Episode 281: When the Safety Net Shrinks
Scholars Strategy Network's No Jargon
Release Date: 07/29/2025
Episode 297: New Rules for College Admissions
Scholars Strategy Network's No Jargon
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 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...
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Episode 296: The Politics of What We Eat
Scholars Strategy Network's No Jargon
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 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...
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Episode 295: The Affordable Housing Myth
Scholars Strategy Network's No Jargon
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 explains how politics and local housing markets affect who has access and why simply building more...
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Episode 294: What Did We Learn From Covid?
Scholars Strategy Network's No Jargon
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...
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Episode 293: Haiti and the Weight of Uncertainty
Scholars Strategy Network's No Jargon
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...
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Episode 292: When Tariffs Hit Home
Scholars Strategy Network's No Jargon
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, , about current economic conditions and policy Read his analysis in EconoFact,
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Episode 291: The Ripple Effects of Attacks on Higher Education
Scholars Strategy Network's No Jargon
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...
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Episode 290: When Nonprofits Can’t Count on Washington
Scholars Strategy Network's No Jargon
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:...
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Episode 289: The Rising Costs of Healthcare
Scholars Strategy Network's No Jargon
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 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: Read her SSN brief: Check out her...
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Episode 288: Recognizing Defendants’ Disabilities
Scholars Strategy Network's No Jargon
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 for the Supreme Court case...
info_outlineOn 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:
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Read Morrissey’s recent opinion article published in The Hill: Trump’s Medicaid and SNAP red tape will devastate millions of Americans
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Read her op-ed published in The Progressive: GOP Tax Bill Will Hurt Children and Families
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Check out the book she co-authored, Cradle to Kindergarten: A New Plan to Combat Inequality
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