Last month, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced her bid for the White House. Clinton, who mesmerizes Democrats with her strong name recognition and decades of experience, has faced little...

The Minnesota House passed a Republican-led budget plan last week that eliminates MinnesotaCare, a public health care program that provides coverage for the working poor. Unfortunately, such a plan would...

Last week, I attended the Minnesota House Republican tax plan press conference, which was followed by the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party response. While there, I was troubled by the Republicans’ rhetoric...

For as long as I can remember, video games have borne the brunt of harsh attacks from the media and other public figures. Gamers will, of course, remember the infamous legal battles catalyzed by the now-disbarred...

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, but the public discourse surrounding this controversial issue focuses exclusively on one gender.    Unfortunately, there is a perception that rape is...

As our elected officials continue a long legislative session, Gov. Mark Dayton recently made some significant budgetary announcements. On Tuesday, the governor released his $842 million bonding proposal...

Last week, policymakers in both chambers of the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature passed a bill that would severely restrict the ways welfare recipients can use their benefits. The wording of the...

Trevor Noah, the replacement for Jon Stewart on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” was recently found to have made some tweets a few years ago that some people have interpreted as misogynistic...

At the start of the 2015 legislative session, Republicans were justly criticized for releasing an inadequate transportation infrastructure plan. Concurrently, Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party lawmakers presented...

Since the popularity of home video game consoles grew in the 1980s, these machines have taken the brunt of staunch attacks. Their critics have accused video games of desensitizing children to violence...

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signed a right-to-work bill into law Monday . This policy is bad for our neighbors to the east.  Right-to-work laws, which 25 states  have in the books, allow employees...

This January, I wrote a column advocating new user taxes to fund repairs of our crumbling transportation infrastructure. While the need to reform our outdated and dangerous roads and bridges is still pressing,...

In a neoliberal economy where austerity is the norm and public investments are ridiculed, vital public-sector workers often bear the brunt of attacks by Congress members and other lawmakers across the...

Near the start of the 2015 legislative session, Rep. Karen Clark, DFL-Minneapolis, and Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, introduced joint bills that would require companies that produce and distribute food...

I am no longer shocked to read reports of employers professionally and economically abusing their workers. One of the ways that many businesses do this is by relying upon “perma-temp” positions,...

Phyllis Kahn, the DFL House representative from Minneapolis, recently introduced legislation to lower the drinking age to 18 in Minnesota bars and restaurants. Kahn’s proposal, which she has made...

Perhaps the biggest story of 2014 involved the controversy surrounding police brutality, especially as it pertains to race relations. The shooting of unarmed, black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson,...

Most people dislike paying taxes. However, in certain cases, tax cuts do not benefit the middle class. For example, Sen. David Senjem, R-Rochester, has authored a bill that would remove the tax on Social...

After receiving court approval last week, the iconic Minnesotan company, Medtronic, completed its merger with the Irish-based Covidien, a move that could save Medtronic billions in taxes. I have written...

One doesn’t need to dig deep into contemporary American culture to find a love for guns. Indeed, according to the Pew Research Center, there are an estimated 270 to 310 million guns in the United...

One of the most pressing issues facing Minnesota is its crumbling infrastructure. In fact, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers’ 2013 Infrastructure Report Card, Minnesota has 1,086...

The Internet provides a platform for millions of people around the world to openly express their opinions and contribute to the marketplace of ideas. An overarching freedom, though, inherently enables...

All discussions about the 2016 presidential election seem to include the prospect of Hillary Clinton running for office. Indeed, for two reasons, many consider her to be the de facto Democratic candidate. First,...

The Minnesota Legislature was able to accomplish many tasks over its last few sessions, but one issue that it failed to adequately address is the Minnesota Sex Offender Program. Many individuals convicted...

Across the United States, the Republican Party celebrated its decisive victories over the Democratic Party two weeks ago. Indeed, the GOP regained control of the U.S. Senate, so the party now holds a majority...

