Milwaukee Molson-Coors Shooting

Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/02/27/milwaukee-shooting-what-we-know-molson-coors-saddest-day/4889110002/

Summary: Yet another shooting has occurred in a nation where gun violence is being highly disputed. A brewery worker has shot 5 people over, most likely, an outrage from an argument between him and coworkers. This marks another mass shooting that has occurred years after the previous one in the city. Coworkers who spoke about the situation stated the gunman had his belongings messed with and may possibly have been a victim of discrimination. The article also proclaims that hours before the shooting was an argument between a Democratic Governor requesting guns be taken away from dangerous people and a State Senate Republican who believed gun laws won't change under a republican legislation.

Reaction: It makes me disappointed that even with the actions brought forth to gun laws, it still isn't majorly stopping people from being free to use guns for violence. It also disappoints me that the company lacked care for the employee's well being and did not address enough of the situation happening. I wonder if there even is a possibility of a radically changing gun law.

Connection: Over the recent years, there had been many mass shootings, one example being the Dayton, Ohio shooting in 2019. In the Dayton, Ohio shooting, the shooter allegedly wanted to commit a mass shooting just because he wanted to. He was bullied in school, suffered from psychosis, and dealt drugs. He overall had an unhealthy life that led him to be a shooter. Addressing his issues did not bring significant changes to how he could've lived, as proven by his behavior from before the shooting.

Questions: How can we deal with the debate around guns? What can be done about health issues that affect how a person interacts with the world? Would you focus more on gun issues or health issues?

Coronavirus: How Fox News and other right-wing media endanger our health

Left: corona virus, Right Matteo Salving 

On Media U.S: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/02/27/fox-news-right-wing-media-conspiracy-theories-coronavirus-covid-19-column/4886082002/

On Italian far Right:https://time.com/5789666/italy-coronavirus-far-right-salvini/

Summary: In the U.S and Italy right-wing media and politicians have warped the views of the coronavirus, in order to appear as supporting their xenophobic beliefs. In the U.S as the coronavirus was still beginning to become a problem in China, White Nationalist affiliated internet users began to spread the idea that it was Chinese cultural practices that created the out break, sharing videos of Chinese people eating exotic animals. Paul Joseph Watson a former InfoWars contributor said this proved his racist claim that, "some cultures are better than others." Nationalists like this man use the coronavirus to justify a position of excluding immigration even in times without a pandemic. Some spread unfounded conspiracy theories accusing the Chinese government of creating the virus. Fox news  and other right-wing media have claimed the virus is really a hoax to make the president look bad. All of this misinformation contributes to a serious risk to public health, if people don't realize there is a threat from the virus. This reaction was worse in Italy, a country hit hard by the virus with 21 deaths from covid-19(the disease brought on by the virus).  Italian far-right politicians including Matteo Salvini, leader of the League party, blamed refugees from Africa and Syria. Both regions with almost no infected persons.

Reaction: I believe the series threat to the health of people around the world corona virus is, should not be subverted for un-factual political uses. What upsets me more is the idea that these groups are turing a disaster into a reason to hate one group or another. To use racist theories of nationalism with no ground in reality to blame someone else for your problem, instead of working with those these people are blaming, is exacerbating the issue not solving it.  We should inform ourselves about how to solve the outbreak at hand and not look to point fingers. Misinformation is the last thing we need in a crisis.

Connections: In the years 1918 to 1920 the was the Spanish Flu epidemic which infects one third of all people and killed 2.5% of those it infected. This flu contributed to hysteria in the first Red Scare in the U.S. many fearing European immigrants carried the flue and communism. Also during Chinese exclusion there were measures supposedly made to inspect immigrants for the disease at Angle Island, these were manly used  to humiliate immigrants. This fear of the outside was present throughout U.S. history including the work by the No-Nothing party to exclude Irish immigrants. Yellow journalism before the Spanish American war helped drum up support for a war with Spain. 

Questions: Do you think our reaction to pandemics could outlay their actual symptoms? Is there a place for journalism to push an agenda? What do you worry most about people's reactions to the spread of the Coronavirus?

