Trump v. Biden: Chaos and consequences

+ child vaccinations are key to avoiding another deadly disease US Edition - Today's top story: Trump and Biden clash in chaotic debate – experts react on the court, race and election integrity [View in browser]( US Edition | 30 September 2020 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair Americans witnessed a chaotic presidential debate last night, punctuated by interruptions, insults and incivility. President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden rarely engaged in a substantive discussion over issues, with the moderator struggling to maintain control. We invited three scholars to watch the debate. In dissecting the back-and-forth over Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, University of Oregon political scientist Alison Gash [summed up the overall tenor of the evening]( and its lack of depth: “The debate did little to resolve questions about the future of the court – other than to shore up Supreme Court nominations as political bombs with volatile consequences,” she wrote. Also today: - [The Arctic is the warmest it’s been in 3 million years]( - [Why unfairness puts us in a punishing mood]( - [‘Namaste’: the perfect pandemic greeting]( Emily Costello Deputy Editor President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden at the first debate of the presidential campaign. AP/Julio Cortez and AP/Patrick Semansky [Trump and Biden clash in chaotic debate – experts react on the court, race and election integrity]( Alison Gash, University of Oregon; Alexander Cohen, Clarkson University; Rashawn Ray, University of Maryland They shouted, they interrupted, they insulted – and not entirely in equal measure. But Biden and Trump also touched on the issues occasionally. Our panel of experts analyzed three key exchanges. Health - [Your child’s vaccines: What you need to know about catching up during the COVID-19 pandemic]( Irène Mathieu, University of Virginia A pediatrician answers parents' questions about catching up on missed childhood vaccinations and why that's so important. Science + Technology - [The urge to punish is not only about revenge – unfairness can unleash it, too]( Paul Deutchman, Boston College Unfairness alone is upsetting enough to drive people to punish lucky recipients of unfair outcomes. Ethics + Religion - [Why ‘namaste’ has become the perfect pandemic greeting]( Jeremy David Engels, Pennsylvania State University An ancient Indian greeting is replacing the handshake. An expert explains its roots and why it affirms our inter-connectedness with one another. Environment + Energy - [The Arctic hasn’t been this warm for 3 million years – and that foreshadows big changes for the rest of the planet]( Julie Brigham-Grette, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Steve Petsch, University of Massachusetts Amherst Extreme shrinkage of summer sea ice is just the latest evidence of rapid Arctic warming – and what happens in the Arctic doesn't stay there. Politics/Election '20 - [Michigan’s effort to end gerrymandering revives a practice rooted in ancient Athens]( John Rothchild, Wayne State University To overhaul an election redistricting process tainted by gerrymandering, Michigan has adopted a governance mechanism prominent 2,500 years ago in ancient Athens, the birthplace of democracy. Education - [Making the most of K-12 digital textbooks and online educational tools]( Kui Xie, The Ohio State University Digital educational resources are likely to remain indispensable for modern K-12 classrooms, even after the coronavirus pandemic ends. Trending on site - [Ancient microbial life used arsenic to thrive in a world without oxygen]( Pieter Visscher, University of Connecticut; Brendan Paul Burns, UNSW; Kimberley L. Gallagher, Quinnipiac University How ancient microbes survived in a world without oxygen has been a mystery. Scientists discovered a living microbial mat that uses arsenic instead of oxygen for photosynthesis and respiration. - [Fox News uses the word ‘hate’ much more than MSNBC or CNN]( Curd Knüpfer, Freie Universität Berlin; Robert Mathew Entman, George Washington University The conservative cable news channel particularly favors the term when explaining opposition to Donald Trump. This framing of the news can lead Fox viewers to see the world as us versus them. - [When politicians use hate speech, political violence increases]( James Piazza, Pennsylvania State University My research shows that when politicians use hate speech, it's not just empty rhetoric or political theater: Domestic terrorism increases, in the US and in other countries. You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe](. 89 South Street - Suite 202 Boston, MA 02111