Scholars Strategy Network's No Jargon: Recent Episodes
The Scholars Strategy Network
No Jargon, the Scholars Strategy Network’s monthly podcast, presents interviews with top university scholars on the politics, policy problems, and social issues facing the nation. Powerful research, intriguing perspectives -- and no jargon. Find show notes and plain-language research briefs on hundreds of topics at www.scholarsstrategynetwork.org/nojargon. New episodes released once a month.
As the U.S. birth rate continues to decline, some politicians are calling for policies that encourage Americans to have more children, otherwise known as pronatalism—even as abortion access, contraception, and maternal health care face growing challenges. Professor Carolette Norwood explains what pronatalism is, why debates over population growth are often intertwined with race and immigration, and how these conversations intersect with reproductive justice and policy.
For more on this topic:
- Read an interview with Norwood in The Hilltop, Pronatalism and the Politics of Childbirth
- Check out her article, More than Abortion: Why Reproductive Justice Matters in Cincinnati Post-Roe, co-written with Thembi Carr and published in the Journal of Women, Politics & Policy
- Read her paper, Forced to Birth: A Case Study of Ohio's Six-Week Abortion Ban, Its Impact on Black Women in Cincinnati and Its Relevance for Reproductive Justice in Ohio and Beyond, published in Health Matrix: The Journal of Law-Medicine
College closures are becoming an increasingly common part of higher education, largely driven by declining enrollment, shifting federal funding, and rising operating costs. As more campuses face financial strain, what happens when a college can't survive on its own? Professor Mary Churchill shares the story of Wheelock College's merger with Boston University, widely viewed as one of the most successful mergers in higher education. She explains how leaders can protect a school's mission, support students and faculty through major change, and make difficult decisions before a crisis leaves them with no good options.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Churchill's book, When Colleges Close: Leading in a Time of Crisis, co-written with David Chard
Birthright citizenship has been part of the U.S. Constitution for more than 150 years, but why has it become the focus of such intense political debate in recent years? Professor Anna Law breaks down the Supreme Court's decision in Trump v. Barbara, explains what birthright citizenship actually means, and traces the long history of who gets to be an American. Drawing from her new book, she separates fact from fiction on immigration, citizenship, and the Constitution, and explains why understanding that history matters today.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Law's new book, Migration and the Origins of American Citizenship
- Read her blog post, I Read Trump v Barbara So You Don't Have To
- Read her Made by History essay in TIME Magazine, History Shows Why Birthright Citizenship is so Important
Conservative Christian women are often portrayed as followers in American politics, but sociologist Katie Gaddini says that stereotype misses the bigger picture. Drawing on the research from her new book, she explains how these women have become a powerful force on the American right, what motivates their political engagement, and how faith, motherhood, and social media shape their growing influence.
For more on this topic:
- Read Gaddini's new book, Esther's Army: The Christian Women Who Power the American Right
- Check out her commentary in TIME Magazine, The woman whose crusade gave today's book-banning moms a blueprint
For many Americans, contact with the criminal legal system comes with a hidden price tag. Without their knowledge, incarcerated people can often rack up large bills owed to the government to pay for the cost of their own incarceration. Sociologist Brittany Friedman explains how these "pay-to-stay" laws work, how civil lawsuits are used to collect that money after release, and why the push to reform these criminal legal fines and fees has drawn bipartisan support.
For more on this topic:
- Read the article mentioned in the episode, Civil Lawfare, co-authored by Friedman and published in the journal Social Problems
- Listen to her podcast, Exploitation Nation
- Check out her book, Carceral Apartheid: How Lies and White Supremacists Run Our Prisons
- Read her SSN key findings brief, Ending Modern-Day Slavery in California
No Jargon celebrates its 300th episode with a conversation about where American democracy and politics stand today, featuring the Scholar Strategy Network's new board chair, Mark Schmitt. Americans are increasingly frustrated with both the Democratic and Republican parties thanks to endless fundraising messages, political gridlock, and the sense that politicians don't represent the people. Schmitt makes the case that political parties are still a vital part of a healthy democracy and talks through the kinds of structural changes that could help rebuild trust and bring more people into the political process.
For more on this topic:
- Read the New America report co-authored by Schmitt, A Blueprint for Healthier Political Parties
- Check out New America's companion report, A Model for Associational Party Building
Pregnancy is often treated as a personal responsibility, but the effects don't stay personal. When expectant parents can't afford basics like stable housing or healthy food, it can have ripple effects for society. That's why some communities are trying a different approach: giving expecting parents direct cash support during pregnancy. Professor Ali Groves explains how these programs work, focusing on the Philly Joy Bank, and why receiving money with no strings attached can ease stress and help families during a critical period.
For more on this topic:
- Read Groves' analysis in The Gender Policy Report, Parenting is Expensive, Guaranteed Income May Help, co-authored with Libby Valdez and Yuan He
- Check out her op-ed in Penn Live, When Washington fails expecting mothers, Philadelphia shows a better way
The EPA's 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding has been the legal foundation for U.S. climate regulation under the Clean Air Act for over a decade. In February, the Trump administration repealed it. That move puts the future of federal climate policy in question. Professor Alejandro Camacho explains what the endangerment finding did and why it mattered for policies ranging from vehicle emissions to power plant rules. Drawing on his new book, he also puts this moment in context: showing how earlier waves of environmental policymaking took shape in the 1960s and '70s, and why today's approach is marked by polarization, legal battles, and uncertainty.
For more on this topic:
- Check out the book Camacho coauthored, Lessons for a Warming Planet: A Vital History of US Environmental Law
- Read his commentary in Legal Planet, The Trump Administration is Squandering Our Natural Heritage
- Read his op-ed in The Hill, Donald Trump's record-breaking race to wreck the planet
By now, most students who applied to college for the fall semester have received their decisions, bringing a mix of emotions, from excitement and relief to disappointment and uncertainty. For many, especially those turned away from top-choice schools, the admissions process can feel arbitrary and even unfair. Professor Julie Park breaks down what's changed for college applicants since the Supreme Court's 2023 decision restricting race-conscious admissions. She also explores the uneven return of standardized testing and how policy shifts are reshaping who gets into selective colleges and what schools can still do to make the process more fair.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Park's new book, Race, Class, and Affirmative Action: College Admissions in a New Era
- Read her op-ed in The Hechinger Report, There's a 'cascade effect' from the Supreme Court's affirmative action ban, and it's hurting Black and Latino students
- Read her essay in the Chronicle of Higher Education, Economic Diversity Is Ticking Up at Elite Colleges. Why?
Nutrition policy is back in the spotlight. Under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" agenda, the federal government has been especially vocal about and involved in what Americans eat, including policies that change what can be bought with federal benefits. Nutrition policy researcher Pasquale Rummo breaks down what the debate about ultra-processed foods is all about, how Americans' diets are shaped by both choice and policy, and what coming changes could mean for consumers and the food industry.
For more on this topic:
- Read Rummo's op-ed in The Hill, co-written with Jesse Strunk-Elkins: SNAP Benefit Cuts Will Leave Millions of Americans Overworked and Underfed
Housing costs keep rising across the United States, and policymakers are scrambling for solutions. In Congress, policymakers from across the aisle are advancing legislation aimed at encouraging more housing construction, based on the idea that increasing supply will help bring prices down. But what actually makes housing "affordable" and who benefits from the policies meant to fix the problem? Drawing on decades of research and experience working on housing issues in New York City, Professor Hilary Botein explains how politics and local housing markets affect who has access and why simply building more housing may not help people with the lowest incomes.
Six years after the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a global emergency, are we any better prepared for the next pandemic? Professor Joseph Harris reflects on what Covid revealed about the strengths and weaknesses of the U.S. public health system and the fragility of global cooperation. Drawing on his research on universal health coverage and AIDS treatment politics in countries such as Thailand and Brazil, he explains how politics and power shape who has access to care—and how professional and social movements can drive reform.
For more on this topic:
- Listen to Harris's podcast: The Global Health Politics Podcast
- Check out his commentary in The Conversation: What the US could learn from Thailand about health care coverage
Haitians living in the U.S. under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) are once again facing uncertainty. Though a federal judge intervened just a day before the Trump administration was set to end TPS for Haiti, thousands of families are still left not knowing what happens next. Professor Evan Auguste explains the emotional strain of living with the constant fear of losing legal status, and how history, trauma, and racism have shaped the mental health of Haitian immigrants. He also shares his work to help create a culturally rooted healing initiative that brings Haitian traditions into mental health spaces, and what this project can teach psychologists and policymakers alike.
For more on this topic:
- Read his opinion piece in the Haitian Times, How we hold Haiti's diasporic grief
- Check out his co-authored analysis in NACLA Report, To Save Haitian Lives, Global Health Leaders Call for Solidarity
A year into President Trump's second term, tariffs and trade disputes have once again become central to U.S. economic policy. Professor Menzie Chinn looks back at the biggest economic trends of the past year and explains how rising tariffs are shaping prices, business decisions, and household budgets. Drawing on his research and public writing, he breaks down what these changes mean for everyday affordability and long-term economic stability.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Chinn's blog, Econbrowser, about current economic conditions and policy
- Read his analysis in EconoFact, The U.S. Agricultural Sector Under Stress
The Trump administration has made changes to how the federal government approaches diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, using executive actions, funding rules, and legal challenges that are reshaping how colleges operate. In response, campuses across the country are reassessing these programs — some ending them, others renaming offices or pausing services as they navigate new legal and funding realities. Professor Anthony Hernandez shares what he learned from a listening tour across New Mexico, California, Texas, and Wisconsin, where he spoke with students and educators experiencing these shifts firsthand. He explains what's at stake for Hispanic-Serving Institutions and why these issues matter for college access, upward mobility, and the broader civic landscape.
For more on this topic:
- Read Hernandez's op-ed in USA Today: Trump education cuts quietly declare that opportunity should be rationed on race
- Check out his op-ed in the Chicago Tribune: America cannot compete globally if it undermines its own people
- Read his op-ed in The Fulcrum: Tennessee's Attack on Federal Support for Hispanic-Serving Colleges Hurts Us All
As we head into the holiday season, many nonprofits are entering their busiest time of year while uncertainty around government funding continues to loom. Professor Dyana Mason explains how President Trump's executive actions and funding freezes have disrupted essential services — from food programs to international aid — and what that means for the people who rely on them. She breaks down why so many nonprofits depend on federal dollars, what happens when that money suddenly disappears, and how political pressures are putting new strain on these organizations.
For more on this topic:
Read Mason's op-ed in The Conversation: Nonprofits that provide shelter for homeless people, disaster recovery help, and food for low-income Americans rely heavily on federal funding – they would be reeling if Trump froze that money, coauthored with Mirae Kim.
In the wake of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, millions of Americans are left wondering what comes next for their healthcare. Professor Miranda Yaver breaks down what fueled the shutdown, why the Affordable Care Act is once again under strain, and what rising healthcare costs will mean for families, healthcare providers, and entire communities. She also previewed her forthcoming book, Coverage Denied, which examines the impact of coverage denials to patient health.
For more on this topic:
- Read Yaver's op-ed in MSNBC: Republicans are trying to turn their attacks on Obamacare into self-fulfilling prophecies
- Read her SSN brief: How Health Insurance Denials Induce Administrative Burdens, and How to Fix It
- Check out her book, Coverage Denied: How Health Insurers Drive Inequality in the United States, which will be published March 2026
The criminal legal system often misunderstands—and mishandles—people with intellectual disabilities. Law professor Katie Kronick explains how and why these individuals so often fall through the cracks in a system built around efficiency and rigid rules. She breaks down the stakes with real examples, including a high-profile death penalty case now before the Supreme Court, and shares ideas for building a criminal justice system that recognizes and respects the needs of defendants with intellectual disabilities.
For more on this topic:
- Read Kronick's amicus brief for the Supreme Court case Hamm v. Smith
- Check out her essay in the Sentencing Matters Substack: Why is it So Hard for Courts to Adjust to Advancements in Knowledge of Human Behavior?
- Read her op-ed in the Baltimore Sun: The Criminal Legal System Is Failing People With Intellectual Disabilities
This Election Day is the perfect moment to look beyond the national headlines and focus on what's happening closer to home. As Americans head to the polls, Professor Brian Adams breaks down why state and local elections matter—from the mayors, town councils, and school boards shaping daily life to the policies that affect housing and public safety. He explains how voters make decisions with limited information in these races, the growing partisanship in local politics, and new initiatives aimed at reducing the influence of money in local elections.
For more on this topic:
- Read Adams's article in The Conversation, Local Elections Are Less Partisan Because Voters Will Cross Party Lines When Issues Hit Close to Home, coauthored with Edward L. Lascher Jr. and Danielle Martin
- Check out his book: Citizen Lobbyists: Local Efforts to Influence Public Policy
As access to abortion and contraception are curtailed across much of the U.S., Professor Lina-Maria Murillo explains that today's reproductive rights debates are part of a much longer story. Her research in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands show how race and power have always influenced who can get care and who cannot. She connects how earlier attempts to control women's bodies still shape current laws and discussions, and she shares what history can teach us about defending reproductive freedom now.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Murillo's book, Fighting for Control: Power, Reproductive Care, and Race in the US-Mexico Borderlands
- Read her perspective in the Washington Post: Before Roe v. Wade, U.S. residents sought safer abortions in Mexico
- Read her SSN brief: Reproductive Freedom along the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands
The number of people held in immigration detention centers in the U.S. has exploded in recent years, reaching record highs under multiple administrations. And thanks to the Republican-led budget bill that became law in July, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has seen a major influx of federal funding, further fueling the expansion of detentions. Professor Nancy Hiemstra explains how detention became a multi-billion-dollar industry, breaking down who profits, who pays, and how communities across the country, not just along the border, have become tied to detention economies.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Hiemstra’s book with co-author Deirdre Conlon, Immigration Detention Inc.: The Big Business of Locking up Migrants
- Read the op-ed they co-authored in Newsweek: People Will Die at Alligator Alcatraz
- Read their SSN brief: How Expanded Migrant Detention Drives Profiteering and Leads to Tougher Immigration Policies
Student loans are shaping the college experience more than ever. As tuition rises and financial aid rules keep changing, more students are taking on college debt. Professor Monnica Chan explains what’s happening with student loans, Pell Grants, and repayment plans, and how these choices affect students long after graduation. She discusses the real impact of debt on college affordability, career decisions, and family life—and what solutions could make paying for college less stressful.
For more on this topic * Listen to Chan speak about proposed federal student aid regulations: Nine Scholars Provide Public Comment at U.S. Department of Education Hearing on Student Loan Reforms * Read the piece she co-authored in The Conversation: 5 things to consider before taking out a student loan
Political maps decide who has a voice in government, and who doesn’t. And right now, big legal battles in Texas and California are putting redistricting in the spotlight. Professor Michael Latner breaks down the difference between redistricting and gerrymandering, why unfair maps weaken voters’ voices, and what today’s gerrymandering fights mean for the future of American democracy.
For more on this topic:
- Check out the book Latner co-authored, Gerrymandering the States: Partisanship, Race, and the Transformation of American Federalism
- Read his SSN brief: How Election Reforms Could Improve American Democracy
- Read the op-ed he co-wrote in the New York Daily News: How the Supreme Court Made Gerrymandering Worse
In the U.S., 2025 began with devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, followed by hundreds of tornadoes across the central states, and has recently been marked by catastrophic flooding in Texas and across the South and Midwest. These escalating weather disasters aren’t isolated events—they’re part of a global pattern in which climate change is making disasters worse, with the most vulnerable communities often getting hit hardest. Professor Farhana Sultana explains how the history of colonialism and ongoing inequalities shape who suffers most from climate disasters, both in the U.S. and around the world. Drawing from her experiences in Bangladesh and her global research, she makes the case for climate justice that addresses power dynamics, not just pollution.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Sultana’s book, Confronting Climate Coloniality: Decolonizing Pathways for Climate Justice
- Watch her interview with Al Jazeera about COP29: A New Era for Climate Finance
- Read an op-ed she co-wrote in The Guardian: In 2023 we’ve seen climate destruction in real time, yet rich countries are poised to do little at Cop28
On July 4, President Trump signed a sweeping new law that makes major changes to the social safety net—with serious consequences for families and children. Child and family policy expert Professor Taryn Morrissey breaks down the Republican-backed legislation, which slashes Medicaid, SNAP, and other key supports that millions of families rely on. She examines how the law shifts resources away from low-income and younger Americans—especially children—and toward wealthier, older households. Morrissey discusses how these changes could make inequality worse and what it would actually mean to put kids at the center of national policy.
For more on this topic:
- Read Morrissey’s recent opinion article published in The Hill: Trump’s Medicaid and SNAP red tape will devastate millions of Americans
- Read her op-ed published in The Progressive: GOP Tax Bill Will Hurt Children and Families
- Check out the book she co-authored, Cradle to Kindergarten: A New Plan to Combat Inequality
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Gun violence is down, but you wouldn’t know it from the headlines. This progress didn’t happen by accident—it’s at least partially the result of smart, targeted strategies that address the root causes of violence. Professor Daniel Semenza explains what’s working, drawing lessons from Camden’s dramatic shift from “murder capital” to record-low homicide rates, and what we stand to lose as federal support for violence prevention is being rolled back.
For more on this topic:
- Read Semenza’s op-ed in Common Dreams
- Check out a research paper he co-authored: In-person and media gun violence exposure in the United States
When Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed the entire federal vaccine advisory committee and installed new members, it raised alarms across the public health world. At the same time, measles is making a comeback as more Americans are hesitant about getting vaccines. Professor Lindsey Haynes-Maslow explains how we got here and what it will take to rebuild public trust. Drawing on her work in community-based health outreach, she shares why clear, consistent communication is critical for vaccine education and how local leaders and trusted messengers can help cut through the noise.
For more on this topic:
- Watch Haynes-Maslow’s video, “A Journey through Public Health: Health Policy,” produced by UNC’s Department of Health Policy and Management.
- Check out her work on immunization education and vaccine hesitancy at EXCITE.
Congress is in the middle of a high-stakes budget debate that includes fighting over tax policy and funding for many vital public programs. But what’s often missing from that budget debate is a focus on the people these decisions affect, especially kids. Professor Jean Junior explains how tax policy choices made on Capitol Hill directly affect health and well-being, and why taxes can be a powerful tool to improve health outcomes for everyone. Drawing from her experience as a pediatrician, Professor Junior challenges us to see policy choices through the eyes of a doctor by putting people’s well-being first.
For more on this topic:
- Read Junior’s SSN brief, Tax Policy as a Potential Tool for Reducing Infant Mortality.
- Check out her study, Association of State-Level Tax Policy and Infant Mortality in the United States, 1996-2019.
Under the Trump administration, major changes at key consumer protection agencies, including widespread staff cuts and rule rollbacks, are raising concerns about the future of efforts to curb unfair or deceptive financial practices. Professor Terri Friedline explains what’s been happening at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, why it matters, and how these shifts impact the people who can least afford to be left unprotected. And she draws on her research to highlight how the financial system has left many behind, despite the promises of new financial technologies.
For more on this topic:
- Read Friedline’s commentary about how financial technology firms prey on the poor in Truthout
- Check out her book, Banking on a Revolution: Why Financial Technology Won’t Save a Broken System
As Republican lawmakers push for major budget cuts, Medicaid is in the crosshairs. Professor Nicole Huberfeld breaks down why Medicaid matters to millions of Americans and what makes proposed changes—like work requirements and block grants—so complex and potentially harmful. She moves beyond policy details to explore the real-world impact: how budget cuts could hit the most vulnerable, put pressure on hospitals, and widen healthcare disparities between states.
For more on this topic:
- Read Huberfeld’s piece about the challenges of trimming Medicaid in The Conversation, co-authored with Paul Shafer.
- Explore her law casebook, The Law of American Health Care, co-written with Elizabeth Weeks Leonard, Kevin Outterson, and Matthew Lawrence.
Higher education is under fire—from attacks on DEI to threats against research funding, political pressure is mounting fast. While headlines often focus on elite and Ivy League schools, Professor Cecilia Orphan reminds us that regional public universities and rural institutions are also in the crosshairs. These essential but often-overlooked institutions serve diverse student bodies, support regional infrastructure, and anchor local communities. Orphan traces the roots of today’s political backlash and makes the case that if colleges want to keep serving the public good, they’ll need to get organized and push back, together.
For more on this topic:
- Read Orphan’s report on regional public universities in Third Way, co-authored with Mac Wetherbee.
- Read her key findings brief, Why Regional Comprehensive Universities are Vital Parts of U.S. Higher Education.
As the Social Security Administration faces a wave of staffing cuts and administrative shakeups, what’s at stake for the millions who depend on it? Brookings Institution economist Dr. Gopi Shah Goda discusses what these behind-the-scenes changes mean—and why some of the loudest political talking points about fraud and inefficiency don’t hold up. She also explores what is needed to keep the program strong amid looming financial shortfalls.
