In his upcoming book, The Rise and Fall of Tunisian Democracy (universitypress.cambridge.org), SPA Assoc. Prof. @sharangrewal.bsky.social explores how a political system built on compromise ultimately gave way to populism and polarization. Congrats, Prof. Grewal! 👉 bit.ly/4xCJAkz

Your perspective matters! Are you 18–24 years old? Join SPA @perilresearch.bsky.social's Youth Advisory Council and help shape research on online culture polarization, extremism, misogyny, & more. Bring your lived experience and influence real-world solutions. Apply today! 👉 bit.ly/4vUBUsm

Do deradicalization programs work? Bill Braniff (SPA @perilresearch.bsky.social) spoke with @cbsnews.com about the deradicalization program that should have prevented the attack at an LGBTQ+ pride event in Berlin last Sunday. Watch here: tinyurl.com/2ja4azmc 📷 AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi

Congrats to SPA Prof. Brandyn Churchill and PhD student Georgina Cisneros on presenting your research paper at the NBER Summer Institute Economics of Health Program! #SPAProud Find the links to watch the presentation and read the research paper here: tinyurl.com/2m8rkfk4

What's the biggest barrier to ending America's addiction crisis? SPA's Jim Crotty argues it's not a lack of solutions—it's a shortage of treatment and recovery infrastructure. Read more: tinyurl.com/ycyhx825 📷 Elise Amendola, Associated Press

If you're thinking about managing political campaigns... 👀 Hear how SPA student Jordan Jarrett is preparing for the campaign trail and learning from the best through @ccps.bsky.social's Campaign Management Institute. Learn more: american.edu/spa/ccps/cmi.cfm

What does it mean to lead a private life in the public eye? Explore how America’s First Ladies have shaped history, championed causes, and influenced the nation—and how SPA’s Anita McBride is preserving their legacies here: american.edu/magazine/article/a-private-life-in-the-public-eye.cfm

What makes SPA so special? From the supportive and collaborative community, to the WIDE range of programs and certificates, to the 93% post-graduation placement rate, Assistant Dean of Graduate Enrollment Jennifer Forney highlights People, Products, and Potential! Are YOU ready to choose SPA?

Can Europe take on a bigger security role without weakening NATO? SPA's @suleymanozeren.bsky.social examines the major takeaways from the 2026 NATO Summit and what they mean for the Alliance’s evolving strategic direction. Read: tinyurl.com/3w8af9cw

🗳️ Mid-term elections are approaching, do you want to re-hire your Senator? Witness them on the job at congressondemand.us — created by Center for Congressional & Presidential Studies (@ccps.bsky.social) Fellow Eve Silberberg.

🎓 MPA or MPP — which path is right for you? Program Directors Marquise McGraw & David Schwegman break down the differences, what they share, & the exciting career paths each can open after graduation. Questions?📩 Schwegma@american.edu, McGrawM@american.edu, SPAgrad@american.edu

50 years after Gregg v. Georgia reshaped capital punishment in the US, what lessons still resonate today? SPA's Jason Fabrikant examines the landmark case, its oversights, and lasting impact on criminal justice policy. Full episode: youtu.be/CKI3lVn_kyE. #SPAResearchMinute

Could federal student loan changes close the door on graduate education for some students? SPA @peerresearch.bsky.social's @claremccann.bsky.social discusses the implications of the latest proposals. Read more: tinyurl.com/mpeew9ky

The number of borrowers defaulting on their student loans is growing, says @peerresearch.bsky.social's @clibassi.bsky.social. What are the consequences of default for those former students? Read: keranews.org/education/2026-07-20/number-of-college-loan-defaults-soar-in-texas-and-the-nation

Who is #APT41? @orionpolicyins.bsky.social's ROCCA Project, led by SPA's @suleymanozeren.bsky.social, profiles the China-linked threat group known for cyber espionage and financially motivated attacks. Read more: orionpolicy.org/apt-profile-apt41/

"Women are plenty qualified, the issue is whether they can afford to be," writes SPA CLEG student Anusha Mathur, as she uncovers a new barrier facing women who want to run for office. Read here: www.genderontheballot.org/women-are-pl...

