Newsletter Archive

Nearly 6 million Americans who have a criminal record are prohibited from voting in the upcoming U.S. presidential election. In New York, a group of men on felony parole — still unable to vote in 2016 based on New York state law — plan to make their mark in 2016 by educating formerly-incarcerated people of their rights in the key swing state of Ohio.

Betula Musa isn’t old enough to cast a vote, but the Kenya-born teenager feels a civic duty to register those who are. She’s going door to door in her apartment complex in Columbus, Ohio, trying to enlist new citizen voters from among her native African neighbors. Musa is part of the army of volunteers striving to sign up immigrant voters in this swing state, which potentially could alter the 2016 election’s outcome. Ohio has the longest winning streak of any state in picking the president.

The death of Thailand’s beloved King Bhumibol Aduladej on Thursday raises concern in the kingdom and abroad as the country faces an uncertain future. The longest-reigning monarch ascended to the throne 70 years ago. His son and heir apparent, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, will take his place after a period of mourning. But there are both immediate and long-term questions about the monarchy in Thailand, scene of at least a dozen coups during the late king’s reign.

As Iraqi forces prepare for a final assault to retake the city of Mosul from Islamic State terrorists, more than 62,000 civilians reportedly have fled. But, despite talk by U.S. and Iraqi officials about setting up safe routes and government-controlled screening centers to handle the flow of fleeing civilians, aid groups fear preparations are inadequate and many civilians will be trapped. Human Rights Watch and others contend Iraqi military planners seem intent on locking down Mosul in an effort to make sure no one – IS fighter or innocent civilian – is able to leave.

Career counterterrorism official Malcolm Nance worries about what might happen as U.S. votes are tallied on Election Night, Nov. 8. Nance sees overwhelming evidence that Russia is trying to interfere in U.S. elections, using “not just a finger, but [its] whole hand” to tip the scale in favor of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and against Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Trump complained this week of a “concerted, coordinated and vicious” attack by mainstream media, which he said was controlled by his rival. Journalism ethicists acknowledge he has indeed gotten more negative news coverage than she, but they say that has more to do with the unusual nature of his candidacy than with any left-wing media conspiracy. Besides, dominating the news is a strategy that the candidate and businessman himself has embraced, at times explicitly.