Scholars Strategy Network's No Jargon

Latest Episodes:

Episode 298: The Fight Over Climate Rules Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

The EPA's 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding has been the legal foundation for U.S. climate regulation under the Clean Air Act for over a decade. In February, the Trump administration repealed it. That move puts the future of federal climate policy in question. Professor Alejandro Camacho explains what the endangerment finding did and why it mattered for policies ranging from vehicle emissions to power plant rules. Drawing on his new book, he also puts this moment in context: showing how earlier waves of environmental policymaking took shape in the 1960s and '70s, and why today's approach is marked by polarization, legal battles, and uncertainty.

For more on this topic:

Check out the book Camacho coauthored, Lessons for a Warming Planet: A Vital History of US Environmental Law
Read his commentary in Legal Planet, The Trump Administration is Squandering Our Natural Heritage
Read his op-ed in The Hill, Donald Trump's record-breaking race to wreck the planet

Episode 297: New Rules for College Admissions Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

By now, most students who applied to college for the fall semester have received their decisions, bringing a mix of emotions, from excitement and relief to disappointment and uncertainty. For many, especially those turned away from top-choice schools, the admissions process can feel arbitrary and even unfair. Professor Julie Park breaks down what's changed for college applicants since the Supreme Court's 2023 decision restricting race-conscious admissions. She also explores the uneven return of standardized testing and how policy shifts are reshaping who gets into selective colleges and what schools can still do to make the process more fair.

For more on this topic:

Check out Park's new book, Race, Class, and Affirmative Action: College Admissions in a New Era
Read her op-ed in The Hechinger Report, There's a 'cascade effect' from the Supreme Court's affirmative action ban, and it's hurting Black and Latino students
Read her essay in the Chronicle of Higher Education, Economic Diversity Is Ticking Up at Elite Colleges. Why?

Episode 296: The Politics of What We Eat Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

Nutrition policy is back in the spotlight. Under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" agenda, the federal government has been especially vocal about and involved in what Americans eat, including policies that change what can be bought with federal benefits. Nutrition policy researcher Pasquale Rummo breaks down what the debate about ultra-processed foods is all about, how Americans' diets are shaped by both choice and policy, and what coming changes could mean for consumers and the food industry.

For more on this topic:

Read Rummo's op-ed in The Hill, co-written with Jesse Strunk-Elkins: SNAP Benefit Cuts Will Leave Millions of Americans Overworked and Underfed

Episode 295: The Affordable Housing Myth Mar 17, 2026

Show notes

Housing costs keep rising across the United States, and policymakers are scrambling for solutions. In Congress, policymakers from across the aisle are advancing legislation aimed at encouraging more housing construction, based on the idea that increasing supply will help bring prices down. But what actually makes housing "affordable" and who benefits from the policies meant to fix the problem? Drawing on decades of research and experience working on housing issues in New York City, Professor Hilary Botein explains how politics and local housing markets affect who has access and why simply building more housing may not help people with the lowest incomes.

Episode 294: What Did We Learn From Covid? Mar 03, 2026

Show notes

Six years after the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a global emergency, are we any better prepared for the next pandemic? Professor Joseph Harris reflects on what Covid revealed about the strengths and weaknesses of the U.S. public health system and the fragility of global cooperation. Drawing on his research on universal health coverage and AIDS treatment politics in countries such as Thailand and Brazil, he explains how politics and power shape who has access to care—and how professional and social movements can drive reform.

For more on this topic:

Listen to Harris's podcast: The Global Health Politics Podcast
Check out his commentary in The Conversation: What the US could learn from Thailand about health care coverage

Episode 293: Haiti and the Weight of Uncertainty Feb 17, 2026

Show notes

Haitians living in the U.S. under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) are once again facing uncertainty. Though a federal judge intervened just a day before the Trump administration was set to end TPS for Haiti, thousands of families are still left not knowing what happens next. Professor Evan Auguste explains the emotional strain of living with the constant fear of losing legal status, and how history, trauma, and racism have shaped the mental health of Haitian immigrants. He also shares his work to help create a culturally rooted healing initiative that brings Haitian traditions into mental health spaces, and what this project can teach psychologists and policymakers alike.

For more on this topic:

Read his opinion piece in the Haitian Times, How we hold Haiti's diasporic grief
Check out his co-authored analysis in NACLA Report, To Save Haitian Lives, Global Health Leaders Call for Solidarity

Episode 292: When Tariffs Hit Home Feb 03, 2026

Show notes

A year into President Trump's second term, tariffs and trade disputes have once again become central to U.S. economic policy. Professor Menzie Chinn looks back at the biggest economic trends of the past year and explains how rising tariffs are shaping prices, business decisions, and household budgets. Drawing on his research and public writing, he breaks down what these changes mean for everyday affordability and long-term economic stability.

For more on this topic:

Check out Chinn's blog, Econbrowser, about current economic conditions and policy
Read his analysis in EconoFact, The U.S. Agricultural Sector Under Stress

Episode 291: The Ripple Effects of Attacks on Higher Education Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

The Trump administration has made changes to how the federal government approaches diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, using executive actions, funding rules, and legal challenges that are reshaping how colleges operate. In response, campuses across the country are reassessing these programs — some ending them, others renaming offices or pausing services as they navigate new legal and funding realities. Professor Anthony Hernandez shares what he learned from a listening tour across New Mexico, California, Texas, and Wisconsin, where he spoke with students and educators experiencing these shifts firsthand. He explains what's at stake for Hispanic-Serving Institutions and why these issues matter for college access, upward mobility, and the broader civic landscape.

For more on this topic:

Read Hernandez's op-ed in USA Today: Trump education cuts quietly declare that opportunity should be rationed on race
Check out his op-ed in the Chicago Tribune: America cannot compete globally if it undermines its own people
Read his op-ed in The Fulcrum: Tennessee's Attack on Federal Support for Hispanic-Serving Colleges Hurts Us All

Episode 290: When Nonprofits Can't Count on Washington Dec 16, 2025

Show notes

As we head into the holiday season, many nonprofits are entering their busiest time of year while uncertainty around government funding continues to loom. Professor Dyana Mason explains how President Trump's executive actions and funding freezes have disrupted essential services — from food programs to international aid — and what that means for the people who rely on them. She breaks down why so many nonprofits depend on federal dollars, what happens when that money suddenly disappears, and how political pressures are putting new strain on these organizations.

For more on this topic:

Read Mason's op-ed in The Conversation: Nonprofits that provide shelter for homeless people, disaster recovery help, and food for low-income Americans rely heavily on federal funding – they would be reeling if Trump froze that money, coauthored with Mirae Kim.

Episode 289: The Rising Costs of Healthcare Dec 02, 2025

Show notes

In the wake of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, millions of Americans are left wondering what comes next for their healthcare. Professor Miranda Yaver breaks down what fueled the shutdown, why the Affordable Care Act is once again under strain, and what rising healthcare costs will mean for families, healthcare providers, and entire communities. She also previewed her forthcoming book, Coverage Denied, which examines the impact of coverage denials to patient health.

For more on this topic:

Read Yaver's op-ed in MSNBC: Republicans are trying to turn their attacks on Obamacare into self-fulfilling prophecies
Read her SSN brief: How Health Insurance Denials Induce Administrative Burdens, and How to Fix It
Check out her book, Coverage Denied: How Health Insurers Drive Inequality in the United States, which will be published March 2026

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Scholars Strategy Network’s No Jargon

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected