Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs – commonly known as DEI – have become a hot-button issue in U.S. politics. Many organizations launched or expanded DEI programs in the wake of George Floyd’s murder by a police officer. Now, a backlash against DEI has turned into policymaking, with federal, state and local governments aiming to restrict or ban DEI programs. Shaun Harper, a University and Provost Professor at the USC Price School, joins the show to discuss policymakers’ actions against DEI and the potential consequences.

Owning a home has long been promoted as a tenet of the American Dream, but many Americans now find that dream out of reach. Last year, the share of first-time home buyers shrank to historic lows, according to the National Association of Realtors. To help us understand the causes of the housing crisis and how we can solve it, we are joined by Richard Green, director and chair of the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate.

With President-elect Donald Trump returning to the White House and Republicans retaking control of Congress, conservative policymakers are hoping to reshape the “administrative state.” That’s the collection of federal agencies, regulatory boards and the like that oversee everything from environmental protection to education policy. USC Price Associate Professor William Resh joins the show to explain how Trump and his allies, including billionaire Elon Musk, could transform the federal bureaucracy and what that could mean for government workers and the public.

Transportation is the largest direct source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., according to the EPA – with cars, trucks, ships, trains, and planes burning fossil fuels to move people and goods across the country. Genevieve Giuliano, the Interim Dean of the USC Price School, joins the show to discuss sustainable transportation policies, as well as her own research on reducing emissions associated with California's freight industry.

Marijuana laws in the U.S. have changed rapidly over the past decade, with roughly half of states permitting adults to consume cannabis recreationally. Proponents say legalizing cannabis can reduce racial disparities in drug arrests, raise tax revenue and control cannabis purity. But the fast-growing retail market and availability of high-potency marijuana has raised public health concerns at a time when it’s difficult to assess which policy approaches are most effective. We are joined by Rosalie Pacula, a USC Price School Professor and leading expert on cannabis policy. Her research has explored the different regulatory approaches taken by states and countries to legalizing cannabis, as well as the public health outcomes on addiction, ER visits, mental health and youth smoking.

We are a month away from the U.S. presidential election between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Polls have consistently shown the candidates locked in a tight race, suggesting that voter turnout could be crucial in deciding the winner. Our guest today is Mindy Romero, director of the USC Price School’s Center for Inclusive Democracy. She has conducted research focused on turnout for voters of color, who remain under-represented at the polls despite substantial population growth. We’ll discuss her survey’s findings, what’s driving racial disparities in voter participation and how we can get more people to the ballot box.

In this episode, the PricePod goes to Hollywood. Since the turn of the century, dozens of states have collectively given billions of dollars in tax breaks for an unusual purpose: to subsidize the development of movies and TV shows. Local governments across the country offer tax breaks to attract film productions, which proponents say stimulate the economy with new jobs and spending. But are the subsidies good public policy? Michael Thom, an associate professor at the USC Price School, shares his research into whether the programs are meaningfully creating jobs and economic activity.

Are you feeling happy today? California lawmakers want to know. A newly formed legislative committee is taking on an unusual public policy challenge: They want to make California residents happier. Our guest today, Mark Baldassare, recently testified before the committee and shared his insights into how Californians are feeling. Baldassare, who is Senior Fellow at the USC Price School’s Bedrosian Center on Governance and statewide survey director at the Public Policy Institute of California, has surveyed Californians on their happiness. We’ll discuss his research into happiness, his advice to lawmakers, and why policymakers should care about how happy – or unhappy – constituents feel.