Congress

Biden may see sizable gains from mail-in ballots in several battleground states

Nearly 80 million absentee ballots are expected to be cast in the presidential contest, up sharply from 2016. That bodes well for the Democratic candidate and former vice president, a new national study finds.

by Peter Ramjug October 9, 2020

Pence and Harris’s low-key debate probably won’t change many voters' minds. Here's why.

The debate probably didn’t move the needle in terms of attracting undecideds, Northeastern professors observe. But with a Supreme Court nomination hearing on the way, their discussion set the stage for a looming political conflict

by Peter Ramjug October 8, 2020

Democrats and Republicans both strongly support new round of COVID-19 pandemic aid, study says

Bipartisanship quickly ends as sharp differences continue over the price tag and where the money goes. Democrats favor aid to hospitals, schools, and the Postal Service. GOP opposes money to states and cities, researchers from Northeastern, Harvard, Northwestern, and Rutgers found.

by Peter Ramjug October 2, 2020

Here’s what Robert Mueller’s statement was not

Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller was not engaging in a political stunt with his appearance Wednesday, say Northeastern law and politics professors. But the bitter partisan divide over his summary of his investigation overshadows what U.S. citizens should be paying attention to: Russian election interference.

by Molly Callahan May 29, 2019

How Kim Kardashian, the Koch brothers, and Jared Kushner moved the needle on criminal justice reform

The First Step Act shows a bipartisan awakening about the need to decriminalize and decarcerate, says Northeastern criminal law scholar Daniel Medwed. The sweeping criminal justice reform bill, which garnered bipartisan support in both the Senate and House this week, is on its way to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature.

by Khalida Sarwari December 20, 2018

Should employers be allowed to require genetic test results?

A House committee recently passed a bill that would permit employers to impose large financial penalties on employees who don’t agree to provide genetic test results to their companies’ workplace wellness programs. Northeastern’s Kristin Madison explains the function of workplace wellness programs, the arguments for and against the bill, and what repercussions may result if it becomes law.

by Thea Singer March 22, 2017

3Qs: What can we expect in the new congressional session?

The latest legislative session is only hours old, but already wrought with controversy. Nicholas Beauchamp, an expert in U.S. politics, says this is only the beginning, and advises onlookers to keep an eye out for tension, discord, and the deployment of unconventional political tactics over the coming year.

by Molly Callahan January 5, 2017

The House sit-in: examining the political and cultural significance

Wednesday morning House Democrats, led by U.S. Rep. John Lewis, began a sit-in on the House floor demanding votes on gun-control legislation. C-SPAN picked up the live feeds that members streamed from their smartphones after Republicans shut down the chamber. Here, Northeastern faculty members shed light on the significance of the protest and the role of social media in its impact.

by Thea Singer June 24, 2016

What the government shutdown means for Northeastern

Northeastern officials do not expect the shutdown to have an effect on the university’s financial aid program, though opportunities for federally-supported research may be impacted.

by News@Northeastern October 3, 2013

Network scientists lead congressional briefing

Northeastern professors David Lazer, an authority on social networks, and Alessandro Vespignani, a world-renowned statistical physicist, addressed members of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology in a briefing on Tuesday on Capitol Hill.

by Jason Kornwitz September 11, 2013