In Illinois, an incumbent will possibly be facing a serious primary challenger for the first time in his nearly twenty-year political career.

As reported recently on IVN, Illinois U.S. Rep. John Shimkus of the 15th congressional district announced he was running for an eleventh term, further breaking a promise not to serve more than six.

Democratic California Governor Jerry Brown signed two bills into law on Thursday that strengthen Californians’ digital privacy protections.

While promoting his new book, former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told USA Today that he believes the federal government should have prosecuted more bankers responsible for the financial crisis of 2008.

Think about the most divisive political issues in our current political narrative – gun control, illegal immigration, marriage equality, and abortion. These are issues with well-defined lines in the sand: You are either for it or you’re against it. Very little nuance finds its way into these conversations.

Nebraska arguably has the most unique political system in the U.S. Not only are state lawmakers elected using nonpartisan elections, but they serve in a nonpartisan, unicameral legislature.

I love the concept of socially responsible products. Not from any liberal bias or complete hatred of the capitalist system, but because it represents a maturation of capitalism.

This concept has grown in both academic and social interest over the past two decades and currently I have an article in peer review for a journal completely dedicated to the subject.

Before capitalism, everything had a social worth and price under the valuation system known as just price by common estimation.

Partisan allegations of unconstitutional or illegal conduct in politics are fairly common. Allegations of unconstitutionality can even come from Supreme Court justices, usually in dissent from majority decisions they disagree with.

For example, Chief Justice John Roberts' dissent in the Obergefell v. Hodges decision that found a constitutional basis for a right to same-sex marriage included this bitter criticism:

The U.S Supreme Court's October term isn't filled with landmark cases, but one in particular may have a profound effect on the U.S election system. The Evenwel v. Abbott case was filed back in February by Ed Blum of the Project on Fair Representation.

Let's start with the basics: voter turnout is at an all-time low. 2014 saw the lowest voter turnout in 72 years with less than 50% of the eligible voting age population even bothering to participate in 43 states. The problem is even worse in local elections which are often held in odd-numbered years and fall below the radar for most voters.

October 7, 2015, marks the 14th anniversary of the War in Afghanistan. During that time, we have spent over $700 billion and more than 2,200 American lives have been lost with countless others impacted by loss of limb and PTSD. Yet, Afghanistan stands primed to return to its past state once U.S. troops are removed.

This is what happens in the absence of a cogent foreign policy.