first telescope? Carnegie experts offer some helpful advice for how to begin your backyard astronomy adventure!
Business News: Timothée Chalamet Joins Urban Jürgensen As Minority Partner And Creative Advisor
This marks the first time the Golden Globe-winning American-French actor and producer has taken on a partnership with a company.
Stephen and Ayesha Curry are coming for the sports drink market—and their kids were the first focus group
In an interview with Fortune, the Currys explain why they jumped at the chance to work on a Michelle Obama-backed healthy sports drink Plezi Hydration.
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.
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.
Boeing’s Commercial Jet Business Improves, Reducing Quarterly Loss
The plane maker reported brisk first-quarter commercial sales, despite wiring flaws that delayed some deliveries.
Elevance Health Profits Eclipse $1.7 Billion Despite Elevated Costs
Elevance Health reported $1.7 billion in first quarter net income as cost issues continued to drag on earnings of the nation’s second-largest health insurer.
NFL Draft targets for teams without a first-round pick in 2026
If your favorite team doesn't have a first-round pick, don't worry, we have the best targets for your second or third round picks.
Fermat's Last Theorem: still a must-read about a 350-year maths secret
Simon Singh's exploration of mathematical proof – in particular Pierre de Fermat's last theorem – remains an absolute treasure, almost three decades after it was first published
I saved $60,000 and opened my first restaurant at 21
Jack Ng immigrated to the US at 12, worked as a fisherman, and used his savings to build a multimillion-dollar restaurant business.
Entertainment calendar
Please email entertainment listings to entertainment518@digitalfirstmedia.com. Thursday, April 23, 2026 COHOES MUSIC HALL: 58 Remsen St., Cohoes. Cry Baby, 7 pm. www.thecohoesmusichall.org. SARATOGA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER: 108 Avenue …
Anker made its own chip to bring AI to all its products
The Thus chip will first be in new earbuds.
RFK Jr. is on a congressional hearing blitz, after a long absence from Capitol Hill
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. caps off seven budget hearings in as many days, the first time he has testified before Congress since September.
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.
Church homers to help lift Cardinals past Marlins 5-3
Nathan Church hit a two-run homer and Alec Burleson had two RBIs to back a strong start by Dustin May and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Miami Marlins 5-3 on Tuesday night. May (3-2) allowed a leadoff home run to Jakob Marsee — his first of the season — but then settled down. Justin Bruihl followed with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
FSU basketball: Thomas Bassong changes mind, enters transfer portal
Welcome to the modern era of college athletics. After announcing his return to Florida State less than two weeks ago, forward Thomas Bassong instead will be entering the transfer portal. The news was first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Borzello. Bassong enters on the final day of the portal window, as the 21st marks the final […]
Northrop Grumman takes $71 million charge on Vulcan booster issue
Northrop Grumman said April 21 it took a $71 million charge in its fiscal first quarter linked to an anomaly with a Vulcan Centaur solid rocket booster.
REPORT: Marquette & Missouri Are Playing In Chicago
The Golden Eagles and the Tigers will meet for the first time since the 2009 NCAA tournament.
Morrisey holds ceremonial signing for Small Business Growth Act
CHARLESTON – Gov. Patrick Morrisey held a ceremonial signing Tuesday for a bill – the first to pass the West Virginia Legislature during the recent session – that focuses on benefiting existing small businesses in the state. Morrisey held a ceremonial bill signing Tuesday afternoon for Senate Bill 1, creating the West Virginia First Small […]
Ottawa County Department of Health confirms first case of measles since 1991
For the first time since 1991, Ottawa County Department of Public Health has confirmed a case of measles.
Paramount Business Jets sells first $1 million jet card
The Black level jet card tier provides members of Paramount Business Jets a fixed 10% management fee over direct operator pricing
Republicans launch a new effort to fund the Department of Homeland Security
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate voted on Tuesday to launch a new effort to reopen the Department of Homeland Security and end the longest partial government shutdown in history. The 52-46 vote was the first step in a budget process that Republicans hope will unlock the funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol. […]
Live Nation Entertainment Schedules First Quarter 2026 Earnings Release And Teleconference
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: LYV), the world's leading live entertainment company, will release its first quarter 2026 financial results after market hours on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Michael Rapino, Live Nation Entertainment's President and Chief Executive Officer, will host a teleconference that day at 2:00 p.m. PT (5:00 p.m.…
Live Nation Entertainment Schedules First Quarter 2026 Earnings Release And Teleconference
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: LYV), the world's leading live entertainment company, will release its first quarter 2026 financial results after market hours on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Michael Rapino, Live Nation Entertainment's President and Chief Executive Officer, will host a teleconference that day at 2:00 p.m. PT (5:00 p.m. ET) to discuss the company's financial performance, operational outlook, and other forward-looking matters.