In my experience door-knocking for Democratic Farmer-Labor party political candidates, I have often come across individuals who may agree with progressive political, economic or social views but decide...

In the United States, millions of Americans either go without health insurance or have subpar coverage. While the passage and implementation of the Affordable Care Act has mitigated much of the former,...

Early this week, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation fired Jian Ghomeshi, the host of the popular radio show Q, due to multiple allegations of sexual harassment. Considering the fact that this story...

Since Liberian man Thomas Duncan came to the United States and infected two nurses with Ebola before dying in a north Texas hospital, many Americans now worry that the disease may spread. As we approach...

One of the common talking points that I hear from conservatives and libertarians is that we need to “reduce dependence” on government, particularly with regard to unemployment insurance and...

A month before the 2014 midterm elections, former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney offered some useful advice for anyone wishing to run for office: Always have a cameraman follow your every...

Fanfare erupted in Silicon Valley last month when Apple CEO Tim Cook unveiled the iPhone 6. However, by the time the latest version of Apple’s popular cellphone was released to the public, widespread...

The recent NFL controversies concerning alleged drug use, shoplifting, domestic violence and child abuse have led me to question who exactly is inspired by these professional athletes. The answer unfortunately...

Last week, Scotland held a referendum to decide whether to split from the United Kingdom. Unfortunately for independence advocates, 55 percent of Scottish voters decided against separation. While the implications...

I was troubled to read a recent Star Tribune story that highlighted the debt that University of Minnesota veterinarian student Ashley Hall will owe once she graduates in 2016 — more than $300,000. There...

Last Friday, a federal appeals court reinstated Wisconsin’s voter photo identification requirement, which had been ruled unconstitutional by a lower court in April. This is troubling news for Wisconsinites,...

In a move that has upset many Latino voters, President Barack Obama recently recanted his promise to act on immigration reform by the end of the summer. Instead, he will use his executive authority to...

Last week, fast food employees at several McDonald’s, Subway and Burger King restaurants across the Twin Cities protested for a $15 minimum wage. The workers were joined by progressive congressman...

Late last month, President Barack Obama returned from a two-week vacation to Martha’s Vineyard, an island off of the coast of Dukes Country, Mass. His time out of the Oval Office prompted many...

Every two years, Minnesota voters endorse candidates on all levels of government to run for office with the support of a political party. The process begins at the most local level at the beginning of...

One of Minnesota’s largest employers and the fourth-most profitable medical device company in the world, Medtronic, is moving its corporate headquarters to Ireland. This process of moving the company’s...

Common Core, the nationwide K-12 education standards established in 2010, has received plenty of criticism from educators and parents. A vast majority of states have adopted the optional state education...

Today, fewer and fewer college careers are complete without an unpaid internship. In a related trend, fewer students are working chiefly because of competition with non-students, the Minnesota Daily reported...

One of the many realities that college students must face is the job market. While many of us have decided to pursue a major that’s fulfilling and fun, we’ll have to convince potential employers...

President Barack Obama issued an executive order last week that enhances the eligibility of current and former college students to enroll in a loan repayment program. Under the Pay As You Earn program,...

One of today’s most contentious political issues concerns the impact of wealth inequality and how we can reduce the large gap between the rich and the poor. President Barack Obama made this a central...

The Federal Communications Commission recently revealed a pilot program for texting 911 for emergencies. The rationale for such a program isn’t difficult to comprehend. There are some individuals...

In today’s political machine, candidates often first create platforms of beliefs and endorsements. But where politics end, personality begins. Most of my discussions with fellow political junkies...

In the past, adjunct professors were mostly non-academic professionals who taught a class or two to provide students with some exposure to their chosen fields. Adjuncts supplemented the teaching staff,...

As a College of Liberal Arts student, I advocate for the University of Minnesota to offer more science classes for non-science students to fulfill their biological and physical science requirements. This...

