Articles — Davis Political Review

The First & Only Nonpartisan Political Commentary Magazine at UC Davis: Covering Campus, State, National, & Global Politics.

The Fifty-First Star: American-Libyan Relations Within The War On Terrorism

The Fifty-First Star: American-Libyan Relations Within The War On Terrorism

Since September 11th, 2001, the United States has initiated an international “War On Terror”, with the stated objectives being targeting and eliminating the networks of terrorism responsible for the events of 9/11. Over the previous two decades, 940,000 individuals have perished directly because of the ongoing wars throughout the greater Middle East. Approximately 3.5-3.8 million individuals have died indirectly because of the humanitarian catastrophes that have unfolded since the wars began. Between 38 and 57 million individuals have been displaced, becoming refugees and creating what are considered to be among the worst humanitarian catastrophes that have ever occurred.

GlobeAnthony ZammikielJanuary 15, 2024Libya, america, foreign intervention, foreign policy, Anthony ZammikielComment

Facing a New Wave: How Younger Candidates Could Be The Change America Needs

Facing a New Wave: How Younger Candidates Could Be The Change America Needs

When watching the news, many Americans look on their screen at the elected official representing them and see the same type of politician: someone who is of a much older generation. Even as the country has become increasingly diverse and seen significant changes in ideology and values, Baby Boomer leaders have stood the test of time. Our country has failed to usher new generations into office to lead the way into this new era, especially in the higher positions where long-time incumbents have dominated the polls.

NationAlex BarnesJanuary 11, 2024alex barnes, American Politics, Elections, candidates, voter demographicsComment

Argentina at a Crossroads of History

Argentina at a Crossroads of History

On November 19, 2023, Argentina held a historic general election that will likely redefine its existing center-left to center-right party system. Javier Milei, an economist and deputy in the Argentine Congress won election to the Presidency with 56 percent of the vote. In recent decades, Argentina has reeled from a series of economic crises, including debt defaults, depressions and currency crises; the inflation rate topped 120 percent as of October. These woes have greatly impacted the standard of living of ordinary people, as the depreciation of Argentina’s currency induces unpredictability and effectively erases private savings by forcing up the real cost of goods.

GlobeDhruv ShevgaonkarJanuary 7, 2024Argentina, economics, elections, Dhruv Shevgonkar, ConservatismComment

A Case for Humor: How Girls’ Silliness is Bridging the Confidence Gap

A Case for Humor: How Girls’ Silliness is Bridging the Confidence Gap

As I worked as a camp counselor this summer, I was ready for all of the surprises– from pulling ticks out from between my kid's toes to telling them to stop starting fires, my days were filled with spontaneity and almost nothing phased me. What truly caught me off-guard, however, were the girls in my camp, as they were the funniest group of kids I’ve ever met.

NationEmogene KarasJanuary 3, 2024Emogene Karas, feminism, Confidence, pink tax, Women's rights, EqualityComment

The Private School Myth

The Private School Myth

Virtually every child in America goes to school. Approximately 9% of these children attend a private school. These are schools that are not bound by state regulations and are privately funded, usually by charging tuition. They are generally considered better than their public counterparts: a Gallup poll found that in 2017, 71% of its respondents felt that independent private schools and 63% felt that parochial schools (basically religious private schools) do an excellent or good job educating children, compared with 44% for public schools.

NationBenjamin ShihDecember 30, 2023benjamin shih, Schools, School Funding, Education, private educationComment

If Republicans and Democrats Can Agree on One Thing, It’s the Dehumanization of Migrants

If Republicans and Democrats Can Agree on One Thing, It’s the Dehumanization of Migrants

Beginning on April 13, 2022, exploited migrants have been sent on buses to sanctuary cities throughout the country. Migrant busing refers to when political officials transport migrants seeking refuge in the United States by bus to different parts of the country. The busing program that Texas Governor Greg Abbott created has inspired many Republican governors to do the same to their migrant populations, effectively creating a displacement crisis across the United States.

NationBreeAnna VirruetaDecember 26, 2023Immigration, Republican, abbott, Immigration Reform, exploitation, breeanna virruetaComment

Golden Record: Jimmy Carter and the Road Not Taken in American Politics

Golden Record: Jimmy Carter and the Road Not Taken in American Politics

In late summer of 1977, the United States launched the Voyager 1 and 2 probes, each of which carried a copy of a 12-inch gold-plated record that contained a time capsule from the planet Earth—sounds, images, and a message from then-President Jimmy Carter. In 2012, Voyager 1 became the first manmade object to reach interstellar space. The record it carries is the first message that humanity sent off into the universe in search of extraterrestrial life. Scientists estimate that the Golden Records may survive for over five billion years—likely far longer than the human species itself. That means that when humanity is long extinct, all that remains of our legacy may be the words of an oft-overlooked one-term president.

