The surprising increase in child labor law violations Laura C. Bucci - May 1, 2024 In some states, conservative lawmakers are easing the rules designed to protect younger workers.
Local news coverage of political scandals is disappearing Danny Hayes - October 4, 2023 Menendez is the exception, not the rule.
Marjorie Taylor Greene’s supporters don’t care what critics think Victor Wu - November 16, 2022 If Trump picks her as his running mate, she’ll have a bigger platform. And Republican leaders can’t dent her approval.
How public colleges have already backed away from affirmative action Domingo Morel - October 30, 2022 Monday’s Supreme Court oral arguments will probably focus on elite schools. But most low-income students of color come up against a different barrier.
Afro-Latino politicians could bridge the African American-Latino divide Yalidy Matos, Michelle Bueno Vásquez, and Domingo Morel - October 24, 2022 In the U.S., Dominicans are the Hispanic group with the largest Black population. Many are pressured to identify as either Black or Latino, not both.
How Black and Latino people did in this last round of redistricting Michal Migurski, Eric McGhee, and Christopher Warshaw - October 6, 2022 We examined the first redistricting round since the Supreme Court’s Shelby County v. Holder decision ended ‘preclearance,’ comparing it to the last cycle’s districts
After the 5th Circuit’s ruling, does DACA have a future? Jaclyn Kelley-Widmer - October 6, 2022 The decision against the Obama-era policy seems to invite other challenges to immigrant rights
A third party could be successful. But probably not this one. Seth Masket - August 3, 2022 To win voters, a party has to stand for something. But what would the Forward Party do in office?
The House might pass a long-ignored bill to study reparations for slavery. Why now? Katherine Tate - March 22, 2022 My research looks at how Black legislators changed the Democratic Party — and how becoming party insiders changed them.
Congress finally passed a federal anti-lynching bill — after 120 years of failure Justin Peck and Jeffery Jenkins - March 9, 2022 For decades, a small, intensely committed Senate minority was able to use Senate rules to block change and maintain the Jim Crow system in the South
Sen. Manchin’s Freedom to Vote Act would help stop gerrymandering, our research finds Peter Miller and Anna Harris - January 9, 2022 We examined new district maps, and found that those drawn by independent commissions would be most likely to pass the Manchin test
The economy is still in pandemic shock. But some state governments are flush with cash. Stan Veuger and Jeffrey Clemens - December 14, 2021 Trying to avoid economic disaster, the federal government ended up distributing more money than some states needed
Congress might require women to register for the draft. Where do Republicans and Democrats stand? Robert Ralston and Jen Spindel - November 14, 2021 The parties are deeply divided among themselves, aligning in unusual ways.
Three reasons Congress finally passed an infrastructure bill Sarah Binder - November 8, 2021 And what happened to Build Back Better, the social and climate infrastructure bill?
How did 9/11 change South Asian Americans’ identities and politics? Sangay Mishra - September 17, 2021 Being targets of racial and religious hatred unified them behind the Democrats
Few people are expected to vote in this year’s ‘off-cycle’ elections. That can be fixed. Zoltan Hajnal, Vladimir Kogan, and G. Agustin Markarian - August 29, 2021 Holding state and local elections in even years — alongside national elections — means that voters more accurately represent the cities they live in
Discrimination against Indian Americans happens more than you might think Sumitra Badrinathan, Milan Vaishnav, Jonathan Kay, and Devesh Kapur - June 9, 2021 A new survey reveals 1 in 2 Indian Americans experienced recent discrimination, often on the basis of skin color
There’s a long, global history to today’s anti-Asian bias and violence Sarah Hayes, Kim Yi Dionne, and Fulya Felicity Turkmen - April 18, 2021 ‘Foreigners’ have been blamed for disease all the way back to the bubonic plague — and probably beyond
President Biden is hosting Japan’s prime minister in D.C. It’s a big deal for Japan — and the U.S. Phillip Y. Lipscy and Mary M. McCarthy - April 14, 2021 They’ll discuss new ways to cooperate, as well as unfinished business from the Trump years
Behind the Gaetz scandal, there’s a bigger issue: Most states have loopholes that let men exploit teenage girls Amber Lusvardi - April 13, 2021 They can bypass statutory rape charges through marriage
Do political scandals even matter any more? Brandon Rottinghaus - April 8, 2021 Increasingly, partisans back “their” candidate. For everyone else, too many scandals make it hard to focus on anyone.
