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Policy

Vox’s policy team covers how government action and inaction affect people’s lives: the problems facing the US, the ideas that could solve them, and the debates and arguments that will determine if those solutions become reality.

The self-inflicted death of American science has already begun
Future Perfect

Trump’s crackdown on foreign students and scientists will do irreparable harm to the country.

By Bryan Walsh
The self-inflicted death of American science has already begun
Future Perfect

Trump’s crackdown on foreign students and scientists will do irreparable harm to the country.

By Bryan Walsh
How should we sell psychedelics?How should we sell psychedelics?
Future Perfect

A new report outlines policy options for who gets to sell psychedelics, and who gets to buy them.

By Oshan Jarow
Are Democrats playing into Trump’s hands by fighting deportations?Are Democrats playing into Trump’s hands by fighting deportations?
Politics

Immigration is Trump’s best issue. But the benefits of fighting his lawless deportations are worth the political risks.

By Eric Levitz
This pro-Israel group keeps a blacklist. Now it’s taking credit for deportations.This pro-Israel group keeps a blacklist. Now it’s taking credit for deportations.
Politics

Canary Mission, the controversial organization targeting student activists, explained.

By Zack Beauchamp

The latest in Policy

Is this controversial policy helping kids — or making school more difficult?Is this controversial policy helping kids — or making school more difficult?
Life

How a day off can (and can’t) help children.

By Anna North
This senator met with Abrego Garcia in El Salvador. He tells us what he saw.This senator met with Abrego Garcia in El Salvador. He tells us what he saw.
Podcast
Today, Explained podcast

A conversation with Sen. Chris Van Hollen about Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s detention — and where America goes from here.

By Miles Bryan
The Supreme Court’s “Don’t Say Gay” argument went disastrously for public schoolsThe Supreme Court’s “Don’t Say Gay” argument went disastrously for public schools
Supreme Court

Many of the justices seemed eager to impose impossible burdens on schools.

By Ian Millhiser
The right-wing conspiracy behind Trump’s war on HarvardThe right-wing conspiracy behind Trump’s war on Harvard
Politics

They’ve dreamed for years of smashing elite universities. Now they’re getting their way.

By Andrew Prokop
Why Florida’s public universities are collaborating with ICEWhy Florida’s public universities are collaborating with ICE
Podcast
Today, Explained podcast

As Trump wages war against Harvard, something unprecedented is happening on Florida’s college campuses.

By Devan Schwartz and Sean Rameswaram
Clean energy is big business. These 5 threats loom large.
Escape Velocity

Where current policies and trends could do real damage to climate progress.

By Umair Irfan
Kavanaugh and Barrett appear likely to ride to Obamacare’s rescueKavanaugh and Barrett appear likely to ride to Obamacare’s rescue
Supreme Court

The two Republican justices appeared open to an attack on Obamacare, but ultimately seemed likely to reject it.

By Ian Millhiser
The Supreme Court signals it might be losing patience with TrumpThe Supreme Court signals it might be losing patience with Trump
Supreme Court

In an unusual overnight order, most of the justices voted to halt several illegal deportations.

By Ian Millhiser
The immigration fix hiding in plain sightThe immigration fix hiding in plain sight
Future Perfect

Biden got immigration wrong. But there’s something both parties can agree on.

By Kelsey Piper
The nightmarish problem with trying to make Trump obey court ordersThe nightmarish problem with trying to make Trump obey court orders
Criminal Justice

How can you punish Trump officials for violating the law, when federal law enforcement is controlled by Trump?

By Ian Millhiser
Trump has two options after a wrongful deportationTrump has two options after a wrongful deportation
The Logoff

Only one is lawful.

By Patrick Reis
Silicon Valley got Trump completely wrongSilicon Valley got Trump completely wrong
Technology

The tech right’s collapsing case for the Trump presidency.

By Eric Levitz
There’s no “right way” to immigrate anymoreThere’s no “right way” to immigrate anymore
Policy

Trump is punishing immigrants for following the rules.

By Abdallah Fayyad
Conservatives have a plan for cheaper day care. But is it safe?
Policy

To understand the future of child care, look to Idaho.

By Rachel Cohen
Inside one state’s fight to save child careInside one state’s fight to save child care
Child Care

Correspondent Rachel Cohen shares her reporter’s log from her trip to Boise, Idaho, to cover their political fight around child care.

By Rachel Cohen
Manufacturing jobs are never coming backManufacturing jobs are never coming back
Future Perfect

Putting Americans back to work in factories isn’t just hard. It’s impossible.

By Dylan Matthews
A Supreme Court case would take a wrecking ball to separation of church and state in schoolsA Supreme Court case would take a wrecking ball to separation of church and state in schools
Supreme Court

The Oklahoma charter school case is one of two April cases seeking to remake schools in the religious right’s image.