New CAA Law Starts Worst Violence India Has Seen In Years

 

         Violence in New Delhi After CAA Law

              

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2020/02/delhi-hit-worst-violence-decades-200227085832062.html

Summary: In India, a new law was recently passed. Called the CAA law (Citizens Amendment Act)

it allows all non-Muslims to apply for citizenship. Many people see this as an anti-Muslim act, because originally, Modi declared all people who can’t provide proof of citizenship non citizens, and then now isn’t allowing Muslims to re apply for citizenship. Muslim protesters have been taking to the streets, publicly demonstrating their anger. Unfortunately, Hindu Nationalist mobs (supporters of Modi) have been attacking the Muslim protesters, and as a result, 42 people have been killed and hundreds more have been wounded in the span of about four days. Entire square blocks have been burned down.
Reaction: Apart from the pictures of young children crying over the dead bodies of their parents, is that nobody is doing anything about it. Modi has done absolutely nothing and its not being publicized. I’ve been talking to people over the past few days about this horrible situation, and most of them didn’t even know any of this was happening. I understand that violence affects people all over the world, but as a first world country, I believe we could do a lot more to help stop thing like this from ever happening.
Connection to US History: Everybody knows that the US is super famous for being incredibly disrespectful to minorities throughout its history. The situation in New Delhi is something that has happened many times here in the US. The idea of dehumanizing humans is something that this country has been fighting over since its founding. Our bloodiest war was literally over slavery.
Questions: How can the US help in New Delhi? Do you believe the US has been failing as an example to other countries? How should Modi be handled? Why do you think the Hindus have been acting this way?

The Usage of Fog-catching Nets to Increase Water Levels in Dry Regions Around the World

Source:https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200221-how-fog-can-solve-water-shortage-from-climate-change-in-peru

Summary: People around the world have been seeking ways to increase water supplies in areas that are lacking, and fog-catching is a solution that has been making a big difference. Small amounts of water condense on the netting and drip down into pipes which then can be used as drinking water or to irrigate crops. Each net can catch 200-400 liters of water per day. More than 2,000 of them have been put in rural communities such as Bolivia, Columbia, and Mexico. Lima, Peru is one of the driest places in the world, but the thick mist on Peruvian and Chilean coastlines is perfect for fog-catching. Fog in urban communities like Lima is polluted and is only used for irrigation and animals, but in other places like Cusco and Tacna the fog water can be consumed by people. Typically fog nets aren’t in big cities such as San Francisco because they take up a lot of space that the cities don’t have. Overall, fog nets are a relatively cheap and simple solution to at least increase water supply in many areas around the world.

Reaction: It’s comforting to know that scientists and such are coming up with at least temporary solutions to help those around the world that are suffering from lack of water. I feel that fog-catching nets is a very clever way to make use of the natural resources we have for the benefit of people living in drought-ridden areas that need it the most. I hope that more inventions like this can come out to promote resourcefulness and sustainability of our planet, which is extremely important for the survival of generations to come.

Connection: A big conservationist movement took place during the Progressive Era, especially under Teddy Roosevelt. Although lack of water was not a huge problem at the time, he understood the importance of conserving all natural resources. He created the U.S. Forest Service, established national forests and parks, and overall wanted to preserve various species, plants, and even river cleanliness.

Questions: Do you think that more regions should try to implement fog-catching nets despite the inconvenience? Should governments be putting more regulation on water usage and/or contribute more to areas in need? How can we all work to conserve natural resources in our daily routines? 

"Accidental" Balloon Release Leads to Proposed Ban

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/26/us/scientology-balloons-plastic-ban-trnd/index.html

Summary: Hundreds of latex balloons were released during the grand opening of the Church of Scientology in Ventura, California due to miscommunication between the City Council and church leaders over a balloon release permit. Although the church applied for a balloon release permit, the city refused to approve it due to the environmental implications the balloons could have on marine life if they end up in the ocean. Unfortunately, a junior staff member of the City Council approved the final permit (to allow confetti/ balloons) because they thought that the church would comply with the original stance the city had made on refusing the balloon release. The church apologized to the city for the balloon release and will continue to participate in daily beach cleanups. The city proposed a citywide ban on all future balloon releases to preserve the beaches and ocean.

Reaction: Although California has policies regulating the release of foil balloons, it's concerning to see that stricter balloon regulations have not been implemented throughout California. If a statewide ban existed (such as California's statewide ban of single use plastic bags) on the intentional release of balloons, this incident would not have occurred.

