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2026 Democratic Primary Preview Series
Profiles of Democratic candidates in 2026 state congressional elections.

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Civil Rights

Elections & Politics

Foreign Policy

Foreign Policy
Space Junk and Corporate Accountability in Orbit (Foreign Policy Brief # 231)
Space exploration has transitioned from a public endeavor driven by international cooperation to a heavily privatized industry dominated by billionaire-backed mega-corporations. At the center of this shift is Low Earth Orbit (LEO), defined by the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) and NASA as the region of space at an altitude of 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) or less. Low Earth Orbit, once viewed as a pristine global commons, is rapidly becoming a celestial dumping ground. The exponential deployment of satellite megaconstellations by private tech monopolies has drastically accelerated the accumulation of space junk, raising profound environmental and safety concerns. While these networks boast of bridging global connectivity gaps, their unchecked proliferation commodifies the orbital environment, prioritizing corporate dominance over the long-term sustainability of the cosmos.
Unmanned Imperialism: The Proliferation, Human Cost, and Future of Drone Warfare (Foreign Policy Brief #229)
Unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones, have fundamentally reshaped modern conflict, transforming the skies into a perpetual zone of surveillance and lethal action.
The Week That Was In Review (Foreign Policy Brief #228)
On February 28 2026, Israel and the United States engaged in joint attacks on Iranian territory, far larger and more devastating in scale than the first direct attacks on Iran in June 2025. Secretary of War, (Defnse) Pete Hegseth has said the US is only “accelerating, not decelerating” its war on Iran, with more assets heading to the region as the conflict ricochets from Dubai, to Saudi Arabia, Turkey to Sri Lanka where an Iranian ship was recently sunk using torpedoes.

Technology

Technology
The Potential Harm Posed to Society Due to the Inaccuracies of AI (Technology Policy Brief #159)
The future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not fully determined, but it will continue to have a significant impact on our society and the way we live. The ways it currently impacts society are through improvements in efficiency, productivity, and accessibility. Self-driving cars relying on AI, AI-powered robots are used to provide aid and assistance in the healthcare system, and AI security systems are used to automate threat detection, among other examples. Although AI creates positive advantages and impacts, it also creates negative effects. The negative effects cover the environment, employment and other fields. These examples are often caused by products that use and incorporate AI, but what (potential) harm is created due to inaccuracies within the actual systems of AI?
California’s Landmark AI Regulations Don’t Go Far Enough (Technology Policy Brief #158)
California styles itself as a leader in AI regulation. Two landmark bills were signed by Governor Newsom this year over the usual industry objections. But the bills don’t go as far as safety advocates wanted, and don’t offer sufficient protections to young, vulnerable users.
Zuckerberg Keeps Coming For Your Children (Technology Policy Brief #157)
Complaints about META’s failure to protect children from the ills of social media continue to plague the company. Most recently, unauthorized images of children were used in ads for Meta’s Threads app, and a significant study of the company’s improvements in response to previous concerns criticized its efforts as largely ineffective.

Environment

Environment
Broad, Dramatic Changes Threaten the Environment as Trump Lifts Protections (Environment Policy Brief #184)
Dolphins in New York Harbor, whales breaching off Lower Manhattan, oysters thriving in the waters around New York City, and the Hudson River—long written off as dead—now supports fishing again. These signs of environmental recovery, while miraculous, all could slam into reverse as the latest Trump administration rollbacks take effect.
Coal Revival in the Age of Climate Emergency: Inside Trump’s New Energy Gamble (Environmental Policy Brief #183)
In a move that has startled climate scientists and energy economists alike, the Trump administration recently unveiled a sweeping new initiative aimed at reviving America’s coalindustry—a sector long regarded as both an economic relic and a climate catastrophe. The plan, a mix of subsidies, deregulation, and export promotion, represents a dramatic reversal of the Biden-era shift toward renewable energy and the most significant policy intervention in favor of coal since the early 2000s.
The Impact of New Energy Policy on the Coal Industry (Environmental Policy Brief #182)
Most economic and energy analysts define coal as having an impending obsolescence, regardless of government intervention. Forcing more years out of coal plants that are aging past their end of life will end up passing unnecessary costs onto consumers. A study by independent consulting firm Grid Strategies has found that the real cost of mining defunct coal facilities will end up costing end consumers up to $6 billion a year USD.

Education

Health & Gender

Health & Gender
The Rise of ‘Weird’ and the New Framing of Anti-Abortion Policies
Despite widespread public support for abortion rights, restrictive policies continue to rise, highlighting a stark disconnect between American voters and their government. As “weird” becomes the new political shorthand, Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz challenge the unsettling narratives driving anti-abortion legislation.
Current Events in a Post-Roe V. Wade Era
Policy Brief #175 – Health and Gender
by: Geoffrey Small
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the United States is grappling with a rapidly shifting landscape of reproductive rights, marked by new policy proposals, legal battles, and state-level legislation. This article delves into the ongoing turmoil, highlighting key events and their profound impact on the future of abortion access in America.
Checking in on 14 Years of Obamacare: Part 3
Policy Brief #174 – Health and Gender
by: Geoffrey Small
Fourteen years after the enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), its impact on innovative medical care and cost-saving measures remains mixed. While Obamacare has expanded access and encouraged preventative care, the anticipated financial savings have not fully materialized, highlighting the ongoing complexity of achieving affordable healthcare in the U.S.

Immigration

Immigration
Who’s Being Deported? Our Neighbors, Friends, and the Workforce (Immigration Policy Brief #139)
Given the start of the Trump era and ICE raids occurring across the country it is timely to remind people who immigrants are and more importantly who they are not. The initial figures released by ICE at the start of the new era of raids on immigrants reported that they had arrested 472 people on average in the first 3 days.
The End of Birthright Citizenship? A Question of Legal Rights and National Identity
The End of Birthright Citizenship? A Question of Legal Rights and National Identity Immigration #138 | By: Morgan Davidson | December 19, 2024 US RESIST NEWS has asked Morgan Davidson, one of our outstanding Reporters, to chronicle and analyze Trump administration...
Immigrants vs. the Trump Administration: Part 2:”First They Came for the Immigrants”: Parallels Between Trump’s Immigration Policies and the Early Rise of Nazi Ideology
Immigrants vs. the Trump Administration: Part 2:"First They Came for the Immigrants": Parallels Between Trump’s Immigration Policies and the Early Rise of Nazi Ideology Immigration #137 | By: Morgan Davidson | November 26, 2024 US RESIST NEWS has asked Morgan...

Economic Policy

Economic Policy
Navigating Inflation: A Comprehensive Analysis
Brief #61 – Economic Policy Brief
by: Arvind Salem
As inflation rates surge, consumers face mounting pressure on their wallets, with prices soaring in key sectors like housing and groceries. Amidst political debates and policy clashes, understanding the root causes and potential solutions becomes critical for navigating the economic landscape.
Cryptocurrencies: Economic Implications and Challenges
Brief #60 – Economic Policy Brief
by: Inijah Quadri
The rise of cryptocurrencies heralds a new era in the global financial landscape, offering decentralized alternatives to traditional fiat currencies. With the potential for enhanced financial inclusion and transactional efficiency, cryptocurrencies present both opportunities and challenges in reshaping the future of finance.
A Primer on Our Housing Crisis
Brief #59 – Economic Policy Brief
by Devyne Byrd
Although the United States is a global economic force, its economic prosperity has not extended to those citizens who are suffering from a dire housing crisis. As wages have not risen to align with these issues, many Americans have been priced out of both the homebuying and rental process, leading to mass evictions, foreclosures, and homelessness.

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