Welcome

Dear friends of VTIPG and CCC,

We share five articles each week that we find timely and meaningful that address significant concerns related to the state of our democracy and civil society. We aim to offer pieces that illuminate a wide array of dimensions of our country's policy and governance challenges and the state of social norms that sustain the possibility of addressing them successfully. Please note, the views expressed in these essays do not necessarily reflect the perspectives of VTIPG or Virginia Tech. We also upload these articles and stories to our website. You may find the archive at News and Opportunities at http://ipg.vt.edu. Thank you to the Institute's Community-Based Research Manager Lara Nagle for contributing an NPR piece to this week's edition.

If you would like to suggest an article for consideration, please contact the series editor at the address below.

First up is a CNN article that previews the high-profile case the Supreme Court will soon consider concerning whether former President Donald Trump can appear on state ballots for upcoming presidential primaries and the general election.
Our second piece, from Gallup, reports that Americans recently evidenced the lowest confidence in the country's democratic system since polling on the topic began.
A third story, from NPR, highlights the Brazilian government's program to provide school lunches to that nation's school-age children free of charge.
Our fourth article, from Reuters, also focuses on Brazil and describes how that country has responded since rioters stormed government buildings one year ago to protest the results of the national election.
Last, we share a story from Vox that previews the upcoming Taiwanese national election.

Brief synopses of these articles appear below. We hope the perspectives offered in these pieces encourage reflection and conversation!

Best wishes,

Billy Parvatam

VTIPG Communications Coordinator

pbilly97@vt.edu.

Photo: Supreme Court. Credit to The Supreme Court.

Here's what the Supreme Court faces as justices discuss Trump's eligibility

This article, by Joan Biskupic, which appeared in CNN, discusses the U.S. Supreme Court taking up an election case of an unprecedented nature to determine former President and GOP frontrunner for the 2024 nomination Donald Trump's chances to win the upcoming general election. The high court will determine whether or not states have the right to have Trump's name taken off the ballot for his role in trying to overturn the 2020 election. Although Colorado and Maine have already undertaken this action, other state supreme courts have rejected similar arguments. This case will place the Supreme Court in the middle of a presidential election for the first time since their controversial ruling to stop the recount of the votes in Florida in Bush v. Gore in 2000.

Biskupic, J. (2024, January 6). "Here’s what the Supreme Court faces as justices discuss Trump’s eligibility." CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/05/politics/supreme-court-trump-analysis/index.html

Photo: The American flag. Credit to Wikipedia.

Record low in U.S. satisfied with way democracy is working

This Gallup piece discusses a record low-of 28 percent-of U.S. adults indicating in a recent poll that they are satisfied with the way democracy is working in the country, decreasing from the previous low of 35 percent, which occurred following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S Capitol by a riotous mob. Republican (17%) voters are less likely to say they are satisfied with the state of democracy than are Democrats or Independents. Americans with a postgraduate education (38%) are also more likely to be satisfied with the current state of affairs than are Republicans. Overall, confidence in democracy is at an all-time low as the country heads into a vital national election year.

Jones, J. (2024, January 10). "Record low in U.S. satisfied with way democracy is working." Gallup. https://news.gallup.com/poll/548120/record-low-satisfied-democracy-working.aspx

Photo: A student at Professor Lourdes Heredia Mello Municipal School in São Paulo enjoys an apple for dessert after lunch. Brazil's school lunch program, enshrined in its constitution, is a pillar of the country's anti-poverty efforts. Credit to NPR.

The pandemic sent hunger soaring in Brazil. They're fighting back with school lunches

Jill Langlois discusses Brazil's post-COVID efforts to feed more than 40 million enrolled students—from daycare through high school—in this NPR piece. This government program, which has been widely praised, provides youngsters meals free of charge in order to ensure against food insecurity and hunger, while also providing economic opportunities for local farmers and employment for food service workers.

Langlois, J. (2024, January 8). "The pandemic sent hunger soaring in Brazil. they’re fighting back with school lunches." NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2024/01/08/1222567378/the-pandemic-sent-hunger-soaring-in-brazil-theyre-fighting-back-with-school-lunc

Photo: Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco. Credit to Reuters.

Brazil marks anniversary of Jan. 8 attack on democracy

Ricardo Brito discusses recent efforts by Brazilian authorities to celebrate the vibrancy of their democratic system on January 8th, one year after a right-wing mob invaded and vandalized the nation’s Congressional, Supreme Court, and presidential palace buildings in a violent protest against the country’s election result. The attack was similar to the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection in the U.S. In the year since, far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro has left Brazil for the United States without conceding defeat. To date, more than 2,000 people have been arrested for their role(s) in the riot. Bolsonaro has been banned from running for elected office for eight years.

Brito, R. (2024, January 8). "Brazil marks anniversary of Jan. 8 attack on democracy." Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazil-mark-anniversary-january-8-attack-democracy-2024-01-08/

Photo: Taiwanese vice president and presidential election candidate Lai Ching-te on the campaign trail in Taipei on January 3, 2024. Credit to Vox.

Why Taiwan is 2024's first big election to watch

This article, by Joshua Keating, which appeared in Vox, argues that Taiwan's upcoming presidential contest is significant and should be closely watched. Keating asserts that the main issue of concern to voters is how the leading candidates propose to manage the island's fraught relationship with China. Although neither the Democratic Progressive (DPP) nor the Kuomingtang (KMT) Parties advocate for full independence, the candidates of the two differ in their approach concerning how they propose to work with their nation’s powerful neighbor. The DPP (currently in power), has sought to align closely with the U.S., securing billions of dollars in new arms deals. The KMT, meanwhile, is advocating for closer economic and political ties with China.

Keating, J. (2024, January 6). "Why Taiwan is 2024’s first big election to watch." Vox. https://www.vox.com/world-politics/2024/1/6/24026992/taiwan-china-president-war-xi-jinping-asia-semiconductors-chips

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