Dispatches: Five Essential Reads From the Past Week
A collection of some of our most important and timely stories, from an interview with California State Senator Kevin De León to a report on the latest dire global climate summary.
Brett Kavanaugh
The Lede, Issue #37: The New 'Halloween,' the Value of Home Libraries, California's Kevin De León, and More
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Trump, Kavanaugh, and the Fruits of 'Dignity Politics'
Political scientist Francis Fukuyama argues we can only heal our national divisions with a new, creed-based American identity.
What You Need to Know About the ACLU's Case Against the Mandatory Detention of Immigrants
The case—Brett Kavanaugh's first as a Supreme Court justice—deals with mandatory detention laws to keep immigrants in prisons during trials, even if they aren't a public danger or flight risk.
What Does Kavanaugh's Confirmation Mean for Women's Reproductive Rights?
The deeply conservative judge's position on the court is one of many threats toward abortion rights.
The Supreme Court Nomination That Tore the Country Apart
The ascendence of Brett Kavanaugh levied considerable damage to all three branches of government.
Brett Kavanaugh's Confirmation Is a Blow to the #MeToo Movement
The conservative judge's confirmation was nearly derailed by allegations of sexual misconduct and partisanship. His confirmation highlights the limits of the #MeToo movement.
False Reports of Sexual Assault Are Rare. But Why Is There So Little Reliable Data About Them?
Contrary to popular belief, there is no evidence that false rape reports drastically exceed those of other crimes.
A Federal Judge Rules That Trump's Immigrant Policy Was Racist, but Rights Advocates Remain Concerned for the Future
On the verge of a Kavanaugh confirmation, immigrant rights advocates doubt the courts will continue to uphold protections against what one judge this week called racist policymaking.
The Most Competitive High Schools Don't Guarantee Success. What About Ones Like Georgetown Prep?
Research suggests that being surrounded by well-off peers in not-too-intense academic environments can lead to lifetime gains.
How Fraternity Culture Encourages Excessive Drinking
New research finds alcohol consumption is higher in chapters where members are expected to assert their masculinity.
Dispatches: A Historic Supreme Court Confirmation Hearing
News and notes from Pacific Standard staff and contributors.
The Lede, Issue #35: A Historic Supreme Court Confirmation Hearing, Blood Orange, Homelessness in L.A., and More
An exclusive newsletter that brings premium members Pacific Standard stories, staff, and contributors directly to their inbox on a regular basis.
To Most People, All-Male Lawmaking Bodies Are Seen as Less Legitimate
Americans are uncomfortable with men making decisions about women's rights.
The Kavanaugh Allegations Rock the United States (in Photos)
The Supreme Court nominee's confirmation hearings touched a raw nerve for survivors of sexual violence.
The Troubling History of Rushed Supreme Court Confirmations
The hurried and partisan Supreme Court confirmation process for Brett Kavanaugh mirrors several notable examples of similarly politicized confirmations from our past.
Kavanaugh's Trip to the Twilight Zone
A legal scholar dissects Thursday's emotionally charged Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearing.
Viewfinder: Emotional Moments During Christine Blasey Ford's Testimony
A tear runs down the cheek of Representative Carolyn Malone (D-New York) as Christine Blasey Ford testifies during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court on September 27th, 2018.
Kavanaugh Frequently Interrupted Female Senators on Thursday. That Doesn't Bode Well for His Supreme Court Conduct.
And other takeaways from Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's Thursday hearing.
For Ford, Could the Senate Hearings Open Up Old Wounds?
Research shows that the trauma of sexual assault lingers for victims, and ruminating over the memory of an assault could re-traumatize survivors.
There Are Best Practices for Interviewing Those Who Report Sex Crimes—and Thursday's Senate Hearing Followed None of Them
An expert on how to best investigate sex crimes responds to Christine Blasey Ford's testimony.
What the Research Says About (the Very Rare Phenomenon of) False Sexual Assault Allegations
Pacific Standard looks at the evidence about people who make false accusations of rape, and how to get the best information during sexual assault cases.
Why Kavanaugh Should Welcome an FBI Investigation
A legal scholar argues the judge's credibility is lower than Christine Blasey Ford's—and that's exactly why he'd be wise to embrace an independent evaluation of the assault allegation.