Category: Research Blog
As the U.S. seeks to limit China’s access to semiconductors and hinder their AI development, it will have unintended consequences on the global semiconductor supply… Continue Reading Peter Connolly (PPS ’23): The Battle for Chips: Semiconductors Crucial Role in AI Development and its Implications for U.S.-China Strategic Competition
2 CommentsProfessor Mac McCorkle argues to The Washington Examiner that Biden’s trip to a semiconductor manufacturer in Durham, North Carolina, was not “buried” by speculations of Trumps imminent indictment. However,… Continue Reading Professor Mac McCorkle on the 2020 Presidential Election Campaign, The Washington Examiner
Comments closedProfessor Kristin Goss responded to the recent Supreme Court ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, arguing it “could really destabilize a lot of the… Continue Reading Professor Kristin Goss on Gun Reform and the Bruen Supreme Court Ruling, Vox
Comments closedProfessor David Schanzer tells CBS17 that Ukraine and its allies will have to pivot their strategy after documents were leaked from the Pentagon. He argues that the potential consequences… Continue Reading Professor David Schanzer on the Pentagon Document Leak and its Effect on the War Effort in Ukraine, CBS17
Comments closedProfessor Asher Hildebrand argues that the Center for Effective Lawmaking’s report on effective members of Congress fails to capture the whole picture: “Those are important things, but… Continue Reading Professor Asher Hildebrand on “Effective Members of Congress” and U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, CBS17
Comments closedPolis Distinguished Fellow Congressman David Price was appointed by Governor Roy Cooper to the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges. His appointment coincides with the passing of… Continue Reading Congressman David Price Appointed to the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges
Comments closedNorth Carolina State Representative Tricia Cotham announced that she will be flipping parties on Wednesday, giving Republicans a supermajority and the ability to override a veto… Continue Reading Professor Mac McCorkle on Republican Supermajority after NC Rep. Cotham Switches Parties, ABC News
Comments closedSanford Professor Nick Carnes and Noam Lupu of Vanderbilt University’s survey data on white working class voters and the 2016 election was referenced in Deseret News: “The share of Republicans who… Continue Reading Professor Nick Carnes on White Working Class Voters, Deseret News
Comments closedProfessor Bruce Jentleson argues there is no longer an American consensus on Russia’s war on Ukraine in Foreign Policy. Initially support for Ukraine was largely bipartisan, however… Continue Reading Professor Bruce Jentleson on Fracturing American Consensus on Ukraine, Foreign Policy
Comments closedHead of the NC Democratic Party Anderson Clayton was highlighted in The Washington Post as the youngest state Democratic chair in the country. Her platform… Continue Reading Newly Elected NC Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton, The Washington Post
Comments closedPolis Student Committee member Chloe Decker (PPS ’25) asserts that the North Carolina Democratic Party is “celebrating fresh starts” as seen in the Party’s election… Continue Reading Chloe Decker (PPS ’25) on the Future of the North Carolina Democratic Party, The Chronicle
4 CommentsTalking to ABC11, Professor Mac McCorkle provides his insights on Governor Cooper’s proposed budget plan, which includes investments in education, health care, and economic development. He asserts, “The most important… Continue Reading Professor Mac McCorkle on Governor Roy Cooper’s New Spending Plan, ABC11
Comments closedIn Chapelboro 97.9 The Hill, Professor Nick Carnes and Lilly Goren discuss their new book, “The Politics of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.” Carnes was inspired from twitter threads of “brilliant group of… Continue Reading Professor Nick Carnes on His New Book: “The Politics of the Marvel Cinematic Universe,” Chapelboro
Comments closedCBS17 recently confirmed two claims Gov. Cooper made in reference to gun violence in North Carolina. He said the North Carolina children “were 51 percent more likely… Continue Reading Professor Mac McCorkle on Governor Roy Cooper’s Efforts to Pass Gun Legislation, CBS17
