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Policy Archive

Archives for May 2019

Criminal Justice
“The scales of justice are imbalanced”: Sandra Bland’s sister speaks out in new op-ed“The scales of justice are imbalanced”: Sandra Bland’s sister speaks out in new op-ed
Criminal Justice

“My sister died because a police officer saw her as a threatening black woman rather than human.”

By P.R. Lockhart
Politics
Alabama Republicans want to overturn Roe v. Wade. Their strategy could backfire.Alabama Republicans want to overturn Roe v. Wade. Their strategy could backfire.
Politics

The Alabama abortion ban’s lack of exceptions for rape or incest could be its downfall.

By Anna North
Politics
Yes, Roe really is in troubleYes, Roe really is in trouble
Politics

Roe v. Wade has survived for decades because of luck. That’s about to change.

By Scott Lemieux
Future Perfect
How bad prosecutors fuel America’s mass incarceration problemHow bad prosecutors fuel America’s mass incarceration problem
Future Perfect

Want to fix the criminal justice system? Start with overzealous prosecutors.

By Sean Illing
Politics
The NRA’s big, bad financial mismanagement crisis, explainedThe NRA’s big, bad financial mismanagement crisis, explained
Politics

The NRA is low on cash and embroiled in complex lawsuits.

By Jane Coaston
Politics
Exclusive: the new bipartisan House bill to stop surprise medical bills, explainedExclusive: the new bipartisan House bill to stop surprise medical bills, explained
Politics

The bipartisan push to end surprise medical bills is ramping up.

By Dylan Scott
Politics
The House’s big bill to lower drug prices and shore up Obamacare, explainedThe House’s big bill to lower drug prices and shore up Obamacare, explained
Politics

The biggest health care bill of the year is coming to the House floor.

By Dylan Scott
Technology
Former Defense Secretary Ash Carter says AI should never have the “true autonomy” to killFormer Defense Secretary Ash Carter says AI should never have the “true autonomy” to kill
Podcast
Technology

Carter spoke with Recode’s Kara Swisher recently about AI ethics, tech regulation, and more, and you can hear the full conversation now on Recode Decode.

By Eric Johnson
Vox’s guide to where 2020 Democrats stand on policy
The Democratic debate over letting people in prison vote, explainedThe Democratic debate over letting people in prison vote, explained
Vox’s guide to where 2020 Democrats stand on policy

Bernie Sanders sparked a debate over prisoners’ voting rights. But most of the public — and most Democrats — aren’t on board.

By German Lopez
Politics
Trump could be turning Asian Americans into reliable Democratic votersTrump could be turning Asian Americans into reliable Democratic voters
Politics

But Democrats need to put in the work to lock them down.

By Li Zhou
Future Perfect
Trump wants to change how poverty is calculated — to make fewer people eligible for benefitsTrump wants to change how poverty is calculated — to make fewer people eligible for benefits
Future Perfect

It’s a subtle but important change.

By Dylan Matthews
Politics
65 years after Brown v. Board of Education, school segregation is getting worse65 years after Brown v. Board of Education, school segregation is getting worse
Politics

A new report finds that the historic school segregation ruling has been undermined in recent decades.

By P.R. Lockhart
Explainers
The controversial abortion bills sweeping the country this week, explainedThe controversial abortion bills sweeping the country this week, explained
Explainers

Bills in Georgia, Ohio, and Alabama show we’re in a watershed moment for the abortion debate.

By Anna North
World Politics
Is gun violence in America a foreign policy problem? Stacey Abrams and Mitch Landrieu say yes.Is gun violence in America a foreign policy problem? Stacey Abrams and Mitch Landrieu say yes.
World Politics

It’s unclear if that messaging will resonate with certain experts or voters.

By Alex Ward
Politics
House Democrats want to stop Trump from returning asylum seekers to Mexico to waitHouse Democrats want to stop Trump from returning asylum seekers to Mexico to wait
Politics

For once, Trump got the Ninth Circuit to approve his immigration policy. Congress is trying to step in instead.

By Dara Lind