The Red Folder
The Archive

Key stories for the week, brought to you by 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.

December 30, 2024: In our domestic news, read about the ethics report on Matt Gaetz, the homelessness crisis, Biden's lame duck period, and OpenAI's major announcement.  In our international news, read about Bolivia's presidential elections, the BRICS-backed transaction system, the ongoing dispute between Serbia and Kosovo, and an intercepted Azerbaijani plane.

December 23, 2024: In our domestic news, read about changes to social security, Trump's new cabinet, how Congress is dealing with the debt ceiling, and Amazon workers striking.  In our international news, read about energy in East Africa, the troubles of the Canadian Liberal Party, a case between the ICJ and the Pacific islands, and a territorial dispute on the Himalayan border.

December 16, 2024: In our domestic news, read about drones on the East Coast, the economics behind the Eras tour, a law aiming to ban TikTok, and labor negotiations among dock workers.  In our international news, read about the political upheaval in Syria, Germany's vote of confidence, instability within the EU's Schengen area, and trade restrictions in Mexico.

December 9, 2024: In our domestic news, read about the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, Trump's expected deportation policies, the pardon of Hunter Biden, and US foreign policy in Syria.  In our international news, read about how Russia uses its soft power diplomacy, Indonesia's division between the US and China, martial law in South Korea, and Georgia's prospects for EU membership.

December 2, 2024: In our domestic news, read about Republicans' ambitions to politically conquer California, HR 9495, which threatens to silence nonprofits, a Democratic revamp of their leadership, and Trump's potentially dangerous plans for education. In our international news, read about why Mexico is now hosting judicial elections, Bolivia's broken economy, a revitalization of the Syrian civil war, and a looming governmental collapse in France.

November 25, 2024: In our domestic news, read about the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Trump's plans for the environment, a look at a few new Cabinet picks, and Trump on border policy. In our international news, read about the EU's worries about a second Trump term, the US's slipping grip on Brazil, the devastating toll of Myanmar's junta conscription, and the dangers of illegal gold mining in South Africa.

November 18, 2024: In our domestic news, read about the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Trump's plans for the environment, a look at a few new Cabinet picks, and Trump on border policy. In our international news, read about the EU's worries about a second Trump term, the US's slipping grip on Brazil, the devastating toll of Myanmar's junta conscription, and the dangers of illegal gold mining in South Africa.

November 11, 2024: In our domestic news, read about the Keeping Families Together initiative. In our international news, read about Ireland's upcoming election, Mexico's harsher anti-cartel policies, the devastating toll of the Myanmar civil war, and the inefficacy of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Last, but certainly not least, two of our staff writers put together a 4400+ special report on the 2024 election. In the wake of nothing short of a political domination by former president Donald Trump last week, they take a closer look at his policies, Democratic weaknesses this election, and what it all means for America.

November 4, 2024: In our domestic news, read a breakdown of Harris and Trump's medical policy, polling workers' safety concerns, Louisiana's rollback of voting rights, and the rise of political ads on social media. In our international news, read about North Korea's troop shipment to Russia, the Japanese political party LDP's recent election loss, Germany's coalition budget talks, and New Zealand's economic slump.

October 28, 2024: In our domestic news, read about the Senate race between Texans Ted Cruz and Colin Allred, the US adoptive crisis, Trump's tendency towards political attack ads, and state court bans on abortion bans. In our international news, read about Latin America's struggle with drug cartels, Keir Starmer's Labour-ous struggles, Egypt's spy chief position changing hands, and a peace agreement between India and China in the Himalayas.

October 21, 2024: In our domestic news, read about the rise of early voting, a synopsis of swing state issues, teenagers and tobacco, and the case of Robert Roberson. In our international news, read about Cuba's devastating power outages, Bulgaria's corruption problem, Yahya Sinwar's death, and Russian meddling in Moldovan elections.

October 14, 2024: In our domestic news, read about JD Vance's prospects in 2028, the issues with prison bail, endorsements in the 2024 election, and the importance of the border in the 2024 election. In our international news, read about Australia's new 'right to disconnect' policy, Venezuela's economic history, the delivery of a THAAD system to Israel, and the growing rift between India and Canada over Sikh seperatists.

October 7, 2024: In our domestic news, read about the efforts to rebuild after Hurricane Helene, America's continued presence in the Middle East, Abbott's court win, and port strikes along the entirety of the East Coast. In our international news, read about Mexico's newly inaugurated leader Claudia Sheinbaum, India's struggle with fighting gender violence, China's continued economic crisis, and America's effort- or lack thereof-to combat the Caribbean gun crisis.

September 30, 2024: In our domestic news, read about the SAVE Act, Ohio gerrymandering, Hurricane Helene, and a potential CVS breakup. In our international news, read about Sahel instability, Europe's turn to the right, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's death, and South Korea's potential nuclear armament.

September 23, 2024: In our domestic news, read about a looming government shutdown (again), Georgia's new rule requiring ballots to be hand-counted, CTE's struggles to stay afloat, and Microsoft's promise to revive the nuclear plant that caused the Three-Mile Island nuclear accident. In our international news, read about a potential replacement for current German chancellor Olaf Scholz, the endless war in Sudan, pager and walkie-talkie explosions in Lebanon, and the Sinaloa cartel's civil war.

September 16, 2024: In our domestic news, read about America's staggering debt crisis, post-debate swing state polls, the lasting impact of the ban on affirmative action, and Trump's improbable legacy of overcoming various political setbacks. In our international news, read about Iranian collaboration with hitmen, ASEAN's ineffective status, the Algerian president's surprising reaction to voter fraud, and Britain's immigration crisis.

September 9, 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 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 3, 2024 Special Report: This week, we 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. 

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.