In American politics, cursing and "four-letter words" are no longer confined to hot mics or hidden behind closed doors. Politicians and pundits are increasingly using so-called "bad words" in speeches, social media posts and campaign ads. Benjamin Bergen, professor of cognitive science, and Pamela Ban, associate professor of political science, both from UC San Diego's School of Social Sciences, examine why swearing among politicians is on the rise and what it reveals about persuasion, emotion and modern public discourse.

In American politics, cursing and "four-letter words" are no longer confined to hot mics or hidden behind closed doors. Politicians and pundits are increasingly using so-called "bad words" in speeches, social media posts and campaign ads. Benjamin Bergen, professor of cognitive science, and Pamela Ban, associate professor of political science, both from UC San Diego's School of Social Sciences, examine why swearing among politicians is on the rise and what it reveals about persuasion, emotion and modern public discourse.

As voters are increasingly asked to decide complex health policy questions at the ballot box, new research from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis finds that health care-related ballot measures draw more voters to the polls and are more likely to pass than other initiatives—but they're also especially sensitive to opposition spending by special-interest groups.

As voters are increasingly asked to decide complex health policy questions at the ballot box, new research from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis finds that health care-related ballot measures draw more voters to the polls and are more likely to pass than other initiatives—but they're also especially sensitive to opposition spending by special-interest groups.

The period between 2018 and 2022, sometimes referred to as "the rainbow wave," featured an unprecedented increase in LGBTQ candidates elected to office. Pete Buttigieg's rise from mayor of South Bend, Indiana, to U.S. secretary of transportation with a 2020 bid for president in between sparked a national dialogue about whether gay candidates no longer faced an electoral penalty at the ballot box.

The period between 2018 and 2022, sometimes referred to as "the rainbow wave," featured an unprecedented increase in LGBTQ candidates elected to office. Pete Buttigieg's rise from mayor of South Bend, Indiana, to U.S. secretary of transportation with a 2020 bid for president in between sparked a national dialogue about whether gay candidates no longer faced an electoral penalty at the ballot box.

New research shows that people released from prison are significantly less likely to reoffend if they are subject to supervision and other license requirements—especially first-time prisoners.