Apart from the recent minimum wage hike and anti-bullying legislation, the proposal to build a new Senate office building remains one of the most contentious issues in the Minnesota Legislature. Republicans...

The National Labor Relations Board ruled last month that football players at Northwestern University can unionize as university employees, which sparked further debate about the treatment of college athletes...

It has been more than three months since the release of the Sony PlayStation 4 and the Microsoft Xbox One, which joined the Nintendo Wii U in the eighth generation of video game consoles. This generation...

Through vaccines, we can eradicate debilitating diseases, but many parents choose against vaccinating their children. Without protection, these ailments continue to spread. Measles, a highly contagious...

Rep. Joe Atkins, DFL-Inver Grove Heights, introduced a bill last week that would regulate the payday lending industry in Minnesota. As this legislation makes its way through committee, we should advocate...

On Feb. 21, Minnesotans woke up to one of this winter’s worst snowstorms. Many people, including myself, were unable to get their cars out of their driveways, and those fortunate enough to get on...

Comcast recently announced that it will acquire competitor Time Warner Cable in a deal that will increase its share of the Internet service market to 38 percent. Several anti-trust and open Internet advocates,...

In her quest to attract 100,000 new residents to the city, Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges is promoting public transportation, but not increased parking. Although I see the value of mass transit, Hodges...

In every statewide election this year, Minnesota’s major political parties will hold precinct caucuses to directly engage citizens in the political process. Constituents may become delegates or offer...

The Anoka-Hennepin school district’s 3,000 teachers recently decided that they would no longer be staying late, a practice schools often require to edit lesson plans, grade papers and input test...

Until recently, the Twin Cities population dwindled for decades. As more suburbs developed in the 20th century, many decided to pack up their bags and head to the suburbs. However, in recent years, the...

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama spoke  at a higher education summit last week on inequalities and opportunities for low-income students. Speaking from their own backgrounds, the...

As finals draw near, students prepare for their last, often comprehensive assignments. Instead of planning tests, however, instructors should consider assigning papers and projects as an alternative. Throughout...

Sen. Harry Reid and other Senate Democrats recently reformed the filibuster in an effort to limit Republicans from blocking routine appointee confirmations. However, Democrats should go further and get...

Many retailers are making headlines for opening earlier on Thanksgiving night for Black Friday. Minnesota-based retailers Best Buy and Target are forcing employees to open stores earlier than they have...

One of Minnesota’s many hallmarks, aside from its lakes, long winters and mediocre football team, is deer hunting. The state’s firearms deer hunting season began earlier this month, but I found...

As a progressive, I am a staunch supporter of reforming government practices, but some state legislators are pushing for an unnecessary and potentially damaging change to judicial elections. The desire...

The National Security Agency launched itself into the limelight this year after its spying and data-collecting techniques surfaced. The findings further reduced the public’s trust in government,...

At this time in the semester, students are busy preparing for midterms. During these time crunches, students prioritize assignments based upon importance relative to other tasks. Unfortunately, though,...

I am a firm believer in the notion that an adult should have the right to smoke recreational marijuana without the fear of the law. However, smokers must do so responsibly. Along this line of thinking,...

Since the state adopted a new online voter registration system, local Republicans have been attacking Secretary of State Mark Ritchie for subverting the powers of the Legislature. Four prominent local...

State-run health insurance exchanges courtesy of the Affordable Care Act launched nationwide last week. Minnesota’s MNsure was no exception. From the start, the Minnesota health insurance exchange...

While Congressional Republicans were voting to slash food stamps, or SNAP, Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) used caviar and steak as props in a House speech to depict Congress’ hypocrisy on...

Across the U.S., every state has some sort of legislature. Although the names vary, they all achieve similar goals: crafting laws that serve the respective states. Unfortunately, these elected officials...

In one week, Congress must pass a new budget or the federal government will run out of money. This would have an impact on Medicare, public hospitals, food stamps, unemployment insurance, funds to state...