For more on this topic:
- Read Goda’s commentary about expanding Medicare’s in-home care coverage at the Brookings Institution.
As President Donald Trump’s second term unfolds, one big question looms: How resilient is American democracy? Professor Suzanne Mettler has spent years studying the forces that put democracy at risk and in this episode, she draws on her most recent book to share lessons from events across U.S. history that feel eerily relevant today. From Trump’s expanded executive power to deepening political divisions, she explores the forces that threaten American democracy, and what everyday citizens can do to push back.
For more on this topic:
- Read Mettler’s book, Four Threats: The Recurring Crises of American Democracy, written with Robert Lieberman at Johns Hopkins University.
- Check out her opinion piece about a disturbing plot against a Kansas Territory governor in TIME Magazine, co-authored with Robert Lieberman.
Political scientist Ryan LaRochelle stays post-interview to highlight a lesser-known but powerful chapter of the Watergate era. LaRochelle delves into the story of William S. Cohen, a Republican congressman from Maine who chose truth over party loyalty, helping hold President Richard Nixon accountable. Cohen’s moral courage offers timely lessons for navigating today’s deeply divided political landscape.
President Donald Trump kicked off his second term with a wave of executive actions, including efforts to shrink the federal government by gutting or entirely dismantling some federal agencies. While some of these moves are unprecedented, it’s not the first time a president has tried to unilaterally undermine a federal agency. Political scientist Ryan LaRochelle breaks down how President Richard Nixon attempted to shutter the Office of Economic Opportunity and the legal and political pushback he faced as a result. LaRochelle draws on this history to explain why presidents can’t slash federal programs on their own and how public and congressional resistance can help keep agencies intact.
For more on this topic:
- Check out LaRochelle’s opinion piece on Nixon’s failed attempt to shut down the Office of Economic Opportunity in TIME Magazine.
- Read an opinion piece he co-authored with Luisa Deprez about fears over Trump’s strategy to cut U.S. safety net programs in Common Dreams.
Discussions about immigration and deportation often focus on politics, policies, and legal battles. But what happens to the people at the heart of it all? Professor William Lopez shares the story of one family’s experience to illustrate the far-reaching consequences of deportation. He breaks down the emotional, health, and financial toll of these enforcement actions—not just on those directly affected, but on teachers, faith leaders, and entire communities caught in the ripple effects.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Lopez’s opinion piece on worksite raids in The Hill.
- Read his book, Separated: Family and Community in the Aftermath of an Immigration Raid.
Tariffs are often promoted as a way to protect American workers—but do they actually work? Dr. Erica Owen takes us through the fast-moving shifts in U.S. trade policy under President Trump and the ripple effects they’re having on businesses, workers, and consumers. Who benefits, who pays the price, and what happens next? From the backlash against globalization to the forces reshaping American jobs, Dr. Owen explains what’s at stake—and how policymakers can better support workers caught in the crossfire.
For more on this topic:
Read Owen’s SSN key findings brief, Why Protectionist Trade Policies Still Won’t Deliver for U.S. Workers.
Generative AI has sparked excitement, curiosity, and a lot of unease. For schools, is it a groundbreaking tool for education, or a high-tech shortcut some might call cheating? In this episode, Professor Justin Ballenger takes us on his journey from middle school science teacher to trailblazer in STEM teacher preparation. Along the way, he breaks down what generative AI is, how schools are using it today, and the game-changing ways it could transform learning in the future.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Ballenger’s opinion piece about AI in the classroom in Higher Education Digest.
- Read SSN’s member spotlight about how his work is shaping the future of education.
President Donald Trump has big plans for a second term in office. Among his proposals are sweeping cuts to the federal workforce, reducing federal spending on key programs, and potentially firing tens of thousands of federal workers and replacing them with political appointees. It’s a vision that promises to “drain the swamp,” but it could also drain the essential services that millions of Americans rely on.
From trimming federal programs to overhauling bureaucracy, these ideas sound bold on paper, but how feasible—or even practical—are they? And what might the real consequences be if such changes take shape? Professor Donald Moynihan shares his deep knowledge of how bureaucracies operate and separates fact from fiction to explore what Trump’s plans could mean for the future of the country.
With the holiday season upon us, many are looking forward to spending time with family—reconnecting, sharing traditions, and reflecting on what really matters. Dr. Alvin Thomas shares insights into what it means to be a dad today—especially for Black fathers who are navigating cultural, economic, and social challenges. He explains why involved fathers are so vital for children, how traditional views of masculinity are being redefined, and what cultural and policy changes are needed to better support fathers in showing up for their families.
For more on this topic:
- Listen to Thomas’s award-winning podcast at The Black Fathers' Pulse.
- Read his SSN key findings brief: Fatherhood: Supporting Healthy, Resilient, and Thriving Family Ecosystems
- Read his op-ed co-written with Tova Walsh about fathers and their needs in The Hill.
The re-election of President Donald J. Trump is certain to be scrutinized for years to come, but for many voters, the immediate aftermath brings emotions that are complex and deeply felt. In a candid conversation, Dr. Christina Greer, a political science professor at Fordham University, shares her reflections on the 2024 presidential election as an expert on American politics, Black ethnic politics, and campaigns and elections. Dr. Greer discusses the deep-seated forces—such as white supremacy and patriarchy—that cut across racial and gender lines to shape how people vote, and dives into what the next four years might hold for the U.S.
For more on this topic:
- Listen to Greer speak about political matters on the In The Thick podcast.
- Read her new book, How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams.
With the 2024 presidential election just around the corner, Professor Paul Gronke joins us for a conversation about the U.S. voting system. He shares insights into the challenges of election security, the increasing harassment faced by officials on the front lines, and how the "Stop the Steal" movement has shaken public trust. Can the current voting system handle threats to the election? And what reforms are needed to rebuild trust in our elections? Professor Gronke dives into these complexities and discusses what’s at stake for democracy in 2024.
For more on this topic:
- Visit the Elections & Voting Information Center for nonpartisan research on election administration.
- Check out Gronke’s opinion piece about the benefits of ranked choice voting in The Oregonian.
For this special guest episode of No Jargon, we’re diving into how the Scholars Strategy Network helps scholars turn research into impactful policy. SSN executive director Pao Maynard-Moll spoke with Robert Perkinson, an associate professor of American Studies at the University of Hawaii Manoa and co-leader of the Hawaii SSN chapter, for his Better Tomorrow Speaker Series podcast at the university. They explore how SSN connects academics with policymakers and communities, using real examples from Alabama and Maine to show the power of research in driving change.
For more on this topic:
- Listen to the Better Tomorrow Speaker Series podcast episodes.
- Read SSN’s Annual Report for the 2023-24 academic year.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, students and parents faced a lot of disruptions in their education experience, but student attendance has been a longstanding issue, especially in some urban areas. Factors like poverty, housing instability, and transportation issues contribute to high absenteeism rates. Professor Sarah Winchell Lenhoff discusses some of the reasons why some students miss so much school, the ways in which the pandemic has intensified these challenges, and shares some innovative strategies that are being implemented to address them.
For more on this topic:
- Read Lenhoff’s SSN memo: Attendance Incentives
- Read her policy report, co-written by Jeremy Singer, Walter Cook, and Ben Pogodzinski: Detroit’s Uniquely Challenging Context for Student Attendance
The first major storm of the 2024 season, Hurricane Beryl, made history by breaking multiple records and causing widespread devastation along its path. Many of these records were previously set in 2005, a year infamous for storms like Hurricane Katrina, which severely impacted New Orleans. Professor Elizabeth Fussell, a resident of the city at the time, was compelled to study the impact of Katrina. Drawing on this research, she shares insights on how extreme weather events impact communities and what we can learn from this storm, and others like it, to improve our responses as climate change makes these disasters more common and powerful.
For more on this topic:
- Read Fussell’s SSN policy brief: Time Does Not Heal All Wounds: Psychological Problems for Poor Mothers Five Years After Hurricane Katrina
- Check out her opinion piece on the connection between climate change and population growth in the Los Angeles Times
The dual challenges of mental illness and lack of affordable housing are pressing issues in this election year. In March, California voters narrowly approved Proposition 1, which allocates $6.4 billion to construct new housing and treatment facilities for people with mental illness statewide. But will this measure truly benefit this vulnerable population? Professor Neil Gong delves into the history of mental health treatment in the U.S. and how it has shaped our current system and policy conversations. He tells stories of people he met through his research to highlight the stark differences between mental health care available to the wealthy and the poor, and explores potential policy changes to address the intertwined challenges of homelessness and mental health.
For more of Neil Gong’s work:
- Read his recent book, Sons, Daughters, and Sidewalk Psychotics: Mental Illness and Homelessness in Los Angeles
- Check out his opinion piece on Proposition 1 in the Los Angeles Times
- Read his analysis on the Housing First strategy in The American Prospect
Misinformation seems to be everywhere. From falsehoods about the coronavirus to lies being spread by political leaders and their followers, in recent years it feels like it’s getting harder and harder to discern fact from fiction. And with social media and AI permeating our lives, new technologies only seem to be making the situation worse. Professor Ray Block dives into the world of misinformation, sharing lessons from his new position as the Michael D. Rich Distinguished Chair for Countering Truth Decay at the RAND Corporation about what’s behind the problem and what can be done to address it.
For more on this topic:
- Listen to this Call with the Experts podcast episode from the RAND Corporation, featuring Professor Ray Block.
- Check out this RAND Corporation Q&A on the end of Covid-19 public health emergency.
In March, the Justice Department filed a major antitrust complaint against Apple accusing the tech giant of maintaining a monopoly over the smartphone market. This is just the latest action the government has taken against Big Tech in recent years, marking a clear shift from the cozy relationship the industry long had with Washington. What’s behind the love/hate relationship between Big Tech and our government? And what can Silicon Valley’s past reveal about the way this might all play out going forward? In this archive episode, originally recorded in September 2021, Professor Margaret O’mara digs into the history of Silicon Valley – from its early beginnings to the days of the internet boom – to explain the Valley’s ever-present intersection with US politics and make sense of the recent shift.
For more of Margaret O’Mara’s work:
- Read her most recent book The Code: Silicon Valley and the Remaking of America.
- Check out her prior book, Cities of Knowledge: Cold War Science and the Search for the Next Silicon Valley
- Find her prior opinion pieces about the tech industry in The New York Times
Border crossings coming into the United States are at some of their highest levels in recent history. Cities like Chicago and New York are struggling to provide services while the immigration system is running out of funding and faces a massive backlog of asylum applications. The situation is looking tough for many asylum seekers, but what happens when individuals make it through the system and are granted refugee status?
Enter refugee resettlement agencies – organizations that provide food, shelter, and of course, job placement to newly arrived refugees. But according to sociologist Dr. Nicole Kreisberg, their current strategy of job placement is deeply flawed: prioritizing immediate yet low-wage work over long-term reliable employment. In this archive episode, originally released in August 2022, Kreisberg spoke to us about the harms of this strategy and what needs to be done to truly support incoming refugees.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Nicole Kreisberg’s SSN brief, co-written by Els de Graauw and Shannon Gleeson: Refugee Settlement Should Look Beyond First Job Placements
- Read their research paper: Explaining Refugee Employment Declines: Structural Shortcomings in Federal Resettlement Support
Martin Luther King Jr. holds a special place in the American consciousness and is one of the few people to have a federal holiday celebrating his legacy. But what exactly is MLK’s legacy? From immigrants rights groups to gun rights activists to politicians, the history of the civil rights movement and MLK’s work and words have long been used, and contested, by many different people. Drawing from her new book, Professor Hajar Yazdiha explained why MLK holds such a prominent place in our shared memory, how politicians and social movements have used his legacy for their own causes, and how all this has impacted policy decisions.
For more on this topic:
- Read Yazdiha’s book, The Struggle for the People’s King: How Politics Transforms the Memory of the Civil Rights Movement
- Check out her opinion piece in TIME Magazine, The Problem With Comparing Today’s Activists to Martin Luther King Jr.
From healthcare strikes to auto workers strikes to the Writers Guild and Hollywood actors strikes, 2023 was an eventful year for union activity. Professor Nathan Wilmers examined the implications of that activity and what it may mean for the future of the labor movement as employees fight for fair wages, equality, and protection in the workplace. Importantly, Professor Wilmers highlighted the history of the labor movement over the past few decades – as it may provide some answers for the future.
For more on this topic:
Read Wilmers’ paper, co-written by Maxim Massenkof: Economic Outcomes of Strikers in an Era of Weak Unions.
Read his SSN policy brief: Does Union Activism Actually Raise Wages?
Since the emergence of ChatGPT in late 2022, new artificial intelligence models have captured the attention and fascination of the world. Some Americans are still acquainting themselves with the tools while for others, these models are already becoming an essential part of their workplace. Professor Jim Samuel explained what generative AI is, how it functions, and its ethical concerns. Importantly, Professor Samuel laid out why AI tools like ChatGPT require more transparency and regulation–and what that should look like.
For more on this topic:
Read Samuel’s SSN policy brief: The Critical Need for Transparency and Regulation Amidst the Rise of Powerful Artificial Intelligence Models.
Read his other SSN brief: A Call for Proactive Policies for Informatics and Artificial Intelligence Technologies.
While news over Britney Spears’s 13-year conservatorship turned what was a largely unfamiliar term into one most Americans now know, involuntary care over adults with certain types of disabilities or severe mental illness is nothing new in the United States. In fact, the contentious battle between civil rights and health care needs goes back decades. Professor Alex V. Barnard explained the history of conservatorships in the state of California, examined the government’s role in overseeing involuntary care, and proposed ways the conservatorship system can be improved for those it seeks to help.
For more on this topic:
Check out Barnard’s recently published book, Conservatorship: Inside California’s System of Coercion and Care for Mental Illness.
Read his OpEd on this topic: California needs new rules as it forces more mentally ill people into treatment.
With abortion bans passing in states all over the country since the overturn of Roe v. Wade, women experiencing miscarriages have been turned away from hospitals because doctors deemed that they weren’t in enough clear danger to receive abortion care. Meanwhile, many women experiencing fibromyalgia continue to have their social security disability claims denied because they are not able to provide concrete evidence that their condition severely disrupts their quality of life. According to Professor Dara Purvis, what links these two examples is that many doctors do not believe women who say they are in pain. She explained the role that courts can play on this issue and laid out what needs to happen so women’s pain does not continue to be ignored.
For more on this topic:
Check out Purvis’s OpEd: All the Ways Alito’s Opinion Might Criminalize Pregnancy
Read her law review journal article: Clinical Evidence as Gendered: Fibromyalgia Social Security Disability Claims
According to a recent, federal report, while racial diversity is at an all time high in the K-12 public school system, racial inequality and segregation on school campuses persists, and continues to increase. Professor Erica Frankenberg broke down what racial segregation has looked like for marginalized students over the past few decades, what needs to be done to combat ongoing segregation, and how the recent Supreme Court decision on college admissions directly impacts this pressing issue.
For more on this topic:
Check out Frankenberg’s recent OpEd, co-written with Genevieve Siegel-Hawley: Social Science Explains Why K-12 Integration Efforts Should Continue.
Read her paper, co-written by Jongyeon Ee, Jennifer B. Ayscue, and Gary Orfield: Harming Our Common Future: America’s Segregated Schools 65 Years After Brown.
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) was signed into law almost one year ago, but Americans are still learning how this giant legislative package impacts them. With provisions targeting different sectors of the economy, the IRA has focused most prominently on clean energy investments, prescription drug pricing, and funding for the IRS. And to learn what research can tell us about these major provisions, we spoke to experts who study each of these issue areas. Professor Matto Mildenberger took on the climate provisions, Professor Soumitra Bhuyan discussed health care, and Vanessa Williamson analyzed the increase in IRS funding. Enjoy this jam-packed special edition of No Jargon to celebrate 250 episodes!
For more of Matto Mildenberger’s work:
Check out his book Carbon Captured: How Business and Labor Control Climate Politics.
For more of Soumitra Bhuyan’s work:
Read his paper, co-written by Shiyanbola O, Deka P, Isehunwa OO, Chandak A, Huang S, Wang Y, Bhatt J, Ning L, Lin WJ, and Wyant D: The role of gender in cost-related medication nonadherence among patients with diabetes.
For more of Vanessa Williamson’s work:
Read her book, Read My Lips: Why Americans are Proud to Pay Their Taxes
In an annual report, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development found that over half a million Americans were experiencing homelessness on a single night in 2022. According to Professor Megan Welsh Carroll, racial discrimination, criminalization, and of course, the high cost of housing all contribute to this growing crisis. And while progress is being made, many critical public services remain out of reach for this group, including one that has led to serious public health issues: a lack of public restrooms. As the director of San Diego State University’s Project for Sanitation Justice, Welsh Carroll explained what her team is doing to combat this specific problem in San Diego and how their work can serve as a model in other parts of the country.
For more on this topic:
Read Welsh Carroll’s OpEd in the Los Angeles Times: California cities don’t have enough public bathrooms. Here’s one solution
Read her SSN policy brief, co-authored by Jennifer Kate Felner and Jerel Pasion Calzo: Increasing Access to Public Bathrooms is Critical for San Diegans’ Health
Read her policy brief on the criminalization of the unhoused: Why Cities Must End Their Reliance on Police to Manage Homelessness – and How They Can Do it
2023 marks 50 years since the beginning of mass incarceration in 1973, when the U.S. prison population started increasing every single year for nearly four decades, according to Professor Nazgol Ghandnoosh. Ghandnoosh, who works for The Sentencing Project, shared some sobering numbers: today, over five million people are under supervision by the criminal legal system, and nearly two million people, disproportionately Black, are living in prisons. During this conversation, she delved into the different costs of incarceration – both on the incarcerated and on our society – and highlighted efforts needed to bring down our prison population.
For more on this topic:
Check out Ghandnoosh’s brief for the Sentencing Project, Ending 50 Years of Mass Incarceration: Urgent Reform Needed to Protect Future Generations
Read her report on racial disparities in the prison system: Black Lives Matter: Eliminating Racial Inequity in the Criminal Justice System
In states across the country, a flurry of new laws are being considered, and often passed, that specifically target transgender individuals – from bills that bar access to gender-affirming healthcare for youth to legislation that bans transgender people from competing in athletics. Professor Zein Murib shared where things stand, why transgender people have become the focus of so much legislative activity, and what these laws mean for the future of the LGBTQ+ movement and American society as a whole.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Murib’s forthcoming book, Terms of Exclusion: Rightful Citizenship Claims and the Construction of LGBT Political Identity
- Read their OpEd for Teen Vogue, Expect More Right-Wing Anti-Trans, Anti-"Critical Race Theory" Pushes in 2023 – and 2024
- Find the book, Testosterone: An Unauthorized Biography, mentioned in the episode
Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Americans may at times feel as though they’re invisible. An estimated 3 million of them live in the U.S. yet have no box to mark their identities on government forms, such as the Census, and other surveys. Professor Neda Maghbouleh, who has spent years studying the exclusion faced by MENA Americans, laid out how the misrepresentation of their race impacts their lives. She explained what steps need to be taken to increase visibility for those who fall in the MENA category as well as what changes are already underway – thanks to efforts by Magbouleh and her colleagues René D. Flores and Ariela Schachter.
For more on this topic:
Check out Neda Maghbouleh’s OpEd in Newsweek, coauthored by René D. Flores and Ariela Schachter: 5 Years After Muslim Ban, Middle Eastern and North African Americans Remain Hidden.
Read an interview with Maghbouleh conducted by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights: Why a MENA Category Matters.
In the American school system, math and science are considered essential building blocks of a good education. But for many students, those building blocks can topple over somewhere along the way. We spoke to Professor Lara Perez-Felkner, who laid out invisible barriers faced by racially minoritized and economically disadvantaged students pursuing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). Perez-Felkner discussed ways that school administrators, policymakers, and families can come together to remove these barriers and increase opportunity – all the way from kindergarten classrooms to college laboratories.
For more on this topic:
Check out Lara Perez-Felkner’s SSN brief: Transforming Opportunity to Support STEM Success for All.
Read her paper, co-authored by Samantha Nix: Difficulty Orientations, Gender, and Race/Ethnicity: An Intersectional Analysis of Pathways to STEM Degrees
Gone are the days of file cabinets, wall calendars and phone books, as advances in technology have made storing information easier than ever. But given a slew of high-profile data breaches in recent years – both at governmental agencies and private companies – cybersecurity is quickly becoming one of the most pressing issues facing our country. How can our government better protect against increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks? And how might these data breaches impact the lives of everyday Americans? Professor Jeremy Straub answered these questions and more, emphasizing what needs to happen to prevent a truly catastrophic data breach – and what such a breach could mean for the world.
For more on this topic:
Check out Jeremy Straub’s SSN brief: Cybersecurity Incidents Can Be Unwelcome Wakeup Calls for Unprepared Agencies.