Comments closedProfessor Jay Pearson describes his experience as a Black Durham resident who has been confronted with multiple unjustified traffic stops in The 9th Street Journal.… Continue Reading Professor Jay Pearson on Routine Traffic Stops for Black Motorists in NC, The 9th Street Journal
Comments closedOn February 16 and 17, Duke University’s DeWitt Wallace Center for Media & Democracy and University of North Carolina’s Center for Sustainability and Innovation in Local Media co-hosted the 2023… Continue Reading Jamie Chornoby (MPP ’23) on Local News Funding, 2023 Local Journalism Researcher’s Workshop
Comments closedPolis Student Committee member Cameron Oglesby (MPP ’23) writes for Yale Climate Connection on community activism after historic floods ravaged the Southeast this past summer. Local community members and… Continue Reading Cameron Oglesby (MPP ’23) on Community Activism in the Southeast U.S. After Historic Floods, Yale Climate Connections
Comments closedProfessor Bruce Jentleson examines the relationship between the United States and Ukraine in The National Interest after the Biden administration’s decision to waive sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and… Continue Reading Professor Bruce Jentleson on the American-Ukraine Consensus, The National Interest
Comments closedRepublican wins in North Carolina’s Supreme Court have resulted in a decision to revisit a previous decision to invalidate a Republican supported redistricting map. Professor Asher… Continue Reading Professor Asher Hildebrand on North Carolina Republican Judicial Wins, Reuters
Comments closedThis January, Polis welcomed Congressman David Price back to Duke’s campus as a Polis Distinguished Fellow. He had previously served as the representative for NC’s… Continue Reading Congressman David Price on His Life and Career as a Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives, The Washington Post
Comments closedSanford Professor Mac McCorkle was quoted in Carolina’s Own Queen City News on the North Carolina governor’s race and new faces representing at the federal… Continue Reading Professor Mac McCorkle on the Political Landscape in 2023, Carolina’s Own Queen City News
Comments closedCBS17, February 3 Professor Bruce Jentleson was interviewed by CBS17 on the Chinese spy balloon spotted flying over the United States. The balloon has caused widespread alarm and… Continue Reading Professor Bruce Jentleson on the Chinese Spy Balloon, CBS17, Spectrum News
Comments closedSanford Professor Kristin Goss was quoted in Indy Week on how the fear of violence has reshaped the face of gun ownership. In New York State… Continue Reading Professor Kristin Goss on Gun Ownership, Indy Week
Comments closedSanford Professor Frank Bruni gives his opinion on the 2024 North Carolina governor’s race for the New York Times, in his piece, “Anti-Gay? Anti-Science? Antisemitic? Run for… Continue Reading Professor Frank Bruni & Mac McCorkle on the 2024 NC Governor Race, The New York Times
Comments closedProfessor Ken Rogerson was quoted on data privacy and the ban of TikTok on government issued devices. In December 2022, Congress banned TikTok on federal… Continue Reading Professor Ken Rogerson on TikTok’s Threat to Government Security, WUNC
Comments closedPolis Distinguished Fellow Congressman David Price did an interview with Axios for their “Local Limelight” series. Price spoke about his 30 years as a democrat… Continue Reading Congressman David Price on the Triangle and His Tenure in Congress, AXIOS Raleigh
Comments closedSanford Professor Kristin Goss was quoted in the Washington Post on gun reform and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, an organization advocating for stricture gun laws founded by Shannon Watts. Approximately 140 volunteers of the organization were elected to office this past midterm election. Professor Goss, citing the work and successes of Watt’s organization, says “Nothing drives me crazier than when people say 20 [children] were killed and nothing changed. That is not true.” She argues that although Congress did not pass any sweeping gun legislation, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America have been a pivotal force in the movement. Still, Watt’s is hoping for more change. When Congress did little after Sandy Hook, she realized she needed gun-sense candidates to run for office. Goss states that the organization “knew a real key to success would not just be policy change, but a change in personnel; you needed to change who was making the decision about gun policy.”
