The White House’s Coronavirus Response
If you’re like most Americans, you’ve been hearing a lot about coronavirus, otherwise known as COVID-19. Maybe you’ve been watching the spread of the disease on the news, or you’ve been reading about how Italy has now quarantined thousands of people, or your family has started stockpiling food and other supplies. It can be hard […]
Harvard Professor Arrested in International Scandal
Sure, you might not love all of your teachers. But what if one of them turned out to possibly be a spy for the Chinese? It sounds like the plot of a movie, but this scenario is unfolding right now at, of all places, Harvard University. Here, btw takes a closer look at the story. […]
Mandatory Power Outages Fail to Stop California Wildfires
Devastating wildfires in California have become so commonplace that they barely make national headlines anymore, despite causing catastrophic damage, loss of property, and loss of life. A large utility company, Pacific Gas & Electric Corp., has been blamed in the past for not properly maintaining power lines and transmitters, and that this poor care has […]
Mueller Testifies Before Congress
On July 24, Special Counsel Robert Mueller testified before Congress about his investigation into the Trump campaign’s role in the Russian tampering in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Across the nation, Democrats and Republicans alike tuned into the televised testimony from Capitol Hill to learn what new information might come to light. Republicans hoped that […]
“A Portrait of Persistence”
Did you know that March was National Women’s History Month? In 1987, Congress designated every March as an annual recognition of women’s history and achievements. Now, a new exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery seeks to showcase and honor women’s contributions throughout history, especially those of women who have not traditionally been recognized, such […]
Trump Declares National Emergency
Last Friday marked the end of the negotiating period between the White House and Congress about funding for Trump’s border wall between the United States and Mexico. If no compromise was reached by Friday, the federal government would once again face a partial shutdown. In the days leading up to Friday, however, it looked like […]
New Plan(t) to Fight Climate Change?
The battle against climate change may feel overwhelming at times. But a company called Northwest Innovation Works LLC has come up with a plan that it thinks could help: building a new clean-energy plant in the Pacific Northwest. Here, btw takes a closer look at the proposal, the possible benefits, and some of the criticism […]
Federal Government Shutdown Continues
You’ve probably heard about the partial government shutdown that’s been going on since December 20. And with good reason: it’s one of the longest-running federal government shutdowns in history. But what does it really mean when the federal government shuts down? Who is impacted? And how soon will it be re-opened again? What Exactly Is […]
Democrats Threatened by Bombs
The last week has seen a shocking amount of violence across the country, including bomb threats against several prominent Democrats and other opponents of Donald Trump. While no one was hurt by the bombs, they still sent an unsettling message about the political divisiveness of the United States just a week before the upcoming November […]
A 9/11 Tale of Hope
So many stories that originated from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 are sad stories of loss. But there are also some stories of human kindness and changed hearts. Today, before the annual remembrance of that sad day, let us hear and think about a positive story, in which a group of American travelers were fortunate […]