In @nbcchicago.com, Jake Braun says attacks on water utilities should be viewed as “a national attack,” targeting technology “ubiquitous among water utilities,” a warning that cyber threats can reach critical infrastructure here at home. https://har.rs/3TyenjG

Iran's not-so-secret weapon that's capable of reaching the Chicago area

Cyberterrorism experts agree that Tehran is targeting city water systems by hacking into computers, already striking several communities in the Midwest.

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In @usatoday.com, Prof. Anthony Fowler helps explain how voters who reject party labels are not always a single bloc, and often "they are highly swayed by the qualities of a particular candidate’s ideologies," rather than partisanship. https://har.rs/4fNbPWl

Independent voters in 3 key states reveal what moves needle for them

Independent voters are set to be a key constituency in the 2026 midterm elections. USA TODAY spoke with three of them about what's on their minds.

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In @chalkbeat.org, Professor @justin-marlowe.bsky.social explains why passing a @chipubschools.bsky.social budget matters beyond the boardroom: an approved budget can help reassure lenders that the district has a plan in place, even amid serious fiscal uncertainty. https://har.rs/4fDESvm

Ahead of budget vote, Chicago school board divided over how much money they can rely on

The board is expected to vote on the district's $9.96 billion budget proposal, which includes cuts to some staffing and a spending freeze after January.

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In @abc7chicago.bsky.social, Jake Braun warns that AI is making foreign cyberattacks more scalable and sophisticated. As Russian-linked hacking campaigns raise new concerns, Braun says the broader goal is clear: undermining public trust in U.S. institutions. https://har.rs/4wUZ2Yz

Join us live now on Reddit for an AMA with Prof. Robert Kaestner. Have questions about health insurance, public policy, health disparities, or how economists measure the real-world impact of policy? Bring them to the conversation here: https://har.rs/4fGXjiB

The Harris Social Impact Fellowship at the University of Chicago is now accepting applications for the 2027-2028 cohort. Explore our website and apply here by October 19: https://har.rs/41eCN2x.

Social Impact Fellowship

The Harris Social Impact Fellowship is a highly-selective, full-time, 11-month program for recent graduates and early career professionals with strong STEM skills and a passion for evidence-based change. Designed by University of Chicago Harris School o...

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In @npr.org, Rebecca Neusteter brings national expertise to Baltimore’s effort to rethink 911. The city’s approach reflects the idea that people in crisis should be connected to the right help, not simply routed through the default emergency response. https://har.rs/4fDaaSW

Baltimore will turn 911 into more than just an emergency number

Baltimore is rethinking what it means to call 911, and who responds. Callers who don't need police will get help finding social services and healthcare before they actually fall into crisis.

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On @wgntv.com, Prof. Christopher Berry discusses a new @miurbanchicago.bsky.social / NORC poll showing Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson facing a steep path to reelection. https://har.rs/4hpUjcY

Poll: Majority of Chicagoans don't want Mayor Johnson to seek re-election

‘The Point' airs on WGN and streams on WGN+ each weeknight at 6:45 p.m. CT.

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In @wttw.bsky.social, Jake Braun cuts through the election-security debate, saying solutions are practical: paper ballots, open-source voting equipment, and moving away from touchscreens. "The solutions are not hard and they’re the cheapest solutions out there.” https://har.rs/3RNIYsT

Trump Doubles Down on Election Fraud Claims. Here's What to Know About US Voting Security

In a recent speech, President Donald Trump discussed foreign interference, noncitizen voting and vulnerabilities in the American election system -- reiterating some widely disproven charges. The administration released a trove of heavily redacted docume...

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New @axios.com story features Robert Kaestner on what GLP-1 drugs do (and don’t do): His new NBER working paper finds that among adults with diabetes, GLP-1 use did not materially improve mental health, employment, or marriage outcomes. https://har.rs/4h7xmew

Weight-loss drugs didn't improve mental health or job prospects

The non-health benefits haven't been studied as closely as the health benefits.

