2025 In the Media

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‘Virality, Rumors and Lies’: US Federal Agencies Mimic Trump on Social Media (The Guardian, Dec 2025) Joan Donovan (COM & CISS Affiliate) points out how some government offices use “rage-bait” to reach those who disagree with the current administrations’ agenda in order to garner attention and focus, hopefully reaching the President and getting his approval.

More 4-Year Colleges Offer 2-Year Degrees to Reach New Groups of Students (PBS Newshour, Dec 2025) Anthony Abraham Jack (WED, Higher Education Leadership & CISS Affiliate) is quoted in this article about 4-year colleges’ effort to reach different student group constituents by offering 2-year degrees.

US Political Divide: Deep Wounds Remain from the Longest-ever Government Shutdown (Al Jazeera English, Dec 2025) Thomas Whalen (CGS/Social Science) discusses the effects of Trump and the recent government shut-down on the US.

Donald Trump Has Lost the Suburbs (Newsweek, Dec 2025) Thomas Whalen (CGS/Social Science) comments on Donald Trump’s recent polling in suburban American, dropping from -3 percentage points in September to -16 points in December. 

The US Is in Worse Fiscal Shape than Italy (Centre for Economic Policy Research, Dec 2025) Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS/Economics) looks at the state of the American economy in relation to that of Italy and finds the U.S.’ is in worse shape.

Op-Eds Are Shrinking as Substack and LinkedIn Newsletters Are Expanding (Insider Higher Ed, Dec 2025) Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS/Economics) discusses the changing horizon of communication options including op-eds and Substack and LinkedIn newsletter.

In New Book, a Brookline Author and Professor Calls Out Ads Disguised as News (Brookline.News, Dec 2025) Michelle Amazeen (COM/Mass Communication & CISS Affiliate) warns that “native advertising” — paid promotional content designed to mimic legitimate journalism — blurs the line between news and commercial messaging, allowing powerful industries like fossil fuel companies to “borrow the halo of credibility” from trusted outlets. She argues that as AI-generated content and deep fakes accelerate public confusion, eliminating deceptive sponsored content is essential to protecting journalistic integrity and maintaining readers’ ability to discern reliable information.

In an Age of Streaming and AI Slop, Parents and Researchers Worry about a Shrinking PBS Kids (The Boston Globe, Dec 2025) Andrew David (CGS/Social Science) is quoted in this Boston Globe article.

For the First Time, Skeptics of Mainstream Medicine are Running the Country. What Comes Next? (The Boston Globe, Dec 2025) Benjamin Siegel (CAS/History & CISS Affiliate) is quoted in this Boston Globe article.

America’s Most Relaxed Cities in 2026 (LawnStarter, Dec 2025) Deborah Carr (CAS/Sociology & CISS Director) highlights how individual stress-management strategies matter, but emphasizes that the biggest drivers of daily stress are structural, including economic insecurity, lack of affordable housing, inadequate health coverage, and unsupportive workplaces. She argues that meaningful national reductions in stress require policy interventions, while on the personal level she recommends social support, healthy routines, and reframing catastrophic thinking to help people cope more effectively.

Donald Trump Voters Don’t Want a Third Term as Approval Rating Sinks (Newsweek, Dec 2025) Thomas Whalen (CGS/Social Science) is cited interpreting new Economist/YouGov polling showing that more 2024 Trump voters oppose a third term than support it, suggesting growing dissatisfaction within Trump’s own base. Whalen notes that despite rhetoric from figures like Steve Bannon about a possible 2028 run, the data indicate “erosion in enthusiasm among core supporters,” a trend he says could weaken Trump’s leverage within the GOP even as he publicly muses about extending his presidency.

Herd Immunity Explained: How Vaccination Keeps Families Safe (Neurology Today, Dec 2025) Pria Anand (BUMC/Neurology & CISS Affiliate) emphasizes that herd immunity is essential for protecting infants, immunocompromised people, and others who cannot fully respond to vaccines, warning that declining MMR and polio vaccination rates endanger the most vulnerable. She notes that neurologic complications from measles and polio, including encephalitis and long-term brain injury, remain severe, and stresses that staying up to date on vaccines is especially critical for patients with neurologic or autoimmune conditions, for whom even mild infections can trigger setbacks or worsen disease.

The Plague That Won’t Die (The New York Review of Books, Dec 2025) Pria Anand (BUMC/Neurology & CISS Affiliate) reflects on her own recent tuberculosis diagnosis to argue that TB is far from a relic of medical history, highlighting that it remains the world’s leading infectious killer and that the United States is not insulated from its resurgence. Drawing on new books by John Green and Vidya Krishnan, she shows how TB’s persistence is rooted in historical neglect, structural inequality, and enduring myths about who is at risk.

1.6 Million Americans Removed From Health Care Plan Under Trump Admin (Newsweek, Dec 2025) Paul Shafer (SPH/Health Law, Policy, and Management & CISS Affiliate) is quoted sounding the alarm about the scale and trajectory of Medicaid losses during the ongoing post-pandemic unwinding. While federal officials emphasize program integrity, Shafer notes that 17 million people have already been cut from Medicaid and CHIP since 2023, and warns that upcoming work-reporting requirements, increased paperwork, and the expiration of ACA enhanced subsidies will push many more out of coverage.

The Uncomfortable Truth About Climate AI (Foreign Policy, Dec 2025) Benjamin Sovacool (CAS/Earth and Environment & CISS Affiliate) is quoted in this piece, underscoring the dual-use risks of climate-focused AI as militaries and global institutions increasingly deploy these tools to predict disasters and track environmental change. 

Orangutan Adopts Little Sister After Their Mother’s Death (National Geographic, Nov 2025) Cheryl Knott (CAS/Anthropology) is featured as senior author on the first detailed report of adoption in wild orangutans, documenting how a young female, Rossa, adopted her five-year-old sister Ronnie after their mother, Veli, disappeared. Based on Knott’s long-term research in Indonesia’s Gunung Palung National Park, the study shows how Rossa—only about 12 years old at the time—began traveling, nesting, and sharing food with Ronnie in a manner indistinguishable from a mother–offspring pair. Because orangutans are solitary and juveniles depend on maternal care for many years, such adoption is exceptionally rare and difficult to observe. Knott emphasizes that researchers witness only “a sliver” of orangutan lives, making genetic analysis crucial to uncovering the sisters’ true relationship. The findings provide new insight into orangutan social flexibility and the behaviors that may help orphaned juveniles survive in the wild.

Public Health Should Embrace GLP-1 Drugs Without Abandoning Obesity Prevention (STAT News, Nov 2025) Andrew Stokes (SPH, Global Health & CISS Affiliate) argues that expanded access to GLP-1 drugs offers a major opportunity to reduce obesity and narrow the U.S. mortality gap, but warns that enthusiasm for these medications must not eclipse the upstream social and structural drivers of obesity. While highly effective treatments like Wegovy and Zepbound could improve population health, Stokes notes that obesity is also shaped by low wages, segregation, food insecurity, and the under-regulation of ultra-processed foods — factors no medication can fix alone. He emphasizes the continued need for strong nutrition policy, food-industry regulation, and efforts to prevent weight discrimination, especially among children and marginalized groups. 

‘A Time of Urgency’: Crisis in the Antibacterial Pipeline (Healio, Nov 2025) Kevin Outterson (School of Law & CISS Affiliate) is quoted underscoring the severity of the shrinking global antibacterial pipeline, as WHO’s 2025 analysis shows a drop in candidates under development and continued gaps in innovation. Comparing antibacterial R&D to other therapeutic areas, Outterson argues “we’re deep in a hole,” noting that even promising developments, such as new mechanisms of action and a growing slate of nontraditional agents, remain far too limited to meet accelerating resistance. He highlights the rapid rise of multidrug-resistant infections and the staggering death toll from gram-negative pathogens, warning that “more people are dying from drug-resistant, gram-negative bacterial infections than are dying from HIV.” Outterson frames the crisis as one of both scarcity and insufficient investment, emphasizing that early-stage discoveries have long odds of reaching approval and that the world must dramatically increase the number of research projects in the pipeline if it hopes to sustain a viable pace of new antibiotics.

Taking Social Security at 62 Is a Hot Topic. Experts Weigh In (Yahoo Finance, Nov 2025) Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS/Economics) is quoted pushing back against the viral wave of TikTok and YouTube “finfluencers” encouraging Americans to claim Social Security at 62 and invest the checks in the stock market. While influencers highlight recent strong market returns, Kotlikoff stresses that delaying benefits until 70 delivers guaranteed, inflation-protected increases—roughly 8% per year—that no investment strategy can reliably match. He acknowledges that some people claim early due to job loss, health issues, or immediate financial need, but emphasizes that intentionally taking benefits at 62 to speculate in equities is “the biggest mistake people make”.

China’s Li Launches Charm Offensive on Rare Earths at G-20 (Bloomberg, Nov 2025) Kevin P. Gallagher (Pardee/Global Development Policy) was featured in this coverage of the G-20 summit, where he assessed Premier Li Qiang’s rare-earths diplomacy.

These Ads Are Poisoning Trust in Media (Exxon News, Nov 2025) Michelle Amazeen (COM/Mass Communication & CISS Affiliate) is quoted warning that “native advertising”—sponsored content designed to mimic real journalism—is eroding public trust and undermining the democratic role of the press. Drawing on findings from her new book Content Confusion, Amazeen documents how major news outlets have produced climate-related native ads for fossil fuel companies that blur editorial boundaries, mislead readers, and sometimes contradict the outlets’ own reporting. Her research shows that audiences frequently mistake native ads for journalism, become angry when they learn the truth, and often lose confidence in the publication rather than the advertiser. She urges media organizations to abandon the practice—or at minimum adopt stronger disclosure standards and public repositories for sponsored content—warning that native ads “squander” the press’s responsibility to serve the public rather than corporate interests.

