Floods in 2023 and 2024 reshaped Hardwick, Vermont. Tony Pipa opens a new season of Reimagine Rural there, exploring how a local cultural center built the trust that powered recovery—and how federal policy could better support towns like it.

In Hardwick, Vermont, art, dinner, and disaster response all share the same table | Brookings

After devastating floods hit Hardwick, Vermont, the Civic Standard, a self-described community cultural center, stepped in to organize cleanups, meals, and aid while residents navigated FEMA’s respons...

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"If controlled at least in part by Democrats, the 120th Congress is likely to see more of the innovative methods the current minority has used to pressure the Trump administration into winding down the Iran war," writes Scott Anderson.

The midterm effect: What the 2026 election could mean for public policy

Brookings experts examine the implications of the upcoming 2026 midterms on the most consequential issues facing the nation.

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Robert Einhorn analyzes recent criticisms of the U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear agreement and discusses how Congress can strengthen it rather than reject it.

Approving the US-Saudi nuclear deal while reducing proliferation risks

The U.S.-Saudi 123 agreement’s fate and terms have important implications for the United States and the global non-proliferation regime.

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The Current Population Survey, the source of the U.S. unemployment rate, is adding an internet self-response option as response rates decline. Tomorrow at 3pm ET, join federal statisticians and CPS data users to discuss what modernization means for labor market data: https://brook.gs/4iIIvmm

Modernizing the Current Population Survey | Brookings

On October 29, as part of the Economic Indicators Initiative, the Brookings and the AEI will host an event to discuss modernizing the CPS.

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What’s shaping voters’ decisions ahead of the 2026 midterms? E.J. Dionne Jr., Suzanne Maloney, Ben Harris, and Marcela Escobari examine the policy issues influencing voters in the latest episode of Please Discuss...

Please Discuss ... the pressures shaping the 2026 midterms | Brookings

In the second episode of Please Discuss, Brookings scholar E.J. Dionne moderates a conversation about how foreign policy crises and kitchen table pressures are shaping the 2026 midterm elections. Broo...

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"This moment offers an opportunity to ensure that parents, early childhood professionals, and child development experts are in the room to help shape how AI products that affect children are designed, tested, and governed," write Sweta Shah, Melissa Boteach, and Kathy Hirsh-Pasek.

As AI leaders call for slowdown, children need a voice

The AI debate may sound far removed from the everyday lives of families with young children. It isn't.

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On Nov. 3, voters will decide the balance of power in Congress and set the stage for legislation, investigations, and rulemaking for years to come. Experts examine what it could mean for healthcare, the Iran war, education, AI, and more.

The midterm effect: What the 2026 election could mean for public policy | Brookings

Brookings experts examine the implications of the upcoming 2026 midterms on the most consequential issues facing the nation.

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A new report estimates that DOGE canceled $470 million worth of grants and contracts to Tribes and Native organizations, violating federal trust and treaty obligations.

DOGE’s impact in Indian Country: Nearly $470 million in lost funding

New Brookings analysis finds that DOGE canceled nearly $470 million in federal funding for Tribal nations and Native organizations, disproportionately affecting Indian Country and raising concerns abo...

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The new scholarship tax credit program could help public school families pay for some educational services, but advocates worry it could do more harm than good. n.pr/4zHo1jy

Can the new federal voucher program help public schools? Democrats are torn

The new scholarship tax credit program could help public school families pay for some educational services, but advocates worry it could do more harm than good.

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Americans may disagree over who is responsible for corruption, but there is broad support for accountability. New analysis from Raymond La Raja, Zachary Albert, and Tatishe Nteta examines what that could mean for institutional reform.

Americans agree on corruption, but partisanship shapes who is blamed | Brookings

Raymond La Raja and co-authors show how partisanship colors Americans’ views of corruption and what reforms could help.

