History of the Recent Past: 2008 - 2026

Barack Obama made healthcare reform his primary domestic goal, passing the Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare.
Key provisions included expanded Medicaid, government-regulated insurance marketplaces, subsidies for low-income citizens, and coverage for preexisting conditions.
Expanded insurance coverage for young adults on parents’ plans until age $26$ .
The individual mandate required insurance or a penalty to stabilize prices, though Congress later eliminated this penalty.
Resistance fueled the Tea Party movement, which opposed government overreach and high taxes.
The Supreme Court ruled that the federal government could not force states to expand Medicaid, leaving millions uninsured in some states.

The $2010$ Supreme Court case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruled that political spending is protected speech under the First Amendment.
This allowed corporations, unions, and groups to spend unlimited sums on elections, leading to the rise of Super PACs.
Campaign spending rose from approximately $5 \text{ billion dollars}$ in $2008$ to $15 \text{ billion dollars}$ in $2024$ .
Major donors gained significant influence, such as Elon Musk, who spent roughly $290 \text{ million dollars}$ in $2024$ to support Donald Trump.

The introduction of the iPhone ( $2007$ ) and social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, TikTok) transformed news consumption.
Platforms use algorithms to maximize engagement through outrage and fear, creating political echo chambers.
By the early $2020s$ , Americans averaged $6.3 \text{ hours}$ daily on smartphones, leading to increased distrust in traditional institutions like universities and government agencies.
Donald Trump utilized Twitter and Truth Social to bypass traditional media and speak directly to supporters.

The Obama administration responded to the $2008$ financial crisis with stimulus packages and aid for banks (e.g., JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo) and the auto industry (GM, Chrysler).
The Federal Reserve used quantitative easing (printing money) to lower interest rates and stimulate growth.
While stock markets and corporate profits recovered, many faced stagnant wages and rising costs.
Economists described the $2020s$ as a K-shaped economy, where wealthy asset owners thrived while working-class citizens struggled with inflation and housing costs.
Trump's family wealth grew from an estimated $3.5 \text{ billion dollars}$ in $2016$ to over $65 \text{ billion dollars}$ by May $2026$ .

Obergefell v. Hodges ( $2015$ ) legalized same-sex marriage nationwide under the Fourteenth Amendment.
Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump reshaped the federal judiciary, appointing conservative justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.
In $2022$ , the Court overturned Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, ending constitutional protection for abortion rights.

Iraq and ISIS: Obama withdrew combat forces in $2011$ , but ISIS emerged in the resulting power vacuum, necessitating a $2014$ return. The war cost nearly $3 \text{ trillion dollars}$ .
Libya and Syria: A $2011$ NATO intervention in Libya led to the collapse of Muammar Gaddafi’s government and subsequent lawlessness. In Syria, Bashar al-Assad survived a civil war with assistance from Russia and Iran.
War in Ukraine: After Russia annexed Crimea in $2014$ , a full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in $2022$ , leading to massive NATO-coordinated aid and sanctions.
Afghanistan: Joe Biden completed the withdrawal in $2021$ , resulting in a rapid Taliban takeover.
2026 Iran War: Tensions over the JCPOA and proxy conflicts led to a full-scale war. On February $28$ , $2026$ , the U.S. and Israel struck Iran, killing its Supreme Leader.

Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris (who replaced Joe Biden) in both the Electoral College and popular vote.
Key issues included high inflation (groceries and housing), Biden's cognitive health, and surging border crossings.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, aimed to cut federal bureaucracy and employees.
Marco Rubio was appointed to multiple simultaneous roles, including Secretary of State and National Security Advisor.
Trump advocated for "America First" expansionism, including taking control of the Panama Canal and potential annexation of Greenland and Canada.

Question 1: Explain what the goals of the Affordable Care Act were, how it worked, what worked, and what didn’t.
Question 2: What was the reasoning that the Supreme Court used to justify the ruling in Citizens United ( $2010$ ) and how did that change U.S. elections?
Question 3: Do you believe it’s better for the U.S. to stop Russian expansion into Ukraine or to have the U.S. pull back its U.S. led system in Eastern Europe?
Question 4: Do you support President Trump's policies or not? Explain.
Question 5: Do you agree with Obama’s arguments for creating the TPP or Trump’s arguments for pulling the U.S. out of it? Explain.
Question 6: Do you believe that Trump was responsible for the January $6$ attacks on the Capitol, or do you think he was innocent? Explain.
Question 7: Explain what people mean when they say that the economy is "K-shaped".
Question 8: Do you think it’s okay to use military or economic force to take Panama, Canada, or Greenland? Explain.
Question 9: What does the U.S. hope to achieve with the Iran War and how likely do you believe that those objectives will be met?