Connection: to US History: The Clean Water Act was passed is 1972 to reduce industrial pollution from entering waterways. It significantly reduced water pollution, and set a precedent for future environmental policies, such as the ban on balloon releases in Ventura, California.

Questions: Should more cities follow in Ventura's footsteps and ban balloon releases?  Should anyone be held responsible for the pollution that these balloons cause?

A University of Oklahoma professor uses the N-word, Again

https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/24/us/oklahoma-professor-n-word/index.html

Summary: At the University of Oklahoma, a professor used the N-word when reading a historical document to his class. The professor did issue a "trigger warning" before using the word, but his use of the word in class became controversial all over the college campus. The university's interim president issued a public apology for the professor's language and all OU faculty, staff, and administration are now required to go through a diversity, equity, and inclusion training.

Reaction: I am surprised that an academic professional would use such language. Although the professor gave a warning that he would use such language, I am surprised that none of his students stopped him from saying it. The use of the N-word is controversial, but I believe that the professor using the N-word in his context was somewhat appropriate because he was using not to insult but to educate.

Connection to US History: The N-word has a lot of history within the United States. This word has been used against African-Americans to dehumanize them for centuries. African-Americans were treated terribly throughout Us history. An example of the mistreatment of African-Americans were lynchings. Lynchings were the process of white mobs hanging a black person. Lynchings were common throughout US history and used as a way to strike fear within African-American communities. But, within the last 100 years, the African-American community has mended the use of this word. The N-word within the black communities can be a word of brotherhood, friendship, and love rather than a dehumanizing insult.

Question: Who can use the n-word? Does someone need consent from a black person to say the n-word? Can only black people say the n-word, or can everyone say the n-word?

Violent Confrontations Between Greek Citizens and Police Over Immigration Camps

Source

Summary: The Greek Aegean Islands are an important place for refugees trying to enter Europe from the Middle East, especially as more and more European nations close their borders. While the local population of these islands has previously been receptive to refugees, they have had problems with overcrowding. The government had promised to decongest the island, so the island's population was upset when it was announced that migrant detention centers would be constructed. After demonstrations trying to stop the construction, riot police were sent in which resulted in violence.

Reaction: While I'm against the idea of using violence to stop immigration, I understand where the island residents are coming from. They were promised something by the government and their protests were met with violence. I think this whole thing is just an unfortunate consequence of the complex immigration situation in Europe.

Connection to US History: This is similar to how anti-immigration legislations like (the Chinese Exclusion Act) during the Gilded Age was motivated partially by worry of overcrowding. This also brings up the possibility that these protests were racially motivated, though I don't think that's the case.

Question: Do you think the protesters were justified in their actions? What should have been done?

First Woman Set To Pass Special Forces Training And Join Green Berets

Link to Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/25/us/politics/first-women-special-forces-green-berets.html

Summary: A female National guard soldier is soon going to become the first female Green Beret, which is also known as the Special Forces. Green Berets take front line combat positions in wars and specialize in intelligence and operations, weapons, medical, engineering, and communications, making it one of the hardest army assignments to qualify for. It was not until 2016 that the Pentagon opened all combat and Special Operations positions to women, but since then over 700 women have qualified for jobs that they have previously been restricted from. The soon-to-be first female Green Beret is currently in the final stage of training, and her graduation is almost guaranteed.

Reaction: I am surprised that not all fields in the military currently have women in it. I also did not expect that the Pentagon only allowed women to join all military units four years ago, and that since then over 700 women have qualified for positions they previously weren't allowed to have.

Connection to US History: This connects to US history because in the 1920s many women started to challenge gender stereotypes and did things that were usually in men’s fields.  One example is Amelia Earhart, who became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean.

Questions for Discussion: Should women be encouraged to take on more physically and mentally demanding jobs in the military? How can these jobs be made more accessible to them?

A heat wave in Antarctica melted 20% of an island's snow in 9 days

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/24/world/antarctica-heat-wave-melt-february-trnd/index.html

Summary: Antarctica's northern Eagle Island recently lost about a quarter of its snow cover during a heat wave that lasted for nine days earlier this February. Consistently higher temperatures have been occurring on the continent (as well as the rest of the world) and lasting for longer periods of time, a weather pattern that Antarctica has never experienced before until now. Scientists say that Antarctica contains enough ice and snow to potentially raise the world's sea level by 200 feet, which would threaten nearly every coast in the world.

