When opioid manufacturers, distributors, and other companies agreed to pay billions of dollars to settle lawsuits over their role in the nation’s opioid crisis, the […]
How Landlords Make Cheap Rent More Expensive
For people searching for a rental home, the advertised monthly price is often the first number that determines whether a property seems affordable. A home listed for $1,800 a month might fit comfortably within a household's budget, while another listed for $1,950 might not. But what happens when the advertised price omits charges that tenants have no choice but to pay? That question is at the center of a major federal consumer protection case announced November 6th. Progress Residential, one of the country's largest managers of single-family rental homes, and its owner, private equity firm Pretium Partners, have agreed to…
When the Government Questions Your Vote
Election security is a fundamental responsibility of government. Voters need confidence that elections are conducted fairly, that ballots are counted accurately, and that only eligible people participate. But efforts to protect elections can create their own problems when investigations rely on questionable information or put eligible voters under unnecessary scrutiny. That concern is at the center of a legal battle unfolding just days before the November midterm elections. A federal judge in California has ordered the Trump administration to restrict Department of Homeland Security investigations into suspected noncitizen voter registration and voting in nine states. The judge found that the…
America Is Making It Harder to Become American
For many immigrants, becoming a U.S. citizen is the culmination of years of hard work, paperwork, and patience. It can mean finally voting in an American election, traveling without the same concerns about maintaining permanent resident status, and gaining the security of knowing that their future in the country is settled. But for thousands of people who have followed the rules and applied for citizenship, the finish line appears to be moving farther away. According to a recent report from The Washington Post, federal officials approved approximately 173,000 people for citizenship during the first eight months of 2026, a 72…
When the Government Questions Your Vote
Election security is a fundamental responsibility of government. Voters need confidence that elections are conducted fairly, that ballots are counted accurately, and that only eligible…
America Is Making It Harder to Become American
For many immigrants, becoming a U.S. citizen is the culmination of years of hard work, paperwork, and patience. It can mean finally voting in an…
When AI Reads Your Medical Records
For years, artificial intelligence in health care was largely discussed as a future technology. Doctors might someday use AI to identify diseases, analyze medical images,…
The Growing Alarm Over Facial Recognition and ICE Detentions
For years, debates about facial recognition technology largely centered on local police departments, airport security, and private sector data collection. More recently, however, a different…
The Cost of Closing Forest Research
The U.S. Forest Service is closing 23 research and development facilities across more than a dozen states as part of a sweeping reorganization of the…
When Politics Enters the Science: The Fight Over What Judges Should Know
The courts routinely deal with questions that judges cannot answer through legal precedent alone. What caused an environmental disaster? How reliable is a particular scientific…
How Landlords Make Cheap Rent More Expensive
For people searching for a rental home, the advertised monthly price is often the first number that determines whether a property seems affordable. A home…
Why Financial Literacy Matters More Than Ever
For generations, financial literacy has been viewed as a personal skill that helps people budget wisely, save for retirement, and avoid unnecessary debt. Today, it…
Measles Is Back. Is America Ready?
For more than two decades, measles was a disease most Americans knew from history books, old photographs, or stories told by older relatives. The United…
When Saving Medicaid Money Could Cost States More
Starting in January 2027, millions of lower-income Americans enrolled in Medicaid will face a new requirement that has been presented as a way to reduce…
When AI Reads Your Medical Records
For years, artificial intelligence in health care was largely discussed as a future technology. Doctors might someday use AI to identify diseases, analyze medical images, […]
America’s Historic Drop in Homicides Deserves More Attention
For years, Americans have been told that crime is one of the country’s most pressing problems. Political campaigns have been built around fears of rising […]
When Politics Enters the Science: The Fight Over What Judges Should Know
The courts routinely deal with questions that judges cannot answer through legal precedent alone. What caused an environmental disaster? How reliable is a particular scientific […]
Why States Are Worried About SNAP
For decades, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP, has operated as a partnership between the federal government and the states. The federal […]
Can We Trust Food Safety?
Americans rarely think about the complex system that keeps the food supply safe. They purchase a bag of lettuce, a container of fruit, or a […]
The Battle Over the 25-Foot Rule
A person standing on a sidewalk with a smartphone can now document events that previously might have gone unnoticed. A traffic stop, a protest, an […]
Why Financial Literacy Matters More Than Ever
For generations, financial literacy has been viewed as a personal skill that helps people budget wisely, save for retirement, and avoid unnecessary debt. Today, it […]
Can America’s Power Grid Handle the Future?
Every summer brings familiar headlines about record temperatures, soaring electricity demand, and pleas from utilities asking customers to conserve energy during the hottest hours of […]
Wildfire Season Has Changed Forever
Wildfires have become one of the most recognizable symbols of a changing risk landscape in the United States. Each year, images of neighborhoods surrounded by […]