Fight Fake News!

 

After covering content from "Media Day", search for an article about recent politics (from within this last week) and analyze it for bias.  I would like a variety of quality - some far right, some far left, some analysis and some just original fact reporting.  Submit your entry as a comment on this post.  Start with a title of your article, paste a link to the source immediately below the title.  Then write a one paragraph summary of the article and then a second paragraph that concentrates on the analysis of the quality of the source.  This paragraph can include your reaction to the information as well.  You are also expected to skim others' posts, and react to at least 2 classmates posts.  Each reaction need only be 2 -3 sentences, just evidencing that you had read their posts and reacted respectfully and analytically.

Cohort A and Online Academy

Your post is due by Thursday the 27th at midnight.  

Comments are due Wed. the 2 at midnight.

Cohort B your due date will be Thursday the 3rd at midnight.

Comments are due Wed. the 9 at midnight.

What do YOU believe? Why?

Who would you like to see win the Whitehouse in November?   Do you want to see Joni Ernst re-elected?  Who would you like to win our open seat in the House of Representatives in November?  Should states expand absentee / mail - in voting, or is it true that it is too vulnerable to fraud?  Are we doing enough to ensure that the Russians don't meddle in our elections again?  Should partisan gerrymandering be ruled unconstitutional?  Should the Supreme Court revisit Citizen's United in order to decrease the role of money in politics?  Should the U.S. speak out against Israel's plan to annex West Bank lands?  Should U.S. withdraw from the World Health Organization?  Is it time to pull our armed forces out of the longest war in the United States' history?

These questions may not interest you at this point, but you now understand that these decisions that will be getting made for you will have a tremendous impact on you and what options are open for you as you reach the end of your high school path, and possibly college path in just five short years.    For your blog post this week, pick one of these questions, or a different one of similar importance, and research and write your opinion.  Your two paragraph mini argumentative essay should be titled with your opinion... something like....  "President Trump's re-election in Novemeber would be best for the U.S.."   Then make your case with a knowledgable basis and references to the article you selected as a basis.   You don't have to agree with the article - but it must inform you in your opinion in some way.  This is not a typical summary and reaction paragraph - and I will not give you credit for that.   You must take a position on an important question of political or national importance.

Your post should be made by Wed. midnight.  Your comments on 2 classmates posts are due Fri. midnight.  One comment must disagree (respectfully) with your classmate, and provide reasoning. 

2020: What's at Stake?

An election like 2020 only comes once every 20 years. Here's what’s at stake.

Watch the video above before searching for an article to read and post that addresses the significance of the 2020 election.  In future weeks we will get into Iowa politics and personalities.   I want this post to focus on the current events with national electoral implications.

As with previous posts, post a link to the article you selected, the title, a summary paragraph and a reaction paragraph.   This should be posted by Wed. midnight.  Commenting on 2 classmates for the 4 assignment for this interval should be done by Friday midnight.

For those of you who are 18 by November 3, you should already be shopping for your canddiates.  Iowa will hold a primary election on June 2.  This election that will determine candidiates running for the Senate (Joni Ernst is up for re-election).  Dave Loebsack from the 2nd district U.S. House of Representatives is retiring so his seat is open.  Remember that incumbency advantage is so huge - an open seat is seen as big opportunity - so many candidates on both sides are vying for that seat.

To register to vote, check out this web site:
https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/electioninfo/primary/index.html

To check to see where your beliefs align with the candidates running for these seats, check out
isidewith.com     I just took that quiz again recently as a short cut to see who I should take a closer look at.  Click on My Ballot  to see alignment to statewide candidates.

Talking about Checks and Balances!!!

Does the President have absolute immunity from investigations by Congress and local prosecutors  into his conduct as a private citizen, as long as he's still in office?
The Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments via telephone and video this week.  You might even catch real time Tweet commenting by interested parties for the first time ever!!

President Trump to claim 'absolute immunity' from subpoenas in Supreme Court appeal

For Assignment 1 in Interval 3:  due Wednesday midnight

Read the posted article that summarizes the background and current status of this issue.  Then look for an article that challenges or looks deeper into something related to this topic.  Post the link, a paragraph summary and a paragraph reaction.  

For Assigment 2 in Interval 3:  due Friday midnight

Skim classmates and comment on the content / opinion of 2 of your classmates - respectfully.  If you do not submit both comments by the end of the day Friday, you will have to email me a screenshot of your comments, as I will comb through all posts and comments only once.

H.R. 748: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act - Lawmaking process case study

Watch the video on how a bill becomes a law, then explore the Govtrack link below.  

About GovTrack.us:  GovTrack.us tracks the United States Congress and helps Americans participate in their national legislature.  They  publish the status of federal legislation, information about your representative and senators in Congress including voting records, and original research on legislation and congressional oversight & investigations.  They are one of the oldest government transparency websites in the world.

Corona Virus Stimulus Legislation in Congress

Find an article or video about this pending legislation (some are linked within this website).  Post a summary / reaction comment, and explore your classmates' posts too.  Comment respectfully.  Some ideas of topics to consider:

Who are the winners and the losers in this bill (who benefits?)?
How easy / difficult was compromise?
What were Democrat vs. Republican's goals / successes in this legislation?
How has the President been able to (or been prevented from) influencing the content of this legislation?
How are state governments affected?  Did state governors have any influence on the content?
Do you think this stimulus is a good idea?  (Your children / and maybe their children will eventually have to pay for this largest stimulus package in our nation's history).

Civil Rights Issues Today

Due Friday 2/21 - Select an article from a quality source about any topic relating to civil rights today.  Post a comment to this post with the following two paragraphs:  1 paragraph summary of the key pts. of the article and 1 paragraph reaction.  In your reaction be sure to consider implications for government and / or policy.  If you selected an opinion or especially biased source, be sure and acknowledge this in your analysis.  A TITLE to your post should headline your paragraphs stating your opinion about the issue you are addressing.  You should paste the title of the article with the link to the site also above your two paragraphs.

DIRECTIONS FOR YOUR POST THIS WEEK:

Due Thursday - Select an article from a quality source about your assigned topic.  Post a comment to the corresponding post with the following two paragraphs:  1 paragraph summary of the key pts. of the article and 1 paragraph reaction.  In your reaction be sure to consider implications for government and / or policy.  If you selected an opinion or especially biased source, be sure and acknowledge this in your analysis.  You should paste the title of the article with the link to the site at the top of your two paragraphs.

POST IMPEACHMENT ARTICLES HERE:

POST STATE OF THE UNION ARTICLES HERE:

POST CAUCUS ARTICLES HERE: