The decision to make same-sex marriage the law of the land has roiled many conservatives, some of whom say the court is guilty of “judicial tyranny.” The decisions, they argue, show the court is becoming politicized. Supreme Court justices are appointed by the president to lifetime terms. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has gone so far as to call for the justices to face election.
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Did the Supreme Court Overreach on Controversial Rulings?
Posted July 8th, 2015 at 4:12 pm (UTC-4)
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Grexit or Not? Eurozone Leaders Attempt to Stem Crisis
Posted July 7th, 2015 at 10:48 am (UTC-4)
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As Eurozone leaders discuss a deal to pull Greece from the brink of economic collapse, Greek banks are rapidly running out of euros and the government will very likely default on some $7.5 billion in debt due later this month. The dire economic scenario has many asking if Greece will exit the Eurozone, a move that observers say could sink the country further into financial disaster.
2016 Democratic Hopeful Bernie Sanders’ Populist Message Resonates
Posted July 6th, 2015 at 1:44 pm (UTC-4)
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CNN has dubbed it the “summer of Sanders,” referring to the surprising popularity and poll numbers of the 73 year-old U.S. senator from Vermont. While Hillary Clinton has the big money of the Democratic Party machine behind her, Sanders appears to have the American public’s attention by channeling the frustrations of the middle class.
Americans Mark Independence Day
Posted July 3rd, 2015 at 10:58 am (UTC-4)
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Amid celebrations of our independence from Great Britain this July 4th, Americans are rightly worried about their future in a chaotic world. Between the threat of the Islamic State, containing Iran’s nuclear program and the economic struggles of America’s working poor, it’s easy to be pessimistic. But for many the world over, the promise of the United States remains the hope of the world.
US-Cuba Rapprochement Advances with Reopening of US Embassy in Havana
Posted July 2nd, 2015 at 1:25 pm (UTC-4)
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More than 50 years after the United States government left Cuba, later this summer Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Havana to reopen the American embassy. The announcement is not entirely a surprise given that normalization of ties had already begun last year.
But while there is widespread agreement that it’s time to let go of Soviet-era policies, activists worry that an uptick in human rights abuses by the Cuban government does not bold well for democracy.
Once a Republican Favorite, Gov. Chris Christie Joins 2016 Race with Political Baggage
Posted July 1st, 2015 at 3:06 pm (UTC-4)
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New Jersey’s tough-talking Chris Christie is the 14th Republican to seek the nomination to be the party’s presidential candidate. Despite an uphill battle to regain his former status near the top of the heap, Christie opened his campaign in his usual blunt style. The cure for Washington’s dysfunction, he said, is his willingness to tackle the most difficult issues facing Americans.
Supreme Court Rulings Suggest Social, Political Shift
Posted June 30th, 2015 at 3:36 pm (UTC-4)
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As the court winds up its term, decisions on controversial cases such as Obamacare and same-sex marriage have provoked heated debate. Supporters are hailing the constitutional inclusiveness of the rulings, while more conservative observers are decrying a court that they argue has overstepped its boundaries.
Supreme Court Ruling on Gay Marriage Marks Profound Cultural Shift
Posted June 29th, 2015 at 1:22 pm (UTC-4)
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Last week’s landmark 5 to 4 decision on the constitutionality of same-sex marriage is a watershed moment. To supporters, it was the culmination of decades of court petitions and a non-stop activist movement. Opponents largely blasted the justices for imposing their judicial will inappropriately, and trampling on states rights. Either way, gay marriage now has the blessing of the highest court in the land.
Donald Trump Makes Bid for Republican Ticket
Posted June 26th, 2015 at 12:49 pm (UTC-4)
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In our continuing series on the 2016 American presidential hopefuls, we look at Donald Trump, a straight-talking, sometimes offensive, billionaire businessman. On the plus side, columnists point to Trump’s business acumen as critical to job creation. And the naysayers? “The Donald” is always entertaining, but not White House material.
New Doubts Arise as Deadline for Iran Nuclear Deal Looms
Posted June 25th, 2015 at 2:30 pm (UTC-4)
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With negotiations down to the wire for a set goal of a June 30 deal to limit Iran’s nuclear program, observers worry that next week’s deadline will pass with a bad deal – or no deal at all. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei’s rhetoric has hardened, and some experts worry President Obama could sign off on a deal that does little to restrain Tehran.
Obama Shifts Policy on US Hostages
Posted June 24th, 2015 at 2:04 pm (UTC-4)
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The gruesome beheadings of Americans in captivity by IS militants last year prompted sharp and very public criticism by their families over the long-standing strict US stance of no concessions to hostage-takers. Today, the White House announced new guidelines, which will allow families to negotiate and privately pay ransom to win their loved one’s freedom without the threat of prosecution.
Focus of South Carolina Massacre Turns to Confederate Flag
Posted June 23rd, 2015 at 1:50 pm (UTC-4)
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As the mourning continues for the nine African Americans killed execution-style by a young white man, sentiment is growing for the removal of the Confederate flag in South Carolina, site of the massacre. The flag is a relic of the U.S. Civil War, fought 150 years ago over the issue of the enslavement of black people. It may be appropriate that the state in which the Civil War’s first shots were fired is the starting ground for the movement to take the Confederate flag down.
An Uncomfortable, Yet Unavoidable, Debate
Posted June 22nd, 2015 at 3:04 pm (UTC-4)
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With the shooting of nine African Americans by Dylann Roof, an avowed white supremacist, the nation’s unresolved and tormented history of racism has emerged. It remains a controversial hot-button topic: painful, hard to talk about and even harder to stop. But observers are increasingly calling for a movement to banish it.
South Carolina Church Massacre: Hate Crime or Terrorism?
Posted June 19th, 2015 at 12:58 pm (UTC-4)
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The killing of nine people at the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston by a young white man has thrust gun control and racism front and center once again in America. Among the many pained questions being asked is whether or not the shooting should be defined as a hate crime or an act of terror.
Is the Vatican the Right Place to Preach About Climate Change? Pope Francis Thinks So.
Posted June 18th, 2015 at 1:17 pm (UTC-4)
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Environmentalists hope the message from Francis’ encyclical will spur nations to act ahead of the UN climate conference later this year. But church observers say Francis’ message is really about the poor and society’s most vulnerable, who, he writes, suffer the most when the earth’s natural resources are abused.