Episode 281: When the Safety Net Shrinks

Is it Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples' Day—and what does that choice say about whose history America celebrates? The Trump administration has reaffirmed Columbus Day, praising Christopher Columbus...

13 Okt 35min

Cuts to federal funding have made headlines for months. But what actually happens to nonprofits when that government money dries up? Professor Claire Dunning explains how federal funding helped build ...

29 Sep 36min

Labor Day is supposed to be about honoring workers—but what about the essential work that happens at home, often without a paycheck? Professor Jennifer Greenfield explains why caregiving, paid family ...

8 Sep 34min

As families head back to school, many students may find themselves in a new school this year because their original school has closed. In the U.S., more than 1,000 schools closed in 2025–26. Professor...

25 Aug 38min

As the U.S. birth rate continues to decline, some politicians are calling for policies that encourage Americans to have more children, otherwise known as pronatalism—even as abortion access, contracep...

11 Aug 33min

College closures are becoming an increasingly common part of higher education, largely driven by declining enrollment, shifting federal funding, and rising operating costs. As more campuses face finan...

28 Jul 22min

Birthright citizenship has been part of the U.S. Constitution for more than 150 years, but why has it become the focus of such intense political debate in recent years? Professor Anna Law breaks down ...

14 Jul 34min

Conservative Christian women are often portrayed as followers in American politics, but sociologist Katie Gaddini says that stereotype misses the bigger picture. Drawing on the research from her new b...

30 Jun 37min