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# Niskanen Center

Improving Policy, Advancing Moderation

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://www.niskanencenter.org/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [State Violence, Legitimacy, and the Path to True Public Safety](https://www.niskanencenter.org/state-violence-legitimacy-and-the-path-to-true-public-safety/) - Bad policing damages the fabric of communities, hurts families, and alienates people from what should be their democracy.
- [Safer, Smarter, and Cheaper: <strong>The Promise of Targeted Home Confinement with Electronic Monitoring</strong>](https://www.niskanencenter.org/safer-smarter-and-cheaper-the-promise-of-targeted-home-confinement-with-electronic-monitoring/) - Research evidence from both the U.S. and abroad suggests home confinement is an effective and appropriate alternative to imprisonment for lower-risk offenders.
- [The Need for Increased Funding for HOPE/SCF](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-need-for-increased-funding-for-hope-scf/) - Programs using Safe, Certain, Fair models have improved compliance, helping participants stay out of prison, qualify for parole, and fight substance abuse.
- [To End Mass Incarceration, Focus On Crime Reduction](https://www.niskanencenter.org/to-end-mass-incarceration-focus-on-crime-reduction/) - Lawmakers should commit to policies that promote prevention, deterrence, and certain accountability. The result will be less crime, less punishment, and more justice.
- [Border Adjustments in a Carbon Tax](https://www.niskanencenter.org/border-adjustments-in-a-carbon-tax/) - This paper reviews the principal design choices policymakers would face when establishing a border adjustment for a carbon tax and the implications of different design choices.
- [Carbon Pricing and Regulations Compared: An Economic Explainer](https://www.niskanencenter.org/carbon-pricing-and-regulations-compared-an-economic-explainer/) - This primer provides a detailed comparison of carbon pricing and regulations and discusses the potential impact of the interaction of the two types of policies.
- [Legal and Administrative Pitfalls that May Confront Climate Regulation](https://www.niskanencenter.org/legal-and-administrative-pitfalls-that-may-confront-climate-regulation/) - A carbon tax would be less vulnerable to administrative delays and legal challenges than comparable emission-control regulations.
- [Transmission Stalled: Siting Challenges for Interregional Transmission](https://www.niskanencenter.org/transmission-stalled-siting-challenges-for-interregional-transmission/) - Transmission lines are in the public interest, but they face the most regulatory difficulty due to states’ highly variable interpretation of public necessity.
- [A State Capacity Agenda for 2025](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-how-we-need-now-a-capacity-agenda-for-2025/) - While the picture we paint of our government’s capacity today is not always pretty, we believe that achieving a more responsive, effective, and confidence-inspiring government is a matter of will.
- [The Procedure Fetish](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-procedure-fetish/) - We should measure the administrative state’s legitimacy by how well it works, not by the stringency of the constraints under which it labors.
- [Moderation as a Political Strategy: A Niskanen Center Series](https://www.niskanencenter.org/moderation-as-a-political-strategy-a-niskanen-center-series/) - The essays in this series explore a type of moderation that can be dynamic, innovative, politically compelling, and even radical.
- [The Future Is Faction](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-future-is-faction/) - Those who want a more productive political system must build moderate factions within the two major parties.
- [Culture Eats Policy](https://www.niskanencenter.org/culture-eats-policy/) - The government has a culture problem, making it difficult to implement well-intentioned policies.
- [Competitive Egalitarianism: How to Structure Markets](https://www.niskanencenter.org/competitive-egalitarianism-how-to-structure-markets/) - Competitive egalitarianism is the key to using a dynamic market to generate more equally shared economic growth.
- [State Capacity: What is it, How we lost it, and How to Get it Back](https://www.niskanencenter.org/state-capacity-what-is-it-how-we-lost-it-and-how-to-get-it-back/) - The fortunes of liberal democracy rise and fall with its perceived effectiveness in improving lives.
- [Faster Growth, Fairer Growth: Policies for a High Road, High Performance Economy](https://www.niskanencenter.org/faster-growth-fairer-growth-policies-for-a-high-road-high-performance-economy/) - It’s time to undo the damage caused by regulatory capture and counter the forces pushing against inclusive prosperity.
- [The Center Can Hold: Public Policy for an Age of Extremes](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-center-can-hold-public-policy-for-an-age-of-extremes/) - Public confidence in government will return only when it merits confidence by successfully solving real problems.
- [Institutional renewal. Effective government. Prosperity.](https://www.niskanencenter.org/institutional-renewal-effective-government-prosperity/) - At a time when some of our most fundamental institutions are under attack, we believe that the most effective defense lies in recognizing their real and serious flaws while offering specific, constructive reforms.
- [The Niskanen Center’s Amicus Brief in the Second Circuit in CREW v. Trump](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-niskanen-centers-amicus-brief-in-the-second-circuit-in-crew-v-trump/) - The hardest part about describing the Emoluments Clause litigation around Donald Trump’s business conflicts is explaining what exactly “emolument”—one of the more obscure words in the Constitution—means. Here it is in a nutshell: an “emolument” (as intended when the Constitution was written), is "a salary, fee, or profit from employment or office" or “the returns
- [The Lawlessness of Trump's Coal and Nuclear Bailout](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-lawlessness-of-trumps-coal-and-nuclear-bailout/) - Donald Trump’s latest gambit for bailing out coal and nuclear power plants is a two-year plan directing grid operators (and thus ultimately consumers) to pay designated plants enough “to forestall any further actions towards retirement, decommissioning, or deactivation.” The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will then supposedly use this time to figure out a permanent
- [Niskanen Files Comments on Behalf of Property Owners Trying to Keep Their Land](https://www.niskanencenter.org/niskanen-files-comments-on-behalf-of-property-owners-trying-to-keep-their-land/) - Last week, the Niskanen Center filed comments with the Federal Regulatory Energy Commission (“FERC”) about the Commission’s more egregious efforts to prevent property owners from trying to stop pipeline companies from taking their land. I’m not going to try and boil 35-pages down into one blog post, but rather focus on just one of these issues:
- [Franchises Are Large, They Contain Multitudes](https://www.niskanencenter.org/franchises-are-large-they-contain-multitudes/) - If there were a corporate-structuring taxonomy in which small businesses were humans and big businesses were horses, then franchises would surely be centaurs. Franchises — like Subway or McDonald’s — consist of two entities: a large franchisor responsible for developing the products and marketing the brand, and smaller businesses that actually operate the physical locations
- [Reading the Plain Text of the Birthright Clause in the Fourteenth Amendment](https://www.niskanencenter.org/reading-the-plain-text-of-the-birthright-clause-in-the-fourteenth-amendment/) - Some argue that the Fourteenth Amendment does not require the U.S. to respect “birthright citizenship,” particularly with respect to the citizenship of the children of foreign nationals born on U.S. soil. This argument is in the news again because Donald Trump has claimed that he has the power to reverse birthright citizenship by executive order.
- [A Win for Property Rights](https://www.niskanencenter.org/a-win-for-property-rights/) - On September 10th, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit issued a groundbreaking decision (In re PennEast Pipeline Company, LLC), holding that pipeline companies do not have the power to use eminent domain to seize state-owned property in order to build natural gas pipelines. The court held that just because a pipeline developer
- [Ben Zycher Should Stick to What He Knows](https://www.niskanencenter.org/ben-zycher-should-stick-to-what-he-knows/) - A recent commentary by AEI economist Ben Zycher on the pending climate nuisance suits shows general misunderstanding of the facts they’re based on, the relief they seek, and the broader impact they will have. And, not being a lawyer, he does not understand litigation either. In short, Zycher has no idea what he is talking about.[1]
- [A Win for the Rule of Law](https://www.niskanencenter.org/a-win-for-the-rule-of-law/) - On October 11, Judge David Briones of the federal district court in Texas struck a blow for the rule of law, holding that the President’s plan to fund his border wall with money Congress appropriated for other purposes is illegal.
- [Job Opening: 2020-2022 Litigation Law Fellow](https://www.niskanencenter.org/job-opening-2020-2022-litigation-law-fellow/) - The Litigation Fellow would work primarily on property rights issues created by the abuse of eminent domain by oil and gas pipeline companies, and other public interest litigation.
- [The Time to Act on DACA Is Well Past Due](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-time-to-act-on-daca-is-well-past-due/) - Dreamers should no longer be used as political pawns, and both Republicans and Democrats should prepare for a ruling that upholds the president’s recission with a legislative solution at the ready.
- [The New York v. Exxon Decision Has Little Bearing on Climate Nuisance Cases](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-new-york-v-exxon-decision-has-little-bearing-on-climate-nuisance-cases/) - Today’s decision in New York v. Exxon held that, in its public statements from 2014 to 2016 on how it priced carbon risk in making investment decisions (known as “proxy costs”), Exxon did not make "any material misstatements or omissions about its practices and procedures that misled any reasonable investor."
- [The Nondelegation Panic](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-nondelegation-panic/) - The Supreme Court’s recent decisions in Gundy v. United States and Paul v. United States (or, more precisely, Justice Gorsuch’s dissent in Gundy and Justice Kavanaugh’s “statement” in connection with the denial of certiorari in Paul) has triggered a panic among the liberal community that, in the words of one commentator, the Supreme Court is
- [A CLEAN Future Eliminates Eminent Domain for Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines](https://www.niskanencenter.org/a-clean-future-eliminates-eminent-domain-for-interstate-natural-gas-pipelines/) - Section 216 of the CLEAN Future Act appears to be either a mistake or a surreptitious attempt to eliminate eminent domain without and saying that is its purpose, and no one should be happy with such legislative tactics.
- [Don't Confuse Weather With Climate](https://www.niskanencenter.org/dont-confuse-weather-with-climate/) - Getting a court to stop a project in operation is a lot more difficult than stopping one that has not broken ground. And it will come to the true test at some point when the issue is not–as in Dakota Access–something a court can or will let the agency fix while the pipeline is operating.
- [Open Role: 2020-2022 Litigation Law Fellow](https://www.niskanencenter.org/open-role-2020-2022-litigation-law-fellow/) - The Fellow would work primarily on property rights issues created by the abuse of eminent domain by oil and gas pipeline companies, and other public interest litigation.
- [Thoughts on the Ginsburg Seat](https://www.niskanencenter.org/thoughts-on-the-ginsburg-seat/) - There’s been a lot of talk about how Sen. McConnell’s promise to push through a Trump replacement for the late Justice Ginsburg is an act of flagrant norm-busting. Consequently, liberals are already girding their loins to pack the Court if McConnell goes through with it. But that raises two basic questions. First, what is the
- [Niskanen Center files Amicus Brief in US v Arthrex](https://www.niskanencenter.org/niskanen-center-files-amicus-brief-in-us-v-arthrex/) - The Niskanen Center has filed an amicus brief in a case before the U.S. Supreme Court dealing with the constitutionality of Administrative Patent Judge's appointment. We support the PTAB in its current form as a tool to protect private property rights and support innovation.
- [Yes, Virginia, “President-elect” Is a Real Thing](https://www.niskanencenter.org/yes-virginia-president-elect-is-a-real-thing/) - The Electoral College now having voted, it is hard to comprehend how Joe Biden and Kamala Harris can’t be considered “the apparent successful candidates” for their respective offices.
- [Niskanen Policy Comments on FERC Order 871: “Motion to Intervene and Joint Brief on Order No. 871-A” and “Reply Brief on Order No. 871-A”](https://www.niskanencenter.org/niskanen-policy-comments-on-ferc-order-871-motion-to-intervene-and-joint-brief-on-order-no-871-a-and-reply-brief-on-order-no-871-a-2/) - The Niskanen Center submitted comments on behalf of several landowners affected by pipelines—and in partnership with the New Jersey Conservation Foundation and Hopewell Township—on how Order 871-A could be improved.
- [The Niskanen Center’s Comments on FERC’s Creation of the Office of Public Participation](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-niskanen-centers-comments-on-fercs-creation-of-the-office-of-public-participation/) - Despite being arguably the most impacted stakeholders in pipeline proceedings, landowners face many hurdles during the FERC process with little to no resources, legal assistance, or guidance.
- [Niskanen’s Public Comment on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Renewed Notice of Inquiry on the Certification of New Interstate Natural Gas Facilities](https://www.niskanencenter.org/niskanens-public-comment-on-the-federal-energy-regulatory-commissions-renewed-notice-of-inquiry-on-the-certification-of-new-interstate-natural-gas-facilities/) - If FERC adopted these proposed changes in a binding order or rulemaking, it would dramatically improve—among other things—landowners’ rights and FERC’s analysis of proposed pipeline projects.
- [Public Comment on Enbridge Gas Pipelines’ Answer to Comments on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Renewed Notice of Inquiry on the Certification of New Interstate Natural Gas Facilities](https://www.niskanencenter.org/public-comment-on-enbridge-gas-pipelines-answer-to-comments-on-the-federal-energy-regulatory-commissions-renewed-notice-of-inquiry-on-the-certification-of-new-interstate-natural-gas/) - Full Comment Here On June 25, 2021, after the public comment period concluded for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Renewed Notice of Inquiry on the Certification of New Interstate Natural Gas Facilities, Enbridge Gas Pipelines filed a “Motion for Leave to Answer and Answer of Enbridge Gas Pipelines” (“Enbridge’s Answer”). Enbridge’s Answer tries to undermine
- [Statement for the Record before the Senate: FERC Oversight](https://www.niskanencenter.org/statement-for-the-record-before-the-senate-ferc-oversight/) - In response to the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee's annual FERC Oversight hearing, the Niskanen Center submitted a statement to highlight matters within FERC's jurisdiction deserving of additional Congressional attention.
- [Climate Is Different](https://www.niskanencenter.org/climate-is-different/) - The Supreme Court will rule on EPA’s authority to regulate power plant CO2 emissions in the context of two sets of regulations that are both dead and will never go into effect. 
- [Job Opening: 2022-2024 Litigation Law Fellow](https://www.niskanencenter.org/job-opening-2022-2024-litigation-law-fellow/) - The Fellow would work primarily on property rights issues created by the abuse of eminent domain by oil and gas pipeline companies, and other public interest litigation.
- [Congress needs to think some more about CO2 pipelines](https://www.niskanencenter.org/congress-needs-to-think-some-more-about-co2-pipelines/) - If CO2 pipelines are part of the decarbonization process, we shouldn’t ignore what we’ve learned about building other interstate infrastructure. Nor should we minimize the enormous sacrifice imposed on those forced to sell their property to get these pipelines built. 
- [When all else fails, try reading the statute](https://www.niskanencenter.org/when-all-else-fails-try-reading-the-statute/) - It is now settled law that CO2 and other greenhouse gasses are “pollutants” under the Clean Air Act, and the Court has twice affirmed that holding. But not everyone has gotten the memo.
- [The Courts Begin to Act on Climate Change](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-courts-begin-to-act-on-climate-change/) - Judges in places like Montana and Alaska getting fed up with state worship of fossil fuels indicates that eventually the judiciary will take substantive action on climate change if legislatures continue to do nothing.
- [Niskanen Center files FOIA suit against federal agencies](https://www.niskanencenter.org/niskanen-center-files-foia-suit-against-federal-agencies/) - We hope to shed much-needed light on the degree of our federal government's engagement with and deference to foreign, private interests.
- [Power to the Supreme Court: West Virginia v. EPA will have far-reaching consequences for administrative agencies](https://www.niskanencenter.org/power-to-the-supreme-court-west-virginia-v-epa-will-have-far-reaching-consequences-for-administrative-agencies/) - West Virginia v. EPA indicates the current Court’s willingness to depart from precedent in deciding major cases to serve its political aims, which may manifest itself in the future in increasingly alarming ways.
- [Checking the Court](https://www.niskanencenter.org/checking-the-court/) - If we hope to resurrect (or construct) a true democracy from the current morass of institutional decline, we should all support executive and legislative rebalancing of the Court’s power. 
- [Time to abandon mandatory deposit](https://www.niskanencenter.org/time-to-abandon-mandatory-deposit/) - Should those who merely publish books be forced to pay a tax for that activity in either property or money?
- [FERC’s approval of the REAE project: A threat to consumers, states, and urgently needed movement towards a modern, clean grid.](https://www.niskanencenter.org/fercs-approval-of-the-reae-project-a-threat-to-consumers-states-and-urgently-needed-movement-towards-a-modern-clean-grid/) - For evidence of how fossil fuel interests have completely captured federal regulation of interstate gas infrastructure, look no further than FERC’s recent approval of Transcontinental’s Regional Energy Access Expansion (“REAE”) gas project.
- [Comment: Department of Energy's (DOE) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Implementing Procedures](https://www.niskanencenter.org/comment-department-of-energys-doe-notice-of-proposed-rulemaking-for-the-national-environmental-policy-act-nepa-implementing-procedures/) - The Niskanen Center responded to the Department of Energy's (DOE) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Implementing Procedures on January 16, 2024.
- [DOE stepping up with CITAP](https://www.niskanencenter.org/doe-stepping-up-with-citap/) - Today, the Department of Energy (DOE) released its final rule to establish the Coordinated Interagency Transmission Authorizations and Permits Program (CITAP).
- [FERC’s grid expansion rule: A pragmatic approach to transmission planning ](https://www.niskanencenter.org/fercs-grid-expansion-rule-a-pragmatic-approach-to-transmission-planning/) - By prioritizing efficiency, long-term planning, stakeholder engagement, and sensible cost allocation, the rule sets a strong foundation for ensuring a reliable and resilient grid capable of powering the American economy well into the 21st century.
- [Win for the Public Interest—DC Circuit Overturns  FERC’s Flawed Gas Expansion Approval](https://www.niskanencenter.org/win-for-the-public-interest-dc-circuit-overturns-fercs-flawed-gas-expansion-approval/) - Today, a coalition of environmental organizations, ratepayer advocates, and an impacted landowner backed by eight state Attorneys General won their challenge to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) approval of the Regional Energy Access Expansion (REAE) project, which would allow a massive and unneeded expansion of gas capacity into New Jersey. 
- [Beyond NEPA: Understanding the complexities of slow infrastructure buildout](https://www.niskanencenter.org/beyond-nepa-understanding-the-complexities-of-slow-transmission-buildout/) - Building clean energy infrastructure quickly will be critical to avoiding the worst impacts of climate change while bolstering grid resilience and flexibility.
- [Powering prosperity: how clean energy drives economic growth across America](https://www.niskanencenter.org/powering-prosperity-how-clean-energy-drives-economic-growth-across-america/) - The clean energy sector has seen substantial growth over the past two decades, and with supportive policies, its expansion could accelerate even further.
- [Transource Pennsylvania v DeFrank: The new frontier of transmission line challenges](https://www.niskanencenter.org/transource-pennsylvania-v-defrank-the-new-frontier-of-transmission-line-challenges/) - The United States urgently needs to expand its interstate transmission infrastructure, and appellate courts play a key role in addressing legal obstacles to this development.
- [Defending Plyler v. Doe's legacy in 2025](https://www.niskanencenter.org/defending-plyler-v-does-legacy-in-2025/) - Last week, Oklahoma approved a plan requiring schools to collect immigration status data from enrolling students, reviving a constitutional debate many believed was settled decades ago.
- [Proposing a balanced approach to delegation of legislative power](https://www.niskanencenter.org/proposing-a-balanced-approach-to-delegation-of-legislative-power/) - Congress must retain the ability to delegate detailed policymaking to administrative agencies that possess the specialized knowledge necessary to navigate and manage intricate regulatory frameworks.
- [Niskanen comments on Justice Department's Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force](https://www.niskanencenter.org/niskanen-comments-on-justice-departments-anticompetitive-regulations-task-force/) - On May 23, 2025, the Niskanen Center submitted detailed recommendations to the Department of Justice’s Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force, identifying market-distorting laws and regulations that impact energy, healthcare, and housing.
- [Niskanen Center files amicus brief in federal suit over DOE’s intervention in Midwest electricity markets](https://www.niskanencenter.org/niskanen-center-files-amicus-brief-in-federal-suit-over-does-intervention-in-midwest-electricity-markets/) - Niskanen contends that the DOE’s use of emergency powers under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act undermines comprehensive electricity capacity planning and distorts efficient operation of energy markets.
- [AI in government: From tools to transformation](https://www.niskanencenter.org/ai-in-government-from-tools-to-transformation/) - AI can only catalyze meaningful change when paired with effective operating models.
- [Executive orders aren’t enough: How to actually stop waste, fraud, and abuse](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-to-stop-waste-fraud-and-abuse/) - In practice, enforcing full data access across all systems could prove expensive and may still fall short of its goal to reduce fraud, waste, and abuse.
- [Spotting ‘concrete boats’: Why solicitation sins doom contracts to struggle](https://www.niskanencenter.org/spotting-concrete-boats-why-solicitation-sins-doom-contracts-to-struggle/) - Solicitations should focus on hiring the best vendors and holding them accountable — exchanging Insider Rewards Programs for government services that benefit the public.
- [Let's bake the liberal sourdough](https://www.niskanencenter.org/lets-bake-the-liberal-sourdough/) - We need neither liberal despair nor a liberal restoration, but a liberal reconstruction.
- [How authoritarian parenting attitudes explain our political divides](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-authoritarian-parenting-attitudes-explain-our-political-divides/) - Christopher Federico and Christopher Weber find that authoritarian values, measured by these parenting preferences, increasingly structure Americans’ attitudes toward social and cultural issues and their political predispositions.
- [Statement for the record before the House Budget Comittee](https://www.niskanencenter.org/statement-for-the-record-before-the-house-budget-comittee/) - In the following, we detail the ways in which high reimbursement rates, rising volume, and market distortions drive high healthcare costs, and we offer policy levers Congress can use to reverse it.
- [Legal immigration in numbers: Student consular wait times](https://www.niskanencenter.org/immigrationdata-students/)
- [ Venezuela strike displacement scenario builder](https://www.niskanencenter.org/venezuela-strike-displacement-scenario-builder/) - This interactive tool models projected short-term civilian displacement resulting from hypothetical U.S. military strikes on Venezuelan targets.
- [How eligibility criteria for unemployment benefits can penalize lower earners](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-eligibility-criteria-for-unemployment-benefits-can-penalize-lower-earners/) - States with an earnings-based system could consider shifting to a uniform requirement to eliminate the low-income penalty in their UI programs.
- [Guerra on Migration & security. Understanding irregular flows from China, Russia, and Iran through Latin America.](https://www.niskanencenter.org/guerra-on-migration-security-understanding-irregular-flows-from-china-russia-and-iran-through-latin-america/) - On July 1, Gil Guerra joined a discussion hosted by Florida International University.
- [Domestic debate, global strategy: Revisiting immigration in U.S. foreign policy](https://www.niskanencenter.org/domestic-debate-global-strategy-revisiting-immigration-in-u-s-foreign-policy/) - Immigration policy is typically viewed within the confines and frameworks of domestic politics, yet it often serves as a potent instrument of statecraft in global strategy.
- [Guerra on ABC Australia](https://www.niskanencenter.org/guerra-on-abc-australia/) - On September 24, 2025, Niskanen's Gil Guerra appeared on ABC Australia to discuss the Trump administration's plan to raise H-1B visa fees to $100,000.
- [Guerra on security and defense at the Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy](https://www.niskanencenter.org/guerra-security-defense/) - On October 14, 2025, Niskanen's Gil Guerra joined an expert panel hosted by the Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy.
- [When Trump’s immigration raids become foreign policy](https://www.niskanencenter.org/when-trumps-immigration-raids-become-foreign-policy/) - Around the world, labor migration is shaping interstate relations in ways that conventional foreign policy analysis often overlooks.
- [ROFR laws fragment America’s transmission grid](https://www.niskanencenter.org/rofr-laws-fragment-americas-transmission-grid/) - Despite bipartisan opposition at the federal level, an increasing number of states are adopting these anti-competitive laws, favoring utility monopolies over consumer interests. These laws exclusively benefit monopoly utilities at the expense of consumers.
- [Unlocking HVDC: How Congress can enable a more resilient grid](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-congress-can-enable-a-more-resilient-grid/) - A macrogrid would strengthen our existing electricity system by acting as an interregional superhighway, routing power around bottlenecks in the AC grid.
- [Transmission: the Ozempic for our energy bills](https://www.niskanencenter.org/transmission-the-ozempic-for-our-energy-bills/) - Too often, utilities and states respond to shortages by building new power plants and local transmission lines. What the grid really needs is the ability to move energy over long distances, from where it’s abundant to where it’s scarce.
- [Can the SPEED Act break transmission gridlock? We put it to the test.](https://www.niskanencenter.org/can-the-speed-act-break-transmission-gridlock-we-put-it-to-the-test/) - The SPEED Act aims to accelerate U.S. energy permitting, but the 16-year TransWest Express timeline shows why real reform requires fixing coordination and litigation barriers.
- [Police should solve murders. Congress can help.](https://www.niskanencenter.org/police-should-solve-murders-congress-can-help/) - Almost half of all murders go unsolved. The VICTIM Act would authorize a total of $360 million over six years to fund grants aimed at improving clearance rates for homicides and firearm-related violent crimes.
- [Certainty as a foundation for justice](https://www.niskanencenter.org/certainty-as-a-foundation-for-justice/) - Certainty of punishment is not only a tool of deterrence but a structural necessity for an effective justice system. When consequences are clear and predictable, many offenders avoid crime, while those who persist reveal themselves to need more intensive responses.
- [America’s overdose blindspot](https://www.niskanencenter.org/americas-overdose-blindspot/) - The gap between what we understand about illegal drugs and what we urgently need to know has widened to a dangerous degree.
- [Niskanen applauds legislation that will solve more crimes in Pennsylvania](https://www.niskanencenter.org/niskanen-applauds-legislation-that-will-solve-more-crimes-in-pennsylvania/) - The Niskanen Center applauds new legislation designed to solve more crimes and provide support and closure for crime victims.
- [Niskanen applauds House passage of the VICTIM Act](https://www.niskanencenter.org/niskanen-applauds-house-passage-of-the-victim-act/) - The Niskanen Center applauds the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for passing legislation designed to solve more crimes and provide support and closure for crime victims.
- [Arnold Ventures and the Niskanen Center welcome new legislation to help solve more violent crimes in Michigan](https://www.niskanencenter.org/arnold-ventures-and-the-niskanen-center-welcome-new-legislation-to-help-solve-more-violent-crimes-in-michigan/) - Arnold Ventures and the Niskanen Center applaud Senator Stephanie Chang (D-District 3) and Representative Sarah Lightner (R-District 45) for introducing new bipartisan legislation in Michigan designed to solve more crimes and provide support and closure for crime victims. 
- [How to fix the Paperwork Reduction Act](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-to-fix-the-paperwork-reduction-act/) - This paper explains how we ended up with a statute that perversely undermines its purposes, what goes wrong (and right) in the status quo, and how to design a better Paperwork Reduction Act.
- [Paper cuts: What should we do with the Paperwork Reduction Act?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/paper-cuts-what-should-we-do-with-the-paperwork-reduction-act/) - For many people who have served in the executive branch, the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) encapsulates why government is broken. Risk aversion, policy cruft, and the cascade of rigidity — the dysfunctions described in our foundational state capacity report — all contribute to a process of “paperwork reduction” that often does quite the opposite. The
- [Don’t just poke holes in the PRA](https://www.niskanencenter.org/dont-just-poke-holes-in-the-pra/) - Instead of poking more holes in the Paperwork Reduction Act, Congress should recognize that it is time for an across-the-board fix.
- [HOME field advantage: Leveraging HUD dollars to build more housing](https://www.niskanencenter.org/home-field-advantage-leveraging-hud-dollars-to-build-more-housing/) - This proposal represents the single biggest action HUD could take on its own to increase housing supply and open the possibility to substantially address the U.S. housing affordability crisis.
- [Beyond the checkbox: Unlocking skills-based-hiring under the Chance to Compete Act](https://www.niskanencenter.org/beyond-the-checkbox-unlocking-skills-based-hiring-under-the-cca/) - Today, the vast majority of federal hiring actions rely on low-quality applicant self-assessments that do little to differentiate among candidates based on observable merit.
- [From Gore to DOGE: The bipartisan history of failed workforce reform](https://www.niskanencenter.org/from-gore-to-doge-the-bipartisan-history-of-failed-workforce-reform/) - Many are surprised to learn that the federal workforce has remained remarkably stable, fluctuating between 2 and 2.3 million employees since the late 1960s. As a result, the size of the civil service has dramatically decreased in real terms as a percentage of the population.
- [You can’t fire your way to a high-performing government](https://www.niskanencenter.org/you-cant-fire-your-way-to-a-high-performing-government/) - Instead of tackling the real challenges of performance management in the federal workforce, the Trump Administration is dismantling a century of protections against politically motivated firings.
- [Breaking down the new memos on federal hiring](https://www.niskanencenter.org/breaking-down-the-new-memos-on-federal-hiring/) - There is a lot to like in OPM’s new memos on hiring federal employees, but there’s also a troubling focus on politicizing the federal workforce.
- [Permitting reform is back, and here’s how Congress can get it done this time](https://www.niskanencenter.org/permitting-reform-is-back-and-heres-how-congress-can-get-it-done-this-time/) - Today’s permitting processes are not streamlined, and reform has long eluded lawmakers seeking to cut red tape for new critical infrastructure builds.
- [The case for updating Schedule A](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-case-for-updating-schedule-a/) - Updating Schedule A will not eliminate all backlogs and processing delays, but it is an important step that the executive branch can take to alleviate administrative burdens and wait times, improve damaging labor shortages, and support the continued recovery of the American economy. 
- [Immigration as a solution to healthcare workforce shortages](https://www.niskanencenter.org/immigration-as-a-solution-to-healthcare-workforce-shortages/) - Immigration reform, though often contentious, offers a bipartisan opportunity to address a critical national need, improving health outcomes and ensuring that every American has access to timely, high-quality care.
- [Unlocking potential: How states can remove barriers for internationally trained physicians](https://www.niskanencenter.org/unlocking-potential-how-states-can-remove-barriers-for-internationally-trained-physicians/) - This paper will explore the causes of our current shortage, the barriers facing IMGs, and how to better integrate qualified internationally trained physicians into the American workforce.
- [Building a domestic critical mineral workforce through immigration](https://www.niskanencenter.org/building-a-domestic-critical-mineral-workforce-through-immigration/) - We need experts to locate deposits, design and operate mines, improve refining processes, and drive innovation that positions the U.S. competitively in this global market. Developing that talent pipeline will take years; in the meantime, the U.S. must draw on foreign expertise to fill urgent gaps.
- [Modernizing the H-2A visa: practical reforms to fuel American farms](https://www.niskanencenter.org/modernizing-the-h-2a-visa-reforms-to-fuel-american-farms/) - Increases in immigration enforcement and slowdowns in legal immigration processes threaten the stability of the workforce and the American farms that rely on it. 
- [Public comment: Weighted selection process for registrants and petitioners seeking to file cap-subject H-1B petitions](https://www.niskanencenter.org/public-comment-weighted-selection-process-for-registrants-and-petitioners-seeking-to-file-cap-subject-h-1b-petitions/) - Cecilia Esterline, discusses the shortcomings of the proposed changes and offers alternative remedies for the issues raised in the proposal.
- [Esterline on Envoy Global](https://www.niskanencenter.org/esterline-on-envoy-global/) - On October 17, 2025, Cecilia Esterline appeared on Envoy Global to discuss employment-based visas, new immigration data, and current policy.
- [Op-ed: Give Ireland access to unused US work visas](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-give-ireland-access-to-unused-us-work-visas/) - This article originally appeared in The Boston Herald on November 2, 2025.
- [The DOT’s trucking crackdown isn’t about safety — it’s about immigration](https://www.niskanencenter.org/dot-trucking-crackdown-immigration/) - The Department of Transportation (DOT) is selling its recently announced restrictions on “non-domiciled” truck drivers as an emergency measure. In reality, they’re an immigration crackdown. By sharply limiting which foreign-born workers can hold commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs), the DOT will push nearly 200,000 legally authorized drivers off the road, gutting an industry already facing severe
- [Immigration beyond the extremes: A blueprint that actually works](https://www.niskanencenter.org/immigration-beyond-the-extremes-a-blueprint-that-actually-works/) - By aligning enforcement, admissions, government effectiveness, and core values, we can remake immigration into a strategic tool.
- [Abolish the requirement to advertise jobs in Sunday newspapers](https://www.niskanencenter.org/modernizing-the-labor-certification-process-to-protect-american-workers/) - The outdated requirement of newspaper advertisement no longer ensures that employers have made genuine efforts to recruit American talent first. 
- [Immigration Idea Incubator](https://www.niskanencenter.org/immigration-idea-incubator/) - An environment that enables new ideas to flourish is one of the best things about working at Niskanen. Unfortunately, for capacity, political, and practical reasons, we can’t always translate those ideas into immediate reform proposals, but that doesn’t mean we’re not going to share them. Our Immigration Idea Incubator page features policy ideas our team
- [Offer H-1B cap exemptions to native speakers of critical languages](https://www.niskanencenter.org/leveraging-international-student-language-skills/) - With Americans trailing behind other advanced nations and nearly a quarter of U.S. diplomats failing to meet language benchmarks, we can do more to train Americans in these critical languages. Namely, we should leverage the many native speakers of these languages who study at our universities every year. 
- [Bolster domestic nurse training initiatives with fees on employment based immigrant petitions ](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-unsung-benefits-of-h-1b-visa-fees-and-why-we-should-replicate-them/) - Embedded in the H1-B visa program’s design is a woefully overlooked benefit for the domestic workforce: funding to upskill, reskill, and develop the American labor force.
- [Give small businesses a special H-1B allocation](https://www.niskanencenter.org/small-business-employees-need-a-special-allocation-in-the-h-1b-lottery/) - Reliable visa pathways that simultaneously invest in the upskilling of Americans are critical to creating a sustainable and reliable labor market that fosters innovation and growth. With the implementation of a size and revenue-limited exemption, the H-1B could be that pathway for the small businesses that are integral to Americans’ lives and livelihoods.
- [Mid-sized cities are clamoring for migrants](https://www.niskanencenter.org/mid-sized-cities-are-clamoring-for-migrants/) - Mid-size cities are willing — even requesting — that migrants come to their cities, particularly those with work authorization. 
- [Congress should create a new visa for AI talent from NATO allies](https://www.niskanencenter.org/congress-should-create-a-new-visa-for-ai-talent-from-nato-allies/) - While the U.S. has historically held a technological advantage given its more fertile environment for innovation, China has rapidly matched and even surpassed it in several emerging technology areas in recent years.
- [We should replicate Conrad 30 for J-1 trainees](https://www.niskanencenter.org/we-should-replicate-conrad-30-for-j-1-trainees/) - The Conrad 30 program, which recently celebrated its thirtieth anniversary in May, is a testament to success.
- [Research Paper: The Strategic Case for Refugee Resettlement](https://www.niskanencenter.org/research-paper-the-strategic-case-for-refugee-resettlement/) - by Professor Idean Salehyan Professor of Political Science, University of North Texas Adjunct Fellow, Niskanen Center EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Trump administration has dramatically reduced the number of refugees resettled to the United States. For Fiscal Year 2018, the cap on the number of resettled refugees was lowered to 45,000, although the actual number of admissions is
- [What everyone gets wrong about the U Visa](https://www.niskanencenter.org/what-everyone-gets-wrong-about-the-u-visa/) - The U visa program is a critical tool for law enforcement to hold criminals accountable and protect vulnerable immigrants. Misconceptions about the program should be corrected so that it can continue to serve its intended purpose–making our American society safer and more just for those in need.
- [Mandate that law enforcement officials submit U visa certifications directly to USCIS ](https://www.niskanencenter.org/mandate-that-law-enforcement-officials-submit-u-visa-certifications-directly-to-uscis/) - Congress could strengthen the program's integrity and help reduce the chances of fraudulent applications through one straightforward change to the U visa application process: mandating that law enforcement officials submit their certifications directly to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
- [Lessons from Canada: private sponsorship can help refugees land higher-skilled jobs](https://www.niskanencenter.org/lessons-from-canada-private-sponsorship-can-help-refugees-land-higher-skilled-jobs/) - We can capitalize on the lessons from Canada and European countries to create an American private sponsorship model where inclusive social networks are inherent in naming and matching, nurturing a more interconnected society and a greater sense of belonging.
- [Rebuilding the U.S. refugee program: A case study in how to increase state capacity](https://www.niskanencenter.org/rebuilding-the-u-s-refugee-program-a-case-study-in-how-to-increase-state-capacity/) - In fiscal year 2020, the U.S. resettled only 11,000 refugees, the lowest figure in the history of the nation’s refugee program. By fiscal year 2024, that number rose to 100,000, the highest in 30 years.
- [A Welcome Corps retrospective: How red and blue America embraced refugee sponsorship](https://www.niskanencenter.org/a-welcome-corps-retrospective-how-red-and-blue-america-embraced-refugee-sponsorship/) - Americans’ broad engagement in the Welcome Corps program indicates a national will to continue, strengthen, and expand service opportunities in resettling refugees.
- [BalderDASH: A Renters’ Tax Credit Will Only Worsen Housing Affordability](https://www.niskanencenter.org/dash-act-wydens-renters-tax-credit-will-only-worsen-housing-affordability/) - Subsidizing rents without expanding housing supply is a recipe for higher prices.
- [Lifting the SALT deduction cap will worsen exclusionary zoning](https://www.niskanencenter.org/lifting-the-salt-deduction-cap-will-worsen-exclusionary-zoning/) - Local policymakers need all the help they can get in the fight against NIMBYism.
- [The three YIMBY bills: How Congress can mitigate underproduction](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-three-yimby-bills-how-congress-could-mitigate-housing-underproduction/) - Each bill represents a positive step toward a consensus that market-rate housing should be more abundant and less expensive.
- [WEBINAR: Future of hybrid work and the housing crisis: opportunities and threats](https://www.niskanencenter.org/webinar-future-of-hybrid-work-and-the-housing-crisis-opportunities-and-threats/) - To better understand what to expect in housing markets evolving with remote and hybrid work, the Niskanen Center hosted a panel discussion, “Future of Hybrid Work and the Housing Crisis: Opportunities and Threats."
- [High mortgage rates are killing the rental market](https://www.niskanencenter.org/high-mortgage-rates-are-killing-the-rental-market/) - When housing supply of all kinds grows with demand, price increases aren’t as bad compared to when housing is broadly scarce.
- [Single-room rentals in America's housing ecosystem](https://www.niskanencenter.org/single-room-rentals-in-americas-housing-ecosystem/) - Single-room rentals provide an important first/last step on the housing ladder, making them an essential component of the broader housing ecosystem.
- [New manufactured housing rules: Another step toward abundant housing](https://www.niskanencenter.org/new-manufactured-housing-rules-another-step-toward-abundant-housing/) - We applaud HUD’s intentions to improve access to and quality of manufactured housing and encourage the agency to continue improving the code, especially by clarifying regulations around multifamily manufactured housing. 
- [How to build more family-sized apartments](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-to-build-more-family-sized-apartments/) - Permitting construction of a full range of apartment types, from small single-room units to large family-sized apartments, would allow people to live where they want, whether they desire a small or large space — for themselves alone or their whole family.
- [Yes in my big sky](https://www.niskanencenter.org/montana-needs-to-increase-its-supply-of-housing/) - Montana is taking a critical first step in addressing its housing shortage: acknowledging that the problem is not with demand but with constraints on supply.
- [Manufactured housing: the Ugly Duckling of affordable housing](https://www.niskanencenter.org/manufactured-housing-the-ugly-duckling-of-affordable-housing/) - Allowing manufactured homes to compete evenly with site-built is good for consumers and homeowners seeking housing solutions that fit their needs.
- [Housing policy and poverty: The case of California](https://www.niskanencenter.org/housing-policy-and-poverty-the-case-of-california/) - Policy strategies that increase housing supply and reduce housing costs should be viewed analogously to anti-poverty strategies that redistribute cash income. 
- [Niskanen applauds bipartisan “Build Now Act” as smart, targeted solution to American’s zoning crisis](https://www.niskanencenter.org/niskanen-applauds-bipartisan-build-now-act-as-smart-targeted-solution-to-americans-zoning-crisis/) - The Niskanen Center commends Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) for introducing the bipartisan Build Now Act.
- [Making federal transit dollars work: Two reforms for better value](https://www.niskanencenter.org/making-federal-transit-dollars-work-two-reforms-for-better-value/) - American transit investments regularly underdeliver compared to the potential of the infrastructure built and the amount of money invested.
- [The ROAD to housing: Tim Scott's housing bill marks a bipartisan breakthrough](https://www.niskanencenter.org/bipartisan-road-to-housing/) - The bill seeks to confront the nation’s affordable housing crisis by reforming decades of ineffective federal housing policies.
- [Armlovich on Statecraft](https://www.niskanencenter.org/armlovich-on-statecraft/) - On October 16, 2025, Alex Armlovich joined Santi Ruiz on the Statecraft podcast to discuss the ROAD to Housing Act.
- [New census data: A true picture of America’s housing stock](https://www.niskanencenter.org/new-census-data-a-true-picture-of-americas-housing-stock/) - Policymakers, researchers, and the public have been operating on limited or incorrect information in the ongoing effort to expand America’s housing supply.
- [The Niskanen Center's Science of Politics Podcast](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-niskanen-centers-science-of-politics-podcast/) - You can subscribe to The Science of Politics on iTunes here. The Science of Politics features up-and-coming researchers delivering fresh insights on the big trends driving American politics and policy today. In 30 minutes, you’ll get beyond punditry to data-driven understanding. Each episode goes in-depth on one hot topic in the news with two researchers who
- [In light of harsh repression in Iran, the US should grant Temporary Protected Status to Iranians already here](https://www.niskanencenter.org/in-light-of-harsh-repression-in-iran-the-us-should-grant-temporary-protected-status-to-iranians-already-here/) - If the United States wishes to align its policies with its rhetoric, it should take an immediate and concrete step: designate Iran for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and fully reinstate asylum procedures.
- [States Are Temporarily Letting Doctors Chase COVID-19 Across State Lines. Make it Permanent.](https://www.niskanencenter.org/states-are-temporarily-letting-doctors-chase-covid-19-across-state-lines-make-it-permanent/) - European physicians traverse countries more freely than U.S. doctors cross states.
- [The Planning of U.S. Physician Shortages](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-planning-of-u-s-physician-shortages/) - Misguided modeling created a "physician surplus" narrative, the harmful consequences of which we are still dealing with today.
- [Op-Ed: The Next Steps for Utah Health Professional Licensing: Easing Administrative Burdens](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-next-steps-for-utah-health-professional-licensing-easing-administrative-burdens/) - This piece was originally published by The University of Utah on Jun 23, 2021. Utah has made tremendous strides in easing excessive licensure-related barriers to health care professions. The next step for Utah should be the reduction of the administrative burdens imposed on practitioners by licensing. This should involve the lengthening of current licenses’ duration as well
- [The U.S. Has Much to Gain from More Doctors](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-u-s-has-much-to-gain-from-more-doctors/) - Bottlenecks in the physician training pipeline are largely the result of previous policy choices and are restraining the supply of U.S. physicians. Yet the case for restraining the physician supply is incredibly weak.
- [Op-Ed: America Can’t Fix Its Doctor Shortage without Fixing Federal Financing](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-america-cant-fix-its-doctor-shortage-without-fixing-federal-financing/) - This piece was originally published by National Review on October 26, 2021. The United States is facing a critical shortage of doctors. Our health-care system produces fewer physicians per person than virtually every other developed country. Of the doctors we do train, most opt for high-paying specialties instead of pursuing careers in primary care. The
- [There’s “Regulation” and Then There’s “Regulation”](https://www.niskanencenter.org/theres-regulation-and-then-theres-regulation/) - The dose makes the poison, and how you determine if a given market is “more” or “less” regulated than another is subjective. This “more” or “less” framing also makes it possible to skirt the issue of whether or not a given rule or regulatory regime is better or worse than the alternative. In other words, questions about over- or under-regulation tend to distract from the often-more-relevant discussion of misregulation. 
- [Trust, state capacity, and the epidemiological mystery of Covid](https://www.niskanencenter.org/trust-state-capacity-and-the-epidemiological-mystery-of-covid/) - When a pandemic strikes, trust and good government are both important assets. 
