Navigating Public Policy, Technology, Health, Data, and Innovation for a Fairer Future
Leadership is not simply about holding power. It is about knowing when to pass it on. Senator Dick Durbin’s decision to step aside after a lifetime of public service is an act of true leadership. At a moment when many cling to office long after their energy wanes, Durbin chose instead to strengthen democracy by Read More “A Thank You to Senator Dick Durbin”
A funny thing happened on the way to the startup revolution. We built an entire mythology around the entrepreneur, but forgot to fund the human being behind it. For decades now, the entrepreneur has been hailed as a kind of American folk hero. Gritty, self-reliant, bootstrapped. A doer, not a dreamer. The stories are everywhere: Read More “America’s Innovation Economy Runs on Unpaid Labor”
The architecture of mass incarceration is evolving, and it is wearing a suit. This week, a plan emerged from the shadow corridors of militarized entrepreneurship. Erik Prince, the controversial founder of Blackwater, is now proposing to detain and deport undocumented immigrants by building a for-profit prison system not on American soil, but in El Salvador. Read More “From Wall Street to Cell Blocks: The Monetization of Detention in a Globalized Fear Economy”
Last night’s judicial election in Wisconsin wasn’t just a local affair. It was a referendum, not just on partisan politics, but on whether our democratic institutions can still withstand the influence of wealth and power. The race was saturated with outside money. The endorsements were loud. The stakes were high. And the voters still said Read More “A Quiet Victory, A Clear Message”
Last night, something remarkable happened in Wisconsin. In a special election many thought would fly under the radar, the people delivered a sharp, resounding answer to a question the nation keeps asking: Is democracy still ours? It was a small race on paper — a state Supreme Court seat. But the forces lined up on Read More “This Time, the People Won”
Redlining shaped America’s housing and financial systems for decades. Banks and developers systematically excluded Black and immigrant communities from wealth-building opportunities through discriminatory loan practices. That history left a legacy still visible in racial wealth gaps and economic disparities. Machine-learning models now shape access to capital and employment, but instead of eliminating bias, they often Read More “Who Gets the Keys? How AI is Deciding Who Can Buy a Home”
Abstract Voice of America (VOA), a U.S. government-funded international broadcaster, has traditionally served as a nonpartisan tool of American soft power. However, former President Donald Trump has exhibited an unprecedented hostility toward VOA, viewing it as an adversary rather than an asset. This paper examines Trump’s long-standing grievances against VOA, beginning with his first term Read More “Donald Trump’s Grievances Against Voice of America: A Historical Analysis (working paper)”
Millions of students lost more than just classroom time during the pandemic. Many lost confidence in their ability to learn. A child who once loved math now stares at a worksheet with uncertainty. A teenager who used to raise their hand in class now hesitates, afraid of getting the answer wrong. The disruption to education Read More “How AI is Restoring Confidence for Students Who Fell Behind During the Pandemic”
Rocket Companies’ $1.75 billion acquisition of Redfin isn’t just about selling more mortgages or real estate listings – it’s about owning the data behind every home search and sale. The deal fuses America’s largest mortgage lender with a major home-listing platform, instantly creating a one-stop shop for house-hunters. But make no mistake: this “seamless” platform Read More “The Real Estate Merger That Turns Homebuyers into a Product”
Gavin Newsom has always had a knack for political theatrics. From his early days as the San Francisco mayor who defied state law to issue same-sex marriage licenses to his tenure as the governor who made California the vanguard of progressive policy, he has played the role of liberal warrior with ease. But if the Read More “Can Newsom Win Middle America? The California Governor’s 2028 Bet”