Which is grammatically correct? mathematics is very hard, or are? are just seems off to me. can it be used too, or is it 'is'?

Article 1: article 2: valido accused of accepting bribes unpopular conservative senator raymond valido (r-louisiana) stands accused of accepting more than $1 million in campaign donations from the nosco oil company in exchange for his efforts to pass a bill. the bill would allow the company to build a massive oil pipeline that will span the entire east coast of the us. senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle are demanding valido release his campaign finance reports. “if valido did accept these contributions from nosco, he essentially accepted a bribe and is now fulfilling his part of the bargain,” said senator michelle saud (d-new hampshire). the federal election commission saw no evidence of unlawful conduct in valido’s fundraising. however, if the senator did accept contributions in return for legislative favors, he may be censured by the senate. what is the reporter’s motive in article 1? what is the reporter’s motive in article 2? which term from senator nelson’s quote in article 2 is an example of bias?