- [Making health care affordable for new mothers](https://www.niskanencenter.org/making-health-care-affordable-for-new-mothers/) - In light of likely upcoming changes to abortion policy, now is as good a time as any to ensure that our health care system is as accommodative to childbirth as possible.
- [Medical injury? Don’t call the lawyers.](https://www.niskanencenter.org/medical-injury-dont-call-the-lawyers/) - The American model of litigating medical errors is inefficient and slow. There are better systems.
- [How bad policy design shattered a permanent Medicare expansion](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-bad-policy-design-shattered-a-permanent-medicare-expansion/) - Policymakers cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the MCCA. Otherwise major legislative pushes risk being wasted.
- [Comparing Rubio and Romney's child benefit proposals ](https://www.niskanencenter.org/comparing-rubio-and-romneys-plans/) - The Family Security Act 2.0 is more favorable to households with lower incomes, married parents, and larger families.
- [Op-Ed: Yes, Birth Should Be Free](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-yes-birth-should-be-free/) - This piece was originally published by the Institute for Family Studies on February 8, 2023. Is freeing parents from the financial cost of childbirth a worthwhile goal for public policy? In a recent essay for Compact Magazine, Catherine Glenn Foster of Americans United for Life and Kristen Day of Democrats for Life argue the affirmative case, pointing to the
- [Op-Ed: Jefferson and Hamilton in American health care](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-jefferson-and-hamilton-in-american-health-care/) - This article was originally published by The American Conservative on February 23, 2023.
- [Op-Ed: Breaking point](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-breaking-point/) - This piece was originally published by Ripon Forum on February 23, 2023.
- [New data shows No Surprises Act arbitration is growing healthcare waste](https://www.niskanencenter.org/new-data-shows-no-surprises-act-arbitration-is-growing-healthcare-waste/) - New data shows that the arbitration process under the No Surprises Act is increasing healthcare costs rather than controlling them. New data shows that the arbitration process under the No Surprises Act is increasing healthcare costs rather than controlling them.
- [Shifting the balance: How CMS’s 2026 rules target higher-value care](https://www.niskanencenter.org/cms-rules-site-neutral/) - The rule begins to rebalance reimbursements by shifting spending away from hospital-owned settings and toward primary care and other freestanding outpatient clinics.
- [Op-ed: RFK Jr., Dr. Oz, and Elizabeth Warren agree on at least one big thing](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-rfk-jr-dr-oz-and-elizabeth-warren-agree-on-at-least-one-big-thing/) - This article originally appeared in The Argument on October 3, 2025.
- [A new program removes a major employment barrier for international doctors](https://www.niskanencenter.org/a-new-program-removes-a-major-employment-barrier-for-international-doctors/) - The leading professional organization for doctors of internal medicine is taking an important step toward easing the U.S. physician shortage.
- [Legislative guide](https://www.niskanencenter.org/leg-guide/) - This guide was developed to help Congress address policy implementation and delivery challenges.
- [Capability-based budgeting meets the real world: Navigating today’s pressures, reforms, and risks](https://www.niskanencenter.org/capability-based-budgeting-meets-the-real-world-reforms-and-risks/) - This article looks squarely at real-world pressures, which together reveal why capability-based budgeting may be even more necessary now than when VA first began implementing it in 2021.
- [Newborn needs: The case for an American baby bonus](https://www.niskanencenter.org/newborn-needs-the-case-for-an-american-baby-bonus/) - An American baby bonus can be affordable and simple. This one-time program would offer support when parents need it most, without creating dependency.
- [Indexing at last: The most important policy change you haven’t heard about](https://www.niskanencenter.org/indexing-at-last-the-most-important-policy-change-you-havent-heard-about/) - The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act marks an important turning point in the history of the Child Tax Credit.
- [Family benefits in America: 2024 report card](https://www.niskanencenter.org/family-benefits-in-america-2024-report-card/) - For 2024, we evaluated total benefits and implicit marginal tax rates that families with young children face when their earnings increase.
- [The many paths to a refundable child tax credit for states](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-many-paths-to-a-refundable-child-tax-credit-for-states/) - State policymakers have powerful tools at their disposal to support families with the cost of raising children and caring for disabled or elderly relatives.
- [States have room to experiment with childcare staffing ratios](https://www.niskanencenter.org/states-have-room-to-experiment-with-childcare-staffing-ratios/) - States have a modest ability to increase the supply of childcare and drive down prices by examining the risk-benefit tradeoffs of regulations.
- [Family benefits in America: An international perspective](https://www.niskanencenter.org/family-benefits-in-america-an-international-perspective/) - Drawing on comparative data from Canadian provinces suggests that focusing on changes to TANF and Child Tax Credits can go a long way toward bringing the U.S. more in line with other developed countries.
- [The myth of the optimal level of incarceration](https://www.niskanencenter.org/why-we-can-safely-let-incarceration-drop/) - The biggest hint that the incarceration decline can safely continue is that it has been consistently paired with declining recidivism rates.
- [Insurance as a potential tool to reduce firearm-related harms](https://www.niskanencenter.org/insurance-as-a-potential-tool-to-reduce-firearm-related-harms/) - Through tax credits, direct subsidies, or market stabilization, policymakers could make the insurance industry a critical part of the nation’s ongoing effort to reduce firearm-related harms. 
- [Data center energy demand: Renovating while we live here](https://www.niskanencenter.org/data-center-energy-demand-renovating-while-we-live-here/) - The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) is putting immense pressure on our energy infrastructure. It’s like trying to renovate an old house while still living in it—we must keep the power flowing today while overhauling the system for tomorrow.
- [A defense of opening  unemployment eligibility for vaccine mandate quits](https://www.niskanencenter.org/a-defense-of-opening-unemployment-eligibility-for-vaccine-mandate-quits/) - Unemployment insurance should simply be provided after any separation event—no matter who initiated it or the underlying reason.
- [Federal UI Hid the Shortcomings of State Extended Benefits](https://www.niskanencenter.org/federal-ui-hid-the-shortcomings-of-state-extended-benefits/) - State policymakers should take full advantage of UI's Extended Benefits program.
- [You will likely be unemployed before the next crisis](https://www.niskanencenter.org/you-will-likely-be-unemployed-before-the-next-crisis/) - Unemployment is a permanent feature of our national economy, and national unemployment insurance reform cannot be left unaddressed until the next official crisis.
- [Labor Markets Are Not Perfect, Our Reforms Should Reflect That](https://www.niskanencenter.org/labor-markets-are-not-perfect-and-our-reforms-should-reflect-that/) - Understanding that labor markets are not currently acting in the “perfect-competition” model featured in an introductory economics course, is the first step to figuring out how to help our labor force.
- [Less Paperwork, Higher Wages: Replacing the Work Opportunity Tax Credit with an Employment Subsidy](https://www.niskanencenter.org/less-paperwork-higher-wages-replacing-the-work-opportunity-tax-credit-with-an-employment-subsidy/) - Employment subsidy programs can lower the cost for businesses to hire the long-term unemployed and create healthier labor markets in the long run through components like automatic stabilizers and opportunities for retraining.
- [Underestimating Unemployment’s Education Divide](https://www.niskanencenter.org/underestimating-unemployments-education-divide/) - The unrepresentative demographics of our national policymakers could be impacting the legislative urgency needed for unemployment insurance (UI) reform, creating a policy blindspot that undermines the economic security of working-class families.
- [How UI reform can support single-earner families](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-ui-reform-can-support-single-earner-families/) - If policymakers want to achieve the ‘One Single Income’ aspiration and enable a parent to remain home to raise the children, UI expansions are a necessary step to get there.
- [Unemployment insurance reform can build up labor power](https://www.niskanencenter.org/unemployment-insurance-reform-can-build-up-labor-power/) - The U.S. labor movement should expend effort on expanding UI at the state and federal levels while pushing for union proliferation.
- [Raising SSI asset limits raises recipient opportunity](https://www.niskanencenter.org/raising-ssi-asset-limits-raises-recipient-opportunity/) - Many of America’s most vulnerable families cannot build up savings without risking their livelihood because of an obsolete technicality.
- [States’ average UI benefits are worse than they appear](https://www.niskanencenter.org/states-average-ui-benefits-are-worse-than-they-appear/) - Inadequate benefits directly hurt unemployed workers’ financial wellbeing, compel employed workers to stay in bad work conditions, and lead to lower salary levels.
- [The “Friends” fear fallacy](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-friends-fear-fallacy/) - With expanded UI benefits, the idea of quitting your job in pursuit of one that is more financially stable and better matched could go from a sitcom storyline to reality.
- [Include unemployment insurance reform in the labor policy arsenal](https://www.niskanencenter.org/include-unemployment-insurance-reform-in-the-labor-policy-arsenal/) - Unemployment is a serious impediment to workers, but with stronger unemployment insurance, it can be wielded as a tool for workers’ well-being.
- [How stingy SSI rules erode work, savings, and family values](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-stingy-ssi-rules-erode-work-savings-and-family-values/) - If every SSI Restoration Act provision was passed, all recipients would be brought over the annual poverty line while work, savings, and family values would be better rewarded.
- [Second quarterly report of unemployment insurance benefit sizes for 2022](https://www.niskanencenter.org/second-quarterly-report-of-unemployment-insurance-benefit-sizes-for-2022/) - Inadequate benefits directly hurt unemployed workers’ financial wellbeing, compel employed workers to stay in bad work conditions, and lead to lower salary levels.
- [One year since pandemic UI expired](https://www.niskanencenter.org/one-year-since-pandemic-ui-expired/) - A year after the end of pandemic expansions of UI, experts join Niskanen's employment team for a Twitter Space to discuss the program's impact and the future of UI reform. 
- [Census poverty numbers may underestimate pandemic UI impact by half](https://www.niskanencenter.org/census-poverty-numbers-may-underestimate-pandemic-ui-impact-by-half/) - Misleading data estimates can have large effects on people’s perceptions and, eventually, policy decisions.
- [Supporting families, supporting states: A framework for expanding paid family leave](https://www.niskanencenter.org/supporting-families-supporting-states-a-framework-for-expanding-paid-family-leave/) - Modernizing federal UI rules and supports provides the most promising vehicle for expanding paid family leave for the foreseeable future.
- [Work requirements and income requirements, explained](https://www.niskanencenter.org/work-requirements-and-income-requirements-explained/) - As bipartisan discussions take place, we encourage legislators to push for eliminating the income requirements, especially for parents of younger children and children raised by grandparents.
- [The forgotten origins of Montana's just-cause employment law](https://www.niskanencenter.org/forgotten-origins-montanas-just-cause-employment-law/) - When employers don’t have to worry about every firing becoming an expensive lawsuit, hiring rates increase and workers have more opportunities to find work. At the same time, when workers don’t have to worry about being fired on a dime they can lead stable and productive lives. 
- [A more legible UI policy](https://www.niskanencenter.org/a-more-legible-ui-policy/) - Let's clean up unemployment insurance and make it easier for everyone to understand. Less confusion, fewer overpayments, and better preparedness for the next crisis.
- [Iowa’s recent unemployment insurance reforms may undermine program solvency](https://www.niskanencenter.org/iowas-recent-unemployment-insurance-reforms-may-undermine-program-solvency/) - By shrinking its taxable wage base and lowering employer tax rates, Iowa risks undoing the very system that kept it solvent while other states faltered.
- [Separation anxiety: Reducing improper payments in unemployment insurance with a separation certificate](https://www.niskanencenter.org/separation-anxiety-reducing-improper-payments-in-unemployment-insurance-with-a-separation-certificate/) - Congress could improve program integrity and reduce improper payments by requiring a formal Separation Certificate — like Canada’s Record of Employment — to be sent to state agencies whenever a worker separates, ensuring timely access to benefits.
- [How states can help curb UI overpayments and improve efficiency](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-states-can-help-curb-ui-overpayments-and-improve-efficiency/) - State unemployment agencies face a persistent processing problem: they struggle to deliver benefits both accurately and on time.
- [How to save a billion dollars](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-to-save-a-billion-dollars/) - Every government technology leader knows a story about a project that accidentally wasted a billion dollars. The details vary, but the arc is familiar.
- [The product operating model: How government should deliver digital services](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-product-operating-model-how-government-should-deliver-digital-services/) - The government could replicate some private sector practices that have provided results like digitizing more services.
- [From compliance to delivery: Why agencies need product managers](https://www.niskanencenter.org/from-compliance-to-delivery-why-agencies-need-product-managers/) - To improve public service delivery, the federal government should adopt a Product Operating Model and build product management capacity across agencies.
- [Why federal IT fails — And how budgeting by capability can fix it](https://www.niskanencenter.org/federal-it-budgeting-capability/) - Federal IT teams are smart and capable. The real challenge is how funding flows and how tightly it’s bound to the work.
- [Efficient justice: Thinking at the margins about crime and punishment](https://www.niskanencenter.org/efficient-crime-control/) - A justice system, by its very nature, provides benefits and imposes costs.
- [Virtual event: How to change agent behavior: Moving from research to practice](https://www.niskanencenter.org/virtual-event-how-to-change-agent-behavior-moving-from-research-to-practice/) - In what is sure to be an informative conversation, Neil Gross, senior fellow at the Niskanen Center, will moderate a panel discussion among three of the country’s top experts on this issue.
- [Precision policing: The Kensington Initiative's targeted approach to combating the opioid epidemic](https://www.niskanencenter.org/precision-policing-the-kensington-initiatives-targeted-approach-to-combating-the-opioid-epidemic/) - In the early hours of Valentine's Day 2019, law enforcement launched a coordinated operation to dismantle a multi-million dollar drug trafficking organization in a single sweep.
- ["When Brute Force Fails" 15th anniversary dinner in celebration of the late Mark Kleiman](https://www.niskanencenter.org/when-brute-force-fails-15th-anniversary-dinner-in-celebration-of-the-late-mark-kleiman/) - We are grateful to Mark’s many friends and colleagues who were able to join us in Washington for the event. We are also grateful to those who could not attend but sent video tributes.
- [A step in the right detection? Electronic monitoring and the future of community corrections](https://www.niskanencenter.org/a-step-in-the-right-detection-electronic-monitoring-and-the-future-of-community-corrections/) - Electronic monitoring could replace incarceration for certain American prisoners and reduce the prison population without endangering public safety.
- [Right cops, right place: solving D.C.’s policing puzzle](https://www.niskanencenter.org/right-cops-right-place-solving-d-c-s-policing-puzzle/) - City and agency leaders already have many of the tools they need to meaningfully reduce crime.
- [Can we reduce the imprisonment rate without endangering public safety? The promise of electronic monitoring](https://www.niskanencenter.org/can-we-reduce-the-imprisonment-rate-without-endangering-public-safety-the-promise-of-electronic-monitoring/) - Electronic monitoring might simply perform better than prison at reducing post-sentence offending.
- [The EU should consider including export rebates in its carbon border adjustments](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-eu-should-consider-including-export-rebates-in-its-carbon-border-adjustments/) - EU business may be impacted by the EU carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM). 
- [Revolutionizing carbon accounting for American manufacturing competitiveness](https://www.niskanencenter.org/revolutionizing-carbon-accounting-for-american-manufacturing-competitiveness/) - As sustainability and low-emissions becomes a key area for competitive advantage, E-liability supplies a reliable framework to leverage innovation and market principles.
- [From green goals to black ink: Reforming carbon accounting for a new era of competition](https://www.niskanencenter.org/reforming-carbon-accounting-for-a-new-era-of-competition/) - If the U.S. wants to lead in low-carbon manufacturing and protect itself in a world of carbon-based trade, it needs carbon accounting that keeps pace with business.
- [Reevaluating the New Liberals, with Henry Tonks](https://www.niskanencenter.org/reevaluating-the-new-liberals-with-henry-tonks/) - Tonks argues that while New Liberals didn’t correctly diagnose the changes to the economy in all of its particulars, their policy vision retains considerable relevance to today’s politics — and particularly the discussion around the Abundance movement.
- [How site-neutral payment policies can save money for cancer patients and the chronically ill](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-site-neutral-payment-policies-can-save-money-for-cancer-patients-and-the-chronically-ill/) - Every year, rising numbers of Americans are diagnosed with chronic health conditions — diagnoses that are accompanied by rising out-of-pocket expenses. It is especially difficult for patients with cancer and other life-threatening conditions, whose frequent and aggressive treatments force them to bear a disproportionate share of these escalating out-of-pocket costs. But in a new study
- [How Alaska’s unemployment insurance system can pave the path to paid parental leave](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-alaskas-unemployment-insurance-system-can-pave-the-path-to-paid-parental-leave/) - By leveraging the existing administrative and fiscal infrastructure of the unemployment insurance system, lawmakers could extend paid leave benefits to new parents without raising new taxes or creating a separate bureaucracy.
- [Mapping America’s immigration needs: A county-level model for matching migrants to local economies  ](https://www.niskanencenter.org/mapping-americas-immigration-needs-a-county-level-model-for-matching-migrants-to-local-economies/) - The Migration Match Index (MMI) is a county-level model designed to identify where migration can maximize mutual benefit.
- [Op-ed: One bipartisan solution can revolutionize how Medicaid patients get primary care](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-one-bipartisan-solution-can-revolutionize-how-medicaid-patients-get-primary-care/) - A bipartisan bill in Congress could finally give Medicaid patients something most of them lack today: reliable, relationship-based primary care.
- [Legal Immigration in Numbers: January 2026 Status Update](https://www.niskanencenter.org/immigrationdata/) - While President Trump has kept the spotlight on illegal immigration, legal immigration has also been disrupted.
- [Rhode Island child tax credit would be bold, simple, and fiscally responsible](https://www.niskanencenter.org/rhode-island-child-tax-credit-would-be-bold-simple-and-fiscally-responsible/) - The plan, which follows what we have dubbed the New England model, wisely builds on existing policies by expanding their reach rather than creating a wholly new credit from scratch.
- [Guerra on The Dispatch Podcast](https://www.niskanencenter.org/guerra-on-the-dispatch-podcast/) - On January 5th, 2026, Niskanen's Gil Guerra joined Steve Hayes, Jonah Goldberg, & Mike Nelson on The Dispatch Podcast.
- [Op-ed: Why we toppled Maduro](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-why-we-toppled-maduro/) - This article originally appeared on January 5, 2026.
- [Op-ed: What does Afghan vetting actually look like?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/what-does-afghan-vetting-actually-look-like/) - This article originally appeared in The Dispatch on December 2, 2025.
- [Op-ed: Is the Diversity Visa a security risk?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-is-the-diversity-visa-a-security-risk/) - This article originally appeared in The Dispatch on December 22, 2025.
- [Op-ed: Don’t blame immigrants for Mamdani’s win](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-dont-blame-immigrants-for-mamdanis-win/) - This article originally appeared in The Dispatch on November 10, 2025.
- [Niskanen Summer Institute: Democracy that works](https://www.niskanencenter.org/niskanen-summer-institute-democracy-that-works/) - The Niskanen Summer Institute is a fully funded, intensive academic program in Washington, D.C., for leadership-minded undergraduates who wish to understand the intersection of politics and policy and explore the Niskanen Center’s framework for institutional reform.
- [Which groups win policy under each party?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/which-groups-win-policy-under-each-party/) - Agustin Markarian finds that different groups see their policy preferences better represented depending on which party is in power.
- [Siting, leasing, and permitting of clean energy infrastructure in the United States](https://www.niskanencenter.org/siting-leasing-and-permitting-of-clean-energy-infrastructure-in-the-united-states/) - The ongoing expansion of clean energy supply cannot be sustained unless outdated government regulations and processes are improved.
- [Varieties of Abundance](https://www.niskanencenter.org/abundance-varieties/) - We will know that abundance has succeeded when there is a proliferation of “abundances,” different governing projects attached to previously existing ideologies, interests, and parties.
- [Event: Kristie De Peña discusses the role of immigration in caregiving at the Center on Children and Families at Brookings](https://www.niskanencenter.org/event-kristie-de-pena-discusses-the-role-of-immigration-in-caregiving-at-the-center-on-children-and-families-at-brookings/) - Kristie De Peña joined the Center on Children and Families at Brookings on April 19, 2022 to discuss the role of immigration in caregiving.
- [Pop-Up Conversation with Rep. Suzan DelBene](https://www.niskanencenter.org/pop-up-conversation-with-rep-suzan-delbene/) - A conversation on the impacts of earned income tax credit and child care tax credit on low-income families and how to move forward in 2022.
- [Reed at ACES: Clean energy infrastructure](https://www.niskanencenter.org/reed-at-aces-clean-energy-infrastructure/) - Reed joined the ACES conference as a panelist on June 24, 2022.
- [Kristie De Peña at the Council on Foreign Relations: Immigration reform](https://www.niskanencenter.org/event-kristie-de-pena-discusses-immigration-reform-at-the-council-on-foreign-relations/) - Kristie De Peña appeared as a panelist at a Council on Foreign Relations event on October 27, 2022.
- [Kristie De Peña at the Migration Policy Institute: The growing role of litigation in immigration policymaking](https://www.niskanencenter.org/event-kristie-de-pena-discusses-the-growing-role-of-litigation-in-immigration-policymaking-at-the-migration-policy-institute/) - Kristie De Peña was a panelist at a Migration Policy Institute (MPI) event on November 1, 2022.
- [Event: Cutting waste, enhancing care: Finding healthcare policy win-wins](https://www.niskanencenter.org/event-cutting-waste-enhancing-care-finding-healthcare-policy-win-wins/) - Join the Niskanen Center on Thursday, May 15th for a timely and in-depth discussion on federal solutions designed to enhance patient care while driving efficiencies in healthcare delivery and payment.
- [William A. Niskanen on Government Promises](https://www.niskanencenter.org/placeholder-1/)
- [William A. Niskanen on the Iraq War](https://www.niskanencenter.org/placeholder-2/)
- [William A. Niskanen, A Life Well Lived](https://www.niskanencenter.org/placeholder-3/)
- [Episode 1: How Fox News Channel Spreads its Message and Persuades Viewers](https://www.niskanencenter.org/episode-1-fox-news-channel-spreads-message-persuades-viewers/) - Episode 1 of the Political Research Digest explores new research that finds Fox News Channel helps Republicans win presidential elections as viewers become more conservative and pass along the message to their friends. The studies covered are Bias in Cable News and No Need to Watch; guest interviews are with Gregory Martin, Emory University and Audrey McClain, Temple University. The Niskanen Center’s Political
- [Episode 2: Why Republican Women Don't Run for Office and Why It Matters for the Gender Gap in Voting](https://www.niskanencenter.org/episode-2-republican-women-dont-run-office-matters-gender-gap-voting/) - Democratic women make up three times the share of their congressional caucus than Republican women. Matt Grossmann talks to Danielle Thomsen about her new research on how the donor networks in each party help produce this divide. He also talks to Heather Ondercin about her new research showing that the gap among officeholders may be
- [Episode 4: How the House Freedom Caucus Gains Power in Congress](https://www.niskanencenter.org/episode-4-house-freedom-caucus-gains-power-congress/) - In its first few years, the House Freedom Caucus has helped take down a Speaker, choose another, and set the course of the health care debate in Congress. Matt Grossmann talks to Ruth Bloch Rubin about new research comparing them to other intra-party factions over a century of Congressional history, finding that they combine the strategies of
- [Jerry Taylor on FOX's Stossel](https://www.niskanencenter.org/jerry-taylor-on-foxs-stossel/)
- [Jerry Taylor cited by Rep. Jared Polis on C-SPAN](https://www.niskanencenter.org/jerry-taylor-cited-by-rep-jared-polis-on-c-span/) - Image from Pexels Free Stock.
- [Episode 3: Polarized Opinion on Climate Change and Messages that Move Conservatives](https://www.niskanencenter.org/episode-3-polarized-opinion-climate-change-messages-move-conservatives/) - Episode 3 of the Political Research Digest explores new research by Megan Mullin of Duke University on climate polarization, the factors that influence climate opinion, and how to manage the partisan divide. Host Matt Grossmann also talks to Ohio State University's Graham Dixon about a new experiment showing that highlighting free-market ideas alleviates conservative skepticism
- [Podcast: Samuel Hammond on Welfare Reform and Social Insurance](https://www.niskanencenter.org/podcast-samuel-hammond-on-welfare-reform-and-social-insurance/) - Niskanen's Sam Hammond joins the Mercatus Center's David Beckworth on the Macro Musings podcast to discuss his most recent paper, The Free Market Welfare State: Preserving Dynamism in a Volatile World," along with some of his other research. Also on this episode of Macro Musings: Sam and David also discuss the repercussions of the China shock, how
- [Anti-Immigration Politics: Is California's Past the Republicans' Future?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/anti-immigration-politics-is-californias-past-the-republicans-future/) - Many say California Republicans’ anti-immigration ballot initiatives in the 1990s lost them the Latino vote and set the party on the road to ruin. Is Trump leading national Republicans down the same failed path? Iris Hui finds that the propositions were not the tipping point, with Republicans starting to lose ground beforehand and feeling the
- [Episode 14: How Racial Stereotypes Impacted Voting for Obama and Trump](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-racial-stereotypes-impacted-voting-for-obama-and-trump/) - White racial attitudes play a strong role in voter attitudes from Barack Obama to Donald Trump, but whites think it’s black voters who decide based on race. Darren Davis finds a racial double standard, where racially resentful whites think blacks vote based on race alone. Randall Swain finds Trump benefited from white racial stereotypes and
- [Episode 13: Are Red and Blue States Making Red and Blue Policies?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/episode-13-red-blue-states-making-red-blue-policies/) - Public opinion and political parties are dividing across states, but is public policy following these differences, with conservative publics and majority Republican parties enacting more conservative policies? Christopher Warshaw finds shifts in state public opinion are reflected in policy, but not always through majority parties. Mark Richardson finds that majority state parties still need to win over centrist
- [Episode 12: Are Americans Becoming Tribal, with Identity Politics Trumping All?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/episode-12-americans-becoming-tribal-identity-politics-trumping/) - Democrats and Republicans are sorting ideologically and socially and we’re developing more negative opinions of one another. Are we dividing into two irreconcilable tribes—or just tuning out both parties? Liliana Mason talks about new research showing our partisan identity is stronger when our ethnic, religious, and ideological identities are strong and linked to our party’s predominant
- [Episode 6: Multi-Racial Electoral Coalitions for Minority Candidates](https://www.niskanencenter.org/episode-6-multi-racial-electoral-coalitions-minority-candidates/) - In many U.S. cities, Latinos and Asians are gaining population share in previously white or black dominated areas. But the vast majority of cities still have white mayors, even those with majority-minority populations. So when do racial minorities gain representation and do they ally to support the same candidates? Paru Shah finds that majority-white and
- [Episode 9: Congressional Primaries: How the Parties Fight Insurgents](https://www.niskanencenter.org/episode-9-congressional-primaries-parties-fight-insurgents/) - The year 2016 brought a lot of change in presidential primaries, but mostly continuity in House and Senate primaries. How will the candidates gain party support and win votes in this year's crowded primary season? Hans Hassell says party elites and donors continue to decide the vast majority of primaries by clearing the field and providing
- [Episode 11: Do Americans Implicitly Trust Government, Despite our Public Anger?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/episode-11-americans-implicitly-trust-government-despite-public-anger/) - Trust in government is low and declining after another polarized election and in a polarizing administration. We're frustrated, even angry, but maybe we still hold some underlying pride in our government. Steven Webster finds that anger decreases trust, whether it's directed toward the candidates or life in general. But Stephen Nicholson says we still hold implicit
- [Episode 10: The Resistance: Who is Protesting Trump and Are They Changing Public Views?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/episode-10-resistance-protesting-trump-changing-public-views/) - 2017 saw protest movements return with a vengeance, as millions protested Donald Trump at marches for women, science, immigration, & more. But will that translate into public opinion shifts or electoral mobilization in 2018? Dana Fisher finds a lot of cross-over in concerns and participation across a year of big protests and signs it is translating
- [Episode 8: Does the Tax Law Signal Change in How Parties use Tax Credits and Deductions?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/episode-8-tax-law-signal-change-parties-use-tax-credits-deductions/) - The U.S. has a long history of spending through the tax code, limiting revenue to provide benefits. But Congress just passed a major tax cut that limits some tax deductions, keeps others, and expands the child tax credit. How do the latest Republican efforts fit historical patterns? Christopher Faricy's recent article finds that Republicans usually
- [Episode 7: Rules Around the Senate Filibuster](https://www.niskanencenter.org/episode-7-rules-around-senate-filibuster/) - The filibuster effectively means 60 votes are usually required to take action in the Senate. But Senate majorities can make or change rules to get around it. In 2017, Republicans went "nuclear" on Supreme Court nominations and used reconciliation rules to pass tax cuts (but chose not to limit the scope of the Byrd Rule).
- [Episode 5: How Gun Politics and Gun Policy Polarize America](https://www.niskanencenter.org/episode-5-gun-politics-gun-policy-polarize-america/) - After every mass shooting, partisans retreat to their respective corners on gun control. The National Rifle Association, and the gun owners it represents, are critical forces in our politics, but they may be winning only with Republican voters and in Republican states. Matt Grossmann talks to Mark Joslyn about new research showing gun owners are
- [Higher Education: An Engine of Social Mobility...or a Driver of Inequality?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/higher-education-an-engine-of-social-mobility-or-a-driver-of-inequality/) - The college admissions scandal finds the rich still buying their way into elite colleges, drawing attention to the role of college in perpetuating inequality. But university education remains a source of social mobility and increasing group equality in America. Deondra Rose finds that federal higher education policy empowered women to become majorities of college graduates
- [Jerry Taylor on What Changed His Mind About Climate Change](https://www.niskanencenter.org/jerry-taylor-on-what-changed-his-mind-about-climate-change/) - Jerry Taylor joins Charlie Sykes on the Bulwark Podcast to talk about his conversion from climate change skepticism and what Justin Amash's stand might mean for Donald Trump in 2020. Originally appeared on the Bulwark podcast. Image by Tommy Lopez from Pexels.
- [Confessions of a Recovering Libertarian](https://www.niskanencenter.org/confessions-of-a-recovering-libertarian/) - Jerry Taylor joins Bulwark podcast host Charlie Sykes to discuss Jerry's confessions as a recovering libertarian, virtue signaling in the GOP, how the decline of broad political knowledge is fueling excessive partisanship, and the future of moderation in our hyper-partisan times. Originally appeared on the Bulwark podcast.
- [Video: Ed Dolan Debates Job Guarantees at Brookings](https://www.niskanencenter.org/ed-dolan-job-guarantee-brookings/) - Last Thursday, Niskanen Center senior fellow Ed Dolan debated the feasibility of a federal job guarantee on a panel for the Brookings Institution's Hamilton Project, titled "Identifying Key Considerations for Shaping Effective Employment Support Proposals." A time-stamped link to the discussion is available here (59:40). Ed, who wrote on the topic of job guarantees and
- [Does Nationalized Media Mean the Death of Local Politics?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/does-nationalized-media-mean-the-death-of-local-politics/) - State and local politics are losing ground to national politics in the minds of Americans. What do we learn from nationalized coverage and what do we increasingly ignore? Daniel Hopkins finds that we are losing state and local knowledge and voting increasingly along party lines, as we move from local to national media sources. Kerri Malita
- [The Neolib Podcast: Let them have Cash ft. Sam Hammond](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-neolib-podcast-let-them-have-cash-ft-sam-hammond/) - Niskanen Center's Samuel Hammond joined The Neolib Podcast this week to discuss his most recent paper, The Free-market Welfare State. Topics covered include the value of cash transfers, the tensions between social welfare spending and low skill immigration, and the case for Universal Catastrophic Coverage in health care. Listen to the full episode below.
- [An Ex-Libertarian’s Quest to Rebuild the Center Right](https://www.niskanencenter.org/an-ex-libertarians-quest-to-rebuild-the-center-right/) - Nothing would do more to repair American politics than for the center right to regain power in the Republican coalition. But before that can happen, the center right needs to exist — it needs a theory of both policy and politics, one that would allow it to organize a new right if the Trumpist coalition
- [When and Where Can Climate Policy Succeed?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/when-and-where-can-climate-policy-succeed/) - The Green New Deal has focused renewed attention on policy to address Climate Change, but also raised concerns about how to pass and sustain energy policy in a polarized system. Economists say the obvious solution is pricing carbon, but Barry Rabe finds that carbon tax and cap-and-trade policies have faced big hurdles in passage, implementation, and sustainability. Leah Stokes finds that other policies
- [Is White Identity Causing an Immigration Backlash?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/is-white-identity-causing-an-immigration-backlash/) - Racial change is making some Americans fear the decline of White majorities, helping Donald Trump and making immigration increasingly salient. Negative views of racial minorities play a key political role, but what about positive feelings toward white identity? Ashley Jardina finds that white identity drove opposition to Obama and support for Trump. White identity also
- [Did Chinese Trade Competition Increase Nativism and Elect Trump?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/did-chinese-trade-competition-increase-nativism-and-elect-trump/) - Donald Trump has repeatedly emphasized the threat from international trade, especially from China. But did Chinese trade help raise the salience of his concerns or even help elect him? Trade may matter even if views on trade don’t drive the public, because trade shocks also affect citizens’ cultural and racial views. James Bisbee finds that
- [Are Divided Governments the Cause of Delays and Shutdowns?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/are-divided-governments-the-cause-of-delays-and-shutdowns/) - We are heading into divided party government in Washington after an unproductive unified Republican period. Will a Democratic House bring even less productivity and more government shutdowns? We use the history of Congress and US state governments for an updated look at what party divisions between the legislative and executive branches bring us in terms
- [Will Wilkinson Discusses the Density Divide with Mike Pesca on The Gist](https://www.niskanencenter.org/will-wilkinson-discusses-the-density-divide-with-mike-pesca-on-the-gist/) - In this interview, Will Wilkinson from the Niskanen Center is here to talk with Mike about his new paper The Density Divide about the surprising way urbanization affected the rise of populism. Listen to the full conversation here.
- [Joseph Majkut Appears on My Climate Journey podcast](https://www.niskanencenter.org/joseph-majkut-appears-on-my-climate-journey-podcast/) - This episode originally appeared on the My Climate Journey podcast page. Jason Jacobs, host of the My Climate Journey podcast, had Joseph Majkut on to discuss the following: Joseph’s background pre-Niskanen, including why he left academia and came to DCOverview of Niskanen and their workNiskanen origin story, including how it is similar and different to
- [MSNBC: The Real 2020 Lesson from the NC-09](https://www.niskanencenter.org/msnbc-the-real-2020-lesson-from-the-nc-09/) - This segment originally aired on MSNBC on September 13, 2019. Political Scientist Rachel Bitecofer explains how Democrats could have won North Carolina's 9th district and what they should do to win districts like it in 2020.
- [How Threats of Violence Chill Democratic Debate over Gun Control](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-threats-of-violence-chill-democratic-debate-over-gun-control/) - I recently had the good fortune to appear on Connections with Evan Dawson from WXXI News radio out of Rochester, New York. We discussed my recent New York Times op-ed on the anti-democratic ethos behind the threats of violence that came in the wake of Beto O'Rourke's proposal of a mandatory buyback program for certain
- [Sirius XM: What Happens After Iowa and New Hampshire?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/what-happens-after-iowa-and-new-hampshire/) - Tim Farley of the Morning Briefing POTUS and Niskanen Center Senior Fellow Gabriel Schoenfeld discuss what happens after Iowa and New Hampshire: from who's best positioned to beat Trump in 2020 to what (if anything) can bring unity to this polarized country.
- [Liberalism versus Nationalism: A Debate](https://www.niskanencenter.org/liberalism-versus-nationalism-a-debate/) - Dr. Aurelian Craiutu, Associate Chair, Political Science at Indiana University (and a Niskanen Senior Fellow) and Yoram Hazony, President, Herzl Institute debate Liberalism vs. Nationalism at Villanova University from November 2019.
- [Matt Grossman on City Pulse](https://www.niskanencenter.org/matt-grossman-on-city-pulse/) - Matt Grossmann appears on 89 FM The Impact's City Pulse to discuss all things regarding the 2020 election and the Democratic convention. Niskanen Center · Matt Grossmann's thoughts on the Democratic Convention Photo Credit: Anthony Quintano via CC 2.0.
- [MSNBC: 2020 Animated By ‘Fear Of Trump’](https://www.niskanencenter.org/msnbc-2020-animated-by-fear-of-trump/) - Political scientist Rachel Bitecofer tells Lawrence O’Donnell that Trump stands little chance of winning re-election in 2020 and new polling would seem to support that projection. Plus, down ballot races suggest even more trouble for Republicans.
- [Samuel Hammond on the Palladium Podcast: China, Tech, and Economic Optimism](https://www.niskanencenter.org/samuel-hammond-on-the-palladium-podcast-china-tech-and-economic-optimism/) - Samuel Hammond joins host Ash Milton on the Palladium podcast to discuss China, tech policy, and what's in the United States' future. Topics include economic freedom, tech optimism, how the Bay Area may impact American politics, and if China tends to reflect Confucian or Marxist ideals.
- [Geoffrey Kabaservice on BBC: Trump's Law and Order Campaign isn't Working](https://www.niskanencenter.org/geoffrey-kabaservice-on-bbc-trumps-law-and-order-campaign-isnt-working/) - Trump's attempt to paint Democrats as soft on crime isn't working.
- [Linda Chavez Appears on Beg to Differ](https://www.niskanencenter.org/linda-chavez-appears-on-beg-to-differ/) - Linda Chavez joins host Mona Charen for a roundtable discussion on the state of the American dream, the effects of isolation on the 2020 election, and the difference between supporting Biden and not supporting Trump. Originally appeared on the Beg to Differ podcast from The Bulwark.
- [Samuel Hammond on HillTV: Canada Has Immigrant Talent to Thank for Economic Prosperity](https://www.niskanencenter.org/samuel-hammond-on-hilltv-canada-has-immigrant-talent-to-thank-for-economic-prosperity/) - Samuel Hammond appears on Hill TV’s series, "Global Lenses," to discuss the economic boom Canada has experienced in the last two years, largely due to population growth. Immigration programs have helped attract top talent to the county, leading to greater innovation and economic prosperity.
- [Steve Teles on the Lawfare Podcast: How the National Security and Legal Communities Have Informed Never Trump](https://www.niskanencenter.org/steve-teles-on-the-lawfare-podcast-how-the-national-security-and-legal-communities-have-informed-never-trump/) - Steve Teles joins host Benjamin Wittes to discuss his new book, “Never Trump: The Revolt of the Conservative Elites,” how the national security and legal communities approach Donald Trump and how these two schools of thought have informed the Never Trump movement.
- [Jerry Taylor on ABC: From Climate Skeptic to Realist](https://www.niskanencenter.org/jerry-taylor-on-abc-from-climate-skeptic-to-realist/) - From climate skeptic to climate realist, Niskanen founder Jerry Taylor has transformed his views on what policy is best for our world. ABC describes how this transition took place and where Taylor is now.
- [Linda Chavez Appears on Beg to Differ](https://www.niskanencenter.org/linda-chavez-appears-on-beg-to-differ-2/) - Linda Chavez joins host Mona Charen for a roundtable discussion on Trump's response to COVID-19, the danger of anti-lockdown protests, possible democratic response to Trump's support of the ACA legality lawsuit, and authoritarian threats to global freedom. Originally appeared on the Beg to Differ podcast from The Bulwark. Niskanen Center · Linda Chavez Appears on
- [Samuel Hammond Cited on Hill TV](https://www.niskanencenter.org/samuel-hammond-cited-on-hill-tv/) - Jeffery Stein, White House economics reporter for the Washington Post, cites Niskanen scholar Samuel Hammond on The Hill's Rising News. Stein discusses the validity of China paying reparations for COVID-19, comparing this idea to Trump's infamous assertion that “Mexico will pay for the wall.”
- [Matthew Yglesias on "One Billion Americans"](https://www.niskanencenter.org/matthew-yglesias-on-one-billion-americans/) - About 330 million people inhabit the good ol' US of A. Seems like a lot. But is it enough? Policy journalist and Vox.com co-founder Matthew Yglesias argues it's not even close. In his new book, "One Billion Americans: The Case for Thinking Bigger," Yglesias argues that if America's going to remain top dog on the
- [How Political Values and Social Influence Drive Polarization](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-political-values-and-social-influence-drive-polarization/) - Our values and social relationships increasingly go together, limiting conflicts between partisanship, views, and identities.
- [The Density Divide: Jazz Odyssey Monologue Edition](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-density-divide-jazz-odyssey-monologue-edition/) - The presidential election once again made clear that there is a striking and surprising relationship between population density and party vote share. The salience of the American electorate's polarization on density renewed interest in my 2019 paper, The Density Divide: Urbanization, Polarization, and Populist Backlash, which explores how the logic of long-term urbanization explains the
- [Podcast: Strengthening the Safety Net ft. Sam Hammond](https://www.niskanencenter.org/podcast-strengthening-the-safety-net-ft-sam-hammond/) - Strategies for strengthening the U.S. social insurance system.
- [Is Demographic and Geographic Polarization Overstated?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/is-demographic-and-geographic-polarization-overstated/) - Why we are not as divided by social groups and geographies as we seem.
- [The Fabric of Civilization: How Textiles Made the World](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-fabric-of-civilization-how-textiles-made-the-world/) - In my most philosophical moods (and I'm usually in a pretty philosophical mood) I tend to see pretty much anything as a window onto the cosmos. But I'd never considered my cotton slacks as a window onto the forward march of human progress. That is, until I read Virginia Postrel's new book, "The Fabric of
- [Danielle Allen on Pandemic Policy and Constitutional Democracy](https://www.niskanencenter.org/danielle-allen-on-pandemic-policy-and-constitutional-democracy/) - American democracy has gone more than a little awry. Nearly 300,000 Americans are dead in no small measure due to the failure of Congress to implement a nationwide testing and tracing regime. But this failure hasn't much hurt the incumbent Republican Party. The GOP gained ground in the House. They may hold their Senate Majority.
- [How Democrats Lost the Working Class, with Matt Karp](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-democrats-lost-the-working-class-with-matt-karp/) - As Republicans embraced anti-elitism under Trump, Democrats reacted by embracing the values of the upper-middle class. The result, according to historian Matt Karp is a party that often - intentionally or unintentionally - distances itself from the working class, which it used to champion. The professional class has made all opposition the "other," embracing a
- [Reactionary Conservative Thought after Trump](https://www.niskanencenter.org/reactionary-conservative-thought-after-trump/) - Donald Trump may be going away, but the coalition, movement, and intellectual tendencies that grew up around him aren't. For many, Trump seemed to herald a new dawn for reactionary conservative nationalism political thought aligned against pluralism, social justice and even liberal democracy itself. In a fascinating series of essays for Niskanen and the Bulwark,
- [Podcast: Macro Musings on "Faster Growth, Fairer Growth"](https://www.niskanencenter.org/podcast-macro-musings-on-faster-growth-fairer-growth/) - Niskanen's Sam Hammond and Brink Lindsey join the Macro Musings podcast to discuss their new agenda paper.
- [The Man Behind the Modern Conservative Movement, with Sam Tanenhaus](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-man-behind-the-modern-conservative-movement-with-sam-tanenhaus/) - Journalist and historian Sam Tanenhaus joins Vital Center host Geoffrey Kabaservice for a deep dive into how Buckley became the force that shaped American politics as we know it today.
- [The Growing Influence of the Non-Religious](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-growing-influence-of-the-non-religious/) - Fewer Americans are identifying as Christians and more have no religious affiliation. How will secular Americans transform politics?
- [Samuel Hammond on the Expiration of the Child Tax Credit](https://www.niskanencenter.org/9880-2/) - Samuel Hammond appears on C-SPAN prior to the looming expiration of the Child Tax Credit to discuss the implications it will have on low-income communities, our labor market, and more. Photo Credit: Unsplash
- [Linker on Beg to Differ: The impact of the January 6th Committee](https://www.niskanencenter.org/did-the-january-6th-committee-make-a-difference-damon-linker-joins-beg-to-differ-to-discuss/) - Damon Linker appeared on the Bulwark's "Beg to Differ" podcast on July 22, 2022.
- [Levy on The Curious Task: Academic freedom](https://www.niskanencenter.org/jacob-t-levy-talks-academic-freedom-on-the-curious-task/) - Jacob T. Levy, appeared on The Curious Task, a podcast by the Institute for Liberal Studies, on June 22, 2022.
