State of the Union
Democratic Backsliding in Myanmar
This week, Myanmar’s military engineered what international observers agree is a coup. We break down what that means for democracy in Myanmar, the geopolitics of the region, and where the crisis might go in the future.
Debate Primer: Sin Taxes
This week, Political Union will debate whether sin taxes make for effective and ethical government policy.
A "Kraken" of an Explainer on the Georgia Runoffs
Control of the Senate will come down to a double runoff election on January 5 in Georgia, after Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock both pulled their Republican rivals below the 50% threshold for victory and forced a do-over in the November general. Warnock, in his race against incumbent Kelly Loeffler, finished seven points ahead of her, albeit within a field crowded with eight candidates receiving more than 1% of the vote. Republican David Perdue finished just under two points ahead of Ossoff, and was denied outright victory by far less than the number of votes received by Libertarian Shane Hazel.
Debate Prep: Northwestern’s Endowment
This week, Political Union will debate whether NU should draw more heavily on its endowment to ease the financial burden to the community presented by COVID-19.
Discussion Prep: School Reopenings During COVID
This week, Political Union will host a discussion about whether and how schools from kindergarten to postgraduate should reopen this fall. Here’s some background info on the efforts underway to do so across the country.
What is the Epoch Times?
What is the Epoch Times? Why is it all over YouTube, what are its political origins, and what kind of effect might it have had on the election so far?
Debate Prep: Northwestern’s Endowment
As the US gears up for another Supreme Court confirmation battle, Political Union will debate whether the number of justices on the court should be increased.
An Open Letter to Progressives Against Biden
Pamela Chen (executive board member and creator of a recently viral Instagram infographic) makes the progressive case for voting for Joe Biden in this year’s presidential election.
Debate Prep: The American Dream
This week, PU will debate whether the American Dream still exists in the US. But what do we even mean when we refer to it?
The Politics of Love: Marianne Williamson for President
2020-2021 PU co-president Sachin Shukla makes the case for Marianne Williamson for president - and, more importantly, why her diagnosis of the flaws in our political system is as urgent as ever.
How Trump Wins
As President Trump slips further into underdog status, Felix Beilin critically evaluates various strategies he might use between now and election day to turn the tide in his favor.
Instant Runoff Voting: A Means to Destroying the Two Party System?
The case against instant runoffs and ranked choice voting, which has been gaining steam as a method of supposedly giving voters a stronger say on their ballots.
The Briefest of Histories of How We Got Here
As the nation begins a long-overdue reckoning with racial tension and injustice, here’s a brief history of policing in America and a few suggestions for where to look for further reading.
Why Britons Want Boris Johnson’s Closest Adviser Fired
Boris Johnson’s approval rating has slipped 20 points since Friday. The Conservatives’ polling lead over their Labour opponents has nearly halved in recent days. The cause? A coronavirus scandal regarding an unelected bureaucrat who many feel isn’t being held accountable.
Why Britons Want Boris Johnson’s Closest Adviser Fired
Boris Johnson’s approval rating has slipped 20 points since Friday. The Conservatives’ polling lead over their Labour opponents has nearly halved in recent days. The cause? A coronavirus scandal regarding an unelected bureaucrat who many feel isn’t being held accountable.
A Dialogue re: ASG Adani Coal Mine Resolution
Hey everyone, today we’re trying something new. The two of us (Felix and Zack) are going to briefly summarize our disagreements over a recent development on campus: ASG’s resolution opposing the Adani Carmichael coal mine in Eastern Australia.
Debate Prep: Has China Eclipsed the US?
This week’s debate focuses on the relative power of China and the United States--we’re leaving the measurements and details up to you. In the meantime, here’s a brief refresher on the trajectory of China’s economy, as well as some of the geopolitical initiatives the country has taken. Since China’s position within the global COVID-19 crisis is also relevant to this discussion, we’ll briefly summarize the state of their response at the end.
Meet our editors
Felix Beilin is a junior majoring in political science and journalism. His areas of interest include political communication and the politics of Europe.
Connor Caserio is a freshman with an undecided major. He is interested in environmental politics, international relations, and transportation and infrastructure policy, among other issues.
Parker Stava is a freshman studying biology, Science in Human Culture, and political science. He is interested in the intersection of science, religion, and politics. Additionally, his political interests include congressional and presidential politics, domestic issues, and voting patterns.