Why Dems shouldn’t count on Latinos in November

4 reasons why anti-Trump Latino voters won't swing the midterms [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 20 August 2018 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair Editor's note Democrats hoping that Latino voters will punish Republicans for President Trump’s harsh immigration policies in November’s midterm elections may be disappointed. The so-called “Latino vote” has always been [more promise than reality](, writes Colombia-born political scientist Steffen W. Schmidt. The 58 million Latinos in the U.S. are a geographically and ideologically disparate group whose political power is limited by district gerrymandering, voter eligibility and historically low turnout. Ocean plastic pollution is receiving a lot of media attention, but it’s also a serious problem in rivers and lakes. RIT mathematician Matthew Hoffman has estimated that roughly 10,000 tons of plastic enter the Great Lakes every year, but only a small fraction of that amount is floating at the surface. Now, Hoffman and RIT environmental scientist Christy Tyler are using computational models to figure out [how plastic moves within the lakes]( – a first step toward understanding where it’s doing the most damage. For several billion people mosquitoes are more than a nuisance – they transmit deadly diseases. The most common defenses are toxic, broad spectrum insecticides, but these also endanger humans and animals, and kill many harmless insects. Penn State’s Jason Rasgon explains how [genetically modified mosquitoes]( can be an effective strategy to prevent disease. Catesby Holmes Global Affairs Editor Top stories Latinos make up 12 percent of people eligible to vote in the 2018 midterm elections. Flickr/Erik Hersman [4 reasons why anti-Trump Latino voters won’t swing the midterms]( Steffen W. Schmidt, Iowa State University Democrats hoping that Latinos will punish the Republican Party for Trump's immigration policies haven't looked hard enough at the demographics, location and concerns of these 27.3 million voters. Debris pulled from a Lake Erie marina during a cleanup, June 9, 2012. NOAA Office of Response and Restoration [Tons of plastic trash enter the Great Lakes every year – where does it go?]( Matthew J. Hoffman, Rochester Institute of Technology; Christy Tyler, Rochester Institute of Technology Roughly 10,000 tons of plastic enter the Great Lakes every year, and scientists want to know where it ends up. There are some parallels to ocean plastics, but also important differences. By mycteria/shutterstock.com [Genetically modified mosquitoes may be best weapon for curbing disease transmission]( Jason Rasgon, Pennsylvania State University For several billion people mosquitoes are more than a nuisance--they transmit deadly diseases. Now genetic modification may prove the most effective defense against the mosquito, preventing disease. Economy + Business - [Advertising is obsolete – here’s why it’s time to end it]( Ramsi Woodcock, University of Kentucky In the information age, advertising is no longer needed to inform consumers.That means its primary role is to manipulate. Politics + Society - [Kofi Annan: a complicated legacy of impressive achievements, and some profound failures]( Danny Bradlow, University of Pretoria Kofi Annan was the first UN employee to rise to the position of Secretary General but his tenure also had a darker side. - [How the Trump Foundation illustrates the limits of charity regulations]( Ellen P. Aprill, Loyola Law School Los Angeles Donations from the Donald J. Trump Foundation to Charities Hosting Events at Mar-a-Lago violate the spirit but not the letter of federal tax law. - [You don’t have to look far to find human trafficking victims]( Laurie Charles, Texas A&M University Human trafficking victims can be hidden in plain sight, as one hospital found. That can lead health professionals and the public to miss clues to their plight. But education can change that. Education - [Dangerous stereotypes stalk black college athletes]( Joseph Cooper, University of Connecticut Although University of Maryland football player Jordan McNair died from heatstroke during practice, his death also resulted from a culture that exploits black players, says a professor who studies race and sports. Environment + Energy - [Stop worrying about how much energy bitcoin uses]( Katrina Kelly-Pitou, University of Pittsburgh Bitcoin is often criticized for using up tons of energy. But its carbon footprint may not be that bad. Arts + Culture - [How Aretha Franklin found her voice]( Adam Gustafson, Pennsylvania State University When record executives tried to mold Franklin's sound to their liking, her career sputtered. Then legendary producer Jerry Wexler came along. His approach? Stay out of her way. Health + Medicine - [Three reasons the US is not ready for the next pandemic]( Christine Crudo Blackburn, Texas A&M University ; Andrew Natsios, Texas A&M University ; Gerald W. Parker, Texas A&M University It's not a matter of if, but when, the next deadly pandemic will strike. Will the world be ready? Science + Technology - [Celebrating the 150th anniversary of helium’s discovery – why we need it more than ever]( Christopher Rithner, Colorado State University Helium lifts balloons and makes our voices squeak. But its supply on Earth is finite and is critical for modern industrial processes and medical imaging in hospitals. How worried should we be? Today’s chart - [Enable images to see the chart]( From the article: [Apple's $1 trillion value doesn’t mean it’s the ‘biggest’ company [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. 89 South Street - Suite 202 Boston, MA 02111](