- [Schrodt on Climate Career Connections: Working on climate policy in Congress](https://www.niskanencenter.org/schrodt-on-climate-career-connections-working-on-climate-policy-in-congress/) - Schrodt appeared on Climate Career Connections on June 7, 2022
- [Schmalensee on Resources Radio: Net-zero energy policy](https://www.niskanencenter.org/richard-schmalensee-talks-net-zero-energy-policy-on-resources-radio/) - Richard Schmalensee appeared on Resources Radio on June 1, 2022.
- [Re-Centering the Democratic Party, with Elaine Kamarck](https://www.niskanencenter.org/re-centering-the-democratic-party-with-elaine-kamarck/) - Geoff Kabaservice talks with Elaine Kamarck about what Democrats need to do to regain electoral competitiveness with much of the American working class.
- [Peter Jaworski discusses immigration on The Curious Task](https://www.niskanencenter.org/peter-jaworski-discusses-immigration-on-the-curious-task/) - Peter Jaworski, a professor at Georgetown University and an adjunct fellow with the Niskanen Center, made an appearance on The Curious Task podcast to discuss immigration. They answer the question "Does immigration make a better world?"
- [Can America Untangle Itself from Red Tape? (With Philip K. Howard)](https://www.niskanencenter.org/can-america-untangle-itself-from-red-tape-with-phillip-k-howard/) - Partisanship encourages the tangled web of inefficiency.
- [How to Bridge Our Divides and Find Our Shared American Identity, with Philippa Hughes](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-to-bridge-our-divides-and-find-our-shared-american-identity-with-philippa-hughes/) - Join us as we discuss Philippa Hughes’ “Looking for America” project, her thoughts on social media and the epidemic of loneliness, and efforts by individuals and cultural institutions to shore up our eroding social infrastructure.
- [Vance on NPR's All Things Considered: Independent candidates](https://www.niskanencenter.org/chris-vance-discusses-independent-candidates-on-npr/) - Chris Vance appeared on NPR's All Things Considered on October 12, 2022.
- [Linker on Beg to Differ: Trump's legal issues and the Electoral Count Reform Act](https://www.niskanencenter.org/damon-linker-discusses-trumps-legal-issues-vladimir-putin-and-more-on-beg-to-differ/) - Damon Linker appeared on The Bulwark's "Beg to Differ" on September 23, 2022.
- [Grossman on WUOM: Campaign advertisement spending](https://www.niskanencenter.org/matt-grossman-talks-campaign-advertisement-spending-on-wuom/) - Matt Grossmann appeared on WUOM on October 13, 2022.
- [Verleger on NPR's Marketplace: Europe's oil issues](https://www.niskanencenter.org/philip-k-verleger-appears-on-nprs-marketplace-to-discuss-europes-oil-issues/) - Philip K. Verleger appeared on NPR's Marketplace on August 4, 2022.
- [Grossmann on WJR: The differences between the education plans of Michigan gubernatorial nominees](https://www.niskanencenter.org/what-are-the-differences-between-the-education-plans-of-michigan-gubernatorial-nominees/) - Matt Grossmann appeared on WJR on August 10, 2022.
- [Teles on Capital Record: policy solutions to cronyism](https://www.niskanencenter.org/teles-joins-capital-record-to-discuss-economic-issues/) - Steven M. Teles appeared on Capital Record, a National Review podcast, on August 11, 2022.
- [Grossmann on WKAR: A preview of Proposal 1 in Michigan](https://www.niskanencenter.org/grossmann-gives-a-preview-of-proposal-1-in-michigan/) - Grossmann appeared on WKAR on October 24, 2022.
- [Linker on Beg to Differ: The DOJ investigation into former President Trump](https://www.niskanencenter.org/damon-linker-appears-on-beg-to-differ-podcast-to-discuss-the-doj-investigation-into-former-president-trump/) - Damon Linker appeared on the Bulwark's "Beg to Differ" podcast on July 27, 2022.
- [De Peña on Skimm This: Gov. Ron DeSantis's latest political stunt](https://www.niskanencenter.org/after-migrants-were-sent-to-marthas-vineyard-kristie-de-pena-responds/) - Kristie De Peña appeared on Skimm This on September 22, 2022.
- [Yglesias on Beneath the Surface: Populations as infrastructure](https://www.niskanencenter.org/matt-yglesias-discusses-populations-as-infrastructure-on-beneath-the-surface/) - Matthew Yglesias appeared on Beneath the Surface on July 26, 2022.
- [Grossmann on State of the State: The Federal Reserve, the economy, and the upcoming election](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-federal-reserve-interest-rates-the-economy-and-the-election/) - Matt Grossmann appeared on the State of the State podcast on September 26, 2022.
- [Saldin on MPR's Campaign Beat: Election analysis](https://www.niskanencenter.org/robert-p-saldin-offers-election-analysis-on-mprs-campaign-beat/) - Robert Saldin appeared on MPR's Campaign Beat on November 11, 2022.
- [Linker on Beg to Differ: The midterm elections](https://www.niskanencenter.org/damon-linker-discusses-the-midterm-elections-on-beg-to-differ/) - Damon Linker appeared on the Bulwark's "Beg to Differ" podcast on November 10, 2022.
- [Grossman on WBUR: Midterm election analysis](https://www.niskanencenter.org/matt-grossman-discusses-the-midterm-elections-with-npr-affiliate-wbur/) - Matt Grossmann appeared on WBUR on November 10, 2022.
- [Kabaservice on KPFA: The rise of political warfare ahead of the midterms](https://www.niskanencenter.org/kabaservice-discusses-the-rise-of-political-warfare-ahead-of-the-midterms/) - Geoffrey Kabaservice appeared on KPFA on November 2, 2022.
- [Doleac on the Briones Society Podcast: Policing in cities](https://www.niskanencenter.org/jennifer-doleac-offers-discusses-policing-in-cities/) - Jennifer Doleac appeared on the Briones Society Podcast on November 2, 2022.
- [Grossmann on WUOM: Michigan's redistricting helped Democrats](https://www.niskanencenter.org/grossmann-comments-on-michigans-redistricting-and-how-it-helped-democrats/) - Matt Grossmann appeared on WUOM on November 18, 2022.
- [Darling on Yahoo Finance: The April Jobs Report](https://www.niskanencenter.org/darling-on-yahoo-finance-the-april-jobs-report/) - Matt Darling appeared on Yahoo Finance on May 5th, 2023.
- [Armlovich on WBAL's Tom Coale: An agenda for abundant housing](https://www.niskanencenter.org/armlovich-on-wbals-tom-coale-an-agenda-for-abundant-housing/) - Alex Armlovich appeared on WBAL's Tom Coale on March 25, 2023.
- [Esterline on Squawk Box: Foreign worker shortages](https://www.niskanencenter.org/esterline-on-squawk-box-foreign-worker-shortages/) - Cecilia Esterline appeared on CNBC's Squawk Box on November 28, 2022.
- [Esterline on Envoy Global Podcast: Executive immigration reform](https://www.niskanencenter.org/esterline-on-envoy-global-podcast-executive-immigration-reform/) - Cecilia Esterline appeared on Envoy Global podcast on April 5, 2023.
- [Darling on The Neoliberal Podcast: How think tanks spread ideas, how to educate on social media, and more!](https://www.niskanencenter.org/darling-on-the-neoliberal-podcast-how-think-tanks-spread-ideas-how-to-educate-on-social-media-and-more/) - Matt Darling Appeared on The Neoliberal Podcast on May 1, 2023.
- [Kabaservice on ABC News Daily: President Trump's future](https://www.niskanencenter.org/kabaservice-joins-abc-news-daily-to-talk-about-president-trumps-future/) - Geoffrey Kabaservice appeared on the ABC News Daily podcast on November 14, 2022.
- [Takash on The Dynamist podcast: Artificial intelligence and copyright/intellectual property](https://www.niskanencenter.org/takash-on-the-dynamist-podcast-artificial-intelligence-and-copyright-intellectual-property/) - Daniel Takash appeared on The Dynamist on June 20, 2023.
- [Jaworksi on CHQR: Commercial-compensated plasma collections](https://www.niskanencenter.org/jaworksi-on-chqr-commercial-compensated-plasma-collections/) - Peter Jaworski joined CHQR on June 22, 2023.
- [Kabaservice on ABC Radio: President Trump's campaign announcement](https://www.niskanencenter.org/kabaservice-discusses-president-trumps-campaign-announcement-on-abc-radio/) - Geoffrey Kabaservice appeared on ABC Radio Australia on November 16, 2022.
- [Kabaservice on Letters and Politics: The Trump indictment](https://www.niskanencenter.org/kabaservice-on-letters-and-politics-the-trump-indictment/) - Geoffrey Kabaservice appeared on Letters and Politics on April 2, 2023.
- [Kabaservice on Washington Journal: The future of moderation in American politics](https://www.niskanencenter.org/kabaservice-on-washington-journal-the-future-of-moderation-in-american-politics/) - Geoffrey Kabaservice appeared on Washington Journal on February 11, 2023.
- [Kabaservice on Background Briefing](https://www.niskanencenter.org/kabaservice-on-background-briefing/) - Niskanen’s Geoffrey Kabaservice joins Background Briefing with Ian Masters to discuss Trump's success in the recent Iowa debate. Despite his absence, Trump appears to be the GOP frontrunner, Kabaservice offers insight into the debate, the state of the modern Republican party, and the implications for the political future of the U.S.
- [Kabaservice on KPFA – Letters and Politics](https://www.niskanencenter.org/kabaservice-on-kpfa-letters-and-politics/) - Niskanen's Geoff Kabaservice joins Letters and Politics hosted by Mitch Jeserich to analyze the first Republican Primary Debate where candidate Donald Trump was notably absent. Kabaservice highlights the unique circumstances surrounding the debate and draws attention to key areas to watch as the campaign race continues.
- [The two-parent privilege, with Melissa Kearney](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-two-parent-privilege-with-melissa-kearney/) - In this podcast discussion, Melissa Kearney analyzes the reasons for the decline of marriage and the rise of single parenthood
- [Can state politicians be held accountable to the public?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/can-state-politicians-be-held-accountable-to-the-public/) - Most people don’t know who their state legislators are, much less what they are up to. So how do voters hold them accountable to public views?
- [Holba on This Week in Immigration: A rebounding refugee resettlement program](https://www.niskanencenter.org/holba-on-this-week-in-immigration-a-rebounding-refugee-resettlement-program/) - Claire Holba joined Bipartisan Policy Center Podcast on Jan. 30, 2024.
- [The decline of the American Dream, with David Leonhardt](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-decline-of-the-american-dream-with-david-leonhardt/) - In this podcast episode, Leonhardt discusses how the critical factors of political power, enlightened corporate culture, and government investment operated in a virtuous cycle during the four decades after the end of World War II to bring about widespread prosperity. The advent of "rough-and-tumble capitalism" meant that these critical factors moved the country into a vicious cycle instead.
- [The decline of union Democrats](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-decline-of-union-democrats/) - Lainey Newman and Theda Skocpol investigate the political evolution of unions in Western Pennsylvania, a former heartland of Democratic union support.
- [What explains the diploma divide?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/what-explains-the-diploma-divide/) - Voters with college degrees are increasingly supporting Democrats, with Republicans now doing better among those without college—a big reversal in recent decades.
- [Esterline cited on WBUR: U.S.-educated foreign students aren't staying for work](https://www.niskanencenter.org/esterline-cited-on-wbur-u-s-educated-foreign-students-arent-staying-for-work/) - Cecilia Esterline was cited on WBUR on June 26, 2023.
- [Why presidents still spend their time raising money](https://www.niskanencenter.org/why-presidents-still-spend-their-time-raising-money/) - Changes in campaign finance law have enabled a formidable presidential fundraising operation for the party as a whole.
- [Niskanen applauds the Unemployment Insurance Integrity and Accessibility Act](https://www.niskanencenter.org/niskanen-applauds-the-unemployment-insurance-integrity-and-accessibility-act/) - The Niskanen Center applauds the bipartisan introduction of the Unemployment Insurance Integrity and Accessibility Act.
- [De Peña on the Michelangelo Signorile Show](https://www.niskanencenter.org/de-pena-on-the-michelangelo-signorile-show/) - On August 10, 2024, Niskanen Center's Kristie De Peña joined The Michelangelo Signorile Show to discuss Project 2025, mass deportation, and the Harris campaign. The coming election cycle is likely to bring large changes to immigration policy. De Peña explains how the lack of so many different kinds of occupations all across America is tied
- [Teles on the Realignment Podcast](https://www.niskanencenter.org/teles-on-the-realignment-podcast/) - Steven Teles joins Marshall Kosloff to discuss how internal divisions within both left and right wings are poised to reshape American politics, following decades of relatively stable party alignments. Teles examines the shortcomings of past moderate reform attempts and discusses the "abundance agenda" as a potential solution to economic stagnation.
- [Guerra on National Committee on U.S.-China Relations](https://www.niskanencenter.org/guerra-on-national-committee-on-u-s-china-relations/) - On August 13, 2024, Gil Guerra joined Leland Lazarus in a conversation moderated by Meredith Oyen. They discuss changes in Chinese migration patterns, motivating factors for those considering migrating, and how policymakers should approach the uptick in Chinese migration.
- [Guerra on Immigration Uncovered](https://www.niskanencenter.org/guerra-on-immigration-uncovered/) - Niskanen's Gilbert Guerra joined James Pittman of the Immigration Uncovered podcast on June 10, 2024. Guerra discusses his recent work analyzing Chinese migration trends.
- [Esterline and La Corte on Immigration & Mobility Decoded podcast](https://www.niskanencenter.org/esterline-and-la-corte-on-immigration-mobility-decoded-podcast/) - Niskanen's Cecilia Esterline and Matthew La Corte joined Envoy Global's Immigration and Mobility Decoded podcast. They discuss the current U.S. immigration law related to labor demand and the job market. They also discuss the immigration team's overall approach to engaging with policy legislation.
- [Esterline on NJ Business Immigration Coalition's special program](https://www.niskanencenter.org/esterline-on-nj-business-immigration-coalitions-special-program/) - Esterline on NJ Business Immigration Coalition program on Dec. 5, 2023.
- [Kabaservice on The Realignment Podcast](https://www.niskanencenter.org/kabaservice-on-the-realignment-podcast/) - On August 20, 2024, Niskanen Center's Geoff Kabaservice joined Saagar Enjeti and Marshall Kosloff on The Realignment Podcast. Kabaservice discusses the decline of moderate conservatism, the Never Trump movement, and the civil rights movement. He offers insight into current events and draws parallels to historical moments in U.S. history.
- [Esterline on The Business Immigration Benchmark Podcast](https://www.niskanencenter.org/esterline-on-the-business-immigration-benchmark-podcast/) - On September 9, 2024, Niskanen's Cecilia Esterline joined Laura Bloniarz on The Business Immigration Benchmark podcast.
- [Kabaservice on ABC News Daily: 2024 election](https://www.niskanencenter.org/kabaservice-on-abc-news-daily-2024-election/) - The voting public is largely dissatisfied with both presidential frontrunners. Niskanen Center's Geoff Kabaservice anticipates the "worst election that we've seen in terms of the mud that will be slung and the unhappiness of the American people about the choice that presents them.
- [Discussion on Marriage, Economic Opportunity, and Family Flourishing with Melissa Kearney](https://www.niskanencenter.org/discussion-on-marriage-economic-opportunity-and-family-flourishing-with-melissa-kearney/) - University of Maryland economist Melissa Kearney has sparked widespread public debate about the decline of marriage and its impact on economic mobility, child well-being, and inequality. At a recent Capitol Hill event co-hosted by the Niskanen Center and Ethics and Public Policy Center, Kearney joins a panel of family policy experts to discuss her research and
- [Kabaservice on News Daily Podcast](https://www.niskanencenter.org/kabaservice-on-news-daily-podcast/) - On November 10, 2024, Niskanen’s Geoff Kabaservice joined NAME on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's News Daily podcast.
- [Pahlka on Bloomberg](https://www.niskanencenter.org/pahlka-on-bloomberg/) - On November 15, 2024, Niskanen's Jennifer Pahlka joined Caroline Hyde and Ed Ludlow on Bloomberg Technology. Pahlka discusses the need for civil service reform, what President-Elect Donald Trump's proposed Department of Government Efficiency means, and the threats posed by Schedule F.
- [Mansell on The New Zealand Initiative Podcast](https://www.niskanencenter.org/mansell-on-the-new-zealand-initiative-podcast/) - On November 14, 2024, Niskanen’s Lawson Mansell was cited on The New Zealand Initiative podcast. They featured his paper, "Healthcare Abundance: An Agenda to Strengthen Healthcare Supply," in this episode.
- [Armlovich on Boroughs in Brief Podcast](https://www.niskanencenter.org/armlovich-on-boroughs-in-brief-podcast/) - On December 4, 2024, Niskanen’s Alex Armolich was cited on New York Daily News's Boroughs in Brief podcast. Comments from Armlovich's article, "How Minneapolis and Austin Outdid New York City in the Quest to Enable More Housing," are cited.
- [Guerra and Puri on Grand Tamasha podcast](https://www.niskanencenter.org/guerra-and-puri-on-grand-tamasha-podcast/) - On October 30, 2024, Niskanen's Gil Guerra and Sneha Puri joined Milan Vaishnav on the Grand Tamasha podcast.
- [Allen on The Conservative Energy Podcast](https://www.niskanencenter.org/allen-on-the-conservative-energy-podcast/) - On November 27, 2024, Niskanen's Robin Allen joined Connor Marley and Bradley Pischea on The Conservative Energy Podcast.
- [Pahlka and Teles on The Ezra Klein Show Podcast](https://www.niskanencenter.org/pahlka-and-teles-on-the-ezra-klein-show-podcast/) - On November 22, 2024, Niskanen’s Jennifer Pahlka and Steven Teles joined Ezra Klein on the New York Times's The Ezra Klein Show podcast.
- [Mansell on 584 Vetoes](https://www.niskanencenter.org/mansell-on-584-vetoes/) - On November 20, 2024, Niskanen's Lawson Mansell joined Tom Church and Danny Heil on the 584 Vetoes podcast.
- [On the Housing Crisis: Book Launch with Jerusalem Demsas](https://www.niskanencenter.org/on-the-housing-crisis-book-launch-with-jerusalem-demsas/) - On October 28, 2024, the Niskanen Center hosted the book launch of Jerusalem Demsas' "On The Housing Crisis: Land, Development, Democracy". The event featured a conversation between panelists Jerusalem Demsas, Steve Teles, and Diana Lind. The Niskanen Center joined the Center for Economy and Society at the JHU SNF Agora Insitute, and The Atlantic to
- [Kabaservice on Civic Media Radio](https://www.niskanencenter.org/kabaservice-on-civic-media-radio/) - On October 19, 2024, Niskanen’s Geoff Kabaservice joined Mark Becker on the Rational Revolution radio show.
- [Guerra at Swarthmore College: "Great issues in public policy"](https://www.niskanencenter.org/guerra-at-swarthmore-college-great-issues-in-public-policy/) - On March 6, 2025, Niskanen’s Gil Guerra gave the lecture, “Great Issues in Public Policy,” at Swarthmore College. He discusses frameworks for immigration policy, changes in irregular migration, and the current trajectory of immigration policy in the U.S.
- [Esterline on USA Today](https://www.niskanencenter.org/esterline-on-usa-today/) - On April 3, 2025, Cecilia Esterline appeared on USA Today.
- [Lindsey on Edge City Podcast](https://www.niskanencenter.org/lindsey-on-edge-city-podcast/) - On December 13, 2024, Niskanen’s Brink Lindsey joined Timour Kosters on the Edge City podcast.
- [De Peña on Talking Feds Podcast](https://www.niskanencenter.org/de-pena-on-talking-feds-podcast/) - On December 23, 2024, Niskanen's Kristie De Peña joined Harry Litman, Doris Meissner, Leon Rodriguez on the Talking Feds podcast. De Peña discusses immigration under Trump 2.0, the potential economic impacts, and the expected push back against extreme reforms.
- [Pahlka on Odd Lots Podcast](https://www.niskanencenter.org/pahlka-on-bloombergs-odd-lots-podcast/) - On January 13, 2025, Niskanen's Jennifer Pahlka joined Tracy Alloway and Joe Weisenthal on Bloomberg's Odd Lots Podcast.
- [Guerra on Lawfully's Immigration News Recap with Finn Reynolds](https://www.niskanencenter.org/guerra-on-lawfullys-immigration-news-recap-with-finn-reynolds/) - On June 6, 2025, Gil Guerra joined Finn Reynolds on Lawfully's Immigration News Recap.
- [Guerra on Angry Planet](https://www.niskanencenter.org/guerra-on-angry-planet/) - On April 11, 2025, Gil Guerra joined Matthew Gault on the Angry Planet podcast.
- [Comment: Modernizing H–1B Requirements, Providing Flexibility in the F-1 Program, and Program Improvements Affecting Other Nonimmigrant Workers](https://www.niskanencenter.org/comment-modernizing-h-1b-requirements-providing-flexibility-in-the-f-1-program-and-program-improvements-affecting-other-nonimmigrant-workers/) - Cecilia Esterline submitted this comment about Modernizing H–1B Requirements, Providing Flexibility in the F-1 Program, and Program Improvements Affecting Other Nonimmigrant Workers to the Department of Homeland Security on December 21, 2023.
- [Op-Ed: What census poverty estimates may miss](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-what-census-poverty-estimates-may-miss/) - This article was originally published in The American Prospect on September 20, 2023.
- [Op-Ed: Looking for an immigration bill that can pass? It’s health care](https://www.niskanencenter.org/looking-for-an-immigration-bill-that-can-pass-its-health-care/) - This article was originally published in the Hill on September 24, 2023.
- [Comment: Proposed rule change to the Exchange Visitor Program regulations that govern the Au pair program](https://www.niskanencenter.org/comment-proposed-rule-change-to-the-exchange-visitor-program-regulations-that-govern-the-au-pair-program/) - The Niskanen Center responded to DHS's request for comment on Comment: Proposed rule change to the Exchange Visitor Program regulations that govern the Au pair program on December 29, 2023.
- [Lessons from the pandemic: How the FDA (among others) failed us](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-the-fda-among-others-failed-us/) - This is Part 3 in our “Lessons from the Pandemic” video interview series. As we publish more interviews in the coming weeks, you’ll be able to access the full series here. In the latest in a series of video interviews on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, Brink Lindsey speaks with Alex Tabarrok, an economist at
- [Lessons from the pandemic: preparing for next time](https://www.niskanencenter.org/lessons-from-the-pandemic-preparing-for-next-time/) - Brink Lindsey and Nikki Teran discuss in detail the steps required to ensure adequate preparedness for the next pandemic—and then struggle to understand why policymakers have thus far been unwilling to undertake these comparatively modest actions needed to prevent incalculable future harms.
- [Lessons from the pandemic: the failure to think globally](https://www.niskanencenter.org/lessons-from-the-pandemic-the-failure-to-think-globally/) - In the latest in a series of video interviews on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, Brink Lindsey speaks with Priti Krishtel, a health justice lawyer and the co-founder and co-executive director of the Initiative for Medicines, Access & Knowledge (I-MAK).
- [Lessons from the pandemic: the need for a national COVID commission](https://www.niskanencenter.org/lessons-from-the-pandemic-the-need-for-a-national-covid-commission/) - Brink Lindsey and Philip Zelikow discuss how a Covid Commission Planning Group could set the stage for better pandemic preparedness in the future, and insights gleaned from the planning group's substantial preparatory work on how and why the U.S. pandemic response fared so poorly.
- [Report: The Conservative Case for a Child Allowance](https://www.niskanencenter.org/report-the-conservative-case-for-a-child-allowance/) - Pro-work, pro-life, pro-marriage, pro-creative.
- [Capability-based budgeting: A practical roadmap for getting started](https://www.niskanencenter.org/capability-based-budgeting-a-practical-roadmap-for-getting-started/) - Capability-based budgeting is not a wholesale reorganization. It’s a way of making the budget legible: first to yourself, then to leadership, then to oversight.
- [Back to the future: ‘Free labor’ and life after mass employment](https://www.niskanencenter.org/back-to-the-future-free-labor-and-life-after-mass-employment/) - I’m proposing that we go back to the future, creating a new, more dynamic and inclusive social order by reviving the “free labor” vision of Abraham Lincoln and fellow early Republicans.
- [Senator Whitehouse reintroduces a Clean Competition Act, aiming to link industrial competitiveness and carbon advantage](https://www.niskanencenter.org/senator-whitehouse-re-introduces-a-clean-competition-act-aiming-to-link-industrial-competitiveness-and-carbon-advantage/) - As carbon border adjustments move from European experiment to broad global trade and climate strategy, momentum is building for the U.S. to define its own rules.
- [Opportunity by design: How states turn immigration into economic advantage](https://www.niskanencenter.org/opportunity-by-design-how-states-turn-immigration-into-economic-advantage/) - Policymakers, the private sector, and civil society are increasingly recognizing immigrants as a vital yet underutilized segment of the labor force.
- [Why everyone hates white liberals, with Kevin Schultz](https://www.niskanencenter.org/why-everyone-hates-white-liberals-with-kevin-schultz/) - Schultz concedes that liberalism set itself up for criticism in many ways, but nonetheless concludes that liberalism did not fall of its own weight—it was assassinated by its political opponents.
- [Demystifying the new president’s management agenda](https://www.niskanencenter.org/demystifying-the-new-presidents-management-agenda/) - In a year when management issues have received greater attention from the public, examining this PMA tells us a lot about where the Administration’s policy is going to be focused through its last three years.
- [America’s fading carbon advantage: The wake-up call from COP30](https://www.niskanencenter.org/americas-fading-carbon-advantage-the-wake-up-call-from-cop30/) - If the U.S. continues to resist carbon price, we are choosing to surrender our hard-won industrial advantage.
- [Implementing new licensing pathways that work for international doctors and American patients](https://www.niskanencenter.org/implementing-new-licening-pathways-that-work-for-international-doctors-and-american-patients/) - In this paper, we will outline how states can design laws that better attract highly trained international doctors and that can be implemented without unnecessary, restrictive, and burdensome mandates.
- [How media incentives stoked the culture war](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-media-incentives-stoked-the-culture-war/) - Aakaash Rao and Shakked Noy find that cable news outlets talk more about culture war issues while candidates favor economics.
- [The missing half of healthcare choice](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-missing-half-of-healthcare-choice/) - Real healthcare choice requires both empowered consumers and a competitive supply of options to choose from.
- [Appendix 1: A survey of state requirements for international physician licensing pathways](https://www.niskanencenter.org/state-itp-laws/) - Click here to read the accompanying paper, "Implementing new licensing pathways that work for international doctors and American patients."
- [Spotting ‘concrete boats’: Why ‘solicitation sins’ doom contracts to struggle (part 1)](https://www.niskanencenter.org/spotting-concrete-boats-why-solicitation-sins-doom-contracts-to-struggle-part-1/) - Solicitations are formal requests the government puts out for proposals or quotes from prospective suppliers of goods and services. This is the first article in a series about government solicitations — and how they can go wrong.
- [With preapproved building plans local, state, and federal policymakers take aim at soft costs](https://www.niskanencenter.org/with-preapproved-building-plans-local-state-and-federal-policymakers-take-aim-at-soft-costs/) - In 2022, South Bend developed one of the country’s first comprehensive preapproved plan catalogs for infill housing. The idea is catching on in other states, and even the federal government.
- [Niskanen comments on Department of Energy's Speed to Power RFI](https://www.niskanencenter.org/niskanen-comments-on-department-of-energys-speed-to-power-rfi/) - On November 21st, 2025, the Niskanen Center, together with the Center for International and Strategic Studies, submitted joint comments to the Department of Energy’s Speed to Power Request for Information.
- [Why are utilities building tomorrow's grid with yesterday's technology?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/why-are-utilities-building-tomorrows-grid-with-yesterdays-technology/) - To understand why today’s buildout skews toward 765 kV HVAC, it’s helpful to consider the technical differences — and institutional forces — that keep alternating current lines dominant in U.S. transmission planning.
- [Who now directs spending: Congress or the president?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/who-now-directs-spending-congress-or-the-president/) - Kevin Angell compares what Congress appropriated to what agencies actually spent over decades, finding that presidents have long moved spending toward their preferences.
- [The arithmetic of availability: Prospects for American grid dominance in 2030](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-arithmetic-of-availability-prospects-for-american-grid-dominance-in-2030/) - Between now and 2030, surging demand for energy will collide with longstanding bottlenecks on new capacity.
- [Broaden the base, lower the (improper payment) rates](https://www.niskanencenter.org/broaden-the-base-lower-the-improper-payment-rates/) - There is a commonsense way to fund bipartisan unemployment insurance reforms that improve program integrity.
- [The global race for talent: Other nations are outpacing the U.S. on high-skill immigration](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-global-race-for-talent/) - As governments around the world compete for valuable workplace talent, the United States has gone in the opposite direction by adding new restrictions on legal immigration for high-skilled workers, explicitly targeting the H-1B visa program through a $100,000 fee.
- [Vendor capture and the limits of fast government reform](https://www.niskanencenter.org/vendor-capture-and-the-limits-of-fast-government-reform/) - Federal government agencies are extremely vulnerable to capture. Every phase of acquisition management, from initial solicitation to system retirement, is skewed to the advantage of firms that want to make themselves indispensable.
- [Abundance of what? Abundance for what?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/abundance-of-what-abundance-for-what/) - What are the appropriate contours of the Abundance movement? And what’s the social vision behind this desire for more?
- [Germany and the dangers of America abandoning Europe, with Jan Techau](https://www.niskanencenter.org/germany-and-the-dangers-of-america-abandoning-europe-with-jan-techau/) - Techau discusses the European reaction to Trump’s reelection, the likelihood of Germany’s becoming the principal provider of conventional deterrence in Europe, the rise of anti-Americanism in Germany on both the left and right, and whether Europeans are capable of keeping peace without the help of the Americans.
- [The days to come: Modeling refugee flows from Venezuela after U.S. intervention](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-days-to-come-modeling-refugee-flows-from-venezuela-after-u-s-intervention/) - We provide policymakers and the public with empirically based estimates of the potential migration impact of different scenarios.
- [The backlash presidency](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-backlash-presidency/) - Julia Azari finds that backlash presidents like Trump tend to follow transformative presidents like Barack Obama who represent changes to the American racial order.
- [Op-ed: How Mayor-elect Mamdani can rise to the central challenge facing the city](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-how-mayor-elect-mamdani-can-rise-to-the-central-challenge-facing-the-city/) - This article originally appeared in Vital City on November 6, 2025.
- [How the money chase governs our elections](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-the-money-chase-governs-our-elections/) - Danielle Thomsen finds that candidates are raising money earlier and in larger amounts than ever.
- [Reflections on DOGE and the abandonment of the West, with Michael Kimmage](https://www.niskanencenter.org/reflections-on-doge-and-the-abandonment-of-the-west-with-michael-kimmage/) - Kimmage discusses idea of the West — as a geopolitical and cultural concept rather than a geographic place.
- [Op-ed: The Hyundai raid reflects a broken U.S. immigration system](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-the-hyundai-raid-reflects-a-broken-u-s-immigration-system/) - This article originally appeared in The Diplomat on September 18, 2025.
- [The Supreme Court is enabling Trump’s executive power](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-supreme-court-is-enabling-trumps-executive-power/) - Adam Bonica finds that Trump has sought to purge and cut more liberal agencies but has been repeatedly shot down by lower courts.
- [Event:  The future of the democratic party](https://www.niskanencenter.org/future-of-the-democratic-party/) - Please join us in person or virtually for a recording of the Science of Politics.
- [From fragmented projects to focused products — A VA case study in capability-based budgeting](https://www.niskanencenter.org/fragmented-projects-to-focused-products/) - Capability-based budgeting enables a shift to clearer accountability, tighter feedback loops, and stronger digital infrastructure.
- [Op-ed: Utah is leading the energy charge. Now let’s connect it.](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-utah-is-leading-the-energy-charge-now-lets-connect-it/) - This article originally appeared in Deseret News on September 30, 2025.
- [Going local to heal politics and institutions, with Steve Grove ](https://www.niskanencenter.org/going-local-to-heal-politics-and-institutions-with-steve-grove/) - Grove describes his experiences with finding both resistance and innovation in state and local government, and the perspective that gave him on Elon Musk’s DOGE attempt to reinvent government along Silicon Valley lines.
- [Don't let work requirements become the next expensive government tech meltdown](https://www.niskanencenter.org/dont-let-work-requirements-become-the-next-expensive-government-tech-meltdown/) - State Medicaid administrators face major changes in the year ahead—and without clear CMS guidance, the result could be massive costs and the largest multi-state technology failure since the pandemic.
- [Niskanen’s Abundance-related policy work](https://www.niskanencenter.org/niskanens-abundance-related-policy-work/) - Here’s a set of our reports that outline the highest-impact levers policymakers and advocates can pull to lower costs and reform broken systems.
- [Will partisan redistricting tip Congress?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/will-partisan-redistricting-tip-congress/) - Eric McGhee finds that both parties are increasingly extreme in gerrymandering but that prior mid-decade redistricting gains have been small. Daniel Kolliner finds that Republican control of redistricting has led to large increases in seat share, with Democratic control gains limited to large states.
- [Polling data reveals strong bipartisan support for the Conrad 30 program ](https://www.niskanencenter.org/polling-data-reveals-bipartisan-support-for-conrad-30/) - Most voters reported knowing little or nothing about Conrad 30. Yet, once informed, strong bipartisan support emerged for expanding it.
- [Op-ed: Is the U.S. about to strike Venezuela?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-is-the-u-s-about-to-strike-venezuela/) - This article originally appeared in the Dispatch on September 3rd, 2025.
- [Op-ed: 600,000 Chinese college students admitted to the US? Don’t count on it.](https://www.niskanencenter.org/600000-chinese-college-students-admitted-to-the-us/) - This article originally appeared in The Hill on August 31st, 2025.
- [The legend of Murray Kempton, with Andrew Holter](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-legend-of-murray-kempton-with-andrew-holter/) - In this podcast discussion, Holter talks about how he became interested in Kempton’s work, how Kempton’s writings provide an overview of and window into American life in the twentieth century, and why he wanted to make Kempton’s work available to a new generation of readers.
- [The fall of an independent Fed](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-fall-of-an-independent-fed/) - Cristina Bodea finds that the Fed is becoming less independent in the face of public pressure.
- [The slow road to fast charging: What NEVI reveals about state capacity.](https://www.niskanencenter.org/ev-charging-nevi-state-capacity/) - If we want the next wave of national projects to succeed, we need to design for delivery from day one.
- [Conway's Law at Government Scale](https://www.niskanencenter.org/conways-law-at-government-scale/) - When government agencies are siloed, or poorly coordinated, the services they deliver carry the same flaws.
- [Making AI policy: Are we falling behind or rushing in?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/making-ai-policy-are-we-falling-behind-or-rushing-in/) - AI policy now matters for energy, health, education, foreign, and economic development policy. What can we learn from the early AI legislation?
- [Interviewing babies: The latest in consular inefficiency](https://www.niskanencenter.org/interviewing-babies-the-latest-in-consular-inefficiency/) - Securing our immigration system is essential, but inefficient policy choices that duplicate work and exhaust valuable staff time on baby interviews have real costs for the U.S. economy.
- [ICE rewrites international student data without explanation](https://www.niskanencenter.org/ice-rewrites-international-student-data-without-explanation/) - In April, 27 months’ worth of international student visa data disappeared from a DHS website.
- [Saving lives and money by incentivizing living organ donation](https://www.niskanencenter.org/saving-lives-and-money-by-incentivizing-living-organ-donation/) - Addressing the organ shortage will require bipartisan efforts to encourage higher rates of donation, particularly living donation.
- [Rising energy demands and the threat to open access: A call for market-based solutions](https://www.niskanencenter.org/rising-energy-demands-and-the-threat-to-open-access-a-call-for-market-based-solutions/) - Speed and fairness don’t have to be at odds, and states are proving it.
- [Why Bukele’s latest power grab is different](https://www.niskanencenter.org/why-bukeles-latest-power-grab-is-different/) - This article originally appeared in the Dispatch on August 5, 2025.
- [The politics of abundance, with Misha Chellam](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-politics-of-abundance-with-misha-chellam/) - Misha Chellam, a leader in the Abundance movement, joins The Vital Center to discuss how YIMBYism, state capacity, and Progress Studies relate to abundance.
- [Is democracy failing education?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/is-democracy-failing-education/) - American students are falling behind while local school boards are preoccupied with culture war controversies.
- [Op-ed: Argentina’s complicated U.S. visa politics](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-argentinas-complicated-u-s-visa-politics/) - This article originally appeared in America's Quarterly on August 6, 2025.
- [The impact of reassigning 6,700 federal workers to immigration](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-impact-of-reassigning-6700-federal-workers-to-immigration/) - This move comes at the expense of the enforcement of white-collar crime, national security, drug and firearms trafficking, tax compliance, and protecting children from exploitation.
- [The U.S. cut off a million TPS holders. Here’s why that’s everyone else’s opportunity.](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-u-s-cut-off-a-million-tps-holders-heres-why-thats-everyone-elses-opportunity/) - The United States is poised to discard nearly a million legally present, work-authorized individuals, many with deep roots and valuable economic potential before the end of the year.
- [The 1% U.S. remittance levy: Impacts on Mexico & India](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-1-u-s-remittance-levy-impacts-on-mexico-india/) - Over the coming months, systematic monitoring will be needed to see whether senders absorb the 1% cost, lower transfer amounts, or alter frequency.
- [Reconciliation and rescission](https://www.niskanencenter.org/reconciliation-and-rescission/) - Molly Reynolds discusses how much power Congress is ceding to the President.
- [How William Buckley shaped the American right, with Sam Tanenhaus](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-william-buckley-shaped-the-american-right-with-sam-tanenhaus/) - Sam Tanenhaus talks about Buckley’s historical significance and the unknowable questions of what Buckley might have thought of Donald Trump.
- [Resource adequacy: The foundation of America's power grid reliability](https://www.niskanencenter.org/resource-adequacy-americas-grid-reliability/) - Federal and state entities should collaborate on best‑practice standards grounded in a system‑wide understanding of grid capabilities and needs.
- [Niskanen backs the reintroduction of the Bipartisan Dignity Act](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-niskanen-center-backs-the-reintroduction-of-the-bipartisan-dignity-act/) - The refreshed bill combines key border and employment enforcement policies with long-overdue protections for law-abiding, hardworking undocumented immigrants.
- [How the president gained war powers](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-the-president-gained-war-powers/) - Casey Dominguez finds that although the founders bestowed war powers with Congress, by the Spanish-American war legislators had expanded their view of the president’s powers and begun applying a more expansive view to their own party’s presidents.
- [Op-ed: The DOJ's new denaturalization push explained](https://www.niskanencenter.org/dojs-new-naturalization-push-explained/) - This article originally appeared in The Dispatch on July 8, 2025.
- [Abundance and the Democrats, with Jonathan Chait](https://www.niskanencenter.org/abundance-and-the-democrats-with-jonathan-chait/) - Brink Lindsey welcomes Jonathan Chait of The Atlantic to discuss the abundance movement and the future of the Democratic Party.
- [Could Iran infiltrate the U.S.-Mexico border?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/could-iran-infiltrate-the-u-s-mexico-border/) - This article originally appeared in the Middle East Forum on June 19, 2025.
- [The libertarian prophet of the abundance movement, with Virginia Postrel](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-libertarian-prophet-of-the-abundance-movement-with-virginia-postrel/) - In this podcast conversation, Postrel analyzes different approaches to what she considers to be the linked causes of abundance and progress and the basic political division between advocates of stasis and dynamism.
- [If we don’t like polarizing politicians, why do we get them?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/if-we-dont-like-polarizing-politicians-why-do-we-get-them/) - Mia Costa finds that political elites have more polarized views of the other side than the public but they still benefit electorally and legislatively from avoiding negative partisan attacks.
- [Child Tax Credit expansion options for working families](https://www.niskanencenter.org/child-tax-credit-expansion-options-for-working-families/) - The legislation would raise the CTC to $2,500 per child–up from $2,000–and keep that higher amount in place through 2028.
- [Niskanen Center applauds introduction of Veterans Energy Transition Act](https://www.niskanencenter.org/niskanen-center-applauds-introduction-of-veterans-energy-transition-act/) - Bipartisan bill would connect veterans to critical energy and manufacturing careers.
- [What the data really says about Iranians at the southern border](https://www.niskanencenter.org/what-the-data-really-says-about-iranians-at-the-southern-border/) - While any combat would likely be confined to Iranian territory, this escalation is already reviving fears that Iran might attempt to strike the U.S. homeland—potentially through infiltration at the southern border.
- [The price of denial: State lawmakers’ efforts to undermine Plyler v. Doe and the fiscal fallacy of exclusion](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-price-of-denial-state-lawmakers-efforts-to-undermine-plyler-v-doe-and-the-fiscal-fallacy-of-exclusion/) - For the first time in over four decades, the constitutional protections guaranteeing undocumented immigrant children the right to attend public school are facing a coordinated and credible threat.
- [What left-wing critics don't get about abundance](https://www.niskanencenter.org/what-left-wing-critics-dont-get-about-abundance/) - If these reviews are the best that critics of abundance have, the movement has a solid future.
- [The rise of the abundance faction](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-rise-of-the-abundance-faction/) - For nearly a decade now, political moderates have been on their heels, as right-wing populists have taken the reins of the Republican Party and democratic socialists have established a beachhead in the Democratic Party.
- [Populism and working-class nostalgia for the 1950s, with Alan Ehrenhalt](https://www.niskanencenter.org/1950s-working-class-nostalgia-populism/) - Ehrenhalt discusses what both the political left and right miss about the 1950s, but acknowledges the difficulty of recovering communitarian values in the present era.
- [The prehistory, present, and future of abundance, with Steve Teles](https://www.niskanencenter.org/future-of-abundance-steve-teles/) - Teles explains how abundance ideas transcend the traditional left-right divide, digs into the current infighting among Democrats, and looks forward to possibilities for an abundance faction on the right.
- [Op-ed: How will revoking Chinese student visas actually work?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-how-will-revoking-chinese-student-visas-actually-work/) - This article originally appeared in Foreign Policy on June 4, 2025.
- [Trade not war: A new approach to counternarcotics supply-side policy](https://www.niskanencenter.org/trade-not-war-a-new-approach-to-counternarcotics-supply-side-policy/) - This white paper proposes an alternative approach to international supply-side counternarcotics policy designed to reduce fentanyl-related overdose deaths.
- [Romania was removed from the Visa Waiver Program. Here’s what it can do to reverse this.](https://www.niskanencenter.org/romania-was-removed-from-the-visa-waiver-program-heres-what-it-can-do-to-reverse-this/) - In May 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that Romania would be removed from the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
- [Exploring the secrets of political charisma, with Molly Worthen](https://www.niskanencenter.org/exploring-the-secrets-of-political-charisma-with-molly-worthen/) - Worthen discusses not only her studies of charismatic leaders but also her previous work on religious belief, the Grand Strategy program at Yale, and her own conversion to evangelical Christianity.
- [House reconciliation proposal finds healthcare savings in the wrong places](https://www.niskanencenter.org/house-reconciliation-proposal-finds-healthcare-savings-in-the-wrong-places/) - The Senate can pursue fiscal restraint and mitigate impacts on care by emphasizing cost-shifting reforms that fall on states with the fiscal capacity to absorb them, better shielding vulnerable beneficiaries and small rural hospitals.
- [The backstory for presidential power grabs](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-backstory-for-presidential-power-grabs/) - President Trump is claiming power over independent agencies and trying to redirect the administrative state, saying he is its unitary executive.
- [Trump Administration actions against Harvard’s international students, explained](https://www.niskanencenter.org/trump-administration-actions-against-harvards-international-students-explained/) - This article originally appeared in the Dispatch on May 28, 2025.