Read his paper: Defining, Evaluating, Preparing for and Responding to a Cyber Pearl Harbor.
According to the CDC, more than 107,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in 2021. And a record-breaking 627 of those deaths occurred in the state of Maine. Substance use disorder is seen as a public health emergency by the medical community – but drug arrests continue to increase all over the country. In light of these developments, professor of political science Rob Glover, alongside his colleague Karyn Sporer (professor of sociology), set out to discover Mainers’ attitudes about current drug policy in their state and what reforms they favor. Professor Glover shared these eye-opening findings with us – as well as its policy implications.
For more on this topic:
Check out Rob Glover and Karyn Sporer’s OpEd published in the Kennebec Journal: Maine Voters Want a New Approach on Drug Policy.
Read an overview of their findings.
With the midterm elections around the corner, all eyes are on the record-breaking number of Black female candidates on the ballot. We spoke to professor of government Nadia E. Brown, who shared her research on what’s contributing to the rising numbers of Black women seeking office. During the conversation, Professor Brown explored what the combined identity of being Black and female means for those who enter into politics and ways in which prior political participation becomes a key motivator for them to run for office.
For more on this topic:
Check out Nadia E. Brown’s book, Sisters in the Statehouse: Black Women and Legislative Decision Making.
Read her paper, coauthored by Jamil Scott, Lorrie Frasure, and Dianne Pinderhughes: Destined to Run?: The Role of Political Participation on Black Women’s Decision to Run for Elected Office.
Read her SSN brief: What’s Hair Got to Do With It? Black Women’s Bodies and the Traditional Look of Success in American Politics.
With rent prices and mortgage rates continuing to skyrocket, finding and keeping stable housing is getting increasingly challenging for many Americans. But according to sociology professor Prentiss Dantzler, those challenges are amplified for members of marginalized groups, such as Black Americans. Professor Dantzler spoke to us about the ways racial discrimination persists in the housing market, despite laws - such as the Fair Housing Act of 1968 - that were put into place decades ago to prevent it. He emphasized that having a home should not be viewed as a privilege, but rather a human right, and offered policy solutions to help achieve that vision.
For more on this topic:
Read Prentiss Dantzler’s paper, Making Our Way Home: Housing Policy, Racial Capitalism, and Reparations.
Check out a paper written by two of his colleagues, Elizabeth Korver-Glenn and Junia Howell, mentioned in the episode: The Increasing Effect of Neighborhood Racial Composition on Housing Values, 1980-2015.
Millions of Americans are poor, food insecure, housing cost-burdened, or medically uninsured. This is where the U.S. social safety net comes in – with programs like Medicaid, food stamps, and unemployment insurance – to catch their fall. But how many experience a smooth landing? And how can society provide tangible relief to those who miss the net entirely? We sought answers from professor of public policy Chris Howard, who broke down what’s included when we talk about the “social safety net” and proposed ways to mend the gaping holes.
For more on this topic:
Check out Chris Howard’s new SSN brief: A Realistic Portrait of the Social Safety Net
Pre-order his forthcoming book, Who Cares: The Social Safety Net in America
Millions of Americans are poor, food insecure, housing cost-burdened, or medically uninsured. This is where the U.S. social safety net comes in – with programs like Medicaid, food stamps, and unemployment insurance – to catch their fall. But how many experience a smooth landing? And how can society provide tangible relief to those who miss the net entirely? We sought answers from professor of public policy Chris Howard, who broke down what’s included when we talk about the “social safety net” and proposed ways to mend the gaping holes.
For more on this topic:
Check out Chris Howard’s new SSN brief: A Realistic Portrait of the Social Safety Net
Pre-order his forthcoming book, Who Cares: The Social Safety Net in America
The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the war in Ukraine have brought an increased number of refugees to America over the past year. Enter refugee resettlement agencies – organizations that provide food, shelter, and of course, job placement to newly arrived refugees. But according to sociologist Dr. Nicole Kreisberg, their current strategy of job placement is deeply flawed: prioritizing immediate yet low-wage work over long-term reliable employment. Kreisberg spoke to us about the harms of this strategy, and what needs to be done to truly support incoming refugees.
For more on this topic:
Check out Nicole Kreisberg’s SSN brief, co-written by Els de Graauw and Shannon Gleeson: Refugee Settlement Should Look Beyond First Job Placements
Read her recent paper, also co-written by Els de Graauw and Shannon Gleeson: Explaining Refugee Employment Declines: Structural Shortcomings in Federal Resettlement Support
The US Supreme Court has a long history of firmly defending its philosophy of neutrality and did the same for the recent and historic overturn of Roe. Wade. But according to law professor Cedric Merlin Powell, the Court’s neutral stance on cases impacting marginalized groups – including women and communities of color – ignores inequalities and in doing so, worsens them. Professor Powell sat down to speak with us about the serious harms caused by a judicial branch whose decisionmaking ignores the realities of racism, sexism, and other oppressive forces in our society.
For more of Cedric Merlin Powell’s work:
Check out his SSN brief: How Race-Neutral Rulings by the Supreme Court Perpetuate Inequalities
Pre-order his forthcoming book , Post-Racial Constitutionalism and the Roberts Court
Last but not least, SSN is excited to highlight a new podcast series, When the People Decide, by The McCourtney Institute for Democracy at PennState. In this series, Jenna Spinelle tells the stories of activists, legislators, academics, and average citizens who changed their cities, states, and the country by taking important issues directly to voters — like Medicaid expansion in Idaho, sentencing reform in California, and LGBTQ workplace protections in Ohio.
More and more Americans are facing massive student debt and daunting payment plans once the federal pause on loan payments runs out. But this burden is not spread evenly, and neither are the challenges of paying it off. In this episode, we spoke to Associate Professor of Public Policy Fenaba Addo about who is really facing a student debt crisis, what contributes to student debt accumulation, and how race and family wealth factor into it all.
For more of Fenaba Addo’s work:
- Check out her report on this topic: Ensuring a More Equitable Future: Exploring and Measuring the Relationship Between Family Wealth, Education Debt, and Wealth Accumulation
- Listen to her on an episode of PitchFork Economics titled Why Should We Cancel Student Debt?
Millennials are often seen as a progressive-minded generation – as 80’s and 90’s kids, they grew up in a digital landscape that exposed them to a diversity of perspectives. But while expectations were high that this generation would be on the frontlines in the fight for racial equality, recent research by Associate Professor of Political Science Candis Watts Smith paints a different picture. During our conversation, Professor Smith discussed how white millennials’ really think about race and the ways in which their views and beliefs have largely halted progress for Black Americans and other racial minorities in the United States.
For more of Candis Smith’s work:
Check out her book on this research, Racial Stasis: The Millennial Generation and the Stagnation of Racial Attitudes in American Politics
Read her latest book Stay Woke: A People’s Guide to Making All Black Lives Matter
Listen to her podcast, Democracy Works, to hear interviews with experts who study all different aspects of what it means to live in a democracy.
Conversations around climate change often focus on the consumption habits of everyday people: the cars we drive, the food we eat, our electricity bills. But according to geography professor Matt Huber, the carbon footprints of consumers are not what we should be so concerned about, despite all the rhetoric. During our conversation, Professor Huber focused on what (and who) he argues are largely responsible for our alarmingly high rate of carbon emissions – and offered solutions.
For more of Matt Huber’s work:
Check out his new book coming out on May 10th: Climate Change as Class War
Read his opinion article on this topic published in Jacobin: Rich People are Fueling Climate Catastrophe – But Not Mostly Because of Their Consumption
The 2020 presidential election brought disinformation – defined as false information with the intent to mislead – to the forefront of public conversation. Subsequent events, such as the January 6 riot, reveal the serious danger disinformation can pose to democracy. To learn more about the far-reaching consequences of digital disinformation, we spoke with nationally recognized election law expert Rick Hasen, a Professor of Law and Political Science at University of California, Irvine. During the conversation, Professor Hasen shared tangible solutions to combat the rise of disinformation campaigns during US elections. For more of Rick Hasen’s work: Check out his new book coming out on March 8th Cheap Speech: How Disinformation Poisons Our Politics – and How to Cure It
Read another one of his recent books on this topic Election Meltdown: Dirty Tricks, Distrust, and the Threat to American Democracy
The postpartum experience can be challenging enough for American mothers in normal times, but add a pandemic to the equation, and you may be left with a postpartum nightmare. To better understand what the birthing and postpartum experiences looked like in the early days of the pandemic and how the current Omicron surge mirrors those early days for new mothers, we spoke with Dr. Tova Walsh, an Assistant Professor of social work at the University of Wisconsin. Dr. Walsh has spent the last two years interviewing women who gave birth in the earliest days of the pandemic - an experience she shares with her research subjects. She explained the challenges these new mothers faced and laid out policy recommendations to improve postpartum care going forward. For more of Tova Walsh’s work:
Check out her recent opinion article published in NBC News: As COVID surges, health officials must remember that in-person postpartum care is essential
Listen to her interviews about the experience of early parenting during the pandemic, on Wisconsin Public Radio and Slate’s parenting podcast.
Amidst the dizzying onslaught of crises facing the nation – and the world – over the past several years, we are starting the new year by reflecting on how Americans react and respond to traumatic events, both as individuals and as groups. How do frightening circumstances facing our communities impact us psychologically? Why does so much disparity exist in the ways we process the same harmful events? How can we connect and find unity amidst all the chaos? These are some of the questions we explored with Dr. Maurice Stevens, a professor of comparative studies whose critical trauma theory research focuses on ways individuals and communities react to overwhelming events.
For more of Maurice Stevens’s work:
Check out their SSN brief on this topic: Getting Beyond Trauma.
Read a similar piece they published in Oppositional Conversations titled Contesting Catastrophes.
Tribal communities are entitled to federally funded healthcare under treaties signed with the U.S. government. And yet, Native Americans often struggle to access quality healthcare, creating health disparities that take a tremendous toll on their lives . In this episode, research scientist Dr. Emily Haozous explains what those health disparities have looked like over the past few decades, where they stand now, and what needs to be done to better meet the health needs of tribal communities.
For more of Emily Haozous’s work:
Read her SSN brief on this topic: Challenges on the Horizon for Native American Sovereignty and Healthcare
Learn about some of her past research on the health needs of the Native population in Santa Fe, in The Santa Fe Reporter.
The decades-long childcare crisis in America -- worsened by the pandemic -- continues to deepen: parents all across the nation have been facing immense challenges in finding quality, affordable childcare, all while childcare providers continue to deal with poor working conditions and cripplingly low wages. This month, we spoke to labor economist Mary King, who focuses on the public provision of high quality preschool and childcare. During our conversation, Dr. King offered a detailed examination of the crisis and explained the many advantages of creating a universal preschool program.
For more of Mary King’s work:
- Check out her article in The American Prospect: On Universal Preschool, Multnomah County, Oregon, Moves to the Head of the Class
Read her three SSN briefs on this topic: New Preschool Program in Oregon is a Model for the Nation -- But Challenges Remain, The Labor Force for Needed Investments in Public Childcare Already Exists, and To Address the Childcare Crisis, Talk to Low Wage Moms
With a near-total abortion ban that was recently passed in Texas and Mississippi’s request to overturn Roe v. Wade making its way to the Supreme Court, many are asking what the uptick in abortion restrictions in the US will mean for reproductive health and justice. On this latest episode, Professor Amanda Stevenson draws on her new research to show how abortion bans lead to an increase in pregnancy-related deaths and steps policymakers can take to expand greater access to reproductive health services.
For more on Amanda Stevenson’s research and this topic:
Check out her latest opinion piece published in Salon: Pregnancy is Much More Dangerous Than Abortion -- Meaning Abortion Bans Like Texas’ Will Be More Deadly
Take a look at the CDC”s Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System page that provides stats on pregnancy-related deaths.
Join us for the official relaunch of the No Jargon Podcast! For our first episode since our eleven-month hiatus, we take on Big Tech and government. Tech giants like Amazon and Facebook have been in the news a lot lately, especially after the House Judiciary Committee approved several antitrust bills this past summer that aim to curb the power of the tech industry. We decided to have a conversation with Margaret O’Mara, a renowned historian who has spent most of her career examining the love/hate relationship between Big Tech and government. Dr. O’Mara shares colorful stories about Silicon Valley – from its early beginnings to the days of the internet boom – all while explaining the Valley’s ever-present intersection with US politics. She takes us on a journey through the ups and downs of the intensely eventful relationship between the two.
For more of Margaret O’Mara’s work:
- Read her most recent book The Code: Silicon Valley and the Remaking of America.
- Check out her opinion pieces about the tech industry in The New York Times.
The 2020 election is quickly approaching and there is no lack of challenges for election administrators to overcome. From a pandemic that’s made finding poll workers difficult, to a massive influx of vote-by-mail ballots that are likely to delay results, to perhaps the biggest challenge of them all: the false rhetoric coming from the White House around the validity of the entire process. In this special episode, Professor Thessalia Merivaki lays out how election administrators are addressing these challenges, what we can expect come November, and what types of voter suppression to watch out for.
For more on this topic:
- Read Merivaki’s piece in The Conversation, Poll workers on Election Day will be younger – and probably more diverse – due to COVID-19
- Read her piece in Forbes, Building Civic Engagement Capacity From The Ground: Voter Registration On College Campuses
- Check out her SSN brief, What Provisional Ballots Tell Us about the Remaining Challenges in America's Local Voting Systems
- Find her new book, The Administration of Voter Registration: Expanding the Electorate Across and Within the States
No Jargon is back for a special episode featuring Dr. Emma Sandoe. Medicaid has become the largest source of health care coverage in America. Just this year, even more states expanded their Medicaid programs, meaning that this trend is only going to continue. And yet, many people still don’t know much about this program. Dr. Sandoe explains how we got here, what lessons we can learn from the history of this program, and what the future of Medicaid looks like amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Sandoe’s article mentioned in the interview, How Foundational Moments In Medicaid’s History Reinforced Rather Than Eliminated Racial Health Disparities
- Read her other public writing at the Health Affairs Blog
Since the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police at the end of May, the United States has been rocked by weeks of nationwide protests against police brutality, and it doesn’t look like they’re going anywhere anytime soon. Professor Vesla Weaver dives into how this movement is different from protests of the past, what brought us to the current situation, how our nation’s police system has affected Black and Brown people’s lives and understanding of our democracy, and what to make of calls for changes, such as abolishing the police.
For more on this topic:
- Check out the Portals Policing Project and the research coming out of it
- Read Weaver’s pieces in The Washington Post and Vox
- Find her two SSN briefs, How Harsh Policing and Mass Imprisonment Create Second-Class American Citizens and How Mass Imprisonment Burdens the United States with a Distrustful Civic Underclass
Note: This episode includes some explicit language.
The 2020 election was already shaping up to be one of the most consequential and contentious in recent memory, and then came the COVID-19 pandemic. While much about the future is uncertain, we know this: the election cannot be run as originally planned. Professor Amel Ahmed lays out what policymakers can do to ensure that all voters can exercise their right to vote, what research can tell us about these various proposals, and how we can ensure that the public knows everything they need to vote before November comes.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Baker’s policy recommendation, Ensure Safe Elections for All
- Read her SSN brief, When Election Rules Undermine Democracy
Even at the best of times, accessing abortion care in the United States can be an arduous process. During a pandemic, the challenges only mount further. Clinics are closed down and, in some places, politicians have begun using COVID-19 to block abortion, calling it “nonessential” healthcare. Professor Carrie Baker explores whether telemedicine abortion could provide a solution, what barriers exist to implementing it, and what this all means for the future of reproductive rights in the United States.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Baker’s policy recommendation, Increase Access to Abortion Pills via Telemedicine
- Read her column in Ms. Magazine
In cities and towns across the country, protests have erupted following the police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and others. While many of the protests remained peaceful, others turned violent, with buildings being destroyed or looted and clashes breaking out between the police and protestors. In this archive episode, Professor Ashley Howard explains the history behind these protests, why protests sometimes turn violent, how governments often respond, and what the role of social media is in all of this.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Howard’s interview in The Chronicle of Higher Education and her multiple pieces in The Black Scholar.
- Read her SSN brief, How U.S. Urban Unrest in the 1960s Can Help Make Sense of Ferguson, Missouri, and Other Recent Protests
This episode originally aired on February 14, 2017.
Being a college student can be stressful enough, but when you’re an undocumented immigrant, there are many additional hurdles in your way. Dr. Sayil Camacho unpacks what it’s like to be an undocumented student at our nation’s colleges and universities, what more university administrators and faculty can do to support them, and how DACA and the upcoming Supreme Court decision on the program factor into it all.
For More on This Topic:
- Read the report Camacho worked on with Roberto Gonzales, Kristina Brant, and Carlos Aguilar, “The Long-Term Impact of DACA: Forging Futures Despite DACA’s Uncertainty”
- Check out the webinar Camacho put together on Scholar Allyship with and for the Undocumented Community
- Find the essay by Itziri Gonzalez-Barcenas mentioned in the episode, Growing Up Undocumented
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, it’s widely accepted that without a vaccine, life cannot go back to normal. But as it turns out, not everyone is on board. Over the last several years, an anti-vaccine movement has gained steam in the United States, with more and more people deciding to skip vaccines for themselves and their children. In this archive episode, Dr. Matthew Woodruff dives into the science and history behind vaccines and how we can better educate people on their value.
This episode originally aired on August 8, 2017.
For More on This Topic:
- Read Woodruff’s brief, Why "Personal Belief" Vaccine Exemptions Place Many Vulnerable Americans at Risk
- Check out his former podcast, Audiommunity
The scene is so common it’s almost cliche: two beautiful young people meet at a rowdy college party and drunkenly fall into bed together. American pop culture is fascinated by college hookups, but is casual sex really as widespread as it seems? Professor Lisa Wade breaks down who participates in hookup culture, what they get out of it, and as more students speak up about the problem of on-campus sexual assault, what role universities have to play in shaping their sexual cultures.
For more on this topic
- Check out her book, American Hookup: The New Culture of Sex on Campus
- Read her opinion pieces in The Guardian, Time, and The Conversation
In any sense of the word, the COVID-19 crisis can be considered a disaster. Tens of thousands of people have lost their lives, millions have lost their jobs, and nearly everyone is experiencing a sense of shock at how quickly our world was turned upside down. But of course, the current crisis is also dramatically different from previous disasters, like hurricanes or wildfires. Professor Susan Sterett dives into how COVID-19 follows the same patterns of previous disasters and how it diverges, what we can learn from previous disasters to inform our current efforts, and how we can prepare for a future where the coronavirus will inevitably collide with other disasters.
For more on this topic:
- Read Sterett’s paper, “Disaster assistance and legal accountability: care and surveillance”
- Check out the book she edited, Disaster and Sociolegal Studies
Every Thursday since America started locking down to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus, a tragic new number is released: the latest unemployment claims. Tens of millions of Americans have already filed for unemployment, and that number is likely to keep going up. Professor Anna Gassman-Pines lays out who is most affected by the dramatic economic downturn we’re seeing, what job losses mean for children, families, and entire communities, and how policymakers can help buffer against some of the worst effects of this economic crisis.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Gassman-Pines’ memo with Professor Elizabeth Ananat for Econofact, Snapshot of the COVID Crisis Impact on Working Families
- Read her previous opinion piece for NJ.com, Long-term unemployment assistance helps families, communities
With the COVID-19 crisis spreading rapidly across the US, much attention has been paid to the hospitals on the front lines of this pandemic. But there is another set of healthcare providers that also has a crucial role to play in managing this outbreak: community health centers. Professor Peter Shin unpacks what exactly community health centers are, why they were established and who they serve, what role they have to play in the COVID-19 pandemic, and how policymakers can ensure their survival during this unprecedented time.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Shin’s SSN policy memo, Invest in Community Health Centers
- Read his analysis of the current situation for the Milken Institute School of Public Health
We’re in April, as the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic. Today, the U.S. has more reported cases than any other nation on earth - a fact that may in part be due to testing levels, but could also be due to a series of massive public policy mistakes. In the U.S., the federal response has been chaotic, to say the least. And here’s one reason: President Donald Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi don’t talk to each other. The intense anger and distrust between Republicans and Democrats could literally be costing our nation lives. Lee Drutman explains how we got into this mess and how we can get out of it.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Drutman’s book, Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multiparty Democracy in America
- Read his opinion pieces in The Atlantic, Vox, and The New York Times
As policymakers on Capitol Hill work to expand America’s safety net in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn, it’s becoming increasingly clear that it might not be enough. So where can we look for guidance on what more needs to be done? Perhaps another deadly virus, HIV, where a separate and robust safety net has been established to support those who have been diagnosed. Professor Celeste Watkins-Hayes explains what the HIV/AIDS safety net looks like, what we can learn from this previous effort to combat a deadly virus, and how the inequalities of the HIV/AIDS epidemic are playing out with coronavirus.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Watkins-Hayes’ book, Remaking a Life: How Women Living with HIV/AIDS Confront Inequality
- Read her SSN brief, How Neighborhoods Can Help Poor Black Women Fight AIDS
With governments rushing to put in place policies and guidelines to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, it’s important to look to the past to inform the present. And we don’t have to look far. Just 5 years ago, the world was concerned with a completely different outbreak: ebola. Professor Lily Tsai and Dr. Ben Morse examine how governments at the epicenter of the ebola outbreak responded to the spread of the disease, what the role of trust is in ensuring that people comply with government recommendations, and how leaders can build trust and buy-in both during and before a crisis.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Tsai and Morse’s SSN brief, Why Citizen Trust in Government Matters — Especially when Crises Strike
- Read a ScienceDaily article about their research
Around the United States, schools are shutting down due to coronavirus. For some Americans, this means setting up a home office and learning to work with children underfoot. But others are facing a far more serious crisis: with school cafeterias closed indefinitely and employment increasingly precarious, how will they manage to put food on the table? Professor Daphne Hernandez lays out the problem of food insecurity in America, how coronavirus is affecting the situation, and what policymakers can do to help families in need -- now and in the future.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Hernandez’s OpEd on what coronavirus means for food insecurity in The Hill
- Listen to our previous episodes on food insecurity and hunger among college students
Money. Power. Knowledge. Health. Education. When you look around the world, when it comes to resources and opportunities, there are massive imbalances between countries and even inside countries. In the name of making the world a better place, people and institutions with great wealth often donate some of their money around the world through philanthropy. Rakesh Rajani shares stories and lessons learned from years of work in global philanthropy and outlines what changes are needed to make this work more effective and meaningful.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Co-Impact and The Ford Foundation
- Read Rakesh’s interview with CNN on his work in Tanzania
With the 2020 primary in full swing, college campuses are full of conversations about politics, policy, and the future of American democracy. But many of these college students don’t turn out when it actually matters, on Election Day. In fact, in the last presidential election, only around half of all young voters came out to the polls. In this archive episode, Dr. Nancy Thomas explores what gets students to vote and how college administrators, faculty members, and students can improve voting rates on their campuses.
