Whenever a political event or global conflict occurs, people head to social media to ask for celebrities and influencers to give their take on the matter. If a public figure refuses to make a statement, or expresses something other than what people want, the public will then cancel them or label them as problematic.  A few months ago, Michelle Yeoh, a Malaysian actress—who has starred in many Hollywood films but currently lives in Switzerland—declined to speak about U.S. politics, saying that she thought it was “best not to talk about something I don’t know about.” Michelle’s honesty is commendable in a time…

In-N-Out is a staple of Californian culture and an iconic American fast-food chain. Founded in 1948 in California, In-N-Out has remained a privately owned company, refusing to franchise to preserve the quality of its food and service. The chain has deep roots in Christian values, as evidenced in both the products it sells and its company culture. The current owner, Lynsi Snyder, is very open about her faith, and since the 90s, the company has printed Bible verses on the cups and wrappers. For instance, on the bottom of the In-N-Out double-double wrappers are “Nahum 1:7,” a reference to the Bible…

The majority of Americans have a negative outlook on politics right now. According to the Pew Research Center, 84% of adults believe political debate has become less respectful. On top of that, 72% report feeling exhausted by politics, and 69% say they feel angry when they think about it. Perhaps most concerning, 78% believe there is too little attention given to the issues that actually matter in this country. These numbers show that political frustration is widespread. People aren’t just disagreeing; they’re feeling burned out, unheard, and overwhelmed. And when civic engagement becomes associated with anger and exhaustion, it becomes…

Despite consistent complaints about the U.S. economy, Americans continue to consume, as seen by increasing retail sales. Of course, there are some Americans genuinely suffering due to financial problems, but many Americans are complaining about issues caused by their own spending habits. They could benefit from assessing their spending and identifying “needs” against “wants.” For example, buying a $7 coffee a day adds up to $2,555 a year. Many things that we deem as necessary, everyday items are actually luxuries. People can help themselves by making more food at home, buying less clothes and being mindful about things like vacations…

Last week, President Donald Trump endorsed businessman Steve Hilton in the California gubernatorial race. This endorsement is pushing undecided Republican voters towards Hilton and draining voters from the other Republican candidate, Chad Bianco. In California, the top two candidates from the primary, regardless of party affiliation, advance to the November election. For a while, there was a chance that the ticket could be two Republicans. By endorsing Hilton at this time, Trump may have upended an opportunity for Republicans to lock Democrats out of the November election.

President Donald Trump has agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, and the White House is currently claiming it as a victory. However, at this point it doesn’t feel as though the United States has really gained anything from this conflict that it didn’t have before. The regime in Iran has not changed, and Trump’s goal of destroying its military capabilities wasn’t met. Despite that, I am glad for peace, even if it may be temporary. In the coming weeks, the world will have to see if the United States can negotiate a favorable deal that can settle issues such…

When we mention the term “slavery,” people tend to think about the Atlantic slave trade. The Atlantic slave trade happened where African people were enslaved and transported to the Americas. That notion of slavery is widely discussed in the United States, and viewed as an unfortunate time in history. However, nearly 50 million people live in slavery across the globe, and within that number around 400,000 people in the United States currently live under forced labor conditions. Forced labor in the United States takes form in  various  ways. Sectors that  have cases of labor trafficking every year include domestic work,…

The “No Kings” protests are meant to show opposition to President Trump’s policies. However, the protests fail to articulate clear demands. The signs from the protests cover a broad range of topics and it is hard to tell what specifically is being protested against.. The protests seem more like a Democratic pep rally for the midterms. 

It is really no secret that America’s infrastructure leaves much to be desired. Public transit options are limited across the country, and the ones that are available are often outdated and not very well maintained. America is simply not building, or maintaining on the scale that a nation of its caliber should be. In fact, Americans lose around $275 a month due to infrastructure inaction. California High Speed Rail (CAHSR) has been one of the most anticipated construction projects in the nation. While it was approved in 2008, giving 9.95 billion dollars of funding to build an 800 mile network…

The average American does not care about foreign policy. But they do care about gas prices and airport delays. With gas prices being through the roof and four-hour-long airport lines, many voters are dissatisfied with the Trump administration. Today, Democrat Emily Gregory flipped Florida’s 87th House district, which includes Trump’s Mar-a-lago. With how things are going, the upcoming midterms may go badly for Republicans.