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Video: Beyond the headlines SCOTUS 2021 - 2022

Video: Beyond the headlines SCOTUS 2021 - 2022
Beyond the Headlines: SCOTUS 2021 - 2022

In this edition of Ballotpedia's Beyond the Headlines, the Ballotpedia team reviews the U.S. Supreme Court's 2021-2022 term, including accepted cases, upcoming argument sessions, rulings of the court, and some important statistical data.

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Department of Educaiton
What would it mean if President-elect Trump dismantled the US Department of Education?
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What would it mean if President-elect Trump dismantled the Department of Education?

In her role as former chief executive of World Wrestling Entertainment, Linda McMahon oversaw an enterprise that popularized the “takedown” for millions of wrestling fans. But as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of education, the Trump loyalist may be tasked with taking down the very department Trump has asked her to lead.

If Trump does dismantle the Department of Education as he has promised to do, he will have succeeded at something that President Ronald Reagan vowed to do in 1980. Just like Trump, Reagan campaigned on abolishing the department, which at the time was only a year old. Since then, the Republican Party platform has repeatedly called for eliminating the Education Department, which oversees a range of programs and initiatives. These include special funding for schools in low-income communities – known as Title I – and safeguarding the rights of students with disabilities.

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Person i jacket that reads "War Crimes prosecutor"

A war crimes prosecutor examines the consequences of a Russian missile attack in central Odesa, Ukraine, on Nov. 25.

Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The current status and the future of the war in Ukraine

Ukraine is in the crosshairs of politics, domestically and globally. What is the status of this war, and what does the future hold for the Ukrainian people?

On Nov. 18, the Network for Responsible Public Policy hosted a virtual discussion to answer these questions and many more about the current situation on the ground, U.S. political sentiments and challenges, Russia’s threats to the region, its cozy relationship with some American leaders and more.

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US Capitol
Free Agents Limited/Getty Images

Trump’s agenda will face hurdles in Congress, despite the Republican ‘trifecta’ of winning the House, Senate and White House

Beginning in January 2025, Republicans in Washington will achieve what’s commonly known as a governing “trifecta”: control over the executive branch via the president, combined with majorities for their party in both the House and the Senate.

You might think that a trifecta, which is also referred to as “unified government” by political scientists, is a clear recipe for legislative success. In theory, when political parties have unified control over the House, the Senate and the presidency, there should be less conflict between them. Because these politicians are part of the same political party and have the same broad goals, it seems like they should be able to get their agenda approved, and the opposing minority party can do little to stop them.

But not all trifectas are created equal, and not all are dominant.

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Israeli and Palestinian flags
Wong Yu Liang/Getty Images

A three-province framework for peace between Israel and Palestinians

A framework for peace between Israel and the Palestinians cannot be just about piecemeal de-escalation. To succeed, it must have a vision for long-term, bicultural relationships and mutual security. That is how we generate the comfort necessary to make the immediate changes to stop the casualties and bring home the hostages. That is the goal of the Balkin Israel-Palestine Project.

Presently, the majority of Israelis would like the Palestinians in the occupied territories to be gone; and a majority of those Palestinians would like the Jews not to have their own state in the Levant. This writing provides an outline for reconfiguring the land and placement of people, by religion and culture. It is not intended to be a strict edict for what must occur for there to be peace. It is instead a vision to begin a negotiation for a ceasefire followed by a more permanent peace.

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