- [The evergreen model for long-term care: A state-level strategy for a persistent social policy problem](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-evergreen-model-for-long-term-care-a-state-level-strategy-for-a-persistent-social-policy-problem/) - This paper explains the long-term care status quo, situates WA Cares within long-term care’s policy history, details the key policy design choices and tradeoffs behind the program, and identifies lessons learned from the lawmaking and implementation process that can be applied elsewhere.
- [New bipartisan proposal would remove childbirth costs and confusion for parents](https://www.niskanencenter.org/new-bipartisan-proposal-would-remove-childbirth-costs-and-confusion-for-parents/) - The bill would provide families with greater financial stability by requiring insurance plans to fully cover childbirth allowing parents to focus on their children’s well-being without the burden of high medical expenses.
- [Family provisions in the Ways and Means tax package](https://www.niskanencenter.org/family-provisions-in-the-ways-and-means-tax-package/) - This comprehensive bill includes changes to several family provisions in the tax code.
- [Niskanen Center endorses bipartisan reintroduction of MARKET CHOICE Act](https://www.niskanencenter.org/niskanen-center-endorses-bipartisan-reintroduction-of-market-choice-act/) - This legislation proposes a border-adjusted carbon tax—a transparent, efficient, and market-based strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining a competitive edge for American manufacturers.
- [How to improve the Oregon Kids Credit](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-to-improve-the-oregon-kids-credit/) - This proposal aims to strengthen the credit’s effectiveness by expanding the number of eligible families and providing additional support per child.
- [Can liberals stop Trump in the courts?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/can-liberals-stop-trump-in-the-courts/) - Can liberals succeed in limiting Trump through the courts or are American courts an inevitably conservative institution?
- [Geothermal policy reform: Bridging the gaps](https://www.niskanencenter.org/geothermal-policy-reform-bridging-the-gaps/) - To enable meaningful progress, it is essential to bridge the gap between the expanding body of research advocating for geothermal development and the limited legislative action taken thus far in Congress.
- [The Niskanen Center’s new, monthly irregular migration tracker](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-niskanen-centers-new-monthly-irregular-migration-tracker/) - This new, monthly tracker builds upon the Niskanen Center's robust body of research on extra-regional migration flows, providing timely data visualizations that highlight emerging trends in irregular migration from China, India, and Russia.
- [Social policy for a low-fertility future](https://www.niskanencenter.org/social-policy-for-a-low-fertility-future/) - All over the world, people are living longer and having fewer children. Life expectancy is expected to increase in most countries.
- [Op-ed: The unseen implications of repealing birthright citizenship](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-the-unseen-implications-of-repealing-birthright-citizenship/) - This article originally appeared in The Dispatch on January 20, 2025.
- [How the 1st term trade war hurt Trump](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-the-1st-term-trade-war-hurt-trump/) - Thiemo Fetzer finds that China, the EU, Canada, and Mexico reacted to the first term tariffs strategically, trying to hurt Trump’s constituents. Omer Solodoch finds that the first term trade war announcement immediately hurt Trump politically, reducing approval and affecting voting intentions.
- [Abundance and the permanent problem](https://www.niskanencenter.org/abundance-and-the-permanent-problem/) - The central message of Abundance, though, is that this is a distinction without much of a difference. In both cases, dysfunctional barriers have been erected that make goods and services harder and more expensive to produce and sell.
- [Chaos, confusion, and uncertainty: Legal immigration under the Trump administration](https://www.niskanencenter.org/chaos-confusion-and-uncertainty-legal-immigration-under-the-trump-administration/) - Trump campaigned on promises to stop illegal immigration and deport millions of undocumented immigrants. But within just three months, his administration has also introduced sweeping changes that disrupt the legal immigration system.
- [Christianity and democracy, with Jonathan Rauch](https://www.niskanencenter.org/christianity-and-democracy-with-jonathan-rauch/) - On this episode of The Permanent Problem podcast, Rauch joins host Brink Lindsey to discuss secularization and the rapid decline of organized Christianity in recent decades.
- [Designing a young child family benefit that works for every family size](https://www.niskanencenter.org/designing-a-young-child-family-benefit/) - The Niskanen Center proposes a $2,000 baby bonus that phases in separately from the CTC. Under this structure, every family earning $10,000 would receive the full baby bonus.
- [Op-ed: The Kilmar Abrego case, explained](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-the-kilmar-abrego-case-explained/) - This article originally appeared in The Dispatch on April 19, 2025.
- [Building a science of political progress](https://www.niskanencenter.org/building-a-science-of-political-progress/) - How can science can be deployed to improve the American political process, and how much does the Progress Studies movement depend on successful politics? This is the 200th episode of the Science of Politics podcast, featuring economist Tyler Cowen.
- [Taking the power back: How the publicly-owned utility model could impact nationwide transmission buildout](https://www.niskanencenter.org/taking-the-power-back-how-the-publicly-owned-utility-model-could-impact-nationwide-transmission-buildout/) - As energy costs rise and reliability issues persist, more Americans are questioning if the investor-owned utility (IOU) model still serves their needs.
- [The old, weird history of libertarianism, with Matt Zwolinski](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-old-weird-history-of-libertarianism-with-matt-zwolinski/) - In this podcast conversation, Matt Zwolinski discusses his investigations into the intellectual history of libertarianism as well as his analysis of the longstanding tensions between radical and reactionary elements within the philosophy.
- [Is Trump redirecting or deconstructing the administrative state?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/is-trump-redirecting-or-deconstructing-the-administrative-state/) - Nicholas Jacobs and Sidney Milkis find that we have overestimated conservative efforts to reduce the size and scope of government and underestimated their usage of the enlarged state to pursue conservative goals.
- [State child tax credits for working families: An emerging model?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/state-child-tax-credits-for-working-families-an-emerging-model/) - The child tax credit (CTC), once uncommon at the state level, is now present in nearly half of all U.S. states.
- [What early data reveals about “reverse migration”](https://www.niskanencenter.org/what-early-data-reveals-about-reverse-migration/) - The first months of 2025 have seen a noticeable rise in reports of “reverse migration,” as some migrants abandon their northbound journey to the U.S.-Mexico border and instead begin moving southwards.
- [Stuck in the fax age: SSA’s record retrieval process needs a digital overhaul](https://www.niskanencenter.org/stuck-in-the-fax-age-ssas-record-retrieval-process-needs-a-digital-overhaul/) - To successfully modernize, the agency must first confront long-standing technical obstacles that have impeded progress.
- [By embracing technology, CMS’s innovation center can move faster and find success](https://www.niskanencenter.org/by-embracing-technology-cmss-innovation-center-can-move-faster-and-find-success/) - By modernizing its approach, CMMI can reduce costs, improve patient outcomes, and strengthen the government’s capacity respond to a rapidly evolving healthcare market.
- [Why a war on the trade deficit won’t reindustrialize America](https://www.niskanencenter.org/why-a-war-on-the-trade-deficit-wont-reindustrialize-america/) - President Donald Trump and his team are out to reindustrialize America. Our steelworkers and auto workers, the president says, have “watched in anguish” as “foreign cheaters have ransacked our factories.” But they know the way out: a tariff-led war on the trade deficit. It seems simple: If we make imports more expensive, people will buy
- [Disentangling in-work and child tax credits to address improper payments: An incremental approach to comprehensive reform](https://www.niskanencenter.org/disentangling-in-work-and-child-tax-credits-to-address-improper-payments/) - The EITC, along with the CTC, are foundational policies for supporting American families. Persistent program integrity issues undermine this vital goal and should be addressed in a manner that protects these tax credits and the families served by them.
- [Risks from a wounded president](https://www.niskanencenter.org/risks-from-a-wounded-president/) - Before long we may be a country with a president actively seeking to govern as an authoritarian while his own popular support is declining. That points to two possible paths forward.
- [Understanding the diploma divide, with Matt Grossmann and Dave Hopkins](https://www.niskanencenter.org/understanding-the-diploma-divide-with-matt-grossman-and-dave-hopkins/) - In this podcast discussion, Grossmann and Hopkins argue that educated liberals are winning the culture war.
- [The open society and the friends it needs](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-open-society-and-the-friends-it-needs/) - Donald Trump is back in the White House, unleashing unmitigated chaos both at home and abroad.
- [Are the parties too focused on policy programs?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/are-the-parties-too-focused-on-policy-programs/) - Katherine Krimmel finds that the American parties became extensively programmatic as they lost vestiges of clientelism and became national parties after federal growth and civil rights.
- [The NIMBYs aren’t who you think](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-nimbys-arent-who-you-think/) - The USA, UK, Australia, and Canada all seem to have similar problems with infrastructure procurement. Why is this?
- [“The Problem Factory”- Preemptive risk aversion in infrastructure planning and the role of professional services](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-problem-factory-preemptive-risk-aversion-in-infrastructure-planning-and-the-role-of-professional-services/) - In a small site of special scientific interest about 20 miles northwest of Oxford, a “shed” is being built.
- [Why Republicans should fund 1,000 new immigration judges in their reconciliation bill](https://www.niskanencenter.org/why-republicans-should-fund-1000-new-immigration-judges-in-their-reconciliation-bill/) - Increasing the number of immigration judges ensures that the system functions as intended.
- [The state capacity crisis](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-state-capacity-crisis/) - It is an extraordinary fact about the 2024 election that the areas that turned most aggressively toward President Trump were cities and states that have long been Democratic bastions.
- [Building a law of abundance](https://www.niskanencenter.org/building-a-law-of-abundance/) - This collection of articles and essays came out of a conference in the Fall of 2023 run by the Center for Economy and Society at the Johns Hopkins University, supported by a grant from Arnold Ventures.
- [ Abundance liberalism versus adversarial legalism](https://www.niskanencenter.org/abundance-liberalism-versus-adversarial-legalism/) - For decades liberals have embraced lawsuits, legal rights and judicial policymaking as means for creating social change and holding powerful interests to account, but in recent years second thoughts seem to be proliferating.
- [The need for balanced unemployment benefit expansions](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-need-for-balanced-unemployment-benefit-expansions/) - Policymakers must strike a fiscal balance to ensure the long-term health and solvency of social insurance programs.
- [The law of energy abundance](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-law-of-energy-abundance/) - The lagging supply of carbon-free energy is not caused primarily by technological or economic constraints, but rather by a set of artificial bottlenecks that are embedded in the current legal and regulatory frameworks governing U.S. energy development.
- [YIMBYism is an American legal tradition. Here’s how to revive it.](https://www.niskanencenter.org/yimbyism-is-an-american-legal-tradition-heres-how-to-revive-it/) - When “YIMBYs” first appeared on the scene, it appeared to many as though they had come out of the blue. But it turns out YIMBYism is part of a long American tradition.
- [It’s time for liberals to confront their own anti-majoritarianism](https://www.niskanencenter.org/its-time-for-liberals-to-confront-their-own-anti-majoritarianism/) - Those who show up have the resources, the knowledge of process, the access to policymakers, and the networks for collective action to stop projects, while the majority of mostly unmobilized citizens do not.
- [Practicing abundance law](https://www.niskanencenter.org/practicing-abundance-law/) - Who will practice the law of abundance? One cannot address the housing crisis, the child care crisis, access to basic needs like banking and healthy and affordable food, or the climate crisis without solving the problem of undersupply.
- [The law and economics of permitting](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-law-and-economics-of-permitting/) - Building infrastructure in the U.S., like train routes and electrical transmission, is astonishingly slow and expensive.
- [Our contentious universities, with Neil L. Rudenstine](https://www.niskanencenter.org/our-contentious-universities-with-neil-l-rudenstine/) - Former Harvard president discusses the sources of student and faculty radicalization in the 1960s, the parallels between the ‘60s campus protests and those of today, and the financial and institutional difficulties that beset many of the country’s leading universities.
- [How policymakers and experts failed the COVID test](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-policymakers-and-experts-failed-the-covid-test/) - Five years after the COVID lockdowns, the performance of government and policy experts is not looking great in retrospect.
- [Statement for the record before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs](https://www.niskanencenter.org/statement-for-the-record-before-the-senate-committee-on-banking-housing-and-urban-affairs/) - On March 12, 2025, Alex Armlovich, Kaj Gumbs, and Andrew Justus submitted this Statement for the record before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- [Niskanen Center supports transmission competition to lower costs and strengthen U.S. competitiveness](https://www.niskanencenter.org/niskanen-center-supports-transmission-competition-to-lower-costs-and-strengthen-u-s-competitiveness/) - On March 10, 2025, Niskanen Center joined the Electricity Transmission Competition Coalition in a letter urging the White House National Economic Council to make electric transmission competition a national priority.
- [Connecticut lawmakers take steps to protect worker benefits. Its New England neighbors should do the same.](https://www.niskanencenter.org/connecticut-lawmakers-take-steps-to-protect-worker-benefits-its-new-england-neighbors-should-do-the-same/) - Connecticut lawmakers recently took steps to improve their ailing Unemployment Insurance (UI) program.
- [Op-ed: Trump’s gold card visa, explained](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-trumps-gold-card-visa-explained/) - This article originally appeared in The Dispatch on March 14, 2025.
- [Reducing marriage penalties in TCJA 2.0](https://www.niskanencenter.org/reducing-marriage-penalties-in-tcja-2-0/) - Single parents who marry can lose substantial tax benefits each year, discouraging marriage from a financial standpoint.
- [Five lessons for lawmakers from Trump I](https://www.niskanencenter.org/five-lessons-for-lawmakers-from-trump-i/) - American national politics has cycled back to unified Republican government. What can we expect?
- [Can judicial review stop a lawless executive?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/can-judicial-review-stop-a-lawless-executive/) - Courts are pausing dozens of Trump administration actions—from mass firings to agency shutdowns. But does the judiciary have a real enforcement mechanism?
- [Reevaluating Christianity’s bargain with democracy, with Jonathan Rauch](https://www.niskanencenter.org/reevaluating-christianitys-bargain-with-democracy-with-jonathan-rauch/) - In this podcast discussion, Jonathan Rauch argues that Protestantism in America increasingly has taken on forms that ended up importing religious zeal into secular politics and exporting politics into religion.
- [Massachusetts creates permanent licensing pathway for internationally-trained physicians](https://www.niskanencenter.org/massachusetts-creates-permanent-licensing-pathway-for-internationally-trained-physicians/) - Foreign-trained physicians will soon have a new full licensing pathway in Massachusetts, thanks to a recent law aimed at addressing the state’s healthcare workforce shortage.
- [From the New Deal to the Great Demolition](https://www.niskanencenter.org/from-the-new-deal-to-the-great-demolition/) - Americans are now experiencing the historic first 100 days of the Roosevelt presidency in reverse.
- [FERC under fire: Trump’s executive order and the erosion of independence](https://www.niskanencenter.org/ferc-under-fire-trumps-executive-order-and-the-erosion-of-independence/) - This EO specifically targets independent agencies, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
- [Op-ed: Colombia, tariffs, and deportation flights, explained](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-colombia-tariffs-and-deportation-flights-explained/) - This article originally appeared in The Dispatch on January 28, 2025. On Sunday morning, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced that Colombia was suspending permission for previously authorized U.S. deportation flights to land in Colombia. Ostensibly driving Petro’s action were concerns that Colombian nationals were not being treated with respect during the deportation process because they were being transported by military aircraft.
- [Op-ed: The Republican trifecta should focus on pro-family policy](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-the-republican-trifecta-should-focus-on-pro-family-policy/) - This article originally appeared in National Review on January 20, 2025. Donald Trump’s return to office will unfold in a post-Dobbs policy landscape. With a Republican trifecta, conservatives have a unique opportunity to define what pro-family and pro-life governance truly means. During the vice presidential debate, Senator JD Vance emphasized that when it comes to abortion, the
- [Symbolic capitalists and "awokenings", with Musa al-Gharbi](https://www.niskanencenter.org/symbolic-capitalists-and-awokenings-with-musa-al-gharbi/) - On this episode of The Permanent Problem podcast, host Brink Lindsey sits down with al-Gharbi to discuss his new book, reviewing the rise of "symbolic capitalists" to economic and cultural dominance and analyzing the dynamics that have led to the poisonous politics of the present day.
- [Why nothing works, with Marc Dunkelman](https://www.niskanencenter.org/why-nothing-works-with-marc-dunkelman/) - Why can’t America do big things anymore? Marc Dunkelman, a fellow at Brown University’s Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, addresses this question in his new book, Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress and How to Get It Back.
- [Why some Latinos support the Trump immigration agenda](https://www.niskanencenter.org/why-some-latinos-support-the-trump-immigration-agenda/) - While promising mass deportation and an immigration crackdown, Donald Trump gained Latino support in 2024, just as he had in 2020. Why do some Latinos support anti-immigration policies and candidates?
- [What's next? Breakthroughs and roadblocks in electric transmission regulation.](https://www.niskanencenter.org/whats-next-breakthroughs-and-roadblocks-in-electric-transmission-regulation/) - Electrical transmission infrastructure is the backbone of the U.S. electric grid, ensuring reliable power delivery from generation sources to homes and businesses across vast distances.
- [How immigration is straining U.S.-India ties—And how to rebuild them](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-immigration-is-straining-u-s-india-ties-and-how-to-rebuild-them/) - On February 5th 2025, a U.S. military plane landed in Amritsar to repatriate roughly 100 Indian nationals who had illegally entered the United States.
- [Making the rules of the House](https://www.niskanencenter.org/making-the-rules-of-the-house/) - The House Rules Committee has often been called the "traffic cop of Congress.” With only a few exceptions, no bill can make it onto the House floor until the committee has assigned it a rule that will guide the process.
- [Chaos and constraints in Trump’s Washington](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-politics-of-lawlessness-in-trumps-washington/) - The early weeks of Donald Trump’s second term have been alarming, but revealing. The president has sent a clear signal of how he intends to govern, and we have begun to get a sense of how various constraints on his power may function, or not.
- [Counterproductive interest group polarization](https://www.niskanencenter.org/counterproductive-interest-group-polarization/) - American interest groups are increasingly lining up behind the Democratic or Republican Party and trying to build coalitions within those parties rather than across them. But historically, that has not been the most effective method to bring policy change.
- [The offshore detention gamble: A billion-dollar shift to Gitmo](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-offshore-detention-gamble-a-billion-dollar-shift-to-gitmo/) - President Trump has announced plans to direct the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to prepare a 30,000-person migrant detention center at Naval Station Guantánamo Bay. If implemented, the policy could cost American taxpayers billions of dollars.
- [Testimony: Creating a full license pathway for international medical graduates](https://www.niskanencenter.org/testimony-creating-a-full-license-pathway-for-international-medical-graduates/) - On January 31, 2025, Lawson Mansell testified to the Committee on Health and Long-term Care of the Washington State Senate.
- [Evaluating a new Senate proposal to reform residency funding](https://www.niskanencenter.org/evaluating-a-new-senate-proposal-to-reform-residency-funding/) - Despite its vast wealth, the United States has fewer physicians per capita than most other developed nations.
- [States can foster more opportunity through LIHTC regulations](https://www.niskanencenter.org/states-can-foster-more-opportunity-through-lihtc-regulations/) - Over the past 30 years, federally subsidized housing programs have faced increased scrutiny for where they locate units for low-income families.
- [Streamlining permitting: A layered approach to accelerate wind and solar deployment](https://www.niskanencenter.org/streamlining-permitting-a-layered-approach-to-accelerate-wind-and-solar-deployment/) - Over the past two decades, wind and solar energy have rapidly expanded across the United States, delivering low-cost, emissions-free power to the grid while stimulating economic growth.
- [How racial realignment ignited the culture war](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-racial-realignment-ignited-the-culture-war/) - How did Americans become politically divided on culture war topics like guns, abortion, women’s role, gay rights, and environmentalism?
- [Op-ed: The Minnesota model for getting unemployment insurance right](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-the-minnesota-model-for-getting-unemployment-insurance-right/) - This article originally appeared in Governing on November 6, 2024.
- [Op-ed: How the House can still (at least temporarily) function without a Speaker](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-how-the-house-can-still-at-least-temporarily-function-without-a-speaker/) - This article originally appeared in The Hill on October 29, 2024.
- [Op-ed: The H-1B visa, explained](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-the-h-1b-visa-explained/) - This article originally appeared in The Dispatch on January 7, 2025.
- [Op-ed: To fix the H-1B visa mess, take a 'moneyball' approach](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-to-fix-the-h-1b-visa-mess-take-a-moneyball-approach/) - This article originally appeared in Newsweek Magazine on January 2, 2025.
- [Leveraging LIHTC for housing abundance](https://www.niskanencenter.org/leveraging-lihtc-for-housing-abundance/) - Presidential candidates and members of Congress have floated various ideas for increasing the supply of housing, but to date, none of their proposals have addressed the local political barriers that stand in the way.
- [Understanding the cost of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’s family provisions](https://www.niskanencenter.org/understanding-the-cost-of-tax-cuts-and-jobs-acts-family-provisions/) - The complex mix of provisions include some that reduce revenue while others were designed to raise revenue, partially or fully offsetting the cost when considered together.
- [Op-ed: Bridging continents: The partnership between Mexico and Europe](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-bridging-continents-the-partnership-between-mexico-and-europe/) - This article originally appeared in Fair Observer on January 9, 2025.
- [How to improve the Social Security Administration’s efficiency](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-to-improve-the-social-security-administrations-efficiency/) - The Social Security Administration (SSA) has a performance problem. Although the number of initial disability claims has declined in recent years, the SSA, in conjunction with state-level Disability Determination Service (DDS) agencies, is taking increasingly longer to process cases.
- [Philadelphia regional rail: population density and SEPTA’s fiscal crisis](https://www.niskanencenter.org/philadelphia-regional-rail-population-density-and-septas-fiscal-crisis/) - The term "mass transit" historically conveys the idea of scale—large systems designed to serve many people and connect major destinations in densely populated urban areas.
- [Threats to democracy in the 2nd Trump administration](https://www.niskanencenter.org/threats-to-democracy-in-the-2nd-trump-administration/) - Trump has promised to remake the federal bureaucracy in his own image and go after his political opponents and the media in his 2nd administration. But there are signals that public protest and civil society mobilization are subdued.
- [Why Asian Americans did not swing to Harris](https://www.niskanencenter.org/why-asian-americans-did-not-swing-to-harris/) - Asian Americans neither turned out in record numbers nor moved toward Democrats. In fact, Indian Americans moved toward Trump.
- [Race, class, education, and the 2024 election, with Steve Bumbaugh](https://www.niskanencenter.org/race-class-education-and-the-2024-election-with-steve-bumbaugh/) - How could so many minorities and working-class Americans have voted for Donald Trump?
- [Could a new misery index help explain the election outcome?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/could-a-new-misery-index-help-explain-the-election-outcome/) - Why was the economic vibe of 2024 bad enough to get the Democrats thrown out of office?
- [What the Trump nominations and transition foretell](https://www.niskanencenter.org/what-the-trump-nominations-and-transition-foretell/) - President Trump has made his picks for his second term cabinet more quickly and the transition is more organized and ready for Executive Branch action. Will hopes and fears of an executive reinvention be born out or will the difficulties of the first term show their face again?
- [​​The need for comprehensive state tax credit reform](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-need-for-comprehensive-state-tax-credit-reform/) - The introduction and expansion of fully refundable child tax credits in eleven states are a significant positive development in family policy.
- [What the U.S. can learn from Canada’s Express Entry Program](https://www.niskanencenter.org/what-the-u-s-can-learn-from-canadas-express-entry-program/) - As the United States faces workforce challenges, studying Canada's Express Entry program could provide valuable insights for addressing labor shortages without overhauling existing immigration frameworks.
- [Housing, health, and transit: Lessons for policymakers](https://www.niskanencenter.org/housing-health-and-transit-lessons-for-policymakers/) - With the incoming administration taking a renewed aim at the root causes of chronic conditions like obesity, it would be worth considering the impact of transportation and land use decisions as a way to make America healthier.
- [Why Britain (and the US?) face a governance crisis, with Sam Freedman](https://www.niskanencenter.org/why-britain-and-the-us-face-a-governance-crisis-with-sam-freedman/) - In this podcast episode, Sam Freedman discusses how Britain’s combination of hypercentralization, executive dominance of an overly large and complex state, and a superfast media cycle have combined to produce toxic politics and something like national paralysis.
- [Will Trump have unilateral power or just pretend he does?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/will-trump-have-unilateral-power-or-just-pretend-he-does/) - Analysts previewing a second Trump administration say he will now have unchecked power, with compliant administrators and courts.
- [A win for good government and commonsense: New guidance on the Paperwork Reduction Act](https://www.niskanencenter.org/a-win-for-good-government-and-commonsense-new-guidance-on-the-paperwork-reduction-act/) - The updated guidance on the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), established in 1980 and reauthorized in 1995, is a welcome development that will have an enormous positive impact, as it will help agencies reduce burdens from the government.
- [How Republican-led states are powering the renewable energy boom](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-republican-led-states-are-powering-the-renewable-energy-boom/) - From expansive wind farms in Texas to solar installations in Florida, traditionally "red states" are at the forefront of America's renewable energy transformation.
- [Class, race, gender, and the 2024 election](https://www.niskanencenter.org/class-race-gender-and-the-2024-election-2/) - In this live episode of The Science of Politics, panelists examined the class, race, and gender dynamics that shaped the 2024 election. The panel features Tom Edsall, Amanda Iovino, Patrick Ruffini, and Ruy Teixeira. Did the election cement a class realignment of American politics? Did Republicans peel off minority voters based on changing perceptions of
- [Driving change: Analyzing global EV adoption and lessons for the U.S.](https://www.niskanencenter.org/driving-change-analyzing-global-ev-adoption-and-lessons-for-the-u-s/) - Reducing emissions from the transportation sector is essential to building a sustainable and forward-looking economy in the United States.
- [Verifying with confidence: Data provisions in the Crapo-Wyden UI bill](https://www.niskanencenter.org/verifying-with-confidence-data-provisions-in-the-crapo-wyden-ui-bill/) - The proposed legislation includes reforms that enable greater pursuit of benefit fraud, provide states greater flexibility to waive non-fraudulent pandemic overpayments, and codify accessibility requirements into federal law.
- [Permitting reform within reach: A review of major energy permitting legislation](https://www.niskanencenter.org/permitting-reform-within-reach-a-review-of-major-energy-permitting-legislation/) - Energy and electricity infrastructure permitting reform has become a focal point on Capitol Hill, with lawmakers in both chambers considering significant updates to the regulatory landscape governing energy infrastructure.
- [Is your state tax code penalizing marriage?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/is-your-state-tax-code-penalizing-marriage/) - Several factors play a critical role in ensuring family economic security. However, many parents still face marriage penalties in the tax code.
- [This Election Day, choose the spirit of association](https://www.niskanencenter.org/this-election-day-choose-the-spirit-of-association/) - The presidential election is a tipping point between two radically different paths for our country, and it is difficult to think of a principle that can guide us both through rule by an authoritarian and an ordinary politician — either of whom will face a narrowly divided Congress.
- [Project 2025 risks 600,000 H-2A and H-2B visas annually, threatening seasonal workforces across the U.S.](https://www.niskanencenter.org/project-2025-risks-600000-h-2a-and-h-2b-visas-annually-threatening-seasonal-workforces-across-the-u-s/) - Project 2025’s plan for a potential second Trump administration outlines a clear strategy to drastically reduce immigration.
- [Unemployment insurance expansions could reduce disability benefit utilization](https://www.niskanencenter.org/unemployment-insurance-expansions-could-reduce-disability-benefit-utilization/) - When policymakers debate unemployment insurance (UI) reforms, the focus often centers on the balance between benefit generosity and the time recipients take to secure new employment.
- [Cutting Through “Policy Cruft”](https://www.niskanencenter.org/cutting-through-policy-cruft/) - The United States needs adaptable and responsive government institutions to effectively tackle the complex challenges facing the country both domestically and internationally.
- [Can we believe the polls?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/can-we-believe-the-polls/) - Polls missed the 2016 election outcome and did even worse in 2020 on the margin, underestimating Donald Trump again. Should we believe the polls this time?
- [Healthcare abundance: An agenda to strengthen healthcare supply](https://www.niskanencenter.org/healthcare-abundance-an-agenda-to-strengthen-healthcare-supply/) - There’s a fundamental imbalance between the ever-rising demand for patient care and our ability to supply it. And it’s at the heart of our nation’s healthcare crisis.
- [Debunking the myth: Who pays for educating unaccompanied minors in public schools?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/debunking-the-myth-who-pays-for-educating-unaccompanied-minors-in-public-schools/) - Analyses that claim to estimate the cost of educating unaccompanied minors in the U.S. often misrepresent or overlook important details about K-12 educational funding.
- [Why the Energy Permitting Reform Act is a necessary step forward](https://www.niskanencenter.org/why-the-energy-permitting-reform-act-is-a-necessary-step-forward/) - This bipartisan bill aims to simplify the permitting processes that have historically slowed down the development of energy infrastructure.
- [Two big developments in manufactured housing reform: New rules, new bill](https://www.niskanencenter.org/two-big-developments-in-manufactured-housing-reform-new-rules-new-bill/) - Manufactured homes currently provide 8.4 million affordable, unsubsidized homes across the United States, with an additional 100,000 new units entering the housing market each year.
- [Policy memo: The U.S. Refugee Program serves American interests at home and abroad](https://www.niskanencenter.org/policy-memo-the-u-s-refugee-program-serves-american-interests-at-home-and-abroad/) - The United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) has served as a lifeline for millions of refugees displaced by war and political persecution.
- [Letter: Congress must pass bipartisan reforms to the National Emergencies Act](https://www.niskanencenter.org/letter-congress-must-pass-bipartisan-reforms-to-the-national-emergencies-act/) - The letter below, signed by a cross-ideological coalition, urges Congress to pass bipartisan reforms to the National Emergencies Act (NEA) that would restore Congress's role in national emergencies and prevent presidential overreach by requiring timely approval and reporting for emergency declarations. These reforms would be the most important reclamation of Congressional power in the separation
- [Exploring Norman Holmes Pearson's legacy, with Greg Barnhisel](https://www.niskanencenter.org/exploring-norman-holmes-pearsons-legacy-with-greg-barnhisel/) - Norman Holmes Pearson, who in the middle years of the twentieth century was a professor of English and American Studies at Yale University, is now a largely forgotten figure — and someone who was never that well known during his lifetime.
- [Are Black voters moving to Trump?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/are-black-voters-moving-to-trump/) - Pre-election polls show Black voters moving toward Donald Trump in 2024, even though he is now running against Kamala Harris.
- [DOE finalizes long-awaited National Transmission Planning study](https://www.niskanencenter.org/doe-finalizes-long-awaited-national-transmission-planning-study/) - This month, the Department of Energy (DOE) released its National Transmission Planning (NTP) study), a much-anticipated follow-up to its 2023 National Transmission Needs study.
- [Why aren’t there more Russian migrants at the border? What the data tells us](https://www.niskanencenter.org/why-arent-there-more-russian-migrants-at-the-border-what-the-data-tells-us/) - Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, it is estimated that over 800,000 Russians have fled the country, seeking to escape political repression, military service, economic downturn, or a combination of these factors. An estimated 48,000 are believed to have relocated to the United States, though the true number may be significantly higher.
- [Immigration and the macroeconomy after 2024](https://www.niskanencenter.org/immigration-and-the-macroeconomy-after-2024/) - Few issues have dominated the political debate in recent years like immigration. The two candidates for president, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, have offered starkly different visions for immigration policy.
- [The bipartisan DOCTORS Act is a common-sense solution to retain 100+ immigrant physicians and address physician shortages in rural America](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-bipartisan-doctors-act-is-a-common-sense-solution-to-retain-100-immigrant-physicians-and-address-physician-shortages-in-rural-america/) - The Conrad-30 waiver program is a vital bipartisan initiative that expands healthcare access for Americans in rural and underserved areas across the United States.
- [Niskanen Center supports Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024](https://www.niskanencenter.org/niskanen-center-supports-energy-permitting-reform-act-of-2024/) - On October 7, 2024, the Niskanen Center expressed strong support for the bipartisan Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024 in a letter addressed to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Joe Manchin and Ranking Member John Barrasso.
- [New York baby bonus would better support all new parents](https://www.niskanencenter.org/new-york-baby-bonus-would-better-support-all-new-parents/) - Welcoming a new baby is one of life’s greatest joys, but it can also bring temporary disruptions to household income stability.
- [Hill action on geothermal gaining steam](https://www.niskanencenter.org/hill-action-on-geothermal-gaining-steam/) - Both Republicans and Democrats have demonstrated commitment to policy reforms aimed at expanding geothermal deployment.
- [Visa delays threaten U.S. sports tourism at the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics](https://www.niskanencenter.org/visa-delays-threaten-u-s-sports-tourism-at-the-2026-world-cup-and-2028-olympics/) - Long delays in visa processing could severely limit the number of international visitors able to attend, diminishing the anticipated economic impact of these global events.
- [How 'Woke' Are We?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-woke-are-we/) - In the last 12 years, academic language about structural inequality made its way to media and popular discourse, leading to conservative critiques of “wokeness.” But how much really changed beneath the surface in our elite institutions?
- [Family benefits in America: 2023 report card](https://www.niskanencenter.org/family-benefits-in-america-2023-report-card/) - We find that there are still important reforms that policymakers could enact to ensure families have access to a minimal level of resources while reducing barriers to upward mobility.
- [AI meets the cascade of rigidity](https://www.niskanencenter.org/ai-meets-the-cascade-of-rigidity/) - In recent years, the US government at all levels has made significant but incomplete progress catching up to the expectations and ways of working of the Internet era. Nowhere near done with its first digital transformation, though, it has now been jolted rudely into the age of AI.
- [Collaboration among states and stakeholders can accelerate transmission deployment](https://www.niskanencenter.org/collaboration-among-states-and-stakeholders-can-accelerate-transmission-deployment/) - Here, we highlight six examples of transmission development collaborations that showcase the diverse ways states and stakeholders can work together.
- [Hollow political parties, with Sam Rosenfeld and Daniel Schlozman](https://www.niskanencenter.org/hollow-political-parties-with-sam-rosenfeld-and-daniel-schlozman/) - In this podcast discussion, Schlozman and Rosenfeld discuss how the hollowing-out of the Republican Party has made it vulnerable to Donald Trump’s hostile populist takeover; the stronger party establishment of decades past did a better job of erecting guardrails against right-wing extremism and would have prevented the party’s nomination from going to a personalist leader like Trump
- [Are fully refundable child tax credits recreating welfare as we knew it?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/are-fully-refundable-child-tax-credits-recreating-welfare-as-we-knew-it/) - One of the most significant state-level innovations in family policy over the past two decades has been the proliferation of fully refundable child tax credits (CTC).
- [A year in: Canada’s new visa recruits just 1,200 U.S. H-1B holders](https://www.niskanencenter.org/a-year-in-canadas-new-visa-recruits-just-1200-u-s-h-1b-holders/) - In July 2023, Canada introduced a new visa program aimed at recruiting skilled professionals currently working in the U.S. under H-1B visas.
- [The numbers show governments that follow the law are actually stronger](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-numbers-show-governments-that-follow-the-law-are-actually-stronger/) - Governments are strong where leaders follow the rules. Where leaders break the rules, governments are too weak to fix much of anything.
- [How the campaigns battle for electoral college victory](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-the-campaigns-battle-for-electoral-college-victory/) - Daron Shaw takes us inside the presidential campaigns from 1952 to 2020, with data and analysis from the campaigns themselves.
- [How the U.S. should prepare for another Venezuelan migration wave](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-the-u-s-should-prepare-for-another-venezuelan-migration-wave/) - On July 28th, Venezuela held a presidential election between incumbent Nicolás Maduro, who has ruled as a de-facto dictator since a fraudulent 2018 election, and Edmundo González, the leading opposition candidate.
- [Indian migrants at the U.S. border: What the data reveals](https://www.niskanencenter.org/a-data-guide-to-indian-migrants-at-the-border/) - Since October 2020, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has encountered 169,000 Indian migrants at the southern and northern U.S. land borders.
- [House Natural Resources Chair, Rep. Westerman, holds hearing on NEPA reform legislation](https://www.niskanencenter.org/house-natural-resources-chair-rep-westerman-holds-hearing-on-nepa-reform-legislation/) - Last week, Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, introduced a discussion draft focused on modernizing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
- [Press Release: Niskanen endorses bipartisan bill to retain international teachers in underserved areas](https://www.niskanencenter.org/press-release-niskanen-endorses-bipartisan-bill-to-retain-international-teachers-in-underserved-areas/) - The Niskanen Center is proud to endorse S.4301, a bipartisan bill introduced by Senators John Thune (R-SD), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM).
- [Innovations in care delivery can improve access to primary care for Medicaid beneficiaries](https://www.niskanencenter.org/innovations-in-care-delivery-can-improve-access-to-primary-care-for-medicaid-beneficiaries/) - The primary care shortage necessitates innovation in care models and state financing to ensure access to primary care physicians.
- [Public comment: STEM OPT Designated Degree Program list](https://www.niskanencenter.org/public-comment-stem-otp-designated-degree-program-list/) - Since its inception, the STEM OPT program has played a critical role in training and retaining qualified foreign graduates of U.S. universities.
- [Why the center must hold, with Yair Zivan](https://www.niskanencenter.org/why-the-center-must-hold-with-yair-zivan/) - In this podcast interview, Zivan analyzes both the pragmatic foundations of centrism but also its underlying ideological framework, which rests particularly on an unswerving commitment to liberal democracy and its institutions.
- [Evaluating the Reducing Regulatory Barriers to Housing Act](https://www.niskanencenter.org/evaluating-the-reducing-regulatory-barriers-to-housing-act/) - State and local governments are increasingly interested in reforms to reduce regulatory barriers and make housing more affordable.
- [How the diploma divide transformed American politics](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-the-diploma-divide-transformed-american-politics/) - College-educated voters are moving toward the Democrats, with the less educated moving toward the Republicans.
- [Demystifying transmission cost allocation](https://www.niskanencenter.org/demystifying-transmission-cost-allocation/) - With good-faith effort, we can overcome the challenges of transmission cost allocation, and succeed in building a 21st-century grid.
- [Map: Electric transmission permitting from 2010 to 2020](https://www.niskanencenter.org/map-electric-transmission-permitting-from-2010-to-2020/) - A preliminary exploration of how transmission infrastructure projects align with some example jurisdictional boundaries and energy resource potentials.
- [Let’s make a deal: high-capacity transmission edition](https://www.niskanencenter.org/lets-make-a-deal-high-capacity-transmission-edition/) - A substantial transmission buildout is now widely understood to be of critical importance for the nation’s energy future.
- [Understanding single-stair reform efforts across the United States](https://www.niskanencenter.org/understanding-single-stair-reform-efforts-across-the-united-states/) - Single-stair building code reforms, once a niche subject of mere speculation by disgruntled architects, have become law in several states and have positive legislative momentum in several others.
- [The fifteen categories of immigration cut off by Project 2025](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-fifteen-categories-of-immigration-cut-off-by-project-2025/) - Project 2025 is the Heritage Foundation’s playbook for the next conservative administration and the newest installment in a series of so-called “Mandates for Leadership” that the Foundation has published regularly over the past four decades.
- [Are American parties reviving or hollow?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/are-american-parties-reviving-or-hollow/) - Daniel Schlozman and Sam Rosenfeld find that Democrats and Republicans have become hollow shells, unrooted in civic organizations, with Republicans captured by extremism and Democrats ineffectual.
- [The Niskanen Center Applauds U.S. House Introduction of the SOBER Act ](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-niskanen-center-applauds-u-s-house-introduction-of-the-sober-act-2/) - “Reducing the obvious harms from alcohol and drug abuse is an urgent policy priority, and the SOBER Act will get the job done," says Greg Newburn, Niskanen's director of criminal justice.
- [Advance payment of the EITC: Lessons from an international perspective](https://www.niskanencenter.org/advance-payment-of-the-eitc-lessons-from-an-international-perspective/) - When the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 sent the monthly expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC) to families, it marked the first time many Americans had ever received advance payment of a tax credit.
- [Constitutional inspiration, constitutional flaws](https://www.niskanencenter.org/constitutional-inspiration-constitutional-flaws/) - Yuval Levin, a scholar at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute, is one of the comparatively few conservative intellectuals today whose works actively eschew pessimism and division, instead offering hope and inspiration to Americans of all political stripes by reminding them that their disagreements need not produce discord and dysfunction.
- [What Hawaii can learn from California’s long and bumpy road to ADU stardom](https://www.niskanencenter.org/what-hawaii-can-learn-from-californias-long-and-bumpy-road-to-adu-stardom/) - This spring, Hawaii joined the growing list of states that have loosened restrictions on Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to alleviate the housing shortage.
- [What research on Black women candidates means for Kamala Harris](https://www.niskanencenter.org/what-research-on-black-women-candidates-means-for-kamala-harris/) - Vice President Kamala Harris has replaced Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee. And the conversation has immediately turned to race and gender.
- [The U.S. can and should test more people for bird flu](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-u-s-can-and-should-test-more-people-for-bird-flu/) - On July 2, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) announced a $176 million grant to Moderna to develop vaccines for the current strain of bird flu, H5N1. These critical vaccines could take a year or more to develop and deploy, with late-stage testing expected in 2025. Still, public health experts are increasingly concerned
- [Why it’s important to improve the U.S. visa consular processing system](https://www.niskanencenter.org/why-its-important-to-improve-the-u-s-visa-consular-processing-system/) - U.S. visas are highly coveted, granting visitors access to numerous countries.
- [The triumph of stasism](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-triumph-of-stasism/) - With the nomination of J.D. Vance, the Republican Party has officially abandoned whatever remained of its Reaganite commitment to free markets, limited government, and global engagement.
- [The online misinformation epidemic, with Renée DiResta](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-online-misinformation-epidemic-with-renee-diresta/) - In this podcast discussion, DiResta relates how the viral qualities of social media have transformed right-wing influencers into what she calls, in the title of her new book, Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies Into Reality.
- [Op-ed: Chinese migrants aren’t an invading army](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-chinese-migrants-arent-an-invading-army/) - This article originally appeared in Foreign Policy on July 23, 2024.
- [The rise of a new pragmatism](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-rise-of-a-new-pragmatism/) - The astonishing events of the past month have scrambled the confident political predictions of many pundits.
- [Project 2025: Unveiling the far right's plan to demolish immigration in a second Trump term](https://www.niskanencenter.org/project-2025-unveiling-the-far-rights-plan-to-demolish-immigration-in-a-second-trump-term/) - While there is little doubt that a second term for Trump would be grim for immigrants, the headlines do not capture the depth of the proposed changes or the lengths the administration would go to implement them.
- [Senators Manchin and Barrasso’s Energy Permitting Reform Bill: What’s in it for transmission?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/senators-manchin-and-barrassos-energy-permitting-reform-bill-whats-in-it-for-transmission/) - After months of hard work and negotiation, on July 22 Senators Joe Manchin (I-WV) and John Barasso (R-WY) unveiled a sweeping package on energy permitting reform.
- [Where in the U.S. is the EITC’s bang per buck biggest?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/where-in-the-u-s-is-the-eitcs-bang-per-buck-biggest/) - Understanding how government programs affect people in different places is crucial in helping policymakers determine how and where to target public assistance.
- [A data guide to Chinese migrants at the border](https://www.niskanencenter.org/a-data-guide-to-chinese-migrants-at-the-border/) - The rapid and sudden growth in the number of Chinese nationals arriving at the U.S. southern border to present themselves for asylum has ignited a storm of interest from the public, media, and lawmakers alike.
- [Can American identity reduce partisan animosity?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/can-american-identity-reduce-partisan-animosity/) - In the midst of a harrowing political campaign, can Americans tone down their partisanship and unify around their common American values?
- [From decades to years: DOE’s CITAP program and progress towards faster transmission projects](https://www.niskanencenter.org/from-decades-to-years-does-citap-program-and-progress-towards-faster-transmission-projects/) - Electric transmission is essential for maintaining grid reliability while meeting growing electricity demand, connecting new generation and storage to the grid, and relieving congestion to improve energy affordability.
- [Reforms targeting “patent thickets” would speed up the arrival of lower-cost drugs](https://www.niskanencenter.org/reforms-targeting-patent-thickets-would-speed-up-the-arrival-of-lower-cost-drugs/) - On July 10, the Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act of 2023 (S.150), sponsored by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), was fast-tracked and passed the Senate by unanimous consent.
