The publication argues that current efforts to improve the well-being of men and boys of color are too fragmented, failing to account for the structural linkages between systems like education, employment, and criminal justice. It proposes a new, holistic framework that traces how structural conditions flow through multiple domains to measurable outcomes, such as longevity. Key reasoning emphasizes the need to treat 'place' as a fundamental actor and to identify successful communities where these populations are already thriving. Policy implications require shifting away from individual-focused interventions toward developing structural, place-based agendas that address systemic inequities.
Introducing the IRS Spotlight
English Summary
Brookings has launched the "IRS Spotlight," a new resource providing accessible data and analysis on federal tax administration, addressing concerns about declining IRS performance and data accessibility. The Spotlight compiles data from various sources, including the IRS, Treasury Inspector General, and Taxpayer Advocate, highlighting issues like workforce reductions, leadership turnover, and data transparency challenges. This initiative aims to ensure continued public access to vital information about the IRS, particularly given recent data removal from official websites. The Spotlight's existence underscores the need for independent oversight and transparency regarding IRS operations and performance.
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The built environment workforce, comprising 15.3 million workers across 95 occupations, is foundational to modern infrastructure and economic stability. While highly paid, the workforce suffers from significant demographic imbalances, being disproportionately white and male, and often lacking clear career progression pathways. To prevent project delays and cost overruns, policy must mandate that capital asset owners treat labor market forecasting as core to project planning. Strategic interventions are required to strengthen career pipelines through robust apprenticeships, improve retention, and actively recruit younger and more diverse workers.
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The U.S. is drastically reducing core funding to multilateral institutions, withdrawing from numerous bodies due to perceived misalignment with national interests. While multilateral channels offer critical advantages—such as pooling resources for global public goods and managing risk in fragile settings—the U.S.'s funding remains heavily 'earmarked,' which effectively 'bilateralizes' the system and undermines shared burden-sharing. This practice, coupled with deep cuts, diminishes the multilateral system's effectiveness and efficiency, particularly in humanitarian aid. Policy recommendations suggest the U.S. must adopt a systematic, published strategy for aid channel choice and shift from restrictive project-level earmarking to broader thematic funding to restore global cooperation.
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The 2026 midterms are expected to dramatically tighten the regulatory environment for data center development, shifting power away from developers and toward local communities. This shift is fueled by rising public opposition, leading to local moratoriums, and potential legislative actions such as repealing tax exemptions and mandating that developers cover full energy costs (ratepayer protection). Consequently, the industry faces increased operational and construction costs, stricter permitting requirements, and mandatory community engagement protocols. These changes suggest a move toward greater regulatory oversight, particularly regarding energy use and the mandatory disclosure of AI activities.
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5.More than half of Americans under age 30 now identify with a nonwhite race or ethnic group (Brookings)
New Census estimates reveal a significant demographic shift, noting that over half of Americans under age 30 now identify with nonwhite racial or ethnic groups. This trend is driven by younger, U.S.-born cohorts and the rise of multiracial identities, indicating that diversity is 'augmenting' the population rather than merely replacing it. This 'diversity boom' is projected to continue regardless of future immigration levels, making the young adult population the most racially diverse in U.S. history. Strategically, this means the nation's future labor force, consumer base, and political landscape will be fundamentally multiracial and multicultural, necessitating policy planning that accounts for this permanent demographic reality.