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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 essays and stories to our website. You may find the archive at News and Opportunities at http://ipg.vt.edu.
If you would like to suggest an article for consideration for this series please contact the series editor at the address below.
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First up is a CNN article that argues that Representative Jim Jordan's (R-OH) bid to become Speaker of the House of Representatives epitomizes what is wrong with today's Republican Party.
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Our second story, from The Daily Beast, contends that President Biden's visit to Israel to show solidarity with that country in light of the current Israel-Hamas conflict was a success.
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A third piece, from NBC News, reports on the legal settlement the Biden Administration has reached with families separated at the border by officials during the Trump Administration.
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Our fourth article, from The Associated Press, examines Donald Tusks victory in the recent Polish national elections and its implications for democracy in that country.
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Last, we share a story from BBC News that highlights the disagreement the United Kingdom's (UK) independent advisory Climate Change Committee has now voiced with that country's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's climate policy.
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.
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Photo: Jim Jordan. Credit to NBC News. |
Jim Jordan sums up what’s wrong with the House GOP
In this feature CNN political analyst Julian Zelizer analyzes Representative Jim Jordan's (R-OH) bid to become the next Speaker of the House of Representatives and argues that his effort showcases the extreme radicalism of today's GOP. Zelizer contends that Jordan would have no problem with shutting the government down in November despite critical ongoing global issues, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, Israel-Hamas conflict, and China-Taiwan tensions. Zelizer argues that Jordan epitomizes the current Republican Party's disinterest in governing.
Zelizer, J. (2023, October 15). “Jim Jordan sums up what’s wrong with the House GOP.” CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/14/opinions/house-republicans-dysfunction-hurts-everyone-zelizer/index.html
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Photo: Biden (left) with Netanyahu (right). Credit to The Daily Beast. | |
Biden’s Israel trip was a gamble that’s already paying off
David Rothkopf argues in this Daily Beast piece that President Joe Biden’s trip to Israel to showcase America’s support for that country was a success. The Israelis are now allowing humanitarian aid to enter Gaza and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly heralded Biden’s support. Perhaps most importantly, in an important address, Biden cautioned Israel to avoid the extremism too often present in U.S. politics and policy following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Rothkopf, D. (2023, October 18). “Biden’s Israel trip was a gamble that’s already paying off.” The Daily Beast. https://www.thedailybeast.com/bidens-israel-trip-was-a-gamble-thats-already-paying-off
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Photo: Immigrant children, many of whom were separated from their parents by Trump administration officials, at a housing complex near the Mexico border in Tornillo, Texas, in 2018. Credit to Vox. | |
Biden admin reaches deal with migrants separated from their families under Trump
This NBC News story reports on the legal settlement reached between the Biden administration and the more than 4,000 migrants separated from their children at the U.S.-Mexico border during the Trump administration. With this agreement those families affected will be allowed to live and work in the U.S. for three years while also receiving housing and mental health services, and legal assistance to apply for asylum. To date, the Biden administration has successfully reunited more than 3,000 of the previously separated children with their parents.
Ainsley, J., & Soboroff, J. (2023, October 16). “Biden admin reaches deal with migrants separated from their families under Trump.” NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/biden-admin-reaches-deal-migrants-separated-families-trump-rcna120587
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Photo: Donald Tusk. Credit to The Associated Press. | |
Polish election winner Donald Tusk appeals to president to move quickly to form a new government
This Associated Press article reviews Polish opposition leader Donald Tusk’s victory in that nation's recent parliamentary elections to oust the governing nationalist conservative party from the majority and reports on his appeal to President Andrzej Duda to appoint a new prime minister who can quickly obtain the new parliament’s approval. The election, which saw three opposition parties' campaign to restore democratic standards in Poland appears to have prevented further democratic erosion in the country during a time of war in bordering Ukraine and tensions with the European Union. Young people and women were seen as most instrumental in the decisive defeat of the Law and Justice Party.
Gera, V., & Scislowska, M. (2023, October 17). “Polish election winner Donald Tusk appeals to president to move quickly to form a new government.” AP News. https://apnews.com/article/poland-election-tusk-results-f687cf22fee9d395e92a08d2b6ab0f03
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Photo: Rishi Sunak. Credit to BBC News. | |
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UK net zero targets “harder to achieve" after PM's speech - advisers
Justin Rowlatt reports in this BBC News piece that the autonomous United Kingdom Climate Change Committee (CCC), which advises the government and reports to Parliament, is arguing that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s loosening of key policies will negatively affect the country’s efforts to achieve its net zero emissions goals. The CCC asserts that Sunak’s promise, for example, that one in five homes would never be required to transition from fossil fuels would mean that many UK homes would still be emitting Carbon Dioxide in 2050—the nation's current deadline for reaching net zero in such emissions. Sunak has argued that he believes his approach is more pragmatic and realistic.
Rowlatt, J. (2023, October 12). “UK net zero targets 'harder to achieve' after PM’s speech - advisers.” BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-67087411
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