The sheer number of candidates in the Minneapolis Mayoral race is “a blessing of democracy but also a curse of democracy,”  University of Minnesota political science professor Larry Jacobs...

Almost a year after being thrust into the spotlight as the pinnacle of bureaucratic waste in higher education, the University of Minnesota is seeing its fair share of controversial news once again. The...

As the nation continues to debate the implications of a potential strike in Syria, the U.S. should re-evaluate its own standards of war before decrying the use of chemical weapons. In an Aug. 31 speech,...

Given the recent feud between New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, two prominent members of the Republican Party, I’ve found that a discussion is needed on the acceptance of...

This fall, President Barack Obama will select the next chair of the Federal Reserve. Given an obstructionist Republican Party that will not pass anything remotely Keynesian, Obama must select a successor...

Recently, Republicans in the Senate agreed to some  demands of Senate Democrats to allow voting on four of President Barack Obama’s executive nominations. In exchange, Democrats agreed to not...

As we ended our first month of summer vacation, the federal student loan rate doubled from 3.4 to 6.8 percent. This means that for future loans we will need to spend twice the amount on interest payments...

As one of the latest Minnesota Daily features indicated, there are many misconceptions that college-aged Mormons face on a daily basis. Through active participation on the University of Minnesota campus,...

Over the last few weeks, critics have spun a myriad of misinformation regarding the National Security Agency. After Edward Snowden, a defense contractor for Booz Allen Hamilton, leaked classified information...

Recently, I have accepted a position at a business that outsources office and data entry employees to varying companies. Specifically, I am currently on assignment as a data entry clerk at a company that...

Over the past month, the Republican Party in Congress has placed a lot of effort into attack the Obama administration for what they call the “IRS Scandal.” Through Congressional hearings, op-ed...

  Over the past few weeks, President Barack Obama has had to deal with many controversies. These include the Benghazi, the Internal Revenue Service, the Associated Press and the “Umbrella-gate”...

  The Republican Party is known for its war against science; whether the war involves its ignorance on global warming, evolution or same-sex rights. Some conservatives have a difficult time attempting...

If you are enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota, you have probably been lectured by parents, former teachers, friends, relatives or even online trolls that your degree...

As a first-year college student, I have asked numerous friends for advice on where I should live next semester. Essentially, I have three options: dorming, renting or living at home. In the end, I decided...

The Spanish government reported last week that their gross domestic product will contract by more than 1 percent in 2013, despite austerity measures. Moreover, the unemployment rate has risen to 27.2 percent,...

In 2010, two Harvard University economists, Kenneth Rogoff and Carmen Reinhart, conducted a study called Growth in a Time of Debt. The report found that a nation whose debt rises above 90 percent of its...

  Last week, the House passed the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act with mixed support from both Democrats and Republicans. This piece of legislation should not be passed into law. What...

Several states are debating whether or not to connect public school attendance for children and to their parents receiving welfare benefits from the state. For example, Steve Cookson, a Republican legislator...

  As a young boy growing up in Hibbing, and Blaine, Minn., I had several experiences with the seemingly default religion of Christianity in my family. Although my parents were not very religious,...

Last week, I was ecstatic to read that Jim Graves, the founder of AmericInn, has decided to run against Republican Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann for a second time. As a constituent of Minnesota’s...

  Two Republican legislators in North Carolina drafted a bill to declare a state religion, whereby rendering the Constitution in the southern state as null-and-void. The house speaker blocked the...

Last week, the White House announced that President Barack Obama’s latest budget will be released  Wednesday. The budget includes a conversion to the chained CPI cost-of-living structure for...

For the past few months, we have seen the tax plan of Gov. Mark Dayton go about interesting reforms. It began with speculation over the specifics of a reform to the sales tax, followed by staunch opposition,...

Several states are in the process of enacting harsh restrictions on the reproductive rights of women. In fact, North Dakota recently passed a law that outlaws abortions when a fetal heartbeat is detectable,...