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In @notus.com, Prof. Bruce D. Meyer argues that single adults, often men with extremely low incomes, are too often overlooked by the social safety net. His prescription: stronger job-search support, behavioral health care, and housing assistance. https://har.rs/4yghwVe

What Is the Most Significant Gap in the Social Safety Net for American Families?

Cathy Hooker, Amanda Renteria, Lindsay Ryan, Gopi Shah Goda, Claudet Miranda-Zambrano, Jon-Paul Bianchi, Bruce D. Meyer, Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Emily Gee, Greg Acs

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As Africa’s Ebola response draws scrutiny, research by @austinlw.bsky.social offers a broader warning: abrupt USAID cuts can destabilize fragile regions. His recent @science.org study found higher conflict in African areas most exposed to USAID pre-shutdown. https://har.rs/4buQUWt

From Ebola to conflict: Risks rise and the US is less able to respond

The Trump administration's dismantling of U.S. foreign assistance institutions has left the country less prepared to respond to international health threats, such as the current Ebola outbrea...

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In @ibtimes.bsky.social, @durlauf.bsky.social puts Elon Musk's near-trillion-dollar fortune in context, noting that wealth inequality is expanding in ways “we’ve never seen before.” The story highlights Musk’s fortune as equal to the combined wealth of ~165 million Americans. https://har.rs/4vHpjcI

One Man vs. 165 Million Americans: The Terrifying Wealth Inequality Exposed by Elon Musk's Net Worth

Elon Musk's net worth briefly surpassed $1 trillion in June 2026, spotlighting US wealth inequality as his fortune equalled the combined wealth of nearly half the American population.

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Why do wars continue when they are so costly? On NPR, Prof. Christopher Blattman, author of the book Why We Fight, explains the incentives that can drive conflict, from leaders insulated from the costs of war to uncertainty, misperceptions, and commitment problems. https://har.rs/4p3VGQq

If wars are so costly, why do we keep fighting them?

We dig into current conflicts to understand the incentives that lead countries into violence, and what keeps them stretching on and on.

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This year’s Andrew Carnegie Foundation's Great Immigrants, Great Americans honorees include Prof. James Robinson, whose influential research on political and economic development has advanced understanding of institutions, prosperity, and global change.

🏟️ In @fox32chicago.bsky.social, @justin-marlowe.bsky.social weighs in on Soldier Field’s future if the Bears leave, noting that NFL stadiums are about more than the stadium itself: they’re about teams controlling surrounding development, revenue, and year-round activity. https://har.rs/44HmXPa

What happens to Soldier Field if the Bears leave? Experts debate future of Chicago landmark

As the Bears consider leaving Chicago, experts and city leaders are debating whether Soldier Field should be renovated, downsized or redeveloped to remain financially viable while preserving its historic and public lakefront role.

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💰 In @themirror.com, @durlauf.bsky.social, director of the Stone Center for Research on Wealth Inequality and Mobility, puts Elon Musk’s fortune in context, highlighting how today’s extreme wealth reflects inequality growing on a scale “we’ve never seen before.” https://har.rs/3Tc0lUo

As Elon Musk turns 55, his fortune underscores the stark wealth inequality

With a trillion dollars, Musk could pull hundreds of millions of people out of extreme poverty, pay off medical debt in the U.S., climate-proof the world, end world hunger and homelessness in the U.S

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🇺🇦 In a new Q&A, @ksonin.bsky.social, fresh from a trip to Kyiv, reflects on Ukraine, Putin, and the future of the war. He discusses how Ukraine continues to innovate under pressure, why authoritarian systems struggle to adapt, and how the conflict may end. https://har.rs/4eFA34a

Looking to elevate your public sector career? For employees of the City of Chicago, Cook County, or nonprofits, consider the Civic Leadership Academy! Register for the 7/1 information session here: https://har.rs/3Sa3Vy2 Start an application here: https://har.rs/2Z9AFqA

Civic Leadership Academy 2027 Virtual Information Session | Harris School of Public Policy | The University of Chicago

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🏥 In the @suntimes.bsky.social, @gottliebecon.bsky.social helps unpack why hospital prices remain opaque despite transparency rules. His analysis with the Manuseto Institute found wide price variation, leaving patients asking, “Where did this come from?” https://har.rs/4vvNSJM

Hospital billing was supposed to be made easier to decipher, but that's not what happened, Sun-Times dive into Chicago-area prices finds

Consumer advocates say there are steps you can take to protect yourself. For planned diagnostic tests, for instance, people should shop around and in some cases check a hospital's discounted cash price for uninsured patients.

