New Blog Posts

  • Pressure Builds for Biden, Congress to Act on Student Loan Forgiveness

    Pressure Builds for Biden, Congress to Act on Student Loan Forgiveness

    Evan Linett is a staff writer for Brief Policy Perspectives and a first-year MPP student.   Student Loan Debt Is A Widespread Problem Every year, more Americans take out student loans to offset the rising cost of higher education. For Susan, a 59-year-old single mom and small business owner, the effects of these loans have become…

  • The Malaria Vaccine is Groundbreaking, but There Are Obstacles Ahead

    The Malaria Vaccine is Groundbreaking, but There Are Obstacles Ahead

    Leisha Goel is a staff writer for Brief Policy Perspectives and a first-year MPP student. After more than 130 years since the malaria-causing parasites were named by the scientific community, the first vaccine shown to prevent the disease has been approved by the World Health Organization. Hailed as a breakthrough in vaccine development and public…

  • How Racism Has Shaped the Presence of Urban Tree Cover in Public Spaces

    How Racism Has Shaped the Presence of Urban Tree Cover in Public Spaces

    Julia Vanella is a staff writer for Brief Policy Perspectives and a second-year MPP student. Urban Design Is Not Neutral The availability of shade, such as trees, isn’t equitably distributed. Ideally, every neighborhood should have an abundance of trees and shelter to provide shade in public spaces; however, this is not always the case. The…

  • GW WonkCast S6E4: A Case Study of Waste Management in Maine with Sarah Nichols

    Join WonkCast host William Somes for a special interview with Sarah Nichols, the Sustainable Maine Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine, an environmental advocacy organization. In this episode, William and Sarah discuss extended producer responsibility (EPR) policy and other policies intended to increase recycling and decrease the amount of packaging waste in landfills.…

  • How the United States’ Policies to Address the HIV Epidemic Can Help Us Beat COVID

    How the United States’ Policies to Address the HIV Epidemic Can Help Us Beat COVID

    Giovanni Liguori is a staff writer for Brief Policy Perspectives and a first-year MPP student. With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting every aspect of daily life and obligating lawmakers to address the public health crisis, one can’t help but think about other times in US history when such actions have been needed or considered before. Perhaps…