It’s that lovely time of year when Barnumbia students are focusing on midterm exams—wait, midterm elections? Your call.

Happening in the World: After their violent response to protests over the death of Mahsa Amini, top Iranian officials are facing sanctions from the UK. Amini, who was killed for allegedly breaking the country’s strict dress code, has inspired mass protests which have been met with hundreds of deaths, arrests, internet shutdown, and forced confessions from detainees. In response, the UK has sanctioned the morality police and five leading political and security officials. In their explanation of this decision, the Foreign Office noted that protestors have been assaulted with live ammunition, and some of those killed by police have been buried without their families’ knowledge. (BBC)

Happening in the US: Republicans are strongly supporting Georgia Senate candidate Hershel Walker in the hopes of gaining control of Congress in the midterm election, despite Walker’s potential campaign scandal. The New York Times reported that Walker allegedly asked a woman to have an abortion in 2009, and a second abortion two years later, the latter of which she refused to do. As a GOP candidate, Walker is strictly against abortion, but this exception has not had an effect on Republican support. Florida Senator Rick Scott and Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton are expected to campaign for Walker today. They are among the many Republican representatives who have stated they will support Walker no matter what, because the seat is too important for the outcome of the midterm. (US News)

Happening in NYC: New York City voters are deciding on three ballot proposals regarding racial equity in the city. Written by the Racial Justice Commission, the proposals will ask voters about aspirations, tools, and accountability they want enacted for racial justice. The first proposal would add a preamble to the City Charter that vows to create a “just and equitable city for all” and would try to remedy “past and continuing harms… for all New Yorkers.” The second proposal would allow the city to craft “Racial Equity Plans” every two years. The third would require the city to annually measure a new “true cost of living” to inform policy decisions. (Gothamist)

Happening in Our Community: Join Randy Cohen, former New York Times columnist and Late Night with David Letterman for a taping of Person Place Thing Podcast. His guest will be Ashwin Vasan, ScM, MD, PhD, who will discuss this work as a part of the Public Health Equity Week at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. This event will take place today, October 11, from 3 pm to 4 pm. For more information contact Sheraye Niland at sln2126@cumc.columbia.edu.

Podcast Mic via Bwog Archives