PS Picks: 'The Ambition Decisions'
PS Picks is a selection of the best things that the magazine's staff and contributors are reading, watching, or otherwise paying attention to in the worlds of art, politics, and culture.
Ashley Hackett
Ashley Hackett is a former editorial intern at Pacific Standard. She will pursue her master's degree in social justice and investigative reporting this year at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. She has also written for Injustice Watch, Planet Forward, and North by Northwestern magazine.
Immigration Protests Take Place Across the Country as Border Arrests Continue (in Photos)
Marches occur across the country while, simultaneously, children and families are detained at the U.S. border.
Key Takeaways From the House's 'Compromise' Immigration Bill
The Republican proposal would end family separation at the border.
Germany Fines Volkswagen $1.2 Billion for Cheating Diesel Emissions
Because of Volkswagen's deceptive actions, 10.7 million defective vehicles were sold to customers around the world.
An Obama-Era White House Official Breaks Down the Current State of Immigration Policy
Former Department of Homeland Security official Peter Boogaard weighs in on immigration policy under Trump.
In a Desperate Search for Detention Space, the U.S. Moves 1,600 Immigrants to Federal Prisons
Over the weekend, 1,600 people being detained at the border were transferred to federal prisons because current detention infrastructure can no longer house the overwhelming number of detainees.
Is San Diego County Failing Its Most Vulnerable Inmate Population?
A disability rights organization and private lawsuits allege negligence among San Diego County staff and officials toward inmates with mental illnesses. The county says otherwise.
Guatemala's Death Toll Rises as the Fuego Volcano Continues to Erupt (in Photos)
Guatemala struggles to recover from its most severe volcanic eruption in 45 years.
The Immigration Stories You Should Be Watching
#WhereAreTheChildren has been making headlines, but there's much more going on.
U.S. Border Stations Are Now Overflowing With Migrant Children
Customs and Border Protection agents are running out of space to shelter the hundreds of migrant children who have been separated from their parents at the United States border as part of the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" policy.
The Supreme Court Voids an Appeals Court's Ruling on a Detained Immigrant Abortion Case
Acceding to a request from the Trump administration, the Supreme Court has voided a federal appeals court's ruling upholding the right of teens in immigration custody to seek abortions.
Uncovering the Truth Behind #WhereAreTheChildren
Amid the outrage over missing migrant children, some of the facts have gotten murky.
Advocates Around the World Fight to Reduce Plastic Pollution (In photos)
Campaigns against single-use plastic waste are picking up steam.
Viewfinder: Okinawa Residents Protest Against U.S. Military Presence
A protester is removed by police officers during a sit-in to block construction vehicles working on the expansion of Camp Schwab, a United States military base, on May 31st, 2018, in Nago, Okinawa prefecture, Japan.
Restorative Justice Could Be the Key to Preventing Violence in Schools
Circle up and grab a talking stick—it could save schools from violent outbursts.
Ireland's Divisive Abortion Referendum (in Photos)
Irish voters will decide abortion rights for women in a predominantly Catholic country.
Thousands of Children Have Suffered Abuse at the Hands of U.S. Border Protection Agents
A new report shows widespread abuse of minors while they were in custody of Customs and Border Protection.
A Minnesota Police Department Paves the Way for Eliminating Rape Kit Backlogs
A small town in northern Minnesota is paving the way for police departments in their efforts to process and mitigate huge backlogs of untested rape kits.
Does Congress' Prison Reform Bill Go Too Far or Not Far Enough?
The First Step Act has passed the House, but it's likely to face opposition from both sides of the aisle in the Senate.
Amid Ongoing Scandals, the University of Southern California Faces Lawsuits
Five women filed civil lawsuits against University of Southern California gynecologist Dr. George Tyndall on Monday, alleging that he sexually abused them under the pretext of medical care.
Jeff Sessions Wants to Reopen 350,000 Immigration Cases
As of September of 2018, over 350,000 immigration cases had been closed and never re-opened, saving some immigrants from deportation and allowing judges to move through cases more quickly.
The Trouble With Venezuela's Upcoming Presidential Election (in Photos)
Life under Nicolás Maduro's authoritarian regime is likely to continue as Venezuela heads into a presidential election this Sunday.
A New California Law Makes It Harder for ICE to Arrest Immigrants From Courthouses
Judges and attorneys will be barred from disclosing the immigration status of most alleged crime victims and witnesses.
Jeff Sessions Claims the ACLU Caused a Spike in Chicago Homicides—Here's Why He's Wrong
The research the attorney general drew his conclusions from had some serious flaws.
