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Robert Speel

Associate Professor of Political Science, Erie campus, Pennsylvania State University

Dr. Speel earned his Ph.D. from Cornell University and his B.A. from The University of Pennsylvania. His teaching and research interests include most aspects of American politics, including elections and voting behavior, state and urban politics, Congress and the Presidency, and public policy, as well as ethnic and racial politics and Canadian politics.

Penn State University Press published his book, Changing Patterns of Voting in the Northern United States, about the creation of the regional divide of Red States and Blue States in the United States.

He currently continues to research the development of regional movements and regional voting behavior in the United States and often speaks with media sources and to community groups about political campaigns and issues.

Dr. Speel is the recipient of 2008/09 Council of Fellows Excellence in Outreach Award and the 2006 George W. Atherton Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Pennsylvania continues tradition as ‘keystone state’ in presidential elections

Jul 21, 2024 16:30 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics

Pennsylvanias role as a swing state in presidential elections is a modern continuation of a characteristic noted as early as 1802. At a rally celebrating the election victory of President Thomas Jefferson, Pennsylvania was...

Measuring a president's first 100 days goes back to the New Deal

Apr 29, 2021 15:34 pm UTC| Politics

During Joe Bidens first 100 days in office as president, he has signed 11 bills into law. One was the prominent American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, intended to provide broad economic relief and increase distribution of...

US under Trump Series

Trump and the history of the 'First 100 Days'

Apr 20, 2017 02:26 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

The federal government is currently being funded by a continuing resolution that expires on April 28, 2017 which also happens to be the 99th day of Donald Trumps presidency. If Congress fails to approve a new spending...

US Election Series

Three common arguments for preserving the Electoral College – and why they're wrong

Nov 15, 2016 10:52 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

In November 2000, newly elected New York Senator Hillary Clinton promised that when she took office in 2001, she would introduce a constitutional amendment to abolish the Electoral College, the 18th-century,...

Economy

KOSPI Drops Nearly 5% as Samsung, SK Hynix Lead AI Stock Selloff

South Koreas benchmark KOSPI tumbled nearly 5% on Monday, extending losses after recording its worst monthly decline since the 2008 global financial crisis. Renewed selling in major semiconductor stocks erased much of...

Japanese Yen Rallies as Intervention Hopes and BOJ Outlook Weigh on USD/JPY

The Japanese yen extended its rally against the U.S. dollar on Monday, climbing nearly 1% as investors increased bets that Japanese authorities could launch another coordinated currency intervention with the United States...

Gold Prices Rise as Trump Delays Iran Strike, Oil Slumps

Gold prices edged higher on Monday after a sharp decline in oil prices eased inflation concerns, boosting demand for safe-haven assets. The rally came after U.S. President Donald Trump delayed a planned military strike...

Asian Stocks Slide as AI Selloff Hits South Korea, Oil Prices Drop on Iran Talks

Asian stock markets opened the week lower on Monday, with South Korea leading regional losses as renewed selling in artificial intelligence-related technology stocks overshadowed improving investor sentiment from easing...

US Stock Futures Rise as Trump’s Iran Talks Boost Market Sentiment Ahead of Key Earnings

U.S. stock index futures moved higher late Sunday after President Donald Trump announced that negotiations with Iran would begin on Monday, easing geopolitical concerns and lifting investor sentiment. The prospect of...

Politics

DOJ Rescinds Anti-Weaponization Fund Ahead of Todd Blanche Senate Confirmation Vote

The U.S. Justice Department has rescinded an order establishing the controversial Anti-Weaponization Fund just days before the Senate Judiciary Committee is set to consider Todd Blanches nomination for attorney general, a...

Former House Appropriations Chair Kay Granger Dies at 83

Former U.S. Representative Kay Granger, a longtime Texas Republican and the first Republican woman to chair the powerful House Appropriations Committee, has died at the age of 83, according to confirmation from her son,...

Taiwan Says U.S. Military Cooperation Is Stronger Than Many Realize

Taiwans military cooperation with the United States is stronger than many people realize, Defence Minister Wellington Koo said, highlighting expanding exchanges with the U.S. Pacific Command as Taipei works to strengthen...

Russian Border Drone Strike Kills Child in Belgorod, Injures Two Others

A Ukrainian drone strike in Russias Belgorod region killed a 13-year-old girl and injured two other children on Sunday, according to local Russian officials. The incident occurred near a playground in the border village of...

China Defends Industrial Policy Ahead of Key U.S. and EU Trade Talks

China is doubling down on its industrial-focused economic strategy as it prepares for high-stakes trade negotiations with the United States and the European Union, signaling little intention of making major policy changes...

Science

Blue Origin New Glenn Explosion Could Delay Launch Operations Until 2028

Blue Origin is facing a significant setback after a dramatic explosion involving its New Glenn rocket severely damaged a launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida. According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, repairs to the...

Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Launch Pad Test, Delaying Space Ambitions

Blue Origin suffered a major setback after its uncrewed New Glenn rocket exploded during a launch pad test in Florida on Thursday, raising new challenges for Jeff Bezos space company as it competes with Elon Musks SpaceX...

SpaceX Delays Starship V3 Launch Ahead of Potential Record IPO

SpaceX on Thursday postponed the highly anticipated launch of its 12th Starship rocket test from Texas after technical issues interrupted the final countdown. The company now plans to attempt the Starship V3 launch again...

Trump Administration Releases New UFO Files and Apollo Mission Records

The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified UFO-related files following an order from President Donald Trump, sparking renewed debate over unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and government...

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

Technology

Meta Cuts Wipro Outsourcing by 25% After AI-Led Restructuring

Meta Platforms has reportedly reduced the amount of IT work it outsources to Wipro Ltd by at least 25% following an artificial intelligence-driven restructuring that resulted in the closure of its digital marketing...

Alibaba Stock Jumps as Qwen 3.8-MAX AI Model Intensifies China's AI Race

Alibaba Group (HK:9988) shares climbed sharply on Monday after the company introduced Qwen 3.8-MAX, the newest version of its flagship artificial intelligence model, highlighting its growing ambitions in the rapidly...

SpaceX Earnings Preview: Bernstein Says 4 Key Factors Will Drive Long-Term Valuation

Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ: SPCX) is set to release its first quarterly earnings report on August 4, but Bernstein believes investors should focus less on the financial results and more on managements...

AI Data Center Boom Faces New Risks as Public Backlash and Policy Scrutiny Grow

Public opposition to large-scale data center construction is rising sharply, creating new challenges for the artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure boom, according to Wolfe Research. The firm identified growing voter...

T-Mobile Executives Reportedly Oppose $300 Billion Deutsche Telekom Merger

Senior executives at T-Mobile US have reportedly told parent company Deutsche Telekom that they do not support a proposed $300 billion merger between the two companies, citing shareholder resistance and potential...