As Republican lawmakers push for major budget cuts, Medicaid is in the crosshairs. Professor Nicole Huberfeld breaks down why Medicaid matters to millions of Americans and what makes proposed changes—like work requirements and block grants—so complex and potentially harmful. She moves beyond policy details to explore the real-world impact: how budget cuts could hit the most vulnerable, put pressure on hospitals, and widen healthcare disparities between states. 

For more on this topic: 

• Read Huberfeld’s piece about the challenges of trimming Medicaid in The Conversation, co-authored with Paul Shafer.

• Explore her law casebook, The Law of American Health Care, co-written with Elizabeth Weeks Leonard, Kevin Outterson, and Matthew Lawrence.

Higher education is under fire—from attacks on DEI to threats against research funding, political pressure is mounting fast. While headlines often focus on elite and Ivy League schools, Professor Cecilia Orphan reminds us that regional public universities and rural institutions are also in the crosshairs. These essential but often-overlooked institutions serve diverse student bodies, support regional infrastructure, and anchor local communities. Orphan traces the roots of today’s political backlash and makes the case that if colleges want to keep serving the public good, they’ll need to get organized and push back, together.

For more on this topic: 

• Read Orphan’s report on regional public universities in Third Way, co-authored with Mac Wetherbee.

• Read her key findings brief, Why Regional Comprehensive Universities are Vital Parts of U.S. Higher Education.