Scholars Strategy Network's No Jargon

Everyone needs healthcare. But Americans can’t agree on how to fix our troubled healthcare system. Now, the Trump Administration and a number of states are pushing one idea — require people on Medicaid to work. Professor Philip Rocco explains what’s behind these new requirements, what they would mean for people on Medicaid, and why they should really be called paperwork requirements. For More on this Topic: Read Rocco’s two-page brief, Why Work Requirements Will Not Improve Medicaid

The Trump Administration’s zero tolerance policy for migrants produced widespread outrage. Specific policies are in flux, so we asked researchers for the important context to understand what’s happening. For this special episode, professors Heide Castañeda and Nara Milanich describe who these migrants are, how zero tolerance policies impact them and their health, and what – if any – historical precedents exist for these policies. For More on this Topic: Check out Nara’s 2017 piece in The Washington Post, “Nations have separated children from parents before. It never ends well.” Read Heide’s brief, “The Downsides of Excluding Millions of Immigrants from Health Reform”

Democracy is under threat. From Venezuela to Turkey, from Hungary to the Philippines, powerful leaders are rewriting their countries norms and laws to secure power at the expense of their citizens. Professor Steven Levitsky tells us how democracies die – and what the outlook is for America. For More on this Topic: Check out Levitsky’s book with Daniel Ziblatt, How Democracies Die Read their OpEd on threats to democracy

America is getting more diverse, and that means more children of color are students in our schools. But teachers are still overwhelmingly white, so many of these students rarely see teachers who look like them. Professor Michèle Foster tells the little-known story of why America lost many of its black teachers, what that means for students, and what can be done to change things. For More on this Topic: Read Foster’s brief, “Why America Needs More African-American Teachers and How to Recruit and Retain Them” Check out her feature in an episode of Revisionist History on black teachers after Brown v. Board of Education.

There are thousands of civic organizations in America, from big-time lobbying groups to local grassroots organizations, and they all want your time and support. But some organizations are more effective at creating change than others. Professor Ziad Munson explains what kinds of organizations have been most successful in shaping American public life – and why. For More on this Topic: Read Munson’s brief, How People Become Pro-life Advocates Check out the original “A Nation of Organizers” article Find Robert Putnam’s book, Bowling Alone

Unions used to be a major political force in America. But over the last few decades they have steadily declined, and now a Supreme Court case might deal another severe blow to their strength. Professor Jake Rosenfeld explains what the Supreme Court is deciding on and what it means for the future of organized labor in America. For More on this Topic: Read Rosenfeld’s SSN brief “Union Decline and Rising U.S. Wage Inequality” Check out his book, What Unions No Longer Do Find this New York Times opinion piece on the impacts of right-to-work laws

In 1973, the Supreme Court made access to abortions a legal right. Since then, crisis pregnancy centers have popped up across the country to dissuade women from getting abortions. Professor Kimberly Kelly explains the history and organization behind these centers and how their current case before the Supreme Court could shape reproductive rights in America. For More on this Topic: Read Kelly’s SSN brief “Why False Claims About A Nonexistent "Post Abortion Syndrome" Influence Access To Abortion In America” Check out her comments about the history of crisis pregnancy centers in The Atlantic

The opioid epidemic is ravaging communities across America and there’s no silver bullet to fix it. But communicating to people about risks and steps to prevent addiction is a start. Professor Itzhak Yanovitzky describes how New Jersey uses information to help fight the opioid epidemic and how his research partnership with the state helps to improve these efforts. For More on this Topic: Read this My Central Jersey article about Yanovitzky’s latest research Check out the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey website

Following the 2016 election, suburban well-educated women got together in PTA groups, libraries, and coffee shops to organize—some for the first time. Professor Lara Putnam shares insights on how these groups work, what their goals are, and why they have been so effective at mobilizing voters. For More on this Topic: Read Putnam's pieces in the Democracy Journal, Middle America Reboots Democracy with Theda Skocpol and Who Really Won PA18? Check out her article in The American Prospect, Digital Fixes Won’t Solve the Democrats’ Problems

America—the world’s wealthiest country—is home to over 40 million people living under the poverty line. And for many, there is no safety net to fall back on. Professor Joan Maya Mazelis explains how we got here and highlights one innovative organization, run by and for poor people, that builds community among the poor and provides help when the safety net is missing. For More on this Topic: Check out Mazelis’ book, Surviving Poverty: Creating Sustainable Ties among the Poor Read her brief, How to Help America's Poor People Build Community and Assist Each Other