What to Make of the Rise in Catalytic Converter Theft in California

In September of last year, my car’s catalytic converter was stolen. As a college student with minimal experience with cars, I was only made aware by my neighbor, who informed me that the “horrible, growling noise” coming from beneath my car was a telltale sign that the catalytic converter was no longer there. The next step, […]

The Future for Racial Justice in U.S. Courts

Nearly one year ago, President Biden’s ascension to office alongside a Democratically controlled Senate and House brought with it a cautiously optimistic hope for legislation that could address racial injustice in the United States. However, much racial justice legislation throughout the year has been unable to withstand the pressures of partisan and intra-party divisions in […]

Crispr and the Spectre of Eugenics

There are no more children with Down Syndrome in Iceland. At least, almost none.  Depending on where you are in the world, and when in time, a certain explanation might come to mind.  Were this the mid-20th century, or in several authoritarian regimes around the world, we might expect that this result was achieved through […]

Cash v. Climate Change: A Dangerous Mix for CA Politics

In recent years, the world has been focusing its collective policy making efforts towards combating climate change. This is largely because scientists tell us that we have until about 2030 to make enormous changes before climate change starts gravely impacting us as a species. Although the United States does not seem to be united in […]

Viable Ambassadors or Bona Fide Embarrassments?

“Viable Ambassadors or Bona Fide Embarassments?” was originally published in the Davis Political Review on December 9, 2014. What do a soap opera creator, a public relations executive, and a hotel mogul all have in common? Sure, all three donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the 2012 Obama campaign for president. But Colleen Bradley […]