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Supreme Court ruling on voting won’t change California districts, but could hurt Democrats
The U.S. Supreme Court has narrowed the Voting Rights Act over the past decade. The law in California was primarily used to help Latinos gain political representation. The U.S. Supreme Court has narrowed the Voting Rights Act over the past decade. The law in California was primarily used to help Latinos gain political representation.
India loses its last left-wing government after five decades
Kerala in India, which gave the world its first democratically elected communist government, has voted the left out.
A Figure From Democrats’ Recent Past May Hold the Key to Beating Donald Trump
The man who bested George W. Bush may have some lessons for Democrats on how to beat Donald Trump.
Will Texas turn blue this year?
With midterms around the corner and President Trump's approval rating low, Democrats expect to flip a lot of seats this election. Polls show a Democrat could win a statewide seat in Texas for the first time in the 21st century.
Democrats Eye 2028 as Battle for Identity Begins
Co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina delve into the latest news in politics
How Xavier Becerra became the Joe Biden of California’s governor race
He is defying conventional wisdom about what Democratic voters want and is surpassing flashier, more progressive opponents pledging to upend the status quo.
LAGEOS: An Earth Science Mission Built for Enduring Precision
On May 4, 1976, a spacecraft resembling a disco ball entered orbit almost 3,700 miles (6,000 kilometers) above Earth. This shiny, two‑foot‑wide
Small business confidence surges as Trump tax cuts deliver ‘blockbuster’ job growth
Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler joins ‘Mornings with Maria’ to tout President Donald Trump’s small business agenda, highlight job growth from tax cuts and detail a crackdown on $22B in suspected fraud.
Donald Trump Is the American Ayatollah
Iran is the world's only functioning theocratic republic. Donald Trump wants to turn the United States into one.
Angie Baker helped launch and manages her son CaseOh's gaming career
When Angie Baker's son, CaseOh, blew up on social media, she got a crash course in the creator business.
California Republicans who flipped seats in 2024 are fighting to keep them
California Republicans made gains in the state Legislature two years. Now Democrats are trying to tie them to Trump's unpopularity in 2026
AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Michigan's special election for control of the state Senate
Voters in a competitive Central Michigan district will decide control of the state Senate on Tuesday in a special election to fill the seat last held by Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet, who's now a congresswoman.
Democrats look for a foothold in Iowa as Vance visits to boost Republicans
Democrats believe they can make Iowa a political battleground again.
Democrats look for a foothold in Iowa as Vance visits to boost Republicans
Democrats believe they can make Iowa a political battleground again.
With Scandals and Court Ruling, Democrats Have Big Problems Too | WSJ Politics Newsletter for May 4
Plus, the Secret Service director is facing some heat, and the U.S. plans to guide commercial ships out of the Strait of Hormuz
Long-deferred projects move forward as Chicagoland communities build for the future
Communities throughout Chicago are modernizing public facilities as part of a broader construction effort to build for function and longevity.
Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso join Nigeria Democratic Congress in major political shake-up
Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, who came third and fourth respectively in the last elections, switch parties.
AJC poll finds Bottoms leading Georgia’s Democratic race for governor
Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has a big advantage. But about a third of likely Democratic primary voters remain undecided.
A GOP lawmaker supported an immigration crackdown. Her husband paid a price.
The situation cost Idaho state Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld and her husband most of their income and highlights an escalating split in the party.
John Williams returns to North Hollywood High, which honors him with new performing arts center
John Williams cut the ribbon on a new state-of-the-art performing arts center named for him at his alma mater, North Hollywood High School, where he honed his craft in the 1940s.
How employer partnerships are reshaping Chicago’s workforce
WGU explores how Chicago employers are investing in flexible education pathways to strengthen talent pipelines.
Why manufacturing? Gathering data, building community and propelling success
What’s shaping the future of manufacturing? Insights on workforce, automation and supply chains every business leader should know.
Christian Menefee and Al Green, rivals in TX-18, align on aim of strengthening voting rights
The two congressmen, in a Democratic primary runoff election for the same Houston-based seat, both came out strongly for the need to pass new legislation to counteract the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that crippled enforcement of the Voting Rights Act.
What should liberals do when an assassin sounds like them?
An evidence-based guide to talking responsibly about Trump’s threat to democracy.
Inside the Quiet Republican Effort to Flip Court Fetterman
As the Pennsylvania Democrat increasingly is isolated within his own party, Republicans are quietly trying to win him over.
