Maxwell School News and Commentary
Filtered by: Congress
Reeher Weighs In on the GOP’s Internal Strife in The Hill
“This kind of division is one we’ve seen for a very long time and so there is nothing new here. This was evident when McCarthy got the position in the first place—on the 15th vote—and that got a lot of attention,” says Grant Reeher, professor of political science.
See related: Congress, Political Parties, U.S. Elections, United States
Faricy Comments on the State of Negotiations on Funding the Government in Spectrum News Article
“There are enough moderate Republicans in the House, along with Democrats in the House, to pass a spending bill out of the House that they know the Senate Democrats, which control the Senate, would agree to,” says Chris Faricy, associate professor of political science. “But in doing that, you risk a backlash from the Freedom Caucus.”
See related: Congress, Federal, Political Parties, United States
Coffel Quoted in Bloomberg Article on Biden’s Climate Bill
"If we want to meet timelines to reduce emissions, we have to build wind and solar at a totally unprecedented rate,” says Ethan Coffel, assistant professor of geography and the environment.
See related: Climate Change, Congress, Energy, Federal, United States
Burman Cited in The Hill Article on Debt Ceiling Brinkmanship
“Because the consequences are so dire, this high-stakes game of debt-limit chicken always ends the same way: Congress raises the borrowing cap just before calamity strikes. The theater does little more than waste money and generate a lot of breathless commentary,” Leonard Burman, professor emeritus of public administration and international affairs, wrote in a 2021 analysis.
See related: Congress, Economic Policy, Federal, United States
Elizabeth Cohen Speaks With Washington Examiner About the Ending of Title 42
“Title 42 is only the most recent of a long history of using health concerns as a justification for free movement restrictions," says Elizabeth Cohen, professor of political science. "For example, it was only in 2010 that restrictions were removed on the entry of persons who are HIV positive."
See related: Congress, Federal, Political Parties, U.S. Immigration, United States
Banks Weighs in on Claim that Nashville Protest Was an Insurrection in USA Today Article
“The critical difference is there was no threat to the integrity of a democracy in Tennessee,” says William Banks, professor emeritus of public administration and international affairs. “Insurrection conditions occur when civilian authorities are unable to enforce the laws. That was a real threat on Jan. 6. Not so in Nashville.”
See related: Congress, Crime & Violence, State & Local, United States
Maxwell-in-Washington Graduate Student Mario Marquez Joins in Call to Repeal War Authority in Iraq
The Iraq War veteran is director of national security for The American Legion and is pursing an executive master’s in international relations degree.
McCormick Comments on the Use of Military Force Against Mexican Drug Cartels in Dallas Morning News
Gladys McCormick, associate professor of history, says Mexico already has a significant police and military presence on its side of the border and efforts to confront the cartels militarily have not solved the problem. “It’s been tried and it has failed colossally,” McCormick says. “So the idea to sort of try it again to me sounds utterly irresponsible.”
See related: Conflict, Congress, Latin America & the Caribbean, Terrorism & Extremism, United States
Blockwood Discusses the Challenges of Selecting Our Nation’s Leaders in The Fulcrum
"Selecting our nation’s leaders is becoming increasingly complex and challenging, but we can make it more effective by ensuring the processes—for elections as well as appointments—reinforce democracy rather than erode our confidence in it," says James-Christian Blockwood, adjunct professor in Maxwell's Washington programs.
See related: Congress, Federal, SCOTUS, U.S. Elections, United States
Thompson Talks to WRVO About the Scrutiny Surrounding Rep. George Santos
"If people decide that they will vote for somebody, regardless of what they may have done in their past, that's one thing," says Margaret Susan Thompson, associate professor of history and political science. "But if they vote under the misconception that somebody is what they say they are and then they find out later when it's too late that [it] is wrong. That's a very different situation."
See related: Congress, Elections, Government, U.S. Elections, United States