MAHA Idealism Meets Political Reality as RFK Jr. Attempts to Wrangle a Growing Movement (AP News, Nov 2025) Matthew Motta (SPH/Health Law, Policy, and Management & CISS Affiliate) is quoted analyzing the tensions emerging within Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s expanding “Make America Healthy Again” coalition, as longtime environmental and anti-vaccine activists clash with Kennedy’s willingness to work alongside pharmaceutical and tech companies. As MAHA attracts a broader constituency—including biotech, AI firms, and health-industry partners—some original supporters accuse the administration of abandoning core “health freedom” ideals. Motta frames these fractures as a predictable political dynamic, noting that “the bigger your tent is, the harder it can be to make everyone happy.” He adds that MAHA has evolved beyond any single issue, arguing that political identities are durable and deeply felt—meaning the movement is unlikely to simply fade, even as coalition pressures intensify.

Paying for Prevention: How to Fix AMR’s Broken Incentives (Infection Control Today, Nov 2025) Kevin Outterson (School of Law & CISS Affiliate) is quoted arguing that US hospitals face a fundamental misalignment of incentives around antimicrobial resistance: infections are costlier and lengthen stays, yet hospitals are not reimbursed for the added care, while the larger societal costs—lost productivity, disability, onward transmission—remain invisible in current funding models. Because prevention’s successes are “what doesn’t happen,” he likens infection control to a fire department that should be publicly funded as a shared good rather than expected to generate revenue. Outterson warns that hospitals are financially penalized for adopting better diagnostics or using appropriate but expensive antibiotics, and supports the PASTEUR Act as a needed correction. He concludes that infection-prevention teams are working into “50-mile-an-hour headwinds” and calls for funding structures that reward, rather than punish, doing the right thing.

‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ and When ‘Being on a Break’ Makes Cheating OK (USA Today, Nov 2025) Deborah Carr (CAS/Sociology & CISS Director) is quoted in this analysis of how relationship “breaks” often create confusion about fidelity and emotional boundaries. Carr explains that partners frequently hold different interpretations of what a break permits, noting that “if the couple does not both believe they are on a break and have the freedom to pursue other interests — then that’s cheating,” even if both have nominally agreed to see others. She adds that mutual permission to date doesn’t necessarily prevent hurt, since one partner may still feel “really hurt” when the other acts on that freedom. The column also cites Carr’s guidance that breaks can be useful during periods of trauma or stagnation, but only if couples clearly define the length of the break, rules around seeing other people, and shared goals for the time apart — otherwise, she warns, “they’ll destroy the relationship.”

How Epstein Vote Signals Beginning of the End for Trump, According to Experts (The I Paper, Nov 2025) Bruce J. Schulman (CAS/History) is quoted in this analysis of how the near-unanimous congressional vote to release the Epstein files has exposed rare fractures within both the Republican Party and the Maga movement. Schulman calls the Epstein fight a “singular, unusual matter,” cautioning that its one-off nature makes it difficult to know whether Republicans will defy Trump on other issues, especially since the vote does not guarantee the files will become public and could still lead to further conflict over disclosure. 

Canada Lost Its Measles Elimination Status; U.S. May Be Next (Bloomberg, Nov 2025) Matthew Motta (SPH/Health Law, Policy, and Management & CISS Affiliate) is quoted in this analysis of how anti-vaccine activism and state-level “medical freedom” campaigns are eroding U.S. public-health protections. Motta explains that when activists succeed in turning settled scientific issues — such as vaccines, raw milk, or fluoride — into points of controversy, they can replicate those strategies in other states. The column also cites Motta’s research finding that states introduced 376 anti-vaccine bills in 2023, 42 of which became law, with Republican lawmakers sponsoring the vast majority. Warning about the growing influence of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Motta notes that “when RFK Jr. talks, state lawmakers listen,” underscoring how Kennedy’s involvement in state-level policy debates is helping drive a nationwide wave of anti-science legislation.

How Republicans Can Rescue the Party and Do Something Good for Americans (The Hill, Nov 2025) Joseph Harris (CAS/Sociology & CISS Affiliate) authors this op-ed arguing that Republicans could avert political disaster by embracing a “public option” as a market-friendly solution to rising health care costs. Drawing on comparative health-system evidence, Harris contends that a public option would lower premiums through administrative efficiencies while preserving private insurance choice, positioning it as a pragmatic alternative to single-payer proposals. He argues that, amid soaring premiums, Trump’s recent drug-price deal is only a partial fix—and that adopting a public option could both relieve economic pressure on Americans and offer the GOP a politically viable path heading into the 2026 midterms.

The Evolution of Marjorie Taylor Greene (Newsweek, Nov 2025) Thomas Whalen (CGS/Social Science) is quoted in this piece analyzing Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene’s recent breaks with the Trump administration on foreign policy, spending, and health care. Highlighting the political calculations behind her critiques, Whalen notes that Trump’s proposed cuts to social safety-net programs would “hit her red district constituents the hardest,” framing Greene’s new positions as a pragmatic shift rooted in local electoral realities. Citing Tip O’Neill’s adage that “all politics is local,” he argues that Greene’s move toward relative moderation is both rational and potentially advantageous should she seek higher office.

Here’s Why Fewer People Are Vaccinating Their Pets (TIME, Nov 2025) Matthew Motta (SPH/Health Law, Policy, and Management & CISS Affiliate) is quoted in this feature examining the rise of anti-vaccine sentiment among pet owners. Discussing his research on how Covid-era attitudes toward human vaccines influence beliefs about pet vaccinations, Motta notes that “the way that people feel about one form of vaccination spills over to shape the way they feel about all forms of vaccination,” linking this trend to broader partisan identities. He also expresses concern that the growing Make America Healthy Again movement and similar political pressures could lead lawmakers to question or attempt to roll back long-standing rabies vaccine requirements—an outcome he says once seemed “preposterous” but is now increasingly plausible.

43 Cancellations Reported at Logan Airport on Friday (The Boston Globe, Nov, 2025) Makarand Mody (SHA/Hospitality Marketing & CISS Affiliate) is quoted in this report on widespread flight cancellations at Boston’s Logan International Airport following federal mandates to reduce flight volumes amid a government shutdown. Mody emphasizes that such disruptions “don’t just impact airlines,” noting their ripple effects across hotels, restaurants, and the broader travel industry. 

Trump’s Idea to Rename Veterans Day Fizzled for Good Reason (Los Angeles Times, Nov, 2025) Joanna Davidson (CAS/Anthropology & CISS Affiliate) explores how naming and renaming practices—both in U.S. politics and across cultures—reveal deeper social values and moral frameworks. Drawing from her anthropological research among Jola communities in West Africa and Keith Basso’s work on Western Apache placenames, Davidson contrasts communal, reflective naming traditions with the Trump administration’s unilateral renaming campaigns. She argues that while names can serve as “tools for conviviality,” inviting moral reflection and shared accountability, the administration’s top-down renamings distort this human capacity, turning naming into an instrument of domination rather than dialogue.

Trump’s Dollar Delusion: How Trade War Risks Ending the US’s ‘Exorbitant Privilege’ (The Guardian, Nov 2025) Tarek Hassan (CAS/Economics) is cited in this analysis of the Trump administration’s conflicting economic policies and their potential to erode the global dominance of the U.S. dollar. As Trump’s team flirts with weakening the dollar through tariffs and protectionist measures, Hassan warns that such policies reduce the currency’s role as a global hedge against economic shocks. Hassan estimates that Trump’s tariffs have already raised U.S. interest rates by roughly half a percentage point—undermining the dollar’s appeal as the world’s safe haven and threatening the United States’ long-standing “exorbitant privilege.”

The Media Is Complicit in the Climate Confusion (The Nation, Nov 2025) Michelle Amazeen (COM/Mass Communication & CISS Affiliate) is featured in this analysis of how journalism contributes to public misunderstanding about climate change. Drawing from her forthcoming book Content Confusion, Amazeen shows how major media outlets increasingly blur the line between editorial and advertorial content, often for fossil fuel companies. Her research finds that only about one in three readers can distinguish legitimate reporting from paid advertisements designed to look like news, and that when such “native ads” are shared on social media, required disclosures frequently disappear. She warns that these practices allow fossil fuel interests to “fox their way into the henhouse,” shaping public perception while undermining trust in journalism.

Ursus spp. in Unalaska: Bear Remains and Neoglacial Expansion in the Aleutian Islands (Arctic Data Center, Oct 2025) Catherine West (CAS/Archaeology & CISS Affiliate) is featured in this piece, reporting on a collaborative study examining ancient bear remains on Unalaska Island. Building on West’s Unalaska Sea Ice Project, the research confirms the mid-Holocene presence of both polar and brown bears at the Margaret Bay site, suggesting sea ice expansion connected the Aleutians to the mainland 4,700–2,500 years ago. West’s work situates these findings within broader studies of human–animal relations and climate change in the North Pacific, integrating zooarchaeology, molecular anthropology, and Unangan community perspectives to illuminate how neoglacial cooling reshaped both ecosystems and cultural life.

New York Chooses the Unlikely Candidate: A Muslim Socialist to Confront Trump (UOL, Nov 2025) Thomas Whalen (CGS/Social Science) provides expert commentary in this analysis of New York’s recent mayoral election, discussing the city’s decision to elect an unexpected progressive candidate.

Why Newly Re-elected Mayor Michelle Wu’s Popularity Is Growing in Boston (CBS News WBZ-TV, Nov 2025) Thomas Whalen (CGS/Social Science) is featured in this piece, weighing in on what Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is doing to gain popularity in the city.

