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

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

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

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. 

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.

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.

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

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 

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.

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.

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