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Miguel Cardona justified the Department of Education’s existence by characterizing it as a civil rights agency. Miguel Cardona speaks at the YPU on Feb. 3. (Credit: Michelle Zheng) Michelle ZhengManaging Editor, The Buckley Beacon On the evening of February 3, the Yale Political Union hosted the 12th Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona. He argued in the affirmative for the proposition: Resolved: Save the Department of Education.   The Department of Education’s existence has been called into question under the Trump administration, with the president signing an executive order directing the current Education Secretary, Linda McMahon, to dismantle the department with the eventual goal of closing it. The administration has reportedly disrupted over $12 billion o...

The former 2025 NYC mayoral candidate and founder of the Guardian Angels urged the audience to challenge authority. Sliwa makes his opening remarks at the YPU. (Credit: Emily Akbar) Emily Akbar Campus Reporting Editor, The Buckley Beacon On Tuesday night, the Yale Political Union hosted Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels and the recent Republican nominee for the New York City Mayoral Election. Sliwa argued in favor of the resolution “Act Before the State.”  Known for his iconic red beret, Sliwa’s look originates from the uniform of the Guardian Angels— a nonprofit organization he founded in 1979 that consists of volunteers dedicated to crime prevention. In recent years, Sliwa was a radio show host on WABC-AM, a NYC-based radio station. In the 2025 NYC mayoral race, Sliw...

At a YLS event last Tuesday, Daniela Urosa and José Ignacio Hernández discussed the possibility and potential challenges of a democratic transition in Venezuela. Professor José Ignacio Hernández addresses the audience. (Credit: Jason Cao) Jason CaoStaff Writer, The Buckley Beacon Last Tuesday, the Latin American Series at Yale Law School hosted a lecture by law professors Daniela Urosa and José Ignacio Hernández titled, “Venezuela: What Next?” The lecture discussed the challenges that Venezuela faces in the wake of recent U.S. intervention and the potential for Venezuela to transition to a democratic form of governance. Urosa is a professor at the Boston College Law School and the Founding Director of the Boston College Law International Human Rights Practicum. Hernández is a non-residen...

Bhaskar Sunkara, a democratic socialist political writer, advocated for expanding democracy in unconventional places at the first Yale Political Union debate of the semester last Tuesday. Sunkara at the Yale Political Union (Credit: Sygne Stole) Lucas MillerStaff Writer, The Buckley Beacon On Tuesday, January 20, democratic socialist and president of The Nation Bhaskar Sunkara visited the Yale Political Union (YPU) to debate the resolution “Everyone Should Govern.” Sunkara, 36, is the founding editor of Jacobin, a magazine which describes itself as “a leading voice of the American left, offering socialist perspectives on politics, economics, and culture,” according to a statement on its website. He is also the author of The Socialist Manifesto: The Case for Radical Po...

Steven “Destiny” Bonnell was challenged on his past remarks that made light of violence against conservatives, including Charlie Kirk. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Destiny debates a Yale student on December 3, 2025. (Credit: Destiny via YouTube) Lucas MillerStaff Writer, The Buckley BeaconOn Wednesday, Steven “Destiny” Bonnell, a popular and controversial political commentator and YouTube streamer, visited Yale at the invitation of Yale Effe...

Amid generational shifts toward socialism in the United States, Dr. Richard Wolff emphasized the need to study up on Marx’s economic and historical theories. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Dr. Richard Wolff on stage at the Yale Political Union on December 2, 2025. (Credit: Raleigh Adams) Raleigh AdamsOriginal Reporting Editor, The Buckley BeaconOn Tuesday, the Yale Political Union (YPU) concluded its fall 2025 programming with a visit by Dr. Richard Wolff, Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a renowned expert on Marxian economics. Wolff was invited to speak on the resolution, “Resolved...