Crime Rate Study Commission Act: Largely because of media coverage, residents have a distorted view of crime rates in your state/city/county. The Crime Rate Study Commission Act creates a commission that will seek to de-legitimize misinformation and stereotypes about rates of crime.
The murder rate is way down and nobody knows it: In 2025, the U.S. murder rate was the lowest in recorded history (nationwide records begin in 1960). It has nothing to do with Trump, with policing or sentencing. In fact, we really have no idea why murder – like all other violent crime – has declined. For more, see the latest IdeaLog, our blog intended to raise eyebrows and engage minds.
Life, Liberty, and Happiness: A guide for yesterday and today? A new Brookings Institution podcast is called “Democracy in Question.” This edition talks about what the Founders meant by this famous phrase and suggests John Adams thought “happiness” was better than “property.”
Explainer about mifepristone, telehealth and the Supreme Court: What is at stake in this case? Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government provides a timely Q&A explainer.
Suicide reenters top ten causes of death: May is Mental Health Awareness Month and it’s a good time to consider a story from Pew about the 49,000 Americans who died by suicide last year.
2026 Progressive Agenda for States & Localities: PLI has published the latest edition of our Progressive Agenda, which highlights 50 model bills and hyperlinks to more than 250 models. Different proposals fit blue, purple and red states.