By Ian Millhiser
One unexpected side effect of Trump’s tariffsOne unexpected side effect of Trump’s tariffs
Politics

Trump’s tariffs might actually be good for Ukraine.

By Joshua Keating
The controversial anti-poverty solution coming to public schoolsThe controversial anti-poverty solution coming to public schools
Poverty

The “success sequence” has many critics, but lawmakers and parents don’t seem to care.

By Rachel Cohen
Is Trump defying the Supreme Court?Is Trump defying the Supreme Court?
The Logoff

His team argues it can leave a wrongfully deported man in a foreign mega-prison.

By Patrick Reis
Universities have a weapon in the fight against Trump. Why aren’t they using it?Universities have a weapon in the fight against Trump. Why aren’t they using it?
Education

Why rich schools aren’t tapping their fortunes to push back against the administration.

By Kevin Carey
The end of “college for all”The end of “college for all”
Explain It to Me

There’s more than one thing to do after high school.

By Jonquilyn Hill
The Supreme Court case that seeks to make everyone’s health insurance worse, explainedThe Supreme Court case that seeks to make everyone’s health insurance worse, explained
Supreme Court

The Obamacare wars are back.

By Ian Millhiser
The far-reaching effects of Trump’s tariffs on low-income people, explainedThe far-reaching effects of Trump’s tariffs on low-income people, explained
Policy

Wall Street may be reeling, but it’s poor and working-class people who’ll be hurt by the Trump’s trade war.

By Abdallah Fayyad
How commerce became our most powerful tool against global povertyHow commerce became our most powerful tool against global poverty
Good News

The inconvenient truth about trade.

By Bryan Walsh
He was deported in error. Why won’t the government provide any information about him?He was deported in error. Why won’t the government provide any information about him?
Politics

We don’t know what happened to Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s whereabouts — and it should worry every American.

By Nicole Narea
Trump defied a court order. The Supreme Court just handed him a partial loss.Trump defied a court order. The Supreme Court just handed him a partial loss.
Supreme Court

Even Trump’s lawyers concede that deporting Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia was illegal.

By Ian Millhiser
Trump just made it harder to have a kid in AmericaTrump just made it harder to have a kid in America
Policy

The tariffs are a baby tax, too.

By Anna North
The problem with the “progressive” case for tariffsThe problem with the “progressive” case for tariffs
Politics

Democrats shouldn’t echo Trump’s myths about trade.

By Eric Levitz
Why can Trump just say everything is an “emergency” and do whatever he wants?Why can Trump just say everything is an “emergency” and do whatever he wants?
Policy

Trump’s power to declare a national emergency is a national emergency.

By Abdallah Fayyad
Would you pay more for an American-made TV? This influential thinker thinks you will.Would you pay more for an American-made TV? This influential thinker thinks you will.
Politics

A conversation with Oren Cass, the right’s point person on tariffs.

By Noel King and Miles Bryan
Trump’s tariffs are a mess. But are tariffs always bad?Trump’s tariffs are a mess. But are tariffs always bad?
Policy

Don’t judge tariffs on how Trump is using them.

By Abdallah Fayyad
The Supreme Court just made it easier for Trump to deport peopleThe Supreme Court just made it easier for Trump to deport people
Supreme Court

Despite the fact there isn’t a plausible argument the Alien Enemies Act can be used to do so.

By Ian Millhiser
The influential paper that explains Trump’s radical tariff policyThe influential paper that explains Trump’s radical tariff policy
Future Perfect

Tariffs aren’t helping globalization’s losers — they’re victimizing them again.

By Dylan Matthews
What this disastrous week taught us about the Trump presidencyWhat this disastrous week taught us about the Trump presidency
Politics

The true nature of America’s crisis has been revealed.

By Zack Beauchamp
A catastrophe is unfolding at the top US health agency — and it will put American lives at riskA catastrophe is unfolding at the top US health agency — and it will put American lives at risk
Health

US health care is never going to be the same.

By Dylan Scott
The real reason Trump is destroying the economyThe real reason Trump is destroying the economy
Politics

Trump is imposing ruinous tariffs because American democracy is no longer strong enough to stop him.

By Zack Beauchamp
Teens’ biggest worry about college under TrumpTeens’ biggest worry about college under Trump
Education

Going off to school has never felt more uncertain.

By Anna North
The Supreme Court struggles with whether to wound Medicaid to spite Planned ParenthoodThe Supreme Court struggles with whether to wound Medicaid to spite Planned Parenthood
Supreme Court

The case should have a clear outcome, but a Republican Court overcomplicates everything that involves abortion.

By Ian Millhiser
Trump’s harshest agenda item is also his most popularTrump’s harshest agenda item is also his most popular
Immigration

Despite negative marks on the economy, Trump’s immigration policies are keeping him afloat.

By Christian Paz
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