- [The conservative vision of Edward C. Banfield, with Kevin Kosar](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-conservative-vision-of-edward-c-banfield-with-kevin-kosar/) - Edward C. Banfield (1916-99), the conservative political scientist who spent most of his career at Harvard University, was one of the most eminent and controversial scholars of the twentieth century. His best-known work, The Unheavenly City (1970), was a deeply informed but unsparing criticism of Great Society-era attempts to alleviate urban poverty. His New York Times obituary observed that
- [Abundance and  collapse, with Eli Dourado](https://www.niskanencenter.org/abundance-and-collapse-with-eli-dourado/) - On this episode of The Permanent Problem podcast, Brink Lindsey interviews a leading analyst and advocate of abundance: Eli Dourado, chief economist at the new Abundance Institute and an expert on policy barriers to the emergence of new technologies.
- [Geographic impacts on policy effectiveness: assessing place-based programs through MVPFs](https://www.niskanencenter.org/geographic-impacts-on-policy-effectiveness-assessing-place-based-programs-through-mvpfs/) - Programs aimed at helping individuals escape poverty can only do so much. We also need to consider poor areas, given that only some are willing or able to move to affluent areas.
- [Evaluating economic policies with geographic MVPFs: Insights and implications for future research](https://www.niskanencenter.org/evaluating-economic-policies-with-geographic-mvpfs-insights-and-implications-for-future-research/) - Economists have typically been critical of place-based policies (PBPs), preferring to provide economic support to people directly.
- [How think tanks drive polarization and policy](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-think-tanks-drive-polarization-and-policy/) - Democrats and Republicans rely on partisan think tanks for policy proposals, along with the numbers and findings that justify them.
- [Public comment: Terminal disclaimer practice to obviate nonstatutory double patenting](https://www.niskanencenter.org/public-comment-terminal-disclaimer-practice-to-obviate-nonstatutory-double-patenting/) - On May 10, 2024, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) proposed changes to the way drug companies patent their products.
- [Representative Curtis and Representative Peters introduced the House version of the PROVE IT Act](https://www.niskanencenter.org/representative-curtis-and-representative-peters-introduced-the-house-version-of-the-prove-it-act/) - Representatives Curtis and Peters’ introduction of the House bill marks an important milestone in the U.S. Congress as the PROVE IT Act is now a bipartisan and bicameral bill seeking to provide information about carbon emissions in international trade.
- [Test Table](https://www.niskanencenter.org/test-table/) - Copy of Selected Transmission Developer Incentives_Concessions - Copy of Sheet2-2Download
- [Op-Ed: Beyond academic sectarianism](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-beyond-academic-sectarianism/) - This article originally appeared in the Summer 2024 issue of National Affairs. More conspicuously than at any time in living memory, elite higher education has found itself in the political crosshairs. Who could have predicted a year ago that the presidents of the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard would, in quick succession, be thrown out
- [Stop trying to increase state minimum wages and EITCs - and focus on state CTCs](https://www.niskanencenter.org/stop-trying-to-increase-state-minimum-wages-and-eitcs-and-focus-on-state-ctcs/) - State policymakers interested in tackling child poverty, particularly for working families, have several policy levers at their disposal.
- [GETing to a better grid](https://www.niskanencenter.org/geting-to-a-better-grid/) - Grid Enhancing Technologies (GETs) and advanced conductors offer some of the most exciting and immediate opportunities to improve and modernize the electric grid.
- [The top immigration questions Biden and Trump should answer at the June debate](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-top-immigration-questions-biden-and-trump-should-answer-at-the-june-debate/) - The divergence between Trump and Biden over immigration, combined with an increase in immigrant arrivals at the U.S.-Mexico border and the blockage of a bipartisan immigration bill, is sure to make immigration a hot topic for both candidates.
- [White racial sympathy](https://www.niskanencenter.org/white-racial-sympathy/) - The impact of racial attitudes in American politics isn’t just about the presence or absence of anti-Black prejudice.
- [Coalitions come first](https://www.niskanencenter.org/coalitions-come-first/) - The modern Democratic Party is a coalition of interest groups, and the leaders of the party often cast themselves as champions of those interest groups.
- [Saving lives and reducing crime: Insights from peer-reviewed studies of 24/7 Sobriety and ideas for future research](https://www.niskanencenter.org/saving-lives-and-reducing-crime-insights-from-peer-reviewed-studies-of-24-7-sobriety-and-ideas-for-future-research/) - After a decade of stability, the age-adjusted rate of alcohol-induced deaths in the U.S. started increasing after 2009, with a 26% increase from 2019 to 2020.
- [Public comment: Notice of availability of proposed policy guidance for the Capital Investment Grants program](https://www.niskanencenter.org/public-comment-notice-of-availability-of-proposed-policy-guidance-for-the-capital-investment-grants-program/) - On April 5th, 2024, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) released proposed policy guidance for the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program. This program outlines the criteria and procedures that proposed public transit projects must meet to be eligible for funding from the FTA. In the following public comment, the Niskanen Center makes recommendations to the FTA
- [The Latino century, with Mike Madrid](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-latino-century-with-mike-madrid/) - In this podcast discussion, Madrid discusses his upbringing as a third-generation Mexican American, his unique experiences as a Latino political consultant on both sides of the aisle, and his analysis of the rise of the Latino voting demographic.
- [The impact of policy misinformation](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-impact-of-policy-misinformation/) - We have overestimated the influence of partisan misinformation during political campaigns. But that doesn't mean we're well-informed.
- [A missed opportunity to get Illinois’ CTC right](https://www.niskanencenter.org/a-missed-opportunity-to-get-illinois-ctc-right/) - Illinois policymakers recently had the opportunity to transform how they support children and families with a state child tax credit (CTC).
- [Press Release: Niskanen welcomes committee passage of the YIMBY Act](https://www.niskanencenter.org/press-release-niskanen-welcomes-committee-passage-of-the-yimby-act/) - The Niskanen Center applauds the House Financial Services Committee’s passing the bipartisan Yes in My Back Yard (YIMBY) Act (H.R. 3507).
- [How AI could make UI fraud easier](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-ai-could-make-ui-fraud-easier/) - Low-tech solutions like in-person verification requirements may be the most effective short-term remedy.
- [Green card backlogs block billions in rural investments](https://www.niskanencenter.org/green-card-backlogs-block-billions-in-rural-investments/) - By most economic measures, rural American communities regularly lag behind urban areas, including in unemployment rates, persistent poverty, and labor force participation.
- [A better way (or three) to build on the success of TCJA](https://www.niskanencenter.org/a-better-way-or-three-to-build-on-the-success-of-tcja/) - Congress can enact bold, common-sense changes that reduce marriage penalties, overall costs, and complexity for families.
- [Proposed Illinois Child Tax Credit is a step in the right direction](https://www.niskanencenter.org/proposed-illinois-child-tax-credit-is-a-step-in-the-right-direction/) - Despite the drawbacks, HB4917 would be a significant stride toward better support for Illinois families and position the state as a pioneer in innovative family policy.
- [To curb extreme climate impact, we must prioritize adaptation and resilience](https://www.niskanencenter.org/to-curb-extreme-climate-impact-we-must-prioritize-adaptation-and-resilience/) - If policymakers are serious about curbing this alarming trend, they must prioritize effective adaptation and resilience planning to prevent damage to properties and businesses and save lives.
- [Addressing concerns about permanent telehealth expansion in Medicare](https://www.niskanencenter.org/addressing-concerns-about-permanent-telehealth-expansion-in-medicare/) - On Wednesday, the House Ways & Means Committee advanced a 2-year extension of Medicare’s covid-era policies to allow Medicare patients continued access to telehealth services.
- [Pushing back against misconceptions: Transmission planning and cost allocation](https://www.niskanencenter.org/pushing-back-against-misconceptions-transmission-planning-and-cost-allocation/) - The ongoing discourse surrounding the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) pending transmission rule demands a robust response to misconceptions that threaten promising solutions to regional transmission planning and cost allocation.
- [Op-ed: Will Mexico’s new president use the border as leverage?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-will-mexicos-new-president-use-the-border-as-leverage/) - This article originally appeared in The Dispatch on June 6, 2024.
- [America Last: Right-wing admiration for foreign autocracies, with Jacob Heilbrunn](https://www.niskanencenter.org/americas-last-right-wing-admiration-for-foreign-autocracies-with-jacob-heilbrunn/) - In this podcast interview, Heilbrunn discusses the ways in which the Old Right’s preoccupations have returned to the modern American conservative movement as well as the ways in which the New Right’s founder, William F. Buckley Jr., used the hatreds unleashed by Senator Joseph McCarthy’s anticommunist crusade as a political weapon.
- [Testimony: Congress can strengthen UI administration with finance reform](https://www.niskanencenter.org/testimony-congress-can-strengthen-ui-administration-with-finance-reform/) - On June 4, 2024, Will Raderman testified at a hearing of a subcommittee of the U.S. House’s Ways and Means Committee.
- [A youth influencer exchange program for great power competition](https://www.niskanencenter.org/a-youth-influencer-exchange-program-for-great-power-competition/) - Soft power remains an inherent U.S. advantage in the competition for global influence. Still, for policymakers, U.S. preeminence is often taken for granted.
- [When third parties matter](https://www.niskanencenter.org/when-third-parties-matter/) - Robert F. Kennedy Jr is polling higher than prior third party candidates and his supporters could make the difference in a close election.
- [Why foreign policy is still bipartisan](https://www.niskanencenter.org/why-foreign-policy-is-still-bipartisan/) - Even in a polarized age, Congress has managed bipartisan votes on controversial issues in an election year.
- [Can democracy take stock of Wall Street?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/can-democracy-take-stock-of-wall-street/) - Future histories of our populist era may well begin with the 2008 financial crisis and the revolts it touched off.
- [Do We Really Want Expanded Work Requirements in Non-cash Welfare Programs?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/expanded-work-requirements-in-non-cash-welfare-programs/) - On July 12, President Trump’s Council of Economic Advisers released a report titled “Expanding Work Requirements in Non-Cash Welfare Programs” in response to an April 2018 executive order on reducing poverty in America. The CEA’s basic argument is simple: The war on poverty has been won — properly measured, the poverty rate is just 3 percent,
- [A Social Safety Net for an Age of Uncertainty](https://www.niskanencenter.org/a-social-safety-net-for-an-age-of-uncertainty/) - It is too late now to meet the present crisis with a better social safety net in place, but it is not too late to learn from our mistakes. Who knows, maybe some bits and pieces of what is being cobbled together now can even serve as a framework to build something more permanent to deal with future crises.
- [Slouching and the posture panic, with Beth Linker](https://www.niskanencenter.org/slouching-and-the-posture-panic-with-beth-linker/) - Probably all of us have, at one time or another in our younger years, been told to stand up straight.
- [Good data on good government: Reformers should take note as political philosophy meets statistics](https://www.niskanencenter.org/good-data-on-good-government-reformers-should-take-note-as-political-philosophy-meets-statistics/) - Good government has been a focus of political philosophers for centuries, but times change.
- [This is how a carbon tax comes back](https://www.niskanencenter.org/this-is-how-a-carbon-tax-comes-back/) - Three forces could drive a carbon price back onto the federal agenda in the future: 1) the need for revenue to address the national debt, 2) the desire to avoid paying fees to the European Union, and instead force fees on dirtier exporters, and 3) growing pressure from young Republican voters to take action on climate change.
- [The state of our families: Child and dependent tax benefits in the states](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-state-of-our-families-child-and-dependent-tax-benefits-in-the-states/) - Policymakers should embrace three principles when designing or reforming family tax benefits: including as many families as possible, targeting based on age, and converting existing dependent exemptions and other child-related tax benefits into streamlined credits for children and dependents.
- [Niskanen Urges Support for Rep. Chrissy Houlahan’s Critical Amendment to Strengthen the National Defense Authorization Act](https://www.niskanencenter.org/niskanen-urges-support-for-rep-chrissy-houlahans-critical-amendment-to-strengthen-the-national-defense-authorization-act/) - This amendment underscores the essential link between grid security and national security, ensuring our military's readiness and operational capacity are not compromised by vulnerabilities in our electrical infrastructure.
- [Op-Ed: The fiscal fix Our unemployment insurance systems need](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-the-fiscal-fix-our-unemployment-insurance-systems-need/) - This article originally appeared in Governing on May 15, 2024. Four years after Congress passed the CARES Act and opened up crucial assistance to jobless workers, costly unemployment insurance system malfunctions remain unresolved. During the COVID-19 pandemic, state UI agencies experienced an overwhelming surge of benefit applications. Criminals took advantage of this disarray, ultimately stealing as
- [Op-ed: Exit strategy: The case for single-stair egress](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-exit-strategy-the-case-for-single-stair-egress/) - This article originally appeared in Architectural Record on May 9, 2024. American land-use reformers intent on addressing present-day housing shortages have, for the last decade, focused their efforts on amending zoning codes—the very rules that gradually downzoned most urban land in the U.S., effectively outlawing multifamily housing, spurring suburban sprawl, and fanning the current crisis. Recently,
- [Op-ed: Many US cities are eager to welcome migrants. We need to make it easier for them to do so.](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-many-us-cities-are-eager-to-welcome-migrants-we-need-to-make-it-easier-for-them-to-do-so/) - This article was originally published in The Hill, on May 7, 2024.
- [Public comment: Modernizing Schedule A to include consideration of additional occupations in STEM and non-STEM occupations](https://www.niskanencenter.org/public-comment-modernizing-schedule-a-to-include-consideration-of-additional-occupations-in-stem-and-non-stem-occupations/) - Cecilia Esterline, discusses the importance of updating Schedule A to protect U.S. workers and the economy, while also emphasizing the invaluable role immigration plays in achieving these goals.
- [Public Comment: HUD should continue affirmatively furthering fair housing ](https://www.niskanencenter.org/public-comment-hud-should-continue-affirmatively-furthering-fair-housing/) - These comments were submitted to the Office of General Counsel, Department of Housing and Urban Development on April 9, 2023.
- [Geothermal is hot on Capitol Hill](https://www.niskanencenter.org/geothermal-is-hot-on-capitol-hill/) - Geothermal is an important domestic clean energy resource. We discuss the value geothermal could bring to America’s energy mix and highlight some critical considerations for supporting its growth.
- [Decoding the birth rate decline, with Tim Carney](https://www.niskanencenter.org/decoding-the-birth-rate-decline-with-tim-carney/) - Birth rates are plummeting around the globe, as half the world's population now lives in countries with sub-replacement fertility rates.
- [Are we putting workforce hubs in the right places?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/are-we-putting-workforce-hubs-in-the-right-places/) - The Biden administration recently announced four new “workforce hubs”: areas of the country that will be receiving substantial investments in building a renewed technology sector in America, using funds from previously passed legislation.
- [New data suggests political repression, slowing economy driving irregular Chinese migration to U.S.](https://www.niskanencenter.org/new-data-suggests-political-repression-slowing-economy-driving-irregular-chinese-migration-to-u-s/) - Despite intense interest from lawmakers and the media about Chinese migration through the southern border, reliable data sources about these migrants are limited.
- [Does the Biden economy have bad election timing or an unfair fed?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/does-the-biden-economy-have-bad-election-timing-or-an-unfair-fed/) - Joe Biden is facing re-election shepherding an unsteady economy through high interest rates. Is this Democrats' bad economic luck repeating itself?
- [Getting the job done on unemployment insurance: How Congress can reinforce program administration and integrity with finance reform](https://www.niskanencenter.org/getting-the-job-done-on-unemployment-insurance-how-congress-can-reinforce-program-administration-and-integrity-with-finance-reform/) - Maintenance costs are frustrating to deal with, but leaving smaller issues unaddressed makes you vulnerable to more serious problems down the line.
- [A reality check on Austin’s housing market](https://www.niskanencenter.org/a-reality-check-on-austins-housing-market/) - Austin’s rents are down a staggering 7% from last year. Austin has achieved unqualified success, bucking the conventional wisdom that prosperity is only possible if housing costs rise.
- [More DACA recipients are homeowners than ever before](https://www.niskanencenter.org/more-daca-recipients-are-homeowners-than-ever-before/) - Today, more DACA recipients are homeowners than ever before. Still, their future in the country remains uncertain, and this uncertainty threatens to undermine their many positive contributions to U.S. society and the economy. The most recent version of the Center for American Progress’s (CAP) annual survey of DACA recipients highlights their economic advancement: 30.7% of
- [Assisting Afghan refugees must be a priority for congress](https://www.niskanencenter.org/assisting-afghan-refugees-must-be-a-priority-for-congress/) - The U.S. needs to take action to regularize the immigration status of those who were airlifted out of Afghanistan and to assist those who remained.
- [Creating a More Dynamic Unemployment Insurance System: The Case for Eliminating Experience Rating](https://www.niskanencenter.org/creating-a-more-dynamic-unemployment-insurance-system-the-case-for-eliminating-experience-rating/) - The United States funds unemployment insurance (UI) in an unusual way.
- [Visa reciprocity: Questions raised by Project 2025](https://www.niskanencenter.org/visa-reciprocity-questions-raised-by-project-2025/) - Does the U.S. offer “unfettered access” to foreign nationals visiting the U.S. for business or tourism?
- [The politics of our jobs](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-politics-of-our-jobs/) - Just as we are polarizing geographically, even our workplaces are now more likely to be filled with those who agree with us about politics. And our politicians come from these workplaces.
- [The child tax credit “lookback” provision and family stability](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-child-tax-credit-lookback-provision-and-family-stability/) - The proposed lookback provision in the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act has been a major source of misunderstanding in recent weeks. Policymakers concerned about building a foundation for stable families should welcome it as an innovative reform to reduce some of the economic volatility that threatens family flourishing.
- [Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Immigrant Story and the Internationalization of the NBA](https://www.niskanencenter.org/giannis-antetokounmpos-immigrant-story-and-the-internationalization-of-the-nba/) - On July 3, the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Atlanta Hawks to advance to the NBA Finals, an accomplishment not seen in the city in almost 50 years. Leading the charge for Milwaukee is the six-foot, eleven-inch Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek-born star is one of the best basketball players in the world today and a global
- [Military enlistment is in crisis. Immigrant recruitment can help](https://www.niskanencenter.org/military-enlistment-is-in-crisis-immigrant-recruitment-can-help/) - There is a vast pool of possible immigrant applicants who are willing to joining the armed forces. Not allowing them to do so would be a policy failure with implications that will reverberate for years to come.
- [The case for incremental change, with Greg Berman and Aubrey Fox](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-case-for-incremental-change-with-greg-berman-and-aubrey-fox/) - As Greg Berman and Aubrey Fox argue in their recent book, bold and sweeping policy proposals rarely come to pass and usually fail when they do. What does succeed is unsatisfactory but pragmatic compromise and gradual, sustained change.
- [Op-ed: Ecuador’s raid on the Mexican Embassy, explained](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-ecuadors-raid-on-the-mexican-embassy-explained/) - This article was originally published in The Dispatch, on April 10, 2024.
- [Giving gender equality a modern context, with Richard Reeves](https://www.niskanencenter.org/giving-gender-equality-a-modern-context-with-richard-reeves/) - On this episode of The Permanent Problem podcast, Richard Reeves, author of the widely discussed new book Of Boys and Men, joins Brink Lindsey to discuss the contemporary struggles of boys and men and place them in wider context.
- [65,000+ People Sign Up to Sponsor Refugees in the First 3 Months of Welcome Corps Expansion](https://www.niskanencenter.org/65000-people-sign-up-to-sponsor-refugees-in-the-first-3-months-of-welcome-corps-expansion/) - New data released today by the Community Sponsorship Hub shows significant interest by private sponsors in resettling refugees they know through the Welcome Corps.
- [Evidence-based recommendations for overcoming barriers to federal transmission permitting](https://www.niskanencenter.org/evidence-based-recommendations-for-overcoming-barriers-to-federal-transmission-permitting/) - The United States (U.S.) stands at a critical juncture in modernizing its energy infrastructure. As discussed in this report, developing sufficient transmission to meet emerging needs will require significant changes in how transmission is planned, permitted, and financed.
- [How will TikTok change politics?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-will-tiktok-change-politics/) - Congress is fearful of TikTok’s influence, but America’s young people increasingly see it as a key platform for learning about and spreading political ideas. Will TikTok get young people engaged in the 2024 election or serve as another distraction?
- [A closer look at the role of litigation and opposition in transmission projects undergoing federal permitting](https://www.niskanencenter.org/a-closer-look-at-the-role-of-litigation-and-opposition-in-transmission-projects-undergoing-federal-permitting/) - Electricity transmission, including high-capacity interstate transmission lines, is essential for distributing cost-effective power via a more resilient grid and decarbonizing the economy. However, building such lines with sufficient speed and scale often meets significant complications.
- [Four countries that will shape migration in 2024 – and beyond](https://www.niskanencenter.org/four-countries-that-will-shape-migration-in-2024-and-beyond/) - Immigration to the U.S. often happens in waves, marking distinct turning points in who arrives at the border.
- [Contextualizing electric transmission permitting: data from 2010 to 2020](https://www.niskanencenter.org/contextualizing-electric-transmission-permitting-data-from-2010-to-2020/) - The long and unpredictable federal permitting timelines for electric transmission pose a significant challenge to maintaining future grid reliability in the face of growing demand and ambitious decarbonization goals.
- [SEC’s new climate disclosure rules may have limited impact on emissions reduction](https://www.niskanencenter.org/secs-new-climate-disclosure-rules-may-have-limited-impact-on-emissions-reduction/) - U.S. lawmakers should recognize the limitations of the SEC climate disclosure rules as a means of permanently and meaningfully reducing emissions.
- [Op-Ed: When it comes to politics, are any of us really thinking for ourselves?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-when-it-comes-to-politics-are-any-of-us-really-thinking-for-ourselves/) - This article was originally published in the New York Times on March 24, 2024. If you’re trying to guess whether people are Republicans or Democrats, knowing a few basic facts about them will take you a long way. What’s their race and gender? How far did they get in school? What part of the country
- [Understanding inequality and rising mortality rates in America, with Angus Deaton](https://www.niskanencenter.org/understanding-inequality-and-rising-mortality-rates-in-america-with-angus-deaton/) - Angus Deaton discusses the work that led to his Nobel Prize, the impact of the Nobels on the economics profession, and the principal questions he has wrestled with as an economist.
- [The No Surprises Act is protecting patients, but not containing health care costs](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-no-surprises-act-is-protecting-patients-but-not-containing-health-care-costs/) - The NSA’s potential expansion gives Congress a critical opportunity to fix the payment resolution process and prevent providers from using the system to extract higher payments from health plans.
- [Building a stronger foundation for American families: Options for Child Tax Credit reform](https://www.niskanencenter.org/building-a-stronger-foundation-for-american-families-options-for-child-tax-credit-reform/) - For families, the American tax code has become a maze of overlapping benefits that often work at cross-purposes. Our analysis provides a menu of options for reducing poverty, work penalties, and marriage penalties while reducing tax code complexity through consolidation.
- [A more generous CTC isn’t to blame for the tax code’s marriage penalties](https://www.niskanencenter.org/a-more-generous-ctc-isnt-to-blame-for-the-tax-codes-marriage-penalties/) - In a recent commentary, Kevin Corinth and Scott Winship of the American Enterprise Institute’s Center for Opportunity and Social Mobility raised concerns that the expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC) proposed in the Smith-Wyden tax package could result in a marriage penalty for some low-and middle-income families.
- [Carbon border adjustment bills: how do the U.S. proposals compare to the EU one?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/carbon-border-adjustment-bills-how-do-the-u-s-proposals-compare-to-the-eu-one/) - U.S. lawmakers must consider the policy choices of well-designed carbon border adjustments and the implications of any deviations from sound policy.
- [How race makes us less punitive on opioid policy](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-race-makes-us-less-punitive-on-opioid-policy/) - The opioid crisis has not abated, but so far policy has remained far less punitive than for prior drug epidemics. Is that because it has been characterized and seen as a “white” drug problem?
- [Op-Ed: The dead-enders of the Reagan-Era GOP](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-the-dead-enders-of-the-reagan-era-gop/) - This article was originally published in The Atlantic on March 19, 2024.
- [Statement for the record before  Vermont State House of Representatives Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs](https://www.niskanencenter.org/statement-for-the-record-before-vermont-state-house-of-representatives-committee-on-government-operations-and-military-affairs/) - Cecilia Esterline submitted this Statement for the Record before the Vermont State House of Representatives Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at 10 AM.
- [Amicus brief: <em>National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association v. Black</em>](https://www.niskanencenter.org/amicus-brief-national-horsemens-benevolent-and-protective-association-v-black/) - As an organization committed to promoting widespread prosperity and opportunity, and upholding the principles of a pluralistic and open society, the Niskanen Center has joined an amicus brief in the case of National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association v. Black. This case involves the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, a private entity that exercises federal power.
- [A carbon tax to finance Child Tax Credit expansion](https://www.niskanencenter.org/a-carbon-tax-to-finance-child-tax-credit-expansion/) - This article was originally published on October 23, 2023 in Tax Notes.
- [Op-Ed: Longshot deal on Child Tax Credit could be bipartisan win for families.](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-longshot-deal-on-child-tax-credit-could-be-bipartisan-win-for-families/) - This article was originally published in Newsweek on January 16, 2024.
- [Op-Ed: How much immigration power does Joe Biden have?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-how-much-immigration-power-does-joe-biden-have/) - This article was originally published in the Dispatch on February 14, 2024.
- [Op-Ed: Democrats should pick a new presidential candidate now](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-democrats-should-pick-a-new-presidential-candidate-now/) - This article was originally published in The Atlantic on February 13, 2024.
- [The BRIDGE for Workers Act - getting people back into jobs fast](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-bridge-for-workers-act-getting-people-back-into-jobs-fast/) - The United States has maintained the longest consecutive period with less than 4% unemployment for decades. However, not all labor market measures are doing well.
- [The case for admitting Uruguay into the Visa Waiver Program](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-case-for-admitting-uruguay-into-the-visa-waiver-program/) - Sound immigration policy can strengthen American economic interests, fortify our security initiatives, and increase our diplomatic capital.
- [Building code reform moves forward in Virginia](https://www.niskanencenter.org/building-code-reform-moves-forward-in-virginia/) - Modifying building codes to allow multifamily buildings to be built with more efficient single-stair designs would make it easier to build on small or irregularly shaped lots that are common in American cities.
- [Conservative voices in 1960s campus activism, with Lauren Lassabe Shepherd](https://www.niskanencenter.org/conservative-voices-in-1960s-campus-activism-with-lauren-lassabe-shepherd/) - Conservative student activism in the late ‘60s shaped laws, policies, and precedents that continue to determine the course of higher education in the present day.
- [The market efficiencies of high-voltage transmission](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-market-efficiencies-of-high-voltage-transmission/) - Expanding and strengthening high-voltage transmission infrastructure is a proven way to leverage markets to deliver benefits to society, and our policies and regulations should support the growth of these vital assets.
- [Rethinking our vision for the future, with Virginia Postrel](https://www.niskanencenter.org/rethinking-our-vision-for-the-future-with-virginia-postrel/) - What determines our visions of the future? Unpack the struggle between the champions of dynamism and progress and champions of the status quo or an imagined past.
- [Do voters dislike old candidates?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/do-voters-dislike-old-candidates/) - How much does candidate age matter in elections? Research suggests our older candidates are the product of the system, not the voters.
- [Irrepressible liberalism: the philosophy of Gerald Gaus](https://www.niskanencenter.org/irrepressible-liberalism-the-philosophy-of-gerald-gaus/) - Political philosopher Gerald Gaus shows us how we can approach challenges to democracy from a position of confidence.
- [Addressing Medicare spending and hospital consolidation with site-neutral payments](https://www.niskanencenter.org/addressing-medicare-spending-and-hospital-consolidation-with-site-neutral-payments/) - Currently Medicare can pay hospitals almost double what they would normally pay for the same service at a different location. A site-neutral payments policy would ensure that Medicare pays the same price for the same service.
- [Coalition letter: FERC should rethink its proposed conditional ROFR in its transmission rulemaking](https://www.niskanencenter.org/coalition-letter-ferc-should-rethink-its-proposed-conditional-rofr-in-its-transmission-rulemaking/) - On February 5, 2024, a politically diverse coalition (Niskanen Center, R Street Institute, Public Citizen, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Open Markets Institute and the Center for Biological Diversity) urged FERC in its transmission rulemaking to rethink its proposed conditional Rights of First Refusal (ROFR).
- [Op-Ed: The new Asylum Program Fee makes legal immigration less attractive](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-the-new-asylum-program-fee-makes-legal-immigration-less-attractive/) - This article was originally published in the Hill on February 4, 2024.
- [Lessons from the COVID-era Welfare Expansion](https://www.niskanencenter.org/lessons-from-the-covid-era-welfare-expansion/) - COVID brought expansions of social welfare programs and increased flexibility. But many of the changes expired. Now Congress is considering a bit of a revival of the child tax credit expansion, but recipients of traditional welfare programs won’t see equivalent gains. Did policymakers learn the right lessons from the successes and failures of COVID-era expansions?
- [Breaking the cycle of dependence: drugs, crime, and the PRWORA](https://www.niskanencenter.org/breaking-the-cycle-of-dependence-drugs-crime-and-the-prwora/) - By the 1990s, many communities in America had undergone 20 years of painful, often violent socioeconomic deterioration, and policymakers were desperate for solutions. PRWORA has permanently locked many Americans into cycles of poverty, drug abuse, and criminal involvement.
- [New Senate framework a step forward for Unemployment Insurance modernization](https://www.niskanencenter.org/new-senate-framework-a-step-forward-for-unemployment-insurance-modernization/) - Last week, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Ranking Member Mike Crapo, (R-ID) released a framework for future legislation to improve the Unemployment Insurance (UI) system’s ability to detect and prevent fraud while protecting access for eligible workers. Unemployment insurance was a valuable lifeline for many families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, the pandemic exposed many weaknesses in the UI system.
- [Congress should reauthorize a permanent protection program for Liberians](https://www.niskanencenter.org/congress-should-reauthorize-a-permanent-protection-program-for-liberians/) - In 2019, the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF) provision passed with bipartisan support through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2020, providing a pathway for Liberian migrants to obtain lawful permanent resident status after spending years with uncertain legal status in the U.S. Despite its promise, few applicants used the program, thanks partly to a challenging rollout amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
- [Illiberal vanguards in Russia and the U.S., with Alexandar Mihailovic](https://www.niskanencenter.org/illiberal-vanguards-in-russia-and-the-u-s-with-alexandar-mihailovic/) - February 24 will mark the second anniversary of Russia’s brutal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Although Vladimir Putin’s dictatorial power made the invasion possible, it’s still unclear to many observers why the Kremlin’s leader took this fateful decision.
- [Redefining poverty: A response to conservative critics](https://www.niskanencenter.org/redefining-poverty-a-response-to-conservative-critics/) - A new report from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), An Updated Measure of Poverty: (Re)Drawing the Line, has hit Washington with something of a splash. In conservative policy circles, “consternation” might be a better word than “splash.” The AEI’s Kevin Corinth sees it as a path to adding billions of dollars to federal spending. Congressional testimony by economist Bruce Meyer takes NASEM to task for outright partisan bias.
- [Cleaning up the built environment to reduce crime](https://www.niskanencenter.org/cleaning-up-the-built-environment-to-reduce-crime/) - In every city, a small group of blocks generate most of the serious crime. Place-based crime reduction strategies are grounded in some of the most critical insights made by crime scholars in the past forty years.
- [Press Release: The Niskanen Center applauds the re-introduction of the VICTIM Act](https://www.niskanencenter.org/press-release-the-niskanen-center-applauds-the-introduction-of-the-victim-act/) - Bipartisan bill aims to help police solve murders
- [The Politics of School from Home](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-politics-of-school-from-home/) - The implications of school politics and political polarization.
- [How Much Did Trump Undermine U.S. Democracy?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-much-did-trump-undermine-u-s-democracy/) - How much is the U.S. undergoing democratic backsliding and what did Trump's presidency reveal about the strength and limits of our institutions?
- [Right-Wing Extremism and the Capitol Insurrection](https://www.niskanencenter.org/right-wing-extremism-and-the-capitol-insurrection/) - Violent right-wing extremism again came to America's attention in the Capitol insurrection, including organized militia groups and white supremacists. How did these movements build support, radicalize, and evolve out of the alt-right? Sam Jackson tracks the growth of the militia movement and its involvement in right-wing politics, helping to explain the involvement of former military and law enforcement in
- [When Partisans Endorse Violence](https://www.niskanencenter.org/when-partisans-endorse-violence/) - Nathan Kalmoe and Lilliana Masonfind that partisanship leads a sizeable minority of Americans to support violence or wish harm on the other party’s leaders and followers, especially after they lose elections. Drawing on survey experiments and history back to the American Civil War, they show the importance of messages in moving us over the brink or back from it.
- [How Media Coverage of Congress Limits Policymaking](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-media-coverage-of-congress-limits-policymaking/) - Congressional media coverage turns off the public with stories of conflict-ridden sausage making that disrupt internal consensus-building.
- [Values and Racism in American Immigration Views](https://www.niskanencenter.org/values-and-racism-in-american-immigration-views/) - Biden is abruptly shifting immigration and refugee policies from Trump, facing new blowback. Are public views rooted in anti-Latino racism or a broader American ethos?
- [How Presidential Appointments Reveal Policy Goals and Elite Interests](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-presidential-appointments-reveal-policy-goals-and-elite-interests/) - President-elect Joe Biden is choosing his cabinet, prioritizing government experience and diversity. President Trump instead appointed corporate executives and left many positions unfilled. But maybe the differences are not as stark as they first appear.
- [Why Latinos Moved Toward Trump (and Why Most Are Still Democrats)](https://www.niskanencenter.org/why-latinos-moved-toward-trump-and-why-most-are-still-democrats/) - Latino voters were highly engaged this year but less focused on immigration, meaning traditional divisions on the economy were more salient.
- [Compromise Still Works in Congress and with Voters](https://www.niskanencenter.org/compromise-still-works-in-congress-and-with-voters/) - By clarifying our differences, the campaign actually alerts voters that we don’t all agree and need to compromise. A lot of policymaking voters like is still happening, but it gets less media attention because it’s not a partisan war.
- [Interpreting the Early Results of the 2020 Election with Matt Grossmann and G. Elliott Morris](https://www.niskanencenter.org/interpreting-the-early-results-of-the-2020-election-with-matt-grossmann-and-g-elliott-morris/) - What will the 2020 election teach us about polling and politics? Join us on the afternoon following Election Day for the first ever live edition of the Science of Politics podcast.
- [How Court Nominations Polarize Interest Groups and Voters](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-court-nominations-polarize-interest-groups-and-voters/) - Interest groups on both sides were ready for battle when President Trump nominated Amy Coney Barret to the Supreme Court. As Republicans vote to confirm her, how will voters respond?
- [Left out: A framework for non-contributory paid parental leave](https://www.niskanencenter.org/left-out-a-framework-for-non-contributory-paid-parental-leave/) - Universal access to paid family leave is an important public policy goal. Policymakers need to consider what a noncontributory program might look like for paid parental leave.
- [Why Do Americans Accept Democratic Backsliding?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/why-do-americans-accept-democratic-backsliding/) - As Election Day approaches, Trump intimidation efforts are increasing and Americans in both parties are worried that the other side could use unfair tactics to sway the election. Why does the public fail to serve as a check on anti-democratic practices? Matt Graham finds that only a small fraction of voters prioritize democratic principles over partisan and ideological interests. And
- [Racial Protest, Violence, and Backlash](https://www.niskanencenter.org/racial-protest-violence-and-backlash/) - With images of violent unrest, Donald Trump is trying to recreate Richard Nixon’s 1968 law and order campaign. What were the effects of racial protest and riots on elections back then? And will they be the same today?
- [How Rich White Residents and Interest Groups Rule Local Politics](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-rich-white-residents-and-interest-groups-rule-local-politics/) - National politics gets all the attention, but many important decisions--from police reform to housing development to tackling inequality--are made by local governments. Which voices are heard in local decision-making?
- [How the Plutocrats Win from the Populist Right](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-the-plutocrats-win-from-the-populist-right/) - Republicans have to ramp up the outrage stoking due to their lack of broad policy appeals. The Republican Party’s economic positioning is internationally extreme and threatens to undermine U.S. democracy. In this conversational edition, we assess plutocratic populism and its consequences.
- [The Roots of the Parties’ Racial Switch](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-roots-of-the-parties-racial-switch/) - Today, Black Americans are the strongest Democratic constituency and White Southerners are the strongest Republican group—but it used to be the other way around.
- [How Donor Opinion Distorts American Parties](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-donor-opinion-distorts-american-parties/) - Billions of dollars in donations will flow to candidates this year. Citizens suspect all that money buys the donors' influence. But just how different are donors’ views in each party from those of citizens? Neil Malhotra finds that Republican donors are more conservative than Republican citizens on economic issues but Democratic donors are more liberal on social issues. Both parties’
- [How the Supreme Court Shapes (and is Shaped by) its Public Support](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-the-supreme-court-shapes-and-is-shaped-by-its-public-support/) - The Supreme Court finished its term with a flood of momentous decisions, tacking to the center with Chief Justice John Roberts crafting most of the majorities and the Court agreeing with public opinion nearly all of the time. Is the Court worried about its public non-partisan stature? And does it need to be?
- [How Overpoliced Communities Become Politically Engaged](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-overpoliced-communities-become-politically-engaged/) - How do racial minorities in highly policed communities think about political action and mobilize to fight unfairness, when they are facing force and indignities that often lead to withdrawal?
- [How Bureaucrats deal with political chaos above](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-bureaucrats-deal-with-political-chaos-above/) - With the prospect of a second emboldened Trump administration on offer, the administrative state is under attack. How well did the bureaucracy deal with Trump appointees? Was there really a resistance in a "deep state"? And how much are career civil servants affected by chaos and turnover in the political class that sit above them?
- [Press Release: More than 30 organizations and thought leaders encourage the Department of Labor to update the Schedule A list ](https://www.niskanencenter.org/more-than-30-organizations-and-thought-leaders-encourage-the-department-of-labor-to-update-the-schedule-a-list/) - Today, more than thirty organizations and experts specializing in healthcare, labor, innovation, and immigration sent a letter to Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su encouraging the department to update its Schedule A occupation list to better reflect the conditions facing the current labor markets.
- [How Protests Change Parties and Elections](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-protests-change-parties-and-elections/) - Can protests change election outcomes or the future of the parties?
- [How Much Do Vice Presidential Running Mates Matter?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-much-do-vice-presidential-running-mates-matter/) - Biden's pick will help define the candidate and his party.
- [What Became of Never Trump Republicans?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/what-became-of-never-trump-republicans/) - President Trump has consolidated Republican support in Congress and the wider party network, despite a lot of initial concerns. Whatever became of the Never Trump movement that arose in the 2016 campaign?
- [Republicans Successfully Politicized Ebola. Can They Do it Again in 2020?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/republicans-successfully-politicized-ebola-can-they-do-it-again-in-2020/) - There is precedent for linking infectious disease to that issue and winning elections as a result. When an Ebola outbreak came to U.S. public attention just before the 2014 midterm elections, Republicans were able to use it to their political advantage.
- [Why Are Black Conservatives Still Democrats?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/why-are-black-conservatives-still-democrats/) - Black conservatism is meaningful and influential in policy views, but black partisanship is based more on shared group identity. Black voters have varied ideologies, but agree on the concerns most important to vote choice. They agree that black partisanship challenges our ideas about ideological polarization.
- [How Anxiety and Crises Change Our Political Behavior](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-anxiety-and-crises-change-our-political-behavior/) - The COVID-19 virus has upended American's lives and heightened our anxieties, that's likely to have a lot of political consequences. How do Americans respond to imminent threats?
- [How News and Social Media Shape American Voters](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-news-and-social-media-shape-american-voters/) - How did concerns about Hillary Clinton dominate voters' concerns in 2016, despite the scandal- & gaffe-prone campaign of Donald Trump? Did media coverage and social sharing doom Clinton? And can we expect a similar pattern in 2020?
- [Statement: Niskanen supports bipartisan border deal](https://www.niskanencenter.org/statement-niskanen-supports-bipartisan-border-deal/) - We look forward to closely reviewing the legislative text but remain committed to endorsing any bipartisan immigration reform package that serves the nation's best interests, safeguards the border, and can secure 60 votes in the Senate.
- [How Record Television Advertising is Shaping American Elections](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-record-television-advertising-is-shaping-american-elections/) - The go-to experts from the Wesleyan Media Project show that we're now seeing more advertising, more negativity, and more outside groups. They expect more of the same in 2020.
- [How to Build Institutions, Not Political Hobbies](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-to-build-institutions-not-political-hobbies/) - Americans have lost faith in our political and community institutions. Our leaders are increasingly performing for the crowd, rather than improving the institutions they inhabit.
- [Can America Become a Multiparty System?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/can-america-become-a-multiparty-system/) - Americans dislike the two major parties, which are fighting more and compromising less. But does that open the way for the rise of third parties and the huge institutional changes necessary to bring it about? Lee Drutman finds that a new multi-party system is the only way out of our cycle of polarization and democratic decay. He sees opportunities
- [Did Americans' Racial Attitudes Elect Trump?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/did-americans-racial-attitudes-elect-trump/) - A large all-star panel reviews the central debate over the 2016 election and its implications for the 2020 campaign ahead.
- [Women's Voting Over 100 Years](https://www.niskanencenter.org/womens-voting-over-100-years/) - 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment guaranteeing women's suffrage. We talk about the history and what's ahead for gender and voting in this election year.
- [Will Trump Anger Motivate Black Turnout?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/will-trump-anger-motivate-black-turnout/) - Black turnout was down in 2016, costing Hillary Clinton pivotal votes and raising questions about whether post-Obama Democrats can mobilize black voters. We know President Trump is angering and mobilizing a lot of white Democrats but that may not translate the same way for black voters.
- [Do Democrats and Republicans Get Different Results?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/do-democrats-and-republicans-get-different-results/) - Parties influence policy and some related outcomes, but perhaps not enough to declare one party better at improving well being.
- [Do Early Primary States Still Pick Presidents?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/do-early-primary-states-still-pick-presidents/) - Momentum may be dying with the growth of pre-primary media coverage and an earlier cementing of candidate coalitions.
- [How Trump Politicized Refugees](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-trump-politicized-refugees/) - The Trump administration has drastically reduced refugee resettlement while turning away asylum seekers. What was the basis of that consensus and what went wrong?
- [How Bureaucrats Make Good Policy](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-bureaucrats-make-good-policy/) - Most policymaking occurs in federal agencies, rather than Congress, and interest groups know that’s where the action is. That’s led many to fear that agencies are captured by regulated industries and can’t make good policy. But is that the truth?
- [Have Conservatives Transformed the States?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/have-conservatives-transformed-the-states/) - Republicans have gained a lot of electoral ground in the states, while building an impressive infrastructure of conservative organizations to push policy rightward. But have they succeeded?
