How Citizens United is helping players ‘take a knee’

Edition: US - Today's top story: The surprising connection between 'take a knee' protests and Citizens United [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 27 September 2017 [[The Conversation]Academic rigor, journalistic flair]( Editor's note Citizens United, the 2010 Supreme Court ruling that opened the door to unlimited political contributions by corporations and unions, has been called one of the worst decisions in recent memory. But, argues the University of Oregon’s Elizabeth Tippett, [recent events tell a different story](. The controversial ruling, she writes, “offers a pluralistic vision of corporate speech as well as a full-throated defense of the kind of political speech we are now witnessing from business leaders” on climate change, transgender rights and, most recently, football players “taking a knee.” Equifax’s CEO retired Tuesday – effective immediately – just days after the company’s chief information officer and chief security officer did the same, in the wake of news that the company suffered a massive hack, exposing the personal financial information of 143 million Americans. Vanderbilt computer scientists Douglas C. Schmidt and Jules White discuss [the problems in software – and in management]( – that can lead to data disasters like Equifax’s. Over the course of two years, sociologist Vanessa Panfil [interviewed 48 gay or bisexual gang members](. Some were still in the closet, while others were out to their fellow gang members. But all of them had to navigate the tricky terrain of living up to masculine ideals, projecting toughness and remaining true to themselves. Bryan Keogh Editor, Economics and Business Top story Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones joined his team in taking a knee before a game on Sept. 25. AP Photo/Matt York [The surprising connection between 'take a knee' protests and Citizens United]( Elizabeth C. Tippett, University of Oregon Team owners' defense of their players 'taking a knee' during the national anthem shows the vital role business leaders play in political discourse – one championed by Citizens United. Science + Technology - [Why don't big companies keep their computer systems up-to-date?]( Douglas C. Schmidt, Vanderbilt University; Jules White, Vanderbilt University There are technical reasons companies can be slow to update software, but as seen in the Equifax hack, a key problem is management. Arts + Culture - [What it's like to be gay and in a gang]( Vanessa R. Panfil, Old Dominion University A sociologist spent two years interviewing gay gang members. While some were in the closet and others were openly gay, all were forced to reckon with an environment of hypermasculinity. Health + Medicine - [How the anal cancer epidemic in gay and bi HIV-positive men can be prevented]( Ashish A. Deshmukh, University of Florida; Elizabeth Chiao, Baylor College of Medicine ; Jagpreet Chhatwal, Harvard Medical School ; Scott B. Cantor, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center A new study shows that anal cancer, caused by the virus HPV, can be successfully fought in HIV-positive men by timely treatment and HPV vaccination of lesions that may ultimately lead to cancer. - [Mexico’s road to recovery after quakes is far longer than it looks]( Morten Wendelbo, Texas A&M University Natural disasters are not only bad in the short term. Many families will see their health, well-being and ability to escape poverty affected for decades, and some will be affected for life. Economy + Business - [How to select a disaster relief charity]( David Campbell, Binghamton University, State University of New York After a hurricane strikes or an earthquake makes shockwaves, support nonprofits that are clear about what they do and how they will spend your money. Environment + Energy - [Interior Secretary Zinke invokes Teddy Roosevelt as model, but his public land policies don't]( John Freemuth, Boise State University Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke calls himself "a Teddy Roosevelt guy," but supports many actions that critics call anti-conservation, such as shrinking national monuments and fast-tracking energy projects. Trending on site - [Are Puerto Ricans really American citizens?]( Charles R. Venator-Santiago, University of Connecticut Over the years, Puerto Ricans have in fact been granted three different types of U.S. citizenship, but questions about their rights and equal treatment as citizens still remain. - [Let them eat caviar: When charity galas waste money]( Philip Hackney, Louisiana State University ; Brian Mittendorf, The Ohio State University Why do nonprofit fundraisers juxtapose calls to feed the hungry, house the homeless and cure cancer with champagne toasts? - [3 reasons why we are addicted to smartphones]( Jaco J. Hamman, Vanderbilt University Why we love our phones so much might be related to our basic yearnings as human beings, explains a scholar, who is also a pastor. Today’s quote [A minor loss in the ability to work or farm profoundly threatens the welfare in households that live close to the subsistence level.]( [Mexico’s road to recovery after quakes is far longer than it looks]( Morten Wendelbo Texas A&M University [Morten Wendelbo] [Follow us on Twitter.]( [Join us on Facebook.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe instantly](. We’ll miss you. 625 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139 USA