Podcasting for the Presidency:Â Candidate Interview Recaps
As Kamala Harris and Donald Trump continue on the campaign trail, both presidential candidates have attempted to reach new audiences of potential voters. In recent months, both candidates have tapped into the expanding podcast industry, appearing on popular shows to speak on political issues and encourage the expanding base of podcast listeners to vote. Recap: […]
Citizens United v. FEC: Understanding the Debate
Background Campaign finance laws are controversial and highly influential in the American election system. Before 2010, Supreme Court rulings in Austin v. Michigan State Chamber of Commerce and McConnell v. FEC upheld regulations by the Federal Election Commission (FEC) that restricted organizational political expenditures and electioneering communications, such as political advertisements. However, in 2010, a […]
North Carolina’s Voter ID Law: Unpacking the Debate Over SB 824
Introduction In the United States, voter ID requirements vary widely by state law. Currently, thirty-eight states strictly require residents to present ID before they can cast a countable ballot. Voter ID laws fall into four types: strict photo, strict non-photo, non-strict photo, and non-strict non-photo. Strict photo ID laws require voters to present photo identification […]
Pros and Cons of New Hampshire’s SB 418: How the New Voter ID Law Affects First-Time Voters
What is SB 418? On June 16, 2022, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu signed a new piece of voting legislation: Senate Bill 418. Before SB 418, first-time voters who could not provide documents proving their identity at a polling place could still cast a ballot by signing a Qualified Voter Affidavit under oath. SB 418 […]
Pros and Cons of New York’s Regulation of Financial Institutions and Chatboxes
Chatbots, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), have become increasingly prevalent in the banking industry. The implementation of chatbots in banking increases customer satisfaction and loyalty through offering instant and round-the-clock support to handle a large volume of customer queries and address customer inquiries promptly. Around 37% of the U.S. population engaged with a bank’s chatbot […]
Understanding the AI in Healthcare Debate
Background What is Artificial Intelligence? Artificial intelligence, more commonly referred to as AI, encompasses many technologies that enable computers to simulate human intelligence and problem solving abilities. AI includes machine learning, which allows computers to imitate human learning, and deep learning, a subset of machine learning that simulates the decision making processes of the human […]
American Privacy Rights Act: Pros, Cons, and Impact on Consumer Data Protection
Introduction The American Privacy Rights Act (APRA) is a new bill introduced in Spring 2024 that seeks to implement a nationwide set of consumer privacy laws. Currently, no national framework exists. A previous bill with similar goals, the American Data Privacy Protection Act, failed to pass in 2022. The APRA would, among other things: Support […]
Understanding PADFA: The Pros and Cons of the Federal Government’s Approach to American Data Privacy
A new law addressing the national security risks of the data brokerage industry took effect on June 23, 2024, following bipartisan approval in January. The bill, known as the Protecting Americans’ Data from Foreign Adversaries Act or PADFAA, seeks to limit the transfer of sensitive American data to firms owned or controlled by Russia, China, […]
Should Election Day Become a Federal Holiday? Weighing the Benefits and Drawbacks
Election Day is always held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November during an election year. Congress codified this tradition in 1845 to account for the nation’s largely agrarian labor force who needed most other days of the week to tend to their crops, travel, or worship. In modern times, many argue that […]
Freedom to Vote Act: Pros, Cons, and Impact on U.S. Elections
Background The Freedom to Vote Act (FTVA) is a bill under consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives that would expand protections for voting rights in the United States. The bill was originally introduced in 2019 during the 116th U.S. Congress as the For the People Act (FTPA). After being blocked in the Senate, the […]