Comments closedOne study by two Louisiana State University professors titled “Emotional Judges and Unlucky Juveniles” exposes an almost laughable, yet dark reality of the American justice system. It looks at the correlation between the performance of judges’ favorite football teams and the harshness of their sentencing. Sure enough, they found that when a judges preferred football team lost, inmates were behind bars for longer. Oh and, surprise, they also handed harsher sentences to black defendants. My point, though, is to underline the variability of human decision regarding the death penalty. Proponents of capital punishment support taking murderers off the streets and handing just punishment to the most heinous criminals. I am not writing to oppose this. In a perfect world, this would be attainable. But this is not a perfect world, and humans are far from perfect. Instead, I believe the death penalty should be eliminated because of the inevitable fallibility of those who hand it down.
Comments closedDecember 23rd is the release date for Sanford Professor Nick Carnes and co-author Carrol University Professor Lilly J. Goren’s book, The Politics of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They argue that the MCU is “a deeply political universe,” touching on all realms of government, public policy, and society. 25 leading scholars help explore various modern day political issues including civil-military relations, racial injustice, environmental catastrophe, political misinformation, and themes of diversity and representation. This is the first book to take a deep dive into the political messages within the MCU and ask the question, “What lessons are this entertainment juggernaut teaching audiences about politics, society, power, gender, and inequality?”
Continue Reading Professor Nick Carnes, The Politics of the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Comments closedThe western world’s alienation of civilians of Russian origin will leave long-lasting effects that are incredibly harmful to individual well-being. Vladimir Putin’s ruthless invasion of Ukraine has unmistakably sparked worldwide fear of one of the most colossal humanitarian violations of our lifetime. Russia has acted barbarically and inflicted brutal force on Ukrainian civilians and cities. However, Russian-Americans that have established businesses in the U.S or athletes of Russian descent qualified to run in marathons now being stripped of their careers due to their background is far from justifiable.
Comments closedAfter months of rising tensions, Vladimir Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The conflict has had a staggering humanitarian toll: 2,685 civilians have been killed and another 4.1 million refugees have fled their homes. The EU crisis commissioner warned Europe to prepare for over seven million internally displaced Ukrainians; this level of displacement would make Ukraine the largest refugee crisis in recent memory. Given Jake Sullivan’s prediction the war will continue for “months,” the crisis will only escalate further.
Comments closedSemiconductors chips are the linchpin of the global economy. These chips are not just in your iPhone and car but also operate the robotics machines and assembly lines that manufacture and distribute our everyday goods. What most Americans do not know though is how difficult and expensive they are to manufacture and how globalized the supply chain is. Most chips start their life in the lab of a U.S. tech company. The blueprints are then sent to foundries, specialized factories for semiconductor chips, before being integrated into the devices and systems that power our economy.
Comments closedRoughly every tenth Uyghur was forced into concentration camps by Chinese authorities without any trial or on baseless accusations. In camps, Uyghurs are beaten, raped, tortured, and punished for speaking their native language and exercising religion. Children of detainees are placed in state orphanages where, again, they are punished for speaking their language and are brainwashed with fear and aggression.
Continue Reading Aziz Abdullaev (PPS ’23): “The World is Accepting the Uyghur Genocide”
Comments closedRising tension between Taiwan and China poses the biggest threat to Asia’s geopolitical stability this year. The Biden administration must navigate this fragile relationship carefully to avoid the disastrous risk of a full-out war between the U.S. and China. Yet the U.S.’ current approach — being purposefully vague about its support for Taiwan — is ineffective against an increasingly aggressive China. Instead, Washington should make it clear that it would defend Taiwan from a Chinese invasion while reminding Beijing that the U.S. does not support Taiwanese independence. Biden must walk a fine line between these two interests.