Germany Politics
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, center, speaks to Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal, left, and the media as he arrives for a board meeting of his Christian Democratic Union, CDU, party at the
Germany Politics
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, center, speaks to Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal, left, as he arrives for a board meeting of his Christian Democratic Union, CDU, party at the the Pears Jewish
Germany Politics
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz speaks to media as he arrives for a board meeting of his Christian Democratic Union, CDU, party at the the Pears Jewish Campus in Berlin, Germany,
Democrats Add 8 Candidates to House Battlefield Program for Midterms
The party’s congressional campaign arm is promoting more contenders to take down at-risk Republicans — and is taking sides in some competitive primaries.
The role of philanthropy in health care today
: Health care is one of the most complex and essential sectors of Northeast Ohio’s economy. At UH, care is guided by a mission to heal, to teach and to discover.
Yankees news: Volpe demoted to Scranton, Rice day-to-day
Volpe demoted to Triple-A after rehab assignment; Rice day-to-day with hand contusion; Hill sneaking in a new slider; Chisholm Jr.’s power outage a concern.
The role of philanthropy in health care today
: Health care is one of the most complex and essential sectors of Northeast Ohio’s economy. At UH, care is guided by a mission to heal, to teach and to discover.
Brentford 3-0 West Ham
Also, Josh Dasilva is back on the pitch! Brentford are still in there, despite some doubters at the start of the season - but those were not supporters. Jerry: We took our chances with a thing of beauty from Mikkel Damsgaard, but West Ham thankfully were profligate in front of goal, which is why they are in a relegation scrap with Spurs, and we still have a chance of a first European jaunt.
SBA Microenterprise Business of the Year: Troy Anthony Fashion
Troy Anthony Fashion provides tailoring, alterations and custom garment services, combining style and function to meet everyday needs through thoughtful design and skilled craftsmanship. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the company […]
Africa CDC Launches the African Strategic Advisory Group on Genomics
I’m today announced the launch of the African Strategic Advisory Group on Genomics (ASAG), a new continental advisory mechanism established to provide independent, multidisciplinary, and trusted technical guidance on the strategic governance and implementation of genomics across Africa. The launch of ASAG marks a pivotal step in advancing Africa CDC’s vision to democratize access to […]
New Bern aldermen unanimously back feasibility study for new family entertainment options
NEW BERN, Craven County — City leaders in New Bern are taking a step toward expanding family entertainment options.Mayor Jeffrey Odham says the idea has been di
Colorado needs another Bill Owens — who kept up our roads
By Dick Wadhams The silence is deafening within the Democratic primary for governor on the need to build and improve roads in Colorado after 20 years of neglect. The Democratic contestants, U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and Attorney General Phil Weiser, talk about liberal touchstones such as mass transit and bike lanes that few Coloradans find […]
Chargers depth chart: Projecting the 11 starters on defense
Now that free agency and the draft are over, we take a crack at projecting who will be the starters on defense under new coordinator Chris O'Leary.
Redistricting war accelerates winner-take-all political combat that's straining American democracy
The U.S. Supreme Court has escalated a nationwide redistricting war by removing one of the few remaining limits on partisan gerrymandering
Redistricting war accelerates winner-take-all political combat that's straining American democracy
The U.S. Supreme Court has escalated a nationwide redistricting war by removing one of the few remaining limits on partisan gerrymandering.
Redistricting war accelerates winner-take-all political combat that's straining American democracy
The U.S. Supreme Court has escalated a nationwide redistricting war by removing one of the few remaining limits on partisan gerrymandering.
Redistricting war accelerates winner-take-all political combat that's straining American democracy
The U.S. Supreme Court has escalated a nationwide redistricting war by removing one of the few remaining limits on partisan gerrymandering.
Trouble for Labour across a scrambled political map
Breadth of previous support for the party makes it vulnerable to losing everywhere, to everyone, this week
Bipartisan Support for Increases to the ‘Indian Health Service’s’ FY27 Budget
Despite democratic fears about the secondary consequences to the agency from cuts to Medicaid, general support remains high. WASHINGTON, D.C. – There was rare bipartisan support to increase funding for the Indian Health Service’s (IHS) proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2027 on Thursday in the House Appropriation Committee’s Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related […]
Denis Leary’s ‘crazy idea’ puts civilians through FDNY training to raise funds for fire departments
Actor-comedian Denis Leary has found a unique way to raise funds for his Leary Firefighters Foundation.
Barney Frank, in hospice, says he remains hopeful but warns Democrats on ‘litmus test’ politics
Speaking from his home in Ogunquit, Maine, the 86-year-old former congressman told CNN that his own experience gives him reason to believe the political landscape can improve.
I started an art side hustle as an escape from the corporate grind
The things Gwen Lee had to draw as an animator made her crave a more wholesome creative outlet. Her art side hustle, Curious Pots, was born.