Reaction: The rapid melting of snow in Antarctica is rather unsettling and frightening. Antarctica is known as one of, if not the coldest place on Earth. According to NASA, Antarctica experienced a temperature of 64.9 degrees Fahrenheit earlier this month, setting a new high and also matching Los Angeles's temperature on that same day, which I found appalling. I personally have witnessed some of the most extreme effects of climate change firsthand - I was in Lukang, Taiwan during its hottest day ever recorded, and in Barcelona during Spain's record-breaking 2018 heat wave. I tend to struggle under extreme temperatures, and with climate change showing no signs of slowing down, I'm scared to see what it holds in store for the years to come. The most we can do as citizens of the Earth is to try and live in a more eco-friendly way.

Connection to US History: The Industrial Revolution can easily be connected to global warming, seeing as this period of extreme development and technological advancement was perhaps the beginning of the downward spiral of climate change.

Question: Have you experienced any of the extreme effects of climate change firsthand? What are some steps humanity can take to reduce the effects of global warming?

Coronavirus Live Updates: Europe Prepares for Pandemic as Illness Spreads From Italy

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/26/world/asia/coronavirus-news.html

Summary: The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is continuing its fast spread across the Middle East and Europe. The rate of transmission outside of China appears to be quicker than China itself as the virus finally slows down in Wuhan and neighboring provinces. In Europe, with Italy being the center of the outbreak, multiple countries have reported their first cases. American health authorities have declared that the US should prepare for the inevitable outbreak as Brazil announces its first case, the first in Latin America. Following the new outbreaks in various countries across the globe has caused tensions in international politics and Wall Street, though the numbers seem to be recovering following the large drop over the weekend.

Reaction: Watching thousands fall ill every day to the 2019 novel coronavirus is concerning for me. I agree that an outbreak in the US is completely inevitable but I think American labs and scientists will hopefully find a solution soon. For months, I have been concerned about the infected people in China and am upset that foreign countries are not helping as much as they can.

Connection: This 2019 outbreak connects to the SARS outbreak of 2003 also originating in China. But unlike today, the SARS outbreak only took 774 lives at the end while this particular coronavirus is about to reach 3,000 lives and there doesn't seem to currently be an end in sight.

Question: Do you think anything can be done by either our government or foreign governments to halt the accelerating growth of this strain of coronavirus? Do you agree that a US outbreak is inevitable? Explain why. 

Why is Iran's reported mortality rate for coronavirus higher than in other countries?

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/why-iran-s-reported-mortality-rate-coronavirus-higher-other-countries-n1142646

Summary: Iran has the highest reported number of deaths from the coronavirus outside of China. On Tuesday, 16 Iranians have died out of a total of 95 positive cases. In China, there have been 2,663 deaths out of a total of 77,658 confirmed cases. This puts Iran's mortality rate for the virus at about 16% while at the epicenter of the outbreak in Wuhan, the mortality rate is estimated at around 2%. In Korean, there were 11 deaths out of 977 cases putting their mortality rate at about 1%. Iran is amid a shortage of surgical masks and hand sanitizer, potentially meaning that Iran could become the hub of a major outbreak across the Middle East. Iran also has porous borders with unstable countries at war or in turmoil thus increasing their chances of becoming the hub of a major outbreak across the Middle East. 

Reaction: I think that this is fascinating because we see so much news about deaths attached to the coronavirus in China. Knowing that Iran has the highest mortality rate is surprising since we would all expect it to be China since their death toll is so high especially since it is speculated that the number of cases and deaths are higher than officials reported. I think Iran should take further precautions and try to make sure not to spread the virus anywhere else in the Middle East. I think everyone should also help Iran by sending them materials such as masks, hand sanitizer, and even medical materials such as hospital beds since they have a relatively weak public heath infrastructure.

Connection:  COVID- 19 is similar to the 1920 HIV/AIDS epidemic as well as SARS-CoV in 2002. HIV was believed to have crosses species from chimpanzees to humans while SARS-CoV was an animal virus from bats that spread to other animals (civet cats) and first infected humans in the Guangdong province of southern China in 2002. COVID- 19 was also believed to have been spread from humans eating wild bats and various animals as the first case was contracted in Wuhan, China. 