- [The American Public's Growing Ideological Sophistication](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-american-publics-growing-ideological-sophistication/) - Maybe Americans are not “ideologically innocent” anymore, coming closer to matching elites’ issue positions and ideological perspectives. Martin Wattenberg finds that Americans now cite a lot more public policy issues in describing their views of politicians and parties, coherently describing their ideological perspective rather than making general statements about each party’s success or failure. Austin Kozlowski
- [Why Americans Dislike Government, Even When it Works](https://www.niskanencenter.org/why-american-dislike-government-even-when-it-works/) - Americans mistrust services provided by the public sector, even though they increasingly rely on government programs. Amy Lerman finds that citizens perceive public services as inefficient and lower quality, causing them to misperceive good services as private and opt out of public services. Suzanne Mettlerfinds that Americans increasingly rely on government for their income. But because programs are hidden, their views
- [Do the Parties Favor White Male Candidates?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/do-the-parties-favor-white-male-candidates/) - Despite a broad field of qualified women and minority candidates, two white men are now leading the Democratic presidential field. Even after supporting women for Congress, why are Democrats shying away this time? Neil Visalvanich finds that neither party discriminates against women or minority candidates in congressional races, with Democratic Party donors actually favoring white women. But that may
- [How Presidential Debates Influence Voters](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-presidential-debates-influence-voters/) - When and why do presidential debates change voter views? How, if at all, did they help Donald Trump last time? Ethan Porter finds that the post-debate commentary changes voter views as much as the debate itself, with Fox and MSNBC viewers getting quite different impressions, but not enough to change who they support. Patrick Stewart finds that candidates go for applause lines and
- [Will a Good Economy Save Trump?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/will-a-good-economy-save-trump/) - Conventional wisdom holds that Trump won the 2016 election by appealing to voters left behind in Obama's economy and may win re-election based on a stronger economy in 2020. But new research casts doubt on both stories. Sean Freeder finds that the effect of economic performance on the president's re-election has been declining since the
- [Explaining the Urban-Rural Political Divide](https://www.niskanencenter.org/explaining-the-urban-rural-political-divide/) - Our geographic divides are central to contemporary politics, including the election of Donald Trump. Election maps show dense liberal cities in a sea of sparsely-populated Red, advantaging Republicans in our geographic electoral system. Why are Democrats concentrating in cities? Jonathan Rodden finds increasingly concentrated left parties around the world, disadvantaging liberal cities. It started with unionized industrial railroad
- [Options for Virginia to reform its family tax benefits](https://www.niskanencenter.org/options-for-virginia-to-reform-its-family-tax-benefits/) - The Virginia General Assembly has the opportunity to create a cohesive and effective family tax policy. Replacing the current web of credits is an excellent place to start in the upcoming legislative session.
- [How Washington, D.C.’s comprehensive planning process holds the key to enacting major zoning reforms](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-washington-d-c-s-comprehensive-planning-process-holds-the-key-to-enacting-major-zoning-reforms/) - D.C.’s system allows local interests to be heard while allowing policy changes to be made in the District’s interest.
- [Can Diversity and Liberalism Rise Together?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/can-diversity-and-liberalism-rise-together/) - White liberals are quickly moving leftward on racial issues in what has been called “The Great Awokening.” Zach Goldberg finds that white liberals are greatly increasing their perceptions of discrimination, their tolerance of academic identity politics, and their support for immigration and affirmative action, coaxed along by rising liberalism in social and online media. But Emily Wager finds that
- [If Moderates Are Electable, Why Are Ideologues Winning?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/if-moderates-are-electable-why-are-ideologues-winning/) - Atop Democratic primary polls, Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden are re-igniting a debate about whether moderates are more electable. Are voters pushing the candidates to the extremes or just looking for moderate alternatives? Andrew Hall finds that moderate candidates are more likely to win general elections, but that they are running for office less often than extremists. The benefits
- [How Medicaid and Obamacare Drive Voting](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-medicaid-and-obamacare-drive-voting/) - Obamacare substantially increased American health coverage, but now some states and the Trump administration are acting to curtail benefits. Do Obamacare exchanges and Medicaid help stimulate new voters or even help Democrats win? Jamila Michener finds that Medicaid mobilizes voters, but only if it is well-administered and effective. States, counties, and even neighborhoods matter to how beneficiaries react. Vlad Kogan finds that, while
- [Episode 42: How Not-In-My-Backyard Politics Keep Housing Costs High](https://www.niskanencenter.org/episode-42-how-not-in-my-backyard-politics-keep-housing-costs-high/) - Expensive housing in major cities is holding back the American economy because new housing developments commonly spark a big “Not In My Backyard” local backlash. Why can’t new housing overcome the resistance? Katherine Einstein finds that the people who show up to planning meetings where projects are discussed are very unrepresentative. They take advantage of reviews and restrictions to
- [How Philanthropy Diverts Social Movements](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-philanthropy-diverts-social-movements/) - Philanthropic foundations are getting more criticism as we learn how their efforts shape our politics. But that impact has a long history, including pivotal roles in the Civil Rights Movement and the California farmworker movement. It turns out the money often comes with quite a few strings. Megan Ming Francis finds that philanthropy shifted the
- [Why Governments Give Away Economic Incentives That Increase Inequality](https://www.niskanencenter.org/why-governments-give-away-economic-incentives-that-increase-inequality/) - Amazon’s headquarters decisions are drawing attention to economic development incentive programs designed to bring businesses and jobs to states and localities, while local opposition in New York drew attention to their role in inequality. Why do states and localities continue to offer them, despite academic research showing they are ineffective? Nathan Jensen finds that voters
- [How Online Media Polarizes and Encourages Voters](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-online-media-polarizes-and-encourages-voters/) - Online politics and social media are being blamed for a lot lately, from the spread of misinformation to the rise of incivility. But we also want online media to reach young people and increase participation. Although early studies showed limited effects, the latest efforts show the online world is impacting the offline. Jamie Settle finds
- [Does Diversity in Congress Translate into Representation?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/does-diversity-in-congress-translate-into-representation/) - A new, young, and more diverse cast of House members has come to Washington. Will they represent racial minorities, women, and young people more than other members? James Curry finds that older members of Congress are more likely to introduce bills on lower-profile senior issues, meaning the disproportionately elderly Congress may give Seniors a leg
- [How Public Policy Intentionally Segregated American Homeowners](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-public-policy-intentionally-segregated-american-homeowners/) - Our homes are racially segregated, and not by accident. Jessica Trounstine finds that cities actively created segregation through zoning and urban renewal, worsening their public services. As soon as segregation was threatened, white homeowners fled to the suburbs. Chloe Thurston finds that the federal government decided to subsidize the private mortgage market, rather than focus
- [Does Anyone Speak for the Poor in Congress?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/does-anyone-speak-for-the-poor-in-congress/) - Studies: "Poor Representation" and "Putting Inequality in Context" Interviews: Kris Miler, University of Maryland; Christopher Ellis, Bucknell University The rich have more tools to influence politics and policy than the rest of Americans, but what about the poorest citizens? In an age of increasing economic inequality, who, if anyone, represents their views and their interests
- [Interpreting the 2018 Election](https://www.niskanencenter.org/interpreting-the-2018-election/) - What are the implications of the 2018 election results? Matt Grossmann talks with Julia Azari and Rachel Bitecofer, two political scientists who've followed 2018 closely, comparing it to previous cycles.
- [How Americans' Politics Drives Their Religious Views](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-americans-politics-drives-their-religious-views/) - Republicans are now a lot more religious than Democrats, but they may not mean our religious views drive our politics. Instead, people may be choosing their religious or secular affiliations, communities, and beliefs on the basis of their partisanship. Michele Margolis finds that young adults tend to move away from religion, but only Republicans and
- [How TV and Service Projects Impact What Americans Believe About Inequality](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-tv-and-service-projects-impact-what-americans-believe-about-inequality/) - American inequality is high and rising, but much of the public still believes the American Dream is alive and well for anyone who works hard. Those views are hard to change, but new research suggests two paths with large effects in opposite directions. Cecilia Mo finds that the national service program Teach for America moved
- [How the Democrat and Republican Parties Are Changing](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-the-democrat-and-republican-parties-are-changing/) - Are the Democrats becoming a more ideological party while the Republicans emphasize social identity? The one-year anniversary special edition of the podcast experiments with a more conversational format to discuss party change. Matt Grossmann is joined by his Asymmetric Politics co-author, Boston College political scientist David Hopkins. They discuss how much, and in what direction,
- [How Marriage and Inequality Reinforce Political Polarization](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-marriage-and-inequality-reinforce-political-polarization/) - As politicians polarize, Americans are also sorting into clearer partisan camps who dislike the other side. What reinforces that cycle? Perhaps both our social relationships and our increasingly unequal society. Tobias Konizter finds that Americans are increasingly selecting spouses based on partisanship and then passing on our political views to our children. But John Kuk
- [How the Tea Party Paved the Way for Donald Trump](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-the-tea-party-paved-the-way-for-donald-trump/) - The Tea Party that arose in 2009 seemed initially focused on bailouts, health care, and taxes. But new research suggests that concerns about cultural change and distrust of distant elites, the same themes that drove Trump supporters, were also central to the Tea Party—not just in the electorate but among activists and even for aligned
- [How Citizens Match Their Issue Positions to Candidates and Causes](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-citizens-match-their-issue-positions-to-candidates-and-causes/) - Citizens have views on policy issues but are often ignorant about the specific stances of politicians and interest groups. How do they match their issue positions to candidates and causes and how well do their choices line up with their professed views? Cheryl Boudreau finds that low-information voters can utilize everything from party endorsements to voter
- [How Campaign Money Has Changed Elections After Citizens United](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-campaign-money-has-changed-elections-after-citizens-united/) - Big money groups and donors have long played a role in our elections, but court decisions have opened the floodgates to more unlimited & anonymous contributions through new funding vehicles. How much is that changing our politics? Stan Oklobdzija finds that networks of dark money groups like those funded by the Koch brothers are helping
- [How the Federalist Society Changed the Supreme Court Vetting Process](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-the-federalist-society-changed-the-supreme-court-vetting-process/) - We already know that Brett Kavanaugh will be a strong conservative on the Supreme Court, just like Neil Gorsuch, but not because of confirmation hearing vetting. Both were handpicked by the Federalist Society network, giving conservatives the assurances they need and making liberals want to ask tough questions that may not get answered. Amanda Hollis-Brusky
- [Did Facebook Really Polarize and Misinform the 2016 Electorate?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/did-facebook-really-polarize-and-misinform-the-2016-electorate/) - From Russian trolls to racist rhetoric, Facebook has been blamed for the divisive 2016 presidential election. Does Facebook direct users to diverse information or to fake news and ads that misinform, making us hate the other side? Michael Beam finds that Facebook users actually saw more information from the other political side in 2016; he
- [Who’s More Afraid of Democracy: the Center or the Right?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/whos-more-afraid-of-democracy-the-center-or-the-right/) - Are Americans losing faith in democracy as our norms erode? Lee Drutman finds that support for democracy remains high, but Democrats and Republicans are increasingly polarized around authoritarian impulses, as Republicans follow Donald Trump's lead. David Adler finds that people who place themselves in the middle of the ideological spectrum are the most skeptical of
- [When Liberals and Conservatives Use Genetics to Explain Human Difference](https://www.niskanencenter.org/when-liberals-and-conservatives-use-genetics-to-explain-human-difference/) - Public debate on genetic research often assumes that conservatives will prefer genetic explanations for human differences, while liberals will point to environmental factors—perhaps exacerbating political divides on race. But Stephen Schneider finds that conservatives prefer explanations based on personal choice; attributing individual differences to genetics is associated with liberalism and higher tolerance. But when asked to
- [How Labor Unions Impact Inequality - And Whether That Justifies the Legacy Costs They Leave](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-labor-unions-impact-inequality-and-whether-that-justifies-the-legacy-costs-they-leave/) - Unions recently took some hits in Republican states, but now teachers’ strikes are pushing back and winning. Can unions still be influential in Red America, when they are mostly in the public sector? And are they out to defend their own interests or to play a broader social role? Laura Bucci finds that despite declines, unions still help
- [Episode 15: How Debt Finance Leads to War and Defense Spending](https://www.niskanencenter.org/episode-15-how-debt-finance-leads-to-war-and-defense-spending/) - We’re increasing defense spending and launching military strikes—and we’re putting it all on the national credit card. That may be no coincidence. Sarah Kreps finds that Americans are more supportive of wars when they are financed through debt rather than taxes. Across the world, Matt DiGiuseppe finds that a nation's creditworthiness leads to more military spending, especially in
- [Op-Ed: A land value tax could boost housing supply, reduce speculation in Detroit and across Midwest](https://www.niskanencenter.org/a-land-value-tax-could-boost-housing-supply-reduce-speculation-in-detroit-and-across-midwest/) - This article was originally published in The Detroit News on October 31, 2023.
- [Milton Friedman's unexpected legacy, with Jennifer Burns](https://www.niskanencenter.org/milton-freidmans-unexpected-legacy-with-jennifer-burns/) - Jennifer Burns makes the case why the generally conservative Chicago School of Economics, of which Friedman was the most famous representative, was not as hostile to moderation as it has usually been portrayed.
- [The Biden Administration’s methane strategy: a methane tax, regulations, and subsidies](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-biden-administrations-methane-strategy-a-methane-tax-regulations-and-subsidies/) - Although methane only accounts for a small portion of the total greenhouse gas emissions at about 12% in the U.S., it is much more potent than carbon dioxide.
- [How to create the sci-fi world we were promised, with James Pethokoukis](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-to-create-the-sci-fi-world-we-were-promised-with-james-pethokoukis/) - In his new book The Conservative Futurist, American Enterprise Institute scholar James Pethokoukis investigates what he calls the "Great Downshift" of the past half-century -- and surveys the hopeful evidence that a new burst of technological and economic innovation may be in the offing.
- [Press Release: Niskanen and partners call for the extension of visa interview waiver authorities](https://www.niskanencenter.org/press-release-niskanen-and-partners-call-for-the-extension-of-visa-interview-waiver-authorities/) - The Niskanen Center has co-led a coalition letter with the American Immigration Council, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the Federation for American Scientists, and the Institute for Progress (IFP) calling for the extension of visa interview waiver authorities that are set to expire on December 31, 2023.
- [Testimony: Jennifer Pahlka on harnessing AI to improve government services and customer experience](https://www.niskanencenter.org/testimony-jennifer-pahlka-on-harnessing-ai-to-improve-government-services-and-customer-experience/) - Jennifer Pahlka testified before the Committee of Homeland Security and Government Affairs on January 10, 2024.
- [Public disclosure affects emission rates at fossil fuel-fired power plants](https://www.niskanencenter.org/public-disclosure-affects-emission-rates-at-fossil-fuel-fired-power-plants/) - To maximize the performance benefits and minimize the potential for emission leakage and the creation of pollution hotspots, policymakers designing and implementing disclosure rules should seek as broad a reporting domain as possible.
- [Carbon tax effects on air quality ](https://www.niskanencenter.org/carbon-tax-effects-on-air-quality/) - In addition to mitigating long-term climate impacts, policies that reduce greenhouse gasses can provide immediate health benefits.
- [Libertarian roots revisited](https://www.niskanencenter.org/libertarian-roots-revisited/) - A new synthesis of capitalism balanced by economic independence is worth pursuing.
- [The bipartisan immigration policy that helps rural Americans get access to local physicians](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-bipartisan-immigration-policy-that-helps-rural-americans-get-access-to-local-physicians/) - The Conrad 30 Reauthorization bill offers a rare opportunity for policymakers to take action on something unilaterally benefiting all parties involved.
- [Niskanen Center joins letter urging congressional removal of marriage and work penalties in Supplemental Security Income Program ](https://www.niskanencenter.org/niskanen-center-joins-letter-urging-congressional-removal-of-marriage-and-work-penalties-in-supplemental-security-income-program/) - The Niskanen Center commends a recent letter from a bipartisan group of organizations urging Congress to update the Supplemental Security Income program’s asset limits by incorporating the bipartisan, bicameral SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act in potential upcoming legislative packages.
- [Statement for the record before the U.S. Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Flood Insurance on “Housing Affordability: Governmental Barriers and Market-Based Solutions”](https://www.niskanencenter.org/statement-for-the-record-before-the-u-s-financial-services-subcommittee-on-housing-and-flood-insurance-on-housing-affordability-governmental-barriers-and-market-based-solutions/) - Alex Armlovich, David Jimenez, and Andrew Justus submitted this Statement for the record before the U.S. Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Flood Insurance on December 7, 2023.
- [Statement for the record before the U.S. House, Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Oversight on “Investigating Pandemic Fraud : Preventing History from Repeating Itself”](https://www.niskanencenter.org/statement-for-the-record-before-the-u-s-house-committee-on-ways-and-means-subcommittee-on-oversight-on-investigating-pandemic-fraud-preventing-history-from-repeating-itself/) - This Statement for the Record before the U.S. House, Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Oversight was submitted on November 2, 2023.
- [Elites misperceive the public](https://www.niskanencenter.org/elites-misperceive-the-public/) - Are political elites out of touch with the American public, not recognizing how their views are not reflective of most people’s experience?
- [Productivity growth: the good, the bad, and the ugly](https://www.niskanencenter.org/productivity-growth-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/) - If you care about innovation and material progress, you learn to care about productivity growth – because it functions as our best available statistical proxy.
- [PRESS RELEASE: Niskanen welcomes Ted Gayer as new President](https://www.niskanencenter.org/press-release-niskanen-welcomes-ted-gayer-as-new-president/) - The Niskanen Center’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce that it has named Ted Gayer as its new President, effective August 2022.
- [Raising tariffs on Chinese EVs will contradict President Biden’s climate strategy](https://www.niskanencenter.org/raising-tariffs-on-chinese-evs-will-contradict-president-bidens-climate-strategy/) - Existing tariffs on Chinese clean energy imports have already impeded the U.S.’s progress in its clean energy transition. Expanding these tariffs would undermine the Biden administration’s goal of mitigating climate change.
- [Is America's past hurting us now? Deep dive with Fergus Bordewich](https://www.niskanencenter.org/is-americas-past-hurting-us-now-deep-dive-with-fergus-bordewich/) - Do the events of a century and a half ago really have any relevance to our daily lives in the twenty-first century? Fergus Bordewich, in his new book Klan War: Ulysses S. Grant and the Battle to Save Reconstruction, argues that America’s critical missed turning point in the 1860s and ‘70s continues to haunt the present.
- [How would the Smith-Wyden tax package impact families?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-would-the-smith-wyden-tax-package-impact-families/) - The proposed tax package includes several changes concerning business deductions, international trade, housing, and families.
- [The Deterioration of Congress](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-deterioration-of-congress/) - After a year of minimal lawmaking, the public is disappointed with Congress. And the members don’t seem very happy either, but they are not changing their behavior.
- [Press Release: Bipartisan carbon pricing legislation is back in Congress](https://www.niskanencenter.org/press-release-bipartisan-carbon-pricing-legislation-is-back-in-congress/) - A border-adjusted carbon tax–which would be established by the MARKET CHOICE Act–is the most efficient and effective tool in policymakers' toolbox in driving decarbonization while securing a level playing field for American producers.
- [Press Release: Niskanen Center applauds progress by House Bipartisan Paid Family Leave Working Group ](https://www.niskanencenter.org/press-release-niskanen-center-applauds-progress-by-house-bipartisan-paid-family-leave-working-group/) - The Niskanen Center applauds the continued progress of the bipartisan House Paid Family Leave Working Group. Led by Congresswomen Stephanie Bice (R-OK) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), the Working Group recently announced the conclusion of their educational briefing series and an upcoming collaboration on a forthcoming legislative framework for paid family leave.
- [Speculations on an arc of history](https://www.niskanencenter.org/speculations-on-an-arc-of-history/) - There is a better world to be had: we can rise to the challenge of the permanent problem and redirect the arc of history toward mass flourishing. But that future won’t make itself. It will happen only if enough of us want it and work for it.
- [Op-Ed: The economic forces pushing both parents to work](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-the-economic-forces-pushing-both-parents-to-work/) - This article was originally published in City Journal on October 23, 2023.
- [Op-Ed: People are worrying about the wrong downtowns](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-people-are-worrying-about-the-wrong-downtowns/) - This article was originally published in the Atlantic on November 1, 2023.
- [Op-Ed: Get to know the influential conservative intellectuals who help explain GOP extremism](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-get-to-know-the-influential-conservative-intellectuals-who-help-explain-gop-extremism/) - This article was originally published in New York Times on November 4, 2023.
- [Op-Ed: California has a $20 billion problem and no clear way to solve it](https://www.niskanencenter.org/california-has-a-20-billion-problem-and-no-clear-way-to-solve-it/) - This article was originally published in the San Francisco Chronicle on November 7, 2023.
- [Op-Ed: The conservative case for immigration](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-the-conservative-case-for-immigration/) - This article was originally published in TIME on December 18, 2023.
- [The two sides of immigration backlash](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-two-sides-of-immigration-backlash/) - Voters are upset about disarray at the US-Mexico border and the increase in illegal crossings under President Biden. How has the change in attitude towards immigration policy evolved over time?
- [Reviving capitalist dynamism, with Tyler Cowen](https://www.niskanencenter.org/reviving-capitalist-dynamism-with-tyler-cowen/) - On this initial episode of the Permanent Problem podcast, economist and polymath Tyler Cowen joins the Niskanen Center's Brink Lindsey for a wide-ranging discussion that traces Cowen's intellectual development, assesses the prospects for a revival of capitalist dynamism and the obstacles that might short-circuit it, and delves into the growing gap between material prosperity and human flourishing.
- [A holistic reform approach may be the most promising way forward for transmission expansion](https://www.niskanencenter.org/a-holistic-reform-approach-may-be-the-most-promising-way-forward-for-transmission-expansion/) - The CETA provisions we’ve discussed here span electric transmission siting, permitting, planning, community engagement, and supply chain resilience. These areas pose significant challenges to the urgently needed buildout of high-voltage transmission lines in the U.S.
- [Immigration and the crisis of care work](https://www.niskanencenter.org/immigration-and-the-crisis-of-care-work/) - Timely action on immigration can reassure Americans that their loved ones will be cared for without causing further harm to American workforce participation levels.
- [Build more housing near transit 2.0](https://www.niskanencenter.org/build-more-housing-near-transit-2-0/) - No one benefits from federally-funded mass transit projects where tight growth controls guarantee disappointing ridership. Supporting transit projects surrounded by complimentary land use policies should be a win for all sides of this equation.
- [Previewing 2024: How voters judge presidents](https://www.niskanencenter.org/previewing-2024-how-voters-judge-presidents/) - Despite relatively strong economic data, the public is sour, judging President Biden poorly and putting him even or below former President Trump in early polling. How will polls and economic assessments evolve as we approach the 2024 election?
- [Early signs of success: 2,500 refugees resettled in the U.S. through the Safe Mobility Office (SMO) initiative so far ](https://www.niskanencenter.org/early-signs-of-success-2500-refugees-resettled-in-the-u-s-through-the-safe-mobility-office-smo-initiative-so-far/) - The arrival of the first 2,500 refugees indicates that the administration is successfully scaling resettlement through SMOs in the region, providing a tangible pathway to the U.S. for refugees in the hemisphere.
- [Why we need the Jetsons and solarpunk](https://www.niskanencenter.org/why-we-need-the-jetsons-and-solarpunk/) - The Jetsons future and the solarpunk future aren’t antagonists. There’s room for both, and there’s a need for both. The challenge ahead is managing their co-development and coexistence.
- [Reps. Fitzpatrick and Carbajal reintroduced the MARKET CHOICE Act. What's in the updated proposal?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/reps-fitzpatrick-and-carbajal-reintroduced-the-market-choice-act-whats-in-the-updated-proposal/) - If enacted, the MARKET CHOICE Act will enable robust infrastructure funding and climate adaptation, facilitate the transition of energy workers, and fund research and development in low-carbon energy.
- [Senator Whitehouse reintroduced the Clean Competition Act: A narrow-based border-adjusted carbon tax](https://www.niskanencenter.org/senator-whitehouse-reintroduced-the-clean-competition-act-a-narrow-based-border-adjusted-carbon-tax/) - Effective climate policy addresses emissions both at home and in global trade. A border-adjusted carbon tax does both. As a narrow-based border-adjusted carbon tax, the Clean Competition Act is an effective step toward encouraging domestic and global decarbonization.
- [Minnesota's progressive Republican tradition, with Lori Sturdevant](https://www.niskanencenter.org/minnesotas-progressive-republican-tradition-with-lori-sturdevant/) - Lori Sturdevant explores the factors that underlay one governor's faith in progressive Republicanism and why this seemingly obsolete political philosophy might matter again.
- [Nationalism Isn't Xenophobia, But It's Just as Bad](https://www.niskanencenter.org/nationalism-isnt-xenophobia-just-bad/) - Even before Charlottesville, critical analysis of the Trump phenomenon had tended to take the easy path: attributing the racism, xenophobia, and ethnocentrism of his most extreme supporters (and, arguably, of Trump himself) to his millions of other supporters. This equation is likely to become even more popular post-Charlottesville, and there’s doubtless some truth to it—but
- [Are Trump Supporters Authoritarians?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/trump-supporters-authoritarians/) - Donald Trump won the presidency while flouting long-standing political norms, encouraging GOP authoritarianism, and manifesting gross ignorance of the structure of the federal government, including the separation of powers. These facts, and Trump’s failure to refer to the Constitution even in his inauguration speech, prompted widespread fears that his administration would disregard legal barriers to
- [Nationalism and Xenophobia, Redux](https://www.niskanencenter.org/nationalism-ethnocentrism-redux/) - Morgan Marietta’s and Will Wilkinson’s replies to my essay on nationalism could hardly be more different. The differences bear not only on how we account for Donald Trump’s surprising political success, but on the purposes and procedures of social science. Like my essay, Marietta’s extends the principle of interpretive charity to Trump supporters. In my
- [Trump as Populist](https://www.niskanencenter.org/trump-as-populist/) - Almost everyone, including President Trump and the vast majority of his supporters, would agree that he is a populist. Usually, this is thought to entail that he, and they, are opponents of the status quo (which he portrays as “rigged” by “elites”). This is too flattering, both to Trump and to the status quo. It’s
- [From Political Ignorance to Political Polarization](https://www.niskanencenter.org/political-ignorance-political-polarization/) - In recent weeks I’ve argued in this space that the current political order—here and in most of the rest of the world—has the following features: (1) It is egalitarian: The interests of each member of the polity are supposed to count equally. (2) It is nationalistic: Its egalitarianism stops at the borders of each nation-state.
- [The Legitimacy Crisis](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-legitimacy-crisis/) - The overarching purpose of modern government is to advance the interests of the people. The perceived legitimacy of modern government, then, does not rest solely on popular sovereignty. Legitimacy also depends on the government’s success in solving the people’s social and economic problems. If large numbers of people become convinced that the government is failing
- [The Alternative to Ideology](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-alternative-to-ideology/) - When we launched the Niskanen Center in January 2015, we happily identified ourselves as libertarians. Sure, we were heterodox libertarians, but there are many schools of libertarianism beyond those promoted by Charles Koch’s political operations. The school we identified with was a left-libertarianism concerned with social justice (a libertarian perspective that I’ve defended in debates
- [What Democrats Can Learn from the Republicans about Political Power](https://www.niskanencenter.org/what-democrats-can-learn-from-the-republicans-about-political-power/) - If they want to contest the right’s control over the American government, the Democratic elite—who control the resources and institutions that govern how the party runs elections and governs when in office—need to get more serious about power.
- [On the Saying that "Extremism in Defense of Liberty is No Vice"](https://www.niskanencenter.org/on-the-saying-that-extremism-in-defense-of-liberty-is-no-vice/) - "Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in pursuit of justice is no virtue." These deathless lines are generally credited to Barry Goldwater, but he didn't write them. Karl Hess, Goldwater's lovable anarchist speechwriter, put them in the Arizona senator's Republican convention acceptance speech. "I would remind you that extremism in the defense
- [On the Saying that "Moderation in Pursuit of Justice Is No Virtue"](https://www.niskanencenter.org/on-the-saying-that-moderation-in-pursuit-of-justice-is-no-virtue/) - In my inaugural post, I argued that the first half of Barry Goldwater’s famous slogan was false. Today, on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I’ll attack the second half: "moderation in pursuit of justice is no virtue." To my mind, this proposition is even more obviously false than “extremism in defense of liberty is no
- [How political idealism leads us astray](https://www.niskanencenter.org/political-idealism-leads-us-astray/) - Do you want to stop Donald Trump from rounding up Mexicans into camps? Try this: Encourage your idealistic, third-party-voting progressive and libertarian friends to drop their fantasies of an ideal, radically revised political and economic order and fight instead to protect what we’ve got. It’s the prudent thing to do, and it’s the principled move.
- [A Tale of Two Moralities, Part One: Regional Inequality and Moral Polarization](https://www.niskanencenter.org/tale-two-moralities-part-one-regional-inequality-moral-polarization/) - The United States is not very united. Americans have been sorting themselves along ideological lines into like-minded regions of the country, increasing polarization in congressional voting patterns, and creating a striking division in political preference and party loyalty between city-dwellers and the denizens of low-density exurban and rural counties. That’s how Hillary Clinton managed to
- [Public Policy after Utopia](https://www.niskanencenter.org/public-policy-utopia/) - People often ask me how the Niskanen Center’s philosophy differs from standard-issue libertarianism. Usually I say something substantive and policy-related like, "We think the welfare state and free markets work better together, and that hostility to 'big government' can actually be counterproductive and leave us with less freedom," or something in that vein. That’s the
- [How Libertarian Democracy Skepticism Infected the American Right](https://www.niskanencenter.org/libertarian-democracy-skepticism-infected-american-right/) - In her book Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America, which has been shortlisted for the National Book Award, the Duke University historian Nancy MacLean advances the surprising thesis that the hidden figure behind the contemporary libertarian-leaning political right was the economist James M. Buchanan . Buchanan is far
- [Libertarian Origins, Libertarian Influence, and the Ruling American Right](https://www.niskanencenter.org/libertarian-origins-libertarian-influence-ruling-american-right/) - At the Washington Post’s Volokh Conspiracy blog, Ilya Somin has responded to my recent essay on the way libertarian antipathy to democracy has influenced the small-government, free-market right. Somin's gracious and thoughtful reply is most welcome. However, I'm afraid he has misunderstood my argument and the scope of my claims. I’m sure this is as
- [The Density Divide: Urbanization, Polarization, and Populist Backlash](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-density-divide-urbanization-polarization-and-populist-backlash/)
- [Do presidents have the power to act alone?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/do-presidents-have-the-power-to-act-alone/) - Republicans are gearing up to enact a suite of policy changes on Day 1 of a potential new administration, reigniting fears of an imperial presidency. Can presidents act unilaterally? The evidence is mixed.
- [What’s in Senator Cassidy’s Foreign Pollution Fee bill?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/whats-in-senator-cassidys-foreign-pollution-fee-bill/) - If addressing climate change is a top priority, lawmakers should focus on enacting effective domestic climate policies, such as a border-adjusted carbon tax, rather than targeted tariffs deliberately designed to counter certain countries.
- [Profile: The most interesting think tank in American politics](https://www.niskanencenter.org/profile-the-most-interesting-think-tank-in-american-politics/) - This article was originally published by TIME on March 7, 2023.
- [Cost Disease Socialism: How Subsidizing Costs While Restricting Supply Drives America’s Fiscal Imbalance](https://www.niskanencenter.org/cost-disease-socialism-how-subsidizing-costs-while-restricting-supply-drives-americas-fiscal-imbalance/) - The regulatory roots of cost disease explain why fiscal conservatives are poorly served by strategies focused on austerity and direct budget controls.
- [Muslim Americans Are More Likely To Reject Violence, Intolerance Than Many Other Americans](https://www.niskanencenter.org/muslim-americans-are-more-likely-to-reject-violence-intolerance-than-many-americans/) - Donald Trump has proposed profiling Muslim Americans and shutting down mosques. He claims that Muslim “hatred is beyond comprehension.” But the truth is that Muslim Americans are not only integrating into U.S. society, but are actually more opposed to violence and more tolerant in many ways than many other Americans. Muslim Americans Hold Mainstream Religious
- [Why Not Give "Neoliberalism" a Chance to Save the World?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/why-not-give-neoliberalism-a-chance-to-save-the-world/) - Jedediah Purdy, a professor of law at Duke and inveterate big-thinker, writes the lead essay in a forum in this month's Boston Review focused on themes from his new book, After Nature: A Politics of the Anthopocene. Purdy's subject is the politics of the "Anthropocene" or "Age of Humans"—the historical epoch that has prevailed since
- [How Our Broken Welfare System Threatens Economic Growth](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-our-broken-welfare-system-threatens-economic-growth/) - As the head of the Niskanen Center’s new Poverty and Welfare program, I look forward to discussing the relative merits of a basic income and wage subsidies, how the current patchwork of welfare programs creates a crushing regulatory burden on the poor, and the ways well-designed public assistance can boost autonomy rather than create dependency.
- [Bernie Sanders is right the economy is rigged. He’s dead wrong about why.](https://www.niskanencenter.org/bernie-sanders-right-economy-rigged-hes-dead-wrong/) - The economy is rigged. Everybody thinks so. Donald Trump thinks so. Hillary Clinton thinks so. Bernie Sanders really, reallythinks so. "Wall Street and the billionaire class," Sanders has said, "has rigged the rules to redistribute wealth and income to the wealthiest and most powerful people of this country." Even Charles Koch, Sanders’s go-to "billionaire class"
- [How godless capitalism made America multicultural](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-godless-capitalism-made-america-multicultural/) - This article was published at Vox on September 21, 2016 -- I’ve seen the future of America, and it’s the University of Houston. Houston, Texas, is an immense immigration magnet, and its big public school is one of America’s great institutions of integration and upward mobility. UH is by one measure the second most diverse public research
- [‘Because You'd Be in Jail’](https://www.niskanencenter.org/because-youd-be-in-jail/) - About 20 minutes into the debate, Donald Trump delivered a menacing threat to Hillary Clinton. “If I win,” he warned, “I’m going to instruct my attorney general to get a special prosecutor to look into your situation, because there’s never been so many lies, so much deception.” Mr. Trump’s promising on national television to use
- [What If We Can't Make Government Smaller?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/cant-make-government-smaller/) - "Wagner's Law" says that as an economy's per capita output grows larger over time, government spending consumes a larger share of that output. There's no reason to believe Wagner's Law is a real social-scientific law—that it captures a real relationship of strict if-this-then-that causal necessity. Which is to say, it wouldn't be a miracle if GDP increased
- [Sleaze From Wingtips to Combover](https://www.niskanencenter.org/sleaze-wingtips-combover/) - Midway into the third and final presidential debate, Chris Wallace asked Donald Trump about all the women who have come forward to report that Mr. Trump had sexually assaulted them. Mr. Trump’s reply was desperate and surreally brazen. “Those people – I don’t know those people,” Mr. Trump said, referring to the women who said
- [The Future of Liberalism and the Politicization of Everything](https://www.niskanencenter.org/future-liberalism-politicization-everything/) - The ideals of liberalism seem increasingly under threat these days, so it’s worth reviewing what they are, where they come from, and why it’s essential that they make a comeback (a PDF version of this essay is available here). The first step is to recognize that they were not invented by some obsolete English philosopher. Rather,
- [Quality of Government, Not Size, Is the Key to Freedom and Prosperity](https://www.niskanencenter.org/quality-government-not-size-key-freedom-prosperity/) - In the first post in this series, I examined the effect of the size of government on freedom and prosperity. Using indicators of economic freedom, personal freedom, and prosperity for a sample of 144 countries, I arrived at two significant results. First, I found that the data showed economic freedom to be positively associated with
- ["Clash of Civilizations" in Counterterrorism is Dangerous](https://www.niskanencenter.org/clash-civilizations-counterterrorism-dangerous/) - The conversation around counterterrorism has changed with the new administration. A perspective on terrorism that has, until now, remained on the fringes of policy is now at the heart of policy debates: that the West is in an existential conflict with a virulent form of Islamic ideology. This perspective has been espoused by several high-profile
- [Op-ed: Why Walking Out Is Better Than Shouting Down](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-walking-better-shouting/) - In The Chronicle of Higher Education, senior fellow Jacob Levy writes: When Vice President Mike Pence spoke and received an honorary degree at the University of Notre Dame’s commencement on Sunday, a small number of protesters — 150 or so out of a 24,000-person audience — quietly rose from their seats and filed to the
- [Why Libertarians and Conservatives Should Stop Opposing the Welfare State](https://www.niskanencenter.org/libertarians-conservatives-stop-opposing-welfare-state/) - Opposition to the welfare state has been a defining element of libertarian thought—and one that in recent decades has had an enormous influence on the American conservative movement. The notion that downward redistribution picks the pockets of makers and doles it out to layabout takers is regularly voiced, not just by libertarian activists, but by
- [Statement to GOP Leadership: Support Robert Mueller's Investigation](https://www.niskanencenter.org/statement-gop-leadership-support-robert-muellers-investigation/) - We are a group of citizens united by our deep concern over threats to the integrity of American democracy and the rule of law. With the indictments announced on Monday, the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller into Russian interference with the 2016 election is now entering a new and critical phase. At the same
- [Press Release: The Niskanen Center applauds new letter in support of Mueller’s investigation](https://www.niskanencenter.org/press-release-niskanen-center-applauds-new-letter-support-muellers-investigation/) - WASHINGTON, D.C., December 22, 2017— The Niskanen Center welcomes today’s release of a letter in support of special counsel Robert Mueller by prominent Republicans. The letter was organized by Richard Painter, who served as President George W. Bush’s chief ethics lawyer, along with former Members of the U.S. House of Representatives Christopher Shays (R-CT) and
- [Law and Border](https://www.niskanencenter.org/law-and-border/) - The rule of law and risk of lawlessness In public law and politics, the core meaning of the rule of law is this: that the executive branch of the government, in control of the violent agencies of state power and the tools of punishment, shall not use them lawlessly.1 It shall not imprison, execute, or
- [Get Off My Lawn!](https://www.niskanencenter.org/get-off-my-lawn/) - Yesterday the Niskanen Center submitted a comment letter on the National Park Service’s proposed changes to the rules governing demonstrations and protests in Washington, D.C. Remarkably, the proposed changes read like they were drafted by minions of Rodrigo Duterte, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, or Vladimir Putin. Our letter, which was co-signed by 35 prominent individuals and
- [Op-Ed: Moderation still won in the midterms – even if moderate Republicans didn’t](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-moderation-still-won-in-the-midterms-even-if-moderate-republicans-didnt/) - Though the Republican losses bode poorly for the party, it may not be a bad thing for the US: nearly all Democrats who flipped seats are themselves moderate
- [Oren Cass's Labor Theory of Value](https://www.niskanencenter.org/oren-cass-once-and-future-worker-labor-theory-of-value/) - At the center of Marx’s critique of capitalism is a labor theory of value. Namely, the notion that treating labor as a commodity to buy and sell alienates workers from the act of production, causing feelings of powerlessness, isolation, and self-estrangement — feelings that ultimately lead to revolution. It’s through this lens that I read
- [Op-Ed: Can Democrat's Drain Trump's Gilded Swamp?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-can-democrats-drain-trumps-gilded-swamp/) - Tolerance of fiscal corruption means more than lost revenue.
- [Op-Ed: Joe Biden is the ultimate centrist Democrat. Is that a liability or strength?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/joe-biden-is-the-ultimate-centrist-democrat-is-that-a-liability-or-strength/) - His candidacy could exacerbate the rift between the Democrats’ moderate and progressive factions, potentially splitting the party
- [Op-Ed: Has Trump Handed Democrats an Opening in Red America?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/has-trump-handed-democrats-an-opening-in-red-america/) - The G.O.P. has left soybean fields littered with $20 bills for enterprising Democratic presidential hopefuls to pick up.
- [Is There a Benign Trumpian Nationalism? (Christopher DeMuth thinks so. I think not.)](https://www.niskanencenter.org/is-there-a-benign-trumpian-nationalism/) - It has been called 2019’s “Most Important Intellectual Gathering.” Its purpose is to launch a new initiative that seeks to put something called “national conservatism” at the heart of the American agenda. The mid-July conference features a significant number of leading Trumpists, including a keynote address by Tucker Carlson of Fox News and talks by
- [Op-Ed: Andrew C. McCarthy’s Unconvincing Defense of the President on Ukraine](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-andrew-c-mccarthys-unconvincing-defense-of-the-president-on-ukraine/) - He assiduously labors to exculpate a Republican president for conduct that regularly trespasses on fundamental constitutional norms.
- [Op-Ed: AOC's Bernie Sanders endorsement and the law of unintended consequences](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-aocs-bernie-sanders-endorsement-and-the-law-of-unintended-consequences/) - Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has backed the Vermont senator’s presidential bid but there is a lesson in Mitt Romney’s 2012 run.
- [Op-Ed: There’s nothing wrong with ‘dual loyalties.’](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-theres-nothing-wrong-with-dual-loyalties/) - Everyone, including Alexander Vindman, has multiple political and regional affiliations.
- [Op-Ed: Some friendly advice from a Republican: Democrats shouldn't move too far left](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-some-friendly-advice-from-a-republican-democrats-shouldnt-move-too-far-left/) - The critical issue in the next election will not be income inequality, climate change, or racial justice. It will be the preservation of our democratic system
- [Op-Ed: Is Pete Buttigieg’s version of ‘hope and change’ enough to take on Trump?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-is-pete-buttigiegs-version-of-hope-and-change-enough-to-take-on-trump/) - The 37-year-old mayor from Indiana has his vulnerabilities, but has become a contender for the presidency in just a few months.
- [Op-Ed: How to juggle corporate political activity with stakeholder goals](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-to-juggle-corporate-political-activity-with-stakeholder-goals/) - This article was originally published in Bloomberg Law on March 21, 2023.
- [Free money: Milton Friedman, unconditional income, and the neoliberal inheritance](https://www.niskanencenter.org/unconditional-income-milton-friedman-neoliberal-ideas-and-political-realities/) - The neoliberal thought that dominated our politics for decades is often summarized as a relentless push to expand the market, shrink the state, and impose strict conditions on social insurance. But the leading lights of the movement were more complicated and interesting thinkers than this shorthand suggests.