Women are plenty qualified to run for office, but can they afford to be? - Gender on the Ballot

In the United States, running for office requires significant financial resources, donor networks and other connections, and the flexibility to commit time to campaigning. These requirements shape who...

genderontheballot.org

Women & Politics Institute@au-wpi.bsky.social · 2w ago

New from #OnGenderStudent: @au-spa.bsky.social student Anusha Mathur, studying Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics, & Government (CLEG) with a minor in finance, explores economic challenges women encounter when running for political office and remedies. bit.ly/4bp08DZ

Don't miss Kristen Soltis Anderson on The American Voter Today: Trends, Data, and the Future of Elections, hosted by the Sine Institute of Policy & Politics. 🗓️ Thur, 7/23 🕑 3:30-5 PM ET 👉 american.swoogo.com/250SummerSeries

Are treatment court "best practices" truly evidence-based? SPA's Jamie Vaske, Julie Baldwin, and John Boman IV find many recommendations in the latest national standards have limited—or no—strong empirical support. Read: tinyurl.com/373j9c7h

How have recent presidents changed the power of presidential pardons? A new analysis by SPA's Jeffrey Crouch examines how Presidents Trump and Biden reshaped executive clemency—and what it could mean for future administrations. Read the article: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/psq.70051

👏 Congrats to SPA's jgill-in-dc.bsky.social on his latest book, Bayesian Social Science Statistics, co-authored w/ @baole.bsky.social (CityU, Hong Kong)! The book offers a practical guide to Bayesian statistics for researchers tackling real-world social science questions. 👉 tinyurl.com/t7h3r9mz

New research shows that terrorist groups are using AI in every stage of their planning and implementation. While some experts compare the practice to that of corporations, SPA's @triciabacon.bsky.social warns that AI shortens the distance between radicalization and action. Read: tinyurl.com/yncxjuxv

Could the next major cyber attack be prevented with better data? SPA's @suleymanozeren.bsky.social argues yes, through the ROCCA Project, which helps researchers understand who's behind critical cyberattacks, how they operate, and what patterns they follow. Read more here: tinyurl.com/5c9maxby

A Need for Informed Policy Against Critical Cyberattacks: The ROCCA Project - Orion Policy Institute

According to data from the Orion Policy Institute’s newly launched Records of Critical Cyber Attacks (ROCCA) Project, China and Russia account for 458

orionpolicy.org

🇺🇸 Last week, SPA's Political Theory Institute and Lincoln Scholars Program welcomed high school teachers from across the country to the Summer Civics Institute at Kerwin Hall for an immersive exploration of the nation's founding. Here are a few of their biggest takeaways.

Take a closer look at SPA's Project on Civic Dialogue! Rahul walks through all that PCD offers to build skills that will serve you in all areas of life — from "Disagree with..." events to the certificate program, & more! Did we pique your interest? Visit https://www.american.edu/spa/civic-dialogue.

Presidential spouses have shaped women's rights, bipartisanship, and American history ever since Martha Washington. Watch SPA's Anita McBride discuss what makes a First Lady great at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library's #America250 panel: bit.ly/4pjkzYF

Congrats to SPA @perilresearch.bsky.social’s Bill Braniff, Hala Furst, & Fellow Susan Szmania on joining the inaugural Homeland Security Today Terrorism Prevention Editorial Board! ​Chaired by Braniff, HSToday's new vertical aims to strengthen the growing field of violence prevention. #SPAProud

🇺🇸 Can hard work still guarantee success in America? As the nation celebrates the Fourth of July and its 250th, hear SPA's @lizsuhay.bsky.social discuss the American Dream, inequality, and political polarization in this in-depth interview of her new book. Watch: bit.ly/4vr05Pb

As we remember the late Sen. Lindsey Graham and his years of public service, @ccps.bsky.social Fellow Eve Silberberg offers an easy way to explore his last Senate floor speeches and legislative remarks, and more. Visit CongressOnDemand.us

How much power does the First Lady actually have? "[...]because it is so undefined and not officially documented anywhere, [...]they get to rewrite it any way that they want it to be," says SPA's Anita McBride. Read: https://politi.co/3SYGGaH 📷 Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Why are victims of sexual assault reluctant to file a police report? SPA Asst. Prof. Rachael Goodman-Williams explores barriers in her new research study. Read it here: bit.ly/3TnXxDM