normalizing diplomatic relations after 5 decades got people talking. As the talks evolved, the U.S. excluded the island from the list of states sponsoring terrorism, and everything currently points to an end to the trade embargo. But is it just a big symbolic act or a real opportunity for American businesses?

FairVote on June 12 released Government of the Few in the “Decided Dozen" -- Frozen Representation and the Distorted Demographics of Decisive Primary Elections.

On Wednesday night, a gunman opened fire at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Nine people total were killed. The man identified as the primary suspect in the shooting, Daryl Roof, was taken into custody by police in Shelby, N.C. on Thursday. Witnesses say Roof stood up in the church and said he was there "to shoot black people."

A bipartisan panel released a set of recommendations Wednesday with the goal of overhauling presidential debates during the general election.

In December 2014, President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), passed by Congress to provide the budget and appropriations to sustain the Department of Defense. Tucked into the bill at the last minute – and without public debate – was a provision to hand thousands of acres of protected land in Arizona to an international mining company.

As an independent, I've often wondered why I chose to think outside of the box as opposed to following the seemingly obvious route of group-think.

I believe it has more to do with my upbringing which, when it came to politics, was never filtered. My parents taught me that there were principles one should personally have and that I should always follow my personal conscience.

On Wednesday, the Annenberg Working Group on Presidential Campaign Debate Reform -- a bipartisan group of officials from past presidential campaigns -- released a report with a number of recommendations to help "democratize" the presidential debate process ahead of the 2016 election.

The group's recommendations include:

Republicans had a big year in 2014. They firmed up their hold on the House of Representatives and made a run at taking control of the U.S. Senate.

It was just the kind of year that, historically, has produced Republican wins in the 52nd Congressional District. But Democrats held the 52nd, one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dismal showing, particularly in swing districts like that one.

Hillary Clinton's refined campaign message is focusing on what she has called "Four Fights For You." Unlike a single-issue campaign, these four fights encompass an enormous range of interests that all focus on building (or continuing to build) a positive America, while limiting the damage of those who want to go backwards.

On Friday, June 12, Tyler Harber was sentenced to serve two years in prison, making him the first person to be convicted and jailed for unlawfully coordinating activities between a super PAC and a federal campaign.