Paul Musgrave, political science, comments in a story about how the FX television series “The Americans” offers a look into the mind of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The series portrays Cold War spies doing tasks similar to what Putin did as a young KGB officer in East Germany. 

University of Massachusetts Amherst graduate Pat Malone, won the Democratic primary for state representative in the 8th Worcester District on Sept. 4, 2018. On Tuesday, Malone came a step closer to fulfilling those plans when he won the Democratic nomination in a two-way race in the 8th Worcester District, which includes the Worcester County towns of Bellingham, Blackstone, Millville and Uxbridge. The seat has been held since 2010 by Republican Kevin Kuros, who did not seek re-election this year.

Sheldon Goldman, Distinguished Professor in political science, says Democratic U.S. Sen. Diane Feinstein has traditionally been collegial and bipartisan, and that doesn't sit well with some other Democrats who want her to be much more aggressive with Brett Kavanaugh.

Paul M. Collins, political science and director of legal studies, is interviewed about what questions are likely to be put to Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump’s nominee to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. (CNN, 9/3/18)

Collins also says that Brett Kavanaugh is avoiding answering questions during his confirmation hearings in a predictable pattern. Adding that it is odd that Kavanaugh hasn’t recused himself from any possible decisions about Trump’s assertion of executive power to issue pardons or to impede the special counsel’s investigation into the 2016 campaign. (Time, 9/6/18)