Is it OK to Be Nosy, or Should I Just Mind My Own Business? (Brain for Business, Oct 2025) Richard Currie (School of Hospitality Administration/Organizational Psychology & CISS Affiliate) is featured in this Brain for Business podcast episode exploring the psychology of nosiness and how curiosity about colleagues can shape workplace dynamics. 

Can Canada Become an Energy Superpower? (BBC Business Daily, Oct 2025) Benjamin Sovacool (CAS/Earth and Environment & CISS Affiliate) is quoted in this BBC Business Daily podcast examining Canada’s ambitions to position itself as an “energy superpower” in clean electricity, oil, and gas.

Islam, Society, and Politics in Indonesia (LSE Dialogues on Southeast Asia Podcast, Oct 2025) Robert W. Hefner (CAS/Anthropology) appears on the London School of Economics’ Saw Swee Hock SEAC podcast to discuss his decades of research on Islam and democracy in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation. Reflecting on fieldwork from the 1970s–1990s, Hefner describes Indonesia as the most “associationalized Islamic society in the world,” highlighting how pluralism and civic nationalism endured despite past political violence. He traces the evolution of Islamic movements and the country’s transition from authoritarianism to democracy, offering insight into why Indonesia remains a unique model of inclusive, multiethnic Islamic politics.

Vaccine Skepticism Comes for Pet Owners, Too (The New York Times, Oct, 2025) Matthew Motta (SPH/Health Law, Policy, and Management & CISS Affiliate) is quoted in this feature on the spillover of anti-vaccine sentiment into veterinary medicine. Discussing how Covid-19 attitudes have reshaped broader vaccine views, Motta explains that “the way that people feel about the Covid-19 vaccine has changed the way they feel about all vaccines, including for their pets,” and warns that rising skepticism could lead to political pressure to loosen rabies-vaccine mandates.

Is Last-Minute Travel the New Normal? (The Wall Street Journal, Oct 2025) Makarand Mody (SHA/Hospitality Marketing & CISS Affiliate) is quoted in this feature on the growing U.S. trend toward last-minute travel bookings. Commenting on how airlines are adapting to travelers’ shrinking planning windows, Mody explains that carriers “have kept most pandemic-era flexibility on standard economy and above, which supports later commitment without scaring off planners,” and are “rethinking distribution to ensure these dynamic offers show up where late deciders are shopping.”

Historian, Preservationists Decry Trump’s Demolition of White House’s East Wing (WCVB-TV Boston, Oct 2025) Thomas Whalen (CGS/Social Science) is quoted in this report on President Donald Trump’s controversial decision to demolish the East Wing of the White House to construct a $300 million ballroom. Whalen noted that while presidents have modified the residence before, “none of those projects was on the scale of Trump’s ballroom,” adding that “the White House … is going to look like a garage next to what is being put in place.”

China Finds Costly New Way of Boosting Xi’s Global Yuan Push (Bloomberg News, Oct 2025) Kevin P. Gallagher (Pardee) is cited in this report on China’s strategy to expand the yuan’s international role by converting dollar-denominated debts into yuan loans for developing nations. Gallagher notes that “the world’s 78 poorest countries … have about $67 billion in outstanding debt to China” and explains that “if China refinances its debt to countries for longer terms and lower interest rates, it will give these countries much needed fiscal space.”

Health Insurance Subsidy Standoff Pits Affordable Care for Millions Against Federal Budget Constraints (The Conversation, Oct 2025) In this analysis, Christopher Robertson (School of Law & CISS Affiliate) and coauthor examine the legal and fiscal stakes of the federal standoff over renewing Affordable Care Act premium subsidies. Robertson explains that without new legislation, the enhanced subsidies—first expanded in 2021 and extended through 2025—will expire on January 1, 2026, sharply increasing premiums and making coverage unaffordable for millions. The article situates the issue within broader tensions between health access and budget discipline, highlighting how the expiration could reverse historic coverage gains achieved since the pandemic.

China Pushes Yuan Global Use by Flexing Creditor Power Across Developing Nations (Cryptopolitan, Oct 2025) Kevin P. Gallagher (Pardee) is quoted in this analysis of China’s strategy to expand the yuan’s international reach by refinancing debts owed by developing countries. Gallagher notes that the world’s 78 poorest nations owe roughly $67 billion to China and explains that “if China refinances its debt to countries for longer terms and lower interest rates, it will give these countries much-needed fiscal space.”

World Conference on China Studies Serves as Dynamic Platform for Promoting Global Civilization Initiative (Global Times, Oct 2025) Liah Greenfeld (CAS/Sociology, faculty emerita) is cited in this feature on the second World Conference on China Studies in Shanghai. She emphasizes that China’s rise marks “a new chapter in civilizational studies,” offering a historic opportunity for humanity to deepen self-understanding and mutual learning through comparative civilizational perspectives.

Spread of Dubai-Style Urbanism “Quite Terrifying,” Says Quinn Slobodian (Dezeen, Oct 2025) Quinn Slobodian (Pardee & CISS Affiliate) warns that the global spread of Dubai-style, anti-democratic urban design is “quite terrifying.” In the interview, he argues that cities modeled on special economic zones—such as Dubai, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia’s Neom—promote “radical conformity and homogeneity” while eroding civic freedom. “What frightens me,” Slobodian says, “is the private city … that seeks to enforce Dubai-like conditions on the existing organic complexity of cities and produce hard barriers of exclusion and inclusion based on superior economic utility.”

What Maine’s Back-to-School Sales Tell Us About Holiday Spending (Portland Press Herald, Oct 2025) Laurence J. Kotlikoff (CAS/Economics) is quoted in this report on consumer behavior and what Maine’s fall retail trends reveal about Americans’ spending outlook heading into the holiday season.

OpenAI’s Sora 2 Found to Generate False Claim Videos 80% of the Time (Tech News World, Oct 2025) Michelle Amazeen (COM/Mass Communication & CISS Affiliate) calls NewsGuard’s findings “deeply concerning.” She warns that AI-generated videos like those created by Sora 2 “further muddy the waters” for audiences already struggling with misinformation. “Just when media consumers were already navigating a complex and often confusing information landscape, AI-generated content like Sora 2’s videos further muddies the waters by producing highly convincing false claims,” Amazeen says. “This only intensifies the challenge of discerning truth from misinformation in today’s digital age.”

Trump Sets up Vance, Rubio, and Others for Success and Competition in Lead-up to 2028 (Washington Examiner, Oct 2025) Thomas Whalen (CGS/Social Science) cautions that Trump’s praise of multiple Cabinet members reflects his impulsive and strategic nature rather than a clear plan for succession. “Trump is kind of all over the map,” Whalen says. “In February, he basically refused to even suggest that Vance would be a good successor… He’s kind of hinted at it, and Rubio was the latest contender. He’s basically very impulsive. He does everything by the seat of his pants.” Whalen adds that Trump’s approach amounts to “a shell game” — “He’s basically kind of playing them off, one against the other. Divide and conquer… They’re going to all try to scramble for his favor, and that works to his political advantage.”

Do we all eat sad desk lunches now? How the midday break disappeared (Yahoo Life, Oct 2025) Megan Elias (MET Gastronomy Program & CISS Affiliate) explains that the modern lunch hour was born out of the industrial era’s rigid, timed workdays and has since become shaped by surveillance and productivity pressures. She warns that eating alone at one’s desk erodes both health and community, noting that “when you’re enjoying something, even if it’s just a grilled cheese, in the company of other people enjoying things, it’s a kind of affirmation of your humanity.” Elias adds, “We all have this little piece of time that should be ours, and we keep giving it back.”

Donald Trump Has Done Everything Except Unite Americans (The Globe and Mail, Oct 2025) Thomas Whalen (CGS/Social Science) is quoted in this analysis on the deepening political polarization in the United States and Donald Trump’s enduring influence on national division.

Political Expert Weighs In on Markey-Moulton Senate Primary (Boston 25 News, Oct 16 2025) Thomas Whalen (CGS/Social Science) is interviewed about the emerging 2026 Democratic Senate primary between Ed Markey and Seth Moulton. He notes that while Markey defied expectations against Joseph Kennedy III in 2020, the dynamics may differ this time, with Moulton likely appealing to moderates as Markey consolidates progressive support.

Editorial: Limit on Student Visas Is a Limit on Economic Strength (Boston Business Journal, Oct 2025) Melissa L. Gilliam (President) warns that the proposed four-year cap on student visas would “undercut our ability to attract and retain the best talent in the world, and hold back our country’s economy and global competitiveness.” She argues that restricting international students threatens the innovation and vitality that fuel U.S. higher education and economic growth.

District 7 Needs a New City Councilor. Who Can Take on Its Challenges? (WGBH, Oct 2025) Christine Slaughter (CAS/Political Science & CISS Affiliate) is quoted on declining voter engagement in Boston’s District 7. “This is an off-cycle year,” she notes, asking how to boost participation when national politics dominate attention. She adds: “Are we able to hold our elected officials accountable, especially in a progressive city like Boston?”

Why The Path To The Mayor’s Office Runs Through Southwest Minneapolis (The Minnesota Star Tribune, Oct 2025) Katherine Levine Einstein (CAS/Political Science & CISS Affiliate) is quoted in this article on recent mayoral elections in Minneapolis.

British Fashion Has Always Been About More Than Just Looks (TIME / Made by History, Oct 2025) Margot Rashba (GRS/History & CISS Affiliate) traces how postwar Britain leveraged fashion and the creative industries to project cultural strength amid shifting global power. She examines how designers like Mary Quant, punk pioneers Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren, and political figures such as Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair each used style as a vehicle for national identity and soft power. Rashba writes that the new British Museum Gala continues this tradition, showing that “the creative industries are a powerful tool with a critical role in shaping national image and identity.”

