Social Justice

The Youth Vote: Is There Much of One? Can It Make a Difference? (Social Justice Policy Brief #179)

The Youth Vote: Is There Much of One? Can It Make a Difference? (Social Justice Policy Brief #179)

Young voters are often called a “sleeping giant,” and in 2024, nearly half of eligible 18–29-year-olds voted—about 47%. That’s slightly less than in 2020 but more than in 2016. Turnout varied widely: states like Minnesota and Maine had over 60%, while Oklahoma and Arkansas were in the low 30s. These differences are closely tied to state policies. Places with easy registration and voting options—like online registration, same-day registration, and mail voting—had higher turnout. States with strict ID laws and limited access saw lower participation. In short: young voters showed up in 2024, but where and how much they participated depended heavily on state policies and systemic barriers. You can explore more in CIRCLE’s full analysis or theMAP youth voting report.

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Is It Time to Take a Look at Our Own Gun Laws? (Social Justice Policy Brief #178)

Is It Time to Take a Look at Our Own Gun Laws? (Social Justice Policy Brief #178)

Gunfire remains a defining crisis in the United States. On an average day, roughly 125 people are killed with guns and many more are wounded, a toll that reverberates through classrooms, workplaces, and families. Recent data compilations show that by late August 2025 the country had already endured more than 300 mass shootings this year, with hundreds killed and well over a thousand injured. These are not abstractions; they are neighbors, classmates, and coworkers.

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The Cost of Neglect: Trump Has Left America Unprepared for Disaster (The Federal Response) (Social Justice Policy Brief #177)

The Cost of Neglect: Trump Has Left America Unprepared for Disaster (The Federal Response) (Social Justice Policy Brief #177)

As Texas reels from the July 2025 flood catastrophe, the conversation has shifted beyond the state’s borders. While Texas lawmakers have been quick to blame local officials, the reality is that federal emergency preparedness programs have also been gutted, leaving communities across the United States dangerously exposed. During Donald Trump’s second term, federal disaster mitigation funds, FEMA pre-disaster grants, and infrastructure resiliency initiatives have been slashed in the name of budget cuts and “government efficiency.”

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The Cost of Neglect: The Price of Unpreparedness (The State Response)

The Cost of Neglect: The Price of Unpreparedness (The State Response)

The catastrophic July 2025 Central Texas floods left more than 135 people dead, including 27 children and staff members at Camp Mystic, a tragedy that has rocked the state and sparked a political firestorm. In the days following the disaster, Texas lawmakers publicly turned their ire toward Kerr County officials, accusing them of slow evacuations and communication failures. But behind the headlines and finger-pointing lies a harsher reality: Texas has systematically underfunded emergency preparedness, and local governments have been left scrambling with inadequate resources to face a crisis of this magnitude.

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Pardons, Power, and Payback: Trump’s Legacy of Clemency — Part II (Social Justice Policy Brief #175)

Pardons, Power, and Payback: Trump’s Legacy of Clemency — Part II (Social Justice Policy Brief #175)

Presidential pardons are a constitutionally granted power, intended to serve as instruments of mercy, justice, and healing. But under President Donald Trump’s second term (2024–2025), this power has again been wielded as a political tool, continuing a controversial legacy from his first term. The recent wave of pardons reflects a continuation—and escalation—of Trump’s willingness to use executive clemency to reward loyalists, pardon convicted political allies, and whitewash wrongdoing linked to his political movement.

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Pardons, Power, and Payback: Trump’s Legacy of Clemency — Part I (Social Justice Policy Brief #174)

Pardons, Power, and Payback: Trump’s Legacy of Clemency — Part I (Social Justice Policy Brief #174)

The presidential pardon is a constitutional power granted to the President of the United States under Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution. It allows the President to grant reprieves and pardons for federal offenses, except in cases of impeachment. While originally intended to offer clemency as a form of mercy or to correct miscarriages of justice, the use of pardons has evolved—and at times, been weaponized for political purposes.

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The World’s Spiritual Leaders: Who They Are and How Big Their Flocks Are

The World’s Spiritual Leaders: Who They Are and How Big Their Flocks Are

In an era marked by escalating global crises—from climate change and geopolitical conflicts to rising authoritarianism and social inequality—spiritual leaders continue to wield significant influence over billions worldwide. Their roles transcend religious rituals, often intersecting with geopolitics, human rights, and social justice. This article profiles the current heads of major global faiths—Catholicism, Tibetan Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Anglicanism, and Eastern Orthodoxy—examining their leadership styles, political entanglements, and the size of their followings. These figures shape not only the spiritual lives of their adherents but also the moral frameworks through which societies interpret justice, peace, and progress.

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Ski Patrollers Go On Strike

Ski Patrollers Go On Strike

Park City, Utah, is one of the most premier ski areas in the United States. It boasts a tremendous 350 trails with over 40 lifts to move skiers uphill and access the terrain. Park City Mountain Resort is one of over 40 ski resorts owned by Vail Resorts around the world. Other famous resorts owned by Vail Resorts are: Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada; Crested Butte in Colorado; Crans-Montana in Switzerland (home to a FIS World Cup alpine ski race); and three ski resorts in Australia (and many others throughout the United States). Vail Resorts, in 2024, did $2.8 billion in net revenue and over $230 million in net income, according to Vail Resorts website. 

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