Scholars Strategy Network's No Jargon

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 , T...

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...

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 C...

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 Promis...

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 Ira...

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 boo...

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...

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 pro...

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...

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 Educati...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 .   Fu...

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 Futuri...

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 hi...

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 Immi...

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...

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 196...

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 Cartwrigh...

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...

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 he...

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...

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 Br...