China Studies in the Era of Digital Intelligence (China Daily, Oct 2025) Liah Greenfeld (CAS/Sociology, faculty emerita) is quoted in this piece on the 2nd World Conference on China Studies, saying that China’s rise “like the Himalayas” has prompted the world to reassess its understanding of civilization. “Western civilization is not the whole story,” she added. “Each civilization should be evaluated within its own historical context rather than through external frameworks.”

Fewer Vermonters Report Religious Affiliation in Nationwide Survey (VTDigger, Oct 2025) “Parents are not necessarily taking their kids to church or synagogue, and if you’ve grown up without a religious tradition, and all you see in the news about religion is some right-wing politician or some scandal of abuse in the church, that’s not exactly what you want to do with your Sundays,” Nancy Ammerman (CAS/Sociology, faculty emerita) is quoted saying in this piece on Pew’s new Religious Landscape Study, which found that 46% of Vermonters now identify with no religion — the second-highest rate in the nation. Ammerman links the decline to generational change and the perception of religion as increasingly entangled with conservative politics and moral controversy.

What’s Leading Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket Parents to Bypass Vaccines? (GBH News, Oct 2025) “That’s pretty expensive … a lifestyle that not everybody can afford to live,” Matthew Motta (SPH/Health Law, Policy, and Management & CISS Affiliate) is quoted saying in this piece on vaccine hesitancy among affluent island communities. Motta points to the “Make America Healthy Again” movement, endorsed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which promotes organic, “chemical-free” living, and looser vaccine regulation. He adds that “Martha’s Vineyard falls into that category, where people may have comparatively more means,” suggesting that anti-vaccine attitudes there stem less from ignorance than from privilege and the politics of wellness.

U.S. Tariffs Threaten Dollar’s Global Role (Brookings Podcast on Economic Activity, Oct 2025) Speaking on the Brookings Podcast on Economic Activity, Tarek A. Hassan (CAS/Economics) explains that trade wars and rising tariffs are weakening the U.S. dollar’s position as the world’s anchor currency. He warns that higher tariffs reduce foreign demand for dollar assets, raise U.S. interest rates, and could eventually push countries to anchor their currencies to the euro instead.

On Truth Social, Trump Has Embraced AI Media to Attack Foes and Boost His Image (NBC News, Oct 2025) Michelle Amazeen (COM/Mass Communication & CISS Affiliate) is quoted in this piece analyzing President Trump’s prolific use of AI-generated and manipulated media. Amazeen notes that Trump’s approach reflects his long-standing mastery of media manipulation, using social platforms to dominate public attention, but she adds that “a whole swath of people” are turned off by deepfakes, citing BU research showing that most Americans want such content clearly labeled or removed.

Most American Children Rely on Medicaid, CHIP—They Could Soon Be at Risk (Newsweek, Oct 2025)
Paul Shafer (SPH/Health Law, Policy, and Management & CISS Affiliate) is quoted in this piece on the potential impact of Trump’s proposed Medicaid and CHIP cuts. Shafer emphasizes that health coverage is essential for all families, noting that gaps in children’s insurance can lead to missed screenings and preventable health issues, with “policy choices today” carrying “ripple effects well into the future.”

Map Shows Highest Health Insurance Premium Rises by US State (Newsweek, Oct 2025) Paul Shafer (SPH/Health Law, Policy, and Management & CISS Affiliate) is quoted in this piece analyzing steep proposed health insurance premium hikes for 2026 ACA marketplace plans. Shafer explains that Arkansas’s unusually high increases stem from “a large adjustment to how it prices in cost-sharing reductions for lower income enrollees” and its unique “private” Medicaid expansion tied to Marketplace plans. He adds that “premium changes depend a lot on local dynamics—how competitive the hospital market is, and how many and what kind of people are enrolling in the Marketplace in each state.”

Donald Trump’s Approval Rating Implodes With Asian Voters (Newsweek, Oct 2025) “This development is about as surprising as the New York Jets losing another game, which is to say it isn’t,” Thomas Whalen (CGS & American Studies) is quoted saying in this piece on the sharp drop in Trump’s approval among Asian voters. Whalen attributes the decline to the administration’s harsh immigration stance and racially charged rhetoric, noting that “Trump and his MAGA supporters have hung out an ‘America is for whites only’ sign for everyone to see.”

Republican Calls for Lawmaker Pay To Be Suspended Amid Government Shutdown (Newsweek, Oct 2025) “It’s a reasonable proposal but it has as much chance as Joan Baez performing at a MAGA rally. It ain’t gonna happen. Period,” Thomas Whalen (CGS & American Studies) is quoted saying in this piece on Representative Ralph Norman’s call to halt congressional salaries during the shutdown. 

Prison Oversight Office Sets Course as Advocates Hope for ‘Tangible’ Results (Radio IQ/Virginia Public Radio, Sept 2025)   “There are plenty of ways to make the process work without having to hand your form to a corrections officer,” Heather Schoenfeld (CAS/Sociology & CISS Affiliate) is quoted explaining in this report on Virginia’s new corrections ombudsman and prison oversight, expressing concern that handing grievance forms directly to staff might not allow some people to feel comfortable voicing concerns.

Gold’s Surge Doesn’t Mean World Is Moving Away From US Dollar, Fed Official Says (The National News, Sept 2025) A recent paper by Tarek Hassan (CAS/Economics) and coauthors is cited in this piece examining the future of the U.S. dollar. 

Amid Confusion Over Federal Vaccine Recommendations, States Become Laboratories of Public Health (CBS News, Sept 2025) “States are taking matters into their own hands, sometimes to expand access to vaccines, sometimes to roll it back. That’s technically how the system works, but it risks inefficiency and confusion,” Matt Motta (SPH & CISS Affiliate) is quoted explaining in this report on how states are stepping into a vacuum left by Washington.

Brazilian Immigrants in Greater Boston are Being Detained by ICE in Large Numbers (GBH News, Sept 2025) “A lot of Brazilians in the Boston area are pretty favorable toward Trump, or at least were,” Taylor Boas (CAS/Political Science & CISS Affiliate) is quoted explaining in this report on how Brazilian immigrants (Massachusetts’ largest immigrant community) are being disproportionately targeted in ICE raids. 

Is Following True Crime Bad for Your Well-Being? (The Good Men Project, Sept 2025) “It felt like social media was very quickly becoming an authority for a lot of people,” Kathryn D. Coduto (COM/Media Science & CISS Affiliate) is quoted saying in this feature on her new study in Psychology of Popular Media, where she finds that compulsive engagement with true crime cases fosters parasocial attachments, negative emotions, and harmful overuse of social media, while also reinforcing media biases such as “Missing White Woman Syndrome”.

Trump Meets Putin: Will Alaska Be Our Yalta? (The Hill, Aug 2025) “Trump is an unreliable partner for Ukraine and potential plaything for Putin to flatter and manipulate,” Walter Clemens (CAS/Political Science, Emeritus) is quoted writing in this op-ed, where he warns that Trump’s plan to meet Putin on U.S. soil to cede parts of Ukraine recalls the disastrous precedents of Munich and Yalta, when great powers carved up smaller nations under the guise of peace.

‘Your Materials Have Been Incinerated’: The Confounding Process of Traveling with Scientific Samples (The Boston Globe, Aug 2025) “There are all these different pieces of the US government you need to be in compliance with … it’s not a cut and dry process,” John Marston (CAS/Anthropology & CISS Affiliate) is quoted saying in this article on the maze of USDA permits, customs rules, and export permissions researchers navigate, illustrated by incidents from a Harvard biologist’s detention to destroyed shipments marked, “your materials have been incinerated.”

Autism Is on the Rise: What’s Really Behind the Increase? (Nature, Aug 2025) “There will never be a sound-bite answer to what causes autism,” Helen Tager-Flusberg (CAS/Psychological & Brain Sciences, Emerita & CARE) is quoted saying in this piece explaining that genetics accounts for a large share of autism risk, that credible environmental links are mostly prenatal and limited, and that the apparent “surge” is driven largely by changing criteria, awareness, and diagnostics, contrary to RFK Jr.’s framing that points chiefly to environmental toxins.

RFK Jr.’s Autism Research Flip: Promises vs. Actions (ArchyNewsy, Aug 2025) “Kennedy has never expressed an open mind, an open attitude towards what are the fundamental causes of autism,” Helen Tager-Flusberg (CAS/Psychological & Brain Sciences, Emerita & CARE) is quoted saying in this article, where she and her colleagues warn that his new $50 million autism research initiative “lacks openness” and “casually ignores decades of high-quality research that preceded his oversight.”

A Shooter Attacked Children in Prayer. Has America Hit a New Low? (USA Today, Aug 2025) “In spite of the fact that we call them sanctuaries, worshippers know danger can’t be kept at bay,” Nancy Ammerman (CAS/Sociology, Emerita) is quoted saying in this article on how houses of worship, once seen as unquestioned places of refuge, have become increasingly vulnerable to violence, vandalism, and state intrusion.

Fewer Students Are Enrolled in Public School Than Before the Pandemic (The Brink, Aug 2025) “There’s no question that school closures sent a set of families out of the public schools who then never returned,” Joshua Goodman (CAS/Economics & Wheelock) is quoted saying in this article on how Massachusetts public school enrollment remains 4 percent below pre-pandemic levels, with losses concentrated in higher-income districts and among white and Asian students.

Is England on the Right Path for Inclusion? (Tes Magazine, Sept 2025) “England is on the right path by acknowledging the SEND ‘crisis’ and pushing for more inclusion, but the law’s requirement for the ‘least restrictive environment’ has been misinterpreted constantly,” Zach Rosetti (Wheelock & CISS Affiliate) is quoted saying in this article comparing US and UK approaches to inclusion for students with special educational needs.

