9 Harris Q&As That Shaped How We Think in 2025

In 2025, Harris faculty and experts weighed in on some of the most urgent policy debates of the moment—from Medicaid cuts and the future of the labor market to tariffs, fentanyl, and even the role of comedy in politics. Through a series of wide-ranging Q&As with our faculty and staff throughout the year, they helped make sense of complex issues, grounded national debates in evidence, and connected policy decisions to real-world consequences.

1. Robert Kaestner on What Would Medicaid Cuts Really Mean 

A new presidential administration in 2025 meant a sudden, often abrupt change in the tenor of policy debates over important issues—including Medicaid coverage. As debates over federal spending returned to the forefront, Research Professor Robert Kaestner unpacked the economic and human consequences of potential Medicaid cuts. Rather than focusing solely on topline budget numbers, Kaestner explained how reductions would likely ripple through state budgets, health care providers, and low-income families—clarifying what’s at stake.

---

2. Steven Durlauf on DEI, Racial Injustice, and the Politics of Backlash 

In a wide-ranging conversation, Professor Steven Durlauf addressed the growing political backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Drawing on decades of research into inequality and social mobility, Durlauf challenged simplistic narratives about DEI, emphasizing the need for evidence-based approaches to addressing persistent racial and economic disparities—especially in a polarized political environment, and especially at colleges and universities.

 

---

3. Anthony Fowler on Why Comedy and Politics Are More Closely Linked Than You Think 

What role does comedy play in shaping political attitudes? Professor Anthony Fowler explored how satire, late-night television, and political humor influence public understanding—and where their power ends. The conversation highlighted how entertainment can both engage disengaged audiences and reinforce existing beliefs, offering a nuanced look at how culture intersects with democratic participation.

 

---

4. Dmitri Koustas on How the Gig Economy Is Still Evolving—And Why Policy Is Struggling to Keep Up

Assistant Professor Dmitri Koustas examines how the U.S. gig economy continues to reshape labor markets, challenging traditional distinctions between employees and independent contractors. His Q&A explored what gig work actually offers workers, who engages in it, how income volatility fits into the picture, and what policymakers need to understand before attempting one-size-fits-all solutions.

 

---

5. Erin Kelley on What It Really Takes to Evaluate Programs Around the World

Assistant Professor Erin Kelley discussed the practical and ethical challenges of evaluating public programs in international contexts, drawing on her work with the World Bank, where she tries to find the best way to increase individual or household-level productivity. From data limitations to political constraints, Kelley explained why rigorous evaluation is both harder and more essential outside the U.S., and how careful research properly monitored can help governments and organizations design programs that actually deliver results for those engaged in farming, for refugees, and for those looking to implement new technologies.

---

6. Rebecca Wolfe on U.S. Foreign Aid in Changing Times

Senior Lecturer Rebecca Wolfe reflected on how the Trump administration’s foreign aid and humanitarian decisions —especially the DOGE-driven shuttering of USAID—have reshaped U.S. relationships abroad and affected communities on the ground. Her insights connected day-to-day policy actions to long-term diplomatic consequences, helping readers understand how shifts in tone, alliances, and institutions reverberate far beyond Washington.

 

---

7. Jake Braun on the Fight Against Fentanyl

Drawing on his experience inside the federal government, Jake Braun, director of the Cyber Policy Initiative at Harris, explained how fentanyl became a mass-casualty threat—a poisoning of the public—and why stopping it requires more than traditional law enforcement. The conversation showed how public health, national security, and international policy are increasingly intertwined—and how two presidential administrations have committed to the fight.

 

---

8. Steven Durlauf on Tariffs, Trade, and Trump

In a second Q&A, Steven Durlauf turned to tariffs and trade policy, cutting through political rhetoric to focus on economic evidence. He explained how tariffs affect consumers, workers, and long-term growth—and why trade policy debates often ignore the distributional consequences that matter most for inequality and regional economies.

 

 

---

9. Chicago’s Transit Funding Cliff

Ahead of legislation in the Illinois General Assembly to combat the $250 million transit funding shortfall affecting the Chicagoland region, Research Professor Justin Marlowe offered analysis explaining the post-pandemic struggles of the Regional Transportation Authority and offering prescient solutions to the problem.

---

This is part of a new series highlighting the ways the Harris School of Public Policy has helped lead—and elevate—public conversations about policy in 2025. Through Q&As, events, research, and commentary, Harris faculty and experts consistently bring evidence, clarity, and real-world perspective to some of the most consequential debates of our time.