Scholars Strategy Network's No Jargon

Birthright citizenship has been part of the U.S. Constitution for more than 150 years, but why has it become the focus of such intense political debate in recent years? Professor Anna Law breaks down the Supreme Court's decision in Trump v. Barbara, explains what birthright citizenship actually means, and traces the long history of who gets to be an American. Drawing from her new book, she separates fact from fiction on immigration, citizenship, and the Constitution, and explains why understanding that history matters today.
For more on this topic:
Check out Law's new book, Migration and the Origins of American Citizenship

Read her blog post, I Read Trump v Barbara So You Don't Have To

Read her Made by History essay in TIME Magazine, History Shows Why Birthright Citizenship is so Important

Conservative Christian women are often portrayed as followers in American politics, but sociologist Katie Gaddini says that stereotype misses the bigger picture. Drawing on the research from her new book, she explains how these women have become a powerful force on the American right, what motivates their political engagement, and how faith, motherhood, and social media shape their growing influence. 
For more on this topic:
Read Gaddini's new book, Esther's Army: The Christian Women Who Power the American Right

Check out her commentary in TIME Magazine, The woman whose crusade gave today's book-banning moms a blueprint

For many Americans, contact with the criminal legal system comes with a hidden price tag. Without their knowledge, incarcerated people can often rack up large bills owed to the government to pay for the cost of their own incarceration. Sociologist Brittany Friedman explains how these "pay-to-stay" laws work, how civil lawsuits are used to collect that money after release, and why the push to reform these criminal legal fines and fees has drawn bipartisan support.
 
For more on this topic:
Read the article mentioned in the episode, Civil Lawfare, co-authored by Friedman and published in the journal Social Problems 

Listen to her podcast, Exploitation Nation

Check out her book, Carceral Apartheid: How Lies and White Supremacists Run Our Prisons

Read her SSN key findings brief, Ending Modern-Day Slavery in California

No Jargon celebrates its 300th episode with a conversation about where American democracy and politics stand today, featuring the Scholar Strategy Network's new board chair, Mark Schmitt. Americans are increasingly frustrated with both the Democratic and Republican parties thanks to endless fundraising messages, political gridlock, and the sense that politicians don't represent the people. Schmitt makes the case that political parties are still a vital part of a healthy democracy and talks through the kinds of structural changes that could help rebuild trust and bring more people into the political process.
For more on this topic:
Read the New America report co-authored by Schmitt, A Blueprint for Healthier Political Parties

Check out New America's companion report, A Model for Associational Party Building

Pregnancy is often treated as a personal responsibility, but the effects don't stay personal. When expectant parents can't afford basics like stable housing or healthy food, it can have ripple effects for society. That's why some communities are trying a different approach: giving expecting parents direct cash support during pregnancy. Professor Ali Groves explains how these programs work, focusing on the Philly Joy Bank, and why receiving money with no strings attached can ease stress and help families during a critical period.
 
For more on this topic:
Read Groves' analysis in The Gender Policy Report, Parenting is Expensive, Guaranteed Income May Help, co-authored with Libby Valdez and Yuan He 

Check out her op-ed in Penn Live, When Washington fails expecting mothers, Philadelphia shows a better way