NASA shuts down 49-year-old Voyager 1 instrument to keep it alive
Voyager 1 just powered down a nearly 50-year-old instrument to stay alive in deep space. The spacecraft is running critically low on energy, forcing NASA to make careful sacrifices to keep its mission going. Despite the shutdown, it continues to send back unique data from beyond our solar system. Engineers are now working on a bold plan that could extend its life — and possibly revive the instrument later.
Hackaday Links: May 3, 2026
Software that collects public data from the Internet and uses it to provide half-assed answers to your questions might seem like a modern craze, but today we bid farewell to a website that helped p…
AAPI Fest in Daly City celebrates community with interactive entertainment
The organizer of the 8th annual AAPI Fest talks about this family friendly event on May 9 at the Classic Bowling Center in Daly City. Showcasing local vendors, artists as well as food and crafts. Yes, free bowling as well.
Louisiana Republicans eliminate Democrat's elected position
Louisiana Republicans eliminated the office a Democrat was set to assume after being overwhelmingly elected to a New Orleans-based post representing a Black-majority parish.
Democratic voters challenge party establishment
Restless Democratic voters are rejecting their party’s establishment while trying to unseat Republicans in the midterms to weaken Trump's grip on power.
Colorado Democrats scramble to fund health care subsidies after loss of federal benefits
Colorado Democrats are struggling to devise a long-term plan to respond to higher health insurance costs after Republicans in Congress allowed federal subsidies to expire at the end of last year. Individuals and families who...
Colorado Democrats scramble to fund health care subsidies after loss of federal benefits
Colorado Democrats are struggling to devise a long-term plan to respond to higher health insurance costs after Republicans in Congress allowed federal subsidies to expire at the end of last year. Individuals and families who...
Former Rep. Barney Frank warns Democrats against ‘litmus tests’
1 person dead after vehicle crashes into a Portland health club, police say
“Based on the preliminary investigation, detectives believe the driver intentionally entered the building with the intent to deploy explosive devices,” according to police.
Democrats slammed for 'dehumanizing' rhetoric amid concerns about political-fueled violence
Political analyst Gianno Caldwell discusses dangerous political rhetoric and its consequences, including an assassination attempt on President Donald Trump. He also examines how extreme language and socialist policies impact the country.
Check in with your representatives in Washington: Supreme Court decision, maternal health bill and more
In Congress, Athens-Clarke County is represented by Democratic Sens. Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock and Republican Rep. Mike Collins. Here is the latest from Washington, D.C.
Car crashes into Roswell business, police say
A car crashed into a business early Sunday in Roswell, the city’s police department said.
Driver hospitalized after crashing into empty Roswell business, investigation underway
Michigan senate candidate defends her deleted posts after CNN report: ‘People are desperate for authenticity’
Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, a candidate in the state’s competitive Democratic senate primary, made the case for her “authenticity” while responding to criticism she’s facing after an investigation by CNN’s KFile revealed she deleted old social media posts criticizing the rural Midwest and praising California.
Fetterman weighs in on Iran's latest peace offer, internal Democratic politics
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., discusses President Donald Trump's review of Iran's peace plan and the need to prevent the country from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Former Congressman Barney Frank reflects on his life, entering hospice, and the future of the Democratic Party
House control hinges on historically few number of seats
After aggressive redistricting, just 16 House seats are tossups, making it nearly impossible for Democrats to achieve their 2018 midterm gains of 41 seats.
Sixers fans crash Celtics postgame show, upsetting Brian Scalabrine
The Philadelphia 76ers finally got one over on the Boston Celtics by winning Game 7 at the Garden, and Sixers fans weren’t going to let anyone forget about it, especially Brian Scalabrine. The Sixers came back from a 3-1 series deficit in surprising circumstances to win their first series against their Eastern Conference rivals since…
Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow explains deleted tweets following CNN report
ActBlue sues Texas AG Ken Paxton, alleging political retaliation over Democrats' fundraising
ActBlue sues Texas AG Ken Paxton, alleging he used his office to retaliate against the Democratic fundraising platform ahead of his Senate runoff.
Study: In Arizona, party politics play outsized role in passing bills
Arizona's Democrats have been nearly shut out of getting their legislation into law — much more so than the minority party in other states, a study says.
All Life on Earth Comes From One Single Ancestor. And It's So Much Older Than We Thought.
Backed by tech money, a moderate Democrat from Silicon Valley mounts a bid for California governor
The race to lead the country’s biggest blue state has been defined by voter concerns about their quality of life in California and the influence of special interests in Sacramento.