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As Chicago enters its budget season, Research Professor @justin-marlowe.bsky.social says the city’s finances are “structurally unsound, but also not unmanageable in the long run.” https://har.rs/4f2XTar

Chicago keeps tinkering its way to a balanced budget with new taxes, fees and fines - Crain's Chicago Business

Without new sources of revenue, the city keeps resorting to temporary fixes that fail to address its persistent structural deficit

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🌍 New coverage in the Hyde Park Herald highlights research by @austinlw.bsky.social examining the effects of the abrupt USAID shutdown. A recent study found that African regions experienced increases in violent conflict following the aid cuts. https://har.rs/4g6bj7J

USAID shutdown linked to rise in violence across Africa, U. of C. researcher finds

What happens when you put the country's premier humanitarian and foreign aid agency through the proverbial woodchipper? A marked increase in violence, according to a May paper co-authored by University

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In a new @nytimes.com story on Elon Musk becoming the first trillionaire, @durlauf.bsky.social highlights the unprecedented scale of wealth concentration. “The fact is that wealth for some and wealth inequality is growing in dimensions that we’ve never seen before." https://har.rs/4uIXYpn

Elon Musk Becomes the World's First Trillionaire

With SpaceX shares soaring 20 percent on their first day of trading, the world's richest person crossed another milestone -- one with 13 digits.

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In the @nytimes.com, Prof. Ryan Kellogg explains that the last major episode of sustained oil “demand destruction” came during the 1970s energy crisis, reshaping consumer behavior and fuel-economy standards. Will today’s disruptions will trigger lasting changes? https://har.rs/49LnAKC

As Oil Prices Spike, Talk of ‘Demand Destruction' Sets In

The decades-old term refers to the sustained loss of demand for a commodity, caused by high prices.

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Rain couldn't stop the Harris Class of 2026 from celebrating a milestone moment. Congratulations to the Class of 2026. Your journey at Harris has prepared you to tackle complex challenges with rigor, creativity, and purpose. We're excited to see the impact you'll make.

New reporting highlights research by @austinlw.bsky.social on the consequences of the abrupt USAID shutdown. Wright and his co-authors found that African regions with higher historical exposure to USAID experienced sharp increases in conflict after the cuts. https://har.rs/4x9kZ7e

USAID shutdown linked to sharp increase in violence across Africa: Research

New research suggests the shutdown of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) led to sharp increases in violence throughout Africa. African countries that received the most support from ...

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Senior Lecturer Rebecca Wolfe is live on Reddit for an AMA on conflict, peacebuilding, and development. Ask your questions: https://har.rs/43hNfHf

Dr. Darryca Brim-Mims of Focus Fairies Mentoring, a member of the current Civic Leadership Academy cohort, joined @cbschicago.bsky.social to discuss Chicago's Race Against Gun Violence and the importance of community-based efforts to support young people and prevent violence.https://har.rs/4fmuAkS

Strides for Peace gears up for Chicago's Race Against Gun Violence

The race has been going for more than a decade, explain Rubye Lane and Dr. Darryca Brim-Mims.

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“If you had but one lecture to give, what would you say?” To kick off Grad Week, Senior Lecturer Rebecca Wolfe shared reflections from her research, policy work, and personal journey, exploring how behavior is shaped by both individuals and the environments around them.

📞 A new @mindsitenews.bsky.social story highlights efforts to help 988 and 911 work more effectively for people in crisis, including work connected to the Health Lab’s #Transform911 initiative focused on improving emergency response systems and caller experiences. https://har.rs/49qWbO5

Chicago is Trying to Help 988 and 911 Work Better Together

In a new report, experts weigh in on how 988 and 911 can work together to ensure that people in crisis get the help they need.

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