State of the Union
Debate Primer: Jury Trials
This week Political Union is hosting a debate regarding jury trials and if they should be abolished in the US. This primer is a good way to read up on the topic.
The Shark Crisis: A Case for a Ban on Shark Fishing in the United States
Connor Caserio argues that, in light of a global shark population crisis, the United States should ban the fishing of sharks.
Discussion Primer: Performative Activism
This week, PU will host a discussion about performative activism, what to make of its varying consequences, and how it manifests itself on social media and among students.
A Conversation About Trans Athletics
Parker Stava and Felix Beilin go back and forth on the polarizing subject of trans youth participation in organized sports.
Debate Primer: Domestic Surveillance
This week, Political Union will debate whether domestic surveillance is in the public interest.
The War in Ukraine Dims Hope for a Global Energy Transition
The war in Ukraine is renewing a push for energy security in the Global North. But what does it mean for energy transition efforts in the Global South?
Debate Primer: Lottocracy
This week, Political Union will debate whether the US should choose its members of the House of Representatives through a lottery system.
Debate Primer: Congressional Term Limits
This week, Political Union will debate whether the US should impose term limits on its members of Congress.
It’s Time For the Olympics to Adopt Permanent Locations
Zack Lori argues in this week’s essay that the era of traveling Olympic games has ended - it’s time to select permanent hosts.
Debate Primer: Euthanasia
This week, Political Union will debate whether the US should legalize voluntary active euthanasia.
Abortion, Eviction, and More: How the Media is Wrong on SCOTUS
Harry Xie examines in a guest essay how the media has mischaracterized the nature of the Supreme Court’s most controversial decisions throughout this term.
China has showed their hand with the 2022 Winter Olympics
Parker Stava argues that China’s authoritarian behavior is on full display as the 2022 Beijing Olympics begin.
Debate Primer: Defending Ukraine
This week, Political Union will debate whether the United States should send troops to Ukraine in case of Russian invasion.
Why Federalizing Elections with H.R.1 is a Bad Idea (and what we should do instead)
Guest writer Will Paschke makes the case against the “For the People Act,” which stalled in Congress earlier this year, and proposes alternative voting rights solutions.
A Closer Look at the ISIL Prison Break
A prison break in northeast Syria in late January led to a two-week battle for control of the detention facility, where tens of thousands of ISIL fighters and family members are held. But is the prison break a turning point in ISIL’s strategy, or a symptom of the regional government’s political predicament?
Debate Primer: Biden’s First Year
This week, Political Union will debate whether the first year of the Biden presidency has been successful.
The Imperative of Stopping EU Expansion
Zack Lori makes the case against continued expansion of the European Union - because of tricky diplomacy, and the legislative circumstances that already make the EU remarkably inefficient.
Debate Primer: American Patriotism
This week, Political Union will debate whether American patriotism is good.
Climate Change as National Security
We’ve traditionally thought of China and Russia as our greatest geopolitical foes. But as the Earth warms, changes to agriculture and natural disaster patterns mean that climate change is the most formidable national security we’ve faced to date.
Debate Primer: Cancel Student Debt
This week, Political Union debates whether the United States should cancel student debt.
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.