Statement of Concern
Statement
June 1, 2021
We, the undersigned, are scholars of democracy who have watched the recent deterioration of U.S. elections and liberal democracy with growing alarm. Specifically, we have watched with deep concern as Republican-led state legislatures across the country have in recent months proposed or implemented what we consider radical changes to core electoral procedures in response to unproven and intentionally destructive allegations of a stolen election. Collectively, these initiatives are transforming several states into political systems that no longer meet the minimum conditions for free and fair elections. Hence, our entire democracy is now at risk.
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Ask a Scientist: Pandemic Maps Tell the Story of Racial Inequity Baltimore County Government
Elliott Negin, senior writer | March 11, 2021, 9:35 am EDT
Much has been written about the glaringly disproportionate impact of the coronavirus pandemic on racial and ethnic minorities. Black, Latino, and Native Americans are at least three times more likely to be hospitalized by COVID-19 and at least two times more likely to die from it than Whites, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
On top of our country’s sorry history of discrimination, there are many reasons for this disparity, including the fact that racial and ethnic minorities are overrepresented in essential and frontline occupations where they work within close proximity to others, are paid less than Whites in those jobs, and are less likely to have health benefits, according to December 2020 Urban Institute report. They also are more
New Biden Directive Shields Federal Scientists From Political Interference
President also calls on agencies to overhaul their vehicle fleet.
President Biden signed a measure on Wednesday that seeks to ensure career federal employees can conduct scientific work without interference. It was one of a series of directives for federal agencies aimed at protecting the quality of research and boosting climate resiliency.
Biden signed the Presidential Memorandum on Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based Policymaking, which will task each agency with designating a senior career employee as its scientific integrity officer. That person will oversee and improve policies that shield employees from political interference and that ensure relevant programs follow science-based approaches. A task force will review the scientific integrity policies at every agency.