New Blog Posts

  • Losing Ground in Latin America and the Caribbean

    Losing Ground in Latin America and the Caribbean

    Matias Bidegaray is a staff writer and first-year MPP student. In December of last year, former President Biden embarked on a trip to South America, where his administration announced new investments in the region. The U.S. and Peru agreed to a $6.2 million sale of retired trains from California, in addition to over $100 million in…

  • TANF After 28 Years: 3 Possibilities for Reform

    TANF After 28 Years: 3 Possibilities for Reform

    Caroline Wendzel is a staff writer and second-year MPP student. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)—or “welfare”—is one of the most well-known governmental programs aimed at reducing poverty among children and families. Despite this, the program serves only a small portion of families and individuals experiencing poverty, and those that are served often face significant barriers…

  • The Affirmative Action Aftermath: New Trends in College Admissions

    The Affirmative Action Aftermath: New Trends in College Admissions

    Azia Richardson-Williams is a staff writer and first-year MPA student. For many students, the summer between junior and senior year marks a pivotal moment—transforming dreams of higher education into tangible possibilities. Amid the whirlwind of college tours, acceptance letters, and the flood of applications, students craft personal narratives that intertwine their lived experiences with university…

  • Equity and the D.C. Better Bus Initiative

    Equity and the D.C. Better Bus Initiative

    Chase Karbon is a staff writer and first-year MPP student. Equity will be one of Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) focuses as it implements its Better Bus redesign during the summer of 2025 after three years of community input, hearings, and draft network maps. WMATA stated that this would be the most comprehensive redesign…

  • The Costs of Mass Deportation

    The Costs of Mass Deportation

    Matias Bidegaray is a staff writer and first-year MPP student. President-elect Donald Trump has long promised mass deportations as a part of his immigration policy. In his 2016 presidential campaign, then-candidate Trump promised to deport all 11 million undocumented immigrants residing in the United States. Now, as president-elect, he has pledged to undertake “the largest domestic…