The Red Folder
The Archive

Key stories for the week, brought to you by Lindsey Zhao and the Red Folder Team.

Reading for the sake of reading sucks. Telling yourself to read to win a round is nice but ineffective. This condensed news brief helps you understand current domestic and international issues, analyze the news, and gives you opportunities to read more.

Publishing since January 2024.

September 8, 2024: In our domestic news, read about Pennsylvania's crucial role in the 2024 election, familial endorsements in the presidential race, the heartbreaking trend of gun violence in our country, and new concerns over mosquito-borne viruses. In our international news, read about Ukraine's cabinet overhaul, the standoff between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Somalia, a Pakistani attack on Afghanistan, and Russian misinformation.

September 2, 2024: In our domestic news, read about the Biden student loan forgiveness plan's legal problems, the dangers of ghost guns, a potential Al 'bubble, and the impact, or lack thereof, that climate change could have on the 2024 elections. In our international news, read about Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexander de Moraes' recent decision to ban X ', a recent AfD win in a German province, Belarus' assembly of their army on Ukraine's border, and the worrying trend of attacks on journalists in conflict zones.

August 26, 2024: In our domestic news, read about voter suppression in the South, RFK's endorsement of Trump, and Kamala Harris's economic agenda. In our international news, read about the UK prison system, a growing military in Argentina, women's rights in India, and a constitutional challenge in Thailand.

 ALSO: read the first on-site report which The Red Folder has ever published, written by operations director CJ Getting about the events of the Democratic National Convention.

August 19, 2024: In domestic news, read about the impacts of nationwide abortion bans, Gavin Newsom’s crackdown on homelessness, Medicare price changes, and the spread of disinformation around our vice presidential candidates. In international news, read about Japan’s ruling party problems, Ukraine’s recent offensive into Russia, the ICC’s dubious track record, and the people that might be behind the Nord Stream sabotage of 2022. 

August 12, 2024: In domestic news, read about Harris and Trump's differing economic policies, the efforts to punish 9/11 conspirators held in Guantanamo, an easy-to-read bio of Tim Walz, and the lifting of a weapons sales ban to Saudi Arabia. In international news, read about Brazil's fight against indigenous rights, Bangladeshi protests, South Asian pollution, and British far-right riots.

This week, we also published a special report on the turmoil in Venezuela following their recent Presidential election. See what Daniel Song's recommendations are for the international community, based off extensive research and countless political experts' input and testimony.

August 5, 2024: In domestic news, read about a rising number of anti-abortion maternity homes, the ins-and-outs of Project 2025, a recent billion dollar donation for medical student debt, and Chevron's relocation to Texas. In international news, read about the failure of British taxes, Wagner presence in Mali, Evan Gershkovich's release, and the assassination of a high-profile Hamas leader. 

July 29, 2024: In domestic news, read about Arizona’s politics, RFK’s potential as a spoiler, wildfires in California, and an update on the election. In international news, read about protests in Uganda and Kenya, free speech in Thailand, and an “election” in Venezuela.

July 22, 2024: In domestic news, read our 6000+ word special report on Biden dropping out of the presidential race, the effects of Project 2025, and the conviction of a United States Senator. In international news, read about the new British government’s foreign policy, the sustainability of the Paris Olympics, dictatorship in Rwanda, and protests in Bangladesh.

July 15, 2024: In domestic news, read about the attempt on Trump's life, lessons from Hurricane Beryl, Trump's legal proceedings, and the insurance price debacle. In international news, read about tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, China's expanding military, Iran's new President, and the United Kingdom's war on NIMBYs.

July 8, 2024: In domestic news, read about potential Biden alternatives, the controversial Supreme Court Immunity ruling, Hurricane Beryl wreaking havoc, and Ron DeSantis' slide into unpopularity. In international news, read about Rishi Sunak's loss to the Labour Party, the French election turnaround, the recent G7 summit, and Paris's turmoil over the upcoming Olympics.

July 1, 2024: In domestic news, read about  the overturning of Chevron Deference, the ruling in Grant's Pass v. Johnson, a truly disastrous presidential debate, and Jamaal Bowman's loss in the Democratic primary. In international news, read about Iran's presidential election, Bolivia's attempted coup, the climate crisis, and the similarities between Ukraine and Taiwan. 

We also published a Special Report on the French Election! Read it here. 

June 24, 2024: In domestic news, read about a flurry of Supreme Court decisions, Nvidia's unprecedented successes, the Tax Relief Act, and the fall of America's petrodollar. In international news, read about Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his main political opponent, Russia's shift in nuclear talk, the Labour Party's politics, and Turkey's inflation problem. 

June 17, 2024: In domestic news, read about school vouchers in Texas, the national housing crisis, the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on bump stocks, and why the economy might not actually be doing as well as Biden thinks. In international news, read about Vietnam’s authoritarian shift, an analysis on Modi, Bola Tinubu’s disastrous economic policies in Nigeria, and a potential peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

June 10, 2024: In domestic news, read about Biden's lack of luck with Latino voters, media defamation lawsuits regarding the 2020 election, Dr. Fauci's Congress hearing, and Vermont's new Climate Superfund Act. In international news, read about Mexico's newly elected leader, the EU Parliament's recent elections, Beijing's aggression in the South China Sea, and a guest article detailing the intricacies of Biden's policy on Israel.

June 3, 2024: In domestic news, read about Trump’s recent felony conviction, the lawsuit against Hyundai for their use of child labor, Hunter Biden’s felony trial and the increase in deadly hurricanes. In international news, read about Putin’s military general purge, India’s recent election that saw Modi get reelected yet again, an update on the Sudanese Civil War, and South Africa’s general election. 

This week, we also published a 3000+ word special brief on the conflict in Myanmar, which the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project explains is the deadliest of all the 50 violent conflicts it tracks in the world. 

May 27, 2024: In domestic news, read about  an update on Trump's latest legal troubles, Biden's tariffs on Chinese trade, and Uvalde families' lawsuits against the companies allegedly responsible for the mass shooting in 2022. In international news, read about Somalia's struggles with climate change, ISIS-K's grip on Tajikistan through resentment against Russia, and Putin's alleged attempts at peace talks. 

May 20, 2024: In domestic news, read about California's new ambitious water tunnel project, the presidential debates and how it will affect RFK, and Houston's devastating power outages. In international news, read about Afghanistan's deadly flash floods, the Iranian president's sudden death, and Haiti's endless struggle. 

May 13, 2024: In domestic news, read about South Carolina's redistricting, the six week abortion ban in Florida, and Kristi Noem's struggles with her indigenous population. In international news, read about the Scottish fight for independence, Chad's new dictator, and Georgia's repressive new foreign agents bill. 

May 6, 2024: In domestic news, read about Donald Trump's violations of his gag order, the Pulitzer Prizes, and the Tiktok ban. In international news, read about the relationship between Europe and China, Bhutan's new bitcoin enterprise, and South Africa's upcoming election. 

April 29, 2024: In domestic news, read about Columbia's massive student protests, America's recent natural disasters, and the disaster of Elon Musk. In international news, read about Ecuador's raid on Mexico, the tide of the Ukrainian war, and Netanyahu's political bind.

March 25, 2024 Special Report: This week, we published a special brief on one of the most controversial and important countries in the Americas- El Salvador. Read CJ Getting's masterful explanation on the country's response to gang violence. 

March 18, 2024 Special Report: Our longest ever article (four THOUSAND words!) written in collaboration with two of our writers, Paul Robinson and Lindsey Zhao. Read all about the Balkans, and two of their most conflict-prone political hotspots- Republika Srpska and Kosovo.