Author: TheConversation

By Robert Speel, Associate Professor of Political Science, Erie campus, Penn State American author F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote that “there are no second acts in American lives.” Yet it is already assumed Donald Trump will go on to a next act in one form or another. Will he start his own media company? Serve as a GOP kingmaker? There are even rumblings that he will decide to run again for president in 2024. Having served only one term, he is constitutionally eligible to try for another. If he does decide to run again – and if he wins...

By Sierra Carter, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Georgia State University I am part of a research team that has been following more than 800 Black American families for almost 25 years. We found that people who had reported experiencing high levels of racial discrimination when they were young teenagers had significantly higher levels of depression in their 20s than those who hadn’t. This elevated depression, in turn, showed up in their blood samples, which revealed accelerated aging on a cellular level. Our research is not the first to show Black Americans live sicker lives and die younger than other...

By Jon X. Eguia, Professor of Economics, Michigan State University When the results of the 2020 U.S. Census are released, states will use the figures to draw new electoral district maps for the U.S. House of Representatives and for state legislatures. This process has been controversial since the very early days of the nation – and continues to be so today. Electoral district maps designate which people vote for which seat, based on where they live. Throughout history, these maps have often been drawn to give one party or another a political advantage, diluting the power of some people’s...

By John M. Eason, Associate Professor of Sociology; Benny Witkovsky, PhD Candidate; Chloe Haimson, PhD Candidate; Jungmyung Kim, PhD Candidate; University of Wisconsin-Madison Kenosha, Wisconsin, became a national byword for racial unrest when protests in August erupted in violence. After local police shot a Black man, Jacob Blake, seven times in the back, leaving him paralyzed, furious residents took to the streets expressing years of pent-up anger. During nighttime hours, fires were set. Law enforcement’s response only escalated the situation. One night an armed white militia showed up, and Kenosha officers thanked them. Then, at 11:45 p.m. on Aug....

By Arash Javanbakht, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Wayne State University About a year ago I began to follow my interest in health and fitness on Instagram. Soon I began to see more and more fitness-related accounts, groups, posts and ads. I kept clicking and following, and eventually my Instagram became all about fit people, fitness and motivational material, and advertisements. Does this sound familiar? While the algorithms and my brain kept me scrolling on the endless feeds, I was reminded of what digital marketers like to say: “Money is in the list.” That is, the more customized your group,...