The criminal legal system often misunderstands—and mishandles—people with intellectual disabilities. Law professor Katie Kronick explains how and why these individuals so often fall through the cracks in a system built around efficiency and rigid rules. She breaks down the stakes with real examples, including a high-profile death penalty case now before the Supreme Court, and shares ideas for building a criminal justice system that recognizes and respects the needs of defendants with intellectual disabilities. For more on this topic: Read Kronick's amicus brief for the Supreme Court case Hamm v. Smith Check out her essay in the Sentencing Matters Substack: Why is it So Hard for Courts to Adjust to Advancements in Knowledge of Human Behavior? Read her op-ed in the Baltimore Sun: The Criminal Legal System Is Failing People With Intellectual Disabilities
--------
37:04
--------
37:04
Episode 287: Why Local Elections Matter
This Election Day is the perfect moment to look beyond the national headlines and focus on what's happening closer to home. As Americans head to the polls, Professor Brian Adams breaks down why state and local elections matter—from the mayors, town councils, and school boards shaping daily life to the policies that affect housing and public safety. He explains how voters make decisions with limited information in these races, the growing partisanship in local politics, and new initiatives aimed at reducing the influence of money in local elections. For more on this topic: Read Adams's article in The Conversation, Local Elections Are Less Partisan Because Voters Will Cross Party Lines When Issues Hit Close to Home, coauthored with Edward L. Lascher Jr. and Danielle Martin Check out his book: Citizen Lobbyists: Local Efforts to Influence Public Policy
--------
37:06
--------
37:06
Episode 286: The Past, Present, and Future of Reproductive Care
As access to abortion and contraception are curtailed across much of the U.S., Professor Lina-Maria Murillo explains that today's reproductive rights debates are part of a much longer story. Her research in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands show how race and power have always influenced who can get care and who cannot. She connects how earlier attempts to control women's bodies still shape current laws and discussions, and she shares what history can teach us about defending reproductive freedom now. For more on this topic: Check out Murillo's book, Fighting for Control: Power, Reproductive Care, and Race in the US-Mexico Borderlands Read her perspective in the Washington Post: Before Roe v. Wade, U.S. residents sought safer abortions in Mexico Read her SSN brief: Reproductive Freedom along the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands
--------
39:54
--------
39:54
Episode 285: The Big Business of Immigration Detention
The number of people held in immigration detention centers in the U.S. has exploded in recent years, reaching record highs under multiple administrations. And thanks to the Republican-led budget bill that became law in July, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has seen a major influx of federal funding, further fueling the expansion of detentions. Professor Nancy Hiemstra explains how detention became a multi-billion-dollar industry, breaking down who profits, who pays, and how communities across the country, not just along the border, have become tied to detention economies. For more on this topic: Check out Hiemstra's book with co-author Deirdre Conlon, Immigration Detention Inc.: The Big Business of Locking up Migrants Read the op-ed they co-authored in Newsweek: People Will Die at Alligator Alcatraz Read their SSN brief: How Expanded Migrant Detention Drives Profiteering and Leads to Tougher Immigration Policies
--------
37:20
--------
37:20
Episode 284: The New Reality of College Debt
Student loans are shaping the college experience more than ever. As tuition rises and financial aid rules keep changing, more students are taking on college debt. Professor Monnica Chan explains what's happening with student loans, Pell Grants, and repayment plans, and how these choices affect students long after graduation. She discusses the real impact of debt on college affordability, career decisions, and family life—and what solutions could make paying for college less stressful. For more on this topic Listen to Chan speak about proposed federal student aid regulations: Nine Scholars Provide Public Comment at U.S. Department of Education Hearing on Student Loan Reforms Read the piece she co-authored in The Conversation: 5 things to consider before taking out a student loan
No Jargon, the Scholars Strategy Network's bi-weekly podcast, presents interviews with top university scholars on the politics, policy problems, and social issues facing the nation. Powerful research, intriguing perspectives -- and no jargon. Find show notes and plain-language research briefs on hundreds of topics at https://scholars.org/podcast.
Österreich