This episode originally aired on October 11, 2018.
For more on this topic:
- Check out the report co-authored by Thomas, Election Imperatives
- Read her interview with The Chronicle of Higher Education, Here’s How Colleges Can Get More Involved in Elections -- and Not Just the Midterms
- Visit the website for the Institute for Democracy & Higher Education at Tufts University
Check out a Washington Post story about their 2018 midterm election report showing that rates among college students doubled
Social media has permeated countless aspects of our daily lives. But perhaps no platform has influenced the media like Twitter, shaping not only what many journalists cover, but also how they cover it. Professor Shannon McGregor dives into the role of Twitter in today’s media environment, why the platform is an imperfect measure of public opinion, and how social media can become a better tool for journalists working with limited resources at their disposal.
For More on this Topic:
- Check out the book McGregor co-edited with Dr. Talia Stroud, Digital Discussions: How Big Data Informs Political Communication
- Read her opinion piece in The Washington Post, Conservatives Say Google and Facebook are Censoring Them. Here’s the Real Background.
Over the last couple of years, states have passed increasingly restrictive laws in an effort to reduce access to abortion. And this year, the Supreme Court is deciding on new cases that could validate some of the harshest laws, potentially opening the door for an end to Roe v. Wade. But at the forefront of this fight over abortion access are providers few people know about: independent abortion clinics. PhD candidate Amy Alterman explains what exactly these independent clinics are, how they are affected by anti-abortion stigma, and how comedians are helping to lift up and support their work.
For More on this Topic:
- Check out Abortion Access Front, the comedy group mentioned in the episode
- Find your independent abortion clinic at the Abortion Care Network
- Find your local abortion fund at the National Network of Abortion Funds
In 2009, Barack Obama was sworn in as the first African American president in this country’s history after a momentous election. But for many in this country, that election was anything but joyous. Soon after, a movement that became known as the Tea Party took shape on the right in opposition to this president and his policies. Fast forward 8 years and a very familiar story seemed to play out, but this time on the left. It became known as The Resistance. PhD candidate Leah Gose explains what similarities and differences exist between these two groups and what we can learn by looking at the two of them together.
- Check out the Upending American Politics book
- Read the SSN brief by Theda Skocpol and Vanessa Williamson, Making Sense of the Tea Party
Over the last few decades, minority enrollment at America’s colleges and universities has increased exponentially. These institutions, many predominantly white, like to tout enrollment rates as evidence of their commitment to racial diversity. But do these numbers tell the whole story? Professor Bedelia Richards details how black students still frequently experience discrimination on campus, what this means for their education and wellbeing, and how universities can make change to help create more inclusive campuses.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Richards’ brief, How to Create Inclusive Environments for Black Students on Predominantly White College Campuses
- Check out her post for Inside Higher Ed, Is Your University Racist?
America is getting more diverse, and that means more children of color are students in our schools. But teachers are still overwhelmingly white, so many of these students rarely see teachers who look like them. Professor Michèle Foster tells the little-known story of why America lost many of its black teachers, what that means for students, and what can be done to change things.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Foster’s brief, Why America Needs More African-American Teachers and How to Recruit and Retain Them
- Check out her feature in an episode of Revisionist History on black teachers after Brown v. Board of Education.
This episode originally aired on June 14, 2018.
We are living in the midst of an epidemic. Over the past 15 years, the number of Americans dying from opioid-related overdoses has skyrocketed by more than 200%. Facing a mounting death toll, policymakers have proposed solutions from needle exchanges to reducing the availability of prescription opioids. But the crisis seems to rage on. Professor Keith Humphreys digs into how we got here, what we know about which policy responses actually work, and what might be next in the never ending fight against addiction.
For more on this topic:
- Check out his SSN brief, How America Can Effectively Fight the Opioid Crisis
- Read his opinion pieces for The Washington Post
- Find the Vox article mentioned in the episode on the rise of meth and cocaine overdoses
What should the next 10 or 20 years look like in the United States? Many Americans say we need to go back to the future. They want to restore something, or protect something they’re worried the United States is losing. And that’s not just the Make America Great Again crowd. But others argue that it’s not time to restore democracy -- it’s time to realize democracy. Dr. K. Sabeel Rahman explains what it would take to make America’s democracy work for everyone and why the time for big, structural change is now.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Rahman’s article, Realizing Democracy Demands Addressing Deeper Structural Roots of Failure and Possibility of Shared Power, and the full Realizing Democracy series in the Stanford Social Innovation Review
- Visit the Demos website
Last year, climate change took center stage. With presidential candidates releasing bold plans to tackle the issue, massive protests organized by young people across the globe, and ever more dire reports coming out of the United Nations, this issue is getting attention unlike ever before. Doctor Fernando Tormos-Aponte discusses where climate organizing stands now, how some organizers are focusing on justice and equity in their work, and how this is all playing out in Puerto Rico after the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria in 2017.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Tormos-Aponte’s SSN brief, How Social Movements Build Power through Intersectionality
- Listen to Leah Stokes’ interview mentioned in the episode, Episode 172: The Battle over Clean Energy
No one likes to believe they would be on the wrong side of history. Most of us prefer to think that in times of crisis, we would do the right thing -- we wouldn’t be complicit in evil. Yet every day, individuals just doing their jobs make decisions that harm people. And when many members of an organization make many small, harmful decisions, that builds up. Professor Ashley Nickels lays out how organizational decisions and structures can lead to real acts of evil that harm individuals and whole communities, how this played out in Flint, Michigan, and what can be done to prevent tragedy before it strikes.
- Check out Nickels’ book with Guy Adams and Danny Balfour, Unmasking Administrative Evil
- Read her SSN brief, Stabilization and Equity - Responses to Urban Fiscal Crisis in Flint, Michigan, and Beyond
- Donate to support No Jargon at www.scholars/donate
This year, millennials officially became the largest generation in America. In passing over Baby Boomers, these young Americans, along with Generation Z, have the potential to change US politics by making their voices heard at the polls. The only problem is, many of them don’t turn out to vote. Professor Jake Grumbach explains what’s behind their low voter turnout, how one policy could change that, and what this all says about the role of states in pushing US policy and democracy forward.
- Read Grumbach’s opinion pieces with Charlotte Hill on same day voter registration in The New York Times and Forbes
- Check out his SSN brief, Why Today's Policy Action is Mostly at the State Level
- Listen to Alexander Hertel-Fernandez’s No Jargon episode on his research mentioned in the episode
- Donate to support No Jargon at www.scholars/donate
The old saying goes: breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And yet, across the country, there are thousands of children who struggle to find a good meal in the morning. In fact, hunger is likely a bigger problem in this country than most people realize. Professor Maureen Berner lays out the problem of food insecurity in American, what it can tell us about the larger issue of poverty, and how we need to reframe our thinking to address the problem.
For more on this topic:
- Read Maureen’s SSN brief, Why Local Food Pantries Signal Important Truths about the Economy and the Struggles of Low-Income Households
- Watch her TEDx talk, Local Economic Security: Think Childhood Hunger
Imagine you’re a working parent. You make ends meet with a part-time job at a department store, but the ever-changing schedule makes life difficult. Some weeks, you work so much that you’re left scrambling for last-minute childcare. Others, you barely get enough hours to cover all your expenses. Professor Susan Lambert describes why this has become the reality for an increasing number of Americans, how these scheduling practices impact both employees and their employers, and what policymakers can do to ease the burden.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Susan’s SSN brief, The Realities of Unpredictable Work Schedules for America's Hourly Employees
- Read the Harvard Business Review’s article on her research
What works best to teach children in our schools? How does pollution affect public health? Why is economic inequality on the rise? These are just some of the big and important questions researchers try to answer every day. But all too often, their findings don’t actually help usher in improvements in the lives of people. Why not? The William T. Grant Foundation’s Vivian Tseng shares the history of research use in U.S. education policy, how a new approach to research can improve connections between scholars and policymakers, and what further changes are needed to make research matter.
For more on this topic:
- Read Vivian’s blog post about evidence use across sectors and around the globe
- Find her paper with Professor Cynthia Coburn on using evidence in the U.S.
- Check out the William T. Grant Foundation’s research grants on improving the use of research evidence
Twenty-one years ago this month, a gay University of Wyoming student by the name of Matthew Shepard was brutally murdered. His story brought national attention to anti-LGBT hate crimes and spurred a popular movement for hate crime legislation. Since then, the LGBT community has won major advances and become more visible than ever - but hateful attacks are on the rise. Professor Liz Coston explores why these crimes keep happening, what they look like in 2019, and what can be done to protect and support the LGBT community in the years to come.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Liz’s SSN brief, Understanding and Handling Hate Crimes against Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People
- Read the Virginia Commonwealth University’s write-up on their research and public outreach
America is the richest country on Earth with some of the most advanced healthcare services you can find. And yet, every year, hundreds of women die during childbirth, an issue that particularly affects black women. One of the potential solutions that’s being offered: returning to the centuries old practice of community midwives. Rachel Applewhite lays out what research can tell us about the effectiveness of midwives and doulas, how they help serve communities left behind by our healthcare system, and what can be done to expand access to their potentially life-saving services.
For more on this topic:
- Check out the organizations mentioned in the episode: Roots of Labor Birth Collective and Alabama Prison Project
- Read about Professor Monica McLemore’s research mentioned in the episode
Despite an ongoing impeachment inquiry, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has been signaling that a new trade deal with Mexico and Canada is in the final stages of negotiations, and Congress could be ready for a vote in the near future. In this archive episode, Professor Alyshia Gálvez dives into the often overlooked consequences of this trade agreement on food and health in both the U.S. and Mexico.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Alyshia’s SSN brief, How the North American Free Trade Agreement Contributed to Health Setbacks in Mexico
- Read her book, Eating NAFTA: Trade, Food Policies, and the Destruction of Mexico
With a global climate strike on September 20th and waves of protests surrounding the UN summit on climate change, public interest in science seems to be on the rise. And scientists are answering the call, with more researchers than ever taking to social media to share their work with the public and each other. Professor Sara Yeo discusses how different audiences perceive science communication, the ways in which emotions can factor into it, and how scientists can make the most of engaging online.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Sara’s SSN brief, Adapting Science Communication to the Changing Media Landscape
- Read her pieces for The Scientists and The London School of Economics blog on academics’ use of social media
America’s schools are supposed to treat all students fairly. But we know that all too often, black students face racial discrimination, stigma, and stereotypes in their schools. And for black girls in particular, that can be compounded by their gender as well. Professor Seanna Leath explains how do these experiences affect the lives and development of black girls, what broader stereotypes and stigmas exist around mental health for black women, and what can be done to improve the situation.
For more on this topic:
- Read Seanna's SSN brief, How the Expectation of Strength Harms Black Girls and Women
Memphis, Baltimore, and Detroit. East Cleveland, Ohio, and Wilkinson, Pennsylvania. Black cities are on the rise. In 1970, Black people made up a majority of 460 cities and towns across the United States. Forty-seven years later, the number of majority Black municipalities is up to 1,262. Dr. Andre Perry discusses what is driving this increase, why black cities and black neighborhoods have been devalued, and how America can do right by these places.
For more on this topic:
- Check out his Brookings Institution reports, The Rise of Black-Majority Cities and The Devaluation of Assets in Black Neighborhoods
- Read his column for The Hechinger Report
Climate change is threatening our world, that much is becoming more and more apparent every year. And often it seems like little is happening on a policy level to address this impending crisis. But, in 2008, a group of states in the Northeast managed what seemed nearly impossible. They put in place a robust, multi-state system to put a price on carbon. Professor Leigh Raymond explains how they were able to overcome obstacles that have doomed so much other climate policy, how exactly this system works, and what lessons can be learned for other climate proposals.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Raymond’s SSN brief, Building Political Support for Carbon Pricing
- Read his book, Reclaiming the Atmospheric Commons
For many people, regular visits to the dentist are little more than a necessary inconvenience. But in lower-income communities, access to dental care can be all but nonexistent - with serious consequences for public health. Professor Donald Chi lays out how a single childhood cavity can lead to a lifetime of problems, why so many people struggle to access even basic dental care, and what policymakers can do to provide every American with the coverage they need.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Chi’s SSN brief, Why Inadequate Dental Care Leads to Escalating Health Problems for Low-Income Americans
- Read Pew’s summary of his research on dental therapists
- Find Mary Otto’s article in The Washington Post on Deamonte Driver
Back-to-school season is upon us, and back as well are some familiar debates. From charter schools to voucher programs, education in America is becoming more privatized than ever - and some communities are pushing back. Professor Janelle Scott reveals why so many schools are shifting toward privatization, why these reforms are so controversial, and what they mean for inequality in America’s education system.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Scott’s research paper with Jennifer Holme on this topic (paywall)
Imagine a nation where the political rules are unfair. In this imagine nation, there are two parties. The Big Country party has its strengthen in rural areas and gets a big head start in every election - they get to win if they earn around 46 percent of the vote. The other party, the party of the city people, gets held back - to win, they need to earn about 54 percent of the vote. As it turns out, this is not an imaginary nation at all, it’s the United States of America. Professor Jonathan Rodden dives into the research from his book on why cities lose when it comes to elections, what that means for our political system, and what can be done to change the situation.
- Read Rodden’s book, Why Cities Lose: The Deep Roots of the Urban-Rural Political Divide
- Check out his opinion piece for The Washington Post, and The New York Times Upshot article highlighting this research.
El Paso, Texas. Dayton, Ohio. These two cities are the latest in a long string of communities that have experienced horrific mass shootings. And once again, the news of these shootings bring up many questions. Dr. Sierra Smucker lays out what we know about mass shooters and the connection to domestic violence, what gun regulations are already on the books and whether or not they seem to be effective, and what more can be done to prevent future shootings.
For more on this topic:
- Read Sierra’s SSN brief, Why the United States Remains Hobbled in Protecting Women from Gun Violence.
- Check out her opinion piece for The American Prospect
- Find the RAND project on Gun Policy in America
The US Congress is a bedrock of American democracy, but as it stands, it often seems to be stuck in the dark ages. With more and more technology emerging to help connect people, ideas, and information across the country, Congress often still works as if the internet didn’t exist. Dr. Lorelei Kelly dives into the problems facing Congress, what it takes to bring this institution into the 21st century, and how a few members are leading the way.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Kelly’s report, Modernizing Congress: Bringing Democracy into the 21st Century.
- Read her opinion pieces for The Hill and TechCrunch.
Around five years ago, Ferguson, Missouri erupted in violent protests after the fatal police shooting of teenager Michael Brown. The Ferguson protests were part of a wave of protests nationwide spurred by police shootings of unarmed black men and the disproportionate violence that communities of color have often faced. In this archive episode, Professor Ashley Howard explains what these protests mean, what their history is, and how new laws, policing methods, and social media are changing the way people demonstrate.
For More on this Topic:
- Check out Howard’s interview in The Chronicle of Higher Education and her piece in The Black Scholar.
- Read her SSN brief, How U.S. Urban Unrest in the 1960s Can Help Make Sense of Ferguson, Missouri, and Other Recent Protests
At the beginning of his campaign for president, Donald Trump disparaged Mexican immigrants coming to the US and since then, immigration has been a centerpiece of his administration. But to say that America’s immigration debate started with Donald Trump is simply not true. Professor James Hollifield highlights the long history of immigration policy in this country and argues that the conversation won’t be going away any time soon, no matter what happens in 2020.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Hollifield’s paper, The Migration Challenge
- Read his essay, What Makes Immigration Reform So Hard
When the 2016 Academy Award acting nominations all went to white performers for the second consecutive year, a trending hashtag - #OscarsSoWhite - swept Twitter. But in the span of just a few years, things seem to have changed. Professor Nancy Yuen explains the state of diversity in Hollywood, what challenges persist today, and how to reform the industry.
- Check out Yuen’s book, Reel Inequality: Hollywood Actors and Racism
- Read her SSN brief, How Racial Stereotypes in Popular Media Affect People - and What Hollywood Can Do to Become More Inclusive
When politicians run for local office, they try to appeal to lots of different kinds of voters. And one way they do this is by collecting endorsements from public figures and organizations those voters trust. But does that actually influence the way people vote? Professor Andrea Benjamin explores the role of endorsements in local elections, how race plays into the equation, and what this means for campaigns both big and small.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Benjamin’s book, Racial Coalition Building in Local Elections
- Read her SSN brief, The Impact of Endorsements in Racially Mixed Elections
The CIA has become an almost mythical government agency, viewed as full of super spies who carry out the US government’s wishes across the globe. And perhaps one of the most infamous of these accounts is the CIA’s supposed orchestration of the 1973 coup in Chile. But Professor James Lockhart’s new research casts doubt on this common narrative. He digs into the CIA’s actual influence in Chile, why this narrative has become so ingrained, and what it all means for the US today.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Lockhart’s book, Chile, the CIA and the Cold War: A Transatlantic Perspective
- Read his SSN brief, How Getting History Right Can Improve Relations between America and the Global South
- Find his article with the Marine Corps University Press, How Effective Are Covert Operations?: The CIA’s Intervention in Chile, 1964–73
In 1890, the Supreme Court called solitary confinement “barbaric,” speculating that it would be abandoned altogether as a correctional practice. But now, nearly 130 years later, it’s clear that their prediction couldn’t have been more wrong. Professor Keramet Reiter tells the story of how solitary confinement became so widespread in the US, what this practice means for prisoners, and what can be done to change the system.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Reiter’s book, 23/7: Pelican Bay Prison and the Rise of Long-Term Solitary Confinement
- Read her SSN brief, The Root of America's Over-Use of Solitary Confinements in Prison — and How Reform Can Happen
- Listen to her interview on NPR’s Hidden Brain podcast
This week, we’re bringing you an episode from Big Brains, a podcast produced at The University of Chicago. Big Brains tells the stories behind the pivotal research and pioneering breakthroughs reshaping our world. They cover everything from the hidden dangers of artificial intelligence to the discovery of gravitational waves. This episode features Professor Eric Oliver on the science of conspiracy theories and political polarization.
For More on This Topic:
- Check out the website for the Big Brains podcast
- Read these articles in USA Today, The Atlantic, and The Guardian on conspiracy theories.
When elected officials redraw districts in their own party’s favor, the impact can be enormous, swaying elections and influencing policy for years to come. This practice - known as gerrymandering - is one of the most hotly debated in American politics right now, and it’s one the Supreme Court will soon weigh in on. Dr. Peter Miller lays out the legal cases surrounding gerrymandering, what these decisions might mean for future elections, and what else can be done to get states to draw maps in ways that are not politically motivated.