Vaccine Death and Side Effects Database Relies on Unverified Reports – and Trump Officials and Right-Wing Media are Applying it out of Context (The Conversation, Sept 2025) Matt Motta (SPH & CISS Affiliate) explains how the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), a federal database relying on unverified self-reports, has been misused by Trump officials, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and right-wing media to spread misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines.

Healey Wants to Speed Up State Review to Encourage Housing. Will it Work? (Boston.com, Sept 2025) “On its own, this is not going to solve the crisis, but I think it’s great as part of the solution,” Katherine Einstein (CAS/Political Science & CISS Affiliate) is quoted saying in this article about Gov. Healey’s proposal to streamline environmental reviews for housing.

Charlie Kirk Suspect Spoke the Language of the Far-Right (Telegraph, Sept 2025) “They’re very much interested in a more authoritarian type of government,” Joan Donovan (COM & CISS Affiliate) is quoted saying in this article about Charlie Kirk’s accused assailant and the far-Right. 

Trump Says US Cannot ‘Frighten Off’ Foreign Investors. It Might Be Too Late (Newsweek, Sept 2025) “Foreign investment requires bringing in specialized workers…you can’t get the Korean technology without some Koreans coming in,” Tarek Hassan (CAS/Economics) is quoted in this article on the ICE raid in Georgia.

Tyler Robinson, Suspect in Charlie Kirk Killing, Left Messages With No Motive (Time Magazine, Sept 2025) “[Robinson] relied heavily on memes to express his own personality…” says Joan Donovan (COM & CISS Affiliate) in this article noting that the inscriptions he left behind were not straightforward political messages but rather coded references drawn from online meme culture.

Massachusetts Lawmakers Condemn Assassination of Charlie Kirk in Utah (WBZ-TV,Sept 2025) “People are caught in their ideological silos. And they refuse to talk to one another and when they do interact, violence can occur,” says Thomas Whalen (CGS) in this article about political violence in the U.S.

RFK Jr’s MAHA Report Sparks Concern From Experts (Newsweek, Sept 2025) “Parents will be especially alarmed and this will place terrible burdens on pediatricians,” says Helen Tager-Flusberg (CAS/Psychological & Brain Sciences, Emerita & CARE) in this article about RFK Jr’s MAHA report.

Is Following True Crime Bad For Your Well-Being? (Futurity, Sept 2025) Kathryn D. Coduto (COM & CISS Affiliate) finds that avid followers of true crime often compulsively engage with social media, form one-sided relationships with victims or perpetrators, and experience negative emotional effects, raising concerns about the impact on well-being.

Amid Debate About U.S. History, Harlem Hellfighters Receive Congressional Gold Medal (NPR, Sept 2025) Chad Williams (CAS, AA&BDS ) is quoted in discussion of the Harlem Hellfighters history.

What Does It Take to Get Men to See a Doctor? (NY Times Magazine, Sept 2025) Matthew Motta (SPH, Health Law, Policy, & Management & CISS Affiliate) comments on men’s healthcare.

4 in 5 People Want Protection Against AI Deepfakes (Government Technology,  Aug 2025) “The public overwhelmingly agrees that everyone’s voice and image should be protected from unauthorized AI-generated recreations,” says Michelle A. Amazeen (COM & CISS Affiliate) in this article about AI deepfakes.

All Aboard ‘The Debt Express’: China’s Pincer Movement on Africa (The Telegraph,  Aug 2025) Kevin P. Gallagher (Pardee & CISS Affiliate) comments on recent Chinese lending practices as China has stepped in to fund infrastructure projects, such as Africa’s Nairobi to Mombasa train project, while global development banks have remained cautious.

China Finds Buyers for Surplus Solar: Africa’s Energy-Hungry Countries (NY Times, Aug 2025) Kevin P. Gallagher (Pardee & CISS Affiliate) comments on China’s recent agreements with Africa to provide solar power.

Are Houses of Worship Safe? Minneapolis Shooting Raises Fears (USA Today, Aug 2025) “In spite of the fact that we call them sanctuaries, worshippers know danger can’t be kept at bay,”  says Nancy Ammerman (faculty emerita, CAS, Sociology).

How Public Health Can Compete with Misinformation (The Boston Globe, Aug 2025) Matthew Motta (SPH, Health Law, Policy, & Management & CISS Affiliate) by Monica Wang (SPH) discuss ways to ensure public health in a time of misinformation.

Trump Pledges to Protect Social Security Amid Possible Cost Cutting (ABC News, Aug 2025) Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) comments on tax breaks for seniors in Trump’s One Big, Beautiful Bill and its limits.

Trump’s Attacks on the ‘Blacksonian’ Have a History in a Century-Old Myth (The Guardian, Aug 2025) Saida Grundy (CAS, Sociology, African American & Black Diaspora Studies, and WGS) shares her opinions on Donald Trump’s recent Truth Social rants in which he threatened the country’s leading cultural institutions to adhere to his political ideology.

The Confounding Process of Traveling with Scientific Samples (Boston Globe, Aug 2025) John M. Marston (CAS, Archeology & Anthropology & CISS Affiliate) talks about traveling with scientific samples.

What Does It Take to Get Men to See a Doctor? (The New York Times, Aug 2025) Matthew Motta (SPH, Health Law, Policy, & Management & CISS Affiliate) is quoted in this article about men’s health.

What’s Really Going on in D.C.? What You See Depends on Who’s Filming (The Boston Globe, Aug 2025) Joan Donovan (COM & CISS Affiliate) is quoted in the discussion of how viewpoint can affect filming and what is seen online.

Can you take religion out of the Camino? (Broadview, Aug 2025) Nancy Ammerman (faculty emerita, CAS, Sociology) is quoted as believing, “the idea that spirituality is distinct from religiosity is essentially a successful rebranding exercise“.

White House, ICE, and DHS Memes : It’s Been a Minute (NPR, Aug 2025) Joan Donovan (COM & CISS Affiliate) is interviewed about the White House’s current social media accounts and how memes are being used to represent a view that may not represent all Americans.

Templeton Awards $5.2 Million to Boost Virtue in Mental Health Care (Philanthropy News Digest, Aug 2025) Steven Sandage (STH & CISS affiliate) is quoted on the recent Templeton award and the project the funds will support.

High Hopes: How Boston Could Rise to Become an Urban Utopia (Boston.com, Aug 2025) Loretta Lees (CAS, Sociology & director of the Initiative on Cities) talks about the tension between “imagination and policy” in regard to housing growth in Boston.

Programming for First-Gen Students of All Degree Paths (Inside Higher Ed, Aug 2025) Anthony Abraham Jack (WED, Higher Education Leadership & CISS Affiliate) is mentioned in this article about Boston University’s Newbury Center and its resources and support for students who are first in their family to pursue postsecondary education.

The Dangers of America’s Gerrymandering Problem—And How to Fix It (TIME, Aug 2025) Maxwell Palmer (CAS, Political Science & CISS Affiliate) and his co-author make a case for the “Define-Combine Procedure” in the congressional redistricting process to avoid gerrymandering.

China’s Property Woes Worsen While Trump Tightens Trade Screws (Asia Times, Aug 2025) Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) comments on China and American trade talks.

The Trump Administration’s Battle with Universities (La Presse, Aug 2025) Virginia Sapiro (CAS, Emerita Political Science) comments on what she sees as “two different understandings of society” and how it is affecting the Trump administration’s battle with Universities

HHS Pulling $500m in Funding for mRNA Vaccine Development (SpectrumNews1, Aug 2025) According to Matthew Motta (SPH, Health Law, Policy, & Management & CISS Affiliate), the Trump Administration pulling $500m in mRNA vaccine development funding could set us back years, if not decades.

Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Could Cause Widespread Workforce Disruption (The Boston Globe, Aug 2025) Tarek Hassan (CAS, Economics) comments on workforce disruption caused by Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

How Trump’s Executive Order Could Reshape College Admissions and Campus Diversity Across the US (Times of India, Aug 2025) Anthony Abraham Jack (WED, Higher Education Leadership & CISS Affiliate) is quoted in this article regarding Trump’s executive order requiring universities to disclose detailed information about applicants, commenting on how it might effect future college admissions and campus diversity.

Palisades Fire, 7 Months Later (Fox 11 LA, Aug 2025) Andrew Stokes (SPH, Global Health & CISS Affiliate) comments on the number of deaths from the Palisades/Los Angeles fires seven months ago in this article about business owners criticizing the LA City response.

J.D. Tuccille: Trump’s Desire to Cut Trade Deals Doesn’t Justify Emergency Powers (Yahoo Canada, Aug 2025) Tarek Hassan (CAS, Economics) comments on the state of trade deficit in the U.S. saying that “a trade deficit can only arise if foreigners invest more in the U.S. than Americans invest abroad” and they’re willing to do so because the U.S. is a good place for everybody to make money.

L.A. Fires Led to More than 400 Additional Deaths, Study Finds (CBS News, Aug 2025) Andrew Stokes (SPH, Global Health & CISS Affiliate) comments on a recently published study in the medical journal JAMA showing that researchers analyzed data on the number of deaths in Los Angeles County from Jan. 5 to Feb. 1, 2025 — the period when the Palisades and Eaton fires tore though the city — estimating that 440 more deaths could be attributed to the fires/

LA Fires Death Toll Could Be Off By Hundreds, Study Says (SFGATE, Aug 2025) According to Andrew Stokes (SPH, Global Health & CISS Affiliate) who co-authored a recent JAMA study researching the deaths attributed to the recent L.A. Fires, suggests officials have likely massively undercounted wildfire-related deaths.