FEMA and the American people deserve better than Trump’s political lackeys
The Official Website of the House Committee on Homeland Security
Austin Democrats brace for more redistricting efforts next year
Recent rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court could spur a third effort to redraw Texas' congressional maps since the 2020 census.
Curing U.S. Health Care, Part II
On March 23, 2010 President Barack Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act — usually referred to either as the Affordable Care Act or as Obamacare — into law. Joe Biden, then the vice president, could be overheard whispering “This is a big fucking deal.” And it was. The ACA, which went into full effect in 2014, created a system of subsidies and regulations designed to make health insurance available to many Americans who had previously been left out. It worked: In 2010 there were 47 million uninsured people in America, but by 2016 this number had dropped to 27 million. This still fell short of the universal health insurance that every other advanced nation has, but it was real progress. In 2017, during his first term, Donald Trump tried to destroy the ACA, replacing it with the American Health Care Act — legislation that would have eliminated most of the provisions that expanded health insurance under Obama. At the time the Congressional Budget Office projected that the G.O.P.’s replacement bill would nearly double the number of Americans without health insurance, increasing the total uninsured population by 23 million and undoing all of the progress achieved under the ACA. However, the attack on Obamacare failed by one vote in the Senate, and the ensuing public backlash against the G.O.P. delivered a large victory in the 2018 midterms to the Democrats. After these developments many observers assumed that the ACA had become a more or less permanent feature of American life. Such assessments, however, failed to take into account the deep hostility of the U.S. right toward policies that expand access to healthcare. As we’ll see, this hostility goes back generations. And the second Trump administration has taken actions that the CBO projects will add 16 million people to the rolls of the uninsured by 2034. How did we get here? And now what? Today’s primer will analyze the political economy of U.S. healthcare since the 1940s and the combination of danger and opportunity created by the current crisis. Beyond the paywall I will discuss the following: US health care on the eve of Trump II 80 years of US health politics The Obamacare story The new assault on healthcare
The Sunshine Blog: And So Ends Another Conference Committee Scramble
Short takes, outtakes, our takes and other stuff you should know about public information, government accountability and ethical leadership in Hawai‘i.
Opinion | In a Minneapolis Public School, a Cure for Toxic Politics
This school gave me hope for our democracy.
One Issue Uniting Democrats and Republicans? Worries About A.I.
The growing unease over artificial intelligence is something elements of the left and the right can agree on in a polarized age.
A California Dream? Some Democrats Fear Harris Picked the Wrong Race.
Some wish Kamala Harris had decided to run for governor in California, where Democrats are struggling to break through, rather than weigh another White House run.
A California Dream? Some Democrats Fear Harris Picked the Wrong Race.
Some wish Kamala Harris had decided to run for governor in California, where Democrats are struggling to break through, rather than weigh another White House run.
In Mississippi, a Democrat Challenges the Senator Who Blocked His Judgeship
Scott Colom, a state prosecutor, is running against Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, a Republican who denied him a seat on the federal bench. In a tough year for the G.O.P., Democrats see hope for his long-shot bid.
Today’s Papers – Farewell Zanardi, the Superhero
La Gazzetta dello SportSuperheroFarewell to the man of impossible featsA driver living life always on the edge. The crash and his legs were amputated, then he won the gold medals at the Paralympic Gam...
Kenya violence: As political tension cranks up fears grow of a return to unrest
More than 100 gangs are operating nationwide as the growing use of political thugs raises fears of election violence.
Mariners share Cal Raleigh health update after being scratched from lineup
Cal Raleigh will be alright.
Trump disapproval reaches new high, Post-ABC-Ipsos poll finds
Democrats now hold a five-point advantage in support for Congress, up from two points in February.
Cal Raleigh scratched late from Mariners lineup
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh was a late scratch from the lineup on Saturday. The Mariners did not immediately announce why Raleigh was out. Raleigh, who was the runner-up for AL MVP last season after hitting 60 homers and driving in 125 RBI, is hitting .186 with seven homers and 18 RBI through 33 games.
Inside Democratic Fundraiser ActBlue’s Big Spending and Internal Drama
The group faces investigations from the Justice Department and congressional Republicans six months before the 2026 midterms.
Rep. Greg Casar pushes 'accountability and affordability message for Democrats in Austin
The Austin-area Democrat promised to hold Republicans accountable and tackle affordability, but danced around the thorny issue of state Rep. James Talarico's credibility with Black voters.
