Scholars Strategy Network’s No Jargon
- Episodes
- 328
- Released
- every two weeks
- Latest episode
- Nov 10, 2026
About the podcast
No Jargon, the Scholars Strategy Network's bi-weekly 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 https://scholars.org/podcast.
Episodes 328
Episode 311: How Neighborhoods Shape Civic Life
The 2026 midterm elections may be over, but the effort to understand the results is just beginning. Who voted, and what shaped their decisions? Political scientist Carrie LeVan offers a different way to think …
Show notes
The 2026 midterm elections may be over, but the effort to understand the results is just beginning. Who voted, and what shaped their decisions? Political scientist Carrie LeVan offers a different way to think about what impacts political participation: the design of the communities where we live. From sidewalks and front porches to places where neighbors naturally gather, she explains how our surroundings and everyday interactions can influence whether we get involved in civic life. She also explores how gentrification can disrupt those connections and what local leaders can do to create communities that encourage participation.
For more on this topic:
Check out LeVan's book, Neighborhoods Matter: How Place and People Affect Political Participation
Read her op-ed in the Bangor Daily News, Question 1 Would Make it Harder for Rural Mainers to Cast their Ballot
Episode 310: The Politics Behind Medicaid
New Medicaid rules could make it harder for millions of Americans to keep their health coverage. Professor Jamila Michener explains how work requirements, more frequent eligibility checks, and higher …
Show notes
New Medicaid rules could make it harder for millions of Americans to keep their health coverage. Professor Jamila Michener explains how work requirements, more frequent eligibility checks, and higher out-of-pocket costs could push eligible people off the program. Drawing on conversations with Medicaid recipients, she explores why politicians keep invoking fraud to justify cuts, why the people most affected have little say in how Medicaid works, and what it would take to change that.
For more on this topic:
Read Michener's op-ed in Syracuse.com, Historic Medicaid Cuts Are a Body Blow to Vulnerable Americans
Read her article in Health Affairs, The Future Of Medicaid And The Imperative Of Organized Power
Check out her book, Fragmented Democracy: Medicaid, Federalism, and Unequal Politics
Episode 309: Columbus, Indigenous Peoples, and the Stories Nations Tell
Is it Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples' Day—and what does that choice say about whose history America celebrates? The Trump administration has reaffirmed Columbus Day, praising Christopher Columbus as an …
Show notes
Is it Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples' Day—and what does that choice say about whose history America celebrates? The Trump administration has reaffirmed Columbus Day, praising Christopher Columbus as an American hero while declining to issue a separate proclamation recognizing Indigenous Peoples' Day. Professor Kerri Malloy explains why the debate goes beyond a name on the calendar, how it fits into ongoing efforts to change the way U.S. history is portrayed in museums and national parks, and what we can achieve from taking a more critical approach to learning our past.
For more on this topic:
Read Malloy's commentary in The Conversation, Universities Returning Native American Remains and Artifacts Isn't Just About Physical Objects – It's About Dignity and Justice
Check out his essay in the Canopy Forum, From Doctrine to Proclamation: How Faith Still Frames U.S. Indian Policy
Read his op-ed in Cal Matters, Gov. Newsom and Pres. Trump Tell the Same Inadequate Tale About Native America
Episode 308: The Money Behind Nonprofits
Cuts to federal funding have made headlines for months. But what actually happens to nonprofits when that government money dries up? Professor Claire Dunning explains how federal funding helped build the modern …
Show notes
Cuts to federal funding have made headlines for months. But what actually happens to nonprofits when that government money dries up? Professor Claire Dunning explains how federal funding helped build the modern nonprofit sector, why this money has long felt invisible, and how public and private funding have become so intertwined. She explores the ways in which philanthropy can shape nonprofits' priorities and influence which policy ideas get funded — and what that means for the people and communities nonprofits serve.
