by Sarah Edmonds | 14 Mar 2025 | Decoders, Economy, Environment, Politics
A decade ago 195 countries gathered to find a way to slow climate change. Will the United States under Trump crash the “green economy” that the agreement promised? A gas station worker smiles and gives the thumbs up. (Credit: Minerva Studios) This article...
by Sarah Edmonds | 13 Nov 2024 | Decoder Replay, Educators' Catalog, History, Media Literacy
Trump faked his assassination attempt. Princess Di wasn’t killed in an accident. The moon landing never happened. Why do people believe disproven ideas? Activists demonstrate against 4G/5G cell towers in Los Angeles, California, 2 May 2020. (AP Photo/Damian...
by Sarah Edmonds | 19 Mar 2024 | Decoders, Economy, Politics
People vote with their wallet. But most are clueless about economic concepts. Do they cast votes based on misconceptions about money? A man shrugs in confusion against a blackboard covered with economic terms. (Photo illustration by News Decoder) This article was...
by Sarah Edmonds | 22 May 2023 | Climate decoders, Decoders, Educators' Catalog, Environment, Writing's on the Wall
In the movies, the solution for global disasters comes at the nail-biting end. Not so in real life. It won’t be The Rock that saves this rock we live on. Dr. Ally Hextall, played by Jennifer Ehle, tries to save the world from a virus in the movie Contagion. ...
In the fight against climate change, technology is often seen as a panacea that absolves corporations and individuals of the responsibility to act. The narrative reads as follows: with new technology, we can continue to live as we always have, without reducing consumption and waste. In this latest Decoder, correspondent Sarah Edmonds explains why this is not at all the case.
Exercise: The article decodes several types of climate technologies making headlines now, notably: nuclear energy, solar power, carbon capture, hydrogen and wind energy. Divide your class into five groups, each taking on one of these technologies to investigate. They should start with the information presented in the article, then conduct outside research online using reputable sources. Each group should then discuss the benefits and drawbacks of their assigned climate technology, and elect a spokesperson to share their findings with the class.
by Sarah Edmonds | 27 Jul 2022 | Decoders, Economy, Educators' Catalog
Inflation is one of the biggest worries for Gen Z and Millennials. Here’s why you need to care about rising interest rates — and what you can do. A tip box is filled with dollar bills, New York, 3 April 2019. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) For the first time in more...
On the same day the U.S. Federal Reserve raised interest rates by another 0.75%, News Decoder correspondent Sarah Edmonds delivered a decoder breaking down an economic issue that has an impact on us all, especially young people. Using engaging and informative language, Edmonds walks the reader through the history of interest rates, how we got to the position we’re in now and what options lie ahead. In a time when nearly half of Gen Z and Millennials live paycheck to paycheck, this decoder provides concise advice for smart financial planning.
Exercise: Ask students to look up the average cost of a house and the average interest rate in the year they were born. How does that compare to today’s averages?