1. POLITICAL TURMOIL IN SOUTH KOREA

South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol avoided an impeachment attempt over his brief imposition of martial law, as opposition lawmakers failed to secure enough votes in parliament. The motion to impeach Yoon was blocked because many lawmakers from his ruling party, fearing a loss of power, boycotted the vote. Despite this, protests calling for Yoon’s resignation are growing, with a majority of South Koreans reportedly supporting his impeachment. Yoon’s martial law declaration, the first in over 40 years, led to political chaos and widespread criticism, including from his own party. The declaration involved military troops surrounding parliament and was quickly reversed after being rejected by lawmakers. Yoon later apologized, admitting the decision caused public distress. His leadership has faced growing challenges, including low approval ratings and allegations involving his wife. While some members of his party suggest a constitutional amendment to shorten Yoon’s term, opposition groups continue pushing for his impeachment, arguing that his actions were unconstitutional and damaging to the country’s democracy. Using the internet or other resources in your classroom, look up what martial law is, what it’s used for, and examples in history when it’s been used before. Then, write an article that summarizes why Yoon briefly implemented martial law and what the results were.

2. NO CONFIDENCE

French President Emmanuel Macron has promised to stay in office until 2027 despite political chaos after his Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, was forced to resign following a no-confidence vote. The vote came after disagreements over the national budget, leaving France without a functioning government. Macron criticized far-right and far-left politicians for causing the crisis, but he also admitted that his earlier decision to dissolve parliament contributed to the current mess. Now, Macron plans to appoint a new prime minister within days to form a government that can pass important laws, like a budget to avoid financial shutdowns. He also wants the new government to focus on key areas like the military, justice, and farming support. Meanwhile, the political turmoil is worrying financial experts, as France’s debt is growing, and interest rates could rise. Opposition leaders are calling for Macron to resign, but the French constitution doesn’t require him to step down. The crisis is happening alongside other challenges, including wars overseas and economic struggles at home. Macron says France can overcome these difficulties, just as it succeeded in hosting the Olympics and restoring Notre Dame Cathedral this year. However, protests, like one by teachers upset about education budget cuts, show that many are unhappy with his leadership. How does France’s structure of government, which includes a president and prime minister, differ from ours here in the United States? Write at least a paragraph that compares the two, followed by a paragraph explaining the situation that’s currently unfolding after the vote of no confidence against Barnier.

3. CAMPAIGN SPENDING

The 2024 U.S. presidential election was one of the most expensive ever, with $4.7 billion raised by Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, and their allied groups. Democrats and their supporters raised about $2.9 billion, while Republicans raised about $1.8 billion. Trump’s campaign spent less but still outperformed, partly due to strong support from super PACs. Dark money, which comes from groups that don’t disclose their donors, played a big role. For example, Future Forward, a pro-Harris group, got most of its funds from anonymous sources. Similarly, Trump’s main super PAC received a lot of money from undisclosed sources. Elon Musk contributed $277 million to Trump’s campaign efforts, including funding for super PACs and outreach programs. His donations remained secret until late in the campaign. Both campaigns dealt with debts and leftover funds after the election. The Harris campaign was criticized for being in debt earlier but later cleared it. Super PACs, like Future Forward, still had large amounts of debt. Meanwhile, the Republican and Democratic National Committees had millions left but may use it for future expenses. Campaign funding and spending is a complex topic with complicated rules and high dollar amounts. Working in groups, use research to try to put together a primer on campaign financing that makes it easy for readers to understand.

4. ANESTHESIA OUTRAGE

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, one of the largest U.S. health insurers, reversed a controversial policy after public backlash. The policy would have tied payments for anesthesia to how long a patient was under, starting in February in states like New York, Connecticut, and Missouri. Patients under 22 and maternity cases were exempt. The American Society for Anesthesiologists and others criticized the policy, calling it unsafe and profit-driven. They argued that surgery is unpredictable and can’t fit into strict time limits. Many took to social media and contacted legislators to protest. Anthem said the policy was misunderstood and that it always intended to pay for necessary anesthesia. Officials in some states, like Connecticut and New York, said they had already pushed Anthem to stop the policy before the announcement. Critics called the reversal a win for safe and fair patient care. Research other instances where public opinion and outrage changed a policy or corporate decision. Has this happened in health care before? How did the public collectively affect Blue Cross Blue Shield’s decision? Write an article summarizing the story from this angle.

5. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION OKAYED FOR THE NAVY

A federal judge ruled that the U.S. Naval Academy can continue using racial preferences in its admissions process, saying that diversity is important for national security. The decision came after a group called Students for Fair Admissions, which had successfully challenged affirmative action at civilian schools, tried to apply the same arguments to military academies. The judge explained that the Naval Academy has a unique interest in having a diverse officer corps to reflect the demographic makeup of enlisted service members. While the Supreme Court banned race-based admissions at civilian universities in 2023, it excluded military academies from this ruling, allowing them to consider race in admissions. The anti-affirmative action group disagreed with the ruling and said it would appeal. The case could take on new importance with the incoming Trump administration, which may push to end race-based admissions in the military academies as well. Do you agree that the Naval Academy is different from civilian colleges and should therefore have different rules and regulations? Write an opinion article, using research to back up your claims.