Politics

U.S. Senate chamber in session with senators seated at desks during proceedings
Why the Senate’s 60-Vote Filibuster Rule Shapes the Spending Fight
September 25, 2026

The 60-vote requirement to end debate on spending bills means no party can pass legislation alone. The filibuster rule defines the negotiations around the September 30 government funding deadline.

Empty UN Security Council chamber with blue and red delegates' seats arranged in a circle
Why the UN Security Council Brought Rival AI Labs to the Same Table
September 23, 2026

The Security Council’s briefing with frontier AI developers from the US and China reveals both the urgency around AI safety and deep disagreement over how to manage it.

Voting scanning machines inside a polling place at PS 28
How New York City’s Ranked-Choice Voting System Works in Mayoral Elections
September 21, 2026

New York City voters rank candidates by preference, and ballots are tabulated through elimination rounds until a candidate secures more than 50% of the vote.

Twisted steel beams and rubble at the World Trade Center site with a worker walking past heavy machinery
Why New York City’s 9/11 Records Took Years to Become Public
September 16, 2026

New York City released 170,000 pages of 9/11 records and settled two lawsuits after a five-year fight over what officials knew about Ground Zero air.

A man speaks at a blue podium bearing a city seal while a woman holding a folder stands beside him on a staircase
What New York City’s Racial Equity Plan Asks of City Agencies
September 14, 2026

Mayor Mamdani’s plan sets eight 2034 goals for jobs, housing, health and jails, built on a 2022 charter mandate the city has already missed deadlines under.