Reforming Our Prisons
Last month, President Obama made a visit to the El Reno Correctional Institution in El Reno, Oklahoma, making him the first sitting American president to visit a federal prison. The trip was an effort to highlight his commitment to overhauling the nation’s criminal justice system. “Mass incarceration makes our entire country worse off,” he said in […]
YOU DECIDE: Is the Iran Deal Good for the United States?
As btw reported back in April, many countries have viewed Iran’s nuclear ambitions as a considerable threat. In 2006, a diplomatic group made up of six world powers calling themselves P5+1 (named for the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus one non-member), gathered together to strategize on the best way to […]
Landmark Ruling on Marriage Equality
At the end of June, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ended its 2014–2015 term with a number of hot-topic decisions. One of its biggest was a landmark ruling on same-sex marriage. This means that the decision will have significant and lasting impact on future legislation. You’ve probably witnessed the flurry of reactions […]
Stuff YOU Should Know
United Kingdom Election On May 4, the people of the United Kingdom participated in new parliamentary election. Within the Parliament is the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The House of Commons is made up of 650 members representing constituencies (geographic areas). Some of the political parties in the country are: Conservative, Labour, […]
Uniting the Americas in Summit
At the beginning of the year, btw brought you news of President Obama’s announcement of a historic shift in the United States’ relationship with Cuba. Earlier this month, the leaders of the two countries sat down together for the first time in formal talks. Both were present at the Summit of the Americas, a regional conference […]
A Plan for Iran’s Nuclear Future
Iran’s nuclear program has been a global concern for decades. The United States as well as the EU-3 (France, Germany, and the United Kingdom) tried to put a halt to Iran’s nuclear development in the past. Several Iranian leaders in the past have publicly threatened the United States and Western nations. For this reason, it […]
GOP Hopefuls at CPAC
Each year, the American Conservative Union (ACU), a lobbying organization, hosts its Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). The three-day event draws around 6,000 attendees, with a growing number of young people present. There are speeches, panel discussions, workshops, and opportunities to network. Those with any political affiliation are allowed to register, but many of the […]
Stuff YOU Should Know
Another Attempt at Peace in Russia For the past year, btw has brought you stories about the conflict in Russia regarding its relationship with the neighboring Ukraine. The most recent effort to halt the ongoing violence is a series of peace talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and French President Francois […]
Landmark Deal on U.S.-Cuba Relations
Cuba is a country made up of islands located around 90 miles south of the tip of Florida. While it is a close neighbor of the U.S., relations between the countries have been non-existent for more than 50 years due to political and economic clashes. Last month, President Obama announced new foreign policy shifts toward […]
Proudly Hailing Our Stripes and Stars
When was the last time you sang the Star Spangled Banner? If you attend a lot a sporting events, probably a lot, or maybe the start of a fireworks show this past 4th of July? When was the last time you thought about its origin? The symbols that define America’s national identity–the bald eagle, the […]