Voter suppression started way before Jim Crow. It’s a longstanding American tradition. David Bateman - March 28, 2021 For two and a half centuries, people have justified Black disenfranchisement in the name of ‘unity’
How incoming Sen. Alex Padilla could help Democrats among Latino voters Stephen Nuño-Perez - January 20, 2021 Will Padilla inspire new Latino candidates as well?
The National Guard has been called out in Washington, D.C. Here’s what you need to know. Jim Golby and Carrie Lee - January 7, 2021 Attempts to use the National Guard for partisan purposes would be highly controversial.
Some good news from 2020: So far, very few Americans have been killed in terrorist attacks. Daniel Byman - December 21, 2020 Despite alarming headlines, domestic terror attacks left fewer Americans dead than in 2019
Many Republicans believe the election was fixed. But that’s what losing partisans often think. Dan Cassino - December 3, 2020 What’s new is how many are not just suspicious, but say they’re sure it’s true
State legislatures likely to have more women and people of color next year Paru Shah, Erika Vallejo, Eric Gonzalez Juenke, and Bernard Fraga - October 22, 2020 And that predicts what Congress will look like in the future
How will Florida’s Cuban Americans vote? That’s more complicated than many believe. Yamil Ricardo Velez - October 18, 2020 Let’s debunk the myths.
These states are most likely to boost turnout — despite the pandemic Michael J. Pomante II - October 7, 2020 The Cost of Voting Index is keeping tabs on which states have made it easier to vote this year.
The Trump administration sanctioned China for detaining 1 million Uighurs. Here’s what Americans think. Nazita Lajevardi and John Kuk - September 20, 2020 They approve of sanctions but don’t want a war
Trump’s latest executive actions have 3 big problems Andrew Rudalevige - August 12, 2020 In 2016, Trump said executive orders signaled lazy leadership. Whoops.
For Democratic governors, it pays to have a Democratic attorney general. Republicans, not so much. Nicholas Miras - August 2, 2020 Many states split up executive branch power among several elected officials. Here’s what happens when they are not from the same party.
Russia’s disinformation campaigns are targeting African Americans Žilvinas Švedkauskas, Michel Salzer, and Chonlawit Sirikupt - July 23, 2020 Russia is masking its involvement by outsourcing its disinformation operations to West Africa
Latino voters could be pivotal in November. Here’s how mailers mobilize them to vote. Melissa R. Michelson, Matt Davis, and Christopher B. Mann - July 9, 2020 Our research looked at whether English or bilingual letters were more effective.
Congress can’t easily pass police reforms. Here’s why. Sarah Binder - June 5, 2020 Public attention will shift — and the Republican Senate will ignore House action.
Pelosi called Trump ‘morbidly obese.’ Voters don’t like overweight candidates. Gabriele Magni and Andrew Reynolds - June 5, 2020 Our new study looks at how weight matters in politics.
In some states, unemployment checks are much smaller than in others. Here’s why. Sara Watson - May 6, 2020 Some states replaced about two-thirds of lost income; one replaced only 17 percent. The Cares Act shook all that up.
Should U.S. states be free to close their borders to other U.S. citizens? Wallace Goodman - April 3, 2020 Without federal leadership, governors and mayors are handling the pandemic very differently.
ICE said it won’t deport people for seeking medical care. Immigrants won’t believe them. Jaclyn Kelley-Widmer - March 20, 2020 Trump is still promoting the wall and border closings – which he’s now saying will stop the virus.
