Tariffs are often promoted as a way to protect American workers—but do they actually work? Dr. Erica Owen takes us through the fast-moving shifts in U.S. trade policy under President Trump and the ripple effects they’re having on businesses, workers, and consumers. Who benefits, who pays the price, and what happens next? From the backlash against globalization to the forces reshaping American jobs, Dr. Owen explains what’s at stake—and how policymakers can better support workers caught in the crossfire.

For more on this topic:

Read Owen’s SSN key findings brief, Why Protectionist Trade Policies Still Won’t Deliver for U.S. Workers.

Generative AI has sparked excitement, curiosity, and a lot of unease. For schools, is it a groundbreaking tool for education, or a high-tech shortcut some might call cheating? In this episode, Professor Justin Ballenger takes us on his journey from middle school science teacher to trailblazer in STEM teacher preparation. Along the way, he breaks down what generative AI is, how schools are using it today, and the game-changing ways it could transform learning in the future.

For more on this topic:

• Check out Ballenger’s opinion piece about AI in the classroom in Higher Education Digest.

• Read SSN’s member spotlight about how his work is shaping the future of education.