From Washington: Will Ballot Initiatives Boost Voter Turnout?

This week, Florida’s Supreme Court ruled to allow a proposed constitutional amendment that would enshrine abortion rights to appear on the ballot in November. Abortion proved to be an energizing issue for Democrats during the 2022 midterms, and the party is hoping that similar ballot initiatives in other states will boost voter turnout. But with President Biden trailing behind former President Trump in key battleground states, will abortion rights be enough to make a difference in November? National Political Reporter for The Hill Julia Manchester examines how the issue will impact the strategies of both Democratic and Republican campaigns this fall.

As Americans continue to grapple with the effects of record-high inflation, a recent report by the Federal Trade Commission has indicated that supply chain disruptions during the pandemic helped big box retailers dominate the market and hurt competition. However, President Joe Biden continues to assert that corporations are to blame, and consumers aren’t buying it. Director of Purdue University’s Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability Joseph Balagtas explains the reasons behind rising food costs and discusses the outside factors contributing to the increase.