Policy 360

Each September, the U.S. Census Bureau releases new data revealing how many people in the country are living in poverty. But what does that number really tell us, and how should it shape the choices we make as a nation? Lisa Gennetian, the Pritzker Professor of Early Learning Policy Studies at Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy, follows the data closely each year. She joins host Anna Gassman-Pines to explore how poverty is measured, what the latest figures reveal about American life, and how evidence can inform better public policy.

Watch this conversation on video.

Public policy shapes how societies work. As climate change, AI, and other challenges transform the world, policymakers and other leaders must understand complex issues and develop innovative solutions. JR DeShazo, dean of Duke's Sanford School of Public Policy, joins host Anna Gassman-Pines to discuss climate policy, policy innovation, and how public policy schools can better prepare the next generation of leaders. Among other roles, DeShazo previously led a UCLA center focused on innovation and sustainability.

Watch this conversation on video.

GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have revolutionized the management of diabetes and obesity. Millions of Americans are experimenting with them. Celebrities like Oprah are sharing their experiences. Duke Sanford School of Public Policy faculty member Jonathan Zhang is an economist who works on health policy, health economics and public finance. His research shows that GLP-1 drugs live up to their promise in everyday medical care. But the study also finds that, at least in the short run, they do not reduce overall health care spending.

Duke Sanford School of Public Policy Professor Anirudh Krishna has been studying a seemingly simple question: why do people in certain countries just seem better at some things than others? Think of the large number of world-class runners from Jamaica like Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, or the long list of top female golfers from South Korea. Why are people in tiny Estonia keep hatching software companies worth billions? Krishna's research shows that these examples are due in large part to structures that are specifically designed to support the rise of talent. By giving a fair chance to everyone these "ladders of opportunity" both produce champions and serve as avenues of upward mobility, supporting community development. Krishna's TED Talk, The 7 Pillars of Unlocking Potential, has garnered half a million views. His latest book is The Broken Ladder: The Paradox and Potential of India's One-Billion.

As 21st Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General CQ Brown, Jr. advised the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council. He now serves as an executive in residence at Duke with appointments in the Sanford School of Public Policy and the Pratt School of Engineering. Over his career, General Brown has held many different roles. As a pilot with the U.S. Air Force, he has logged more than 3,100 flying hours. He also served as the first African American chief of a U.S. military service, the Air Force, and was unanimously confirmed for that role by the Senate in 2020.

Every year, 250 million Americans face issues that land them in the civil justice system; think eviction, debt collection and poor housing. And here's a shocking number: more than 90% of people with low incomes either get no legal help or inadequate legal assistance. Today's guest, Mallory SoRelle, is a public policy faculty member at Duke. She's co-written a book called Uncivil Democracy: How Access to Justice Shapes Political Power. The book is filled with true stories and analysis about how to harness power, politics, and justice to create effective public policy for everyone.

Danny Werfel recently served as the 50th Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service. He led the U.S. tax system twice, and in his most recent stint he was in charge of a dramatic transformation, launching more digital solutions in a two-year period than in the previous two decades combined. Werfel joins us to talk about leadership, organizational change, and how a broader understanding of what the government does – and gets right – could have a profound impact on political polarization and democracy itself.

Danny Werfel earned a Master of Public Policy degree at Duke, and is now serving as a distinguished fellow with Polis, Duke's Center for Politics.

What if a single clause in your job contract could quietly shape how much you are able to get paid -- after you leave that job? And what if that same contract clause ends up limiting the places you can move for a job? Today, the hidden power of the non-compete clause. New research from Matt Johnson, professor at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University and co-authors gives insight into what the practice actually costs workers.

Michael Regan recently served as the 16th Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Previously he was Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality where he secured the largest coal ash cleanup settlement in U.S. history. And he led negotiations on the cleanup of the Cape Fear River from PFAS contamination. Now he has taken a role at POLIS: Center for Politics at Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy.

Every technology in music history leaves artists behind. What if one left them all behind? AI-generated music is severely undermining artists' ability to make a viable living. Is it a canary in the coal mine for music and for how AI will affect the future of work more broadly? Grammy-nominated musician Tift Merritt and Professor David Hoffman of the Duke Sanford School of Public Policy discuss the research they are conducting with students to address these issues. Host: Anna Gassman-Pines.

This episode is part of a month-long series of stories related to tech policy from the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University.