C12-4: Where the World's Refuges Live

On the Washington Post, data was published detailing where refugees live. The majority of refugees live in Turkey and Pakistan, yet China and Turkey have the largest population. It is said that most of the refugees are Lebanese and Turkish, and that the size of the American population vs the amount of refugees we have (273,000) is less than 5% and one of the least refugee populated areas. President Trump is trying to vacate most all of our refugees from the country, with little humility or help to offer, however in the larger scheme of things, we don't really have that many refugees as compared to other countries. Pakistan and Turkey have over one and two million refugees, and a large population to begin with. This raises the question of whether we, the United States, should really be kicking out innocent refugees, or if we should be welcoming more in. Trump has said that those without American backgrounds are wrongfully in the United States, however, this has caused much debate and controversy. Hopefully the conflict will be resolved if this information gets to him, but the chances are slim.

C12-3: Astronomers Discover 7 Earth-sized Planets

On CNN, an interesting discovery was reported. According to NASA, there are seven Earth-sized planets orbiting a nearby star. The star is 40 light years away from Earth, and the planets are considered exoplanets. An exoplanet is a planet that revolves around another star than ours, the sun. The seven planets discovered are said to be seven of a possible 3,500 that are in our universe. NASA plans to pay closer attention to the seven new planets, because at least three of these planets possibly harbor life and have oceans of water. They are not gaseous planets like Jupiter, and this is an extremely cool discovery that was published in Nature magazine and worked on by the government and astronomers in Belgium through a network of telescopes. The government has recently reduced their funding to NASA, however, discoveries like these are said to increase the interest again. Hopefully President Trump will see the importance of this discovery and give it more funding, because it could be our new home in a few decades.

C12-2: Power and the Presidency, From Kennedy to Obama (Presidency Subject Post)

On the Smithsonian.com, an article described the power of the presidency throughout the last fifty years. Power in the White House has become more of a democratic and trusting source, instead of what it was when the Framers wrote the Constitution. A lot of power has been pushed back into the American public, just by how the past presidents have addressed past issues. Kennedy, for example, said that American's should always be willing to serve their country, which empowered thousands to enlist. The president is able to sway the public into doing and saying a lot more than ever before, especially with Donald Trump's election, it has brought America together in voicing their opinions and standing for what they believe in, like in the Women's March on Washington. The past fifty years has been changed by our presidents, the Framers, and most importantly, the public.

C12-1: Trump’s Approval Ratings Are Down. How Much Does It Mean? (Presidency Subject Post)

On the New York Times, an article was recently published detailing Mr. Trump's presidency. He currently has an approval rate of 38%, meaning 56% of America disapproves of Trump at this moment in his presidency. It was said that most president's have a very high rating at the beginning of their term, the rating drops to about sixty percent in the middle, and varies from there. Barack Obama had an approval rate of around 50% as he was reelected for a second term, however Mr. Trump has already been well below that rate, for a president who is just beginning his term. The article compared Trump's approval ratings to Harry Truman, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan, all president's with a low approval rating at the end of their term. Though the article explains, Trump's ratings are different across outlets of social media. The research found that telephone and online polls showed different approval rates, so the information can't be taken as seriously. While Trump's approval rating isn't great, it could also be due to the differing aspects of social media and polling.

C11-4 Judge rejects Anthem's $54 billion takeover of Cigna

On Politico, an article was just released detailing a decision on a case involving Anthem and Cigna, two giant insurance companies. Anthem wanted to subdue Cigna, however U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson declined the bid, claiming that it would reduce competition, and national accounts. Anthem and Cigna are allowed to appeal the decision in April, which is predicted to happen. The opinion of Amy Berman was one of the people, as she said, "it will eliminate the two firms’ vigorous competition against each other for national accounts, reduce the number of national carriers available to respond to solicitations in the future, and diminish the prospects for innovation in the market" in the court's summary, which makes a good point. Anthem and Cigna are two major insurers and without the other, Anthem would have too much of a monopoly on the public.

C11-3: Jeff Sessions confirmed to be the next attorney general

Tonight on CNN, an article and a video were released discussing Senator Jeff Sessions vote for Attorney General. A close ally of Trump during his campaign, Jeff Sessions is the Senator of Alabama. There was a lot of debate whether Sessions deserved to be Attorney General in the moments before they decided to put it to a vote, which eventually led to Senator Elizabeth Warren being forced to sit down after "impungning Sessions." Sessions, like most others in Trump's cabinet is a white Republican male, which in itself has received backlash and debate. Not everyone agrees with Trump's decision to appoint Sessions, but he will be sworn in Thursday morning, tomorrow.