For more on this topic:
- Read Miller’s SSN brief, Why Independent Redistricting Commissions Should Draw Electoral District Maps
- Check out his pieces for the Brennan Center for Justice on Maryland’s extreme gerrymander, popular support for redistricting reform, and gerrymandering’s effects on 2018 election results
Building healthy and equitable communities is a tough challenge, but it’s one that public policy is well position to address. In this episode, produced in collaboration with the Health Policy Research Scholars program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, two PhD candidates share their research on what can be done to improve the health of both patients and their providers. First, Kristefer Stojanovski reveals why the fight to eradicate HIV must include a push to address bias among doctors. Next, Yaminette Diaz-Linhart outlines how the stresses of the job impact health care workers, and what this means for their patients.
For more on this topic:
- Check out the Health Policy Research Scholars program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- Find the profiles for Kristefer Stojanovski and Yaminette Diaz-Linhart
Public policy influences just about every part of our lives, and perhaps one of the most important is our health and well-being. In this episode, produced in collaboration with the Health Policy Research Scholar program by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, two PhD candidates share their research on some unintended consequences at the intersection of health and policy. First, Tyler Jimenez explains how existential threats, like the fear of death, can affect people’s support for policies meant to address health inequalities. Next, Amy Jones lays out how the lives of students of color are impacted by our push for diversity on campuses, and what this means for their health.
For more on this topic:
- Check out the Health Policy Research Scholar program by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- Find the profiles for Tyler Jimenez and Amy Jones
Many of us are part of one organization or another that’s hoping to create change. Yet all too often, it feels like the levers of change are stuck. Professor Hahrie Han tells the stories of a few organizations that have been able to break through, get a seat at the table, and create real, tangible results. When it comes to organizing, there is no magic formula, but her research sheds light on patterns from groundbreaking organizations that can lead to success.
For more on this topic:
- Read Han’s SSN briefs on organizing and developing leaders
- Check out her previous book, How Organizations Develop Activists: Civic Associations and Leadership in the 21st Century
- Find our leadership announcement about Hahrie Han’s and Jamila Michener’s new positions on the SSN Board of Director
For many renters, evictions can depend on the whims and wishes of their landlord. And with no right to a lawyer in housing court, there’s almost no chance to fight back and win. But that all recently changed in New York City and San Francisco. Professor Jamila Michener explains how both cities came to enact groundbreaking new laws to help tenants get access to a lawyer and what the movements behind these laws say about the power of organizing.
For more on this topic:
- Check out this New York Times series on the city's housing court
- Read this San Francisco Chronicle piece on that city’s new law
This Sunday is Mother’s Day. But while this is one day of celebrating moms everywhere, many of them aren’t doing so well the other 364 days of the year. That’s because more moms today are struggling to balance work and family life, often with little support. Professor Caitlyn Collins breaks down how US moms are doing these days, how our family support system compares to other countries, and what needs to change to better support working mothers year-round.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Collins’ book, Making Motherhood Work: How Women Manage Careers and Caregiving
- Read her opinion piece in The New York Times
Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren recently proposed a massive plan to eliminate most student debt and tuition at public colleges. But student debt is just one part of the larger problem of college affordability. Professor Sara Goldrick-Rab explains the impact of the high cost of college on students at public and community colleges, including hunger, homelessness, and debt without getting a degree, and offers concrete solutions.
For more on this topic:
- Read Goldrick-Rab’s SSN briefs on the costs of higher education
- Check out her OpEds in the Chronicle of Higher Education and The Philadelphia Inquirer
- Find her book, Paying the Price: College Costs, Financial Aid, and the Betrayal of the American Dream.
The presidential race for 2020 is already well underway and two of the biggest policies Democratic hopefuls are pushing include a $15 minimum wage and Medicare-for-All. Professor Jeannette Wicks-Lim lays out the costs and benefits of each and what these massive policy changes would mean for the country—and for inequality.
For more on this topic:
- Read Wicks-Lim’s brief, Why Fast Food Employers Can Adjust to a $15 minimum wage without Shedding Jobs
- Check out her research reports on the $15 minimum wage and Medicare-for-All
Wildfires, flooding, and some of warmest years on record -- climate change has become an ever more imminent threat. But without action from DC, the states have become the frontline of climate change policy. Professor Leah Stokes unravels the history of clean energy laws in the states, how environmental advocates and industry groups have battled it out there, and how the Green New Deal fits into the fight.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Stoke’s OpEd on the Green New Deal in The Washington Post
- Read her OpEds about climate change policy and public opinion in the LA Times, and The New York Times.
Inequality is rampant in America’s schools and many of the proposed fixes end up falling far short of their goals. But ethnic studies courses have shown to be a potentially powerful solution. Professor Nolan Cabrera dives into the legal fight over these courses, how these programs can work in schools across the country, and what they can do for student achievement.
For more on this topic:
- Read Cabrera’s brief, How Ethnic Studies Can Reduce Racial Achievement Gaps
- Check out his OpEd in the Chronicle of Higher Education, The Numbers Won’t Speak for Themselves
This week, we’re bringing you an episode of Democracy Works, a podcast that examines what it means to live in a democracy. This episode is a conversation with David Frum, a prolific author and former speechwriter for George W. Bush. David is a passionate defender of democracy and talks with Democracy Works host Jenna Spinelle about how everyone can become better democratic citizens. Democracy Works is produced by the McCourtney Institute for Democracy at Penn State and WPSU Penn State, central Pennsylvania’s NPR station. New episodes are released every Monday at democracyworkspodcast.com or your favorite podcast app.
For More on This Topic:
- Check out David Frum’s writing at The Atlantic
- Read his book, Trumpocracy: The Corruption of the American Republic
We like to think that state governments make decisions based on their particular situations. But it turns out, often that’s not the case. In fact, three large conservative groups have gained massive influence in state houses across the country, working to pass legislation in line with their views and corporate sponsors. Professor Alexander Hertel-Fernandez explains their rise and strategies, why state governments are so susceptible to their influence, and what this all means for American democracy.
For More on This Topic:
- Check out Hertel-Fernandez’s book, State Capture
- Read his SSN brief, Why U.S. Conservatives Shape Legislation across the Fifty States Much More Effectively than Liberals
- Find his opinion piece in The New York Times with Leah Stokes and Matto Mildenberger
Flint, Michigan has been in crisis since 2014, plagued with unsafe drinking water and a local government in debt. Thankfully nonprofits came to the rescue, donating millions of dollars and hundreds of hours to help in the long process of bringing clean water back. Professor Davia Cox Downey tells the story of two Michigan cities in crisis, how each benefited from the help of nonprofits, and what still needs to be done to restore trust in the local government.
For more on this topic:
- Read Downey’s brief, How Foundations and Nonprofits Can Respond to Urban Crises and Bolster Governments in Decline
- Check out her OpEd with Sarah Reckhow and Joshua Sapotichne in The Washington Post
The death penalty has a long and controversial history in the US. And 30 states still have it on the books. But in 2018, the Washington State Supreme Court decided to ban this punishment after seeing evidence of deep racial inequalities. Doctors Katherine Beckett and Heather Evans lay out what their research says about the death penalty in Washington, how they got involved in this case, and what it was like defending their work with life and death on the line.
For More on This Topic:
- Read Beckett’s feature in the Seattle Times, Meet the UW Professor who just killed the death penalty.
- Check out Beckett and Evans’ paper, Race, Death, and Justice: Capital Sentencing in Washington State, 1891-2014
The future of affirmative action is unclear. Harvard has been taken to court for its admissions policies and the case is likely to be the first affirmative action case in front of the new Supreme Court judges. In this archive episode, Professor Natasha Warikoo discusses investigations into school admissions and how focusing on diversity ignores the real reasons for affirmative action.
For More on This Topic:
- Read her brief, How the Ways College Authorities Talk about Diversity Can Undercut Efforts to Fight Racial Inequality
- Check out her two OpEds for the PBS Newshour on the Harvard court case
- Find her piece in The New York Times, How Elite Schools Stay So White
In a democracy, government is supposed to represent the people. But Congress doesn’t exactly look like your average American. In fact, lawyers make up a huge number of our federal representatives, but only a small percentage of the American population. Professor Adam Bonica unravels why we have so many lawyers in office, what fundraising has to do with it, and what it all means for how our government functions.
For more on this topic:
- Read this Vox piece on Bonica’s research, There are too many lawyers in politics. Here’s what to do about it.
- Check out his academic articles, Professional Networks, Early Fundraising, and Electoral Success and Why Are There So Many Lawyers in Congress?
Every February students across the country learn about Black History Month, including the civil rights movement. But educating children on the civil rights movement takes on a special role when you’re located in Birmingham, Alabama. Professor Tondra Loder-Jackson dives into the history of civil rights activism in Birmingham’s schools and what teachers today should know as they tackle this important topic in their classrooms.
For more on this topic:
- Read Loder-Jackson’s SSN brief, How Alabama Can Earn a Straight "A" in Civil Rights Education
- Check out her book, Schoolhouse Activists: African American Educators and the Long Birmingham Civil Rights Movement
Americans are more likely to die of an opioid overdose than of a car accident. But even as national attention has shed light on this crisis, opioid addiction remains a difficult problem to solve. Professor Peggy Compton lays out how doctors can help patients suffering from chronic pain without turning to opioids, what treatments actually work for people who do develop an opioid addiction, and how to encourage wider use of these evidence-based practices.
For more on this topic:
- Check out Compton’s SSN brief, How to Win America’s Fight Against the Opioid Epidemic
- Read her research paper, Providing Chronic Pain Management in the “Fifth Vital Sign” Era
America’s democracy is in uncharted waters. From attacks on the media to challenges against free and fair elections and the longest government shutdown in US history, the future of American democracy looks increasingly unclear. Recorded at the SSN National Leadership Convening, Washington Post Columnist EJ Dionne talks through the media’s responsibility in these tense times and one big policy idea to help right the ship.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Dionne’s Washington Post piece mentioned in the episode and his regular column.
- Check out his Brookings report on the case for universal voting
- Find his most recent book, One Nation After Trump
The consequences of climate change are looking increasingly dangerous and imminent, yet little has been done to address this crisis. Professor Garth Heutel lays out a potentially cost-effective way to reduce global temperatures and stave off global warming. But solar geoengineering is not a silver bullet. While the benefits are clear, the costs are much more uncertain.
For More on this Topic:
- Read summaries of his research in his two-page SSN brief and an article in The Conversation.
- See his full article in the Annual Review of Resource Economics.
Real estate agents help us navigate the housing market, get the best prices, and find the perfect house to call a home. But they also help decide who gets to live where, and not everyone gets the same options. Professor Elizabeth Korver-Glenn shares her research on the hidden ways real estate agents keep neighborhoods segregated, and what can be done to change their ways.
For more on this topics:
- Read Korver Glenn’s brief, How America’s Real Estate Brokers Still Use Practices That Reinforce Racial Segregation
- Check out her conversation with the CEO of the real estate company Redfin
In the last few years, the United States has seen one horrific mass shooting after another. But despite public outcry and support for gun control legislation, little has changed. In this second episode with Professor Robert Spitzer, he lays out what policies have been implemented federally and in the states and what policies could actually work to reduce gun violence.
For more on this Topic:
- Read Spitzer’s SSN brief, The Evidence Shows that “Stand Your Ground” Laws Undermine Law Enforcement and Public Safety
- Check out his OpEds in the New York Times, The Gun Safety Issue is Actually Helping Democrats and America Used to be Good at Gun Control. What Happened?
- Find his books, The Politics of Gun Control and Guns across America: Reconciling Gun Rules and Rights
In 2018, the debate about gun rights and gun control was front and center after a tragic school shooting in Florida. But this debate has been raging for a long time in the U.S. In this first part of our interview with Professor Robert Spitzer, he lays out the history of the gun rights and gun control movements and what might change in the coming years.
For more on this Topic:
- Read Spitzer’s SSN brief, The Evidence Shows that “Stand Your Ground” Laws Undermine Law Enforcement and Public Safety
- Check out his OpEds in the New York Times, The Gun Safety Issue is Actually Helping Democrats and America Used to be Good at Gun Control. What Happened?
- Find his books, The Politics of Gun Control and Guns across America: Reconciling Gun Rules and Rights
Chinese restaurants have become a staple in America, and they’re especially popular during the holidays. In this archive episode, Professor Heather Lee tells the story of how a loophole in the Chinese Exclusion Act led to the Chinese restaurant boom in America. Drawing parallels to today, she explains the unintended impacts of the law on the U.S. and China.
For More on this Topic:
- Read articles in The Atlantic and NPR citing Professor Lee on Chinese restaurants in the United States.
- Check out her 2-page brief, The Untold Story of Chinese Restaurants in America
Babies need diapers. But for 1 in 3 mothers, diapers are just too expensive to always have on hand. And that can leave children and families in a precarious situation. Professor Jennifer Randles lays out the diaper dilemma, how it affects America’s families, and what policies can be put in place to help solve the problem.
For More on this Topic:
- Read her memo, Policy Proposal: Reduce Diaper Need Among Families in Poverty
- Check out her article with Barbara Risman in Psychology Today, Diapers, Depression, and Gender Matter for Social Policy
- Want to donate to the National Diaper Bank Network? More information here
Access to good housing is key to better health, both now and in the future. So what happens when the youngest and oldest members of our society don’t get the housing support they need? First, Professor Andrew Fenelon breaks down how affordable housing can change the lives of children. Next, Professor Jennifer Ailshire outlines the problems unique to the homeless elderly and what needs to change to help this growing population.
For More on this Topic:
- Read the Kaiser Health News’ article on Fenelon’s research
- Check out the website for the Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count
Listen to Episode 142: Nowhere to Live on the challenges of housing assistance programs
Americans of color consistently have worse health outcomes than their white peers. So what’s behind this trend? First, Professor Margaret Hicken lays out how black Americans must often prepare themselves in the face of racism and what effects this has on their bodies. Next, Professor Abigail Sewell lays out how police use of force can impact not only the health of individuals, but of entire communities.
For More on this Topic:
- Read The Michigan Daily’s article on Hicken’s research
- Check out Hicken’s 2-page brief, Measuring the Social Impact of Mass Imprisonment on America's Black and White Families and Communities
- Find Sewell’s website and blog
- Visit the website for Cornell’s Center for the Study of Inequality, which organized the Deep Wounds conference.
After over a year of competition between hundreds of cities and municipalities, Amazon has finally announced the location, or two locations, for its HQ2. But in this archive episode, Professor Nathan Jensen explains how cities and states often lose more than they gain when politicians use tax incentives to bring businesses to town.
- Read Jensen’s SSN brief, Business Location Incentives are Ineffective – So Why Do They Persist in American States and Localities?
- Check out his book with Professor Edmund Malesky, Incentives to Pander: How Politicians Use Corporate Welfare for Political Gain, or the quick video they made to explain some of their main findings.
- Find his opinion pieces in The New York Times and The Conversation
On November 6th a historic number of women and women of color were elected to Congress. And that means important changes could be coming to Capitol Hill. Professor Kelly Dittmar dives into the role of congresswomen in Washington DC, how women in the capitol view themselves, and what the election of more women to office means for our country’s future.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Dittmar’s new book with professors Kira Sanbonmatsu and Susan J. Carroll, A Seat at the Table
- Check out their CNN OpEd, What Hasn’t Changed About Women in Power Since Anita Hill
- Listen to their interview on the New Books Network
On Tuesday, voters across the country went to the polls in one of the most watched midterm elections in decades. And now the results are in. So what does it all mean? Scholars Didi Kuo and Gabriel Sanchez break down some of the biggest trends from the 2018 midterms, like the Latino vote, what they say about our two political parties, and what we can expect for the future.
For more on this topic:
- Read Kuo’s brief, What History Teaches about Reforming U.S. Political Parties and Governance
- Check out her piece in The American Interest, The Paradox of Party Polarization
- Listen to Sanchez’ previous interview on No Jargon, The Latino Vote
Across the country, states are making abortion less and less accessible. And that means there are many people who seek an abortion but are denied one. So what does that mean for a woman’s health and well being? And what impacts does this have on her children? Professor Diana Greene Foster discusses the groundbreaking Turnaway Study she led to answer these questions.
- Check out Foster’s SSN brief, New Evidence about Women's Experience with Abortion - Compared to Carrying Unwanted Pregnancies to Term
- Visit the website for the Turnaway Study
- Read the article by Foster and the article by Professor Ushma Upadhyay mentioned in the episode (paywall)
Unemployment is very low and Americans report having strong confidence in the economy. But not everyone is benefitting equally. Professor Harry Holzer digs into why many Americans without a college degree still struggle to find jobs, especially ones that pay well, and what the government can do to help.
For more on this topic:
- Read Holzer’s report for Brookings, Jobs for the working class: Raising earnings among non-college graduates
- Check out his SSN brief, Are Job Training Programs a Good Way to Fight Poverty?
When the US decides whether or not to grant an immigrant a green card, they look at many factors. That includes if they heavily rely on certain government programs to get by. But proposed changes at the federal level means this whole system is about to change. Professor Tiffany Joseph explains these changes and what they mean for immigrants in America.
- Find the full rule online at the Federal Register, where public comments can be submitted
- Check out this explainer of the public charge rule change by Vox
- Read Joseph’s SSN brief, How Health Reform Excludes Unauthorized Immigrants – And Why That Needs to Change
College campuses are full of conversations about politics and policy. But many of these college students don’t turn out when it actually matters, on Election Day. Nancy Thomas explores what gets students to vote and how college administrators, faculty members, and students can improve voting rates on their campuses.
- Check out the report co-authored by Thomas, Election Imperatives
- Read her interview with The Chronicle of Higher Education, Here’s How Colleges Can Get More Involved in Elections -- and Not Just the Midterms
- Visit the website for the Institute for Democracy & Higher Education at Tufts University
Casting a ballot seems as American as apple pie. But in Florida, one in ten people have had their voting rights taken away because of a criminal conviction. Professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy dives into the history of Florida’s voting system, how ex-felons get their rights back, and what Florida voters can do to help.
Thirty states have laws legalizing marijuana in some form, and come November four more states may join their ranks through ballot initiatives. But these new laws often do little to help people who have past marijuana convictions. Professor Douglas Berman describes this disconnect and what states and the federal government can do to address it.
For more on this topic:
- Read Berman’s SSN Brief, How States Can Ensure That Today’s Marijuana Reforms Also Ameliorate Harms Inflicted on Past Offenders
- Check out his essay on the topic, Leveraging Marijuana Reform to Enhance Expungement Practices
In face of ongoing threats to its environment, California has taken big steps to protect its nature and wildlife. Professor David Vogel lays out California’s history as an environmental leader, how it plans to continue its green streak, and what other states - and the federal government - can learn from California’s policy innovation.
- Read Vogel’s SSN Brief, How Environmental Policies Can Promote Economic Growth
- Check out his book, California Greenin’: How the Golden State Became an Environmental Leader
- Find his LA Times op-ed, The Trump administration wants to end California’s role as an environmental innovator and his interview with Bloomberg, Why California Goes Its Own Way on the Environment
The government fights forest fires, protects us from foreign invasion, helps people go to college, and so much more. But Americans’ opinions of the government are increasingly negative. Professor Suzanne Mettler dives into why people don’t believe the government benefits them, even when it does, and how to bridge this disconnect between the government and the American people.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Mettler’s new book, The Government-Citizen Disconnect
- Check out her OpEd in the New York Times and her interview on Vox
- Listen to her previous No Jargon episode, Hidden Tax Benefits
It’s back to school season and for many children, teachers, and parents across the country school looks very similar. That’s because in 2009, the Common Core was introduced, standardizing what K-12 students should know, and be tested on. Professor Nicholas Tampio describes what that means for public education and imagines a different way forward for America’s schools.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Tampio’s opinion pieces in Aeon and HuffPost
- Check out his book, Common Core: National Education Standards and the Threat to Democracy
- Find Jesse H. Rhodes’ article on education politics in Perspectives on Politics (paywall)
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people in America. And black youth in particular face increasing suicide rates and challenges in accessing mental health services. Scholar and advocate Kimya Dennis dives into the background behind these suicide statistics, what prevents black youth from getting help, and how mental health providers can address this disconnect.
If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) any time of day.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Dennis’s SSN briefs, Debunking Myths about Mental Illness Among Blacks and The Complexities of Black Youth Suicide
- Check out her piece for The Conversation, Suicide Isn’t Just a White People Thing
An unexpected surgery can cost a worker thousands in medical bills. And in states without paid family and medical leave, they also have to go without a paycheck while recovering. Professors Randy Albelda and Alan Clayton-Matthews explain why paid family and medical leave is important to small businesses, workers, and their families, and how Massachusetts tackled this policy problem with help from their research.
- Read Clayton-Matthews and Albelda’s SSN brief, Why Massachusetts Can Afford to Require Paid Family and Medical Leave for All Workers
- Check out this Boston Globe article about the Massachusetts policy
Knowledge is power. Or at least that’s how the saying goes — but when it comes to climate change and its causes, that knowledge hasn’t translated into action. Postdoctoral Fellow Matthew Motta discusses why climate research is often disregarded, where Americans’ suspicion of scientists comes from, and how our interest in science affects our trust in scientists.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Motta’s SSN brief, How Interest in Science Boosts Trust in Climate Scientists
- Check out his radio interview on the rise of anti-intellectualism
Having a warm and comfortable home is important for health and well-being. But with rising rent prices and growing inequality, it can be tough – if not impossible – to find a place to live. Professors Rosie Tighe and Megan Hatch explain why the U.S. has such a shortage of affordable housing, how government programs help, and why they often fall short.