- [Who's to Blame for this Republican Nightmare?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/whos-to-blame-for-this-republican-nightmare/) - The campaign for the Republican presidential nomination is akin to a gruesome Hollywood slasher movie. It is immensely entertaining but, at the same time, profoundly disturbing and episodically horrifying. What rough beast, its hour come round at last, slouches towards Washington to be born? The irony is that many of those who are most appalled
- [Why are There so Many Misconceptions About Muslim Americans?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/why-are-there-so-many-misconceptions-about-muslim-americans/) - Peaceful American Muslims are unfairly and ignorantly being lumped together with evil extremists in the aftermath of the Paris and San Bernardino attacks. Last month, Donald Trump — dismayingly, still the Republican frontrunner — further poisoned already toxic political discourse by proposing the U.S. ban all Muslims immigrants from entering the country. Unfortunately, this sort of rhetoric is
- [Why Are There So Many Misconceptions About Muslim Americans?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/many-misconceptions-muslim-americans/) - Peaceful American Muslims are unfairly and ignorantly being lumped together with evil extremists in the aftermath of the Paris and San Bernardino attacks. Last month, Donald Trump — dismayingly, still the Republican frontrunner — further poisoned already toxic political discourse by proposing the U.S. ban all Muslims immigrants from entering the country. Unfortunately, this sort
- [Radicalism as Strategy](https://www.niskanencenter.org/radicalism-as-strategy/) - The most common objection to my two-part assault on extremist political tactics has been an insistence on the value of extreme or "extremist" political principles. Both Ilya Somin, a libertarian law professor at George Mason, and Brian Doherty, an editor of Reason and the author of a terrific history of the libertarian movement, replied to
- [Is There a Libertarian Case for Bernie Sanders?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/is-there-a-libertarian-case-for-bernie-sanders/) - Andrew Kirell of the Daily Beast has asked the question. The answer is actually very easy, but it's not one I've seen anyone give. Yes, there is a libertarian case for Bernie Sanders. Here it is. According to the libertarian Fraser Institute's preliminary 2015 Human Freedom Index, which combines measures of personal, civil, and economic
- [The Libertarian Case for Bernie Sanders](https://www.niskanencenter.org/libertarian-case-bernie-sanders/) - Andrew Kirell of the Daily Beast has asked the question. The answer is actually very easy, but it’s not one I’ve seen anyone give. Yes, there is a libertarian case for Bernie Sanders. Here it is. According to the libertarian Fraser Institute’s preliminary 2015 Human Freedom Index, which combines measures of personal, civil, and economic
- [Thinking Through Your Libertarian Vote](https://www.niskanencenter.org/thinking-through-your-libertarian-vote/) - The spirited social media reaction to my last post, which laid out a speculative libertarian case for Bernie Sanders, raises a hard problem that merits more attention than it gets: how do you determine which presidential candidate is best for freedom overall? Before we get to that thorny question, let me touch on some of the criticism my
- [Is There a Future for Libertarianism?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/is-there-a-future-for-libertarianism/) - The Rand Paul campaign and its (admittedly uneven) agenda of social tolerance, military restraint, and fiscal conservatism is little more than a very small pile of smoking embers. Paul was crushed by candidates caught up in a bidding war to meet voter demands for nativism, know-nothing economics, know-nothing Dr. Strangelove foreign policy, and bigotry. Libertarian-minded
- [Do Libertarians Want Freedom or Not?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/do-libertarians-want-freedom-or-not/) - Last weekend, I was on Stossel over at Fox Business News to discuss a new path for libertarianism. While much was left on the cutting room floor, I argued that libertarians should abandon their blanket opposition to public assistance, acknowledge that market failures and public goods sometimes demand government action, and speak out as much about
- [Two Libertarians: A Dialogue](https://www.niskanencenter.org/two-libertarians-a-dialogue/) - "The ideal politics of freedom is a sort of minimal state. National defense and a court system is all you really need." "Cool. Nothing even close to that has ever existed, has it?" "I guess not. I'd say frontier America, but then you'll just go on about state-sponsored genocide, slavery, married women not being able
- [Why Libertarians Should Champion Social Liberty](https://www.niskanencenter.org/why-libertarians-should-champion-social-liberty/) - My argument last week about why freedom is advanced by preventing private racial discrimination created a bit of a stir in some libertarian circles. That is no surprise. Many libertarians are firm adherents of the non-aggression principle. From that perspective, marshaling the government to combat discrimination is naked aggression. It entails employing force to tell me
- [Five Reasons Refugees Are Good for U.S. Security](https://www.niskanencenter.org/five-reasons-refugees-are-good-for-u-s-security/) - In the wake of the ISIS terrorist attack in Brussels, some U.S. politicians are already calling for a ban of refugees and immigrants from countries in which ISIS controls territory. Rather than justifying a refugee ban, this latest attack should act as a reminder why the United States should take the lead on welcoming those
- [Five Differences between the U.S. and Europe on Counterterrorism](https://www.niskanencenter.org/five-differences-between-the-u-s-and-europe-on-counterterrorism-brussels/) - The terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels have sparked a war of words over the role of immigrants, refugees, and Muslims in the United States. The call from presidential candidates to shut the border, ban refugees, and actively patrol Muslim communities shows how horrific events half a world away have unsettled America. But addressing the
- [Libertarian Principles, Niskanen, and Welfare Policy](https://www.niskanencenter.org/libertarian-principles-niskanen-and-welfare-policy/) - The Niskanen Center is about to jump into welfare policy. Our approach is going to differ, however, from both standard libertarian and standard liberal thinking about poverty alleviation, social insurance, and economic mobility. Those differences will not be arbitrary, ad hoc, or improvisationally pragmatic. They’re differences of principle that reflect a coherent political philosophy. Because
- [A Libertarianism That Embraces Social Justice](https://www.niskanencenter.org/libertarianism-embraces-social-justice/) - The Niskanen Center is about to jump into welfare policy. Our approach is going to differ, however, from both standard libertarian and standard liberal thinking about poverty alleviation, social insurance, and economic mobility. Those differences will not be arbitrary, ad hoc, or improvisationally pragmatic. They’re differences of principle that reflect a coherent political philosophy. Because
- [The Great Enrichment and Social Justice](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-great-enrichment-and-social-justice/) - The great strange fact of human history is how it came to be that a good chunk of our species, after more than 100,000 years of scraping by, suddenly got rather wildly rich. Deirdre McCloskey, the eminent economic historian and social theorist, calls it the “Great Enrichment.” Here’s a picture: (Source: Alex Tabarrok and Tyler Cowen, Modern
- [Revitalizing Liberalism in the Age of Brexit and Trump](https://www.niskanencenter.org/revitalizing-liberalism-age-brexit-trump/) - For my money, Friedrich Hayek’s The Constitution of Liberty is the 20th century’s greatest statement of the liberal creed. It was not written as an attempt to shift paradigms or blaze trails in political thought. It was a bid to articulate, organize, and refresh the principles and policies already implicit in real liberal government at
- [The Dangerous Economic Nationalism of Steve Bannon, Trump's Ideas Man](https://www.niskanencenter.org/dangerous-economic-nationalism-steve-bannon-trumps-ideas-man/) - The President-elect’s chief-strategist, Steve Bannon, has a vision for remaking America in the wake of the Trump campaign’s upset victory. In Bannon’s view, laid out in remarks for a 2014 Vatican conference, modern capitalism has failed our nation, and the West generally. Specifically, capitalism has failed to fulfill the government’s responsibility to create a civil
- [The Fall of Cyber Liberalism and the Promise of Cyber Activism](https://www.niskanencenter.org/fall-cyber-liberalism-promise-cyber-activism/) - Much of the literature analyzing the effect of the Internet and digital communications on the lives of private citizens has advanced the notion that hyper-connectivity is a positive force for social change and cohesion. It is a force to give power to the powerless. Empirical observations, however, might give us a different reading of the
- [Op-ed: The Real Realignment](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-real-realignment/) - This op-ed originally appeared in the American Conservative The Real Realignment An American party abandons classical liberalism. The United States lacks a properly conservative political party—and that’s a good thing. Political conservatism is a belief in preserving traditional institutions. In Europe, that often means a suspicion of modernity itself and a nostalgia for the
- [Op-ed: Hypocrisy isn’t the problem. Nihilism is.](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-hypocrisy-isnt-problem-nihilism/) - With every change of administration come charges of hypocrisy. Those who governed by executive order suddenly learn the dangers of unilateral presidential power, and those who thought executive orders were an impeachable violation of the separation of powers start using them without missing a step. Supporters of federalism embrace the benefits of national uniformity. How
- [The Classical Liberal Case Against Nationalist Immigration Restrictions](https://www.niskanencenter.org/liberal-case-nationalist-immigration-restrictions/) - If any part of liberalism needs revitalizing, it’s the case for liberalizing immigration. Nationalists on the left and right argue that easing immigration restrictions would make Americans worse off. During the Democratic primaries, Bernie Sanders criticized open borders as a “right-wing proposal” that would “make everybody in America poorer.” And of course Donald Trump is
- [Who's to Blame for Fake News?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/whos-blame-fake-news/) - In a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed, News Corp chief executive Robert Thomson sets his eyes on Facebook, Google, and Silicon Valley more broadly. He argues that the commodification of content by “the two most powerful news publishers in human history have created an ecosystem that is dysfunctional and socially destructive.” An ironic start—given that
- [Should We Care Whether Trump Was the Legitimate Winner of the Election?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/care-whether-trump-legitimate-winner-election/) - The subject of my latest column at Vox is the nature of legitimate political authority and Donald Trump's shaky claim to it. In the mainstream of the liberal political tradition, the legitimacy of political authority is considered pretty hard to justify. Authority entails inequality and political authority in particular entails inequality in the power to use
- [Why Republicans Can’t Admit they Need a New Agenda](https://www.niskanencenter.org/republicans-cant-admit-need-new-agenda/) - In Sunday’s New York Times, I argued that Republicans need to give up on shady supply-side fiscal policy — which has boxed them in legislatively — and adopt a new economic and social policy agenda that makes peace with the welfare state, focusing instead on reducing the regulatory frictions that are really holding back our
- [Neoliberalism in the 21st Century](https://www.niskanencenter.org/neoliberalism-21st-century/) - Since the 2016 presidential election, the term neoliberalism has come to be used as an all-crushing epithet. George Monbiot, for example, suggests that neoliberals are literally the root of all our problems. Yet, a brave few are willing to stand up and be counted as neoliberalism’s defenders. The Niskanen Center’s Samuel Hammond, for example, was
- [Public Choice Theory and the Politics of Good and Evil](https://www.niskanencenter.org/public-choice-theory-politics-charity/) - So now we finally know. Libertarians aren’t the ditzy bumblers exemplified by 2016 presidential candidate Gary (“What is a leppo?”) Johnson. Nor are they ideological extremists, like the proprietor of the Ayn Rand School for Tots. In reality, the libertarian movement is a cabal of racist plutocrats engaged in “a fifth-column assault on American democratic
- [Explaining White Nationalism's Anti-statist Bedfellows](https://www.niskanencenter.org/explaining-white-nationalisms-anti-statist-bedfellows/) - Throughout the rise of Trump and the alt-right, I struggled to understand why countless of my nominally libertarian friends and acquaintances became enthralled with white nationalism. The reason, I’ve concluded, is their mutual disaffection with the state. In the years between 2008 and 2012, the bookends of Ron Paul’s final foray into national politics, an
- [Podcast: How Free Trade and Commercial Culture Advance Social Justice](https://www.niskanencenter.org/commercial-culture-social-justice-pepsi/) - On Friday, I was honored to return as a guest on the Economics Detective Radio podcast with Garrett Petersen. Last time I was on the show, we talked supersonic transportation. This time, our topic centered on, of all things, Pepsi — specifically, the essay I wrote in April defending the infamous Kendall Jenner ad that
- [What Drives Opposition to Immigration? In-Group Favoritism, Out-Group Hostility, and Donald Trump](https://www.niskanencenter.org/drives-opposition-immigration-group-favoritism-group-hostility-donald-trump/) - What drives opposition to immigration? This is a profoundly important question. Liberalizing the movement of people over borders would produce enormous gains in human well-being. According to the economist Michael Clemens: The gains from eliminating migration barriers dwarf—by an order of a magnitude or two—the gains from eliminating other types of barriers. For the elimination
- [Why the Logic of Populism Favors Amnesty for "Dreamers"](https://www.niskanencenter.org/logic-populism-favors-amnesty-dreamers/) - One of the indispensable books of our moment is What Is Populism? by Jan-Werner Müller, a political theorist at Princeton. Müller maintains that populism has two essential elements: anti-elitism and anti-pluralism. Anti-elitism is a standard feature of progressive, egalitarian politics. Think Bernie Sanders or Jeremy Corbyn. But anti-elitism doesn't add up to full-throated populism without an exclusive, anti-pluralist conception of national identity. Here's
- [The Way Economic Freedom Indexes Measure Regulation is Deeply Flawed](https://www.niskanencenter.org/elusive-regulatory-state/) - The Trump administration is at war with the regulatory state. The fight is most intense at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), where Administrator Scott Pruitt is reportedly accompanied by armed guards even within the EPA building, but the Departments of Energy, Transportation, Interior and others are doing their bit. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is
- [Nativist Anti-“Open Borders” Rhetoric Is a Big Lie](https://www.niskanencenter.org/nativist-anti-open-borders-rhetoric-big-lie/) - Donald Trump ran on promises to restrict immigration and build a wall on the U.S.-Mexican border. During the first year of Trump’s presidency, immigration hawks have pivoted (as immigration doves predicted they would) from targeting illegal immigration to attacking central aspects of the status quo system of legal immigration—diversity visas and family reunification in particular—in
- [The Regulatory Subsidy for Extreme Leverage: A Reply to Mike Konczal](https://www.niskanencenter.org/regulatory-subsidy-extreme-leverage-reply-mike-konczal/) - Mike Konczal has written a thoughtful, highly critical review of The Captured Economy that focuses on our analysis of financial regulation. Although we are not sure how much Konczal would agree with us once all misunderstandings are resolved, his criticisms are based on a misreading of our position. No doubt all failures of communication are
- [Book Review — The Elephant in the Brain](https://www.niskanencenter.org/book-review-elephant-brain/) - "The elephant in the room” is any important and obvious fact that, for whatever reason, no one is willing to talk about. In their new book, The Elephant in the Brain, authors Kevin Simler and Robin Hanson extend the concept to one of the most important and obvious, yet unspoken, facts about the human mind:
- [Anti-Democratic Populism Caused the Dreamer Impasse](https://www.niskanencenter.org/anti-democratic-populism-caused-dreamer-impasse/) - Trump planted a ticking DACA time-bomb in September and announced that Congress had six months to defuse it with a permanent legislative fix. Americans overwhelmingly want a fix. 87 percent think Dreamers should be allowed to stay in the U.S. Among Republicans, two-thirds support a path to citizenship. In an era of extreme partisan polarization,
- [What We Talk About When We Talk About Sanctuary Cities](https://www.niskanencenter.org/what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-sanctuary-cities/) - President Donald Trump is a wizard capable of conjuring a widespread sense of resentment and distrust by relentlessly repeating the same lie, and then using the mass delusion he has spoken into existence as a cudgel with which to hammer the credibility of anyone who denies it. Trump’s remorseless slander of “sanctuary cities” and those
- [We have an effective competition policy. It's called free trade.](https://www.niskanencenter.org/we-have-an-effective-competition-policy-its-called-free-trade/) - It is not impossible that there may be persons disposed to look with a jealous eye on the introduction of foreign capital, as if it were an instrument to deprive our own citizens of the profits of our own industry; but, perhaps, there never could be a more unreasonable jealousy. Instead of being viewed as
- [How in the World Did Scott Pruitt become a Conservative Hero?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-in-the-world-did-scott-pruitt-become-a-conservative-hero/) - Until nearly the very end, Scott Pruitt was considered by movement conservatives as one of the brightest lights of the Trump administration and an up-and-coming political star on the right. He received fawning profiles in the National Review, basked in the adulation of CPAC attendees, and was beloved by right-wing talk radio hosts. Despite a
- [Op-Ed: The Democrats' Best Response to Republican Power Grabs](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-the-democrats-best-response-to-republican-power-grabs/) - The best option goes beyond retaliation or restraint.
- [Op-Ed: Republicanism for Republicans](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-republicanism-for-republicans/) - For all those whose home could only be on the right and yet are now politically homeless, it's time to move past bemoaning what you have lost. It's time to build a new home.
- [Op-Ed: The GOP distanced itself from Steve King. Is it signaling a shift on Trump?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-the-gop-distanced-itself-from-steve-king-is-it-signaling-a-shift-on-trump/) - The president has yet to lose the support of Republican lawmakers, but on race, there are subtle signs of repudiation.
- [The Promise of Republicanism: a Niskanen Series](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-promise-of-republicanism-a-niskanen-series/) - Essays in the Series Framing essay: Brink Lindsey, "Republicanism for Republicans," National Affairs, Winter 2019. Robert S. Taylor, "Commercial Republicanism: A New Center-Right Governing Philosophy," June 3, 2019. Andy Sabl, "A Decent Party of Privilege," July 29, 2019.Greg Weiner, "Toward a Lincolnian Nationalism," July 31, 2019.Emil Frankel, "The Fall and Possible Rise of Moderate Republicanism,"
- [Op-Ed: The Neo-Nationalists Are Coming to Town](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-neo-nationalists-are-coming-to-town/) - There’s a healthy form of nationalism. It will not be on display this week at the National Conservatism conference.
- [Notes on National Conservatism: A Rethink or Rehash?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/notes-on-national-conservatism-a-rethink-or-rehash/) - Last week’s National Conservatism conference was billed by its organizer, Yoram Hazony, as a “big tent” event for conservatives to coalesce around a new vision of American nationalism. But after two days of vigorous discussion, the only thing that clearly united attendees was their general contempt for the left. If anything, the conference underscored the
- [Op-Ed: Why an Assault Weapons Ban Hits Such a Nerve With Many Conservatives](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-why-an-assault-weapons-ban-hits-such-a-nerve-with-many-conservatives/) - This piece originally ran in the New York Times opinion section on September 18, 2019. “Hell, yes, we’re going to take your AR-15, your AK-47,” Beto O’Rourke exclaimed at last week’s Democratic debate. The gathered crowd was enthusiastic about the proposal, but other Texans were … less receptive. One — Briscoe Cain, a Republican state legislator from
- [Op-Ed: The problem isn't Joe Biden's centrism. It's that he's the wrong kind of centrist](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-problem-isnt-joe-bidens-centrism-its-that-hes-the-wrong-kind-of-centrist-2/) - Americans could embrace a moderate liberal. But Biden comes across as the tepid version of his more leftwing competitors.
- [Op-Ed: Impeach Trump? The United States Is Now in Uncharted Waters](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-impeach-trump-the-united-states-is-now-in-uncharted-waters/) - This piece originally ran in The Guardian opinion section on September 25, 2019. Nancy Pelosi, the US House Speaker, might sympathize with the quote attributed to nineteenth-century French politician Alexandre Auguste Ledru-Rollin: “There go the people. I must follow them, for I am their leader.” For months following the release of the Mueller report, Pelosi
- [Op-Ed: Moderates, all is not lost. Here’s how we move forward.](https://www.niskanencenter.org/moderates-all-is-not-lost-heres-how-we-move-forward/) - We hope that each piece will shed light on an important challenge facing the country, and that the series as a whole can help discouraged members of the “exhausted majority” to realize that all is not lost.
- [Op-Ed: The Conservative Case for Globalism](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-conservative-case-for-globalism/) - Conservative intellectuals in the Trump era have taken to lambasting free trade and international institutions. Dalibor Rohac’s In Defense of Globalism could not, therefore, have come at a more opportune time.
- [Op-Ed: This Is the Single Best Argument For Why Trump Should Be Impeached and Removed](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-this-is-the-single-best-argument-for-why-trump-should-be-impeached-and-removed/) - He tried to meddle in the 2020 election. It's crazy to say that you have to let him participate in the 2020 election in order to render a verdict on his attempt to cheat in it.
- [Op-Ed: Republicans are turning impeachment into a carnival – and it could cost them](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-republicans-are-turning-impeachment-into-a-carnival-and-it-could-cost-them/) - These antics may work as a short-term strategy. But they’ll go down poorly with voters the Republican party really needs
- [A Tribute to Amory Houghton](https://www.niskanencenter.org/a-tribute-to-amory-houghton/) - Amory Houghton remained hopeful about the prospects for a moderate Republican revival: “The pendulum swings back and forth, and I hope it will swing back to the middle again. If the people demand it, it’ll happen.”
- [The Pandemic and the Protests: Knowledge, Authority, and the Highbrow Delusions Sustaining Trump](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-pandemic-and-the-protests-knowledge-authority-and-the-highbrow-delusions-sustaining-trump/) - Why are some of the most powerful people in the country so indifferent to science, and by extension, to human life?
- [Op-Ed: Moral equivalence and Ukraine](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-moral-equivalence-and-ukraine/) - This article was originally published in Lawfare on April 20, 2022.
- [Op-Ed: The king of the Republicans](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-the-king-of-the-republicans/) - This article was originally published in IPS on May 5, 2022.
- [Op-Ed: The Effective Conservative Governance of Ike Eisenhower](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-the-effective-conservative-governance-of-ike-eisenhower/) - This article was originally published by The American Conservative on October 15, 2022.
- [Examining the Refugee Microenterprise Development Program, its successes, and opportunities for further impact](https://www.niskanencenter.org/examining-the-refugee-microenterprise-development-program-its-successes-and-opportunities-for-further-impact/) - Programs like MED are critical in helping break down barriers that prevent refugee entrepreneurs from contributing to American society. With better access to the program’s performance, we can learn how to promote and expand similar programs, to the benefit of refugees, growth-minded communities, and the U.S. economy alike.
- [Seth D. Kaplan on how to repair our fragile society, one neighborhood at a time](https://www.niskanencenter.org/seth-d-kaplan-on-how-to-repair-our-fragile-society-one-neighborhood-at-a-time/) - In this podcast discussion, Kaplan delves into the real-life examples of individuals and organizations he encountered throughout his research that succeeded in hyperlocal renewal by focusing their efforts on supporting communities, schools, families, churches, and physical habitats.
- [Starve-the-Beast Libertarians Should Beware the Rule of the Clan](https://www.niskanencenter.org/state-capacity-libertarians-should-beware-the-rule-of-the-clan/) - Tyler Cowen thinks that libertarians are waking up to the idea that the problem we face is not that the state is too big, but rather, that it lacks the capacity to do what needs to be done. That, in his view, is to “maintain and extend capitalism and markets.” He coins the term “State
- [Meet the Reocons](https://www.niskanencenter.org/meet-the-reocons/) - On the American right, a growing group of intellectuals are using acute cultural fears to secure an illiberal future. It’s reactionary politics at its most explosive and unpredictable.
- [In Last Night's Debate, Biden Showed He Had What the Current White House Lacks](https://www.niskanencenter.org/in-last-nights-debate-biden-showed-he-had-what-the-current-white-house-lacks/) - The greater significance of last night’s debate was Biden’s success in projecting decency, responsibility, and competence, which is precisely what’s lacking in the current White House.
- [Don’t Let COVID-19 Go the Way of Climate Change](https://www.niskanencenter.org/dont-let-covid-19-go-the-way-of-climate-change/) - Beware a non-expert bearing a comforting story
- [2020 Could Usher in a New Era of One-Party Dominance](https://www.niskanencenter.org/2020-could-usher-in-a-new-era-of-one-party-dominance/) - A politically dominant, centrist Democratic Party would transform our politics and America itself. Is that what the country will choose in November?
- [Larry Hogan and a Post-Trump GOP](https://www.niskanencenter.org/larry-hogan-and-a-post-trump-gop/) - If Trump fails to win reelection this year, Hogan’s response to the coronavirus pandemic will have offered a strong case for what a post-Trump Republican Party might look like.
- [Amending the Constitution Is the Only Way to Restore Our Democracy](https://www.niskanencenter.org/amending-the-constitution-is-the-only-way-to-restore-our-democracy/) - The Constitution was never meant to be static. The founders knew that constitutional amendments, maybe even a second constitutional convention, would be needed at critical moments in history. Now is one of those times.
- [Why We Honor the Dishonorable](https://www.niskanencenter.org/why-we-honor-the-dishonorable/) - Here's a question we rarely explicitly ask: Who should we honor, celebrate, and remember... and why? What's the point of it? Scores of statues to confederate soldiers, slaveowners, and other dubious but celebrated characters have been recently toppled from their pedestals. Was this a good idea? Should we worry that we'll forget our history? This
- [Trump Is Plenty Capable](https://www.niskanencenter.org/trump-is-plenty-capable/) - One of the peculiar ongoing arguments of our time is whether Donald Trump is bright or dim. It's important to get this right because it's really a question of capability. Does the president have the mental acumen and strategic wherewithal to do the things he sometimes threatens to do? This is especially pressing in the
- [Why Judge Amy Coney Barrett Should Stand Down](https://www.niskanencenter.org/why-judge-amy-coney-barrett-should-step-down/) - The fast-tracking of Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court is both disturbing and unsurprising. Although the likelihood of this happening is negligible, at best, Barrett should do the right thing and step down from the nomination. This isn’t about Catholicism, or ACA, or Originalism, or Roe. It's about spiraling dishonesty, hypocrisy, and our fraying social bonds.
- [The Useful Libertarian Idiocy of The Great Barrington Declaration](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-useful-libertarian-idiocy-of-the-great-barrington-declaration/) - It might seem a little ironic that a fundamentally libertarian document like the Great Barrington Declaration would be deployed in an attempt to obscure the enormity of the American state visiting mass death upon the American people. But it’s not really ironic at all.
- [Op-Ed: The Trouble with the ‘It’s Not Real Fascism’ Argument](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-the-trouble-with-the-its-not-real-fascism-argument/) - Minimizing the threat of Trumpism ignores the lessons of Trump’s disastrous rise, and belittles the hard on-the-ground work going into Trump’s potential defeat.
- [Voting as a Collective Action Problem](https://www.niskanencenter.org/voting-as-a-collective-action-problem/) - Don't just vote. Heap shame and stigma on those who don't.
- [The Control Group of What Not to Do](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-control-group-of-what-not-to-do/) - I wish I could say that I was confident that Democrats won’t underestimate the reality-distorting power of Republican negative partisanship again.
- [Op-Ed: The Case Against Partisan Bigotry](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-the-case-against-partisan-bigotry/) - It’s wrong to treat people as your inferiors because you disagree with their views.
- [How to Transcend Trump’s Hold Over the GOP](https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-to-transcend-trumps-hold-over-the-gop/) - A working-class policy agenda from GOP dissidents can give them the political oxygen to survive.
- [A Common Script for Dislodging Trumpism](https://www.niskanencenter.org/a-common-script-for-dislodging-trumpism/) - The second impeachment didn’t end in conviction, but in retrospect it did reveal the path of least resistance for condemnation of the former president.
- [Op-Ed: Can Republicans Capitalize on Urban Political Opportunity?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-can-republicans-capitalize-on-urban-political-opportunity/) - A lifelong Democrat suggests how the GOP can become viable in American cities.
- [The next battle for American democracy is around the corner — and moderates must be in the fight](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-next-battle-for-american-democracy-is-around-the-corner-and-moderates-must-be-in-the-fight/) - After all those false assumptions, there are still a lot of smart people who doubt the political staying power of Trump and Trumpism. That is a dangerous delusion. The authoritarian enemies of democracy are planning for the next battle. We need to do the same by keeping the center strong.
- [Op-Ed: The Limits of Liberal Science](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-the-limits-of-liberal-science/) - Niskanen's Laura K. Field wrote this book review on "The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth" for The Bulwark on November 4, 2021. Read the full story here.
- [Wishful thinking one year after Jan. 6](https://www.niskanencenter.org/wishful-thinking-one-year-after-jan-6/) - Holman Jenkins wants to offer business an easy way out of our democracy problem.
- [Op-Ed: Republicans could rue the Supreme Court ending abortion rights](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-republicans-could-rue-the-supreme-court-ending-abortion-rights/) - This article was originally published in the Washington Post on May 4, 2022.
- [Building a Better Warrenism](https://www.niskanencenter.org/building-a-better-warrenism/) - You either think the basic structure of America’s democracy and market economy is broken, or you don’t.
- [Op-Ed: Here’s a cost-effective national service proposal that could bridge our deep divisions](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-heres-a-cost-effective-national-service-proposal-that-could-bridge-our-deep-divisions/) - National service is a winning idea for these divided times. Let’s get it moving to help heal our nation.
- [Report from Suburban Kansas](https://www.niskanencenter.org/report-from-suburban-kansas/) - I’m a coastal “elite” who spent a year in Wichita’s suburbs. It isn’t what you think.
- [Op-ed: The One Democrat Joe Biden Would Be Clueless Without](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-the-one-democrat-joe-biden-would-be-clueless-without/) - It's Elizabeth Warren.
- [Op-Ed: Plumbing the Allure of Authoritarianism](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-plumbing-the-allure-of-authoritarianism/) - Anne Applebaum’s new book grapples with why former friends abandoned liberalism as authoritarianism gained ground across the West.
- [The Rage Machine Comes to St. Louis](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-rage-machine-comes-to-st-louis/) - Moderation demands that we keep our head even while everyone around us is losing theirs.
- [In Defense of Never Trumpers' Influence](https://www.niskanencenter.org/in-defense-of-never-trumpers-influence/) - I am happy to be part of the discussion of Rob Saldin and Steve Teles’ new book. It is a real contribution to the study of American politics of a type that we too seldom see. The big battalions in political science have long focused on voters first, elected officials second, and everyone else a
- [Op-Ed: Love and Loyalty in the “Liberalocracy”](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-love-and-loyalty-in-the-liberalocracy/) - Some reactionary conservatives claim that liberal democracy destroys the social fabric—but they conveniently ignore countervailing traditions and many current realities.
- [Our Most Dangerous Moment](https://www.niskanencenter.org/our-most-dangerous-moment/) - We are approaching the most dangerous moment for our nation since the darkest days of the Civil War.
- [Trump's COVID-19 Culpability](https://www.niskanencenter.org/trumps-covid-19-culpability/) - Whatever that is, it's worse than mere manslaughter. It wasn’t passive. It wasn’t accidental. It wasn’t unavoidable.
- [Announcing My New Podcast, Model Citizen](https://www.niskanencenter.org/announcing-my-new-podcast-model-citizen/) - Good cognitive citizenship isn’t so much a matter of learning and applying a bunch of rules, but more about cultivating a certain sort of sensibility. Tune in each Thursday.
- [Trumpism Doesn't Work](https://www.niskanencenter.org/trumpism-doesnt-work/) - Perhaps bad ideas need to collapse under the weight of their own failure. Much of the world tried Marxism and watched it fail. Now America and other democracies (or former democracies) are giving nationalist populism a try — and it, too, is failing.
- [Trump Has Given Voters Every Reason to Reject His Re-election as Tainted and Illegitimate](https://www.niskanencenter.org/trump-has-given-voters-every-reason-to-reject-his-re-election-as-tainted-and-illegitimate/) - Writing in The Atlantic, Shadi Hamid worries that Democrats may be "unwilling, even unable, to accept the result" should Trump pull off a come-from-behind victory in November. "A loss by Joe Biden under these circumstances is the worst case," he writes, "not because Trump will destroy America (he can’t), but because it is the outcome
- [The Filibuster as a Majoritarian Check on Minority Tyranny](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-filibuster-as-a-majoritarian-check-on-minority-tyranny/) - Presently, the filibuster serves as a majoritarian–not anti-majoritarian–check on this possibility. If removed, Democrats would have to accept such a government's plausible scenario in 2024 or 2028 that could work decidedly against their interests.
- [Trump's War on Reality Broke American Politics](https://www.niskanencenter.org/trumps-war-on-reality-broke-american-politics/) - Last week Politico rounded up a passel of intellectuals and compiled their short takes on "what Trump showed us about America." I was particularly taken with Francis Fukuyama's exasperated humility. "At the end of Trump’s term," he writes, "what I’ve learned is that I really don’t understand America well at all." Because, seriously, what the
- [Revisiting Why Liberalism Failed Part 1: The Intellectual and Political Stakes](https://www.niskanencenter.org/revisiting-why-liberalism-failed-part-1-the-intellectual-and-political-stakes/) - This is part 1 of a 5-part series. Read the full series here. Why Liberalism Failed may be the first book that I have ever read twice out of a sense of intellectual frustration. I do not know the book’s author, Patrick Deneen, so nothing about it is personal. The frustration I feel is philosophical
- [The Trump Insurrection](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-trump-insurrection/) - After what we saw yesterday, we cannot afford to wait and trust Donald Trump’s better nature.
- [Op-Ed: Woke academics, Donald Trump and George Will’s ire](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-woke-academics-donald-trump-and-george-wills-ire/) - Geoffrey Kabaservice wrote this book review of George F. Will's new book, "American Happiness and Discontents: The Unruly Torrent, 2008-2020." The review was published in the Washington Post on September 21, 2021. You can read the full review here.
- [Op-Ed: Did the war on terror result in Trumpism?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-did-the-war-on-terror-result-in-trumpism/) - Gabriel Schoenfeld wrote this piece for The Bulwark on September 21, 2021.
- [Op-Ed: The Claremont Institute’s bogus censorship charge](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-the-claremont-institutes-bogus-censorship-charge/) - On October 18, 2021, The Bulwark published a piece by Laura K. Field regarding recent events at the Claremont Institute. Read it here.
- [Op-Ed: A moderate proposal](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-a-moderate-proposal/) - Two Niskanen senior fellows — Steven M. Teles and Matthew Yglesias — wrote this piece on a bipartisan bloc in the United States. It was published in The Atlantic on November 4, 2021. Read the full story here.
- [Op-Ed: Adam Schiff’s insider account of the fight to save our democracy](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-adam-schiffs-insider-account-of-the-fight-to-save-our-democracy/) - Gabriel Schoenfeld commented on California Congressman Adam Schiff's book, "Midnight in Washington: How We Almost Lost Our Democracy and Still Could." It was published in The Bulwark on November 17, 2021.
- [U.S. Democratic Decline in Comparative Perspective](https://www.niskanencenter.org/u-s-democratic-decline-in-comparative-perspective/) - Comparative political science has long seen U.S. trends as part of liberal democracy’s global problems. Pippa Norris joins the Science of Politics for a special wide-ranging conversation with Matt Grossmann about where America stands out from and reflects international trends.
- [Op-Ed: Even as his big conspiracy theory crumbles, Darren Beattie’s star continues to rise in Trump world](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-even-as-his-big-conspiracy-theory-crumbles-darren-beatties-star-continues-to-rise-in-trump-world/) - On January 18, 2022, Laura K. Field wrote this opinion piece for The Bulwark. It focuses on Darren Beattie, a conspiracy theorist who became a "darling of the far right."
- [Conservative thought needs a revolution](https://www.niskanencenter.org/conservative-thought-needs-a-revolution/) - The emerging conservative realignment won’t have the internal consistency of an Ayn Rand protagonist, but so what?
- [Op-Ed: The shirking Congress before the Supreme Court](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-shirking-congress-before-the-supreme-court/) - The Court has since upheld statutes that authorize agencies to promulgate rules on important topics without meaningful guidance because the justices lacked judicially manageable tests of too-important rules and too-little guidance.
- [Op-Ed: The decay at the Claremont Institute continues](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-the-decay-at-the-claremont-institute-continues/) - This article was originally published in The Bulwark on April 21, 2022.
- [Op-Ed: There is no happy ending to America’s Trump problem](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-there-is-no-happy-ending-to-americas-trump-problem/) - This article was originally published in the New York Times on August 21, 2022.
- [Op-Ed: Charles Kesler sees the light](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-charles-kesler-sees-the-light/) - This article was originally published in The Bulwark on August 25, 2022.
- [Homophobia in the mid-20th century, with James Kirchick](https://www.niskanencenter.org/homophobia-in-the-mid-20th-century-with-james-kirchick/) - Gays and lesbians have been part of America and its politics since the country’s foundation. Still, historically the stigma attached to homosexuality meant that any person whose alternative desires became publicly known was immediately banished from politics as well as mainstream society. James Kirchick has written an epic narrative history, Secret City: The Hidden History
- [Why men and boys are falling behind, with Richard V. Reeves](https://www.niskanencenter.org/why-men-and-boys-are-falling-behind-with-richard-v-reeves/) - Richard V. Reeves explores why men and boys seem to be falling behind in school, work, and family and lays out some suggestions on what to do about it.
- [Op-Ed: My fellow liberals are exaggerating the dangers of Ron DeSantis](https://www.niskanencenter.org/op-ed-my-fellow-liberals-are-exaggerating-the-dangers-of-ron-desantis/) - This article was originally published in The New York Times on February 27, 2023.
- [Good Government Can Reconcile Economic Freedom and the Welfare State](https://www.niskanencenter.org/good-government-can-reconcile-economic-freedom-welfare-state/) - In a recent New York Times essay, Will Wilkinson berates conservatives for a failure to think clearly about the relationship of big government to economic freedom. The heart of conservatives’ confusion is the notion that fiscal austerity is the only path to freedom and prosperity. Cut taxes, cut spending, and the economy will be free
- [The Free-Market Welfare State: Preserving dynamism in a volatile world](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-free-market-welfare-state-preserving-dynamism-in-a-volatile-world/) - Today I’m proud to release my latest paper for the Niskanen Center, “The Free-Market Welfare State: Preserving dynamism in a volatile world.” You can find it here. The paper proposes a set of principles for a “free-market welfare state” research and reform agenda, based around a simple but provocative thesis: America’s historical combination of free-markets
- [Report: The Free-market Welfare State: Preserving dynamism in a volatile world](https://www.niskanencenter.org/report-the-free-market-welfare-state-preserving-dynamism-in-a-volatile-world/) - Executive summary: The paper proposes a set of principles for a “free-market welfare state” research and reform agenda, based around a simple but provocative thesis: America’s historical combination of free-markets and limited income security is fundamentally unstable. Either we get better at complementing markets with comprehensive income and re-employment supports, or the forces of creative
- [The Dead End of Small Government](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-dead-end-of-small-government/) - The ideals of free markets and limited government are too important, and too relevant to meeting the challenges that now confront American society, to leave things here. We need to revive those ideals by reestablishing them on a sound intellectual foundation. I’ll present some thoughts on how to proceed in the next and concluding essay in this series.
- [Honoring The Dishonorable, Part 2: The Dishonorable Living](https://www.niskanencenter.org/honoring-the-dishonorable-part-2-the-dishonorable-living/) - Power isn't virtue. Abuses of power shouldn't be honored when the powerful are living any more than statues should be built to honor evil after they are dead.
- [Press Release: Advocacy Groups Release Recommendations for Expanded Community Sponsorship Program for Refugees](https://www.niskanencenter.org/press-release-advocacy-groups-release-recommendations-for-expanded-community-sponsorship-program-for-refugees/) - Refugee sponsorship harnesses the collective interest, service, and resources of communities around the country.
- [Silicon Valley is Eating the Democratic Party](https://www.niskanencenter.org/silicon-valley-eating-democratic-party/) - With the presidential election a little more than a month away, newspapers across the country are making their endorsements known. The most recent came from The New York Times, arguing that “the country should put her to work,” in part because Donald Trump “discloses nothing concrete about himself or his plans while promising the moon
- [Trump's Illusory Foreign Policy Popularity](https://www.niskanencenter.org/trumps-illusory-foreign-policy-popularity/) - As discussed here last week, there is a specific logic at the heart of Republican nominee Donald Trump’s understanding of world politics. Similar to his understanding of international economics, Trump sees international relations as a zero sum affair. There are winner and losers in every international engagement. And with the U.S. military providing defense for
- [How Europe and Silicon Valley Can Save the Democratic Party](https://www.niskanencenter.org/europe-silicon-valley-can-save-democratic-party/) - On the heels of President Trump’s European visit, Angela Merkel is now convinced the continent “must take its fate into its own hands.” Given Trump’s belief that Germany is “very bad for the U.S.,” one can hardly fault Mrs. Merkel for opting to distance herself from the new president. Unfortunately, Americans are stuck with Mr.
- [Libertarians Just Might Exist](https://www.niskanencenter.org/libertarians-just-might-exist/) - Jonathan Chait's write-up of the Democracy Fund’s new Voter Survey hit close to home. Chait writes: “Libertarians don’t exist.” Well, obviously, they exist — just not in any remotely large enough numbers to form a constituency. It’s not just hardcore libertarians who are absent. Even vaguely libertarian-ish voters are functionally nonexistent. The study breaks
- [Niskanen Center Statement Calling on GOP Leadership to Support Mueller’s Investigation Signed by Prominent Conservatives](https://www.niskanencenter.org/press-release-niskanen-center-statement-calling-gop-leadership-support-muellers-investigation-signed-prominent-conservatives/) - Washington D.C., November 1, 2017 — A group of 23 influential conservatives have signed a statement imploring Republican leadership to publicly state their support of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. The statement reads: “We are a group of citizens united by our deep concern over threats to the
- [2018 Provides a Midterm Backlash With Continued Geographic Polarization](https://www.niskanencenter.org/2018-provides-a-midterm-backlash-with-continued-geographic-polarization/) - Public opinion polls and prediction models were largely correct. Democrats won control of the U.S. House of Representatives (netting at least 27 seats) and gained seven governorships and several state legislative chambers—but Republicans retained control of the U.S. Senate (netting up to three seats). Democrats went into the night facing a very tough map in

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- [Financials](https://www.niskanencenter.org/financials/) - Funders Reflecting the value we place on transparency, a list of funders during the current calendar year is available here. Contact us To learn more about supporting our work, please reach out to our Development team at development@niskanencenter.org.
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- [The Vital Center Podcast](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-vital-center-podcast/) - Factions of both the Republican and Democratic parties are struggling to defend the political center against illiberal extremes. The country needs policies that can reverse our political and governmental dysfunction, advance the social welfare of all citizens, combat climate change, and confront the other forces that threaten our common interests. We launched the Vital Center
- [The Realignment](https://www.niskanencenter.org/realignment-podcast/) - The United States is in the midst of a dramatic political realignment with shifting views on national security, economics, technology, and the role of government in our lives. Marshall Kosloff explores this with thinkers, policymakers, and more. Listen and Subscribe Available on... Host Marshall Kosloff is the Director of Special Projects at the Niskanen Center,
- [The political foundations of state capacity](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-political-foundations-of-state-capacity/) - “If men were angels,” James Madison famously wrote in Federalist 51, “no government would be necessary.” But as conveners of the constitutional convention well appreciated, a robust government power was in fact necessary to keep together a Union that risked coming apart amid domestic insurrections and economic instability. Our modern understanding of the purposes of
- [The permanent problem](https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-permanent-problem/) - "The Permanent Problem" is a book, essay series, and podcast by Brink Lindsey about the challenges of capitalist mass affluence — in particular, how to make it sustainable, and how to translate material plenty into a society where most people can expect, in the words of John Maynard Keynes, to “live wisely and agreeably and
- [The Niskanen Center's Work on DACA](https://www.niskanencenter.org/daca/) - Since its inception, the Niskanen Center has advocated for permanent legal status for Dreamers and DACA recipients who came to the US decades ago as children. Today, Dreamers are professionals, parents, homeowners, and important members of their communities, yet their future is more precarious than ever. The potential expulsion of this population would have devastating
- [The Niskanen Center Internship Program](https://www.niskanencenter.org/internships/) - At the Niskanen Center, we promote policies that advance prosperity, opportunity, and human flourishing. We believe in the mutual dependence of a free market and an effective government. Our mission is to engage in boundary crossing political thought and practice to foster innovative, pragmatic solutions to America's challenges. Who We Are Looking For We seek
- [Staff Information](https://www.niskanencenter.org/staff-information/) - Key Documents 2021 Plagiarism Guidelines Benefits Information Medical Plan Summary and Handbook Dental and Vision Plan Summaries Templates and Processes 2023 Visual Style Guide Paper and Policy Brief Templates - PDF - Contact Kristie Eshelman for InDesign Version Niskanen Letterhead Template Niskanen Powerpoint Template (also available via Google Slides) Long-form Document Template (For grant proposals,
- [Sponsor refugees through the Welcome Corps](https://www.niskanencenter.org/sponsor-refugees-through-the-welcome-corps/) - The Welcome Corps empowers Americans to privately sponsor refugees seeking freedom and safety. What is the Welcome Corps? The Welcome Corps empowers Americans to privately sponsor refugees seeking freedom and safety. Modeled after Canada’s long standing and successful sponsorship program, the Welcome Corps draws on the promise of private-sector engagement to welcome and integrate refugees.
- [Senior Policy Analyst, Social Policy](https://www.niskanencenter.org/senior-analyst-social-policy/) - The Senior Policy Analyst will contribute to existing work as well as new and emerging opportunities, working closely with other team members, other Niskanen staff and fellows, and outside experts and stakeholders. Description Department: Social Policy Location: Washington, D.C. Schedule: Flexible hybrid, minimum 2 days in-office per week Job Status: Full-Time Experience: 3-6 years (can include internship,
- [Senior Attorney](https://www.niskanencenter.org/senior-staff-attorney/) - Position: Senior Attorney, Climate Litigation and Policy Schedule: Flexible hybrid Job Status: Full-Time Experience: 7+ years Salary: $150—175k/year, based on experience, plus a generous benefits package Reports to: Chief Counsel, Legal Department Location: Washington, D.C. The Niskanen Center Named “the most interesting think tank in American politics” by Time magazine in March 2023, the Niskanen Center is a public policy think
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- [Policy Analyst, Social Policy](https://www.niskanencenter.org/policy-analyst-social-policy/) - The Policy Analyst carries out data intensive research and analysis, communicates these findings in easily accessible forms such as white papers, reports, and commentaries, and translates these findings into policy proposals. Description Department: Social Policy Location: Washington, D.C. Schedule: Flexible hybrid, minimum 2 days in-office per week Job Status: Full-Time Experience: 1-3 years (can include internship, graduate,
- [Niskanen’s work on the Child Tax Credit](https://www.niskanencenter.org/niskanens-work-on-the-child-tax-credit/) - The Niskanen Center Social Policy Team is rooted in a simple but often overlooked premise: that an innovative private sector and a capable public sector are mutually dependent. Robust social insurance systems protect and uplift those hurt by economic shocks and misfortune while avoiding regulatory approaches to social protection that undermine market dynamism. Find the entirety
- [On Common Ground](https://www.niskanencenter.org/on-common-ground/) - In the fall of 2019, the Niskanen Center partnered with The Washington Post to organize "On Common Ground," a series of op-ed pieces dedicated to exploring policy ideas with cross-party appeal. As Brink Lindsey argued in the introductory essay in this series, even in our current era of political polarization almost no legislation succeeds without
- [The Emoluments Clause: The President is Open For Business](https://www.niskanencenter.org/niskanen-litigation-holding-power-to-account/the-emoluments-clause-the-president-is-open-for-business/) - The Niskanen Center is involved in three of the cases filed against the President for accepting illegal payments from foreign governments through their patronage of the Trump International Hotel in Washington and other properties the President owns. CREW v. Trump - Amicus Brief In Re: Trump - Amicus Brief Blumenthal v. Trump - Amicus Brief
- [Protecting Property Owners from Pipeline Eminent Domain](https://www.niskanencenter.org/niskanen-litigation-holding-power-to-account/protecting-property-owners-from-pipeline-eminent-domain/) - Niskanen litigates to protect landowners from abuse by oil and gas pipeline companies that seek to seize land for their for-profit projects is active in cases across the country. Current Cases Atlantic Coast Pipeline Cases Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP v. FERC) Niskanen represents landowners challenging FERC's Certificate Decision based on Due Process failure to provide
- [Making Government More Transparent](https://www.niskanencenter.org/niskanen-litigation-holding-power-to-account/government-transparency/) - Niskanen works to make government more transparent by using open records laws such as the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to obtain information about the operations and activities of government entities, and to ensure that those entities are meeting their statutory and constitutional obligations. Niskanen makes public any documents it obtains through open records laws.
