Voters want Congress to make a deal

+ new series: Understanding AI US Edition - Today's top story: Voters want compromise in Congress -- so why the brinkmanship over the debt ceiling? [View in browser]( US Edition | 27 May 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( It’s not easy to write a fact-based story on what’s happening with the debt ceiling negotiations. As you’ve probably seen, read or heard, those negotiations are either failing or gelling, moving forward or stalling, dealing with the hard stuff or tackling only the easy things. Covering secret negotiations is almost always like that. Reporters essentially let themselves be used by one side or the other as they rely on what they’re told – not what they’ve seen – by the different players at the table. We wanted to advance readers’ understanding, though, of what’s happening, not parrot talking points. So [I interviewed political scientist Laurel Harbridge-Yong](, an expert on partisan conflict and the lack of bipartisan agreement in American politics. I asked her what she sees when she looks at the difficult negotiations. Some lawmakers from safe districts believe their constituents want them to hang tough and not compromise, Harbridge-Yong said. But that’s not generally true, she said. “The public does not like gridlock on issues in which people agree on the end goal,” she said. “The public, on average, even prefers a victory for the other side over policy gridlock.” For most voters, while a win for their own side is the best outcome, Harbridge-Yong said, “a compromise is next best, a win for the other side is next best after that. Gridlock is the worst outcome.” This week we also liked articles about [Buddha’s birthday](, [how to get better at studying]( and the large amount of energy [generative AI consumes](. Also: We just launched a newsletter series on artificial intelligence explaining what you need to know about AI and how it’s changing society. [Sign up here to receive four emails over the course of a week](. Naomi Schalit Democracy Editor House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, left, meets with President Joe Biden to discuss the debt limit in the White House on May 22, 2023. AP Photo/Alex Brandon [Voters want compromise in Congress – so why the brinkmanship over the debt ceiling?]( Laurel Harbridge-Yong, Northwestern University Brinkmanship means coming to the edge of potential default on the US debt ceiling. Are lawmakers negotiating the debt limit representing the wishes and interests of their voters? Tina Turner performs onstage during the 50th annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Center on Feb. 10, 2008, in Los Angeles. Kevin Winter/Getty Images) [How the practice of Nichiren Buddhism sustained Tina Turner for 50 years]( Ralph H. Craig III, Stanford University Turner was introduced to Nichiren Buddhism in 1973, and its teachings provided inspiration for some of the final projects of her career. A devotee bathes a Buddha statue during celebrations of the Buddha’s birthday in Malaysia. Wong Fok Loy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images [Happy birthday, Buddha! Why the founder of Buddhism has so many different birthdays around the world]( Megan Bryson, University of Tennessee Buddha’s birthday has not always been a major holiday for Buddhists, but is now celebrated in diverse ways throughout Asia. - [How can I make studying a daily habit?]( Deborah Reed, University of Tennessee A researcher who studies ways to help students become better readers and writers describes how to create a homework habit using a loop: cue, routine, reward. - [Vatican centralizes investigations on claims of Virgin Mary apparitions – but local Catholics have always had a say]( Deirdre de la Cruz, University of Michigan The Vatican plans to set up an ‘observatory’ to investigate apparitions of the Virgin Mary. A scholar of global Christianity explains why this is a major shift in how apparitions are authenticated. - [New approach to teaching computer science could broaden the subject’s appeal]( Lauren Margulieux, Georgia State University Integrated computing enables teachers to incorporate basic programming skills into K-12 students’ regular math, science and language arts classes. - [Is generative AI bad for the environment? A computer scientist explains the carbon footprint of ChatGPT and its cousins]( - [What is vernacular art? A visual artist explains]( - [Drilling down on treatment-resistant fungi with molecular machines]( - [Colorado River states bought time with a 3-year water conservation deal – now they need to think bigger]( - [GOP’s proposed expansion of SNAP work requirements targets many low-income people in their early 50s – but many of them already work]( - [Balance declines with age, but exercise can help stave off some of the risk of falling]( - [Including race in clinical algorithms can both reduce and increase health inequities – it depends on what doctors use them for]( - [How wildfire smoke can harm human health, even when the fire is hundreds of miles away – a toxicologist explains]( - [Turkey’s presidential runoff: 4 essential reads on what’s at stake]( - [Salman Rushdie renews fight against book-banning – 3 essential articles on right-wing challenges to what schoolkids can read]( The Conversation Quiz 🧠- Here’s the first question of [this week’s edition:]( Singing icon Tina Turner has died at age 83. What was the title of the hit 1984 single and album that helped reignite her career as a solo act? - A. “Tiny Dancer” - B. “Moon Dancer” - C. “Private Dancer” - D. “Native Dancer” [Test your knowledge]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Trying out new social media? Follow us: • [Mastodon]( • [Post.news]( • [Instagram]( • [LinkedIn]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. 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