- Read Tighe and Hatch’s SSN brief, How Fair Housing Programs Can be Bolstered by Laws Prohibiting Source of Income Discrimination
- Check out their piece with Joseph Mead in Shelterforce,Section 8 Allowed
- Find Joseph Mead’s New York Times opinion piece on their nuisance ordinance research
Since 9/11, fears about extremism have shaped the public’s view of Islam. And American policies often reflect these fears, zeroing in on Muslims and Muslim-Americans in the name of national security. Professor Rachel Gillum explores whether these policies work, why we use them, and how they impact Muslims in America.
- Read Gillum’s SSN brief, Assessing– and Reducing– Public Fear of Muslims
- Find her book, Muslims in a Post-9/11 America
- Check out her piece in Talking Points Memo on racism as a national security issue
In April 2018, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand introduced legislation to make basic banking services, like loans and check cashing, available at every branch of the United States Postal Service. Professor Mehrsa Baradaran explains the history of that idea, why postal banking is needed now, and how it can help reduce America’s growing inequality.
- Read Baradaran’s books, How the Other Half Banks: Exclusion, Exploitation, and the Threat to Democracy and The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap
- Check out her OpEd in the Washington Post
A college degree can make a huge difference for parents and their kids. But if you’ve got an eight-year-old to support and a low-paying job, it’s next to impossible to pay for both tuition and childcare. For residents of Maine, a new law will help. Working with Joby Thoyalil of Maine Equal Justice Partners, Professors Luisa DePrez and Lisa Dodson used their research on the benefits of a college education for low-income women to help advance a bill called LIFT 2.0.
- Read Luisa and Lisa’s brief, “Why Higher Education is a Must for Low-Income Mothers”
- Check out the op-ed they wrote in the Portland Press Herald
- Learn more about Maine Equal Justice Partners on their website
Lawyers, doctors, engineers, and bankers are among America’s most respected professionals, and most are middle-aged white men. So what are the experiences of black men who join their ranks? Adia Harvey Wingfield describes how black men in high-powered professions navigate race and gender in the workplace, and what their experiences say about our changing economy.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Wingfield’s brief, Constructive Steps to Further Workplace Diversity
- Find her book, No More Invisible Man: Race and Gender in Men’s Work
- Check out her Slate article on black men in the field of nursing
Since the Cambridge Analytica scandal broke, Americans have been talking about data: what online information is saved, what we should do with it, and who gets to decide. But these conversations often miss an important piece — government data. Professor Matthew Weber lays out what is currently happening with data collection and why we should actually save more information than we currently do.
For More on this Topic:
- Read about the impossibility of comprehensive digital archives in the Atlantic
- Check out efforts to preserve federal agency data, featured in Forbes
Everyone needs healthcare. But Americans can’t agree on how to fix our troubled healthcare system. Now, the Trump Administration and a number of states are pushing one idea — require people on Medicaid to work. Professor Philip Rocco explains what’s behind these new requirements, what they would mean for people on Medicaid, and why they should really be called paperwork requirements.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Rocco’s two-page brief, Why Work Requirements Will Not Improve Medicaid
The Trump Administration’s zero tolerance policy for migrants produced widespread outrage. Specific policies are in flux, so we asked researchers for the important context to understand what’s happening. For this special episode, professors Heide Castañeda and Nara Milanich describe who these migrants are, how zero tolerance policies impact them and their health, and what – if any – historical precedents exist for these policies.
For More on this Topic:
- Check out Nara’s 2017 piece in The Washington Post, “Nations have separated children from parents before. It never ends well.”
- Read Heide’s brief, “The Downsides of Excluding Millions of Immigrants from Health Reform”
Democracy is under threat. From Venezuela to Turkey, from Hungary to the Philippines, powerful leaders are rewriting their countries norms and laws to secure power at the expense of their citizens. Professor Steven Levitsky tells us how democracies die – and what the outlook is for America.
For More on this Topic:
- Check out Levitsky’s book with Daniel Ziblatt, How Democracies Die
- Read their OpEd on threats to democracy
America is getting more diverse, and that means more children of color are students in our schools. But teachers are still overwhelmingly white, so many of these students rarely see teachers who look like them. Professor Michèle Foster tells the little-known story of why America lost many of its black teachers, what that means for students, and what can be done to change things.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Foster’s brief, “Why America Needs More African-American Teachers and How to Recruit and Retain Them”
- Check out her feature in an episode of Revisionist History on black teachers after Brown v. Board of Education.
There are thousands of civic organizations in America, from big-time lobbying groups to local grassroots organizations, and they all want your time and support. But some organizations are more effective at creating change than others. Professor Ziad Munson explains what kinds of organizations have been most successful in shaping American public life – and why.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Munson’s brief, How People Become Pro-life Advocates
- Check out the original “A Nation of Organizers” article
- Find Robert Putnam’s book, Bowling Alone
Unions used to be a major political force in America. But over the last few decades they have steadily declined, and now a Supreme Court case might deal another severe blow to their strength. Professor Jake Rosenfeld explains what the Supreme Court is deciding on and what it means for the future of organized labor in America.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Rosenfeld’s SSN brief “Union Decline and Rising U.S. Wage Inequality”
- Check out his book, What Unions No Longer Do
- Find this New York Times opinion piece on the impacts of right-to-work laws
In 1973, the Supreme Court made access to abortions a legal right. Since then, crisis pregnancy centers have popped up across the country to dissuade women from getting abortions. Professor Kimberly Kelly explains the history and organization behind these centers and how their current case before the Supreme Court could shape reproductive rights in America.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Kelly’s SSN brief “Why False Claims About A Nonexistent "Post Abortion Syndrome" Influence Access To Abortion In America”
- Check out her comments about the history of crisis pregnancy centers in The Atlantic
The opioid epidemic is ravaging communities across America and there’s no silver bullet to fix it. But communicating to people about risks and steps to prevent addiction is a start. Professor Itzhak Yanovitzky describes how New Jersey uses information to help fight the opioid epidemic and how his research partnership with the state helps to improve these efforts.
For More on this Topic:
- Read this My Central Jersey article about Yanovitzky’s latest research
- Check out the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey website
Following the 2016 election, suburban well-educated women got together in PTA groups, libraries, and coffee shops to organize—some for the first time. Professor Lara Putnam shares insights on how these groups work, what their goals are, and why they have been so effective at mobilizing voters.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Putnam's pieces in the Democracy Journal, Middle America Reboots Democracy with Theda Skocpol and Who Really Won PA18?
- Check out her article in The American Prospect, Digital Fixes Won’t Solve the Democrats’ Problems
America—the world’s wealthiest country—is home to over 40 million people living under the poverty line. And for many, there is no safety net to fall back on. Professor Joan Maya Mazelis explains how we got here and highlights one innovative organization, run by and for poor people, that builds community among the poor and provides help when the safety net is missing.
For More on this Topic:
- Check out Mazelis’ book, Surviving Poverty: Creating Sustainable Ties among the Poor
- Read her brief, How to Help America's Poor People Build Community and Assist Each Other
The Founding Fathers made sure to put checks in place that would prevent a president from becoming a king. But Professor Larry Jacobs explains that when it comes to foreign policy, the president goes largely unchecked. Next, Professor Frances Lee outlines the ways Congress has rebuked presidential power, even under the current administration. And finally, Professor Keith Whittington takes us to the courts, which have been skeptical of many of President Trump’s executive orders.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Jacobs’ book, Who Governs? Presidents, Public Opinion, and Manipulation
- Find Lee’s book, Insecure Majorities: Congress and the Perpetual Campaign
- Check out Whittington’s book, Political Foundations of Judicial Supremacy: The Presidency, the Supreme Court, and Constitutional Leadership in U.S. History
- Find more on the website for the conference, A Republic, If We Can Keep It, organized by the Cornell Center for the Study of Inequality with lead organizer Suzanne Mettler.
US politics is built around two parties, but recently there have been growing rifts between and within them. First, Professor Eliot Cohen explains why some Republicans, like himself, left the party after the 2016 election. Next, Professor Didi Kuo highlights the importance of political parties for democracy and why many voters feel disconnected from them.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Cohen’s articles in The Atlantic and Foreign Affairs
- Check out Kuo’s article in The American Interest, The Paradox of Party Polarization
From Sean Hannity to Rachel Maddow, TV and radio hosts are taking stronger ideological stances, telling audiences what is right and wrong in America. Professor Sarah Sobieraj examines this “outrage industry” and what it means for the millions who tune in. Later, she dives into new research on the attacks women face in online spaces.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Sobieraj’s and Berry’s book, The Outrage Industry: Political Opinion Media and the New Incivility
- Check out her academic article on women’s treatment online (paywall)
At only 20 percent, the number of US Congressional seats held by women ranks 101st in the world. Saskia Brechenmacher explains why this underrepresentation is bad for our democracy and looks at examples abroad to see how we might close the gap.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Brechenmacher’s paper, Closing the Gender Gap in U.S. Politics: Lessons from Europe
- Read her OpEd in The Hill, American Political Parties Must Do More to Get Women in Government
Immigration enforcement measures used to be concentrated on America’s borders. But as Professor Yalidy Matos outlines, federal agencies are increasingly partnering with local law enforcement to carry out deportations, leaving immigrant communities uncertain about their futures.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Matos’ brief, How America's 1996 Immigration Act Set the Stage for Increasingly Localized and Tough Enforcement
Further Reading:
- Will State and Local Crackdowns Prevent Immigrants from Fitting In to American Society?, Helen B. Marrow, Tufts University
- The Deportation Crisis for Latino Immigrant Men and Their Families, Tanya Golash-Boza, University of California, Merced
- Episode 73: Sanctuary City Limits, Tom K. Wong, University of California
For undocumented youth, the chance to receive legal status would be a life changer. Professor Amy Hsin shows how legalization could encourage young immigrants to get a college degree and even reduce the national deficit, all without threatening the wages of U.S. born workers.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Hsin’s opinion piece in The Hill, How the DREAM Act Can Actually Lower the Deficit
- Check out an Econofact memo on her research, The Economic Gains from Legalizing DREAMers
Further Reading:
- How Restrictive Immigration Measures Undermine the Mental Health of Latino Migrants, Whitney L. Duncan, University of Northern Colorado
- Educational Aspirations and Realities for the Children of Immigrants in France and the United States, Amy Lutz, Syracuse University, Yaël Brinbaum, Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers
Family, education, and work—for undocumented people in the U.S., these areas of life are filled with uncertainty. As Professor Roberto Gonzales explains, growing up undocumented can throw your future into limbo.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Gonzales’ book, Lives in Limbo: Undocumented and Coming of Age in America
- Check out his piece for Vox, “I Study Young Undocumented Immigrants. Here’s How DACA Changed Their Lives.”
Further Reading:
- The Impact of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) on the Psychological Wellbeing of Young Immigrants, Caitlin Patler, University of California Davis
- The New Challenges Facing Young Undocumented Immigrants, Elizabeth Aranda, University of South Florida
It’s no secret. Our political future is uncertain and unpredictable. Author and scholar Yascha Mounk outlines how economic inequality, a backlash against increasing diversity, and the rise of social media all threaten democracies across the globe—and what we can do to save them.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Mounk’s new book, The People vs. Democracy: Why Our Freedom Is in Danger and How to Save It
- Check out his interview in The Atlantic
Further Reading:
- How Today's Populism Dismantles Democracy Worldwide, Erica Frantz, Michigan State University
- Episode 81: On Tyranny, Timothy Snyder, Yale University
Birth control has helped many avoid unwanted pregnancies, but getting access to it can be a challenge. Professor Anu Manchikanti Gómez dives deep into a law that tried to change this by giving pharmacists the power to prescribe birth control. The only problem, is anyone using it?
For More on this Topic:
- Read Gómez’s brief, Tracking the Implementation of a California Law Allowing Pharmacists to Prescribe Birth Control
Further Reading:
- Why Coverage of Prescription Contraception Matters for Men as Well as Women, Krystale Littlejohn, Occidental College
- How Intrauterine Devices and Contraceptive Implants Help Young Mothers Avoid Quickly Becoming Pregnant Again, Rebecca Cohen, University of Colorado
Ballot questions let voters decide on big issues. But with ad campaigns and special interests, reliable information can be hard to find. Professor John Gastil outlines an innovative solution—give a small group of citizens all of the information they need to make up their minds and share their findings with fellow voters.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Gastil’s two-page brief on Citizens’ Initiative Reviews.
- Check out his piece in The Washington Post
Further Reading:
- Building Public Trust and Improving Policy Through Deliberative Engagement Between Officials and Citizens, Daniel Patterson, University of Utah
- How Do Effective Associations Spur Citizen Engagement?, Hahrie Han, University of California, Santa Barbara
Raising taxes on the rich encourages job creators to skip town. Or so say some economists and policymakers. This week, Professor Cristobal Young dispels the myth of millionaires leaving high tax states and shows the many ways the wealthy are invested in the places they live.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Young’s piece in The Washington Post on millionaire taxes.
- Check out Young’s easy to read book, The Myth of Millionaire Tax Flight
Further Reading:
- How States Can Fight Growing Economic Inequality, Megan E. Hatch, Cleveland State University, Elizabeth Rigby, The George Washington University
- Episode 28: Americans Like Taxes, Vanessa Williamson, Brookings Institution
Prescription drugs are expensive. But for years, a little-known program has given some hospitals discounts to help them provide care for low-income and uninsured patients. Professor Sayeh Nikpay explains why this program is now under fire and what this means for America’s safety net.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Nikpay’s piece in the Health Affairs Blog on the 340B program
Further Reading:
- Episode 83: 21st Century Safety Net, Benjamin Veghte, National Academy of Social Insurance
- How U.S. Hospitals Often Undervalue Black and Poor Lives, Adam Reich, Columbia University
We all want innovative policies that propel our nation forward. But getting things done in DC isn’t always easy. This week, Thomas Kalil joins us to share some of the practical lessons he learned during his years working in the White House—have a concrete plan of action, make it easy, and don’t worry about who gets the credit.
For more on this Topic:
- Read Kalil’s essay, Policy Entrepreneurship at the White House
- Check out his TEDx talk on 21st Century Moonshots
Further Reading:
- Episode 96: Informing Policy, Jenni W. Owen, Duke University
- Regulation, Participation, and Policy Design, K. Sabeel Rahman, Brooklyn Law School
In 1965, the passage of the Voting Rights Act helped secure equal access to the ballot, and it has enjoyed bipartisan support ever since. Right? Professor Rhodes shows how, over the years, politicians who publicly supported this law worked behind the scenes to dismantle it.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Rhodes’ book, Ballot Blocked
- Check out his opinion piece in The Washington Post
Further Reading:
- The Dismantling of the Voting Rights Act, Dewey M. Clayton, University of Louisville
- Episode 97: Who Has the Right to Vote?, Douglas Spencer, University of Connecticut
The 2018 midterms are rapidly approaching and voters want to believe they’re going to make rational choices at the polls. But as Professor Casey Klofstad explains, there is an unexpected factor influencing voter behavior and affecting our elections—the tone of a candidate’s voice.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Klofstad’s article in The Scientific American, How Voice Pitch Influences Our Choice of Leaders
- Check out his book, Civic Talk: Peers, Politics, and the Future of Democracy
- Find his brief, Talking about Politics Boosts Civic Participation
Further Reading:
- Why Beards and Mustaches are Rare for Modern American Politicians, Rebekah Herrick, Oklahoma State University
- To Win Elections, Do Women Candidates Have to be Better Qualified than Men?, Sarah Andrea Fulton, Texas A&M University
A $50 citation, $100 in court costs—for many Americans navigating the criminal justice system, fines and fees like these add up quickly. Professor Alexes Harris reveals why local governments charge convicts to pay for the justice system and how this disproportionately burdens marginalized people and communities.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Harris’s OpEd in the New York Times, Justice Shouldn’t Come With a $250 Fine
- Check out her book, A Pound of Flesh: Monetary Sanctions as a Permanent Punishment for Poor People.
- Find her two-page brief, How Reliance on Fees and Charges to Fund U.S. Criminal Justice Weakens Public Faith in Poor Communities
Further Reading:
- Episode 39: Change from the Inside, David Dagan, Johns Hopkins University
- Using Fines to Fund Municipal Government Hurts Low-Income Minorities, Just as Sharecropping Did a Century Ago, Brandi Blessett, Rutgers University-Camden
Professors all across the country have expertise that can improve public policy, but how can they get their research into the hands that matter? Professor Lee Badgett provides the tips and tools scholars need to make these connections in the new year and tells the stories of a few successful public professors.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Badgett’s book, The Public Professor
- Find her two-page brief, How Scholars Can Become Influential Public Professors
- Check out SSN’s new policy engagement workshop
Further Reading:
- Episode 96: Informing Policy, Jenni Owen, Duke University
- Building Public Trust and Improving Policy Through Deliberative Engagement Between Officials and Citizens, Daniel Patterson, University of Utah
Trust in our governments is low, and seems to only be getting worse. Professor Donald Kettl explains why widespread distrust plagues governments around the world, what this means for democracy, and how, if at all, governments can earn back our trust.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Kettl’s book, Can Governments Earn Our Trust?
- Check out the research mentioned in the episode by Professor Vesla Weaver
Further Reading:
- Episode 47: A Path for Police Reform, Tracey L. Meares, Yale Law School
- How Participatory Budgeting Strengthens Communities and Improves Local Governance, Isaac Jabola-Carolus, City University of New York
Republicans and Democrats alike have complained about the speed with which the recent tax bills are going through Congress. In light of this, we’re bringing you an archive episode with Professor James Curry who explains that lacking expertise, staff, and time, most members of Congress rarely get to analyze or contribute to the bills on which they vote.
For More on this Topic:
- Read Curry’s two-page brief or his book, Legislating in the Dark
- Check out Professor Frances Lee, mentioned in the episode, and her books on partisanship and competition in Congress.
Further Reading:
- Who are the Most Effective Legislators in Congress?, Craig Volden, University of Virginia, Alan E. Wiseman, Vanderbilt University
- Why U.S. Conservatives Shape Legislation across the Fifty States Much More Effectively than Liberals, Alexander Hertel-Fernandez, Columbia University, Theda Skocpol, Harvard University
Nicole Bedera and Miriam Gleckman-Krut stay post-interview to discuss their ideas for changing university policies on campus sexual assault.
Campus sexual assault is a problem across the country, but colleges differ widely in how they respond to these cases. PhD candidates Nicole Bedera and Miriam Gleckman-Krut lay out why national standards are changing under the Trump administration and how they are shifting protections and resources to the accused.
For More on This Topic:
- Read Bedera and Gleckman-Krut’s piece in The New York Times
- Listen to their interview on Michigan Radio
Further Reading:
- Episode 80: Unequal Play to Unwanted Contact, Celene Reynolds, Yale University
- Fighting Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, Amy Blackstone, University of Maine
This week we are showcasing an episode from The Measure of Everyday Life, a podcast hosted by SSN member Brian Southwell. He spoke with Professor Deondra Rose about the policy moves that helped opened doors for women in higher education.
For More on This Topic:
- Read Rose’s piece for Inside Higher Ed in defense of “me” studies
- Check out Rose’s brief, How Federal Government Policies Have Helped Women Earn College Degrees
- Read her piece in Talking Points Memo on women in higher education
Further Reading:
- What We Know - and Need to Learn - about Progress against Sex Discrimination in Higher Education, Celene Reynolds,Yale University
- Why Higher Education is a Must for Low-Income Mothers, Lisa Dodson, Brandeis University, Luisa S. Deprez, University of Southern Maine
Congress is on the verge of passing major tax reform that many say is tilted in favor of the wealthy. This week we’re looking back at an episode with Professor Rick Hasen to explore why the wealthy often enjoy such outsized benefits and power in American politics - and how changing the Supreme Court is the best way to fix that.
For More on This Topic:
- Check out Hasen’s book, Plutocrats United
- Read his piece in The LA Times on Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch
Further Reading:
- Evidence that Legislators Grant Special Access to Donors, Joshua Kalla, University of California, Berkeley, David Broockman, Stanford University
- Why Campaign Finance Reforms That Weaken U.S. Parties Promote Extreme and Unresponsive Politics, Raymond J. La Raja, University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Episode 1: The Kochs, Americans For Prosperity, and the Right, Theda Skocpol, Harvard University
The neighborhoods we live in help shape our mental and physical health. Professor Antwan Jones explains what happens when some neighborhoods benefit from private and public investments while others are left behind, and what can be done to change this.