Questions: Is there any way Iran can try to prevent the spreading of COVID- 19 and prevent the virus from being spread throughout the Middle East? Why do you think the mortality rate is highest in Iran? Is there anything we can do to help with this outbreak? How can we protect ourselves and embrace the virus which is coming only in a matter of time?

Kobe Bryant's Widow Files a Wrongful Death Suit Against Helicopter Company Over Crash

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/24/us/kobe-bryant-wrongful-death-lawsuit-island-express-helicopters/index.html

Summary: As many have recently heard, basketball legend, Kobe Bryant, his daughter, Gianna Bryant & seven others were part of a fatal helicopter crash on January 26, 2020. The helicopter crashed into the side of a hilly terrain in which many have sought to blame the foggy weather conditions for the crash, since no engine issues seemed to be present. On February 24, 2020, Bryant's wife, Vanessa, held a memorial at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. On that same day, a lawsuit was filed by the Bryant family against Island Express Helicopters, the company of the helicopter that crashed in January. As a part of the lawsuit, complaints were made against the pilot, Ara George Zobayan, saying that he "failed to properly monitor and assess the weather prior to takeoff and failed to abort the flight when he knew of the cloudy conditions." Reports say that the Bryant family was close with the pilot, and that he'd directed many of their trips beforehand, however the lawsuit highlights another points that there is a record of the pilot's past of ignoring the VFR (visual flight rules) that require pilots to stay out of the paths of heavy clouds. The National Transportation Safety Board will continue to investigate possible causes of this crash and will work to release a final statement in the months to come. 

Reaction: I think that this is an interesting case because the family had known Zobayan to be a very good and experienced pilot. Knowing that the Bryant family must be feelings enormous amounts of grief, this lawsuit seems nothing but a correct course of action. I think that safety regulations are made for a reason, and that all pilots should be required to follow them, no matter how experienced they may be. 

Connection: This connects to the history of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) which has developed over the years since the creation of airplanes. Both airplanes and helicopters should be held with near to same weight, in terms of regulations. Since the creation of the Airplane by the Wright Brothers in 1903, air travel has become a primary method of transportation. In 1934, the Department of Commerce (renamed Aeronautics Branch of Bureau of Air Commerce) worked to create air traffic control networks and stations which would aid the safety of air travel. 

Questions: 

Given only the known information about the source of the crash, do you think that the Island Express company should be punished? What do you think their punishment should look like? 

US government fines Wells Fargo $3 billion for its staggering fake accounts scandal

Link to article: https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/21/business/wells-fargo-settlement-doj-sec/index.html

Image:

Summary: This article is on the resolution of Wells Fargo's fake account scandal, the details/context of the scandal, and how the scandals have effected business. Wells Fargo falsified their bank records, harmed customers credit ratings, and unlawfully misused their personal information collecting millions of dollars in fees and interest from the years 2002-2016. The criminal investigation of Wells Fargos false bank records and identify theft is being resolved with a deferred prosecution agreement.  The 3 billion fine will resolve the investigation, but it doesn't resolve mistreatment to workers who tried to expose the scandals. The series of scandals have also negatively effected the bank's stock greatly.

Reaction: I am surprised that Wells Fargo was able to get away with falsifying bank records for 14 years. I'm amazed that one of America's largest banking companies had such a damaging scandal under its name. I dislike the fact that top managers made no effort to stop the shady actions being done to satisfy unreasonable quotas. I also disagree with the decisions of the managers to retaliate against the workers for trying to expose the account scandals, I believe that it would have been better to just resolve the issue quickly so that they wouldn't have to deal with the investigations or the fines like they are now.

Connection to US History: This connects to US history because scandals have been an issue throughout US history. For instance, some notable scandals would be the: Teapot Dome Scandal from (1921 to 1923), Whiskey Ring Scandal exposed in 1875, and Watergate scandal from(1972 to 1974). This also relates to US history because as a result of Andrew Jackson shutdown of the 2nd national bank, he split the job of banking to state banks. Banks now such as Wells Fargo now exist thanks to Jackson's decision to kill the 2nd national bank and thanks to the development of better banking organization/systems.

