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The Close Up Current Issues Blog, updated weekly throughout the school year, helps teachers connect current events to their students and classrooms. We know that teaching the news can be time-consuming; by the time you find important issues and identify how to teach them, they are old news. That’s where our blog comes in: unpacking issues in the headlines by providing relevant context, links to classroom-ready news items, and suggested prompts for thoughtful discussion.
Post | August 31, 2020
Over the course of the summer, the 2020 election has taken shape. Most primaries for congressional office have concluded, and the parties and presidential candidates were able to showcase their respective visions during their conventions. In this second summer round-up, we take a look at the state of the 2020 election. Our first summer round-up […]
Post | August 26, 2020
The summer of 2020 has been unlike any other. Schools across the country did not finish the end of the academic year in person, and many will not be seeing students in person once again this fall. Major events have been canceled or moved online, and we are in the midst of a presidential election […]
Videos | June 16, 2020
During this seminar, available on-demand, Close Up’s, Chief Development Officer, Mia Charity discusses ‘Leadership & Media Engagement in the Digital Age’ with David Almacy, Founder of CapitalGig LLC. Learn about the power of media in politics!
Videos | June 11, 2020
During this seminar, available on-demand, Close Up’s, Joe Geraghty discusses ‘Opening the Economy during COVID-19′ with Michael Carney, Senior Vice President, Emerging Issues with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Michael shares how the pandemic has impacted business and education and the logistical challenges communities face associated with the new regulations.
Post | June 4, 2020
On Monday, May 25, a Minneapolis police officer named Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd by kneeling on his neck for over eight minutes.1 The next day, video of the killing went viral; by the end of the day, large groups had begun protesting in Minneapolis. In the week since, protests have spread to many major […]
Videos | June 4, 2020
During this seminar, available on-demand, Close Up’s, Joe Geraghty discusses ‘Religious Liberty & COVID-19′ with Benjamin P. Marcus, Religious Literacy Specialist with the Religious Freedom Center of the Freedom Forum Institute. Benjamin talks about the First Amendment and the restrictions places on religious institutions during the pandemic.
Post | June 2, 2020
Over the past week, we have witnessed an outpouring of grief and rage that reminds us—again—that democracy is always in the making and that we have a responsibility both to reflect and to act. As civic educators, we naturally turn our attention to what we can do, and what we can teach, that might further […]
Post | May 27, 2020
In order to combat the spread of COVID-19, people are making many changes in their habits and routines. Two central recommendations of public health officials are that people remain socially distant1 by staying six or more feet from people and avoiding non-essential trips outside the home, and that people wear masks when in public.2 This […]
Videos | May 20, 2020
During this seminar, available on-demand, Close Up’s, Joe Geraghty discusses ‘COVID-19 and Political Reform’ with John Milewski, Director of Digital Programming & Managing Editor and Host of the Wilson Center ON DEMAND from Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. John speaks with Joe about government funding and political reform in the wake of COVID-19 in regards to health care, education and business.
Post | May 18, 2020
Last week, the Supreme Court heard arguments in two cases involving President Donald Trump’s tax returns and financial records, Trump v. Mazars and Trump v. Deutsche Bank. During the 2016 election, then-candidate Trump broke with tradition and refused to release many of his financial records and tax returns. The president is suing his accountants and […]