The GPR Digest- April 24, 2024
The new GPR Magazine, funds to Ukraine, Taylor Swift, and more!
[Editor’s Note: This will be the FINAL edition of the GPR Digest this semester. Thank you all for tuning in!]
GPR FEATURES
Read the new web articles on the GPR Website! These articles cover national and international political subjects, ranging from international election coverage to the golf glass ceiling and the U.S ballot barrier.
COMING SOON!
Keep an eye out for the Spring 2024 Edition of the Georgia Political Review Magazine— Deciding Democracy— to be released soon in May! Copies will be available on the UGA Campus and on the GPR Website!
GEORGIA
Gov. Kemp signs Addy’s Law for school buses in Georgia
On Apr. 23, Governor Brian Kemp signed House Bill 409, also known as Addy’s Law. The law is named after Adalynn Pierce, an 8-year-old girl who was killed while trying to board a school bus on February 1, 2024 despite the bus’ activated stop lights and sign.
The law requires public schools to plan bus routes that avoid student crossroads where the limit is over 40 miles per hour. Passing a stopped school bus is also considered a more serious crime thanks to the law, warranting a fine of at least $1000 or the possibility of spending 12 months in jail upon conviction.
University of Georgia breaks ground on new medical school
UGA held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new medical school, which will start classes in Fall 2026. The school will cost $100 million to build, with half of funds coming from the state legislature and half coming from private donors.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony, touted the new medical school as a part of his efforts to increase Georgians’ accessibility to healthcare and doctors. Georgia is one of the largest states to have only one public medical school, so UGA’s new medical school will increase Georgians’ accessibility to medical education.
NATIONAL
Supreme Court hears arguments over Trump immunity
The US Supreme Court will hear arguments this week over the issue of presidential immunity for former presidents, specifically President Donald Trump. The case deals with President Trump’s indictments for crimes committed while in office, which Trump claims he is immune from. Special Counsel Jack Smith argues that there can be no such thing as complete presidential immunity and that the crimes that Trump allegedly committed were in a personal, not an official capacity.
A quick decision either supporting Trump’s claims or supporting the Justice Department’s claims could make or break the case in DC, prosecuting Trump for plotting to overturn the 2020 presidential election. A more nuanced court ruling, such as ruling that the judge must decide if Trump’s actions were in an official or unofficial capacity, could drag the DC case out longer, possibly beyond the 2024 elections.
Columbia University cancels in-person classes after protests
Students are staging protests against the war in Gaza all around the country, including Columbia University, where over 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators were arrested last week. In response, university President Minouche Shafik canceled in-person classes on April 22 in order to ease tensions. Some Jewish advocacy groups advised for Jewish Columbia students to go home for their own safety, although the demonstrators have stated that their goal is to encourage Columbia to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and affirm their right to assembly, not to threaten any students.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations have taken place across other major college campuses, including the University of Michigan, New York University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Justice Department agrees to pay over $138 million to Larry Nassar’s victims
The U.S Department of Justice announced Tuesday that it would pay $138.7 million to the victims of former United States women’s national gymnastics team physiatrist Larry Nassar, who was sentenced in 2017 to 60 years in federal prison for child pornography and tampering with evidence. He also pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexual assault of minors in the Michigan State court. The suit against the DOJ alleges the government failed to properly investigate Nassar, which could have prevented his ability to carry out more crimes.
A 2021 report from the Director General found that FBI agents in Indianapolis and Los Angeles did not adequately respond to allegations against Nassar. The more than 100 women involved in the case include gymnasts Simone Biles, Aly Raismen and Maggie Nichols.
INTERNATIONAL
House of Representatives approves $95 billion aid bill for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan
On Apr. 20, the U.S House of Representatives voted to approve a $95 billion foreign aid bill in four back-to-back votes. The legislation distributed the package with $60 billion for Kiev, $26 billion for Israel and for humanitarian aid in conflict zones like Gaza, and $8 billion for the Indo-Pacific region, including Taiwan. The voting was 311-112 for Ukraine, 366-58 for Israel, and 385-34 for Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific. The last vote, which surrounded an attachment with the possibility to ban TikTok in the United States, passed 360-58.
To help fund the legislation, measures were also included for selling frozen Russian assets and enlisting harsher sanctions on Iran. Although the legislation saw a large majority in favor, there remains criticism from majority Republicans and from Democrats who are hesitant to send support to Israel.
Malaysia Navy helicopters collide midair, killing 10 people
According to a statement from the Royal Malaysian Navy, two Malaysian helicopters collided in a devastating crash during a rehearsal for a military parade. The collision happened as one aircraft clipped the rotor of the other, causing them both to plummet to the ground in the Malaysian town of Lumut, home to a Royal Malaysian Navy base. The incident was documented in local media footage.
There were 10 crew members on board, all reported dead. One of the helicopters, carrying seven people, crashed onto a running rack while the other crashed into a nearby swimming pool. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has sent condolences to all families of the victims via X.
CULTURE
Taylor Swift’s ‘The Tortured Poet’s Department’ becomes the first album in Spotify history to reach 300M streams in a single day
On Apr. 19, Taylor Swift released her album “The Tortured Poet’s Department”, which surpassed 300 million streams on Spotify in the first day of release within 12 hours. Similar to Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music both reported that Swift’s new album had broken records within their streaming platforms.
In addition, the album’s first single, “Fortnight”, featuring artist Post-Malone has broken the record as Spotify’s most-streamed song in one day, surpassing Adele’s “Easy on Me” set in 2021. The new album's final first week numbers will be announced this Sunday. If Swift’s album debuts atop the Billboard 200, this will mark her 14th No.1 album, coming close to The Beatles’ record of 19 No. 1 albums on Billboards 200.
Africa participates in its first-ever cycle of periodic reporting
On Apr. 22 of, 22 African countries performed their first cycle of periodic reports to UNESCO. Periodic reporting plays a crucial role in “demonstrating a country’s commitment and achievement in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage”. By UNESCO standards, it requires states to submit reports detailing safeguarding measures for sites on UNESCO lists. The reports also help facilitate international collaboration, allowing countries to share safeguarding strategies with each other.
This recent regional cycle had a 97% submission rate, indicating a strong dedication among African countries. UNESCO’s growing involvement in these countries– such as through online meetings and workshops to train cultural protection, of which there were 17 in the past year—is likewise an indicator of commitment to cultural protection.
Contributors: Sophia Nguyen, Zachary Leggio, Blake Daniel, Jacob Weiszer