‘The reality, for better or worse’: Columbia comp sci students and faculty grapple with AI’s disruption of the field
‘The reality, for better or worse’: Columbia comp sci students and faculty grapple with AI’s disruption of the field ‘The reality, for better or worse’: Columbia comp sci students and faculty grapple with AI’s disruption of the field A field that once seemed like a direct path to stable, lucrative work is becoming less certain under AI, students and faculty told Spectator. By Ria Vasishtha and Arjun Menon May 3, 2026 Shanying Liu / Deputy Illustrations Editor Asia Genawi, SEAS ’29, first encountered artificial intelligence during her sophomore year at her high school in Indiana. Back in 2023, policies on AI varied widely—even within the same district—and some schools had no guidance at all. As Genawi began to see the effects of AI trickle into her classroom, she turned to guidance from her home state’s Department of Education, which she said she found “outdated and inaccessible.” Genawi spent the rest of her high school career dedicated to the issue, including writing a 15-page memo exploring varying AI policies across Indiana schools, which she sent to every Indiana state senator and representative whose contact information she was able to find. She later helped draft a bill that would have required public high schools to establish and share their own AI policies with students in an accessible format. But with so many other bills already awaiting referral, hers never made it to committee. When Genawi arrived at Columbia to study computer science, she found that the gaps she had spent years trying to address in Indiana had followed her there. Many students and professors were also grappling with what AI meant for the field. Across Columbia’s undergraduate schools, computer science has become the most popular major—accounting for around 11 percent of degrees awarded in Columbia College, 32 percent in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and 12 percent in the School of General Studies in 2024. While the number of computer science majors in SEAS grew from 166 to 173 during the 2024-25 academic year, the total number across the three schools fell around 4.5 percent from 393 to 375, driven by declines at Columbia College and General Studies. At Barnard, it has grown to become the second most popular major as of 2025, up from third the year prior. The number of degrees awarded have grown fivefold since 2016. Faculty members and students in the department told Spectator that the surge in the major’s popularity has been driven in large part by its apparent promise of a secure, well-paid career path. However, they noted that the recent rise of generative AI has compromised the sense of stability that once defined the field, even as interest in technical skills among students persists. According to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in 2024, out of 74 majors tracked, computer science had the fifth highest unemployment rate among majors at 7 percent, while computer engineering had the second highest at 7.8 percent. “Anecdotally, people are moving away from CS as a major,” Daniel Bauer, a senior lecturer in the computer science department, said. “They’re still taking some of our classes, right, because they think they need that, but they’re instead majoring in other things.” Bauer described a field that had shifted from what he called a “nerdy outlier discipline” to one that “everyone needs,” a sign that technical skills have become a baseline expectation across industries with the emergence of AI. “A lot of people thought, ‘Oh, it’s a guaranteed path to a stable income. You get a six-figure job right out of your undergrad,’” Bauer said. Now, companies may see AI as a way to reduce demand for entry-level programmers, especially in what he calls “code monkey jobs,” roles where a large number of employees are “just writing out code nine-to-five.” Chris Murphy, a senior lecturer in the computer science department, described the current moment as the convergence of two forces: the downturn of the job market and generative AI coming onto the scene. “Things kind of started to really pick up in 2014, 16,” he said, recalling the years after the weaker 2010 market. Murphy added that this was also a period where “students were getting more experience outside of class than they were inside of class” through internships, jobs, and side projects. Murphy suggested that the earlier momentum helped make computer science feel like both an academic program and a reliable pathway into work. That feeling is harder to sustain now as the industry reconfigures, which is a shift that students are seeing firsthand. Rebecca Yu, SEAS ’27, said that during a recent internship in Big Tech, she saw that “every single tech company was racing to integrate” large language models. She added that her manager said her intern class was the first to complete their assigned projects, which she attributed to the increased efficiency that comes with AI. Frank Liu, SEAS ’29, said that with AI lowering the barrier to coding, companies now expect everyone to write code. “A lot of companies outright say if you’re not using coding in your job, you might get fired for not being productive enough,” Liu said. Yu similarly expressed that students increasingly have to accept AI being a part of industry workflow, adding that many also “make use of it to maximize their productivity.” Richard Li, CC ’28, described a “franticness” among his peers as the pace of change accelerates. He explained how “some new tool” is released regularly, noting that tools rise and fall in prominence within weeks. He has come to believe that he doesn’t need to “match that speed all the time” and keep up with every development. Li has learned that AI tools allow him to “take a breath” and “get back into the loop much easier than before” when he needs to. While some companies specifically target Columbia when hiring, sending representatives to campus