Politics and Government

  • New journal co-founded by NIH nominee raises eyebrows, misinformation fears

    The Journal of the Academy of Public Health claims to open up scientific communication. But its unusual editorial policies have some scientists concerned. Carl Bergstrom, professor of biology at the UW, is quoted.

    02/10/2025 | Science
  • Analysis: A boycott campaign fuels tension between Black shoppers and Black-owned brands evoking the long struggle for consumer citizenship

    "In my research on marketing campaigns aimed at Black women, Ive examined how the struggle for consumer citizenship complicated the dynamic between Black entrepreneurs and consumers. On the one hand, businesses have long leveraged Black ownership as a unique selling proposition in and of itself, urging shoppers to view Black brand loyalty as a path to collective racial progress," writes Timeka Tounsel, assistant professor of Black studies in communication at the UW.
    02/10/2025 | The Conversation
  • More states are moving to ban cellphones at school should they?

    Massachusetts attorney general is championing a bill this legislative session that would ban students from using their cellphones and other personal electronic devices during the school day. Luca Magis-Weinberg, assistant professor of psychology at the UW, is quoted.

    02/09/2025 | Education Week
  • Opinion: What China's DeepSeek breakthrough means for the future of AI

    "At first glance, reducing model-training expenses in this way might seem to undermine the trillion-dollar 'AI arms race' involving data centers, semiconductors and cloud infrastructure. But as history shows, cheaper technology often fuels greater usage," writes Victor Menaldo, professor of political science at the UW.

    02/06/2025 | Los Angeles Times
  • Opinion: What China's DeepSeek breakthrough means for the future of AI

    "At first glance, reducing model-training expenses in this way might seem to undermine the trillion-dollar 'AI arms race' involving data centers, semiconductors and cloud infrastructure. But as history shows, cheaper technology often fuels greater usage," writes Victor Menaldo, professor of political science at the UW.
    02/06/2025 | Los Angeles Times
  • Opinion: Silicon Valley's rise from apathy to lords of political universe

    "When the high and mighty of Silicon Valley assumed their privileged perch at the swearing-in of President Trump, it was an ostentatious show of wealth and power unlike any before," writes columnist Mark Barabak. Margaret O'Mara, professor of history at the UW, is quoted.

    02/04/2025 | Los Angeles Times
  • Opinion: Silicon Valley's rise from apathy to lords of political universe

    "When the high and mighty of Silicon Valley assumed their privileged perch at the swearing-in of President Trump, it was an ostentatious show of wealth and power unlike any before," writes columnist Mark Barabak. Margaret O'Mara, professor of history at the UW, is quoted.
    02/04/2025 | Los Angeles Times
  • Bad Bunny fears Puerto Rico will become the new Hawaii he's not alone

    Bad Bunny's new album, "Debir Tirar Mas Fotos," dropped earlier this month. It features traditional folk music from Puerto Rico, where the artist is from. The lyrics touch on the gentrification of Puerto Rico and draw a stark parallel with Hawaii. Ileana Rodriguez-Silva, associate professor of history at the UW, is quoted.
    01/27/2025 | Business Insider
  • UWs Dr. Megan Ming Francis 2024 election autopsy: What did we win? What did we lose?

    Long before the 2024 presidential election took place, scholars at the UW knew that post-election processing would be necessary, regardless of the outcome. So, on Jan. 15, the UWs Office of Public Lectures held Autopsy of an Election: What We Lost, What We Won, and How to Fight for the Future, a talk led by Megan Ming Francis, an associate professor of political science at the UW.
    01/23/2025 | Northwest Asian Weekly
  • Analysis: How constitutional guardrails have always contained presidential ambitions

    "As Donald Trumps second inauguration fast approaches, concerns he threatens American democracy are rising yet again. Some warnings have cited Trumps authoritarian rhetoric, willingness to undermine or malign institutions meant to constrain any president, and a combative style that strives to stretch executive power as far as possible," writes Victor Menaldo, professor of political science at the UW.
    01/17/2025 | The Conversation
  • Opinion: Study documents steep, painful decline of Olympia press corps

    "A new report further documents the evisceration of Washingtons capitol press corps as the states news industry shrank in recent years," writes Brier Dudley, an editor at The Seattle Times. A report from the UW is referenced and Matthew Powers, associate professor of communications at the UW, is quoted.
    01/09/2025 | The Seattle Times
  • Advocating for Better Health Care

    As director of government relations for the Catholic Health Association, Paulo G. Pontemayor (BA, 2005) is dedicated to increasing equity and access to health care in the United States.

    January 2025 Perspectives
  • Bezos, Zuckerberg and Altman donate to Trump's inauguration fund

    Silicon Valley executives, some who have long had contentious relationships with President-elect Donald Trump, are pledging money and support to Trump's incoming administration. Margaret O'Mara, professor of history at the UW, is quoted.
    NPR
  • Opinion: Climate advocates finally won in WA how? By not talking about climate

    For the past decade or so, Aseem Prakash, professor of political science at the UW, has been teaching a course on climate politics in the UWs political science department. During that time, there have been three climate change initiatives on the ballot here. Hes had a front row seat for how policymakers, activists and campaigners have sought to frame and spin one of the toughest issues in politics.
    The Seattle Times
  • Washington state had smallest rightward shift in 2024 presidential election

    Washington had the smallest rightward shift of any state in the 2024 presidential election, an Axios analysis finds — although, after three weeks of vote counting, it's no longer true that the state trended slightly more blue. Victor Menaldo, professor of political science at the UW, is quoted.
    Axios Seattle