On Tuesday, Florida faces what may be the 14th state-sanctioned execution this year — an unprecedented number in the state’s history. Samuel “Sammy” Lee Smithers, a 72-year-old man showing signs of dementia and severe cognitive decline, is scheduled to die. His case has become a powerful focal point for advocates of human dignity, justice, and […]
The United States Senate has officially passed its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 (S. 2296), marking a major milestone in setting the country’s defense and security policies for the year ahead. The bill cleared the Senate with a 77–20 vote on October 9, 2025, demonstrating broad bipartisan support.
A newly released report titled Parole in Perspective is sparking critical conversations across the criminal justice reform movement. Drawing on data from 35 states, this report offers a rare and comprehensive look into the inner workings of parole boards—who sits on them, how decisions are made, and why the system is increasingly failing to offer
A Broken Path to Freedom: New Report Reveals Deep Flaws in U.S. Parole Systems Read More »
In a rare moment of unity, Republicans and Democrats alike are finding common ground in their shared desire to keep America’s national parks open and accessible—even as broader budget battles threaten to derail other critical environmental protections. As partisan tensions escalate over funding and climate policy, our national parks remain one of the few things
The U.S. Senate recently faced a critical vote on the Eliminate Shutdowns Act (S 2806), aimed at preventing government shutdowns in the future. The cloture vote, however, failed, leaving the country without the legislative fix that proponents had hoped for. Despite the setback, many of America’s national parks will remain largely open, thanks to plans
National Parks Stay Open Amid Shutdown as Senate Cloture Vote Fails Read More »
For over a decade, 21 courageous young people have stood at the forefront of a historic legal battle—Juliana v. United States—fighting for the most fundamental of rights: the right to live, breathe, and grow up in a safe, healthy climate. These youth were just children when they first sued the federal government, challenging decades of
Ten Years of Justice for Youth in Juliana v. United States Read More »
Why Vermont’s Democracy is Being Distorted—And How Lawmakers Can Fix It Before 2030 In a nation that prides itself on “one person, one vote,” an obscure federal policy is quietly undermining democracy in Vermont—and across many parts of the country. The 2020 Census once again distorted Vermont’s legislative redistricting process, creating imbalanced voting districts due
Vermont’s Redistricting Crisis When Census Policy Undermines Democracy Read More »
For more than two decades, the heartbreaking reality of bear bile farming in Vietnam has cast a shadow over animal welfare. Bears, often confined to cramped cages and subjected to unimaginable cruelty, were kept alive only for the extraction of bile—a substance used in traditional medicine despite the existence of humane alternatives. Yet, amid the
The Stop Illegal Entry Act of 2025 (H.R. 3486), passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on September 11, 2025, represents a major shift in federal immigration enforcement and criminal justice policy. With a 226–197 vote, the legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration, carrying profound implications for immigrants, the criminal justice system, and
The U.S. Senate recently advanced the nomination of Robert Law to serve as Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). While the cloture vote on his nomination passed, the process highlighted the growing intersection between national security, climate change, and disaster response. For those of us focused on
Robert Law’s Nomination to DHS and What It Means for Climate Strategy Read More »