It’s now October of 2021. Covid-19 has stolen the lives of an estimated 708,000 Americans. But amidst arguably the worst public health crisis of this generation, it is clear that the U.S. government has no real sense of urgency in pushing for universal healthcare; a response that no doubt would promote the safety of all. Instead, during this pandemic reality, our country’s leaders would rather pour a staggering $778 billion into the grossly inflated military-industrial complex.

You know you’re in California when you look out the window and see a Martian landscape complete with hazy orange skies. Nearly every single year we dread our fifth season: fire season—and 2021 is no exception.

With picturesque islands and rich cultural heritage, the beautiful state of Hawaii has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world today. The islands have been famous since their ‘discovery’ by Europeans in the 18th century, popularized for their year-round warm weather and gorgeous beaches.

“The independent investigation has concluded that Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women and in doing so violated federal and state law." With these words, New York Attorney General Letitia James sealed the political fate of the governor. At the height of the pandemic, Cuomo’s approval ratings had soared. However, following investigations of sexual harassment claims by Cuomo's employees, he was pressured to resign.

On September 24th of this year, three dozen citizens protested outside the Santa Clara Main Jail with various signs and posters featuring messages such as “Care First, Jail Last.” This protest was in response to the city’s proposal for the establishment of a new jail. Given the injustice of the current criminal justice system, many are advocating for the funding to instead support a center for mental health.

You and a friend are attending a local protest. You are holding up a handmade cardboard sign to show your solidarity fighting for the cause. The next thing you know a bullet is suddenly lodged in your skull, blood is flowing down your face, and you are being rushed to the hospital. Throughout the last 50 years of protests in the US, this has become the reality for an increasingly large number of people as police continue to use rubber bullets as a form of maintaining “law and order" and "crowd control." 

On September 14, 2021, Gavin Newsom defeated the recall effort, receiving enough votes to stay in office. But the question still remains as to why the recall was able to happen in the first place? How did Newsom employ a winning strategy to offset it? And most importantly, what are the political implications regarding recalls with leaders currently in office moving forward?

Following America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s immediate subsequent recapture of it, many have wondered what the US really accomplished in Afghanistan for the past two decades. The American military’s involvement in Afghanistan in the modern era started as early as 1979 with the CIA’s funding of the Mujahideen during the Soviet-Afghan War,  an effort that became known as Operation Cyclone.