The Trump Administration Is Preparing to Hold Migrant Children on Military Bases
The Trump administration is preparing to warehouse immigrant children on military bases after they have been separated from their parents while attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally.
Viewfinder: An Award Ceremony in London
Major Peter Norton GC grips a program in his prosthetic hand as he waits to greet Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (not seen) at the door as he attends the bi-annual service of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association.
A Harvard Sociologist Breaks Down the Moral Failures Plaguing the U.S. Prison System
Harvard University sociologist Bruce Western weighs in on the role of prisons in perpetuating human vulnerability.
A County Sheriff Election in North Carolina Sheds Light on a Controversial ICE Policy
The winner has vowed to discontinue a program that allows local sheriffs' offices to function as satellite immigration detention centers.
Children Will Now Be Separated From Their Parents at the U.S. Border
A new "zero tolerance" border enforcement policy will launch a crackdown on people crossing the border illegally.
Facing a Massive Pollution Problem, California Is Fighting Against the EPA's Efforts to Roll Back Emissions Standards
California, the most polluted state in the country, is engaged in a fight with EPA to keep higher auto emissions standards.
Solitary Confinement Is on the Rise in a Chicago Juvenile Detention Center
Many states have banned or severely limited solitary confinement for juveniles because of its negative impact on youth. But Chicago's Cook County detention system has gone in the other direction.
Scenes From India's Deadly Dust Storm
A vicious dust storm ripped through northern India, causing chaos in the streets.
Planned Parenthood Sues the Trump Administration for Proposing Conservative Changes to Its Grant Program
Planned Parenthood sued the Trump administration Wednesday in an effort to block conservative changes to Title X, a family planning grant program.
Chicago Police Department Fails to Flag People Mentally Unfit to Carry a Gun
In a city that has continually pushed for stricter gun laws, the Chicago Police Department has routinely failed to flag people whom it considers mentally unfit to legally carry a gun.
Scenes From May Day Protests and Celebrations Around the World
People around the world are taking to the streets today to fight for workers' rights.
Federal Officials Have Lost Track of Nearly 1,500 Migrant Children
The Department of Health and Human Services lost track of nearly 1,500 migrant children that it placed with sponsors in the United States, a top official with HHS told Congress on Thursday.
Thousands of Privately Owned Companies Are Profiting From the U.S. Prison System
A report released by the Corrections Accountability Project this week exposes over 3,100 corporations—including over 2,500 privately traded companies—that profit from the U.S. prison system.
Snapshots of American Unions Through the Ages
Twelve photos that show the evolution of the U.S. labor movement from the early 1900s to today.
The Supreme Court Could Soon Endorse Trump's Travel Ban
After nearly 15 months of legal battles, Supreme Court justices finally appear poised to endorse President Trump's third and most narrow travel ban.
ICE Arrests 225 People in a Six-Day New York Raid
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials arrested 225 individuals in a potent six-day raid in New York, a declared sanctuary city.
How Can U.S. Policymakers Fix the Broken Criminal Justice System?
A criminal justice expert weighs in on a recent report to the United Nations outlining systemic racism in the U.S. criminal justice system.
New Evidence Shows Increasing Anti-Muslim Bias in Government Agencies
A civil rights report visualizes anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States.
A Report to the U.N. Reveals Deep Racial Disparities in America's Criminal Justice System
There are 2.2 million incarcerated individuals in the U.S.
Seven 'Pacific Standard' Stories for Earth Day
Highlighting the mess humans have made of the planet—and radical plans to fix it.
PS Picks: Caity Weaver on Cardi B for 'GQ'
PS Picks is a selection of the best things that the magazine's staff and contributors are reading, watching, or otherwise paying attention to in the worlds of art, politics, and culture.
Felons on Parole Will Soon Be Able to Vote in New York
An executive order issued by Governor Andrew Cuomo could extend voting rights to over 35,000 people.
Arizona Introduces Advanced Surveillance Technology on the Mexican Border
Immigration authorities have erected 23 towers outfitted with cameras to scan hundreds of square miles in search of people attempting to cross the border.
New Medicaid Work Requirements Could Cause Millions of People to Become Uninsured
Ten states are seeking to introduce waivers, requiring that Medicaid beneficiaries maintain regular employment in order to continue to receive benefits.
Scott Pruitt's $43,000 'Privacy Booth' Violates Spending Law
A government watchdog report reveals the EPA's excessive spending.
A Slight Majority of Americans Now Support Single-Payer Health Care
A Kaiser Family Foundation poll shows Americans support a more inclusive health-care system.