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AI is becoming an issue in the 2026 midterms, as voters and policymakers weigh data center development, national security, and election integrity. On Oct. 21, Rep. James A. Himes and experts will examine the policy questions at stake. Register to join them below.

AI on the ballot: Data centers and the 2026 midterms | Brookings

On October 21, the Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technology Initiative at Brookings will explore how decisions about where AI is built and how it is used have become part of the choices facing ...

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How will mid-decade redistricting and new congressional maps shape the 2026 midterms? On Monday at 10:30 a.m. ET, Kathryn Dunn Tenpas, William Galston, Erin Covey, and Christopher Warshaw discuss what's at stake for Congress and the presidency.

Midterm elections and the future of Congress and the presidency | Brookings

Join Brookings on October 19 for an online discussion on the upcoming midterm elections and the impacts of mid-decade redistricting.

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Rachel Perera argues that the Trump administration’s August 2026 school discipline guidance overlooks the practical challenges schools face while mischaracterizing their obligations under civil rights law.

What the Trump administration’s recent guidance on school discipline gets wrong

Rachel M. Perera breaks down what a new federal school discipline letter gets wrong about civil rights law.

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Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, international immigration to the DMV region fell by 44%, contributing to a slowdown in the region’s overall growth.

Reduced immigration and net out-migration are slowing growth in the DMV region

Population growth is slowing across the DMV region as immigration declines and domestic out-migration rises. New Census Bureau data reveals how these shifts are affecting Washington-area communities a...

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The AI boom is not just about software; it could drive as much as $10.3 trillion in investments in data centers, power systems, and other physical infrastructure. Listen to Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh discuss on the first episode of a new season of the Brookings Podcast on Economic Activity.

The $10 trillion question: Financing the AI buildout

AI is often described as a software story, but the boom is also a massive physical investment in data centers, power systems, and specialized chips. A new BPEA paper projects that this buildout will t...

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Trump’s successors will need to learn from his missteps on Taiwan if they wish to steadily rebuild confidence in America as an upholder of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, writes Ryan Hass.

Repairing America’s signaling on Taiwan

The sooner America's leaders embrace a consistent posture on Taiwan, the better the country will be able to protect its interests in the Taiwan Strait.

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Happy Indigenous Peoples Day! Did you know that while Native Americans account for 3% of the U.S. population, just 0.5% of philanthropic funding goes to Native-exclusive causes? Some insights from our @brookings.edu research about the need for more robust philanthropic investment in Indian Country

What could Louisiana v. Callais mean for representation and voting rights? Gabriel R. Sanchez, Keon L. Gilbert, and Rashawn Ray assess how recent Supreme Court decisions may influence redistricting, voter participation, and election administration, and what it means for communities across the U.S.

Recent SCOTUS decisions threaten to uproot communities’ voting power | Brookings

Brookings scholars highlight the impact of the Louisiana v. Callais decision on voters of color in future elections in the United States.

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"When the Kremlin raises the prospect of nuclear use in implausible circumstances, at the end of the day, it does not follow through." Read Steven Pifer's analysis on what Putin's recent threats reveal.

Why Putin is again rattling the nuclear saber

Despite rattling the nuclear saber, Putin does not want a nuclear war, but seeks to raise the threat in order to bully and coerce.

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Tara Watson proposes a temporary direct care worker visa to address the looming workforce challenge and improve the quality of care available to older Americans needing support.

A direct care worker visa policy to support the aging US population | Brookings

Tara Watson offers a proposal for a temporary employment-based visa, the H-1D, for direct care workers.

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Mail-in ballot delays, redistricting battles, and court challenges are all shaping the road to the midterms. In the first episode of Please Discuss..., E.J. Dionne, Elaine Kamarck, Elena Patel, and Scott Anderson debate the issues voters and election officials face ahead of Election Day.

Please Discuss ... the shifting map of the 2026 midterm elections | Brookings

In the debut episode of Please Discuss, Brookings scholar E.J. Dionne moderates a conversation about how changes to voting could have consequences for the 2026 midterm election landscape. Brookings sc...

