Why does health care reform keep failing? In part because the outsized power of congressional party leaders means that rank-and-file members do not have the time or interest to dedicate to meaningful problem-solving of super-complex issues, according to a public policy scholar.
The Conversation
Congress takes up health care again − and impatient voters shouldn’t hold their breath for a cure
Why does health care reform keep failing despite decades of attention and expanding costs? A scholar of Congress has some answers.
Child care in Colorado is so expensive that many families spend 30-40% of their income on it. Funding shortfalls have frozen child care subsidies in parts of the state, forcing parents to miss work or quit jobs. Some counties are raising local taxes to help, but it’s just a patchwork fix to a much bigger problem.
The Conversation
Colorado faces a funding crisis for child care − local communities hope to fill the gaps
A lack of access to child care costs the state an estimated $2.7 billion in lost productivity and revenue.
Do research internships really need to be in person? Virtual NSF programs are expanding access to mentorship, confidence and real research experience.
The Conversation
Virtual National Science Foundation internships aren’t just a pandemic stopgap – they can open up opportunities for more STEM students
Students who participated in the virtual Research Experience for Undergraduates at Purdue reported stronger gains in research skills than in-person...
Americans are still giving to charity — but far less of that money is reaching charities directly. A tax policy scholar explains how donor-advised funds and tax rules have changed philanthropy, especially for billionaires.
The Conversation
With less charitable giving flowing directly to charities, a tax policy scholar suggests some policy fixes
Even when donors have good intentions, philanthropy does not always produce good results.
“If this isn’t for you, don’t buy it.” Counterintuitive? Yes. Effective marketing? Also yes. New research shows why ads that set boundaries can win over the right customers.
The Conversation
‘If you don’t like dark roast, this isn’t the coffee for you’: How exclusionary ads can win over the right customers
By openly saying, ‘This isn’t for you,’ brands signal focus and specificity. That helps the right customers feel a stronger connection.
Managing wildfire risk isn’t just about regulations — it’s about neighborliness: the choices people make on their own property that help keep the people around them safe. #LAFires
The Conversation
LA fires showed how much neighborliness matters for wildfire safety
Managing fire risk is about more than regulations and rules. It’s also about caring for neighbors and taking steps on your own property and in yo...
The U.S. military action in Venezuela marks a turning point. An international human rights and democracy scholar warns it reflects a shift toward unilateral, autocratic power, unconstrained by law and balance of power, and using force to impose the Trump administration’s will on other nations.
The Conversation
2026 begins with an increasingly autocratic United States rising on the global stage
The US attack on Venezuela highlights a shifting American foreign policy that dismisses a rules-based global order and focuses on economic interest...
Maduro’s removal has not stabilized Venezuela. A fragile civil military alliance is under growing strain, and if it breaks, colectivos, gangs and guerrilla groups could be drawn into a chaotic conflict to control the country’s future.
The Conversation
Venezuela’s civil-military alliance is being stretched — if it breaks, numerous armed groups may be drawn into messy split
How various factions respond to the Trump administration’s threat to be the de facto ruler of the country could quickly inflame domestic tensions...
Most Americans actually like wolves, no matter their politics. But when researchers reminded people of their political identities, Democrats became more friendly to wolves and Republicans far more opposed. It’s an interesting study in how politics and social identity can fuel partisan polarization.
The Conversation
Americans generally like wolves − except when we’re reminded of our politics
New research shows how identity-driven assumptions can turn common ground into conflict.
Iranian protesters are calling on their government to prioritize lowering prices and creating jobs, instead of international issues.
The Conversation
‘Neither Gaza nor Lebanon!’ Iranian unrest is about more than the economy − protesters reject the Islamic Republic’s whole rationale
Angered not just by social crises, Iranians are asking fundamental questions about the costs and sacrifices demanded by the Islamic Republic’s ru...