What is the Paris Climate Accord?
On June 1, President Trump announced that the United States was withdrawing from the historic Paris Climate Accord. Here, we take a look at what the Paris Accord is, how it differs from other, past environmental treaties, and what impact Trump’s decision will have. What is the Paris Accord? The Paris Climate Accord (otherwise known as […]
Female Soldiers Make History in the United States
In 2013, President Obama ordered the U.S. military to open all combat positions to women as well as men. Now, four years later, a group of 18 female soldiers has made history by graduating last Friday from United States Army infantry training. The Quest for Equality The move toward gender equality in the military began […]
Memorial Day
For many of us, Memorial Day signals the unofficial start of summer. However, there is more to this holiday than swimming pools, picnics, and backyard barbeques. Here, btw takes a look at how Memorial Day began and why it is still significant today. What Is It? Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for military […]
What Happened on Election Night?
One of the most surprising things about Donald Trump’s victory on Tuesday night was that few people expected it: almost all of the polls leading up to the election predicted that Hillary Clinton would be the decisive winner. So why did they get their predictions so wrong? Exit polls are a national survey of voters. […]
Tightening Poll Numbers
This week, over on the Election Central Web site we examine the narrowing poll numbers in the race to the White House between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Hillary had a big lead at the end of the summer, but the gap has significantly narrowed in recent weeks. Why might that be the case? The […]
The Largest Protected Area on Earth
There is a cluster of uninhabited islands and coral reefs located in the Pacific Ocean that collectively make up the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. This land and the waters that surround it currently encompasses around 140,000 square miles. Last month, President Obama announced that he has signed legislation to expand its boundaries to the north […]
Read My Lips* – Talking Taxes
It’s that time of year again, when people scramble to get receipts and tax returns to accountants (or the numerically-savvy), and numbers and letter combinations like “W2” and “1040” enter casual conversations. In recognition of Tax Season, btw takes a look back at some history of taxes in the United States. New Nation, Old System […]
Happy 100, National Parks!
Last year, more than 305 million people visited a national park or monument across the U.S. Made up of a collective 84 million acres, they are the National Park Service (NPS), a federal agency tasked with both preserving the land and making it accessible to visitors. In honor of its 100 years, we take a […]
Is the Republican Party Headed for a Split?
Political frustration is hardly new. Continually governing an “of the people, by the people, for the people” global superpower based on open-ended principles laid out more than 200 years ago is no easy feat. Still, this election season has the Republican Party fractured in a way it hasn’t been for many years. Prominent members of […]
Election Central Keeps You Up to Date
Last night was Super Tuesday. Eleven states held primaries and caucuses across the country. Do you know what happened? The best way to stay up-to-date? Keep visiting the Election Central Web site to see who has won what, which candidates have dropped out, and more in depth stories on issues and campaign events. Updated Today […]