Democrats named Biden, Sanders and Warren as their top picks 18 months ago. What did the primaries change? Peter Enns and Jonathon Schuldt - March 16, 2020 Our research reveals some flaws in the primary system
Trump declared two different kinds of emergencies for covid-19. There might soon be 52. Andrew Rudalevige - March 14, 2020 What does an emergency declaration mean, in law and practice?
Delaware offered Amazon $4.5 million to locate a new facility there. Guess who wins? Nathan M. Jensen - March 10, 2020 Our new book reveals the unexpected consequences of incentive programs
Is it really time to scrap democracy? Let’s examine the evidence. Andrew Gelman - February 17, 2020 Roslyn Fuller’s new book takes apart the pessimists’ arguments
Whether it’s from the Oscars or ‘The Apprentice,’ celebrity candidates get a boost. Here’s how we know. Lauren Wright - February 13, 2020 It’s more than putting a face to the name
Would Booker and Castro be in tonight’s debate if polls counted people of color accurately? Matt A. Barreto - December 18, 2019 Most polls misrepresent the Democratic electorate. Here’s how that skews the results.
Republicans’ advantage on national security has faded — and Democratic candidates are responding Michael Robinson - October 20, 2019 The Trump administration keeps moving further from what Americans say they want.
The Democratic candidates promise action on climate change. Here’s what stands in the way. Ashley Nunes - August 7, 2019 It’s not easy being green.
Trump’s Fourth of July celebration is partisan and militaristic — just like the early Independence Day celebrations Simon Gilhooley - July 4, 2019 Americans in the 19th century wouldn’t have minded the partisanship or military parades, but would have balked at glorifying the commander in chief.
Here’s why Pelosi won’t allow the House to pursue impeachment — at least not yet Sarah Binder - June 14, 2019 But the speaker is giving investigating committees more freedom — and that matters.
Surprised by all these abortion bans? Meet Americans United for Life — the most significant antiabortion group you’ve never heard of. Susan Roberts - May 31, 2019 It designs legislation aimed at staying out of the headlines and minimizing backlash.
Yes, Trump can override Congress and sell weapons to Saudi Arabia — even over Republican objections Jennifer Spindel - May 29, 2019 It’s not easy for Congress to block arms sales.
Trump pardoned a soldier convicted of murder. Is he hurting military effectiveness? Michael Robinson - May 14, 2019 Here are 4 takeaways from recent events in civilian-military politics.
Trump claims he’s the greatest hostage negotiator ever. So why did he make it harder to bring Americans home? Danielle Gilbert - April 29, 2019 The “cheif hostage negotiator” doesn’t seem to understand how American policy works.
Is Trump a racist? Let’s examine how we define ‘racism.’ Brian Tilley - March 6, 2019 Thinking of racism as an individual moral failing limits what we can do about it.
Zuckerberg’s announcement changes everything for Facebook Henry Farrell - March 6, 2019 Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg announced Thursday that the social
Can the Green New Deal make it through Congress? Here are 5 things you need to know. Leah Stokes - February 20, 2019 Whether or not it does, it is likely to affect future climate policies.
The 2019 Women’s March was bigger than you think Jeremy Pressman and Erica Chenoweth - February 1, 2019 After two years of counting political crowds in the United
This year’s Women’s Marchers weren’t focused on the leadership controversy. They were all about local and national political organizing. Dana Fisher - January 22, 2019 [caption id="attachment_82951" align="aligncenter" width="960"] The Women's March on Jan. 19.