C11-2: "Rogue" Federal Twitter Accounts

Wynne Davis wrote an article concerning social media in politics on Janurary 27th. The article explains that employees of national parks and services have been creating Twitter accounts since Trump's inauguration. The accounts are claimed to be ran by activists who post comments opposing the Trump administration. People have said that the accounts were made as a result of Trump's gag order on federal agencies and the hiring freeze. Tweets have inspired other scientists and activists to get involved and create a Scientists march on D.C., as well as others to post real facts on climate change and EPA statistics. Trump hasn't responded to any of the tweets, and it was said to be just "fun" that wouldn't be recognized by the government, but it has been an outlet for the public to seek new information on climate change and become aware.

C11-1: Revenge of the Bureaucrats

On POLITICO, an article was released discussing Trump's freeze on federal hiring. The article exclaimed that he's receiving backlash for his actions, but he's also trying to make it so it's easier to fire federal workers. Currently, if you're a federal worker, you are basically set for life, however, Trump and House Republicans are trying to reinstate a law used in 1876 that allows them to reduce the salary of federal employees. This would make it so a federal employee is more likely to quit or leave their job because of their reduced salary. It's creating competition within the government, as well as fear that America will go back to how it was during the Reagan or Carter administration, where hiring freeze's and the Republicans dominated. The article claimed that if you're a Democrat in D.C. right now, you should be vigilant, because by 2018 almost two-thirds of federal employees will be on the verge of retirement, meaning the administration will most likely fill the jobs with a majority of Republican employees.

C10-4: Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Reflection

Today I read an article on the judiciary in Utah. Supreme Court Chief Justice Matthew Durrant delivered a speech to a colleague who's retiring, while he reflected on life in the Supreme Court twenty years ago. He exclaimed that twenty years ago the court had just begun looking at people's underlying problems and situations instead of just looking at the court case itself. Drug courts were just being introduced, and now they are required to be in every judicial district. Judges focus more on data and accountability than just deciding on a whim. It's important to see how the judiciary has changed on a small scale in Utah, and a much larger scale around the country, in just twenty years. There is no telling what more will change in the next twenty years, but Durrant says he will be on the bench to see it unfold.

C10-3: Georgia's Top Judge Calls

On WSB-TV2 Atlanta, I read an article on the judiciary. The Court Chief Justice P. Harris Hines noted that Georgia has added two more members to the court, making it nine instead of seven. He also added that there will be more representation in the superior court judges. Georgia is looking to improve their legal representation at the working-class level and make it so that Georgia can focus on high-level offenders instead of those on low-level probation. Hines wants to create a more socialized and safe Georgia and he's starting with reliability and stability in the new, younger judges so they can carry on the legacy. Other states should take into consideration Georgia's change of judiciary in the new year and learn from Georgia's example.

 

C10-2 Trump's Federal Hiring Freeze

The Washington Post just released an article about President Trump's recent actions in the White House. The hiring freeze that Trump claimed he'd put into effect after his presidency was signed today. Trump has made it so federal jobs and military cannot be hired and the extent of the freeze hasn't been determined. The National Treasury Employees Union, Tony Reardon said this about the freeze, "Our government depends upon highly-trained and experienced federal workers being able to carry on with their important work. This puts up a substantial roadblock for agencies," and I agree with him. This will hurt a lot of people applying for jobs at the federal level, those of which include my Mother. This is a specifically sore subject with me because my Mother recently got offered two high-paying jobs at our local military base, however she can't take them because of Trump's freeze. The effects of this freeze are widespread and Trump is facing copious amounts of criticism and backlash for his actions. Hopefully the freeze will be lifted soon through compromise and or changing policy.

 

C10-1: More than a million people marched against Trump

On Saturday the Women's March on Washington was said to have drawn in at least 2.5 million people. CNN claims that there were over 1 million people in other states having their own organized marches. This Women's march has been reported as being the most populated march since before 2009, merely because of Trump's inauguration. Many of my friends went to Washington or other states to protest their beliefs, so it's relevant for me to follow. More than that, Trump's only comment to the press so far has been complaining about his turn out for the inauguration ceremony, there was said to be less than any other inauguration before. Trump claimed that there were at least a million people there, but by the looks of pictures and other news on television, there seems to be major gaps in the National Mall. This turnout only amplifies the overarching truths of how the next four years with President Trump will prove to be.