- [Holding Fossil Fuel Producers Responsible for Climate Nuisance](https://www.niskanencenter.org/niskanen-litigation-holding-power-to-account/holding-fossil-fuel-producers-responsible-for-climate-nuisance/) - Niskanen, along with EarthRights International, is representing Boulder County, San Miguel County, and the City of Boulder in one of the groundbreaking climate nuisance cases: Boulder v. Suncor. Like similar suits brought by New York City, San Francisco, Baltimore, etc., this case seeks to hold fossil fuel producers liable for the costs their products are
- [Fighting the President’s Unconstitutional Border Wall Actions](https://www.niskanencenter.org/niskanen-litigation-holding-power-to-account/fighting-the-presidents-unconstitutional-border-wall-actions/) - National Emergency/Border Wall case (El Paso County v. Trump) In February 2019, the President proclaimed a “National Emergency” on the U.S. – Mexico border. The President said that because Congress had refused to fund the border wall he wanted, he would build it anyway, using money expressly appropriated by Congress for other purposes. El Paso
- [Fighting the Corruption of the National Coal Council](https://www.niskanencenter.org/niskanen-litigation-holding-power-to-account/fighting-the-corruption-of-the-national-coal-council/) - We sought records under the Freedom of Information Act from the Department of Energy relating to how the NCC (a Federal Advisory Committee) is funded. When DOE said it either didn’t have, or would not provide, virtually any of that information, we sued in federal district court to get those documents. Past Cases National Coal
- [Niskanen Litigation: Holding Power to Account.](https://www.niskanencenter.org/niskanen-litigation-holding-power-to-account/) - Protecting Property Owners from Pipeline Eminent Domain Abuse Niskanen’s litigation project is working around the country to protect landowners from abuse by and gas pipeline companies that seek to seize their land. Explore cases. Holding Fossil Fuel Producers Responsible for Climate Nuisance Niskanen is representing Boulder County, San Miguel County, and the City of Boulder in
- [Niskanen Center Substacks](https://www.niskanencenter.org/niskanen-center-substacks/)
- [Thank You - Newsletter](https://www.niskanencenter.org/newsletter/thank-you-newsletter/) - Thank you for signing up for our newsletter! We'll be in your inbox soon.
- [Model Citizen](https://www.niskanencenter.org/model-citizen/) - Host Will Wilkinson explores how to think in a complex era full of "alternative facts" and conspiracy theories. The premise of Model Citizen is that the proper care and feeding of our mental models — our subjective maps of our shared world — matters. It’s a duty of good citizenship. We owe it to one
- [Lessons from the Pandemic: A Video Interview Series](https://www.niskanencenter.org/lessons-from-the-pandemic-a-video-interview-series/) - Nowhere have the problems with faltering American state capacity been more obvious than during the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years and counting. More than a million Americans are now dead, and most of those deaths could have been avoided with more effective governance. The venal incompetence of the Trump administration contributed to the
- [Legal Research Associate](https://www.niskanencenter.org/legal-research-associate/) - The Niskanen Center seeks an enthusiastic Legal Research Associate to support our legal work through representation of stakeholders in administrative proceedings, federal court, and advancing policy initiatives. Description Department: Legal Department Location: Washington, D.C. Schedule: Flexible hybrid, minimum 2 days in-office per week Job Status: Full-Time Experience: 1-2 years of professional experience (can include undergraduate internship experience)
- [Immigration idea incubator](https://www.niskanencenter.org/immigration-idea-incubator/) - Niskanen aims to provide an environment where new ideas and approaches to complex issues can flourish. For every policy proposal our team publishes, there are always many others circulating in our minds and in our drafts. While we can’t always bring these nascent ideas to full fruition, putting them in the public eye can solicit
- [Government Affairs Manager, Immigration](https://www.niskanencenter.org/government-affairs-manager-immigration/) - The Niskanen Center seeks a government affairs professional to lead outreach for our immigration department. This team is responsible for advancing a fundamental premise of the Niskanen Center: immigration is an irreplaceable pillar of American economic, civic, and cultural strength. Description Department: Immigration Location: Washington, D.C. Schedule: Flexible hybrid, minimum 3 days in-office per week Job Status:
- [Human Resources Associate](https://www.niskanencenter.org/human-resources-associate/) - The Niskanen Center seeks a human resources associate who will be responsible for assisting the HR director with a variety of duties, including new hire onboarding, orientation, payroll and benefits administration, employee assistance and special assignments as needed. Description Department: Human Resources Location: Washington, D.C. Schedule: Flexible hybrid, 2-3 days in-office per week Job Status: Full-Time Experience:
- [Foundational Niskanen Reading - Test 1](https://www.niskanencenter.org/foundational-niskanen-reading-test-1/) - To learn more about what we do and our most recent accomplishments, please see our 2022 annual report. To dive deeper into our distinctive vision, policy ideas, and approach to advocacy, explore the writings below or visit our “Key Initiatives.” Theory The Center Can Hold: Public Policy for an Age of ExtremesBrink Lindsey, Will Wilkinson,
- [Foundational Niskanen Reading](https://www.niskanencenter.org/foundational-niskanen-reading/) - To learn more about what we do and our most recent accomplishments, please see our 2024 annual report. To dive deeper into our distinctive vision, policy ideas, and approach to advocacy, explore the writings below or visit our “Key Initiatives.” Theory The center can hold: public policy for an age of extremes Brink Lindsey, Will Wilkinson,
- [Thank You - Donation](https://www.niskanencenter.org/donate/thank-you-donation/) - Thank you for your contribution to the Niskanen Center! Your generosity enables us to pursue our mission of promoting pragmatic policies that advance prosperity, opportunity, and human flourishing.
- [Communications Processes, Templates, and Subscriptions](https://www.niskanencenter.org/communications-processes-templates-and-subscriptions/) - Key Documents 2018 Branding Guide (Updated version coming soon) 2021 Plagiarism Guidelines Templates and Processes Paper and Policy Brief Templates - PDF - Contact Kristie Eshelman for InDesign Version Subscriptions The Niskanen Center has subscriptions to the following outlets. The login information for all subscriptions is subscriptions@niskanencenter.org, 820Media. If you need to access a verification
- [Climate Government Affairs Manager](https://www.niskanencenter.org/climate-government-affairs-manager/) - Department: Climate and Energy Location: Washington, D.C. Schedule: Flexible hybrid, minimum 3 days in-office per week Job Status: Full-Time Experience: 4-7 years of experience navigating federal government processes and structures, working with the federal legislative branch, or equivalent experience on a government affairs team Salary: $100,000-130,000; plus a generous benefits package Reports to: Director of
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- [All things in moderation](https://www.niskanencenter.org/all-things-in-moderation/) - "All Things in Moderation" is an ongoing series of essays exploring what moderation means in the present political context and what grounds there are to hope for a moderate revival. It will draw upon examples from other countries as well as our own, and look beyond the federal level to examine what may be more
- [Our Mission](https://www.niskanencenter.org/mission/) - The Niskanen Center is a nonprofit public policy organization dedicated to strengthening liberal democratic governance and promoting widespread prosperity and opportunity. Our vision of market liberalism is rooted in an effective public sector and a competitive private sector and is committed to upholding the principles of a pluralistic and open society that encourages engagement, cooperation,

## Events

- [WEBINAR: How states can improve UI eligibility verification](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/webinar-how-states-can-improve-ui-eligibility-verification/) - On September 30, 2025, the Niskanen Center hosted a virtual panel to discuss how state agencies evaluate unemployment insurance benefit claims and explore promising administrative improvements–including Separation Certificates. In 2024, state Unemployment Insurance (UI) programs reported a collective 15.9 percent improper payment rate–$6 billion in total. A key reason: agencies are often unable to verify
- [Webinar: What’s next for state pathways for internationally trained doctors?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/webinar-whats-next-for-state-pathways-for-internationally-trained-doctors/) - On December 11, 2025, the Niskanen Center hosted a panel featuring state lawmakers, policy experts, and physicians. Experts explored the key implementation challenges states face, highlighted the Niskanen Center's key policy recommendations, and assessed what's next for strengthening the health-care workforce. In the last five years, more than a third of U.S. states have created
- [Supporting new parents: Options for diverse circumstances](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/supporting-new-parents-options-for-diverse-circumstances/) - On Monday, May 13th at 1:30 p.m. EST, the Niskanen Center held a virtual discussion of innovative ways to support new parents based on our new report, Left out: A framework for noncontributory paid parental leave. The weeks and months following the birth of a new child are an extraordinary time for parents. For first-time
- [Virtual event: Does evidence matter in policy making?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/virtual-event-does-evidence-matter-in-policy-making/) - On Monday, June 17th, the Niskanen Center co-hosted a virtual event with Vital City to discuss data-driven policymaking. Data and evidence are increasingly used to inform and shape policymaking. But does that mean we are actually creating more effective policies? A debate is roiling research, science, and policy circles about the value and role of
- [Virtual event: Economic consequences of weak governance and policy instability](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/virtual-event-economic-consequences-of-weak-governance-and-policy-instability/) - The United States’ economy has exceeded recent expectations and the performance of many of our peer countries. However, current and future policy has the potential to undermine the foundations of our economic performance, particularly if our political stability and quality of governance decline. On July 23, 2024, the Niskanen Center and the Budget Lab at Yale hosted a webinar that explored several
- [Event: Still in the DOGEhouse? The bureaucracy after Elon](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/event-still-in-the-dogehouse-the-bureaucracy-after-elon/) - The Trump administration's campaign to dramatically reshape the federal bureaucracy has entered a new stage. Elon Musk is back full-time in the private sector, but U.S. DOGE Service leaders still hold key positions across Executive agencies. So what now? What good has been done, how far-reaching is the damage, and what are the tentative lessons
- [Virtual Event: Modernizing municipal code with technology. How the city of San Francisco used AI to cut red tape](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/virtual-event-modernizing-municipal-code-with-technology-how-the-city-of-san-francisco-used-ai-to-cut-red-tape/) - On Wednesday, July 2, 2025, Stanford RegLab joined the Niskanen Center for a virtual discussion exploring how technology and institutional design can make government more effective. A recent collaboration with the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office used AI to analyze San Francisco’s 16-million-word municipal code and regulations and identify outdated or duplicative reporting requirements—resulting in
- [Event: Breaking bottlenecks: Federal solutions to address the U.S. doctor shortage](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/event-breaking-bottlenecks-federal-solutions-to-address-the-u-s-doctor-shortage/) - Date: Wednesday, April 9th, 12:30 PM – 2 PM EST Location: 1201 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC 20005 The United States is experiencing a worsening physician shortage, exacerbated by regional and specialty imbalances. Panelists will discuss important federal levers to address the scarcity of needed healthcare workers, including bottlenecks in education, training and international pathways.
- [Webinar: Ensuring policymakers have access to strong research evidence](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/updating-the-maryland-scientific-methods-scale/) - On March 20, 2025, University of Maryland professors Sarah Tahamont and Greg Midgette discussed what makes evidence useful to policymakers and how researchers can better communicate the strength of their findings. Policymakers rely on clear, reliable evidence to make informed decisions, yet they often face conflicting or incomplete data. To address this, researchers assess studies
- [Event: State capacity at a crossroads: Navigating an era of disruption](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/state-capacity-at-a-crossroads-navigating-an-era-of-disruption/) - On March 25th, 2025, Jennifer Pahlka and Andrew Greenway, authors of A Capacity Agenda for 2025 and Beyond, were joined by James-Christian Blockwood and Soren Dayton to discuss the report’s key findings, the challenges of the current moment, and the path forward for strengthening state capacity. For those who would like to provide feedback, we invite
- [Virtual event: The "how" we need now: A capacity agenda for 2025](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/virtual-event-the-how-we-need-now-a-capacity-agenda-for-2025/) - On Thursday, February 6th at 10:00am ET Niskanen hosted a virtual discussion about our State Capacity Initiative's latest report, "The How We Need Now: A Capacity Agenda for 2025," featuring the authors Jen Pahlka and Andrew Greenway. Jen is a leading voice in the U.S. for bold yet pragmatic government reforms. Andrew brings a global
- [Law of abundance conference, early 2026: A call for papers](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/law-of-abundance-conference-early-2026-a-call-for-papers/) - With support from the Hewlett Foundation, Nicholas Bagley (Michigan), Zachary Liscow (Yale), and the Niskanen Center will be hosting the Law of Abundance Conference in early 2026. A nascent movement known as “the Abundance Agenda” or “the State Capacity Movement” is drawing attention to how lackluster government performance underwrites a host of problems in
- [Virtual event: New foundations for American infrastructure](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/virtual-eventnt-new-foundations-for-american-infrastructure/) - On Thursday, December 12, at 3:00 p.m. ET., Niskanen hosted a virtual conversation exploring state capacity and infrastructure. Zach Liscow of Yale Law School discusses his new paper, “State Capacity for Building Infrastructure,” and Jen Pahlka, author of Recoding America, provides additional comments. The discussion is moderated by Marshall Kosloff, host of The Realignment.
- [Class, race, gender, and the 2024 election](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/class-race-gender-and-the-2024-election/) - On Friday, November 15th, at 3 pm the Niskanen Center and The Liberal Patriot co-hosted a virtual debrief on the class, race, and gender dynamics of the 2024 election with leading experts in the field. Did the election cement a class realignment of American politics? Did Republicans peel off minority voters based on changing perceptions
- [Virtual event: The status of LEDTA implementation](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/virtual-event-the-status-of-ledta-implementation/) - The Niskanen Center and R Street Institute are excited to invite you to our final virtual panel discussion on issues related to law enforcement de-escalation, crisis response, and the implementation of the Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act. Our third webinar, "The Status of LEDTA Implementation," will take place on Tuesday, October 15th, at 2pm (EST). Chelsea
- [Virtual event: What works in deescalation and alternative responses: The state of the evidence so far](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/virtual-event-what-works-in-deescalation-and-alternative-responses-the-state-of-the-evidence-so-far/) - The Niskanen Center and R Street Institute are excited to host a series of virtual panel discussions on issues related to law enforcement de-escalation, crisis response, and the implementation of the Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act. Our second webinar, "What Works in Deescalation and Alternative Responses: The State of the Evidence So Far," will take place
- [Virtual event – Family benefits in America: 2023 report card](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/virtual-event-family-benefits-in-america-2023-report-card/) - On Tuesday, October 15th, at 2 pm EST, the Niskanen Center hosted a virtual panel on our report, Family Tax Benefits in America: 2023 Report Card. Families with young children may be eligible for numerous benefits to support them both in and out of work. However, access to these benefits can vary widely depending on
- [Virtual Event: Unlocking HVDC: How Congress can enable a more resilient grid](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/how-congress-can-enable-a-more-resilient-grid-2/) - On September 17th, Niskanen hosted a webinar detailing the recommendations in our new publication Unlocking HVDC: How Congress can enable a more resilient grid, followed by an expert panel discussion where we unpacked the ways in which HVDC can make our grid more affordable and reliable. The U.S. demand for reliable, affordable electricity is climbing
- [Virtual event: Family benefits in America: 2024 report card](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/virtual-event-family-benefits-in-america-2024-report-card/) - On October 14, 2025, The Niskanen Center hosted a virtual event to discuss our report, Family Benefits in America: 2024 Report Card. The report examines how traditional social assistance programs (TANF, SNAP) and refundable tax credits (federal and state CTCs and EITCs) interact to boost family incomes and encourage — or discourage — upward mobility.
- [Webinar: From green goals to black ink: Reforming carbon accounting for a new era of competition](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/webinar-from-green-goals-to-black-ink-reforming-carbon-accounting-for-a-new-era-of-competition/) - On Tuesday, October 28, the Niskanen Center hosted a webinar and expert panel discussion marking the release of our new white paper From green goals to black ink: Reforming carbon accounting for a new era of competition. As global trade rules increasingly hinge on carbon intensity, credible and consistent carbon accounting has become a cornerstone
- [Starting Over: The Center-Right After Trump](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/starting-over-the-center-right-after-trump/) - A Niskanen Center Conference on Tuesday, December 11, featuring: Welcoming Address from: Maryland Governor Larry Hogan Keynote speech by: Anne Applebaum, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and historian Panelists include: David Frum William Kristol Mike Murphy Jennifer Rubin Please reserve your place at the conference now by sending an RSVP to events@niskanencenter.org. Event Audio: Event Description WHEN: December 11,
- [Event: Exploring Refugee Policy for the 21st Century](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/upcoming-event-exploring-refugee-policy-for-the-21st-century/) - Join the Niskanen Center for the release of our new paper on the national security and strategic foreign policy impacts of refugee resettlement and two panel discussions on Thursday, September 20, 2018, from 9:45am-12:30pm in Russell Senate Office Room 485. Please RSVP to Matthew La Corte at events@niskanencenter.org by September 18. The Strategic Case National Security Case
- [Event Transcript: Refugee Policy in the 21st Century](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/event-transcript-refugee-policy-in-the-21st-century/) - In September 2018, the Niskanen Center hosted two panels exploring refugee policy in the 21st century featuring leaders from academia, government, think tanks, and refugee resettlement organizations. The first panel explored the strategic and national security case in favor of refugee resettlement, and the second examined how the U.S. can harness private sector support to
- [Starting Over: The Center Right After Trump - Full Conference Audio and Transcript](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/starting-over-the-center-right-after-trump-conference-transcript/) - Event Description Donald Trump has had a hurricane-like effect on the Republican Party. The 2018 midterm elections have forced center-right Americans to reconsider their relationship to the Trump-driven conservative populism that has come to dominate the GOP. On December 11, 2018, The Niskanen Center hosted a conference to present an important public analysis of this
- [Beyond Left and Right: Reviving Moderation in an Era of Crisis and Extremism](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/beyond-left-and-right-reviving-moderation-in-an-era-of-crisis-and-extremism/) - A Niskanen Center Conference on Monday, February 25, featuring: Welcoming Address from: David Brooks, New York Times columnist and author Keynote speech by: Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair Panelists include: Andrew Sullivan Elaine Kamarck Margaret Hoover Yascha Mounk Please reserve your place at the conference here. Event Transcripts and Recordings Introductory Remarks by David
- [Upcoming Event: Recruiting, Retaining, and Capitalizing on Foreign Students at U.S. Universities](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/upcoming-event-recruiting-retaining-and-capitalizing-on-foreign-students-at-u-s-universities/) - Join the Niskanen Center for a breakfast briefing — Recruiting, Retaining, and Capitalizing on Foreign Students at U.S. Universities — sponsored by Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) on the economic contributions of international students on Monday, June 17, 2019 in the Russell Senate Office Room 188 from 10 to 11am (doors open at 9:30 for breakfast). Our panel of speakers
- [Upcoming Event: The Forgotten Refugee Resettlement Consensus](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/upcoming-event-the-forgotten-refugee-resettlement-consensus/) - Join the Niskanen Center for a special Capitol Hill reception— Insiders' Perspectives: The Forgotten Refugee Resettlement Consensus— on Thursday, September 19th in the Russell Senate Office Room 485 from 5:30-7:30pm. The reception features a short discussion between Niskanen Senior Fellow Idean Salehyan and Jim Purcell, the former director of refugee programs for President Reagan. Drinks and
- [Upcoming Event: Are Patents Property or Regulation?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/upcoming-event-are-patents-property-or-regulation/) - Please join the Niskanen Center for an event on Capitol Hill--"Patents: Private Property or Economic Regulation?"-- on Thursday, September 19th at 12:00pm in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, SVC 214. The event will present a paper by former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement on the topic, and include a panel discussion with Niskanen Center's Brink
- [Niskanen COVID-19 Briefing:  Regulation During a Pandemic](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/niskanen-covid-19-briefing-regulation-during-a-pandemic/) - Our country's faltering early response to COVID-19 quickly exposed a number of dysfunctions and rigidities in the American regulatory state, thereby creating openings for larger structural reforms that go beyond the current short-term waivers. First, the delayed rollout of testing, and shortages of PPE and ventilators, highlight larger problems with the FDA's highly risk-averse and
- [Video Briefing: Election Forecasting and the Role of Moderation in a Biden Administration](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/video-briefing-election-forecasting-and-the-role-of-moderation-in-a-biden-administration/) - Rachel Bitecofer leads this this webinar off with a review of her highly-anticipated election forecast, the methodology and assumptions that underlie her predictions, and the various factors—including COVID-19—that could influence turnout and results in November. For purposes of this webinar, we assume a Biden victory in November, and allow Steve Teles, Brink Lindsey, and Geoff Kabaservice to discuss various scenarios
- [Niskanen Policy Briefing: Economic and Social Reforms for the Pandemic and Beyond](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/niskanen-policy-briefing-economic-and-social-reforms-for-the-pandemic-and-beyond/) - Together with Matt Zwolinski of the University of San Diego’s Center for Ethics, Economics, and Public Policy, Ed Dolan discusses why our social safety net was woefully unprepared for this pandemic, and how a program of Integrated Cash Assistance, including features from universal basic income, negative income taxes, and wage subsidies, could help us do better. An
- [Trumpocalypse and the Future of the Republican Party: A Conversation with David Frum](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/trumpocalypse-and-the-future-of-the-republican-party-a-conversation-with-david-frum/) - Acclaimed political commentator David Frum talks about his new book, Trumpocalypse: Restoring American Democracy. In this sequel to the 2018 bestseller Trumpocracy, the Atlantic magazine senior editor and former presidential speechwriter assesses the state of our democracy in the wake of Trump’s presidency. David Frum and the Niskanen Center’s Geoffrey Kabaservice will discuss the book with particular attention to
- [Niskanen Policy Briefing Series: Drug Patents and COVID-19](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/niskanen-policy-briefing-series-drug-patents-and-covid-19/) - Our patent discussion with Brink Lindsey and Dan Takash focus on general pharma policy, and the debate about IPR/USPTO functioning. Our experts will discuss vaccines and treatments, how small inventors compete with large drug companies in today’s market, and how patent reform should be part of a post-pandemic economic recovery.
- [A Decline in Naturalizations and Immigration Policy in the Fast Lane](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/a-decline-in-naturalizations-and-immigration-policy-in-the-fast-lane/) - For public health reasons, many in-person immigration services—like naturalizations—were paused in early spring (although some still continue nationwide). In just a few short weeks, the administration has made countless changes to immigrant and nonimmigrant visas, and we expect more to come. Our discussion with Doug Rand, the co-founder of Boundless Immigration and senior fellow with
- [Climate Change and Wildfires: What Does Science Tell Us?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/climate-change-and-wildfires-what-does-science-tell-us/) - Recent years have seen record fire seasons in many parts of the globe, including California, the Amazon Rainforest, and Australia. These wildfires have burned millions of acres of land, forced businesses to go bankrupt, and caused dramatic costs for response efforts and in lives lost. Scientists are actively researching how the effects of climate change
- [Niskanen's Original Research: How Our Work Impacts Climate, Immigration, and Poverty Policy](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/niskanens-original-research-how-our-work-impacts-climate-immigration-and-poverty-policy/) - Niskanen’s original research is widely recognized for its accuracy and importance to our policy work. Niskanen’s Jeremy L. Neufeld, Shuting Pomerleau, and Robert Orr discuss their ongoing research projects moving forward. Jeremy L. Neufeld recently published research investigating how immigration to countries like the United States improves the well-being of immigrants and those they leave
- [Announcing Our June Policy Briefing Series](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/announcing-our-june-policy-briefing-series/) - After a successful launch last month, we’re excited to continue hosting our weekly webinar series. We hope to give our perspective regarding what’s happening on Capitol Hill, how Niskanen is informing legislative and policy debates, and other important changes in policy—particularly as they pertain to COVID-19. These webinars will also give you the opportunity to
- [Briefing: Weaknesses of Our Health Care System, Revealed by COVID-19](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/briefing-weaknesses-of-our-health-care-system-revealed-by-covid-19/) - Crises have a way of revealing the weak points in critical systems. For the American health insurance system, weaknesses exposed by the COVID-19 crisis include coverage that disappears when people lose their jobs, inadequate provision for pandemic risk, and incomplete coverage of screening and prevention. Ed Dolan and Jeffrey Flier discuss how three reform proposals: 1) Joe Biden’s Democratic
- [Free Markets: What Does Economic Prosperity Look Like in a Post-Pandemic World?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/free-markets-what-does-economic-prosperity-look-like-in-a-post-pandemic-world/) - Niskanen's Kodiak Hill-Davis and Steve Teles join with the Takshashila Institution's Anupam Manur to discuss the changes that might occur to the market system after the pandemic.
- [Announcing Our 2020 Policy Briefing Series](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/announcing-our-2020-policy-briefing-series/) - 2020 has demonstrated that even a pandemic will not slow the pace of news and the chaos on Capitol Hill. To help you stay on top of recent developments (and to give you something new to watch!), the Niskanen Center is tackling the most pressing issues and policy developments associated with the elections and news—but
- [Summer Briefing Series: November Elections Predictions and Preparedness](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/summer-briefing-series-november-elections-predictions-and-preparedness/) - As the November elections near, Rachel Bitecofer, Kristie De Peña, and Geoff Kabaservice discuss changes to election processes, predictions in contested states and districts, and how new election modalities and funding may impact turnout.
- [Niskanen Briefing: Cares II and COVID-19 Recovery](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/niskanen-briefing-cares-ii-and-covid-19-recovery/) - Will Wilkinson and Sam Hammond discuss the details of the latest relief package, and how the U.S. can safely begin to reemerge from COVID-19 with successful testing and tracing.
- [Liberal Democracy—How Can These Policies Change the Current World Order?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/liberal-democracy-how-can-these-policies-change-the-current-world-order/) - In the current circumstances, what’s the best-case argument in favour of liberal democracy? Why do the populists have the upper hand today? Where have liberal democracies gone wrong? Will Wilkinson, Nitin Pai, and Manoj Kewalramani discuss these and many other questions in the first session of our "Beyond the Pandemic: The Battle for Ideas" discussion series,
- [Open Societies—How does the need for tolerance impact government action?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/open-societies-how-does-the-need-for-tolerance-impact-government-action/) - Niskanen's Kodiak Hill-Davis and Geoffrey Kabaservice chat with the Takshashila Institution's Narayan Ramachandran about the benefits of free speech, public dialogue, and diversity in India and the U.S.
- [Still Standing: An Event with MD Governor Larry Hogan](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/still-standing-an-event-with-md-governor-larry-hogan/) - The Niskanen Center is excited to announce a virtual Q&A with Maryland Governor Larry Hogan on Friday, August 7 at 12pm, in which we will have the opportunity to discuss his striking new memoir, Still Standing. Gov. Hogan is consistently rated as one of the most popular governors in America today–and it is easy to see why. In his memoir, he discusses the open
- [Recording - Expanding Vaccine Availability: The Role of Patents and Available Policy Solutions](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/event-expanding-vaccine-availability-the-role-of-patents-and-available-policy-solutions/) - As vaccinations progress at a high rate in the United States and other developed countries, it’s important to ask what can be done to expand the supply of vaccines across the world – particularly to developing countries. What constraints do manufacturers face when trying to expand the supply of vaccines, how can we distribute them
- [EVENT - Understanding the Texas blackouts: What lessons can we learn?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/event-understanding-the-texas-blackouts-what-lessons-can-we-learn/) - In February 2021, an extreme cold front swept through the middle of the country, and people in Texas suffered dramatic impacts as the state’s grid was subject to blackouts. In the early days of the disaster, politicians’ and commentators’ efforts to explain these infrastructure failures frequently veered toward hot takes and misdiagnoses. Meanwhile, some customers
- [NOVEMBER ELECTION TAKEAWAYS](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/november-election-takeaways/) - Hosted by Niskanen’s Kodiak Hill-Davis Tuesday, November 17, 2020, 11 AM EST Niskanen’s Kristie De Peña, Will Wilkinson, and Geoff Kabaservice discuss the legal, policy, and political ramifications of the elections and their aftermath.
- [WATCH - High Road, High Performance: A Vision for Faster, Fairer Growth](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/watch-high-road-high-performance-a-vision-for-faster-fairer-growth/) - We believe the case for the Niskanen policy synthesis–dedicated both to liberating the private sector from unnecessary restraints and expanding and upgrading the public sector’s capacity to provide social insurance and other public goods–has taken on new and critical urgency in light of recent events. Niskanen Center President Jerry Taylor is joined by Brink Lindsey
- [Niskanen Briefing: Republicans Make The Case for Refugees (With Recording)](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/zoom-briefing-influential-republicans-make-their-case-for-admitting-more-refugees/) - Tuesday, October 20, 2020 The Trump administration has decreased refugee resettlement to a record low level, upending decades of bipartisan support. Historically, Republican administrations have resettled high numbers of refugees in furtherance of national security, foreign policy, and humanitarian objectives. Moderated by Niskanen's Matthew La Corte, the panel explored the policy and politics of improving
- [Briefing: Copyright During The Pandemic](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/briefing-copyright-during-the-pandemic/) - The ability to work, learn, and interact online during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a blessing for those who can do so. But the current structure of copyright law means that many of the ways people are interacting during the pandemic—including shifting in-person activities online—could be copyright infringement. Public Knowledge’s Senior Counsel Meredith Rose and
- [Live Briefing: Managing the Risks of Climate Change](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/live-briefing-this-thursday-managing-the-risks-of-climate-change/) - This past year, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) commissioned a new effort to review the implications of climate change risk to the U.S. financial system. It formed a new subcommittee to evaluate climate-related market risk, and the resulting work has been published in a new report, "Managing Climate Risk in the U.S. Financial System."
- [Still Standing: A Conversation with MD Governor Larry Hogan](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/still-standing-a-conversation-with-md-governor-larry-hogan/) - This July, the Niskanen Center’s director of government affairs, Kodiak Hill-Davis, had the opportunity to talk to MD Governor Hogan about his striking new memoir, Still Standing. Gov. Hogan is consistently rated as one of the most popular governors in America today–and it is easy to see why. In his conversation with Hill-Davis, he discusses
- [WEBINAR: Green Infrastructure or Red Tape?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/webinar-green-infrastructure-or-red-tape/) - Green Infrastructure or Red Tape? A conversation on how to actually “build back better” Panelists Alon Levy, Marron Institute Sanya Carley, Indiana University Matthew Yglesias, Niskanen Center As the Biden administration rolls out its $2 trillion infrastructure plan (and the whole nation debates what actually constitutes infrastructure in 2021), we’re focusing on how to improve
- [Briefing: The Case for Carbon Border Adjustments](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/briefing-the-case-for-carbon-border-adjustments/) - A discussion on the new developments in carbon border adjustments in the U.S., EU, and Canada. Thursday, May 6, 2021, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EDT View Recording Moderator Joseph Majkut Director of Climate Policy, Niskanen Center Speakers Aaron Cosbey Senior Associate, International Institute for Sustainable Development Senior Advisor, European Roundtable on Climate Change and
- [Event Series - Divided We Fall: How Businesses Can Depolarize the U.S.](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/event-series-divided-we-fall-how-businesses-can-depolarize-the-u-s/) - American business leaders recognize how deepening divisions in the United States threaten our future - and are asking what to do about it. Overview Deepening divisions in the United States, both politically and culturally, pose a threat to our democracy. The issue goes beyond a move to the right within the Republican party or to the
- [Briefing: Deep Decarbonization of the U.S. Industrial Sector](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/briefing-deep-decarbonization-of-the-u-s-industrial-sector/) - The industrial sector is key to developing the clean energy technologies of the 21st century, but remains a significant source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. As the United States aims for midcentury decarbonization, it is critical we develop an understanding of the regional, technical, and economic realities of building a low-carbon industrial sector. A major
- [Understanding Climate Risk: Material Risks and Disclosure](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/understanding-climate-risk-material-risks-and-disclosure/) - A webinar co-hosted by the Niskanen Center and the Woodwell Climate Research Center Monday, June 14, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. EDT via Zoom. Last fall, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Subcommittee on Climate Risk released its report on assessing and managing climate risk in the U.S. financial sector. Since then, governments, regulators, and investors have been
- [A Time for Choosing: The Center-Right’s Three Options for Saving American Democracy](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/a-time-for-choosing-a-debate-on-the-center-rights-three-options-for-saving-american-democracy/) - American democracy is threatened by a Republican Party in thrall to Donald Trump’s Big Lie of a stolen election. With every new measure passed by Republican-controlled state legislatures to suppress votes and subvert the electoral process, the danger grows that 2020 will go down in history as the nation’s last free and fair election. Never
- [Webinar - Stop the Incinerator: The high cost of green card slots going unused and the benefits of recapturing them](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/webinar-stop-the-incinerator-the-high-cost-of-green-card-slots-going-unused-and-the-benefits-of-recapturing-them/) - July 14, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. The United States has fostered a stellar reputation as a hub for opportunity and innovation throughout the world. Numerous studies show how immigrants have greatly contributed to the success of this country by launching major businesses and making new scientific discoveries. Over the past three decades, however, this system
- [Panel Series: Reducing Violence Across the U.S.](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/summer-panel-series-reducing-violence-across-the-u-s/) - Homicide rates have been increasing over the past year, in many communities across the U.S. This webinar series will highlight the best research on how to reduce violent crime, with the goal of informing policy and practice to make our communities safer. Reducing Violence - Session I July 19, 12:00 p.m. EDT David Phillips, University
- [Webinar: Public or Private Approaches? Addressing the Challenge of Electricity Transmission for the Clean Energy Transition](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/webinar-public-or-private-approaches-addressing-the-challenge-of-electricity-transmission-for-the-clean-energy-transition/) - A new report from the Clean Air Task Force and the Niskanen Center finds that the current piecemeal, project-by-project approach to expanding U.S. electricity transmission won’t get clean energy infrastructure built fast enough to decarbonize in the years to come. Instead, it calls for a new system to rapidly scale capacity, potentially establishing a National
- [WEBINAR: Homicide Impunity, Human Rights, and State Failure](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/webinar-homicide-impunity-human-rights-and-state-failure/) - This conversation, led by Niskanen senior fellow Michael Fortner, examines the all-too-common phenomenon of "homicide impunity," where violence in communities goes unaddressed. Panelists discuss the impact these unsolved homicides have on families and communities. They also examine how police can improve clearance rates for homicides and non-fatal shootings and promote cooperation with the communities most
- [Science of Politics LIVE: The Future of the Biden Agenda in Congress](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/science-of-politics-live-the-future-of-the-biden-agenda/) - Will Congress pass Biden's $3.5 trillion reconciliation package? Is there hope for criminal justice or immigration reform, or will the Senate filibuster block the rest of Biden's agenda? And can Biden play a role in uniting Democrats on a path forward, even as the impending legislation highlights deep divisions within the party? In this live, online conversation,
- [The Future of Green Card Recapture Legislation](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/the-future-of-green-card-recapture-legislation/) - A discussion and Q&A on recapturing green cards with immigration policy analyst Jeremy L. Neufeld and Niskanen’s Kristie De Peña. When FY 2021 came to a close, more green cards went unused than any year on record. Without congressional action, 2021’s historic green card waste will only exacerbate already agonizingly long waiting times for the
- [WEBINAR: Cost Disease Socialism: When Regulatory Policy is Fiscal Policy](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/webinar-cost-disease-socialism-when-regulatory-policy-its-fiscal-policy/) - We are in an era of spiraling costs for core social goods — health care, housing, education, child care — which has made proposals to socialize them enormously compelling for many on the progressive left. Yet, these goods and services exist in markets with artificially constrained supply, implying that subsidies will only create a vicious
- [Webinar: Right to Repair in 2022](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/webinar-right-to-repair-in-2022/) - The Biden administration recently identified private firms' ability to block access to parts, manuals, and other tools to allow consumers and third-party repair shops from fixing their property as a barrier to growth and competition in the U.S. A few months before, the Federal Trade Commission's 2021 report "Nixing the Fix" discussed the barriers to
- [WEBINAR: How Do Child Tax Credits Impact Labor Supply?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/webinar-how-do-child-tax-credits-impact-labor-supply/) - The American Rescue Plan temporarily made the Child Tax Credit (CTC) “fully refundable,” extending the benefit to millions of households with low or zero income for the first time. The expansion of the credit has been heralded as a sea change by U.S. social policy by experts across the ideological spectrum. However, there is no
- [How immigration can address American labor shortages and jumpstart economic growth](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/how-immigration-can-address-american-labor-shortages-and-jumpstart-economic-growth/) - This event is part of a larger series on how immigration can help relieve U.S. labor shortages. You can explore the full series here. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, labor shortages have become increasingly apparent in American daily life. Restaurants and shops post “Help Wanted” placards alongside notices of reduced hours or interrupted services due to
- [Webinar: How the federal government can improve law enforcement responses to protests](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/webinar-how-the-federal-government-can-improve-law-enforcement-responses-to-protests/) - Policing crowds involves protecting civil liberties while maintaining public safety. The U.S. experience with crowd policing has shown that with mismanagement, these aims can seem mutually exclusive. Yet, as Prof. Edward Maguire of Arizona State University finds in his new report for the Niskanen Center, they can and should be complements. In this panel webinar,
- [Webinar: What's New with Carbon Border Adjustments?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/webinar-whats-new-with-carbon-border-adjustments/) - Join us for a discussion on the latest developments in carbon border adjustments in the U.S., the EU, and Canada. Panelists Aaron Cosbey Senior Associate, International Institute for Sustainable Development Senior Advisor, European Roundtable on Climate Change and Sustainable Transition Catrina Rorke Senior Vice President for Policy and Research, Climate Leadership Council Domien Vangenechten Policy Advisor, E3G
- [WEBINAR: What is the Role of State Capacity and Trust in Pandemic Preparedness?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/webinar-what-is-the-role-of-state-capacity-and-trust-in-pandemic-preparedness/) - Please join us for the upcoming webinar, “What is the Role of State Capacity and Trust in Pandemic Preparedness?” on June 14 at 4 p.m ET. While we are still in the cross-hairs of the COVID crisis, the next pandemic is inevitable. Understanding the “epidemiological mystery” of global COVID responses is essential as governments and
- [WEBINAR: Post-Midterm implications on important tax policies](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/webinar-post-midterm-implications-on-important-tax-policies/) - We are delighted to invite you to an upcoming series on the post-midterm landscape. Sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation, the Niskanen Social Policy Team has partnered with Public Private Strategies to help funders and others explore how a new political reality will impact four key issue areas: family, employment, health, and business policy.This four-part webinar series
- [Panel series: responsible prosecution](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/panel-series-responsible-prosecution/) - There is growing policy interest in prosecutors' role in the criminal justice system. Prosecutors have tremendous discretion in whether to pursue charges against people accused of crimes and in what types of punishments to seek. What does the evidence say about how they should use that discretion? And have recent policy reforms targeting this stage
- [EVENT: Back to the future: The Child Tax Credit at 25](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/event-back-to-the-future-the-child-tax-credit-at-25/) - On November 29th, the Niskanen Center held an event marking the 25th anniversary of the Child Tax Credit and the 35th anniversary of the commission that inspired its creation (recordings below). With the Child Tax Credit again at the forefront of discussions about how to support families, understanding the history of the credit and the
- [Walking the walk: a roadmap for changing cop culture, improving public safety, and promoting justice](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/changing-cop-culture-improving-public-safety-and-promoting-justice/) - Featuring Colby College Professor Neil Gross and Baltimore Banner journalist and author Justin Fenton. Neil and Justin discuss Neil's new book, Walk the Walk: How Three Police Chiefs Defied the Odds and Changed Cop Culture, which Niskanen senior fellow Matthew Yglesias called, "a refreshing break from our hyper-polarized debate over public safety and criminal justice reform." They're joined
- [Welcome Corps: Private Sponsorship of Refugees Comes to America](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/welcome-corps-private-sponsorship-of-refugees-comes-to-america/) - Hosted by The American Enterprise Institute and the Niskanen Center Enabling Americans to privately sponsor refugees seeking freedom and safety through the Welcome Corps is the boldest innovation in refugee resettlement in the U.S. since its inception — and it is primed to expand. Modeled after Canada’s longstanding and successful sponsorship program, the Welcome Corps
- [Gun violence in America](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/gun-violence-in-america/) - This panel focuses on victimization from several angles. The moderator, Emmy Betz, is an emergency physician who regularly treats victims of gun use in addition to being a prominent researcher. The other panelists–Jackie Schildkraut, Jennifer Paruk, and Niskanen senior fellow Kerri Raissian– have expertise in mass shootings, child gun injury, gun use in incidents of
- [Gun rights and responsibilities in America](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/gun-rights-and-responsibility-in-america/) - This webinar–moderated by prominent Second Amendment scholar Jacob Charles–explores the scope of gun ownership and subsequent responsibilities in the U.S. The panel–Cassandra Crifasi, Michael Ulrich, and Kerri Raissian–discuss the balance between the desire among many to limit gun owner rights and the responsibilities inherent in gun ownership. They demonstrate how, despite the characterization of the
- [An unemployment insurance system that works](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/an-unemployment-insurance-system-that-works/) - In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the unemployment insurance (UI) system played a crucial role in supporting Americans in need. However, it also exposed critical weaknesses that demand our attention and reform.The Niskanen Center’s recent paper “A UI System That Works” proposes a set of reforms to modernize the UI system and ensure it
- [Virtual event - Supporting families with state tax credits: the New England model](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/virtual-event-supporting-families-with-state-tax-credits-the-new-england-model/) - A quiet revolution is taking place in statehouses nationwide as policymakers rethink their approach to supporting families in state tax codes. Once rare, tax credits for children and other dependents are increasingly common across the country. Twenty-one states have introduced or expanded these tax credits over the last five years. Income eligibility, dependent eligibility, and
- [Virtual event: Building a stronger foundation for American families - options for a Child Tax Credit](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/virtual-event-building-a-stronger-foundation-for-american-families-options-for-a-child-tax-credit/) - The Child Tax Credit (CTC) saw two major expansions in the last decade. In 2017, Congress combined two existing child-related tax benefits–the dependent exemption and the Child Tax Credit–into one expanded and more generous CTC worth up to $2,000 per child. In 2021, Congress temporarily expanded the CTC by eliminating the phase-in and increasing the
- [Virtual Event - “Build Back Better:” A Flawed Agenda or the Right Plan for Early Care and Education Policy?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/virtual-event-build-back-better-a-flawed-agenda-or-the-right-plan-for-early-care-and-education-policy/) - On Tuesday, October 24, the Center on Child and Family Policy and the Niskanen Center hosted a virtual discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of Build Back Better’s early care and education legislation and the best path forward for federal policy. The Build Back Better Act of 2021 featured two early care and education programs,
- [Looking ahead: what are the future developments in carbon border adjustments?](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/looking-ahead-what-are-the-future-developments-in-carbon-border-adjustments/) - Niskanen's Deputy Director of Climate Policy, Shuting Pomerleau, presented her research findings that the U.S. falls into the middle of the pack globally in terms of low-carbon industry. She discussed why it is crucial for the U.S. to implement a border-adjusted carbon tax instead of standalone carbon tariffs. Following the presentation, Alex Flint moderated a
- [Virtual event: Recommendations for federal transmission permitting](https://www.niskanencenter.org/events/virtual-event-recommendations-federal-transmission-permitting/) - The United States stands at a critical juncture in modernizing its energy infrastructure. With increasing demand, grid resilience challenges, and the urgent need for decarbonization, multiple studies estimate that a three- to four-fold increase in transmission capacity will be required over the next thirty years. However, the current pace of transmission deployment lags behind. A

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