In the News
-
October 6, 2020
The big takeaway in the revelation of President Trump’s tax returns is that Trump’s business empire appears to be floundering, says Reuven Avi-Yonah, professor of law: “I think he really is not a very good businessman. His investments since 2011 have been reckless, and they’ve lost him a lot of money. And at this point, he really is at risk. (But) the fact that he’s a bad businessman does not mean that he’s not also cheating on his taxes.”
National Public Radio -
October 6, 2020
“The video takes a little formality out of it, so I kind of raise the formality by wearing a white coat,” said Chad Ellimoottil, assistant professor of urology and director of U-M’s Telehealth Research Incubator, who believes dressing the part is important because patients should know they’re getting the same treatment during virtual visits online as they would in person.
Marketplace -
October 6, 2020
The impact of lead poisoning caused by Flint’s drinking water will have long-lasting effects, especially on the region’s children: “Lead poisoning most often builds up slowly over time, due to repeated contact with small amounts of lead. … Even in small quantities, exposure can cause kidney damage, speech and learning problems, delays in physical growth and seizures,” said Karen Peterson, professor and chair of nutritional sciences.
Forbes -
October 5, 2020
“That was the only time since 1869 that any president has tried to pack the court. And you had a president at the height of his political power who tried to do it,” said Richard Friedman, professor of law, on the U.S. Senate’s rejection of President Franklin Roosevelt’s attempt to increase the number of Supreme Court justices from nine to 15 in 1937. “The court was a thorn in Roosevelt’s side, so he tried to weaken it as a resistant force.”
Marketplace -
October 5, 2020
“When this was all about the video and the visceral response to seeing someone’s life get squeezed out of them, that’s fine. But from the moment that topic is raised to awareness, the clock starts ticking with regards to, ‘How quickly can we resolve this so I can get back to my normal life?’” said Christian Davenport, professor of political science, on what he calls “compassion fatigue” — the waning public support among white Americans for social justice movements, like the one sparked by George Floyd’s death.
The Associated Press -
October 5, 2020
Talking to kids about politics “can help facilitate their sense of responsibility to other people in their community. You’re planting seeds that will bear fruit later in terms of their understanding of themselves as civic and political actors who have agency,” says Deborah Rivas-Drake, professor of education and psychology. And teaching them to question information helps develop media-savvy critical thinkers, says Enid Rosario-Ramos, assistant professor of education: “Practice asking things like: ‘Who said or wrote that (and why)?’ ‘Whose views are represented (or missing)?’ ‘Is there a different way of thinking about it?’”
National Geographic -
October 2, 2020
“It’s a quirk of the tax code. Congress passes these complex tax laws that deliberately favor certain kinds of investments by giving you deductions and tax credits that allow you to pay no taxes. And, you know, Trump does real estate. And for generations, wealthy people have gone into real estate in order to pay low or no taxes,” said Erik Gordon, clinical professor of business, on how President Trump has been able to pay little to no taxes for many years.
Marketplace -
October 2, 2020
“President Trump needed to move moderate and suburban voters into his column by promoting optimism and a forward-looking agenda for the second term. Instead, there was a lot of doom and gloom about crime and racial tensions in the country,” said Aaron Kall, U-M director of debate, commenting on Trump’s recent debate performance.
The Hill -
October 2, 2020
As the new school year ramps up and the economic downturn of the COVID-19 pandemic continues, low-income families are having to make tough financial decisions. “I think a lot of us are concerned about what the fall and winter might bring,” said Matthew Diemer, professor of education, who believes social support at the state and local level have helped. But families need long-term solutions, said William Elliott, professor of social work: “It’s not enough simply to have income to live day to day. They also need specific policies that help them build assets in their homes, help them to invest in the stock market.”
Detroit Free Press -
October 1, 2020
“I could imagine him teaching … as he has a lot of interesting perspectives to share. He could do that at a university level or teach at a high school, which is where you can really get people while they’re still at a very formative age and figuring out their political identities,” said Christian Fong, assistant professor of political science, on the future plans of U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, the ex-Republican-turned-Libertarian who will not seek re-election.
USA Today