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Join PRRI and @brookings.edu in person or online later this month for the release of the 17th annual American Values Survey! Happening Tuesday, October 20 at 10:00 AM Eastern. Learn more and register: www.brookings.edu/events/new-s...

New survey tracks darkening mood and shifting political loyalties ahead of midterm elections | Brookings

Join Brookings and the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) on October 20th for an in-depth look at the findings from the 17th annual American Values Survey.

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What can the Olympic Peninsula teach policymakers about rural prosperity? On a special episode of Reimagine Rural, Anthony Pipa talks with Derek Kilmer and Benji Backer about infrastructure, workforce support, access to capital, and the role of federal policy in shaping rural opportunity.

America’s Rural Future: On the Olympic Peninsula with Commission members Derek Kilmer and Benji Backer | Brookings

In this special edition of Reimagine Rural, Tony Pipa interviews Derek Kilmer, senior vice president, U.S. Program & Policy at The Rockefeller Foundation and former member of the U.S. House of Represe...

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What could Brazil’s Oct 4 election mean for governance, public security, technology policy, and the country’s role on the global stage? Brookings experts break down the key issues shaping the vote and the potential implications for Brazil and the international community.

What kind of Brazil will emerge from this election? | Brookings

Brookings experts examine what the upcoming October 4 election means for Brazil and the international community.

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Updated Hutchins Fiscal Impact Measure @brookings.edu shows local, state & federal fiscal policy shaved 0.1 pct pt off Q2 GDP growth. We project fiscal to be moderately restrictive over rest of 2026 and more so in 2027 (assuming no new legislation) www.brookings.edu/articles/hut...

A new USPS policy reducing some rural post offices from two daily pickups to one could lead to an estimated 43,000-55,000 additional mail ballot rejections nationwide. Elena Patel examines the potential impact and offers recommendations for voters, USPS, and election officials.

New post office policy could lead to the rejection of tens of thousands of mail-in ballots in November | Brookings

New analysis examines how a Post Office policy could affect mail-in ballot delivery times and lead to additional ballot rejections in November.

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Join @brookings.edu for an event marking the release of the 3rd edition of Senior Fellow William H. Frey’s book, “Diversity Explosion: How New Racial Demographics Are Remaking America” 📆 Wednesday, September 30th, 3pm EDT 💻 Register online ⤵️ https://bit.ly/4hharfg

The future of American diversity: A new look at how shifting demographics are shaping the nation | Brookings

Join Brookings for a discussion on America’s changing demographics and growing diversity, featuring new research on how shifts in race, age, and population are shaping the nation’s economy, politics, ...

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High turnout in three German state elections may reflect more than dissatisfaction with current politics. Constanze Stelzenmüller and Mathilda Silbiger argue the results could signal growing polarization and fragmentation in Germany’s political culture.

Three state elections throw German politics into disarray | Brookings

Three German state elections may have ushered in a new era of polarization, volatility, and fragmentation.

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"AI agents don't need superintelligence to cause irreversible harms." From cybersecurity and financial stability to jobs, governance, and global cooperation, Brookings experts weigh in on one of today's biggest policy debates: Is AI an existential threat, and what should governments do about it?

Is the AI existential threat real—and can regulatory action prevent it? | Brookings

Scholars from across Brookings address the risks of AI and what regulatory actions are necessary to prevent them.

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Can policymakers slow the development of advanced AI without compromising U.S. competitiveness? Elham Tabassi and Kyle Chan join Thomas Wright on The Current to discuss AI safety, regulation, and the implications of the U.S.-China technology race.

Can we slow down AI without losing to China? | Brookings

As AI models grow more advanced, warnings of catastrophic risks are escalating. But are existential fears overshadowing immediate threats? Brookings experts Elham Tabassi and Kyle Chan join Thomas Wri...

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