Comments closedProfessor Mac McCorkle has been quoted in The Chronicle on the newly-elected NC state government. He discussed the possibility of Republicans in the House overriding… Continue Reading Professor McCorkle on the Newly-Elected NC Government, The Chronicle
Comments closedFollowing the 2022 Midterm Elections, Duke faculty spoke at a press briefing open to media and the public at the Sanford School of Public Policy.… Continue Reading Faculty Press Briefing on 2022 Midterm Election
Comments closedImagine you’re an Ohioan trying to decide who to vote for in an important election. One candidate says “We’re going to put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business.” — an important industry in your state and the whole Appalachian region. To that, the other candidate responds — “These are amazing people. And it’s not going to happen.” You might remember that the first candidate was Hillary Clinton during the 2016 Presidential Election, and the second Donald Trump.
Continue Reading Kennedy Jones (PPS ‘24): “A New Blue Wave — Expanding Rural Political Engagement”
Comments closedThree of the nation’s largest credit bureaus announced changes to how medical debt will impact credit scores. Starting in July, unpaid medical collections will not impact one’s credit score until a full year has passed, up from the previous standard of six months. Additionally, medical debts under $500 will not appear on credit reports starting in 2023. While significant, the new benchmark can be reversed at any instant, meaning it is up to policymakers to enshrine these new standards into law.
Continue Reading Andrew Touma (PPS ‘24): “Medical Debtors Got Some Help — But More Needs to be Done”
Comments closedOn March 28, 2022, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Florida House Bill 1557, also known as the “Don’t Say Gay Bill.” This piece of legislation represents the latest example of politicians using the guise of parental rights in education to further their conservative political agendas.
Continue Reading Amiya Mehrotra (PPS ‘24): “Florida is Solving a Problem That Doesn’t Exist”
Comments closedAmerican education is suffering from an overemphasis on school facilities over teacher pay. As the United States falls further behind in world education rankings, this issue has become even more pressing, and we must save our historically strong education system. Throughout the country, there are a variety of massive ongoing and future building campaigns, coupled with limited teacher pay increases. I’ve witnessed the detrimental effects of this trend in my own community, as large bonds have failed to address the lack of a teacher pay increase for over 6 years, prompting teachers to quit and students to suffer.
Comments closedDirectly following a Duke faculty Midterm Election briefing, 6 Polis Student Committee (PSC) members were interviewed by international journalists through the organization of the State Department.… Continue Reading PSC Press Briefing on the 2022 Midterm Elections
Comments closedPSC Midterm Election Reflections: Massachusetts Mackenzie Sheehy (’26) Major Races Governor: With Republican Charlie Baker not up for re-election after eight years in office, the… Continue Reading PSC Midterm Election Reflections: Mackenzie Sheehy (’26) on Massachusetts
Comments closedPSC Midterm Election Reflections: Arizona Katelyn Cai (PPS ’26) In 2020, the once-GOP stronghold Arizona turned blue, helping hand the presidency of the United States… Continue Reading PSC Midterm Election Reflections: Katelyn Cai (PPS ’26) on Arizona
Comments closedPSC Midterm Election Reflections: Michigan Jamie Chornoby (MPP ’24) The decision of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022) overturned Roe v. Wade (1973) and… Continue Reading PSC Midterm Election Reflections: Jamie Chornoby (MPP ’24)
Comments closedPSC Midterm Election Reflections: South Dakota Jordan Phillips (’26) South Dakota’s comfortably conservative voter base exempts it from the potential for sweeping policy changes in… Continue Reading PSC Midterm Election Reflections: Jordan Phillips (’26) on South Dakota
Comments closedPSC Midterm Election Reflections: North Carolina Sherman Criner V (PPS ’26) Cheri Beasley Cheri Beasley is the Democratic nominee for North Carolina’s U.S. Senate seat… Continue Reading PSC Midterm Election Reflections: Sherman Criner V (PPS ’26) on North Carolina
Comments closedPSC Midterm Election Reflections: North Carolina Chloe Decker (PPS ’25) A Personal Primary I was born and raised in Murphy, North Carolina–the westernmost town in… Continue Reading PSC Midterm Election Reflections: Chloe Decker (PPS ’25) on North Carolina
Comments closedPolis Student Committee members were interviewed by the NHK, a Japanese public broadcaster on the upcoming midterm elections. Students talked about threats to democracy, polarization,… Continue Reading Polis Student Committee Members on the Midterm Election, the NHK
Comments closedFor eight years, political wrangling in North Carolina over healthcare coverage has left too many of our residents vulnerable. The state is one of twelve to have not yet implemented Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, which would give coverage to nearly 600,000 additional residents who are currently without health insurance.