Questions for discussion:
1. If you were one of the Wells Fargo workers would you call out the fake account scandal?
2. What is your opinion on how Wells Fargo dealt with the issue after discovering it?

Rival Candidates Attack Michael Bloomberg during Democratic Debate

Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51549847

Summary: Michael Bloomberg enters his very first democratic debate stage in Nevada for his presidential

2020 run but receives critiques from other candidates from how he got his way to it. Candidates

such as Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren during the debate highlighted Michael Bloomberg's Stop and

Frisk Policy which targeted against minorities in the city of New York to combat high crime. Amy

Klobuchar attacked the candidate by claiming he was hiding behind his "TV adverts" which reflects the

$188 million Michael Bloomberg spent during the 4th quarter of 2019. Although Michael Bloomberg received

heavy fire for his past and use of wealth in the presidential race he apologizes for his actions and that he is only

using his wealth to defeat Donald Trump.

Reaction: After reading this article I think that it isn't right that someone who has money is able to gain lots

of support while other candidates hold rallies and attend many events just to have some media attention.

I believe that someone should not be able to use their own wealth to gain a competitive advantage as politics

should not be affected by wealth.

Connection to US History: The night of the Nevada democratic debate connects to the political
machines during the Gilded age who had excessive control over state governments with the use of
corruption and greed and although Michael Bloomberg is not a Political Boss the corruption and use
of money to buy out the election was one quality people in the Gilded Age feared for.

Discussion Questions: Do you think Presidential candidates should be able to use their own
personal wealth in the presidential race? What are the ways to combat issues like these in the
presidential race?

New Jersey just raised its threat level for white supremacists to 'high,' well above ISIS and al Qaeda

Link: https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/21/us/new-jersey-white-supremacist-terrorism-trnd/index.html

Summary: White supremacists have been named as more of a threat to people than ISIS or al Qaeda in state security's 2020 report. This bump up in threat level is due an increased number racially charged incidents that are happening. Major incidents such as the El Paso Walmart shooting and the machete attack at a New Jersey mall have been linked to racist motives. They found that the shooter in the Walmart incident wrote a racist, anti-immigrant four-page document and the machete attack targeted black people. As of recent, there has been a rise in white supremacist propaganda and ideas that are being spread through the internet or person to person. There have been 168 reported instances of white supremacist propaganda distribution, compared to 46 reports in 2018.                                                              Reaction: I find it shocking how groups of terrorist, whose aim is to cause destruction without bias, are ranked as less of a threat than people who want to hurt people because of their race. I also find it confusing how this information of white supremacists has been in the open and nothing has been put in place to stop it. I understand that with our current government you wouldn't expect much reaction, but it seems like people are in denial that this is a serious threat.                                                                                                                       Connections: This type of story connects to a big chunk of American history, but more closely to the era of segregation. Around this time a major white supremacist group, the kkk, were very prevalent. They were known for their extreme discrimination against African Americans in the south and even performed lynchings. This hate group is still around today without as many extremist acts.                                                                                                    Questions: Do you think the government would be able to get rid of this propaganda without violating any rights? If so, how? Why do you think white supremacy has been on the rise these past few years?

Harvey Weinstein Trial: Jury Suggests It Is Split on 2 Most Serious Charges

Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/21/nyregion/weinstein-verdict.html

Summary: The Harvey Weinstein scandal began on October 5, 2017. Weinstein, a famous film producer, had many sexual harassment allegations made against him. On May 25, 2018, Weinstein turned himself in to the NYPD on sexual misconduct charges. The trial process began on January 6, 2020. After listening to weeks of testimonies, the jury in Harvey Weinstein's rape trial began deliberations this week. After four days of deliberations, they were still not able to reach a consensus. They sent a note to the judge asking if they could return a unanimous verdict on one of the lesser charges of rape and sexual assault, but stay split on two charges of predatory sexual assault. Those two charges of predatory sexual assault carry a possible life sentence, while the rape and sexual assault charge will only give him 25 years in prison. The prosecutors were not willing to accept a partial verdict, so the judge told the jury to continue deliberating. Deliberations will resume on Monday.