NationRJ PrakerDecember 22, 2023rj praker, Jimmy Carter, American Politics, environmentalism, environmental policy, politics, presidencyComment

How To Get Away With Murder: Jaahnavi Kandula and the Devaluation of Women of Color

How To Get Away With Murder: Jaahnavi Kandula and the Devaluation of Women of Color

On Jan. 23 2023, Jaahnavi Kandula, a graduate student at Northeastern University in Seattle, was struck and killed by a police officer going 74 mph in a 25 mph zone. Jaahnavi’s family mourned for months, aggrieved by the loss of her happy presence and the fact that she was so close to achieving her dreams, only months away from graduation. Then, shocking new footage emerged. In the video, taken the day after the accident, Officer Daniel Auderer, the vice president of the police union, is seen driving around while chatting on the phone with Mike Solan, the union’s president. They’re talking about the case, and Auderer is nauseatingly flippant about the situation.

NationAdithi SumitranNovember 14, 2023Adithi Sumitran, Police brutality, police violence, racismComment

The Invisible Graveyard

The Invisible Graveyard

American law has long recognized the role of negligence in criminal proceedings. Determining guilt in the case of malicious action is straightforward enough—if a person acted with intent to do harm, they ought to be held responsible. But the justice system accepts that cases of inaction can be just as fatal. A person does not need to hold the knife to be held liable; the simple failure to act when there is known risk that apathy will lead to harm—take, for example, failure to feed a child—is enough to establish guilt. In the eyes of the law, death that can be easily prevented—yet is not—is just as immoral.

NationDimitri ZlatevNovember 5, 2023Dimitri Zlatev, FDA, government regulation, tort law, medicine, HEALTH, regulationComment

The California Republican Party is Obsessed with Losing (Or So It Seems)

The California Republican Party is Obsessed with Losing (Or So It Seems)

In the current political landscape in the United States, California is considered one of the bluest of blue states you can get. Every statewide office is held by a Democrat, the state legislature boasts a Democratic supermajority, and Democratic candidates in nationwide elections usually enjoy a 15-20% advantage. Republicans in the state struggle to even have a chance of winning statewide offices. For example, in the 2024 race for the US Senate seat in California, it seems that the two candidates running against each other in the general election will be two Democrats.

StateJack JacobsNovember 1, 2023Jack Jacobs, Republican, Republican Party, California Politics, California GOP, StateComment

Continental Solidarity: Progressive Foreign Policy in Latin America

Continental Solidarity: Progressive Foreign Policy in Latin America

The prevailing paradigm of US national security discourse leaves the impression that the emergence of leftist leaders in the developing world is fundamentally at odds with America’s global ambitions. The right holds this view for obvious reasons. Conservatives vigorously tout unfettered markets and military dominance—all things contrary to the egalitarian world leftists want to create—as inviolable components of American hegemony. But the same message is effectively endorsed by progressives who have, for the most part, given up on levers of foreign policy making in favor of pursuing an exclusively domestic agenda.

GlobeKieran CabezasSeptember 1, 2023kieran cabezas, Latin America, foreign intervention, foreign policy, leftists, ProgressivismComment

California's Three Strikes Law: Balancing Crime Prevention and Justice Reform

California's Three Strikes Law: Balancing Crime Prevention and Justice Reform

On March 12, 2000, a man named Gary Ewick concealed three golf clubs worth $399 each by placing them up his pants leg and walked out of a Los Angeles-area golf course. Upon discovery, an employee phoned the police, leading to Ewick’s subsequent conviction and a required 25 years to life in prison. How did stealing $1200 worth of golf clubs warrant a potential life sentence in prison?

StateCynthia WeberAugust 22, 2023Cynthia Weber, crime, Criminal Justice Reform, Criminal Justice System, California, three strikes, California LegislatureComment

America Needs to Rethink its Policy on Negotiating with Terrorists

America Needs to Rethink its Policy on Negotiating with Terrorists

In one of the most iconic satirical films of the 21st Century, Tropic Thunder, the aggressively unlikeable studio executive Les Grossman, played by Tom Cruise, finds himself in a shockingly serious and delicate situation. He finds that the actors he sent to a remote South Asian jungle to shoot a film were captured as ransom by the ‘Flaming Dragon’ gang, who demand $100 million in ransom money in order to release their actors. With stark comedic poise, the ill-tempered Grossman tells the gang to ‘skin the bastards alive’ and to not forget to ‘go fuck themselves’. When confronted by devoted agent Rick Peck, played by Matthew McConaughey, with the fact that they will murder the captives, Grossman eloquently responds with the notorious line: “We don’t negotiate with terrorists”, which is followed by an enthused patriotic applause by the crowd.

