By — Saher Khan Saher Khan Leave a comment 0comments Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/5-overlooked-politics-stories-that-are-worth-your-time-14 Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter 5 overlooked politics stories that are worth your time Politics Mar 7, 2018 4:45 PM EST The 24-hour news cycle is filled with political coverage, but not everything gets the attention it deserves. Here are five politics stories you may have missed in the past week. 1. Guantanamo, Forever — The Marshall Project, 2/28. The Marshall Project chronicles the story of one of the last men at Guantanamo Bay to seek legal representation and not have it, and what changed (and didn’t) after he found an attorney. This long read provides a look at the controversial use of military tribunals, and how it can create “forever prisoners” who are held at the prison for years without being charged. 2. The Florida Loophole That Lets Thousands of People Banned From Guns Get Away With Lying on Background Checks — The Trace, 3/2. A legal loophole in the state of Florida prevents the prosecution of prohibited gun buyers who don’t disclose their criminal histories in background checks. These are called “lie-and-try” cases. A bill that addresses this loophole is awaiting action from Florida lawmakers, who have been thrust into the national gun control debate in the aftermath of last month’s Parkland shooting. 3. Proposed federal limits to opioid prescriptions draw opposition from physicians and patients — Stat, 3/6. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a new rule that would limit opioid doses to Medicare patients to “the equivalent” of 90 milligrams of morphine per day. This was met with strong opposition from doctors, patients and public health experts who say the rule is heavy handed and a one-size-fits-all solution. 4. In Alaska, wildlands lose out to roads and drill rigs — High Country News, 2/28. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, has long fought for oil and gas development on protected lands in the state. Under President Donald Trump, it appears she’ll achieve her goal. 5. Trump White House quietly issues report vindicating Obama regulations — Vox, 3/6. The Office of Management and Budget released a report showing that “major” regulations between 2006 and 2016 produced greater economic benefits than they cost. The analysis undercuts a longstanding GOP argument that regulations kill jobs and harm the economy. By — Saher Khan Saher Khan Saher Khan is a reporter-producer for the PBS NewsHour. @SaherMKhan
The 24-hour news cycle is filled with political coverage, but not everything gets the attention it deserves. Here are five politics stories you may have missed in the past week. 1. Guantanamo, Forever — The Marshall Project, 2/28. The Marshall Project chronicles the story of one of the last men at Guantanamo Bay to seek legal representation and not have it, and what changed (and didn’t) after he found an attorney. This long read provides a look at the controversial use of military tribunals, and how it can create “forever prisoners” who are held at the prison for years without being charged. 2. The Florida Loophole That Lets Thousands of People Banned From Guns Get Away With Lying on Background Checks — The Trace, 3/2. A legal loophole in the state of Florida prevents the prosecution of prohibited gun buyers who don’t disclose their criminal histories in background checks. These are called “lie-and-try” cases. A bill that addresses this loophole is awaiting action from Florida lawmakers, who have been thrust into the national gun control debate in the aftermath of last month’s Parkland shooting. 3. Proposed federal limits to opioid prescriptions draw opposition from physicians and patients — Stat, 3/6. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a new rule that would limit opioid doses to Medicare patients to “the equivalent” of 90 milligrams of morphine per day. This was met with strong opposition from doctors, patients and public health experts who say the rule is heavy handed and a one-size-fits-all solution. 4. In Alaska, wildlands lose out to roads and drill rigs — High Country News, 2/28. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, has long fought for oil and gas development on protected lands in the state. Under President Donald Trump, it appears she’ll achieve her goal. 5. Trump White House quietly issues report vindicating Obama regulations — Vox, 3/6. The Office of Management and Budget released a report showing that “major” regulations between 2006 and 2016 produced greater economic benefits than they cost. The analysis undercuts a longstanding GOP argument that regulations kill jobs and harm the economy.