October 2026
Students take up to 88 standardized tests before high school, but more testing doesn’t improve learning
Students’ scores on standardized tests can affect schools’ ratings, adding to the pressure teachers experience in preparing their students for the assessments.
Iraqi Kurds sees opportunities – and risks – in the withdrawal of US troops
The region may become less of a target for groups seeking to pressure the United States. But the Kurds also have less security support now, should they need it.
What we talk about when we talk about US strategic ‘credibility’ – from Vietnam to Iran
‘Credibility is on the line’ has long been a refrain guiding U.S. foreign policy.
Pardoning of Israeli soldier evokes a long history of clemency for those who kill Palestinians
Elor Azaria, who killed a wounded Palestinian assailant, had his criminal record cleared. It follows a history of such pardons and reduced sentences.
Yemen’s Houthis are bringing their war to Saudi Arabia – and reframing the narrative of being an Iranian proxy
A deadly bombing at Riyadh’s international airport is the latest in a tit-for-tat retaliation campaign the Houthis have ramped up for weeks.
Starlink slowdown underscores Ukraine’s reliance on the US in the battle for the skies
Temporary restrictions on crucial Ukrainian guidance system is the latest in a series of setbacks for Kyiv. It also comes amid worsening relations with Washington.
Why the 26 secretary of state races this November matter more than they did before Trump’s drive to assert federal authority over elections
Secretaries of state are at the center of growing conflict over how election authority should be divided between states and the federal government. There are 26 elections for the job this November.
Young voters fear mass shootings like the one in Oregon, but that fear divides them on gun control
An Oregon school shooting comes weeks before midterms when young voters could break turnout records, but research shows shared fear doesn’t mean shared views on guns.
Why the GOP’s voter fraud messaging may backfire
GOP allegations that voter fraud is rampant in the US may drive more Democrats – and fewer Republicans – to the polls in November.
Young voters fear mass shootings but are divided on gun control
Research on the ‘massacre generation’ reveals that shared fear over mass shootings doesn’t lead to shared policy views.