American politics is self-evidently in a state of crisis. The nation is producing terrible political leadership. Government is paralyzed. Political polarization is ripping American society into two warring camps.

The above assertions will be almost universally recognized as the truth.

But when we ask about the source of the crisis, that’s when the agreement breaks down. That’s when we fall back into our states of partisan rage and blame the other side.

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts (R) begins the 2018 election cycle with lukewarm political standing and may be vulnerable to a strong challenge from an independent candidate.

According to a recent survey of likely voters in next year’s election -- commissioned by independent gubernatorial candidate and State Senator Bob Krist's campaign -- more voters are inclined to support someone new for governor than say they would re-elect the incumbent.

The horrific Las Vegas shooting will undoubtedly be recorded in the history textbooks as one of the most tragic events in early 21st century history. Any loss of life for any reason is tragic, regardless of the cause.

Yet, the manner in which this occurred, the senselessness of it, and the apparent trend this type of killing has become leads us to question multiple aspects in our society.  The most prevalent of these is, “should there be greater control?”

However, while we can all agree on a certain amount of regulation, it may not be the right question.

While San Diego is known as “America’s Finest City,” it’s also is home to the fourth highest homeless population in the nation, including the second-largest population of homeless veterans in the United States at 1,156 people.

Data scientists Vinad Bakthavachalam and Jake Fuentes have published this study of the Electoral College. They estimate that in future U.S. presidential elections in which the popular vote margin between the two leading candidates is 3% or less, "over 30% of elections in the next century are likely to select a President against the will of the majority of voters.

Maine independent gubernatorial candidate and State Treasurer Terry Hayes announced Friday that she has picked Kyle Bailey to be her campaign manager.

Bailey managed the statewide referendum campaign to get ranked choice voting in state and non-presidential federal elections. It was the second-largest referendum victory in Maine history.

The San Diego City Council has a lot on its plate.

From the debate over Short-Term vacation rentals, to the Hepatitis A outbreak and homeless crisis, several critical civic issues are coming to the surface for the city council to consider.

Council President Pro Tem Mark Kersey joined the IVN San Diego Podcast this week to discuss a few of the pressing matters impacting the City.

On Wednesday, October 4, I attended the first meeting of the Florida Constitution Revision Commission’s (CRC) Ethics and Elections Committee in Tallahassee. The Florida Constitution requires a CRC be impaneled every twenty years to review our State Constitution and accept input from the public.

As already noted on October 5, the North Carolina legislature passed the ballot access bill, SB 656 -- titled the "Electoral Freedom Act." There is a danger that Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, will veto it.

Should lawmakers be allowed to draw electoral districts to protect their party from competition? Can the courts rule legislative and congressional maps unconstitutional on the basis of partisan and political discrimination?

Those are among the questions the Supreme Court is considering in the case Gill v. Whitford.