career fairs and recruiting large numbers from Columbia, a computer science degree cannot be treated as a static credential, Yu described. “You can’t just get your degree and stop learning after that. You have to always be learning,” Yu said. “That is something you basically have to expect for your job.” AI has not only affected students’ decisions to major in computer science, but also reshaped how the subject is taught. Across departments, faculty members no longer treat work done outside the classroom as a reliable measure of understanding, shifting instead toward in-person exams, quizzes, and attendance checks. While homework once made up as much as 60 to 70 percent of a student’s grade in computer science classes, Murphy said that breakdown has since flipped, with exams and quizzes now accounting for the majority. “The assumption—especially among pessimists—is that they’re using it to do their homework,” Murphy said. “They take the homework assignment. They put it into generative AI. Out comes the solution. Submit solution. The end.” Murphy said that faculty members ranged in their responses from fully prohibiting AI use to actively teaching students how to effectively work with AI. He said he shifted his approach this year after his teaching assistants called his belief that students weren’t using the technology “naïve,” and now permits students to use AI on assignments. His surveys of students in his introductory classes have told a more complicated story than the one so-called pessimists offer: Around 60 to 70 percent of students who reported using AI said they used it to have concepts explained to them, to clarify assignment instructions, to generate test cases, or to create practice questions. “Those are all ways that you might have had a tutor in the past to do that, and now you have this AI essentially as your tutor,” he said. Bauer has taken a different approach, teaching students how to use AI productively without sacrificing the core principles of the discipline. “People who are trained to actually use AI tools productively, while being in charge of designing the overall project, will be very much in demand in the next couple of years,” he said. Over the past year, a working group of computer science faculty has been redesigning the introductory and intermediate programming sequence to integrate generative AI as both a subject and a tool, representatives from SEAS wrote in a statement to Spectator. The effort is “coordinated” across the department, “not course-by-course,” with a systematic assessment of how AI integration is affecting student outcomes underway to shape the next round of changes. The goal, the department explained, is for students to be able to “read, verify, and reason about code, whether they or a model wrote it.” Tony Dear, senior lecturer in the computer science department, is piloting individualized AI feedback in a discrete mathematics course, while a machine learning course is also testing a Socratic AI dialogue system designed to “guide inquiry rather than supply answers,” the statement reads. Beyond individual courses, SEAS funded seven cross-departmental faculty projects in generative AI this past academic year, spanning biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, industrial engineering, and computer science, according to the statement. This phenomenon extends beyond the computer science department. SEAS’ new AI minor, which it announced in November 2025, reflects the University’s attempt to adapt. The minor is specifically designed for noncomputer science majors and aims to provide “essential AI knowledge” while emphasizing practical and responsible use across disciplines, according to the SEAS website. At the center of the minor is AI in Context, a course taught by a team of faculty from the departments of computer science, applied mathematics, philosophy, music, literature, and the Writing Center, the representatives told Spectator. Bauer described it as targeted at students who want to bring AI into fields like economics or biology, rather than as a path into software engineering itself. At the graduate level, SEAS announced a new Master of Science in artificial intelligence in February, with the inaugural cohort starting in the fall. While recognizing how AI has helped them navigate coursework, students also described its rise as isolating, even among members of the Application Development Initiative, one of Columbia’s largest computer science clubs. “As people start to ask AI for questions that they would normally ask students and members, it starts to isolate people” Li said. Alexa Kafka, BC ’27, echoed Li’s sentiment, pointing out that computer science has always been a collaborative discipline with code reviews and pull requests, even as AI makes independent work easier. Despite this, Kafka noted that she hasn’t been to office hours “in at least a year.” Bauer added that faculty are exploring long-term solutions to the assessment problem. “One of the things that we’re trying to do at the department or school level is to maybe move towards computerized testing facilities,” Bauer said, referring to ideas in the department to revitalize computer labs as an alternative to pen-and-paper exams. “We have to accept that this is the reality, for better or worse.” But more exams, students say, does not mean better learning, nor does it reflect how computer science is actually done. “Code is so variable and can be approached in so many directions, there’s never just going to be one correct answer. There can be multiple optimal solutions,” Kafka said. Students also expressed concern that the shift toward exam-heavy grading pulls focus away from the applied, project-based work that better reflects both discipline and industry expectations. ADI has tried to respond more quickly than the curriculum can. Through a vibe coding workshop this past semester, club members said they wanted to help students understand not just that AI exists, but how to use it