 

C9-4: (Political Parties/Judiciary Post) From Drug Wars to Water Wars, Fifty Years on the Bench

I read an article about Judge Richard Mills and his journey as a law student in Macon, Georgia to a U.S. judge for the Central District of Illinois. Richard Mills sat through years and years of cases regarding famous gangs, water disputes in Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia, and many different more. Mills was appointed a judge to the central district of Illinois by President Reagan. He's been a judge for fifty years and says each day is an adventure. I hadn't read anything about him before, but I instantly became interested when I read that he was a law student at Mercer University, because that's one of the colleges I'm looking at going to. Judge Richard Mills is described as an inspiring man, and one who has seen more controversy and conflict in the last fifty years than anybody else. Below is a picture of Richard Mills as a U.S. District Court Judge. 

C9-3 The Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

Today on CNN there were many articles detailing Martin Luther King Jr.'s achievements and remembering the man who changed civil rights in America. King has a holiday and many buildings and statues dedicated in his name for his work towards equality. Though his actions were considered controversial during the time, we now commemorate his hard work and dedication to the cause. The spread of pictures that I looked at described his entire life and the struggles he faced. If Martin Luther King Jr. was here today he'd be looking at a very different world with a new set of struggles and problems. We should all take Martin Luther King Jr.'s outlook and determination into consideration as we face our own daily problems and treat each other with equality and support. The problems in today's society and politics could be solved if we all took King's approach toward life.

C9-2 Full Transcript of the Donald Trump press conference (Political Parties Post)

On The Telegraph, I watched a video about Republican president-elect Donald Trump's first press conference since winning the election and it was unprofessional to say the least. There was little talk about new action, news, or issues at hand. Trump spoke about cameras being in our rooms that are too small to see, and he denied a company from asking questions. The Republican party hasn't spoken out about the way Donald Trump has been acting, but so far Donald Trump has the lowest approval rating of any president-elect in two decades. Another article by the Telegraph described this and stated that republicans and uneducated white males are the only people who approve of Trump. Overall, there is a 51% disapproval rate, causing the switching of parties and in the future possibly party dealignment. Trump has been one of the most controversial and disliked president-elects since Truman.

C9-1 Biden awarded presidential Medal of Freedom

On CNN, I read an article about Biden receiving the Medal of Freedom on Thursday. As one of Obama's last acts as president, he awarded his VP Joe Biden the medal saying that Biden has served his country and that Obama couldn't have made America what it is today without Biden. The sentimental speech was a surprise to Biden and while they will be leaving office soon, some believed that this was unprofessional. Obama joked and made Biden cry in his presentation, but many debated whether Biden deserved the medal or not. Biden himself claimed that he didn't deserve the medal, even though it came from the President's heart. Many will be sad to see the JoeBama duo go, me included.

Intro to Parties

       Germany is a republic with a bicameral system and parliamentary democracy. Germany has a Chancellor and his helpers, or ministers, are members of the Bundestag. The Bundestag is the national Parliament of Germany. The German president/head of state is currently Joachim Gauck. Joachim's ministers hold power in the Parliament.

       The president and the Chancellor are different and have different powers, the president has the power to suspend Parliament and to ratify new laws, but he has no specific powers. Germany's president elects the Chancellor and the Bundestag votes in a secret ballot, if the Bundestag doesn't approve of the choice then they choose a new Chancellor. There are seventeen political parties in Germany. There are fourteen parties supported by the Bundestag/Parliament and three parties supported by the state parliaments. The three parties supported by the state have significant power, which are: the Christian Democratic Union, the Christian Social Union, and the Social Democratic Party. The government doesn't control the minor parties, which there are twenty-two of, but the government has some say over the three major parties.

       The Christian Democratic Union is a conservative party and believes in NATO. They support all religions, Angela Merkel is the current leader of the CDU and the current Chancellor of Germany. They currently have no social or economic issues. The CDU and CSU are currently arguing over immigration and national referendums. CSU is an unofficial part of the Union that is in Bavaria that is the sister party of the CDU. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) represents the working class. The SDP wants to improve the economy and the free market while attracting the middle class. They have no ideological and social issues.