On July 4, President Trump signed a sweeping new law that makes major changes to the social safety net—with serious consequences for families and children. Child and family policy expert Professor Taryn Morrissey breaks down the Republican-backed legislation, which slashes Medicaid, SNAP, and other key supports that millions of families rely on. She examines how the law shifts resources away from low-income and younger Americans—especially children—and toward wealthier, older households. Morrissey discusses how these changes could make inequality worse and what it would actually mean to put kids at the center of national policy.

For more on this topic:

• Read Morrissey’s recent opinion article published in The Hill: Trump’s Medicaid and SNAP red tape will devastate millions of Americans 

• Read her op-ed published in The Progressive: GOP Tax Bill Will Hurt Children and Families

• Check out the book she co-authored, Cradle to Kindergarten: A New Plan to Combat Inequality  

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Gun violence is down, but you wouldn’t know it from the headlines. This progress didn’t happen by accident—it’s at least partially the result of smart, targeted strategies that address the root causes of violence. Professor Daniel Semenza explains what’s working, drawing lessons from Camden’s dramatic shift from “murder capital” to record-low homicide rates, and what we stand to lose as federal support for violence prevention is being rolled back.

For more on this topic:

• Read Semenza’s op-ed in Common Dreams

• Check out a research paper he co-authored: In-person and media gun violence exposure in the United States

When Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed the entire federal vaccine advisory committee and installed new members, it raised alarms across the public health world. At the same time, measles is making a comeback as more Americans are hesitant about getting vaccines. Professor Lindsey Haynes-Maslow explains how we got here and what it will take to rebuild public trust. Drawing on her work in community-based health outreach, she shares why clear, consistent communication is critical for vaccine education and how local leaders and trusted messengers can help cut through the noise.

For more on this topic:

• Watch Haynes-Maslow’s video, “A Journey through Public Health: Health Policy,” produced by UNC’s Department of Health Policy and Management.

• Check out her work on immunization education and vaccine hesitancy at EXCITE.