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The role religion plays in political candidates’ lives is an important topic during elections. Democratic Presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton has occasionally spoken about her growing up Methodist. Her running mate, Tim Kaine, is very open about his Catholic faith and brings it up frequently on the campaign trail. In this story, you will hear about Clinton and Kaine’s religion and how they present it to the public.
Story Length: 6:54
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AIR DATE: 08/03/2016
February 9, 2016
7:51
Today voters go to the polls in the New Hampshire primary. Both parties have hotly contested primary races that are expected to continue through the spring. The Republican Party is having difficulty defining what it means to be a Republican, but the Democratic Party is also struggling to shape the future of its party. Candidates Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton have very different visions of what the Democratic Party can do for the country. Listen to a variety of opinions from voters and discuss the differences between these candidates.
Read MoreJanuary 26, 2016
5:14
New Hampshire’s primary election is coming up and a record turnout is anticipated. This will be the first presidential primary with the state’s new voter identification law in place. The law, which passed three and a half years ago, requires everyone voting to show a photo ID. Not all states have ID requirements. Election specialists say laws like this push voters away, as many voters may show up to vote without their ID. Others say it’s necessary to prevent voter fraud. Listen to this story about how the new laws might affect the upcoming primary election.
Read MoreDecember 18, 2015
3:32
Campaign contributions come in from many sources. There are limits to the amount of money a campaign committee can contribute to support a candidate, but there are no limits on how much money a Super PAC can contribute. Republican Senator Mitch McConnell would like to change the campaign finance law. These laws were put into place to prevent corruption, but both Republicans and Democrats have been working to dismantle campaign finance limits. Listen to this story with your students and debate this question: Should we set limits on campaign contributions?
Read MoreOctober 2, 2015
2:04
During his visit to the United States, Pope Francis delivered a speech before a joint meeting of Congress. The Pope’s message, “Remember the Golden Rule. Do unto others what you would have them do to you.” The Pope addressed immigration, protecting human life and climate change- all issues that Congress is divided about. He supported the position of Democrats on some issues and the position of Republicans on others. According to the First Amendment, there should be a separation of church and state, and the government cannot promote a particular religion. Are the Pope’s statements about controversial topics promoting religion in Congress? Should the Pope’s opinion influence U.S. policy? What role do religious leaders in general play in influencing politics? Discuss these issues and debate the role of religious leaders in politics.
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