Reaction: With all of the allegations that are made against Harvey, I think a decision should be made soon so he can go to jail and not ruin more people's lives. Considering all of the evidence and testimonies, I can understand how it might be difficult to decide on what to do. If Weinstein is convicted of all charges, then this would be triumphant for the #MeToo movement and for the women who were brave enough to testify against such an influential and powerful person. It would convince more people to come through and speak up about these issues.

Connection to History: This relates to the anti-rape movement which came about during the later 1960s and early 1970s when new concepts of rape emerged out of second-wave feminism. It sought to combat violence against women and the abuse of women. This also relates to the rules 412, 413, 414, and 415 that were adopted into the Federal Rules of Evidence in 1975. These rules, more commonly known as "rape shield" laws, prevent evidence of a victim's past sexual history from being used against them.

Question: What is your opinion about this whole situation? What do you think the jury's verdict will be? What do you think it should be?

In Efforts to Contain Coronavirus, China Hospitals Turn Away Other Patients

Link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/in-chinas-war-on-coronavirus-hospitals-turn-away-other-patients--with-dire-results/2020/02/21/93e42c74-5307-11ea-80ce-37a8d4266c09_story.html



Summary: In China, hospitals (especially in Hubei Province) have been turning away a large number of patients who do not have coronavirus, in order to treat those who do. These hospitals are often overwhelmed by the epidemic and do not have enough resources or doctors to treat additional patients, or fear the risk of infection. Many people who have been turned away have sought help elsewhere, including social media and phone consultations, and a group of volunteers has been contacting patients that have been turned away and trying to convince hospitals to admit these patients.

Connection to US History: This epidemic connects to the 1980s AIDS epidemic, which people did not fully understand and feared its spread. However, hospitals did not turn away patients like Chinese hospitals are doing.

Discussion Questions: Is it right for these hospitals to turn away other unhealthy patients, for the sake of containing the coronavirus epidemic? How should doctors/hospitals/the government handle these other patients?

A Complete List of Trump’s Pardons and Commutations

Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/18/us/politics/trump-pardons.html

Summary: This past Tuesday, on February 19th, President Donald Trump granted full pardons to seven convicted individuals and commutations to four others. The constitution grants presidents the unlimited authority to pardons, which completely excuse a federal crime, while commutations merely reduce a sentencing. Among the individuals pardoned by President Trump are former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, television personality Angela Stanton, and former New York police commissioner Bernard B. Kerik.
In 2011, Governor Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in prison for trying to sell the newly vacated Senate seat of then president-elect Barack Obama to the highest bidder. Interestingly enough, while awaiting trial in 2010, Blagojevich appeared as a contestant on Trump's "The Celebrity Apprentice."
Angela Stanton, an author, public speaker, and television personality served 6 months of house arrest in 2007 for her involvement in a stolen-vehicle ring. Recently, Stanton has given a number of interviews in which she praised President Trump, and the White House has declared her work to aid those returning from prison to be commendable.
In 2010, former police commissioner Kerik was sentenced to 4 years in prison after admitting to 8 felony charges, including tax fraud and lying to White House officials. Upon his pardon, Kerik immediately went to Twitter to publicly thank Trump, comparing the day to be as momentous as that of the birth of his children.

Reaction: I think it is interesting that the president is granted the authority to completely pardon any citizen of any crime, except for the case of impeachment, without the need for an approval from Congress or the Supreme Court. While most recent presidents have used their authority to pardon a significant number of convicted individuals, numbering in the thousands, I think it is interesting that many of the people pardoned by Trump in this latest wave have direct ties to him.

Connection to History: Trump's pardons reflect a practice dating back to George Washington, since which every president of the U.S. has granted executive clemency to individuals they believe are underserving of their sentencing. The executive power was first wielded by President Washington when he pardoned Philip Vigol and John Mitchel for their treasonous roles in the Whiskey Rebellion, and Andrew Johnson approved full unconditional pardons of most ex-Confederates after taking office during Reconstruction. In 1921, President Harding commuted the sentencing of Eugene V. Debs, who had been arrested on charges of violating the Espionage Act of 1917. 

Discussion Questions: Do you think that it should be constitutional for presidents to grant full pardons and commutations to convicted individuals, without any check from Congress or the Supreme Court? Do you think the individuals pardoned by Trump are deserving of their pardons?