Welcome to the Zeitgeist, the NYU Politics Society’s undergraduate opinion publication dedicated to providing a platform for students to learn about and engage with politics and current events.

Fighting Against Amazon, Poverty, and Gentrification: A Conversation With Jonathan Westin

Valentine’s Day fell on a Thursday this year. Although most New Yorkers had plans to celebrate after work, a conference room in Downtown Brooklyn was buzzing with excitement and it was barely two o’clock in the afternoon. A staff member of New York Communities for Change had just interrupted an ordinary meeting to inform everyone that Amazon was pulling out of the deal to bring half of their second headquarters to Long Island City, Queens. The news broke on Twitter, but soon all the major media platforms had confirmed the news. This was an enormous victory for NYCC, one of the grassroots organisations that vehemently opposed the deal. It was also a victory for Jonathan Westin, NYCC’s executive director, who stood among his staff smiling, in disbelief.

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Jorge Jraissati’s Encouraging Plan for Venezuela’s Political Economy

In Venezuela, we have been dedicating our lives to restoring our nation’s political and economic freedoms. For years, millions of Venezuelans, under the leadership of the student movement and of young political activists, have been peacefully protesting against Nicolas Maduro’s dictatorial regime, with clear demands: Respect for our basic rights and freedoms, such as fair elections, freedom of speech, free enterprise, and rule of law. In response to the people’s demands, Maduro’s repressive groups such as the military and the national police have incarcerated, tortured, and even killed many Venezuelans. To be more precise, Maduro’s dictatorship has unrightfully incarcerated thousands, cold-bloodedly killed hundreds, and overall, forced more than five million Venezuelans into exile

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NYC Mayor de Blasio Should Not Run For President
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio arrives to join a gathering in response to attacks in Paris, at Washington Square Park in the Manhattan borough of New York November 14, 2015. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson - RTS732I

NYC Mayor de Blasio Should Not Run For President

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio made a recent trip to Iowa, signaling that the two-term mayor is inching closer to a potential, and long-speculated presidential run in 2020. If he ends up entering the race, he will be the second New Yorker (excluding President Donald Trump) in the running, following the state’s junior U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

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Update on North Carolina’s 9th District

Photo courtesy of the Charlotte Business Journal Since early February, there have been several major developments in the 9th Congressional District of North Carolina’s case, where…

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A Political Overview of Ghana

Photo courtesy of RAID-AID Ghana Most NYU students probably know Ghana because of the study-away site at NYU Accra, but this wonderful country has so much…

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Saudi Arabia Appoints First U.S. Ambassador

Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud will serve as the first female ambassador to the United States representing the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Illustrated by Claudia…

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A New Era of Voter Turnout

Voters waiting in line for the 2018 Midterm election in Hamilton County, Indiana. Photo courtesy of Kelly Wilkinson/Indy Star. Every college-aged student today, along with their…

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