What the Future of Medicaid and Medicare Could Look Like (Newsweek, Aug 2025) Paul Shafer (SPH & CISS Affiliate) comments on the state of Medicaid in light of the new tax bill, calling changes to Medicaid “potentially dramatic.”

The Knowledge Gap Costing Millions of Americans Bigger Social Security Benefits (Daily Mail, July 2025) According to Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics), Social Security benefits taken for the first time at age 70 would be 76 percent higher than if they were claimed at 62, though there seems to be a large gap in this knowledge, costing Americans millions.

Living in Extreme Heat Can Age Your Body Just Like Smoking Does (Earth.com, July 2025) Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) notes “even small differences in aging matter” as it can lead to earlier onset of conditions like diabetes, dementia, and cardiovascular disease.. Extreme heat is “a tremendous strain not only on their own lives and the lives of their families and caregivers, but also has a larger societal impact.”

How Americans’ Views of Racial Discrimination Have Shifted Since 2021, According to AP-NORC Polling (ABC4, July 2025) There’s no question the country has backtracked from its “so-called racial reckoning”, according to Phillipe Copeland (SSW & CISS Affiliate), with the experiences of particular groups such as Black people are being downplayed. However, Americans’ views about discrimination haven’t shifted when it comes to all groups, though.

New York Removes Nearly 1 Million People From Health Care Plan (Newsweek, July 2025) Paul Shafer (SPH & CISS Affiliate) explains the possible explanations for the removal of large numbers of Medicaid patients in New York.

Massachusetts Dems, Fearing Trump Overhaul, Codify Civil Liberties (Axios Boston , July 2015) Sean Kealy (LAW) discusses Massachusetts civil liberties and efforts by Mass Dems to codify them.

Union Pacific in Talks to Merge With Norfolk Southern (NY Times, July 2025) Erik Peinert (CAS/Political Science) comments on the Union Pacific Talks in this article.

Ongoing Epstein ‘Scandal’ Impacting Trump’s Base, BU Presidential Expert Says (NBC Boston, July 2025) In this interview, Thomas Whalen (CGS, Social Sciences) clarifies the effects of the Epstein situation on Donald Trump’s base.

‘Pretty Revolutionary’: a Brooklyn Exhibit Interrogates White-Dominated AI to Make It More Inclusive (The Guardian, July 2025) Louis Chude-Sokei (CAS/George and Joyce Wein Chair in African American Studies, and director of the African American Studies) comments on the works of Stephanie Dinkins, who challenges the racialized AI space by highlighting Black ethos and cultural cornerstones.

Nosy Coworkers Can Spike Your Stress Levels (The Good Men Project, July 2025) Richard A. Currie (SHA & CISS Affiliate) discusses workplace nosiness and tracking its negative effects.

Trump’s Approval Rating Has ‘Started To Drop More Quickly’ (Newsweek, July 2025) According to Thomas Whalen (CGS, Social Sciences), Donald Trump’s recent drop in approval rating is “particularly bad news for the president due to the unreasonably high expectations of the previous six months when Trump promised to solve most the nation’s ills ‘from day one’ through strong executive action.”

Democratic Socialists of America Hurt Blue Team’s Electoral Prospects (Washington Examiner , July 2025) Thomas Whalen (CGS, Social Sciences) is quoted in this article about the effects on Democrats chances of winning coming elections.

Donald Trump’s Approval Rating Flips With Gen X (Newsweek, July 2025) Thomas Whalen (CGS, Social Sciences) comments on Donald Trump’s recent gain in Gen X (ages 50 to 64) supp0rt, though points out Trump’s recent dramatic cuts to social safety programs such as Medicare via his “Big, Beautiful Bill” may change some minds.

Trump Is Terrified of Black Culture But Not for the Reasons You Think (The Guardian, July 2025) Saida Grundy (CAS, Sociology, African American & Black Diaspora Studies, and WGS) quotes Louis Chude-Sokei (CAS/George and Joyce Wein Chair in African American Studies, and director of the African American Studies) in her article about Donald Trump’s “efforts to demolish and disappear Black culture and the institutions that support it“.

How X Is Fueling the MAGA-Trump Split (Politico, July 2025) Joan Donovan (COM & CISS Affiliate) is quoted as pointing out how “X is really ground zero for a lot of what’s going on,” in this article about current MAGA enthusiasts response to Donald Trump’s actions, specifically in response to the Jeffrey Epstein situation.

Leading Global Institutions Launch Alliance to Advance Human-Centric Urban Research (Antara News, July 2025) Loretta Lees (CAS, Sociology & director of the Initiative on Cities) is mentioned in this article about the launch of the Global Alliance on Sustainable Urban Societies – a pioneering initiative that places people at the heart of urban research and policymaking.

Americans Say They Want a Third Party. Musk May Find It a tricky Liftoff (Christian Science Monitor, July 2025) Bruce Schulman (CAS, History) discusses America’s two-party system and efforts to create a third party to challenge the norm.

New Yorkers Spend 5th Highest Share of Income on Health Insurance, Study Finds (Finger Lakes 1, July 2025) In this article, Paul Shafer (SPH & CISS Affiliate) is quoted warning that the stakes are high for not having [health insurance] coverage, noting that even though inflation has eased, health care costs continue to rise faster than incomes, squeezing household budgets.

They’re Calling Her an Influencer. She’s Calling It a Campaign Strategy (Yahoo, July 2025) Kathryn Coduto (COM & CISS Affiliate) comments on social media being used to support a campaign strategy by garnering supporters from all over the country.

How AI Is Impacting Online Dating and Apps  (The Washington Post, July 2025) Kathryn Coduto (COM & CISS Affiliate) is quoted talking about how AI is affecting dating applications.

The Supreme Court Upholds Free Preventive Care, But Its Future Now Rests in RFK Jr.’s Hands (The Conversation, July 2025) Paul Shafer (SPH & CISS Affiliate) and his co-author discuss preventive care and it vulnerability to how Robert F. Kennedy and future HHS secretaries might choose to exercise their power over the task force and its recommendations.

Savannah Guthrie Opened Up About Her Divorce. She Shouldn’t Be Ashamed (USA Today, July 2025) Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) discusses the intricacies of divorce and how to support those experiencing it.

Universities Join Forces to Advance Human-Focused Urban Research (The Strait Times, July 2025) Loretta Lees (CAS, Sociology & director of the Initiative on Cities) is quoted in this article clarifying, ” The strength of the coalition lies in “working with like-minded urbanists” to find out how different cities are dealing with challenges.”

Is the Romance with Dating Apps Over? Big Cuts at Bumble, Match Raise Questions  (CBC News, July 2025) Paid subscription models and the increased use of AI features is “a move in the wrong direction that’s adding to the nervousness of skeptical online daters,” according to Kathryn Coduto (COM & CISS Affiliate).

America Will Destroy Itself From Within (National Security Journal, June 2025) According to Walter Clemens (faculty emeritus, CAS/Political Science), the United States has long faced many challenges that brought down earlier political systems but the country now faces a crisis from within, unlike any it has ever faced before.

Education Levels May Affect Mortality Trends (NIH Research Matters, June 2025) “The United States is facing a crisis of deteriorating mortality that is largely falling on the shoulders of those with less education,” says Andrew Stokes (SPH, Global Health & CISS Affiliate) according to his new study, which examines U.S. mortality rates by educational attainment.

Good Question: Which is More Dangerous, Humid Heat or Dry Heat? (WKYTV, June 2025) Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) discusses the dangers of heat and humidity for the aging population.

Will China Finally Become a Consumer Powerhouse? (Asia Times, June 2025) Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) posits that the point is to build a social safety net that is not “incomprehensible, inefficient, inequitable, and, most important, insolvent.”

The Effect of Revolving Door Laws on Candidates and Incumbents (Cato.org, June 2025) In this article, Ray Fisman (CAS, Economics & CISS Affiliate), Catherine M. O’Donnell (GRS, Economics), Jetson Leder-Luis (Questrom) and their associate discuss their research on the consequences of revolving door laws on entering and exiting state-level politics in the United States.

‘I Needed to Escape My Coach’: A Second Boston University Women’s Soccer Coach Faced Complaints, Then Resigned (Boston Globe, June 2025) Shayla Brown (CAS’27 & 2025 CISS SWIP Intern) is quoted in regard to her experiences with Boston University’s women’s soccer and its recent coaching concerns. “This team deserves justice, which at minimum would be for the true narrative to be told,” she told the Globe.

Sleep Where Stars Lived: Former Celeb Homes to Rent (AARP, June 2025) Makarand Mody (SHA, Marketing & CISS Affiliate) points out, “You’re not just consuming a destination; you’re inhabiting a story.” 

How the Billionaires Took Over America (Yahoo, June 2025) Robert Margo (CAS, Economics) is mentioned, along with his concept of  “the Great Compression,” in discussion of how billionaires have taken over roles of authority in the U.S. government.

How Humidity Makes Beating the Heat Harder for Older Adults (AARP News, June 2025). Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) discusses why humidity is so dangerous for older adults, and what to do about it.

RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Advisory Panel Sparks Concerns Over Anti-Vaccine Bias (NBC News, June 2025) Matthew Motta (SPH, Health Law, Policy, & Management & CISS Affiliate) expresses concern that RFK Jr.’s vaccine advisory panel, as it stands, “are folks who may have scientific credentials, but they are at the fringes of their field.”

Juneteenth Is a Celebration of Black Resiliency and Joy (Good Authority, June 2025) Christine Slaughter (CAS, Political Science & CISS Affiliate) and her co-author clarify, “Juneteenth has carried a dual meaning: celebration, but also a reckoning.”