GlobeNour TahaAugust 16, 2023Nour Taha, foreign policy, kidnapping, terrorism, terrorists, nixonComment

At REDA Self-Sufficiency Starts with Housing

At REDA Self-Sufficiency Starts with Housing

As a student, finding housing is one of my biggest priorities, but I was able to rely on my parents to show credit history and proof of income. For refugees arriving in the US finding housing is one of the first challenges to rebuilding their lives. They must do so often before they learn English and with none of the proof of income, credit, or rental history I was able to use when getting my first apartment. This problem is not unique to refugees or the city of Sacramento but one non-profit, the Refugee Enrichment and Development Association (REDA) is helping clients rebuild their lives.

StateAnna HicksAugust 7, 2023REDA, Housing, refugees, refugee support, affordable housing, Afghanistan, Sacramento, Anna HicksComment

Jack Daniel's at the Court: The End of Parody?

Jack Daniel's at the Court: The End of Parody?

After waking up this morning, you probably went on your phone and began to scroll through your feed, coming across a TikTok of Kanye singing “Hey There Delilah”, a drawing of Spiderman in the style of Warhol, and then read a fascinating article from the Onion to make sure you start your day informed. Maybe the algorithm was feeling nostalgic, so it decided to serve you some Key of Awesome clips. The specifics might be different for you, but one thing is clear, parody is everywhere, and more often than not, it is based on another’s creative works.

NationAbigail LoomisJuly 27, 2023copyright, IP law, intellectual property, jack daniels, abigail loomisComment

Shady Shenanigans: Montana’s Shameless Jungle Primary Scheme

Shady Shenanigans: Montana’s Shameless Jungle Primary Scheme

In the lead-up to last year’s elections, many political strategists and pundits predicted Republican wins across the country, based on the trend in U.S. politics wherein the president’s party performs poorly in midterm elections. The GOP sought to fragment the existing trifecta consisting of a Democratic House, Senate, and White House in an effort to stall President Biden’s legislative agenda—and to an extent, they were successful. Republicans gained control of the House after four years of Democratic control.

NationBrandon ChuJuly 23, 2023montana, primaries, politics, democrats, Republican, Senate, brandon chuComment

Better Dead Than Read: Moms for Liberty and Book Banning in America

Better Dead Than Read: Moms for Liberty and Book Banning in America

When overenthusiastic patriots get into online scraps and start comparing countries like PTA moms comparing kids, the mark they often point to at the top of America’s report card is free expression. Since its founding, the United States has maintained a vigorous discourse around the topic of free expression, with many decades of oft-controversial First Amendment jurisprudence under its belt. A 2015 Pew Research study found that Americans are the most supportive in the world of free expression (in theory); however, the United States receives a perennially middling score in each year’s World Press Freedom Index—this year, it ranked 45th.

NationRJ PrakerJuly 19, 2023censorship, Schools, book banning, rj praker, conservativesComment

Understanding and Solving the Climate Crisis Together

Understanding and Solving the Climate Crisis Together

From the mechanical pencils we write with to the energy we use to power our homes, every facet of human civilization impacts our natural world significantly. Since the 20th century, humans have consumed more resources per year than civilizations have for centuries. Environmentally, humans are cutting down entire forests, polluting oceans with plastics, and drilling oil out of the ground. The consequences include rising sea levels, abrupt changes in weather patterns, more intense ‘natural’ disasters, and mass extinction of thousands of animal species.

NationSriya ChinnamJuly 15, 2023Sriya Chinnam, Climate Change, climate crisisComment

The Pentagon Leaks: How a Discord Mod Threatened US National Security

The Pentagon Leaks: How a Discord Mod Threatened US National Security

There has been another massive leak of classified government documents, and this time it's from a junior officer in the Massachusetts Air National Guard. At 21 years old, Jack Douglas Teixeira has single-handedly become the center of a vast Pentagon data leak that has cost the United States significant damage to its national security and international reputation. Teixeira was a cyber transport systems specialist and was given Top Secret clearance as well as sensitive compartmentalized access, otherwise known as SCI, to highly classified documents. Some of these documents were released on the social messaging platform Discord, where they would eventually spread around the world.

NationAlecia PerezJuly 11, 2023pentagon, cybersecurity, discord, national security, Ukraine, alecia perezComment