U.S. Presidential Marathon

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 03 February 2020 > In the News

The race to the White House is heating up, but there’s still a long way to go to the 3 November election. Because in this year’s election  the incumbent President, Republican Donald Trump, is standing again, most of the focus so far has been on the campaign to become the Democratic candidate. Some hopefuls declared … Continue reading “U.S. Presidential Marathon”

Impeached

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 20 December 2019 > In the News

On 18 December, President Donald Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives, only the third president in U.S. history to be rebuked in this way. The second stage of impeachment, before the Senate, is unlikely to succeed, but it will run into the beginning of primary season for the November presidential election. The impeachment … Continue reading “Impeached”

The New Face of Congress

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 18 December 2019 > Ready to Use Shine Bright Lycée

A young Latina woman from the Bronx, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shatters our traditional vision of Congressional Representatives. This article explores her life, both private and public, from the Bronx to Washington, D.C. after the recent midterm elections: how can “one of us” sit in Congress at barely 29 and champion the average working class person’s rights? … Continue reading “The New Face of Congress”

Word of the moment: Impeachment

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 18 October 2019 > In the News

There has been talk of impeaching President Trump practically from the day he took office in 2017, originally over alleged electoral irregularities. But on 24 September, impeachment proceedings were actually launched in the House of Representatives, although they have little chance of being approved by Congress. What exactly is impeachment? “The President, Vice President and … Continue reading “Word of the moment: Impeachment”

Payback for Slavery

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 16 August 2019 > In the News Shine Bright Lycée

Students at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, have voted to pay reparations to the descendants of 272 slaves sold by the Jesuit university in 1838. A long-running campaign by students has identified descendants of the 272, who were sold to plantations in Louisiana. A student referendum voted for each student to pay a small amount … Continue reading “Payback for Slavery”

Michelle Obama Autobiography

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 14 June 2019 >

Michelle Obama’s memoir of her life up until leaving the White House gives great insight in the U.S. political system and the extent to which the private is considered political, and to which spouses and children are expected to participate in candidates’ campaigns. It is an excellent addition to Shine Bright 1re File 5, “Politically … Continue reading “Michelle Obama Autobiography”

Becoming Michelle Obama

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 26 April 2019 > Ready to Use

The release of the former First Lady’s memoir and her accompanying conference tour is a great occasion for pupils to learn more about her biography, and about the role of the First Lady, which  Patricia Nixon (First Lady from 1969 to 1974) described it as “the hardest unpaid job in the world”. This article gives … Continue reading “Becoming Michelle Obama”

The Union: What a State

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 25 January 2019 > In the News

It’s a January fixture in the U.S. calendar: the President’s State of the Union speech, delivered to the joint houses of Congress, and broadcast directly to the nation. This year’s was scheduled for 29 January but has been postponed because of the federal shutdown resulting from the struggle between President Trump and Congress over the … Continue reading “The Union: What a State”

Shock: an Election that Went as Predicted

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 07 November 2018 > In the News

Political pundits were very guarded in their predictions for the U.S. midterm elections after the surprise victory of Donald Trump in 2016. Pundits and polling organisations also got their predictions wrong in the Brexit referendum and last U.K. election. So it was almost a surprise that the midterm results were pretty much as expected. The … Continue reading “Shock: an Election that Went as Predicted”

Billboards for Citizens

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 31 October 2018 > In the News

With the midterm elections approaching, the U.S.A. is being inundated with political advertising. But a group of artists wants to take back the country’s billboards for non-partisan, thought-provoking messages. Following a crowdfunding campaign they are putting up messages on billboards in all 50 states. For Freedoms was created in 2016 by artists Hank Willis Thomas … Continue reading “Billboards for Citizens”