U.S.
Most Americans recall learning cursive in elementary school, carefully tracing each letter over and over until they eventually developed a rhythm. But what was once a foundational skill and rite of passage is now in danger of disappearing, and with it, a crucial piece of our cultural heritage. Cursive refers to writing with looped, interconnected letters or characters, and appears across almost ev...
U.S.
On March 15, a U.S. plane carrying 137 immigrants landed at a mega-prison in El Salvador [1]. The government identified the plane’s passengers as members of the dangerous Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, though their removal was far from straightforward. Just hours before the flight departed, a District Court judge ruled the deportations temporarily illegal. Less than a day before, the reinstatem...
U.S.
In early April 2025, the Trump Administration sent a letter to Harvard University’s President, Dr. Alan Garber. Trump’s letter demanded numerous institutional changes, threatening to revoke Harvard’s $2.3 billion in federal funding if they did not comply [1]. The letter touches on numerous hot-button issues—ranging from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) to recent bouts...
U.S.
As a consequence of increasing reliance on technology, citizens across the globe have expressed concern with the extent to which governments and corporations can access their digital communications and data. Reservations are particularly pronounced in the United States, where the nation's libertarian ethos clashes with a simultaneous desire to prioritize citizen safety through significant inve...
U.S.
To listen to this week's episode of BPR Policy Hour, follow this link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ACswd3MI0FFcjZ49GmuQe23IP60FMgRB/view?usp=drivesdk
Tune in next week on Saturday at 5 pm on uclaradio.com for Episode 2 of BPR Policy Hour!
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World
In recent years, the world has witnessed what Professor Rob Ford of the University of Manchester called “the greatest wave of anti-incumbent voting ever seen” [1]. In 2024, voters turned away incumbent parties in the United States, the United Kingdom, India, Japan, South Africa, and South Korea [2]. Despite some governments changing from right-wing to left-wing, more often than not, th...
World
After eight straight years of fertility rate decline from 1.24 children per woman in 2014 to a record low of 0.74 in 2023, South Korea finds itself in the midst of one of the world’s worst fertility crises. In 2024, South Korea’s fertility rate increased to 0.75, the first rise the country has seen in nearly a decade [1]. Despite this improvement, South Korea’s fertility rate rem...
World
Widely considered one of the greatest third-wave democratic successes, South Korea has recently come under intense international scrutiny following the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Though shocking, Yoon’s declaration of martial law in December 2024 is merely a symptom of longstanding South Korean political corruption, marked by impeachments, incarcerations, coups, and suici...
World
In recent years, Germany has witnessed a notable surge in the popularity of the right-wing populist party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD). The party’s rise has been successful largely due to the German electorate’s dissatisfaction with mainstream political parties, concerns over immigration, and economic insecurities. As AfD continues to gain ground, it presents significant chal...
World
In the heart of Hong Kong, amidst the pulse of a vibrant city, a hidden world is tucked away from plain sight—one of cramped, dingy cubicles lining neon-lit corridors. Each space is smaller than a prison cell, too small to be customized much: a photo frame here and there or a toy for comfort. Its residents are densely crammed together, separated by a paper-thin wall that affords little to no...