Politics and Government

Glennys Young, professor of history and of international studies at the UW, writes of sanctions against Russia, "But are they the United States’ best option if the goal is, as Biden has put it, to avoid a 'cycle of escalation and conflict with Russia' and instead to create a 'stable, predictable relationship'? ... My answer is sanctions aren’t the only option. The U.S. needs to offer Russia positive incentives, too."

The story of the U.S. population is one of fluidity. Of the 50 states plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, more than half jumped ahead or fell behind others this year, despite state population totals that showed the nation’s slowest population growth since the 1930s. James Gregory, professor of history at the UW, is quoted.

Under a bill headed to Gov. Jay Inslee's desk, all agricultural workers will start receiving overtime pay in 2022 and have a 40-hour work week by early 2024. It is part of a wave of momentum for legislation to extend overtime pay to farmworkers. Carlos Gil, professor emeritus of history at the UW, is quoted.

Many people across the country felt relief Tuesday as former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all three charges brought against him for the murder of George Floyd. But many also felt conflicted about what the moment meant to them. Christopher Parker, professor of political science at the UW, is interviewed.

One day after a Minneapolis police officer was convicted in the death of George Floyd, Seattle’s Community Police Commission has launched a new website that aims to keep the public informed about efforts to reform the Seattle Police Department. Alexes Harris, professor of sociology at the UW, is interviewed.

Christopher Parker, professor of political science at the UW, talks about whether this historical moment will result in progress when it comes to racial justice.

The American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, has a new group called the Functional Federalism Working Group. Its name suggests that the group is meant to redress an imbalance of power between Biden’s presidency and state governments, a majority of which are dominated by conservatives. Jake Grumbach, assistant professor of political science at the UW, is quoted.

Over 700 people have died during pro-democracy protests following a coup in Myanmar on February 1st. Mary Callahan, associate professor of international studies at the UW, is interviewed.

James Long, associate professor of political science at the UW, is interviewed about President Biden's announcement to pull troops out of Afghanistan.

"The problem with pretext traffic stops is that when police use their discretion to decide who to pull over, they disproportionately pull over Black drivers more than white drivers, particularly within predominantly Black communities. As a result, Black drivers are searched 1.5 to 2 times as often as white drivers. The practice of pretext traffic stops allows police to surveil communities of color, over-patrol them, and pull people over," writes Alexes Harris, professor of sociology at the UW.

Jake Grumbach, political science professor, discusses the state of police reform in the United States.

In the wake of a fatal shooting in Minneapolis as former police officer Derek Chauvin stands trial for George Floyd's death, Alexes Harris, professor of sociology at the UW, comments on the two events.

What does the state of Washington owe people who were convicted under a drug possession law that's been overturned? Alexes Harris, UW professor of sociology, is interviewed.

Republican efforts to stall President Joe Biden’s climate agenda are slowly beginning to take shape. The American Legislative Exchange Council, a membership organization for state lawmakers and industry representatives that is best known for drafting model bills that are then picked up by state legislatures, is also involved. Jake Grumbach, assistant professor of political science at the UW, is quoted.

Mary Callahan, associate professor in the UW Jackson School of International Studies, is interviewed about the conflict in Myanmar, following her recent departure from the country.