Leave a CommentLast week, the Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed a bill that makes performing an abortion a felony, punishable by up to ten years in prison. Oklahoma joins states like Texas, Florida, Idaho, and Wyoming in a recent movement aimed to criminalize abortion in the United States — a movement markedly different from one aimed to protect life.
Continue Reading Naima Turbes (PPS ’24): What Does it Mean to Really be Pro-Life?
Leave a CommentEvery decade, after the census is taken, states redraw their district lines in a process known as redistricting. The process is intended to make voting fairer by evening out district populations. However, this process can be used to manipulate elections and disenfranchise voters in a process known as gerrymandering.
Continue Reading Zak Barasch: A Path to End Gerrymandering
Comments closedProfessor McCorkle has been quoted in The New York Times on the North Carolina Senate race along with his and Rachel Salzberg’s (MPP ’20) paper… Continue Reading Professor McCorkle on “Countrypolitan” Counties and the NC Senate Race, The New York Times
Comments closedProfessor Kerry Haynie, Professor Asher Hildebrand and Professor Mac McCorkle discuss the significance of the Dobbs v. Jackson ruling on the upcoming North Carolina midterm… Continue Reading Polis Steering Committee Members and Faculty Discuss the Dobbs v. Jackson Ruling on Midterm Elections
Comments closedA Call for Leadership: Political Polarization and Civil Discourse at Duke University Chloe Nguyen (PPS ’24) 𝕏 Download Full Paper Chloe Nguyen (PPS ’24) In… Continue Reading “A Call for Leadership: Political Polarization and Civil Discourse at Duke University” by Chloe Nguyen (PPS ’24)
Comments closedThe New York Times recently reflected on Title IX’s 50 year legacy. Title IX was signed in 1972 and prohibits discrimination based on sex in… Continue Reading Professor Rose on Title IX’s Legacy, The New York Times
Comments closedKristin Goss is a Kevin D. Gorter Associate Professor of Public Policy and Political Science at Duke University and an expert on gender, guns, and… Continue Reading Professor Goss on Gun Control Political Mobilization, Routledge Studies and SSQ
Comments closedFormer Director’s Fellow Violet Wang (PPS ’24) was published in INDY Week concerning North Carolina’s broken justice system and the importance of implementing a civil… Continue Reading Violet Wang on NC’s Justice System, INDY Week
Comments closedRight before launching into the Braver Angels student debate, Associate Professor Deondra Rose joined the American Council of Trustees and Alumni’s Doug Sprei on the… Continue Reading Professor Rose on Galvanizing Political Education on the HigherEdNow Podcast
Comments closedDuke University and the Sanford School of Public Policy are abuzz with talks concerning today’s NC primary election and the importance of voting. Check out… Continue Reading The Duke Community Discusses Voting and NC Primary Elections
Comments closedAssociate Professor Abdullah Antepli was interviewed by students at the American School in Japan for their newspaper Hanabi about the role religion plays in academia.… Continue Reading Professor Antepli on Religion in Academia, American School in Japan
Comments closedDuring the Spring 2022 semester, Sanford Associate Professor of the Practice Asher D. Hildebrand led a new seminar that examined four major challenges facing American… Continue Reading American Democracy at a Crossroads: Proposals for Democratic Reform and Renewal, May 2022
Comments closedAssociate Professor’s Asher Hildebrand and Deondra Rose were interviewed by Duke Today and NC Policy Watch on the ramifications of the U.S. Supreme court’s potential… Continue Reading Professor Asher Hildebrand and Deondra Rose on the impact of Roe vs Wade news on voting turnout, Duke Today & NC Policy Watch