deliberately. “Vibe coding” refers to the practice of prompting AI to write code for a task or project, and has become widespread enough that ADI felt the gap in formal instruction was worth addressing, according to Sophia Huang, BC ’29. The workshop introduced students to the concept of context engineering, which Shaina Sahu, SEAS ’27, described as not just writing a prompt, but optimizing “the rest of the relevant information that you would feed into the model.” Without that, students said that AI-generated code can fail at scale or introduce difficult-to-detect bugs. Genawi said the shift toward AI has changed what it means to be good at computer science. “I think the shift has kind of gone towards what can you create and what can you do, instead of, what do you know,” she said. Indeed, during ADI DevFest, its annual hackathon, Li said more teams are trying to complete their projects than in years past. While sign-ups have historically outpaced submissions, Li said this is beginning to change because teams “have a tool that completes the vision for them.” While many students see AI as an equalizer that lowers the barrier to entry for coding and technical work, Murphy said it also creates new equity concerns inside the classroom around who can afford stronger tools and who already knows how to use them. “The equity issues I worry about are students who have access to paid versions of things versus free versions of things,” he said. Although popular AI models like ChatGPT and Claude have free versions available, both have paid models that can reach over $100 per month, which output different qualities of code. Murphy also pointed to differences in prior exposure to AI literacy itself. “Students who go to high schools or K-12 education, where they’re taught AI literacy, prompt engineering, context engineering, they understand how to do this, as opposed to students who go to schools who don’t teach that,” he said. “Then they come in, and then they’re somehow expected to know how to use these tools.” For Genawi, those disparities begin long before students arrive on campus. “It’s very interesting to consider how lucky you were geographically,” she said. “To be born where you were is influencing your ability to get access to these spaces.” Students like Yu, though broadly apprehensive about the future of computer science, are not without hope. “I’m optimistic, because I think if you’re truly passionate about CS, there will definitely be a place in the field to do something you want to do,” she said. Senior Staff Writer Ria Vasishtha can be contacted at ria.vasishtha@columbiaspectator.com. Follow Spectator on X @ColumbiaSpec. Staff Writer Arjun Menon can be contacted at arjun.menon@columbiaspectator.com. Follow Spectator on X @ColumbiaSpec. Want to keep up with breaking news? Subscribe to our email newsletter and like Spectator on Facebook. Produced with Spectate by Emily Ta
Delayed Louisiana Primaries Stoke Confusion at Ballot Box
On the first day of early voting, some glimpses of voter bewilderment came into focus, part of a dizzying scramble playing out days after a major Supreme Court ruling.
Person found dead in car after it plows into health club in Portland, Oregon
Investigators find explosives in car, which crashed into Multnomah Athletic Club shortly before 3am Saturday
Person found dead in vehicle with evidence of explosive device after crash into Oregon health club, police say
One person is dead following a fiery crash at a health club early Saturday in Portland, Oregon, and evidence of an explosive device was found in the vehicle, police said.
1 person dead after vehicle crashes into an Oregon health club, police say
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — One person is dead following a fiery crash at a health club early Saturday in Portland, Oregon, and evidence of an explosive device was found in the vehicle, police said.
1 dead after vehicle crashes into Oregon health club, police say
Police say one person is dead following a crash at a health club early Saturday in Portland, Oregon
1 person dead after vehicle crashes into an Oregon health club, police say
One person is dead following a fiery crash at a health club early Saturday in Portland, Oregon, and evidence of an explosive device was found in the vehicle, police said. Little information was immed...
Rep. Michael McCaul warns Texas Republicans not to nominate Ken Paxton for Senate
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Power & Politics: Gov. Sherrill speaks on her first 100 days in office; Sen. Joe Cryan and Sen. Jon Bramnick discuss civility in politics
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The politics of Trump's ballroom
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida — President Trump was about a half-hour into his second speech of the day, musing about the danger he faced last week at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. “Saturday night, it was good for one thing. People are loving my ballroom now,” Trump told a crowd last night. “That’s the only thing. They love my ballroom.” Ever since he was hustled off stage at the Washington Hilton last week, after an attempted shooter breached the dinner’s security perimeter and sent guests diving to the floor, the president has argued that the incident is proof for why his White House ballroom is needed. Only his planned $400 million, 90,000-square-foot project, Trump has reasoned, can keep a president truly safe at major events. It’s true that a bunch of GOP lawmakers have jumped on board with new legislation and words of support for Trump’s project. House Speaker Mike Johnson, Sen. Rand Paul and other prominent Republicans went on TV to talk about the need for a ballroom. But as we reported at The Washington Post this week, “people” aren’t really changing their minds on Trump’s ballroom. A new Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll found that most Americans still oppose the ballroom project: 56 percent against it versus 