For more on This Topic:
- Check out Jones’ brief, The Health Consequences of Moving from Place to Place
- Read his opinion piece in The Baltimore Sun
Further Reading:
- Episode 19: Changing Neighborhoods for Better or for Worse, Jackelyn Hwang, Stanford University
- Have Reforms in U.S. Housing Assistance Reduced Neighborhood Poverty?, Ann Owens, University of South Carolina
Inequality is on the rise in America, but what’s behind it? Professor Steven Teles and Dr. Brink Lindsey lay out how federal and state policies help the rich get richer, slow economic growth, and promote inequality.
For More on This Topic:
- Check out Teles and Lindsey’s book, The Captured Economy
- Read their opinion piece in the New York Times
Further Reading:
- How States Can Fight Growing Economic Inequality, Megan E. Hatch, Cleveland State University, Elizabeth Rigby, The George Washington University
- Episode 82: Hidden Tax Benefits, Suzanne Mettler, Cornell University
This week we are highlighting an episode from Have You Heard, a podcast co-hosted by SSN member Jack Schneider and journalist Jennifer Berkshire. They spoke with Sally Nuamah about the long-term effects of school closures on communities, like declining voter turnout.
For more on this topic:
- Read Nuamah’s paper, The paradox of educational attitudes: Racial differences in public opinion on school closure or check out her website.
- Find more episodes of Have You Heard online or wherever you get your podcasts
Further reading:
- How (and why) to build a better measure of school quality, Jack Schneider, College of the Holy Cross
- Standardized Ratings of Urban Public Schools Ignore Contributions to their Students and Communities, Keith Eric Benson, Camden City School District
- Does Public Education Improve When Urban Districts Manage A “Portfolio” of Schools? , Katrina Elizabeth Bulkey, Montclair State University
As Republicans move forward with their tax overhaul, this week’s episode revisits Vanessa Williamson’s interview on the misconception that Americans hate taxes. She outlines how anti-tax policies became popular despite the fact that most Americans support increasing taxes for services they care about.
For more on this topic:
- Read her brief, Who Pays America’s Taxes?, with Alexander Hertel-Fernandez, Columbia University
- Check out her opinion piece on Trump’s original tax plan during the 2016 campaign.
Further Reading:
- How Republican Approaches to Social Spending Increase Income Inequality in the United States , Christopher Faricy, Syracuse University
- Reforming Tax Policy for the Wealthiest One Percent, Michael Nau, The Ohio Colleges of Medicine Government Resource Center
Political rumors are spreading across the country and the widening divide between parties is only making them more potent. Professor Adam Berinsky discusses where these rumors come from and what, if anything, can be done to combat them.
For More on This Topic:
- Read Berinsky’s brief, What Works - and What Doesn’t - To Discredit Harmful Rumors And Correct Information
- Check out his feature and a web extra on an episode of Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
Further Reading:
- How a Citizen’s Initiative Review Improve Elections Where Voters Directly Decide on Policy Issues, John Gastil, Pennsylvania State University
- Episode 13: The Misinformation Age, Brian G. Southwell, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
For the final act of the live show, Professors Erin O’Brien and Peter Ubertaccio tackle Massachusetts politics. They dig into the character of the Democratic and Republican parties in the state, and show how the state isn’t as deep blue as many think.
For More on This Topic:
- Check out O’Brien, Ubertaccio, and other scholars on WGBH’s MassPoliticsProfs blog
- Watch the live show video to see full show and audience Q&A
Further Reading:
- Massachusetts as a Surprising Pioneer in the Turn to Mandatory Sentencing as a Response to Crime, Charles Houston Decker, Yale University
- Episode 2: Voter Fraud or Voter Suppression?, Erin O’Brien, University of Massachusetts Boston
For the second act of the live show, Professors Deondra Rose and Gunther Peck dive deep into North Carolina’s contentious politics, the impacts of the state’s voting laws and redistricting efforts, and what these deep divides say about national politics.
For More on This Topic:
- Read Peck’s piece, Learning the Right Lessons from Defeat: Organizing a New Democratic Majority in North Carolina
- Listen to Rose’s interview on North Carolina Public Radio
Further Reading:
- How Conservatives Rewrote North Carolina Election Laws to Discourage Voter Participation, Marion Johnson, NC Justice Center
- How Colleges in North Carolina- And Beyond- Can Help Students Vote, Laura Elise Bennett, Duke University
In the first of three acts for the 100th episode live show, Professors Theda Skocpol and René Flores discuss the role of national and local organizations on the 2016 election outcome, the Trump presidency so far, and what comes next.
For More on This Topic:
- Read Skocpol’s briefs, Making Sense of the Koch Network and Why U.S. Conservatives Shape Legislation across the Fifty States Much More Effectively than Liberals
- Check out Flores’ brief, How Restrictive Laws Can Influence Public Attitudes Towards Immigrants
Further Reading:
- Episode 57: Election Autopsy, Theda Skocpol, Harvard University
- Episode 93: Melting Pot, Boiling Pot, René Flores, University of Washington
- Donald Trump and the Dynamics of American Public Opinion about Racial Profiling, Deborah Schildkraut, Tufts University
Foster parents and social workers help children in difficult situations, but too often they lack the resources they need. Professor Antonio Garcia describes how this impacts foster children and what a focus on prevention could look like.
For More on This Topic:
- Read Garcia’s brief, To Counter Child Abuse, Administrators and Case Workers Need Support to Implement Evidence-Based Improvements
Further Reading:
- Why U.S. States Vary in Their Responses to Child Abuse and Neglect, Frank Edwards, Cornell University
- How America's Head Start Program Improves the Lives of Children and Families, Anne Day Leong, National Institutes of Health
High costs are making college unaffordable, or even impossible, for many Americans. Professor Nicholas Hillman outlines why student loan debt has become such a major issue. Professor Laura Perna highlights a potential solution -- free tuition programs.
For More on This Topic:
- Read Hillman’s brief, Designing Better Ways to Regulate Colleges with Too Many Students Who Default on Federal Loans
- Check out Perna’s research project on college promise programs.
Further Reading:
- Episode 52: Paying the Price, Sara Goldrick-Rab, Temple University
- Episode 4: The Student Debt Crisis, Nicholas Hillman, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Making Loans Work for Today's College Students, Susan Dynarski, University of Michigan
Voting is a pillar of American democracy, but for many, the vote has been out of reach. Professor Doug Spencer explains the past and present of the right to vote in America, and how debates about voter fraud are missing the mark.
For More on This Topic:
- Read his brief, How Surveys Can Strengthen the Voting Rights Act
Further Reading:
- The Dismantling of the Voting Rights Act, Dewey M. Clayton, University of Louisville
- Restoring the Voting Rights Act Will Not Do Enough to Ensure Fair Elections, Amel Ahmed, University of Massachusetts Amherst
How do policymakers sort through all the information they get? Jenni Owen discusses how she and the office of North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper engage with research, and offers do’s and don’ts for researchers and advocates who want to inform policy.
Colleges highlight how affirmative action increases diversity on campus. Professor Natasha Warikoo discusses new investigations into school admissions and how focusing on diversity ignores the real reasons for affirmative action.
For More on This Topic:
- Read her brief, How the Ways College Authorities Talk about Diversity Can Undercut Efforts to Fight Racial Inequality
- Check out her recent piece for The Boston Globe
- Read this article for an in-depth look at the effects of the affirmative action ban on the University of California system
Further Reading:
- Can Universities Maintain Diversity without Directly Considering Race in Admissions?, Mark C. Long, University of Washington
- Will U.S. College Aid Continue Its Proud Track Record of Enlarging Opportunity and Reducing Inequality? Deondra Rose, Duke University
Come to the first-ever LIVE taping of the Scholars Strategy Network’s podcast, No Jargon.
To celebrate No Jargon’s 100th episode, Avi will be joined by researchers from across the country to talk about America’s divided politics, how we got here, and what comes next. Buy tickets at scholars.org/liveshow.
In three acts, Avi and his guests will explore our nation’s politics today, and then zoom in on battleground North Carolina and bright blue Massachusetts. Audience members will have the chance to ask the researchers their own questions.
Guests for the show include: Sandy Darity, René Flores, Erin O’Brien, Gunther Peck, Theda Skocpol, and Peter Ubertaccio.
Fueled by misinformation, some parents are wary of vaccinating their kids. But this seemingly personal choice can cause disease outbreaks. Dr. Matthew Woodruff explains the science behind vaccines and how we can better educate people on their value.
For More on This Topic:
- Read his brief, Why "Personal Belief" Vaccine Exemptions Place Many Vulnerable Americans at Risk
- Check out his podcast, Audiommunity
Further Reading:
- Assessing the Effectiveness of the U.S. Vaccine Injury Compensation Court, Anna Kirkland, University of Michigan
- Restoring Trust in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mark A. Rothstein, University of Louisville School of Medicine
- The Harm Done By Media Coverage of Political Disputes about Public Health Measures, Erika Franklin Fowler, Wesleyan University, Sarah Elizabeth Gollust, University of Minnesota School of Public Health
A decade ago, the immigration debate divided Hazleton, PA when the mayor blamed a wave of immigrants for crimes and passed a harsh bill against them. Professor René Flores lays out what happened and how laws like this can actually lead to more violence.
For More on This Topic:
- Read his brief on Hazleton and Arizona, How Restrictive Laws Can Influence Public Attitudes towards Immigrants
- Check out the NPR story about the history of the town and how it has transformed.
Further Reading:
- Why Does Immigration Arouse Deep Feelings and Conflicts?, John D. Skrentny, UC San Diego
- How Restrictive Immigration Measures Undermine the Mental Health of Latino Migrants, Whitney L. Duncan, University of Northern Colorado
Residents are experts on their neighborhoods, but their voices often go unheard in local decision making. Professor Tia Gaynor discusses initiatives that bridge the gap between local governments and citizens – and explains how some have fallen short.
For More on This Topic:
- Read her article for the PA Times on the Los Angeles Fire Department
- Check out her brief, The Unmet Challenge of Fighting Racially Discriminatory Practices in Local U.S. Law Enforcement Agencies
Further Reading:
- Episode 16: Local Agents of Democracy
- Varieties of Civic Engagement in Contemporary America, Paul Lichterman, University of Southern California
- How Emergency Managers and Community Organizations Can Cooperate to Handle Disasters, Scott E. Robinson, University of Oklahoma
Millions of Americans struggle to pay their utility bills, and some families are even forced to choose between groceries or energy bills. Professor Tony Reames lays out energy’s unequal burden on low-income Americans and suggests ways to move forward.
For More on This Topic:
- Read his brief, Improving the Effectiveness of Federal Energy Assistance for Low-Income Households
- Check out a Q&A with Professor Reames about his energy justice work
Further Reading:
- Assessing the Accomplishments of the War on Poverty, Martha J. Bailey, University of Michigan, Sheldon Danziger, Russell Sage Foundation and University of Michigan
- Have Reforms in U.S. Housing Assistance Reduces Neighborhood Poverty?, Ann Owens, University of Southern California
Is the U.S. Constitution about to change? Professor David Marcus lays out why some states are calling for a constitutional convention to introduce amendments. And Professor David Robertson delves into the history behind this founding document.
For More on This Topic
- Read Dave Robertson’s book, The Original Compromise: What the Constitution’s Framers were Really Thinking
- Checkout David Marcus’s blog post, “The Misguided Article V Convention”
Further Reading
- Why U.S. Conservatives Shape Legislation across the Fifty States Much More Effectively than Liberals, Alexander Hertel-Fernandez, Columbia University, Theda Skocpol, Harvard University
- How The Roberts Court Undermines U.S. Democracy, Stephen E. Gottlieb, Albany Law School
The Sanders and Trump presidential campaigns both capitalized on emotional speeches and rallies. But politics weren’t always this way. Professor Jeremy Young examines the history of how charisma and emotional speaking became essential in elections.
For More on This Topic
- Read his brief, What Emotional Politics More than a Century Ago Says about Winning U.S. Elections Today
- Check out his book, The Age of Charisma: Leaders, Followers, and Emotions in American Society, 1870-1940
Further Reading
- Why -- And How -- Modern Politicians Talk About God And Religion, Kevin Coe, University of Utah
- Are Gender Stereotypes a Problem For Female Candidates?, Nichole Bauer, University of Alabama
Many transgender Americans report being denied a job because of their identity, but that’s just one result of the discrimination they face. Professors Eric Grollman and Lisa Miller explain how unfair treatment also harms their mental and physical health.
For More on This Topic:
- Read Miller and Grollman’s two-page brief, Discrimination as an Obstacle to Wellbeing for Transgender Americans
- Check out the blog that Professor Grollman mentions, Conditionally Accepted -- and the blog post by Professor Alex Hanna -- and read their OpEd in USA Today.
Further Reading:
-
How Discrimination Hurts Health and Personal Wellbeing, Eric Anthony Grollman, University of Richmond
-
How Fighting Discrimination Can Enhance Well-Being For Aging Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Americans, Gilbert Gonzalez, Vanderbilt University, Carrie Henning-Smith, University of Minnesota
- The Health Consequences of Moving from Place to Place, Antwan Jones, George Washington University
Since the North American Free Trade Agreement, American processed foods have flooded the Mexican food market -- with dramatic effects on people’s health. Professor Alyshia Gálvez explains how Mexico became a dumping ground for America’s corn.
For More on This Topic:
- Read her OpEd in the Dallas Morning News, How NAFTA got Mexicans hooked on U.S. junk food, co-authored with Nicholas Freudenberg
- Check out the book she referenced, The Making of NAFTA: How the Deal Was Done by Maxwell A. Cameron and Brian W. Tomlin
Further Reading:
- Why Taming Corporation Promotion of Dangerous Consumer Products is Vital to Improving Public Health, Nicholas Freudenberg, City University of New York
- The Misleading Case for Unmanaged Global Free Trade, John A. Miller, Wheaton College
- Will International Trade Pacts Promote Shared Prosperity?, SSN Spotlight, February 2015
As Congress and the Trump Administration roll back environmental protections, some communities are especially harmed. But Professor David Konisky explains that unequal protection is nothing new, and lays out a history of failed promises by the government.
For More on This Topic:
- Read his two-page brief, The Challenge of Achieving Environmental Protection for All
- Check out his book, Failed Promises: Evaluating the Federal Government’s Response to Environmental Justice
Further Reading:
- Improving the Effectiveness of Federal Energy Assistance for Low-Income Households, Tony G. Reames, University of Michigan
- How Environmental Toxins Reduce Life Expectancy in Many American Neighborhoods, John I. Gilderbloom, University of Louisville, Gregory D. Squires, George Washington University
What do Iran’s elections and Trump’s international trip mean for the nuclear deal and US-Iran relations? Professor Kevan Harris discusses the history behind the latest news and paints a different picture of Iranian politics than usually seen in America.
For More on This Topic:
- Look for his upcoming book, A Social Revolution: Politics and the Welfare State in Iran
Further Reading:
- Attacking Iran's Nuclear Facilities Would Likely Radicalize the Islamic Republic's Government and Politics, Matthew Gratias, University of Southern California
- History Shows that President Obama is Wise to Retain a Military Option to Cripple Iran's Nuclear Facilities, Matthew Kroenig, Georgetown University
Quality of healthcare for women in jail varies widely, but it is the only place in the U.S. where they have a legal right to it. Professor Carolyn Sufrin outlines the policies that led to the contradictory system and suggests ways to move forward.
For More on This Topic:
- Read her 2-page brief, Unsettling Realities Of Care – Especially For Pregnant Women – In U.S. Jails
- Look for her upcoming book, Jailcare: Finding the Safety Net for Women Behind Bars
Further Reading:
- How "Tough on Crime" Hurts Families, SSN Spotlight, September 2016
- Measuring the Social Impact of Mass Imprisonment on America's Black and White Families and Communities, Hedwig Lee, Tyler McCormick, Margaret T. Hicken, Christopher Wildeman
- Promising Results from a Program That Trains Women Leaving Jail to Work as Birth Doulas, Monica R. McLemore, University of California, San Francisco
Social security, health insurance, and unemployment insurance help Americans through life’s ups and downs. Benjamin Veghte explains the benefits and challenges to these programs and offers ways they can adapt to changing jobs and family structures.
For More on This Topic:
- Read his 2015 brief on social security and inequality.
- Or find the most recent research in his full report, Report to the New Leadership and the American People on Social Insurance and Inequality.
Further Reading:
- How Social Insurance Protects Americans from Growing Economic Risks, Theodore R. Marmor, Yale University
- How to Fix America’s Broken Unemployment Benefits, Alix Gould-Werth, University of Michigan, Alexander Hertel-Fernandez, Columbia University
Food stamps, Social Security, and Medicaid are not the only, or even the largest, social welfare programs in America. Professor Suzanne Mettler reveals how hidden benefits in the tax code promote inequality and how to make them more visible.
For More on This Topic:
- Read her two-page brief, Why Americans Can't See Government - And Why It Matters,
- Check out this article in New York Times with profiles on who buys homes in America and the impacts of the home mortgage-interest deduction.
Further Reading:
- Reforming Tax Policy For the Wealthiest One Percent, Michael Nau, Ohio State College of Medicine
- How Republican Approaches to Social Spending Increase Income Inequality in the United States, Christopher Faricy, Syracuse University
In the 1900s, dictators rose to power across Europe as democracies fell to fascists and communists. History Professor Timothy Snyder argues that democracy today is far from invincible, and translates lessons from the 20th century to guide Americans now.
For More on This Topic:
- Read his short best-selling book, On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century.
- Check out his recent piece in TIME Magazine and listen to his interview on NPR.
Further Reading:
- How Today's Populism Dismantles Democracy Worldwide, Erica Frantz, Michigan State University
- How Civic Organizations Can Develop Effective Leaders, Attract Members, and Enhance American Democracy, Hahrie Han, University of California, Santa Barbara
Title IX protects against sexual assault and gender discrimination at universities. Celene Reynolds discusses the state of Title IX today, and how a law meant for employment discrimination landed at the center of a movement against campus sexual assault.
For More on This Topic:
- Read her two-page brief, What We Know - and Need to Learn - about Progress against Sex Discrimination in Higher Education.
Further Reading:
- The Dangers of Invoking Cultural Explanations in the Fight Against Sexual Assaults on College Campuses, Meg Mott, Marlboro College
- How Federal Government Policies Have Helped Women Earn College Degrees, Deondra Rose, Duke University
Changing public opinion and high costs have death sentences in decline in America. Professor Frank Baumgartner explains that when they do happen, race, mental illness, and even location predict who is sentenced and executed — not just the crime.
For More on This Topic:
- Check out his research on state’s death penalty system discussed in the Louisiana Weekly.
- See the latest from the death penalty debate in the New York Times’ article on the Arkansas executions.
Further Reading:
- Children of Imprisoned Parents and the Future of Inequality in the United States, Sara Wakefield, Rutgers University, Christopher Wildeman, Cornell University
- The Troubling Fate of Aged Prisoners on Death Row, Elizabeth Rapaport, University of New Mexico School of Law
Trump’s cabinet is the wealthiest in U.S. history. In light of this news, this episode revisits Professor Nicholas Carnes' interview on the effects of a government run by the rich, for the rich, and ways to get working class Americans a seat at the table.
For More on this Topic:
- Check out the New York Times graphic and article on the financial disclosures of the White House.
- Read his briefs, How Government by the Privileged Distorts Economic Policy and How Government by the Privileged Distorts Democracies.
Further Reading:
- Why Politically Active Billionaires Threaten the Health of Democracy, Darrell M. West, Brookings Institution
- Who Gets What They Want from Government?, Martin Gilens, Princeton University
Poverty can persist in the same communities for generations, especially communities of color. Professor Darrick Hamilton walks through the policies that prevent people from moving up in the economy and proposes solutions from jobs to schooling to banking.
For More on this Topic:
- Check out his research on ‘Baby Bonds’ discussed in the Institute for New Economic Thinking.
- Read his two-page brief, co-authored with William Darity Jr. and Mark Paul.
- Find the book he referenced, When Affirmative Action Was White by Ira Katznelson.
Further Reading:
- Why America's Women of Color Have Lost Ground Since the Great Recession, Marion Johnson, NC Justice Centre, SSN Basic Facts, October 2015
- Financial Deregulation, U.S. Party Politics, and Rising Income Inequality, Nathan J. Kelly, University of Tennessee, Giovanny D. Pleites-Hernandez, Eric Keller, University of Tennessee, February 2016
Development efforts in American cities often push out long-term residents and communities of color. Zeroing in on Baltimore, Professor Brandi Blessett breaks down the intentional and unintentional impacts of urban policy decisions.
For More on this Topic:
- Read more of her work on the impact of public administration on communities of color in her two-page brief.
- Check out Arnold Hirsch’s book on race and housing in Chicago, Making the Second Ghetto.