For more on this topic:
Read Dunning's commentary in Vital City, An Antidemocratic Approach to Democratic Governance
Check out her book, Nonprofit Neighborhoods: An Urban History of Inequality and the American State
Read her op-ed in The Washington Post, How the Rise of Urban Nonprofits Has Exacerbated Poverty
Episode 307: The Cost of Caregiving
Labor Day is supposed to be about honoring workers—but what about the essential work that happens at home, often without a paycheck? Professor Jennifer Greenfield explains why caregiving, paid family and …
Show notes
Labor Day is supposed to be about honoring workers—but what about the essential work that happens at home, often without a paycheck? Professor Jennifer Greenfield explains why caregiving, paid family and medical leave, and the rising cost of child care are not just private family concerns, but issues that affect workers, employers, and the broader economy. She explores what paid leave policies look like across U.S. states, who gets left out of the current system, and what policymakers can do to better support people caring for children, aging parents, and other loved ones.
For more on this topic:
Check out Greenfield's findings, A Colorado Guaranteed Income Program Could Help Families, but the Costs Are High, co-written with Kaitlyn Sims and Stefan Chavez-Norgaard, in The Conversation
Read her op-ed in the Denver Post, Here's How the Big Beautiful Bill Will Hurt Coloradans Most in Need of Assistance
Check out her op-ed in The Hill, Why paid leave should be kept in Build Back Better
Episode 306: When Schools Close
As families head back to school, many students may find themselves in a new school this year because their original school has closed. In the U.S., more than 1,000 schools closed in 2025–26. Professor Mara …
Show notes
As families head back to school, many students may find themselves in a new school this year because their original school has closed. In the U.S., more than 1,000 schools closed in 2025–26. Professor Mara Tieken explains what's driving closures, why they don't always save money, and how they can reshape communities—especially rural and Black communities. She shares what communities can do when a school is threatened with closure, from fighting to keep it open to making sure the process is handled well when closure is unavoidable.
For more on this topic:
Check out Rural Schools Open, a resource toolkit created by Tieken to help communities facing possible school closures
Read her op-ed in The Hechinger Report, Shuttering Public Schools Is a Strategy That Rarely Saves Much Money and Often Leads to Test Score Declines
Read her commentary in The Washington Monthly, Don't Fall for the School Closure Temptation
Episode 305: The Politics of Reproduction
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 …
Show notes
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
Episode 304: When Colleges Close
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 …
Show notes
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
Episode 303: Who Gets to Be an American?
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 …
Show notes
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
Episode 302: The Christian Women Behind MAGA
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 …
Show notes
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
Episode 301: The Cost of Incarceration
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 …
Show notes
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
Episode 300: Can America's Political Parties be Fixed?
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 …
Show notes
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
Episode 299: Can Cash Improve Pregnancy Outcomes?
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 …
Show notes
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
Episode 298: The Fight Over Climate Rules
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 …
Show notes
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
Episode 297: New Rules for College Admissions
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 …
Show notes
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?
Episode 296: The Politics of What We Eat
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 …
Show notes
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
Episode 295: The Affordable Housing Myth
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 …
Show notes
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.
Episode 294: What Did We Learn From Covid?
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 …
Show notes
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
Episode 293: Haiti and the Weight of Uncertainty
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 …
Show notes
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
Episode 292: When Tariffs Hit Home
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 …
Show notes
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
Episode 291: The Ripple Effects of Attacks on Higher Education
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 …
Show notes
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
Episode 290: When Nonprofits Can't Count on Washington
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 …
Show notes
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.
Episode 289: The Rising Costs of Healthcare
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 …
Show notes
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
Episode 288: Recognizing Defendants' Disabilities
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 …
Show notes
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
Episode 287: Why Local Elections Matter
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 …
Show notes
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
Episode 286: The Past, Present, and Future of Reproductive Care
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 …
Show notes
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
Episode 285: The Big Business of Immigration Detention
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 …
Show notes
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
Episode 284: The New Reality of College Debt
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 …
Show notes
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
Episode 283: How Maps Decide Elections
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 …
Show notes
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
Episode 282: The Unequal Costs of Climate Change
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 …
Show notes
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
These are the latest 40 of 328 episodes. You’ll find older episodes in the podcast’s feed.
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