Institutional Gridlock

This has led to what James Wallner calls “the death of deliberation.” Without changes to Congress’s internal structure, the ability of Congress to reauthorize programs effectively will be highly limited. Scholars’ division over how Congress should be reformed poses the real challenge.

Featured Publications

In the News Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties, Policing, South, State Policy

Kennedy, Booker reintroduce bipartisan bill to give law enforcement more tools to solve crimes

Jillian Snider May 12, 2026 Press Release Statement – Sen. Kennedy

Newsletters Healthier Communities, Safer Solutions, Substance Regulation, Tobacco Harm Reduction

Safer Solutions: The FDA authorized flavored vapes. Now what?

Chelsea Boyd, Jessica Shortall May 13, 2026

Analysis Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties, Midwest, Policing, State Policy

Closing Ohio’s Justice Gap

Jillian Snider May 12, 2026

Governance, State Policy, Western

A $20,000 model trash can is a showcase of city dysfunction

Steven Greenhut May 6, 2026 The Washington Post

Analysis Electoral Reform, Governance

How Provisional Ballots Can Strengthen Same-Day Registration

Chris McIsaac May 8, 2026

Analysis Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties, Federal Government Affairs, Policing

What Works in American Policing Part 4—Problem-Oriented and Intelligence-Led Policing: Diagnosing the Problem Before Deploying the Response

Jillian Snider May 8, 2026

Analysis Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity Policy, Technology and Innovation

AI Dialogue with China: Talk, But Don’t Sign Anything

Mark Dalton May 8, 2026

Newsletters, Real Solutions Electricity Policy, Energy and Environment, Federal Government Affairs, Low-Energy Fridays, Natural Gas, Technology and Innovation

Low-Energy Fridays: Energy Affordability Check-In

Philip Rossetti May 8, 2026

News Economic Mobility, Healthier Communities, Occupational Licensing, Thriving Families

New study finds older Americans left behind by decades of smoking cessation progress

Grace Pewitt May 7, 2026

Analysis Behavioral Health, Federal Government Affairs, Harm Reduction, Healthier Communities, Substance Regulation, Tobacco Harm Reduction

Why the FDA’s Politically Driven First-Ever Flavored-Vape Approval Almost Gets the Science Right

Jeffrey S. Smith May 6, 2026