IndependentPress

  Pluribus,” the highly anticipated Vince Gilligan series, premiered on Apple TV in fall of 2025, and has gone on to become Apple’s most watched show of all time. The reception to “Pluribus” is an impressive feat for the new, women-led show that was amusingly marketed under the logline: “The most miserable person on Earth must save the world from happiness.” Drawn largely by the acclaim of screenwriter and filmmaker Vince Gilligan , most of the show’s millions of viewers who tuned in had no certain idea of what they were getting themselves into.   “Pluribus” follows Carol Sturka (played by Rhea Seehorn) as an unhappy romance novelist who, up until the first episode, has led a normal life with her wife, Helen Umstead (played Miriam Shor). However, the outbreak of an alien virus changes everything. The virus merges the psyche of every human being into one collective hive mind thereby eliminating individual thought. Carol is one of thirteen surviving people who are immune to ...

C asablanca , one of the most well-loved films of all time, continues to stand out as a crown jewel of Hollywood’s Golden Age years after its release in 1942. A carefully crafted film, adapted from a play titled ‘Everybody Comes to Rick's’, and directed by Academy Award winner Michael  Curtiz ,   Casablanca  stars two of the most well-known actors of Old Hollywood, Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Star power notwithstanding, what makes  Casablanca  truly timeless are all the iconic lines and memorable moments in the movie that continue to infiltrate pop culture to this day. The film has been parodied by the likes of  The Simpsons  and Saturday Night Live and was an influence in the creation of  Star Wars: A New Hope.  You are likely familiar with the film’s iconic dialogue even if you have never seen it. During one of the movie’s most memorable moments, Rick Blain (played by Humphrey Bogart) affectionately tells Ilsa Lund (played by Ingrid...

  Over the last two decades, the cost of college tuition has risen dramatically, resulting in undergraduate education becoming less affordable and accessible for both lower-class and middle-class Americans. i  In fact, the cost of attending college has risen faster than the salaries and income levels of recent graduates. This discrepancy has led to more student debt and less college enrollment. Affordability in areas such as tuition, textbooks, housing, and meal plans all contribute to a student’s motivation to study at a specific program. Rising costs have made graduating from college less attainable for the average student. Quality education is part of the American Dream. Students should not have to struggle to fund higher education. Colleges, universities, and governments must seek ways to reduce tuition related costs and provide more opportunities (via scholarships, grants, etc.) to help alleviate the financial burden on students and ensure that younger generations are ...

Political polarization in America is a problem.  According to data from the Pew Research Center  in December 2025, Americans’ views of the federal government have grown more polarized with the recent administration —  44% of Democrats  were “angry” with the Trump administration, while  40% of Republicans  were “content” with its trajectory. As  the presidency continues to stoke controversy , the question of polarization in the United States is becoming increasingly relevant in today’s political scene. Why is political polarization so bad in America? Political polarization has a range of causes.  In an article from  Syracuse University Today , research director Johanna Dunaway argued that a population’s genuine discontent with its government’s policies can lay the groundwork for political polarization. When combined with income inequality, cultural divides between parties, and controversial legislation, partisan divides may become increasi...