Once again, ranked choice voting improved New York City elections. It’s a sentiment that keeps surfacing, and for good reason. Ranked choice voting, or RCV, is proving itself to be a more robust and representative system, particularly when compared to the traditional “first past the post” method still widely used across the United States. While no system is perfect, the benefits of RCV are becoming increasingly clear with each election cycle, specifically in New York City.
The most significant advantage of RCV is its impact on the political landscape. It empowers voters to support the candidate they truly believe in, rather than forcing them into strategic voting scenarios where they have to choose the “lesser of two evils.”… Continue reading
Report: More Texans crossed state lines to get an abortion than anywhere in the U.S.
It’s pretty clear, isn’t it? The sheer size of Texas, combined with its restrictive abortion laws, makes it almost inevitable that a significant number of Texans would seek care elsewhere. This report isn’t just a headline; it’s a direct consequence of political choices. The fact that Texas leads in this grim statistic speaks volumes about the state’s policies and their impact on women’s access to healthcare. It is a reality, and the numbers bear it out.
Report: More Texans crossed state lines to get an abortion than anywhere in the U.S.… Continue reading
This week, several Dutch government websites experienced temporary outages due to coordinated DDoS attacks. The attacks, claimed by pro-Russian hackers, targeted municipal portals, hindering access to public information and services. Although online services were disrupted, no internal systems were breached, or sensitive data compromised. The incidents, part of a broader Russian strategy of digital disruption, aimed to test defenses and undermine public confidence in digital infrastructure. The Dutch government is reviewing cybersecurity protocols while advising municipalities to bolster web protections and explore alternative communication methods.
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Following the 2022 decriminalization of cannabis, Thailand is tightening its grip on the herb by prohibiting recreational sales without a prescription. This decision, spurred by public concerns regarding youth access and addiction rates, will reclassify cannabis buds as a controlled substance. The new regulations, signed by the health minister, come amidst a government shift and are intended to revert the policy to focus on medical use only. Industry members and tourists alike have expressed shock and concern over the potential reversal of a billion-dollar industry, with the exact implementation date remaining unclear.
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The Russian economy is facing a deteriorating outlook, with potential risks extending beyond public acknowledgments. Banking officials express growing concern regarding the level of bad debt within their financial institutions. These concerns are primarily fueled by the increasing number of corporate and retail clients failing to meet their loan obligations. High interest rates are significantly contributing to these payment defaults, raising the risk of a potential systemic banking crisis within the next year.
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This comprehensive list meticulously details the sovereign nations and territories around the world. The compilation includes recognized countries, along with their formal names, and often, past and current political designations. Moreover, various dependencies, special administrative regions, and overseas territories are also represented. It serves as a valuable reference, cataloging the diverse geopolitical landscape of the globe.
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Ukrainian military intelligence has reported a successful drone operation in Crimea, targeting and disabling key components of Russia’s air defense systems. Specifically, reconnaissance drones from the Prymary special unit hit two 92N2E radar control systems, two 91N6E target detection radars, and one S-400 missile launcher. These attacks severely weaken Russian air defenses as the targeted radar systems are essential for the functionality of anti-aircraft systems. Footage released by the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine shows the combat operations against these strategically important targets.
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Following a two-day NATO summit, Senator Mike Lee introduced the “Not A Trusted Organization (NATO) Act,” aiming to withdraw the U.S. from the alliance, citing its irrelevance and burden on American taxpayers. The act would direct President Trump to formally notify the North Atlantic Council of the U.S.’s withdrawal. This bill faces challenges due to previous bipartisan efforts to prevent unilateral withdrawal, and Trump has also expressed support for the alliance and its defense spending. The proposed legislation and the evolving stance of key figures signal a potential shift in U.S. policy regarding European security commitments.
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Following the recent attacks on Iranian nuclear sites by the US and Israel, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed the nation, claiming the US had “gained nothing” from its involvement in the conflict. The comments came after the US attacked three Iranian nuclear facilities, prompting a retaliatory missile strike on a US base in Qatar. Meanwhile, Iran’s Guardian Council ratified a bill to suspend cooperation with the IAEA. Both sides are assessing the damage, with conflicting reports on the extent of the destruction, and talks regarding a potential ceasefire are planned between the US and Iran.
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U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced the country’s withdrawal of support from Gavi, citing concerns about the organization’s approach to vaccine science and a perceived loss of public trust. Kennedy, a known vaccine skeptic, criticized Gavi’s partnership with the WHO and questioned the safety of certain vaccines, including the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine. This decision has drawn criticism from health experts, including Dr. Paul Offit, who warn of the potential risks to millions of children. Gavi, a public-private partnership that has vaccinated over a billion children, maintains its commitment to vaccine safety and relies on WHO recommendations.
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Matt Underwood 
John Q. Hosedrinker