Comments closedProfessor Kristin Goss was interviewed in The Philanthropy Daily about her career and scholarship on policy-oriented philanthropy. She argues that philanthropy is often an underrepresented… Continue Reading Professor Kristin Goss on policy-oriented philanthropy studies, The Philanthropy Daily
Comments closedThis month, Professor Bruce Jentleson wrote an article for The Wall Street Journal. He discussed the impacts of the United States administered economic sanctions towards… Continue Reading Professor Jentleson on Economic Sanctions Against Russia, Wall Street Journal
Comments closedThis month, Professor Asher Hildebrand was interviewed on Spectrum 1 News for the Capital Tonight segment. He discussed the new proposed congressional and legislative maps… Continue Reading Professor Hildebrand on NC Congressional and Legislative Maps, Capital Tonight
Leave a CommentProfessor Kristin Goss was quoted multiple times in a fact-check on a statement from Gun Owners of America in USA Today on the number of… Continue Reading Professor Kristin Goss on firearm records and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), USA Today
Comments closedPolis’ Director Deondra Rose recently published an article in the Journal of Policy History from Cambridge University Press. Her analysis looks at how Congress passed… Continue Reading Polis Director Deondra Rose on the Second Morrill Land-Grant Act, Journal of Policy History
Comments closedDuke Team at Sanford School Develops a New “Country-Politan” Interpretation of Contemporary North Carolina Politics Polis is pleased to announce the publishing of two related… Continue Reading “The Democrats’ Countrypolitan Problem in North Carolina: Progressive Challenge and Opportunity” by Mac McCorkle and Rachel Salzberg
Comments closedLast week Professor Goss’s research was referenced in a PolitiFact article discussing legislation to require background checks for gun sales. In February 2021, President Joe Biden… Continue Reading Professor Kristin Goss on Gun Regulation, PolitiFact
Comments closedVineet Chovatia is a Polis Policy Lab Fellow and Public Policy Undergraduate from West Windsor, New Jersey. His interest in politics and organizing began when… Continue Reading Policy Lab Fellow Vineet Chovatia on Healthcare and Civic Engagement Research
Comments closedThis week Professor Carnes’s research was referenced in a Quartz article concerning working class representation in the Texas legislature. Together with Eric Hansen of Loyola University… Continue Reading Professor Nicholas Carnes on Working Class Representation in Texas Legislature, Quartz
Comments closedAsher Hildebrand was quoted in The Washington Post about NC’s new 2nd Congressional District and the race for Rep. David Price’s seat. “I don’t think… Continue Reading Professor Hildebrand on NC’s new 2nd Congressional District, The Washington Post
Comments closedSanford professor Abdullah Antepli and general counsel for the North Carolina Chamber, Ray Starling co-wrote an op-ed on the NC Leadership Forum in the Fayetteville… Continue Reading Professor Antepli and Ray Starling on the NC Leadership Forum, Fayetteville Observer.
Comments closedDean Kelley interviewed Deondra Rose on the Policy 360 podcast about the threat to democracy posed by gerrymandering. On why redistricting is central to democracy:… Continue Reading Professor Deondra Rose on Redistricting and American Democracy, Policy 360: Ep. 131
Comments closedAsher Hildebrand was interviewed on Capital Tonight about the new legislative maps in North Carolina. on fair maps: “I don’t believe personally that fair needs… Continue Reading Professor Asher Hildebrand on NC’s New Congressional Maps, Capital Tonight
Comments closed