United Q1 earnings top estimates as premium business partly offsets fuel price surge
United Airlines will report first quarter earnings after the bell on Tuesday, capping off a stretch that whipsawed the sector, and the airline, on oil prices, merger talk, and broader questions about the health of the consumer.
Vampire Crawlers: 12 Things I Wish I Knew Before Playing
How to manage your chicken, what stats to upgrade first, and some other general tips to help you survive the dungeons in this rogue-like card game
Judge tosses Bradenton Times defamation suit against Manatee REC over Charlie Kirk texts
'That is exactly what the First Amendment protects, and we are pleased the court recognized that here.'
Framework Laptop 13 Pro is the first major revision to the original Framework Laptop
Laptop includes Core Ultra Series 3 CPUs, a bigger battery, and a touchscreen.
Framework’s first eGPUs turn its laptop into a desktop PC
Only power users need apply — and you’ll have to shut down the laptop before you plug or unplug.
Smith hits fifty as Rawalpindiz misery continues
Steve Smith's half-century helped Multan Sultans inflict an eighth straight defeat on Rawalpindiz. Australia's Smith struck 56 from 31 balls at the top of the order to set up Multan's chase of 167, while his compatriot Ashton Turner hit an unbeaten 37 to see them over the line with eight balls to spare. Rawalpindiz, who are already eliminated from the PSL, immediately struggled after choosing to bat first as Shahzaib Khan fell in the first over before skipper Muhammad Rizwan trudged to 26 from 29 balls.
Marathon On Sale For The First Time Amid Free-To-Play Debate
Bungie's shooter is going to need fresh players sooner or later
Microsoft cuts Xbox Game Pass price, to remove 'Call of Duty' day one inclusions
Microsoft has dropped the price of its video game subscription service and the platform will not include future "Call of Duty" game releases on launch day, the company said on Tuesday, in the first major strategy shift under new gaming boss Asha Sharma.
ARPA-H announces first research teams for $139 million initiative to transform behavioral health and bring new, more precise and effective treatments to Americans
The EVIDENT initiative builds on the Trump Administration’s executive order to accelerate medical treatments for serious mental illness.
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.
APSU alum Hannah Richards becomes Vanderbilt’s first Schmidt Science Fellow
When Hannah Richards first declared chemistry as her major at Austin Peay State University, she was "100% confident" she would change it.
Bernie Sanders' anti-billionaire group defends surprising endorsement of billionaire for CA governor
Bernie Sanders' grassroots group Our Revolution endorses billionaire Tom Steyer for California governor, marking the anti-oligarch group's first such move.
Immigration and Kitchen Table Politics: Lessons from NJ-11
By: Nedia Morsy, Make the Road Action New Jersey, and Maegan Llerena, Make the Road Action As Analilia Mejia takes a victory lap in New Jersey’s 11th congressional district, her stunning win – first, a massive upset in February’s primary special election and then, a resounding win in this week’s general – can teach us[...]
Apple has 10+ new products rumored to launch first with John Ternus as CEO
Here are the 10+ new Apple products rumored to be the first launched under CEO John Ternus starting this September.
Timberwolves climb out of 19-point hole to knock off Nuggets, even first-round NBA playoff series
Angels received a positive health update on Grayson Rodriguez
The Los Angeles Angels received a positive health update on right-hander Grayson Rodriguez, who faced live batters on Monday for the first time since spring training.
