New Blog Posts

  • Cults and Religious Freedom in the United States

    Cults and Religious Freedom in the United States

    Catherine Kaufman, MPA Staff Writer, Brief Policy Perspectives The United States is fascinated by cults. Television series are full of references—cults are present in every genre, from comedy and crime to horror and documentary. Cults are in the headlines too, with the recent NXIVM trials capturing America’s attention. With varying degrees of opposition, cults have been present in American society since its inception. Given the hysteria…

  • Getting Online: How States Can Address the Rural Broadband Adoption Gap

    Getting Online: How States Can Address the Rural Broadband Adoption Gap

    Reeve Jacobus, MPP Staff Writer, Brief Policy Perspectives Whether dealing with incarceration, health, or suicide rates, policy prescriptions that solve the problems of urban Americans aren’t often the same ones that will serve rural Americans best. This is especially evident when it comes to internet access across the country. While cities around the U.S. are…

  • A Carceral Capital: Washington, D.C.’s Unique Criminal Justice Systems

    Kaid Ray-Tipton, MPA Staff Writer, Brief Policy Perspectives The capital of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, has a higher incarceration rate than any of the U.S. states. In fact, the District incarcerates people at a higher rate than any country in the world (including the U.S. as a whole). A complex…

  • GW WonkCast S4E9: What is a Right?

    GW WonkCast S4E9: What is a Right?

    We often hear the word “right” used in policy discussions and debates about federal programs. But what exactly is a right? What is the difference between a positive right and a negative right? How does our understanding of rights influence what we believe about the roles and responsibilities of a government and its citizens? This…

  • Disabled, not Damaged: Applying the Social Model of Disability to Inclusion Initiatives

    Disabled, not Damaged: Applying the Social Model of Disability to Inclusion Initiatives

    Jenna Shelton, MPP Staff Writer, Brief Policy Perspectives Between 2018 and 2019, the prevalence of diversity and inclusion programs in workplaces increased by 8 percentage points. Diversity and inclusion initiatives pervade both the private and public sectors and are emphasized in many policy areas including employment, education, housing, and environmental policy. While the rise of diversity…