Norway Is All in on Electric Cars. What Can the U.S. Learn? (Grist, June 2025) Benjamin Sovacool (CAS, Earth & Environment, Director of the Institute for Global Sustainability, & CISS Affiliate) lauds Norway’s efforts toward global sustainability based on their EV sales. “Norway is the undisputed king of electric vehicles,” he states.

Head Start Alum Says Parents of Young Children Should Ask for Help (BlackPressUSA, June 2025) In this article, Anthony Abraham Jack (WED, Higher Education Leadership & CISS Affiliate) speaks openly about how his life took quite the journey to bring him to where he is today, as the inaugural Faculty Director of the Boston University Newbury Center and Associate Professor of Higher Education Leadership.

Elon Musk’s X Has New ‘Going Public’ Show. Two Stars Are Under Investigation. (Barron’s , June 2024) Michelle A. Amazeen (COM & CISS Affiliate) comments on Elon Musk and his colleagues.

Here’s What Food and Drug Regulation Might Look Like Under the Trump Administration (MIT Technology Review, June 2024) Christopher Robertson (LAW & CISS affiliate) questions the role of the US Food and Drug Administration in the Trump Administration, “In some ways, it is absolutely a failure,” he says, “on the other hand, it’s the envy of the world…”

Feasting with Montezuma: Food and Farming in a Floating City (Gastropod, June 2025) David Carballo (CAS, Archaeology & CISS Affiliate) participated in this podcast focused on Aztec agriculture and foodways answering questions such as: How did a city built in a lake – and located in a part of the world without cows, sheep, pigs or chicken – grow enough to feed a quarter of a million people and What does it mean to eat like an Aztec, and can you still do it today?

‘Manufactured Chaos’: RFK Jr. Guts CDC’s Vaccine Panel of Independent Experts (AOL, June 2025) According to Matthew Motta (SPH, Health Law, Policy, & Management & CISS Affiliate) firing ACIP members is “an unequivocally clear attempt to break the promise” that Kennedy made during his confirmation hearings to not limit vaccine access.

Thinking about Claiming Social Security Early at Age 62 to Invest It? We Spoke to an Expert Who Warned Why It’s Too Risky (AOL, June 2025) “Absolutely, positively not. The answer is ‘no,’” says Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics), who says claiming Social Security early to invest is extremely risky.

How the Federal Immigration Raids Could Disrupt California’s Economy (The LA Times, June 2025) In this article, Tarek Hassan (CAS, Economics) confirms the theory that the more productive people you have in an economy, the more it grows, “Immigration in general is good for economic growth”.

Is All In on Electric Cars. What Can the U.S. Learn? (Undark, June 2025) Benjamin Sovacool (CAS, Earth & Environment, Director of the Institute for Global Sustainability, & CISS Affiliate) comments on Norway’s success in the EV sector and the keys to the U.S. achieving similar success.

A Surprise Find in Michigan Shows the Extent of Ancient Native American Agriculture (New England Public Media, June 2025) In this article, John M. Marston (CAS, Archeology & Anthropology & CISS Affiliate) expresses concern that a site is “really unusual” when discussing a forested area in northern Michigan that is possibly the largest intact remains of an ancient Native American agricultural site in the eastern half of the United States, stating “That is the only place in which I’m familiar with landscape features of agriculture that are as well preserved at as large a scale as what we have here in this example.” 

Female Dominance Is the Natural Order (The Telegraph – India, May 2025) Maud Mouginot (CAS/Anthropology & CISS Postdoctoral Affiliate) discusses the rarity of bonobos female-dominated societies and the finding that they form coalitions against males to tip the balance of power in their favor.

Average Summer Temps in Massachusetts Have Risen by 2.75 Degrees Fahrenheit in Past 55 Years, According to New Data (Commonwealth Beacon, May 2025) Ian Sue Wing (CAS/Earth & Environment & CISS Affiliate) notes that Massachusetts has an aging population with almost a quarter of all residents who are 60 or older who are extremely sensitive to heat because as you age “you are less able to effectively thermo-regulate”.

Donald Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” Passes House: What Happens Next (MSN, May 2025) Thomas Whalen (CGS, Social Sciences) speaks to the repercussions of Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” on the GOP.

On Chemicals and Food, MAHA Commission Clashes with Powerful GOP Constituencies (The Christian Science Monitor, May 2025) Matthew Motta (SPH, Health Law, Policy, & Management & CISS Affiliate) discusses contradictions in the Trump administration around who is running key agencies and what values they have.

Is the New Pope Black? The Answer Isn’t So Simple (Word in Black, May 2025) Phillipe Copeland (SSW & CISS Affiliate) talks race, ancestry, and assumptions about the new pope.

Housing and the Pitfalls of Public Meetings (Governing, May 2025) Katherine Levine Einstein (CAS, Political Science, Initiative on Cities & CISS Affiliate) talks about public meetings and their attendees.

New Study Makes Stunning Revelation About Unexpected Factor Causing People to Age Faster (Yahoo, May 2025) Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) discusses the reasons why extreme heat can speed up biological aging in a way that researchers say is “similar to the effect of smoking and drinking.”

Is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Actually Electable? (Newsweek, May 2025) Thomas Whalen (CGS, Social Sciences) is quoted on his belief that AOC is too progressive to win over the electorate in a presidential election.

Gynecologic Surgeon Advocates Call for Payment Reform (Medscape, May 2025) Christopher Robertson (LAW & CISS affiliate) comments on gynecologic surgeons’ call for an overhaul of a biased and inadequate federal reimbursement system endangers women patients and needs.

‘There’s Nothing for Me Here’: What Caused Venezuela’s Collapse, and Who Is Responsible? A Recent Memoir Tells the Story As So Many Families Have Lived It (The New York Review, May 2025) Rachel Nolan (Pardee & CISS Affiliate) reviews Motherland: The Disintegration of a Family in a Collapsed Venezuela by Paula Ramón, with translations by Julia Sanches and Jennifer Shyue.

Baltimore Juvenile Justice Center Uses Theater To Empower Incarcerated Teens (SunHerald, May 2025) Danielle Rousseau (MET, Criminal Justice) recounts how art-based programs have been part of U.S. prisons since at least 1870.

RFK Jr. Is Gutting Minority Health Offices Across HHS That Are Key To Reducing Health Disparities (NBC10Boston, April 2025) Stephanie A Ettinger De Cuba (SPH, Health Law, Policy & Management) asserts that the government must fund health services for minorities, warning that a lack of funding could also weaken the nation’s ability to reduce health disparities.

Spain PM: Nearly Half of Power Restored (BBC News, April 2025) Benjamin Sovacool (CAS, Earth & Environment, Director of the Institute for Global Sustainability, & CISS Affiliate) on the major power outage across Spain and Portugal this week, discussing what causes widespread electricity blackouts like this and solutions for creating resilience.

How Attitudes Around Aging Have Changed and What That Means For All of Us (LAist, California Public Radio, May 5, 2025). Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) talks about changing attitudes towards aging, and the words we use to describe older adults.

Reimbursement Inequities Lead to Hospitals Deprioritizing Women’s Healthcare, Experts Tell Congress (Healthcare Brew, May 2025) Christopher Robertson (LAW & CISS affiliate) suggests lawmakers could pass legislation to resolve inequities in healthcare reimbursement policy leading to health disparities.

Boston Housing Crisis: How College Students May Displace Residents (NBC10, May 2025) Stacy Fox (BU Initiative on Cities) discusses the challenges of housing in Boston.

Delays in Strawberry Mansion Affordable Housing Project Threaten Funding (The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 2025) Katherine Levine Einstein (CAS, Political Science, Initiative on Cities & CISS Affiliate) explains why delays in the Strawberry Mansion Affordable Housing Project could threaten funding.

When Did Humans start to Fight for the First Time? (Ruetir, May 2025) Luke Glowacki (CAS, Anthropology & CISS Affiliate) discusses the evolution of war and and fighting in human’s history.

Centenarians Share Their Longevity Formula: ‘Staying Business Gives You Purpose’ (Daily Herald, April 2025) Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) shares her perspective on the positive effects of staying active as you age.

Mass. Seniors Fight to Boost $72.80 Monthly Allowance (The Boston Globe, April 2025) Paul Shafer (SPH & CISS Affiliate) implores the importance of raising allowances for seniors to protect their dignity and support “some of the most isolated, vulnerable folks among us.”

DOGE Cuts Hit San Jose State, UC Berkeley, UC San Francisco. Researcher says: ‘I don’t know that they understood what I was doing’ (Tribune Content Agency, April 2025) Matthew Motta (SPH & CISS Affiliate) asks “How can the U.S. continue to have world-leading universities, medical centers, medical discoveries if the funding for that is being not only decreased but actually terminated mid-stream?”

Bureaucrats Get A Bad Rap, But They Deserve More Credit − A Sociologist Of Work Explains Why (The Conversation, April 2025) Michel Anteby’s (Questrom & CISS Affiliate) references Max Weber’s 1921 piece “Economy and Society,” to argue for the efficacy of bureaucrats amidst Trump’s recent threats to fire bureaucrats in government positions.

These Apes Are Matriarchal, but It Doesn’t Mean They’re Peaceful (The New York Times, April 2025) Maud Mouginot (CAS, Anthropology & CISS Affiliate) on bonobo matriarchal structures and accountability for their male counterparts.

Biden Let California Get Creative With Medicaid Spending. Trump Is Signaling That May End (CalMatters, April 2025) Paul Shafer (SPH & CISS Affiliate) discusses how the federal government’s decision not to fund programs in the future like CalAIM in California which seeks to connect social determinants of health to medical care outcomes is a “step backward.”

As The U.S. Rails Against DEI, Jackie Robinson Day Stands Tall (The Globe and Mail, April 2025) Thomas Whalen (CGS, Social Sciences) on looming DEI crackdowns across the nation.