Shaky political science: using "simulated" elections over real-world elections
[Dear DSOS readers – this article is the latest in our “Shaky Political Science” series. In our 38 page report, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting,” released in early December, we examined over 40 studies focused on ranked choice voting. We found that many of these studies suffered from puzzling research methodologies, poorly constructed surveys, unrealistic simulated elections, cherry picked data, and faulty analyses that often were contradicted by results from real-world elections (a link to our full paper is here). Here are links to the first three articles in our series: the first one summarizing the overall results of our report, the second one analyzing a study co-authored by University of Minnesota academic Larry Jacobs, which was one of the most error-prone of all the research we reviewed in our report, and a third article showing an admirable example of two political scientists holding two other political scientists accountable for their flawed, sloppy research]. In this fourth article in our “Shaky Political Science” series, we shine a spotlight on seven studies that were web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group (the ERRG is an ad hoc committee headed by New America’s Political Reform Program and joined by the American Enterprise Institute, the Unite America Institute and Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law). This research consortium has been led by Lee Drutman, senior fellow with New America’s Political Reform Program. These seven studies are simply not credible from any objective standard about how political “science” is supposed to illuminate our understanding of either ranked choice voting or politics in general. The feature that six of these seven studies have in common is that they all used surveys – artificial, simulated elections -- to attempt to say something cogent or interesting about ranked choice voting (RCV) elections. None of them used real world data from actual RCV elections – either the 1000+ elections in the US or the many thousands of elections from places like Australia, Ireland and elsewhere where RCV has been used for 100 years. While a few of these studies conclude with some mixed positives about RCV, our analysis here is content neutral. The idea that, with a political reform like RCV, you can ask respondents in a mock, artificial election to vote with that method, with only the barest of explanation about how RCV works or its likely impacts (i.e. no spoiler candidates, majority winners, voters liberated to pick their favorite candidates, coalition-building), and then ask them their thoughts/reactions about voting in that system, with fake candidates and no real campaigning, no real exposure to an actual election or actual candidates, rests on some very puzzling assumptions. The findings of these seven studies actually are contradicted by the findings from many other studies based on real-world RCV elections. These New America studies also failed to list the real-world RCV studies in their own citations, instead including those studies that reinforced their conclusions. The seven studies featured in this article were chosen because they form a cohesive cohort which precisely illustrates one of the main points of our research paper, namely that using surveys, i.e. artificial elections, or mathematical/theoretical models, instead of real-world data, is in fact “shaky political science.” Below are summaries of our analysis of five of the seven New America studies. You can read our complete analysis of all seven studies at our paper, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting.” Choosing to “Vote As Usual” by Andre Blais, Carolina Plescia, and Semra Sevi. New America. (Blais et al., 2021). This study, web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group, used two surveys in which respondents completed ballots for simulated elections using plurality, approval, RCV and point (Score) voting. In both cases the authors provided the respondents with only minimal explanation of each method. For example, the entire explanation for RCV was “For this vote, rank the candidates from your first to your last choice (you do not need to rank them all). This is called the ranked vote.” That’s it. The study did not provide any context or explanation to survey respondents about why she/he might want to rank multiple candidates. Participants were not even told that ballots would be tabulated using an “instant” runoff, not to mention any description of RCVs ability to eliminate the spoiler effect or liberate voters to rank their favorite candidates without fear of helping the “greater evil” candidate to win. That’s like taking an iPhone back in time to 1970 and asking someone if they like it better than their rotary phone without explaining how it works. Their first survey targeted states that held 2020 Super Tuesday Democratic primaries and used the real candidates’ names in the survey; the second survey used fictitious candidates. In other words, they surveyed respondents who had only ever participated in plurality elections, had no history or background with using RCV or any of the other methods, had no clue about its likely impacts, and did not communicate how the alternative methods would be counted, and then asked them: “How satisfied are you with using each system?” Predictably, the winner was plurality elections, the system used for president, Congress, gubernatorial and state legislative elections – in other words, the method they have been using, year after year, all their voting lives. With so little explanation of RCV and its impacts, this study is simply not credible in discovering anything useful about real-world RCV elections. It merely shows that a basic voter education campaign is needed when adopting a new election system. Additionally, the result contradicts many other post-election surveys following real RCV elections, asking opinions from voters who had just participated in a RCV election, that showed a great deal of satisfaction with RCV (see details on that in Studies 22-25 in our paper, as well as the four studies cited in the review for Study 28). Share Other studies on “satisfaction” and “understanding” make similar mistakes, in terms of basing their surveys on inadequate explanation to respondents and lack of education about context. How could any survey ever hope to measure accurately, in essence simulate