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Explained: The Latest Supreme Court Ruling on Campaign Spending Limits
The Supreme Court on Wednesday removed a 40-year-old cap on the total amount of cash individuals can contribute to political candidates and party committees. The latest in a string of rulings chipping...
View Article“Schoolhouse Rock” Revised: What it Really Takes to Pass A Bill in Congress
Remember that catchy “I’m Just a Bill” cartoon from the 1970s? For many of us, it was our first civics lesson (and introduction to bell-bottoms). But given the intense gridlock in today’s Congress —...
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How Republicans and Democrats Differ on 11 Key National Issues...
Ah, election season. How I love thee. In the tsunami of allegations and attack ads marking the run-up to November’s hotly contested midterm races, it’s easy to lose track (and interest) of what the...
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How America Reacted on Twitter to Obama’s 2015 State of the Union Address
whitehouse.gov President Obama on Tuesday gave his sixth State of the Union address, delivering it, for the first time, to a Republican-controlled joint session of Congress. With an estimated 30...
View ArticleThird Party Platforms: Where Do America’s Smaller Parties Stand on the Big...
It’s gonna be a long slog till Election Day. As Wednesday’s second Republican debate draws near, it comes as a loud reminder that — like it or not — the 2016 presidential race has fully descended upon...
View ArticleTen of the Most Successful Presidential Campaign Commercials Ever Made [Videos]
Like it or not, the 2016 presidential campaign season is in full force. The first Democratic candidate debate took place last night (Tuesday, Oct. 13), and two well-stocked Republican debates have...
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State of the Union BINGO!
Who says gambling and politics don’t mix? President Obama tonight gives his seventh and final State of the Union Address, underscoring accomplishments and outlining a range of goals for his last year...
View ArticleThe Big Issues of the 2016 Presidential Election and Where the Candidates Stand
On the public radio show This American Life, the host Ira Glass once noted the widening chasm in American politics: “Everyone knows that politics is now so divided in our country that not only do the...
View ArticleVideo Explainer: What’s a Caucus and How’s It Different from a Primary?
It’s almost showtime in Iowa. Finally. After a seemingly endless barrage of political rallies, candidate debates and corn dog-scarfing photo-ops, the Hawkeye State is about to kick-start the 2016...
View ArticleAmerica’s Zany Primary Elections Explained: When They Happen, How They Work...
Hold tight — primary season is in full effect. Still with me? Scroll over the map below to get a sense of the primary/caucus schedule, the crucial primary days and which states matter most in the...
View ArticleMAP: States Where Felons Can’t Vote
Nearly 6 million voting-age Americans can’t vote in the 2016 primaries and presidential election because of various state felon disenfranchisement laws. Almost half of this total disenfranchised...
View ArticleWhat’s So Super About Super Tuesday? A Short Guide to the Biggest Day of...
Mouseover this map to see which states are participating and how many delegates are at stake. Click on each state for voter demographic information. Welcome to Super Tuesday, the biggest single day of...
View ArticleMadeline’s Story: U.S. Immigration Politics through the Eyes of A...
KQED’s News Education project recently asked local middle and high school students to consider some of the major political issues at play in the 2016 presidential election and describe which impact...
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How The U.S. Supreme Court Works and Why Finding A New Justice Can Be So...
The unexpected death in February of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia leaves open a coveted seat on the 9-member High Court, upping the ante of an already high stakes presidential race. Scalia was...
View ArticleStudent Video Project: What 2016 Election Issues Matter Most to You?
KQED’s News Education project recently asked local middle and high school students to consider some of the major political issues at play in the 2016 presidential election and send us short videos...
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MAP: These States Now Require Voters to Show Photo IDs
Think you know your state’s voting rules? Better check again before heading to the polls. Depending on the state you live in, those rules may have gotten a good deal more restrictive since the last...
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Presidential Conventions and Nominations: A Cartoon Guide
No one ever said the presidential nominating process was simple. But it’s a whole lot more convoluted than you might think. As PolitiFact noted, the process “can be incredibly confusing, and the arcane...
View ArticleMAP: Which Counties Had the Highest Voter Turnout in California’s Primary...
Editor’s note: The data in the map below is current as of June 20. However, figures will likely increase as certain precincts continue to count mail-in ballots. The map will be updated accordingly....
View ArticleWhat’s the Point of Political Party Platforms?
Recreational reading, they are not. But if you want to cut through some of the election spin and get an idea of what each political party “officially” stands for, party platforms are a good place to...
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TIMELINE: The Obama Years, A Retrospective (with Lesson Plan)
Teach with the Lowdown Suggestions for nonfiction analysis, writing/discussion prompts and multimedia projects. Browse our lesson plan collection here. Lesson Plan: Obama’s Legacy (PDF) President...
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