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Current Issues Blog & More

 

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.

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Who Should Pay for the Electricity That Powers AI?

Post | May 6, 2026

As artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models like ChatGPT become more ubiquitous in American life, “tech giants such as Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon are predicted to spend $364 billion this year to accelerate the construction of new data centers” across the United States.1 Data centers are facilities that house servers, storage systems, networking […]


Should the Federal Government Influence How Museums Present American History?

Post | April 28, 2026

The administration of President Donald Trump has raised concerns that federally funded institutions, such as the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), wield the power to either heighten or ease racial tensions through what the administration calls “divisive” and “ideologically driven” narratives. The administration is scrutinizing the portrayal of the nation’s heritage […]


Should the Federal Government Subsidize Private School Tuition?

Post | April 20, 2026

The historic passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” in July 2025 brought about numerous new tax and spending policies. The Education Choice for Children Act passed within the text of the bill, representing the first federal, voucher-style, school choice program set to begin in January 2027. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon has described it […]


The United States and Iran: How Did We Get Here?

Post | April 17, 2026

The conflict between the United States and Iran has deep roots. When the U.S. military struck three nuclear facilities in Iran on June 22, 2025, President Donald Trump declared that the goal of disabling the sites had been achieved, though intelligence sources remained uncertain as to the extent of the damage.1 For some Americans, the […]


Should Congress Prohibit Federal Funding for the War in Iran?

Post | April 13, 2026

Five weeks into the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran, the human and economic toll continues to mount. Thirteen U.S. service members have been killed in combat and more than 200 wounded; Iranian authorities report at least 2,076 people killed and more than 26,500 wounded inside Iran since strikes began on February 28, […]


Social Spaces for Kids and Teens

Post | January 22, 2026

Last fall, 41 state attorneys general sued Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, alleging that it “knowingly designed and deployed harmful features … to purposefully addict children and teens.”1 In January, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a public hearing to address online child safety issues.2 And this month, the House of Representatives voted […]


Social Spaces for Kids and Teens

Post | January 22, 2026

  Last fall, 41 state attorneys general sued Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, alleging that it “knowingly designed and deployed harmful features … to purposefully addict children and teens.”1 In January, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a public hearing to address online child safety issues.2 And this month, the House of Representatives […]


Should Congress Reassert Its War Powers Over Venezuela?

Post | January 7, 2026

On January 3, 2026, U.S. military forces conducted overnight strikes in Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. President Donald Trump announced the operation from Mar-a-Lago, declaring that the United States would “run” Venezuela “until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition.” […]


Should the Federal Poverty Line Be $140,000?

Post | December 16, 2025

In late November 2025, a viral essay by financial strategist Michael W. Green sparked intense debate about how America measures poverty. Writing in his Substack newsletter, Green argued that the federal poverty line—currently set at approximately $31,200 for a family of four—is dangerously outdated. His provocative claim? The real poverty threshold should be closer to […]


Should ICE Agents Be Required to Visibly Identify Themselves?

Post | December 5, 2025

In recent months, videos of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducting operations while wearing masks or face coverings have sparked debates about law enforcement accountability, transparency, safety, and privacy. In response, some lawmakers at the federal and state levels have introduced legislation aimed at requiring ICE agents and other law enforcement officials to visibly […]


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