What would actually put more working-class people in office? John Sides - January 22, 2019 [caption id="attachment_82861" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Freshman member of Congress Rep. Alexandria
Is MS-13 as dangerous as Trump suggests? Mariely Lopez-Santana, Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, and Camilo Pardo - December 7, 2018 [caption id="attachment_81146" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Police detain suspects after dismantling a
Hackers are using malware to find vulnerabilities in U.S. swing states. Expect cyberattacks. Nadiya Kostyuk and Kenneth Geers - November 5, 2018 The Pentagon has launched a preemptive strike against the Russian
What political science can tell us about mass shootings E.J. Graff - October 29, 2018 [caption id="attachment_79520" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A Pittsburgh Steelers logo with one
Former U.S. Special Forces were reportedly hired to kill Yemen’s leaders. Did the government know? Deborah Avant - October 19, 2018 [caption id="attachment_79057" align="aligncenter" width="960"] The carcass of a car reportedly
What is the Global Magnitsky Act, and why are U.S. senators invoking this on Saudi Arabia? Jordan Tama - October 12, 2018 Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi has not been seen since he
What gets ex-prisoners politically and civically involved? Michael Owens and Hannah Walker - September 21, 2018 [caption id="attachment_78059" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A sign directs citizens to a
Millions of protesters turned out in June — more than in any month since Trump’s inauguration. Jeremy Pressman and Erica Chenoweth - August 31, 2018 This is the 17th installment in a monthly series reporting
Want a less partisan senator? Elect a former governor. Misty Knight-Finley and Alex Keena - July 31, 2018 [caption id="attachment_76207" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Former GOP presidential nominee and current
The Equal Rights Amendment is one state from ratification. Now what? Robinson Woodward-Burns - June 20, 2018 [caption id="attachment_74733" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Activists from a variety of women’s
Is Russia interfering in Guatemala’s anti-corruption commission? The real story might surprise you. Rachel Schwartz - May 9, 2018 [caption id="attachment_73068" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Accompanied by Guatemala's Attorney General Thelma
The NRA sees a bleak Hobbesian world. So why does it want to arm individuals with guns? Ryan Reed and Christopher Hallenbrook - April 19, 2018 [caption id="attachment_72430" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Anti-NRA signs are passed out during
Did you attend the March for Our Lives? Here’s what it looked like nationwide. Kanisha Bond, Jeremy Pressman, and Erica Chenoweth - April 13, 2018 [caption id="attachment_72172" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Emma González, a survivor of the
The Fed’s next big appointment will probably be another white man. Here’s why it struggles to diversify its leadership. Mark Spindel and Sarah Binder - March 27, 2018 [caption id="attachment_71472" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Sen. Elizabeth
This is why Indian immigrants won’t benefit from Trump’s immigration plan Ramya Vijaya and Bidisha Biswas - March 1, 2018 [caption id="attachment_69933" align="alignnone" width="960"] Members of the Republican Hindu Coalition
How today’s big Supreme Court case on public-sector unions could lead to a fiscal crisis Jeffrey Kucik and Daniel DiSalvo - February 26, 2018 [caption id="attachment_69679" align="alignnone" width="960"] The Supreme Court in Washington at
Americans are getting smarter about politics in at least one important way Jason Jordan - February 7, 2018 [caption id="attachment_45922" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A voter wears an “I voted”
Will Trump’s tariffs help him with his voters? Kenneth Lowande, Jeffery Jenkins, and Andrew Clarke - January 30, 2018 [caption id="attachment_68570" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Workers install solar panels on a roof
In December, thousands of Americans protested against the tax plan, for DACA and about all the other usual suspects Jeremy Pressman and Erica Chenoweth - January 25, 2018 This is the 12th installment in a monthly series reporting
Four takeaways from the short-lived shutdown Mark Spindel and Sarah Binder - January 24, 2018 On Monday, Congress ended a short-lived government shutdown, voting to
Trump makes fewer public trips than recent presidents. Will that hurt the Republicans in November? Kathryn Tenpas, James McCann, and Emily Charnock - January 17, 2018 [caption id="attachment_68171" align="aligncenter" width="960"] President Trump meets with members of
It sure looks as if Kirsten Gillibrand is running for president Sean McElwee and Jon Green - January 1, 2018 Will Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) run for president in 2020?