28 percent in favor. The numbers are the same as a poll from last year, the Post’s polling whiz Scott Clement found. Other new polls have found similar margins, too. “I’m just not a giant fan, especially of extravagance,” one independent voter told me. “I mean, in the era we’re in right now, given how much people are struggling, it just doesn’t make a lot of sense to me to spend $400 million on a ballroom.” How we got here The Washington Post has followed Trump’s ballroom project very closely. (My colleague Jonathan Edwards may have written the most total words of any reporter about the project; I may be second.) The project exploded as a national issue after Trump tore down the White House’s East Wing after initially promising not to touch it.1 Historic preservationists sued, and about a month ago, a federal judge ordered a halt to ballroom construction.2 The only way the ballroom could proceed, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled, was if Congress explicitly authorized Trump’s plans. (An appeals court has stayed Leon’s order for now.) The judge’s ruling raised an obvious question: would Congress authorize the project? Keep in mind, “authorization” doesn’t mean that Congress needs to necessarily fund the planned $400 million project; they could just sign off on the private donations that Trump has solicited to pay for the ballroom.3 But GOP lawmakers really didn’t want to talk about the ballroom, we reported at The Post just a few weeks ago. One major reason was the ballroom’s bad polling — not a small detail with many of their own midterm elections looming. The White House Correspondents’ Dinner incident, and Trump’s advocacy, may have changed the political conversation around the ballroom. As this week’s polling shows, it doesn’t seem to have affected the fundamental questions surrounding the project. To put it another way, voters still say that cost-of-living concerns are top-of-mind heading into the midterms. Some Republican and independent voters have told me that they see the ballroom as a vanity project that will help Trump but do nothing for their own lives. It might not help Republicans that Trump has dismissed some of the cost-of-living concerns. He’s described “affordability” as a buzzword manufactured by Democrats whose policies helped cause inflation. “They’ve got one good line of bullshit,” Trump said in his first speech yesterday, delivered at a Florida retirement community known as The Villages. Thanks for reading Dan Diamond's newsletter! Subscribe for free to stay up-to-date on my work. Subscribe Speaking of Trump’s speeches… I’m down in Florida because it’s my “duty week” as a White House reporter — basically, I follow the president wherever he goes. (And then hand the baton off to one of my Washington Post colleagues next week.) As part of my duty week, I’ve spent a few days covering the White House’s reaction to Saturday’s attempted shooting, including officials’ review of the security protocols to protect the president. Trump was restrained in the wake of the incident, addressing the nation from the White House briefing room about the need for peaceful dialogue and trying to lower the temperature. But he’s clearly been itching to get back out of the White House, and I was curious to hear how his Florida speeches would go. And — to my ears — it was an unburdened Trump. Not the one we saw Saturday night in the White House briefing room, but the one we witnessed on the campaign trail in 2024. Loose, dropping profanities, mocking everyone, including members of his team. “We have a man here who knows more about Medicaid, Medicare, medical crap than any human being. Where’s Dr. Oz? Where the hell are you, stand up,” Trump said, referring to Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. “It’s the most boring trip I’ve ever made. He’s telling me about Medicare, Medicaid. All I want to do is take care of you, I don’t care. I said, ‘You work out the details.’” I wrote up the speech, as Trump headed to West Palm Beach to deliver more remarks a few hours later. The White House didn’t like my story. Their rapid-response team called it the work of a “total loser”4 and “a miserable TDS-ridden moron.” You can be the judge of whether it’s a fair story or the product of someone afflicted with “TDS.” (The White House’s shorthand for “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”) I’ve pasted the story below with a gift link, meaning that you don’t need to be a Washington Post subscriber to read it. It might prompt you for an email address, though. Meanwhile, I’ll be down in Florida for the rest of the weekend, covering the president. It’s TBD whether those stories will be deemed TDS-afflicted, too. 1 Jonathan details the past six months of ballroom fallout, reactions and the implications for executive authority here. I also had a great time talking about Trump’s ballroom and other projects with Australia’s ABC News Daily on a podcast this week. 2 The judge allowed underground construction and national security-related work to continue. But that hasn’t been enough for Trump, who says the ballroom itself is essential for his protection. 3 The ballroom donors include companies like Palantir, Google and Amazon. For transparency, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post, where I work. No one has ever interfered with our team’s coverage of the ballroom or our mentions of Amazon or Bezos, and if that changed, I’d speak out. 4 To be fair, I’ve spent the morning working on stories and writing this Substack post rather than enjoying the beautiful Florida weather. So they may be onto something about who’s winning and who’s losing.
2026 Cram for the Exam AP Government & Politics Exam Review
Former C-SPAN Teacher Fellow and Troy, Michigan teacher Ryan Werenka and Petaluma, California teacher Kevin Jackson answered students' questions about the upcoming Advanced Placement U.S. Government and Politics Exam and shared tips on how students can best prepare for the test.