Posts by Edward Lempinen

an illustration showing a crowd of people inside a head, with a cord and plug extending from the brain. The cord is unplugged from a US flag superimposed on a map of the nation.

Politics & society

‘We the people’ is a timeless ideal of American democracy. What’s gone wrong?

A report from the Democracy Policy Lab at UC Berkeley finds Americans are confused about the meaning and practices of democracy and deeply distrustful of public institutions — and each other. Strong “democracy policy” could help renew national bonds, the authors say.

a female caregiver, apparently of middle age, feeds an elderly woman with a spoon

Politics & society

Proposed Medicaid cuts could have a ‘far-reaching, disproportionate’ impact on older workers

The pediment and frieze of the U.S. Supreme Court building, bearing the inscription: Equal Justice Under Law

Law

UC Berkeley experts react to U.S. Supreme Court ruling on medical care for trans minors

A photo showing from behind a person in military fatigues and a sidearm in a holster, with a

Law

A looming crisis: In deportation push, will the U.S. scrap constitutional safeguards?

an older man, at left, confers in a medical office with a doctor (at right) who is holding out a prescription vial.

Proposed Medicaid cuts could have devastating impact in California, UC Berkeley analysts say

arcing rows of empty chairs in a legislative chamber

Global study finds most people want gender-balanced government, even if quotas are needed

In turbulent times, 2025 University Medal finalists excelled through idealism, hard work

Group portrait featuring (left to right): Julia Schaletzky, Smriti Mehta and Will Fithian, against the carved-stone backdrop of an elegant old campus building.

With right and left deeply divided, emerging UC Berkeley groups embrace the ‘vital center’

a classic building on the University of California, Berkeley, campus, with the Campanile towering in the background

UC Berkeley graduate programs soar to elite status in latest US News rankings

Bhavya Joshi, center, sitting around a table with African colleagues. Behind her, a window opens onto a forested landscape.

In a Kenyan camp, Bhavya Joshi teams with refugees to support women’s health

Trump may be planning a sharp, extended conflict with California, experts say

The U.S. Capitol dome against a backdrop of clouds and blue sky

Expect the worst? Political scientists have a pessimism bias, study finds

A photo illustration showing students streaming down a campus walkway. The outer frame is in black and white negative; the central frame is in full color.

With change coming to Washington, does higher education face a ‘dystopian’ future?

With a row of American flags on the left and right side of the frame, Donald Trump walks in the distance while supporters cheer

UC Berkeley scholars say the economy, sexism and conspiracies fueled Trump’s reelection

a casual portrait of john a. powell, tightly framed on his face. He is smiling and looking off to the side.

john a. powell: In a time of tense division, we must see the humanity in our opponents

The north entrace to the White House, in late-day sunlight, with a garden and fountain in the foreground and a deep blue sky in the background

Harris leads Trump by a wide margin in California, says new Berkeley IGS Poll