a real-world election, without actual campaigning candidates, the media writing about those candidates, organizations endorsing candidates and voters being inundated with crucial information? More than anything, what these “studies” based on surveys show is that if you ask voters about something they don’t know very much about, and fail to adequately educate them, their responses will unsurprisingly reflect their confusion. Equally puzzling is that New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group, headed by political scientist Lee Drutman, found this to be a credible enough study that they not only published it but highlighted it in Drutman’s own discussion of research related to ranked choice voting. This pattern was repeated in study after study featured by New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group. For example in Ranked-Choice Voting and Political Expression: Voter Guides Narrow the Gap between Informed and Uninformed Citizens by Cheryl Boudreau, Jonathan Colner, and Scott MacKenzie, the researchers based their analysis on a survey which found that respondents who were asked to vote in a simulated RCV election, with minimal explanation of RCV or how it works, displayed less evidence of being informed about how to use RCV effectively, with the least informed voters ranking fewer candidates. As pointed out under the study above, in a real election voters are informed by a wide variety of methods, including public education by the election administration, by interested political groups, the media, and the candidates themselves who benefit from voters being aware of how to vote in the new system. In Support for Ranked-Choice Voting across Race and Partisanship by Joseph Anthony, David C. Kimball, Jack Santucci and Jamil Scott, the researchers used respondents from different parties and races voting in simulated plurality and RCV elections, who indicated their satisfaction with each voting method. Instead of using real world election results, the authors fell back on the easy, armchair and less reliable academic research methodology of making up mock elections. As with the other studies, little explanation was given of how RCV works or what its implications might be (electing majority winners or eliminating spoilers, for example). Unsurprisingly, this study found that respondents were not very satisfied with RCV. However, when the authors added an explanation that RCV has a tendency to elect more women and people of color, they found that this greater explanation increased the preference for RCV. The more voters were familiar with it, and the more they understood potential positive impacts – surprise! -- the more they were open to switching away from the status quo. Of note, the results from this study are thoroughly contradicted by a number of other studies whose data was obtained from real RCV elections with real voters. Those studies show a great deal of satisfaction with RCV. More “fake election” research An interesting wrinkle on this “research by fake elections” approach, which only served to illustrate how unreliable such “research” can become, was taken in Ranked-Choice Voting, Runoff, and Democracy: Insights from Maine and Other U.S. States by Joseph Cerrone and Cynthia McClintock_,_ also web-hosted and funded by New America’s ERRG. It gets high marks for creativity, but an eye-roll for thinking this could possibly add anything meaningful to our understanding of real world RCV elections. This study tried to determine whether RCV, plurality or two-round runoff elections provided greater voter satisfaction and acceptance of election results. To determine that, the authors conducted a survey asking if voters were satisfied with a fictional newspaper report of an election, with three different versions given to respondents – plurality, runoff and RCV, with variations of Republican/Democrat winners and variations of “come-from-behind” winners,” i.e. candidates not initially in first place but who win the “runoff.” Again, a minimal explanation of RCV or how it works was given, and the survey showed that respondents had the greatest unfamiliarity with RCV than the other methods. The unsurprising result? Respondents were much more satisfied with “come-from-behind” victories in a traditional two-round runoff election than in RCV, even though RCV is also a runoff system but with a single round of counting. Interestingly, the dissatisfaction with RCV disappeared for those who were more familiar with RCV. In fact, among those respondents who were “very familiar” with RCV, they were equally satisfied with RCV, runoff and plurality. Surprise, surprise. Again, what this study revealed, more than anything, is not only the inadequacy of the explanation for RCV given by the authors of this study, but the failure of the research format itself, thinking that such an artificial mock election could somehow simulate what actually happens in the real world in a real RCV election. Those four studies reviewed above are fitting examples of inadequate and shaky political “science.” Other studies reviewed in our paper from the New America/Electoral Reform Research Group cohort which also used mock elections included: Ranked-Choice Voting is an Acquired Taste by Joseph Anthony and David C. Kimball. New America. (Anthony et al., 2021). Ranked-Choice Voting is No Refuge for Extreme Candidates by Melissa Baker. New America. (Baker, 2021). Also included in this New America cohort is Does Ranked-Choice Voting Reduce Racial Polarization? by Yuki Atsusaka and Theodore Landsman, which actually did use real-world election results data but applied an odd and unconventional methodology to the data which relied on shaky assumptions and non-real-world scenarios that were too divorced from reality. To determine levels of “racially polarized voting,” the researchers imagined “ethnic parties,” by which they mean political parties for each ethnic group, which was especially odd since the election data they were using came from nonpartisan RCV races. But then they made an even odder assumption, namely that since race and ethnic characteristics of studied voters were not available, the authors tried to infer that information based on who voters selected and the racial make-up of voters in each district. This amounted to little more than vague and ambiguous guesswork dressed up with a bunch of mathematical equations used to give it a veneer of scientific appearance. Indeed, it seemed to assume racial polarization