How Democrats are dominating special elections — in one graph John Sides - December 13, 2017 [caption id="attachment_67287" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Democratic Senate candidate Doug Jones acknowledges
Nitzer Ebb, ‘Backlash’: The Week In One Song Christopher Federico - November 12, 2017 In elections in Virginia, New Jersey, and elsewhere, evidence of
In Tuesday’s elections, women won big. Here are three things we learned about women and politics. Jennifer Lawless and Danny Hayes - November 9, 2017 [caption id="attachment_66041" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Jennifer Carroll Foy holds campaign literature
4 important takeaways from the Virginia governor’s race John Sides - November 8, 2017 Ralph Northam's convincing victory in last night's Virginia governor's race
Voters value competence. That could be bad news for Trump. Will Jennings and Jane Green - September 1, 2017 When President Trump’s approval rating hit 34 percent in a
How many votes could Hurricane Harvey cost Trump in Texas? Jeffery Jenkins, Boris Heersink, and Brenton Peterson - August 29, 2017 Hurricane Harvey has slammed into Texas, bringing power outages, destruction
Within 7 years, refugees are self-sufficient and contributing to the U.S., on average Ramya Vijaya, Monica Miller, and David Fletcher - August 15, 2017 On June 20, World Refugee Day, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney
Are most American politicians profiting from their offices? Not according to this data. Kevin Fahey - August 10, 2017 [caption id="attachment_62143" align="aligncenter" width="960"] President Donald Trump pumps his fists
More people in the U.S. protested in June than in any month since the January Women’s Marches. Jeremy Pressman, Erica Chenoweth, and Devin Finn - July 25, 2017 This is the sixth installment in a monthly series reporting
Do military veterans really win more elections? Only in ‘purple’ districts. Jeremy Teigen - July 20, 2017 [caption id="attachment_61162" align="aligncenter" width="960"] The last two presidential elections are
In Trump’s America, who’s protesting and why? Here’s our May report. Jeremy Pressman, Erica MacDonald, and Erica Chenoweth - June 26, 2017 [caption id="attachment_60339" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Rene Bermudez, second from left, looks
In Trump’s America, who’s protesting and why? Here’s our March report. Stephen Zunes, Jeremy Pressman, Erica Chenoweth, David Prater, and Ches Thurber - April 24, 2017 [caption id="attachment_57188" align="alignnone" width="960"] Clarissa Horsfall joins in “A Day
Americans are proud to pay taxes — except when they think others are cheating. Vanessa Williamson - April 18, 2017 [caption id="attachment_56970" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Due to the Emancipation Day holiday,
The U.S. carried out extraordinary rendition flights from 2001-2005. Here are 15 more countries that helped. Rebecca Cordell - March 14, 2017 [caption id="attachment_55337" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A barbed wire fence surrounding a
An Indian immigrant is murdered in Kansas. It’s part of a spike in hate crimes against South Asians Sangay Mishra - March 7, 2017 [caption id="attachment_54999" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Alok Madasani, center, who was wounded
Can Trump win over African Americans? This survey suggests there’s little chance. Jonathan Collins - February 20, 2017 [caption id="attachment_54382" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), center, flanked
There are huge holes in how the U.S. states investigate politicians’ conflicts of interest Pedro Cruz, Mike Beaudet, and John Wihbey - January 12, 2017 [caption id="attachment_50207" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A voter casts a ballot behind
How term limits for committee chairs make Congress less effective Craig Volden - January 4, 2017 [caption id="attachment_35472" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg News)[/caption] Even though Republicans
What is inspiring homegrown terror in the U.S.? It’s not just the Islamic State. Sarah Gilkes and Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens - December 6, 2016 [caption id="attachment_50780" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Crime scene investigators collect evidence as
Political ‘unfriending’ online isn’t common. A Trump presidency could change that. Leticia Bode - December 5, 2016 [caption id="attachment_50354" align="aligncenter" width="960"] President-elect Donald Trump and Gen. John