How Donald Trump Is Upending American culture (The Christian Science Monitor, March 2025) Bruce Shulman (CAS, History & CISS Affiliate) discusses Trump’s cultural influence as an individual as Shulman argues it may well be Trump’s past as a TV performer and producer that best prepared him to run for and win the presidency.

Preventive Care May No Longer Be Free In 2026 Because of HIV Stigma − Unless The Trump Administration Successfully Defends The ACA (The Conversation, April 2025) Paul Shafer (SPH & CISS Affiliate) warns the looming consequences of losing free preventative care benefits which would likely increase in the number of people getting and dying from preventable diseases.

The Trade Deficit Isn’t An Emergency – It’s A Sign Of America’s Strength (The Conversation, April 2025) Tarek Hassan (CAS, Economics) argues that that the trade deficit is actually a sign of America’s financial and technological dominance rather than a national emergency.

Traveling? Consider Packing A Portable Carbon Monoxide Detector (WBZ Boston, April 2025) Makarand Mody (SHA, Marketing & CISS Affiliate) shares his travel recommendations considering the recent stories of deaths due to carbon monoxide poisoning in hotels and resorts.

Professors Say Conservative Website Is Fueling Harassment and Fear On Campuses (The Boston Globe, April 2025) Phillipe Copeland (SSW & CISS Affiliate) comments on the newly emerged Turning Point USA professor watchlist as Copeland recounts, “it takes on the character of an enemies list…It feels like a wanted poster.”

COVID Gave Rise To Vaccine Skepticism. That May Affect Preparedness For Next Pandemic (NPR, March 2025) Matthew P. Motta (SPH, Health Law, Policy, & Management & CISS Affiliate) reflects on when he first felt convinced that the pandemic would divide Americans instead of unite them.

Nobu’s Next Course (Hotel Investment Today, March 2025) Makarand Mody (SHA, Marketing & CISS Affiliate) credits the current high level of loyalty to Nobu to its brand’s ability to master a delicate balance that very few luxury hospitality players achieve.

A 57-Year-Old Actress Posted An Emotional Video About Being Broke. She Was ‘Blown Away’ By The Response (CNN, March 2025) Judith Gonyea (SSW & CISS Affiliate) on the shared experiences that Celeste Gay’s recent videos brought to light among a community struggling to hold things together.

Is It Time to Overhaul Medical Malpractice Law? (Medscape, March 2025) Christopher Robertson (LAW & CISS affiliate) on how hold doctors to that standard and expect they will be keeping up with the latest and most robust scientific evidence with American Law Institute (ALI) legal recommendations in medical malpractice law.

Heat Can Age You As Much As Smoking, A New Study Finds (NPR, March 2025) Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) shares her perspective on a recent study that explores how prolonged heat exposure changes gene behavior and ultimately long-term health and Carr comments that as heat risks grow because of climate change, the U.S. population is aging. Older people’s bodies generally deal with heat less adeptly than younger people.

Kennedy Spends First Month As Health Secretary Downplaying Vaccines And Targeting Food Additives (NBC News, March 2025) Matthew P. Motta (SPH, Health Law, Policy, & Management & CISS Affiliate) discusses vaccine misinformation under RFK who has set a cartoonishly high standard for what constitutes scientific evidence.

‘Uncharted Waters’: Boston Finds Itself In The Trump Administration’s Crosshairs (WBUR, March 2025) Thomas Whalen (CGS, Social Sciences) warns that cuts in broader funding for things like education and scientific research make the Boston area particularly vulnerable amidst emerging Trump Administration policies.

Here’s The Best Age To Take Social Security, Based On The One Variable That Really Matters (USA Today, March 2025) Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) recommends that most retirees should claim social security at 70 assuming they might live to 100 based on his 2022 working paper.

How Hulu’s ‘Paradise’ Explores The Idea Of A Perfect Society (Disney ABC Localish, March 2025) Jonathan Mijs (CAS, Sociology & CISS affiliate) shares his experience as a technical consultant on Hulu’s newest show, “Paradise,” and what he hopes viewers will take away from this show’s social commentary.

GOP Lawmakers Commit To Big Spending Cuts, Putting Medicaid Under A Spotlight – But Trimming The Low-Income Health Insurance Program Would Be Hard (The Conversation, March 2025) Paul Shafer (SPH & CISS Affiliate) on why cutting Medicaid spending would be difficult and what the consequences might be.

‘Don’t Think It’s Normal’: Mayor Wu Faces Criticism For Response To Deadly Officer-Involved Shooting (Boston25 News, March 2025) Thomas Whalen (CGS, Social Sciences) on the current controversy surrounding Mayor Michelle Wu’s response to Saturday’s shooting and her upcoming testimony in front of Congress Wednesday.

Trump-Zelenskyy White House Clash Will Be Remembered As “Day Of Infamy” BU Professor Says (CBS News, February 2025) Thomas Whalen (CGS, Social Sciences) predicts the messaging from the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting as “‘make Russia great again’ because this meeting definitely helped Vladimir Putin and his plans for expansion in Europe.”

The Way Hospitals Care for Incarcerated Patients Must Change (Time, February 2025) Pria Anand (Chobanian & Avedisian SOM, Neurology & CISS Affiliate) on the urgent and essential question of how we care for incarcerated patients when they are hospitalized and what it says about our medical priorities more broadly.

Centenarians Share Their Longevity Formula: ‘Staying Busy Gives You Purpose’ (The Washington Post, February 2025) Deborah Carr (CAS, Sociology & CISS Director) comments on the mental and physical health benefits to staying active for older populations.

Trump’s Policies On Gender Identity And Immigration Have Trans Immigrants Worried About Their Future (CNN, February 2025) Luis R. Alvarez-Hernandez (SSW & CISS Affiliate) discusses the intersection of marginalization that trans immigrants experience as anti-trans and anti-immigrant rhetoric of policies become widespread.

Fact Checks ‘Best Way’ To Counter Health Misinformation, Say Americans (Forbes, February 2025) Michelle A. Amazeen (COM & CISS Affiliate) recommends implementing effective accountability measures in digital content moderation considering the new administration’s track record of utilizing disinformation as a political tactic.

Kennedy’s Confirmation Will Breed More Harm Than Good, Public Health Experts Say (NBC News, February 2025) Matthew P. Motta (SPH, Health Law, Policy, & Management & CISS Affiliate) comments on RFK’s platform on vaccine skepticism and possible silver linings considering the new HHS secretary’s emphasis on chronic disease research and willingness to challenge corporate influence over food and drug industries.

The Supreme Court May Hinder Access To This HIV Prevention, Gay Sex Drug. Why? (USA Today, February 2025) Daniel Jacobson López (SSW & CISS Affiliate) offers the researched evidence that despite advances in PrEP efficacy, stigma and many other accessibility factors have resulted in the majority of gay men who are eligible for PrEP not being prescribed PrEP.

A Milk Brand Wanted to Tout Its Sustainability Push. Then It Got Swept Up in a Conspiracy Theory. (Wall Street Journal, February 2025) Michelle A. Amazeen (COM, Director of the Communication Research Center & CISS Affiliate) suggests that fact-checking and “prebunking” can help to avoid misinformation from going viral among rising concerns of food safety and health side effects.

Why The U.S. Government Owes Itself Money (Marketplace, February 2025) Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) tracks the decreasing fiscal sustainability of national debt the US government considering how its national debt is currently 20% larger than the size of the entire U.S. economy.

Mass. Health Experts Concerned About Future Of Vaccines, ‘Anti-Science Focus’ After RFK Jr.’s Confirmation Hearing (Boston.com, January 2025) Matthew P. Motta (SPH, Health Law, Policy, & Management & CISS Affiliate) reflects on the material impact of RFK Jr.’s concerning public health policies and the determination of the public health community to push back against these harmful propositions.

‘Almost Unfathomable’: Mass. Educators Grapple With Prospect Of Immigration Raids In Schools (The Boston Globe, January 2025) Thomas Whalen (CGS, Social Sciences) on the new Trump administration’s threats to undocumented migrant populations and possible raids in MA schools.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Nomination Signals A New Era Of Anti-Intellectualism In American Politics (The Conversation, January 2025) Matthew P. Motta (SPH, Health Law, Policy, & Management & CISS Affiliate) and his co-authors discuss the implications of how RFK’s signature slogan, “Make America Healthy Again,” could further the true public health crisis in America.

‘Maybe This Was Part Of a Larger Political Deal’: BU Prof On JFK, RFK and MLK Assassination Records (NBC10Boston, January 2025) Thomas Whalen (CGS, Social Sciences) shares his thoughts on the imminent revealing of information about three of the most infamous assassinations in American history.

What Would It Take To End Birthright Citizenship In The U.S.? (CBS, January 2025) Jessica Silbey (LAW & CISS Affiliate) projects the unlikelihood that the Trump presidency can “roll back something that we fought a civil war over” with regards to Constitutional amendments to end birthright citizenship.

Trump Inauguration: What Will He Prioritize in His First Week? (Newsweek, January 2025) Thomas Whalen (CGS, Social Sciences) predicts the initial policy changes in Trump’s first week in office, warning the ‘End of the World as We Know it.”

Will Israel-Hamas Hostage Deal Give Trump Inauguration Boost Like Reagan? (Newsweek, January 2025) Thomas Whalen (CGS, Social Sciences) offers his perspective on how the Israel-Palestine hostage deal could help Trump, but Biden’s role may undermine his credit.

Millennials Are Turning Into Their Boomer Parents (Insider, January 2025) Laurence Kotlikoff (CAS, Economics) warns the increasing anxieties of millennials about their futures as there is a “massive fiscal gap that the country’s facing is going to land on their heads as they reach retirement.”