in order to prove racial polarization. Based on this questionable methodology, the authors concluded that RCV doesn’t reduce racial polarization. But the premise of this study missed an obvious reality: since RCV incentivizes more candidates to run and can result in more diverse fields of candidates, one would expect more racially-polarized voting in voters’ top rankings, not less, because more voters would have someone on that ballot who represents their racial or ethnic identity and more freedom to vote for their real first choice. By encouraging more diverse candidates and eliminating the spoiler effect, RCV facilitates voting for a favorite candidate of your own race and then selecting a second choice with the best likelihood of winning. The real measure is what voters do with their additional rankings – do they consider other candidates and vote “for the best of the rest”? This study didn’t tell us anything useful about that. But readily available data shows this is common in real RCV elections, and candidates act on this knowledge by engaging with voters outside their racial group. So the authors of this study failed to consider or account for what actually happens in real-world elections, and their conclusions are tainted by this failure. New America has contributed a great deal over the past 2.5 decades to our understanding of many policy areas, including politics and political reform (full disclosure: Steven Hill, one of the authors of this article and of the “Shaky Political Science” research paper and series, is a former senior fellow and former director of New America’s political reform program, 2005-2010). So it was especially disappointing that New America funded and published such a large batch of dubious studies about ranked choice voting. The stated praiseworthy goal of its Electoral Reform Research Group was to inspire new academic research about ranked choice voting that would shed light and help the public better understand the impacts of RCV. Instead, the ERRG research did just the opposite. It produced dubious research that created more confusion and misinformation. In so doing, New America’s political reform program contributed to “shaky political science.” Steven Hill and Paul Haughey Share Upgrade to $5 subscription Thanks for reading DemocracySOS, a reader-supported digital portal for the pro-democracy movement. Subscribe for only $5 per month to receive full benefits and to support our work. Subscribe
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During the recent measles outbreak, the largest in more than 30 years, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. refused to clearly recommend the measles vaccine, saying instead that it was a “personal decision,” and that parents should “do their own research.” Similarly, during her recent confirmation hearing for United States Surgeon General, Casey Means was questioned by Senator William Cassidy (R, La). “You’re the nation’s doctor,” said Cassidy. “Would you encourage [a mother] to have her child vaccinated!” “I’m not an individual’s doctor,” Means said. “And every individual needs to talk to their doctor before putting a medication in their body.” In June 2025, Marty Makary, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), said that COVID vaccines for pregnant women should be a “personal choice”, even though every other country in the world recommended the COVID vaccine during pregnancy due to a higher risk for severe disease. It doesn’t end there. On January 5, 2026, RFK Jr. reduced the number of routinely recommended vaccines from 18 to 10. For vaccines that protected against influenza, COVID, and rotavirus, parents were urged to speak with their doctors—to make an individual choice. (On March 16, 2026, in a ruling by a federal court in Boston, RFK Jr.’s revised schedule was invalidated.) What’s happening? Why are public health officials moving away from making recommendations for the public? The origin of this change might be rooted in the first two years of the COVID pandemic. In 2020, during the first year on the pandemic, we didn’t have anything to stop a virus that was killing hundreds of people a day and could be spread asymptomatically. We didn’t have antivirals until October, monoclonal antibodies until November, and vaccines until December. All we could do was restrict travel, close businesses, shutter schools, and mask, isolate, quarantine, test, and social distance. During the second year of the pandemic, when we had vaccines to prevent COVID, people couldn’t go anywhere without their vaccine cards. They couldn’t go to their favorite bar or restaurant or sporting event or place of worship without proof of vaccination. Some people were fired from their jobs for refusing to get vaccinated. For many, this was seen as massive government overreach and energized what has been called the “medical freedom movement.” Indeed, a headline in the New York Times declared, “How Health Freedom Became a Winning Rally Cry.” As expressed in the comments of RFK Jr., Casey Means, and Marty Makary, the medical freedom movement focuses on the individual not the community—the opposite of public health. In an article titled “Ethics and Social Value Judgments in Public Health,” ethicists from Yale University distinguished public health from medical freedom. “Public health policies,” they wrote, “are population oriented. Because individual health affects the health of others, public health measures regulate individual behavior to achieve population health goals. All raise questions about how individual autonomy and freedom should be balanced against public health interests…which respects individuals’ sovereignty over their bodies and actions as long as their actions do not harm others.” The medical freedom movement fails to recognize that it often limits the freedom of others. For example, a parent who is afraid to send a child to school where many of the students are unvaccinated. Or immune compromised children who depend on those around them to for protection. The question then becomes “Freedom for whom?” Is it your right, in the name of medical freedom, to catch and transmit a potentially fatal infection—and in so doing, take away the freedom of others? In Four Essays on Liberty, Isaiah Berlin sums it up best. “Liberty for the wolves,” he wrote, “is death to the lambs.” Thanks for reading Beyond the Noise! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Subscribe
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