As we head into the holiday season, many nonprofits are entering their busiest time of year while uncertainty around government funding continues to loom. Professor Dyana Mason explains how President Trump's executive actions and funding freezes have disrupted essential services — from food programs to international aid — and what that means for the people who rely on them. She breaks down why so many nonprofits depend on federal dollars, what happens when that money suddenly disappears, and how political pressures are putting new strain on these organizations.

For more on this topic:

Read Mason's op-ed in The Conversation: Nonprofits that provide shelter for homeless people, disaster recovery help, and food for low-income Americans rely heavily on federal funding – they would be reeling if Trump froze that money, coauthored with Mirae Kim.

In the wake of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, millions of Americans are left wondering what comes next for their healthcare. Professor Miranda Yaver breaks down what fueled the shutdown, why the Affordable Care Act is once again under strain, and what rising healthcare costs will mean for families, healthcare providers, and entire communities. She also previewed her forthcoming book, Coverage Denied, which examines the impact of coverage denials to patient health.

For more on this topic:

• Read Yaver's op-ed in MSNBC: Republicans are trying to turn their attacks on Obamacare into self-fulfilling prophecies

• Read her SSN brief: How Health Insurance Denials Induce Administrative Burdens, and How to Fix It

• Check out her book, Coverage Denied: How Health Insurers Drive Inequality in the United States, which will be published March 2026

The criminal legal system often misunderstands—and mishandles—people with intellectual disabilities. Law professor Katie Kronick explains how and why these individuals so often fall through the cracks in a system built around efficiency and rigid rules. She breaks down the stakes with real examples, including a high-profile death penalty case now before the Supreme Court, and shares ideas for building a criminal justice system that recognizes and respects the needs of defendants with intellectual disabilities.

For more on this topic:

• Read Kronick's amicus brief for the Supreme Court case Hamm v. Smith

• Check out her essay in the Sentencing Matters Substack: Why is it So Hard for Courts to Adjust to Advancements in Knowledge of Human Behavior?

• Read her op-ed in the Baltimore Sun: The Criminal Legal System Is Failing People With Intellectual Disabilities