The Journalist's Resource - Informing the news with research

Higher education funding in the US: A broad overview

by Denise-Marie Ordway | May 8, 2025

We explain higher education funding to help journalists cover the impacts of changes President Trump has made and plans to make to the U.S. Department of Education.

Expert Commentary

Criminal Justice, Politics & Government

287(g): The program that lets state and local police perform the functions of federal immigration officers

by Austin Kocher | April 30, 2025

“In the span of about two months, the Trump administration radically expanded the 287(g) program beyond anything I have seen in the past 15 years of close study of this precise policy,” writes immigration scholar Austin Kocher.

Expert Commentary

Health, Politics & Government

Medicaid: A guide to understanding and covering potential cuts to the program

by Naseem S. Miller | April 30, 2025

To help finance trillions of dollars in tax cuts, Congressional Republicans are looking to cut hundreds of billions of dollars in spending, which could impact Medicaid. We provide background, resources and research on the policies under consideration.

Expert Commentary

Economics, Politics & Government

Story ideas from the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book: April 2025

by Clark Merrefield | April 29, 2025

Our semi-regular rundown of the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book is full of story ideas for reporters across beats. The April edition spotlights key economic trends by region, including a New Jersey salon struggling to find qualified hires, and declining tourism from Canada and Mexico across the U.S.

Expert Commentary

Politics & Government

ICE’s recent detention data: What journalists need to understand

by Austin Kocher | April 21, 2025

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s detained population flatlined in April, but there’s more to the numbers than meets the eye. It’s time to level up our understanding of detention data.

Expert Commentary

Hispanic-serving institution HSI colleges research

Economics, Education, Race & Gender

Hispanic-serving institutions: A primer with story ideas and guiding questions for journalists

by Denise-Marie Ordway | April 16, 2025

A research-based explainer to help journalists cover Hispanic-serving institutions — the most common type of minority-serving institution — as U.S. colleges and universities face heightened scrutiny under President Trump.

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