Further Reading:
- The Health Consequences of Moving From Place to Place, Antwan Jones, George Washington University
- The Real Baltimore Crisis, Eva Rosen, Johns Hopkins University
- Episode 19: Changing Neighborhoods for Better or Worse, Jackelyn Hwang
Could we fight unemployment by providing government jobs in construction, child care, and other needed public projects? Professor William Darity explains how a Federal Job Guarantee could work and how similar programs have been effective in the past.
For More on this Topic:
- Check out his oped in The New York Times.
- Read his two-page brief, co-authored with Darrick Hamilton and Mark Paul.
Further Reading:
- Why Jobless Americans Experience Deep and Prolonged Distress, Cristobal Young, Stanford University, SSN Key Findings
- The Great Recession and America's Underemployment Crisis, Leif Jensen, Pennsylvania State University, Tim Slack, Louisiana State University, SSN Key Findings
As charter school debates play out at the local level, out-of-state donors are contributing millions of dollars to school board campaigns in cities like Los Angeles and Denver. Professor Sarah Reckhow breaks down who donates and what that money does.
For More on this Topic:
- Read her two-page brief, Can Philanthropists Engineer Effective School Reforms?
- Check out her research discussed in Futurity and her article “Outsiders with Deep Pockets.”
Further Reading:
- The Promising Launch of Community-Oriented Charter Schools in New Orleans, Brian R. Beabout, University of New Orleans, Joseph L. Boselovic, Loyola University New Orleans, SSN Basic Facts
- Is Wall Street Looking to Profit from School Reform?, Jeff Faux, Economic Policy Institute
- Rhetoric and Reality in the "All Charter" Approach to School Reform in New Orleans, J. Celeste Lay, Tulane University, SSN Basic Facts
Rollbacks on federal regulations will put American’s food at risk. Professor Adam Sheingate explains the risks to consumers and the prospects for food safety in the coming years. He stresses that trust in government is key during food safety crises.
For More on this Topic:
- Read his pieces in Democracy Journal, “In the Era of Trump, be Careful What You Eat” and “Still a Jungle.”
- Check out his two-page brief, Why America's Food is Still Not Safe.
Further Reading:
- How Better U.S. Food Policies Could Foster Improved Health, Safer Jobs, and a More Sustainable Environment, Nicholas Freudenberg, City University of New York School of Public Health and Hunter College, SSN Basic Facts
- The Vital Mission of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Daniel Carpenter, Harvard University, SSN Basic Facts
As the federal government ramps up deportation efforts, myths about sanctuary cities are widespread. Professor Tom Wong shows how local sanctuary policies lead to safer and economically stronger communities and explains what they can and cannot do.
For More on this Topic:
- Check out his research discussed in The Washington Post and San Diego Union-Tribune.
- Read his new book, The Politics of Immigration.
Further Reading:
- How Young Immigrants, Communities, and States Benefit from President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, Tom Wong, Spotlight, August 2015
- Should Local Police be on the Front Lines of Immigration Enforcement?, Doris Marie Provine, Arizona State University
- What Does the Supreme Court's Deadlocked Decision on Deferring Deportations Mean for Immigrant Families?, Heide Castañeda, University of South Florida
The outsized influence of money is a problem in U.S. politics. Sean McElwee and Professor Tabatha Abu El-Haj describe how donors skew policy and how getting more people to vote could counter big money in politics where repealing Citizens United cannot.
For More on this Topic:
- Check out McElwee’s study, Whose Voice, Whose Choice?
- Read Professor Abu El-Haj’s two-page brief, The Inevitable Limits of Campaign Finance Reform, or her article, Beyond Campaign Finance Reform.
- Find the recommended articles by Professor Theda Skocpol in Vox and the New York Times.
Further Reading:
- Making Sense of the Koch Network, Theda Skocpol, Harvard University
- Rising Economic Inequality and Campaign Contributions from Very Wealthy Americans, Adam Bonica, Stanford University, Howard Rosenthal, New York University
Protests that turn violent have been a constant throughout American history. Professor Ashley Howard explains their origins, and how new laws, policing methods, and social media have changed the way people demonstrate.
For More on this Topic:
- Check out her interview in The Chronicle of Higher Education and her piece in The Black Scholar.
- Read her two-page brief, How U.S. Urban Unrest in the 1960s Can Help Make Sense of Ferguson, Missouri, and Other Recent Protests.
Further Reading:
- How the Ferguson Commission Can Promote Healing and Reconciliation in Metropolitan Saint Louis, Eric Royer, University of Missouri-St. Louis
- How Social Movements are Using the Internet to Change Politics, Deana A. Rohlinger, Florida State University
- How Legacies of Urban Racial Segregation Shape Today's Controversies over Police Killings of Black People, Colin Gordon, University of Iowa
Republican majorities in the federal government and in most states are putting protections for abortion, parenting, and birth control rights at risk. Professor Monica McLemore details what the future may hold for reproductive health, rights, and justice.
For More on this Topic
- Read her two-page fact sheet, What Trump Means for Abortion Access, co-authored with Ushma Upadhyay and Alice Cartwright.
- Check out the “What if Roe Fell” report from the Center for Reproductive Rights, and the policy and advocacy resources from Reproductive Health in Nursing.
- Explore organizations working toward reproductive justice like the National Network of Abortion Funds, ACCESS Reproductive Justice, Sister Song, and SisterReach.
Further Reading:
- The Future of Reproductive Rights in America, SSN Spotlight, May 2016
- What Happened to Women's Health When the State of Ohio Forced the Use of Outdated Abortion Procedures?, Alice Cartwright, Sarah C.M. Roberts, and Ushma Upadhyay, ANSIRH, University of California, San Francisco
Trump and Republican leaders have promised to repeal Obamacare, leaving millions without health insurance. Professor Colleen Grogan breaks down the benefits of the Affordable Care Act, its shortcomings, and key parts of proposed alternatives.
For More on this Topic:
- Read her two-page fact sheet, What Trump Means for the Affordable Care Act, co-authored with Dean Sherry Glied .
- Check out her brief, Debunking Myths about Medicaid - And Its Expansion, with Theda Skocpol and Katherine Swartz.
Further Reading:
- How Obamacare Repeal Would Harm Rural America, Claire Snell-Rood, University of California, Berkeley, Cathleen E. Willging, Behavioral Health Research Center of the Southwest
- How Obamacare Helps Americans Who Already Have Health Insurance, Jonathan Oberlander, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Tensions with China are high, North Korea is testing nuclear warheads, and the Philippines is distancing itself. Professor Oriana Skylar Mastro explores the complicated web of U.S. trade and military relations in Asia and highlights potential challenges.
For More on this Topic:
- Check out her two-page brief, Japan, the United States, and the Shifting Balance of Air Power in Northeast Asia.
- Read her article on China’s military transparency as mentioned in the episode.
Further Reading:
- Can Countries Overcome Distrust by Affirming Rather than Downplaying National Identities?, Eun Bin Chung, University of Utah
- Is Military Aid an Effective Tool for U.S. Foreign Policy?, Patricia L. Sullivan, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Americans across the political spectrum are questioning the integrity of U.S. elections and democracy. Professor Amel Ahmed walks through threats that can erode democracies and encourages protecting institutions, even the controversial Electoral College.
For More on this Topic:
- Check out her piece defending the electoral college in The American Prospect.
- See the controversial New York Times graph Avi mentioned and a rebuttal in the Washington Post.
- Read her two-page brief and her book, Democracy and the Politics of Electoral System Choice: Engineering Electoral Dominance.
Further Reading:
- How Government by the Privileged Distorts Democracies, Nicholas Carnes, Duke University, Noam Lupu, Vanderbilt University
- How International Election Observers Can Help Fledgling Democracies, Leslie E. Anderson, University of Florida
The Supreme Court is helps shape civil rights in the United States, but it is less recognized for its role in intensifying economic inequality. Professor Stephen Gottlieb details cases in the high court that have promoted these inequalities.
For More on this Topic:
- Read two-page brief, How the Roberts Court Undermines U.S. Democracy, or his book, Unfit for Democracy: The Roberts Court and the Breakdown of American Politics.
- Check out his blog or commentary on WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
Further Reading:
- The Changing Relationship of Congress and the Federal Judiciary, Bruce Peabody, Fairleigh Dickinson University
- County Right-to-Work Laws as the Latest Tactic to Undercut American Labor Unions, Raymond Hogler, Colorado State University
A voting rule no one is talking about could change the face of elections across the country. Professor Zoltan Hajnal explains how combining national, state, and local election days would boost turnout and reduce disparities in voting and representation.
For More on this Topic:
- Check out his two-page brief, To Avert the Next Ferguson, Reschedule Elections to Make Local Politics More Representative
- Read his book, America’s Uneven Democracy: Turnout, Race, and Representation in City Politics.
Further Reading:
- How The Timing of Elections Shapes Turnout, Election Outcomes, and Public Policy, Sarah F. Anzia, University of California, Berkeley
- Do Election Reforms Promote Equal Participation?, Elizabeth Rigby, The George Washington University
Professor Heather Lee tells the story of how a loophole in the Chinese Exclusion Act led to the Chinese restaurant boom in America. Drawing parallels to today, she explains the unintended impacts of the law on the U.S. and China.
Professor Gabriel Sanchez breaks down the Latino vote in the 2016 election and unpacks the controversy and misinterpretation of exit poll data on Latinos. He discusses where these voters stand on immigration, the economy, and healthcare.
Tech error fixed: Professor Peter Shane describes the court case that could give the president new authority to fire any federal official, for any reason. He explains the history of the theory behind the court’s ruling and arguments for and against it.
Professor Garth Heutel lays out a potentially cost-effective way to reduce global temperatures to stave off global warming. But solar geoengineering is not a silver bullet. While the benefits are clear, the costs are much more uncertain.
Professor Sarah Bowen discusses her research on why home-cooking is not all it's cracked up to be. She gives a more realistic account of the idealized family dinner, and how money, time, and gender norms impact how and when families eat.
Professor Chris S. Parker details why, given America’s racial history, the election of Donald Trump is not a surprise. Reactionary parties have always appealed to voters beyond just the rural, working class, and Trump supporters are no exception.
Professor Kathy Cramer shares lessons from her conversations with rural communities in Wisconsin. Rural voters often feel forgotten, misunderstood, and disrespected, which directly affects their sense of politics and whom they elect to office.
Professor Theda Skocpol discusses the outcome of the 2016 presidential election and what to expect from a Trump presidency. Analyzing the factors that swayed voters, she offers insight on what the Democrats need to do moving forward.
Professor Jan Leighley walks through the factors that influence voter behavior from age to party to voting laws. Elected officials and campaigns are responsive to groups with high turnout and encourage them to vote. The opposite is also true.
Professor Paul Lichterman analyzes strategies used by activists in social movements and explains how Sanders supporters decide to interact with Clinton in the general election. He offers a new way to think about Trump’s appeal to the religious right.
Professor Nathan Jensen explains how cities and states often lose more than they gain when politicians use tax incentives to bring businesses to town.
Professor Amy Fried explains the use and abuse of public opinion research and tells how polling methods have changed over the past 100 years.
Professor Sara Goldrick-Rab discusses the impact of the high cost of college on students at public and community colleges, including hunger, homelessness, and debt without getting a degree. She explains root of the problem and offers concrete solutions.
Professor Kelly Dittmar discusses how gender impacts attitudes towards candidates and informs voters’ expectations. Informed by the Presidential Gender Watch 2016 project, Dittmar flags what to look and listen for in the first presidential debate.
This special episode tells the story of a professor who helped to inform local policy: Tamara Kay corrected misleading statistics about a labor law in New Mexico. For context, Professor Raymond Hogler provides the history and impact of right-to-work laws.
No Jargon is on break this week. It’s the beginning of the semester and professors and SSN chapters are starting up for the new year. If you need your scholarly fix, read a brief on affirmative action in colleges at www.scholars.org/backtoschool.
Professor Ushma Upadhyay examined an abortion pill law in Ohio that required health care providers to use outdated FDA rules. Said to protect women’s health, the law instead hurt women’s health and increased the cost and time spent for the procedure.
Professor Jules Boykoff places Rio 2016 in historical context from the Olympics’ elitist beginnings to their continued strain on host cities. As rising costs burden the public without delivering lasting benefits, fewer cities are "game for the Games."
Professor Tracey Meares discusses why building community trust must be at the foundation of police reform. Departments can strengthen legitimacy by looking beyond the goal of reducing crime to focus on citizen engagement and addressing past injustices.
Professor Sarah Horton outlines why so many farmworkers face illness - and even death – on the job. Poor regulation, harsh labor practices, and economic pressures push them to work without shade, water, or breaks and discourage them from speaking up.
Professor James Curry explains how limited resources have enabled party leaders to write and negotiate most laws in Congress. Lacking expertise, staff, and time, rank-and-file members rarely have the chance to contribute to the bills on which they vote.
Professor Carolyn Heinrich lays out how and why technology has a growing presence in America’s classrooms. Digital tools offer some benefits, but their effects on student learning can fall behind in-person instruction and may distract more than they help.
Professor Paru Shah discusses why electing people of color is hindered by segregated districts, voter bias, and election rules and timing. Drawing on her experience as an elected school board member, Shah explains the hurdles for minority candidates.
Professor Shauna Shames lays out why running for office often comes with additional costs for women and leads many to stay away from politics. Hillary Clinton has overcome the odds and may inspire others to run, but she is more of an outlier than the norm.
Professor Nicholas Carnes explains the consequences of having mostly white-collar elected officials - a government by the rich, for the rich. Working class Americans and their interests are underrepresented, but Carnes highlights ways to help them run.
Rocío Garcia describes how social class, race, gender, and citizenship status impact access to reproductive health care. To become more inclusive, the reproductive rights movement must address these factors and move beyond being just “pro-choice”.
David Dagan outlines the GOP’s journey from being “tough on crime” to embracing prison reform. Despite falling crime rates, the party could only change from the inside - with key Republicans leading the way after experiencing prison for themselves.
Professors Blasi, Freeman, and Kruse stay post-interview to discuss why trade unions, business schools, and foundations should get on board with employee ownership and profit sharing programs.
Professors Blasi, Freeman, and Kruse explain how sharing the ownership or profits of a company with workers can improve productivity, pay, and work life quality - all while reducing economic inequality.
Professor Anna Law lays out meaningful and responsible reforms that the next President could use to address immigration. Law encourages the incoming administration to look beyond the undocumented population and learn from history’s failures and successes.
Professor Sofya Aptekar explores the gift economy through Freecycle, a network of groups where people can give and receive used items. Aptekar examines how income inequality and consumption patterns impact the organization, people, and the environment.
Professor Jamila Michener discusses one way the U.S. tries to incorporate low-income and minority individuals into the political system and why the effort has been failing. The core issues are those of partisanship, race, and who implements policies.
Professor Saher Selod explains how 9/11 changed the lives of Muslims in America. This small and diverse group faces hostility, discriminatory policies, and Islamophobic rhetoric in the media and now the 2016 election in the name of national security.
Joshua Kalla describes a new door to door canvassing technique, “deep canvassing,” that encourages voters to tell their own stories of discrimination and leads to dramatic, long-lasting decreases in prejudice.
Professor Christopher Parker shows the role of racial resentment in the rise of the Tea Party and connects it to “the paranoid style” in American politics. Parker points to white fears of America’s changing demographics as a driving force in today’s GOP.
Professor Lawrence Jacobs reveals how America’s central bank, the Federal Reserve, used the 2008 financial crisis to expand its size and authority. With little accountability, this institution has favored big banks and increased economic inequality.
Professor Jacob Hacker shows how the war on government made America forget the root of its prosperity - a healthy mix of government and business. This was no accident, as a more politicized business community helped shift public discourse and then policy.
Professor Paul Pierson presents the forgotten history of American prosperity: how public and private sectors worked together for economic growth and social progress. This mixed economy increased life spans, built infrastructure, and spurred innovation.
Vanessa Williamson dispels the misconception that Americans hate taxes. In fact, most Americans support taxes and are willing to increase them for services they care about. She outlines how, despite this, anti-tax policies became so popular.
In light of recent news about abortion and birth control, this episode revisits Professor Carole Joffe's interview. She discussed the politics of abortion, the economic importance of reproductive choice, and state-level restrictions to abortion access.
Professor Arthur MacEwan explains how market regulations - from patent laws to healthcare to early childhood education - can address the roots of economic inequality. To help us improve our podcast, please take our short survey at http://bit.ly/NJsurvey.
Professor Joshua Inwood describes how truth and reconciliation processes address legacies of racism, violence, and conflict and move toward community healing. To help us improve our podcast, please take our short survey at http://bit.ly/NJsurvey.
Professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy outlines the power of public backlash, shareholder pressure, and consumer boycotts to check corporate spending on political causes. Torres-Spelliscy is an Associate Professor of Law at Stetson University College of Law.
Professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy stays post-interview to tell the story of a small tech and financial services company with a unique branding problem.
Professor Dana Fisher shows that policymakers only hear scientific information about climate change that reaffirms their own positions. Fisher is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Maryland.
Professor Ellen Fitzpatrick tells the stories of three women who - long before Hillary Clinton - sought to win the U.S. presidency despite overwhelming challenges. Fitzpatrick is a Professor of History at the University of New Hampshire.
Professor Robert Pollin gives three reasons why a $15 minimum wage is feasible for the fast food industry and shows how it is better for workers and the economy overall. Pollin is a Professor of Economics at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Professor Rick Hasen explores why a few wealthy Americans have most of the influence in U.S. politics - and how changing the Supreme Court is the best way to fix that. Hasen is a Professor of Law and Political Science at University of California, Irvine.
Professor David Schultz explains that only a tiny sliver of the American population - the voters in just 10 swing states - will truly matter in the November presidential election. Schultz is a Professor of Political Science at Hamline University.
Jackelyn Hwang discusses gentrification in America - how race and class impact who moves where and when. How can decision-makers encourage investment that protects long-time residents? Hwang is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Princeton University.
Professor Kristin Goss explains how women’s groups have grown, shrunk, and fought against getting pigeonholed in the century since they gained the vote. Goss is an Associate Professor of Public Policy and Political Science at Duke University.
Professor Deana Rohlinger talks about five decades of American abortion battles and analyzes the successes and failures of groups on both sides. Rohlinger is a Professor of Sociology at Florida State University.a State University.
Professor Colleen Casey describes how community organizations help disenfranchised groups participate in democracy and addresses questions of nonprofit accountability. Casey is an Associate Professor of Public Policy at University of Texas at Arlington.
Daniel Alpert explains how the opening of the global market has reduced the bargaining power of workers at home and encouraged a global cycle of booms and busts. Alpert is a Fellow at The Century Foundation and a Managing Partner at Westwood Capital.
Marion Johnson discusses the costs and benefits of giving workers paid time off to recover from illness, care for a sick family member, or be with a new baby. Johnson is a Policy Analyst at Think NC First.
Professor Brian Southwell explains why people tend to believe false information and discusses strategies for correcting the public perception of misinformation. Southwell is a professor of Mass Communication at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Professor James Boyce explains how putting a price on carbon would increase the cost of non-renewable energy like oil, coal and gas and help reduce global warming. Boyce is Professor of Economics at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Professor Laura Tach discusses the Earned Income Tax Credit and explains why it is one of the most effective anti-poverty programs in America. Tach is an Assistant Professor of Policy Analysis and Management at Cornell University.
Professor Benjamin Railton recounts the short history of US immigration law and the reaction to a historic situation similar to the Syrian refugee crisis. Railton is an Associate Professor of English and American Studies at Fitchburg State University.
Professor Christopher Faricy explains how the U.S. federal tax code provides billions in private welfare that disproportionately benefits the rich and increases inequality. Faricy is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Syracuse University.
Professor Hahrie Han discusses how the most effective civic organizations reach out to the public and develop leaders. Han is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Professor Marcus Anthony Hunter explores the geography of the Black American experience and gives historical context to Black politics and Black Lives Matter. Hunter is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Professor Carole Joffe explains the culture and politics behind the Planned Parenthood controversy and the economic importance of reproductive health care. Joffe is a Professor in the Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, University of California.
Alexander Hertel-Fernandez explores how small business interests influence politics and explains what businesses do to politically mobilize their employees. Hertel-Fernandez is a PhD Candidate in Government and Social Policy at Harvard University.
Professor Nicholas Hillman discusses the burden of student debt and dispels common misconceptions. Hillman is an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Professor Heath Brown discusses the Tea Party, explaining how this conservative movement has grown and changed – and how it may shape the 2016 elections. Brown is an Assistant Professor of Public Management at the City University of New York.
Professor Erin O’Brien illuminates the absence of voter fraud in the United States and details how and why voter fraud legislation is passed across states. O’Brien is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Massachusetts Bosto
Professor Theda Skocpol discusses changes in and around the Republican Party and explains how conservatives are reaching out to new constituencies. Skocpol is a Professor of Government and Sociology at Harvard University.