Overview of evidence-based background on issues of 2025
From the SciLine toolkit: Evidence-based reporting tools and tips for 2025
We have collected current resources from SciLine and from The Journalist’s Resource to get you up to speed on the relevant science around topics of discussion as we transition to the second Trump administration. Consult these as you include research-based evidence in your stories:
Climate and green energy: In recent years, federal policies have created incentives to transition to clean energy. Start with overview presentations on current U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and progress towards meeting emissions targets. Next see presentations about renewable energy and the grid, including details about solar and wind energy, and look through interviews about the role of nuclear powerplants in the carbon-free energy landscape, as well as individual homes’ rooftop solar. Finally, see questions with experts about transitioning to electric vehicles for context on integrating vehicle charging needs into the grid.
Immigration: Approximately 46 million immigrants live in the U.S.—the largest number since census records have been kept. To start, listen to presentations on recent U.S. immigrant demographics, including information on whether and how immigrants affect the labor market and productivity within various economic sectors. Then see our interview about the Latin American immigrant experience to learn about policy impacts, educational opportunities, and job prospects for this group of immigrants. Finally, see presentations about how xenophobia and racism impact the health of immigrant communities.
Reproductive Health: Controversies exist through the whole arc of reproductive health in the U.S. Start with our interview about sex education in the U.S., including information about what sex education looks like in various U.S. communities and what the research says about the impacts of different sex education curricula. Then, look through our interview about changes in access to birth control since the Dobbs decision, as well as presentations about recent abortion statistics and types of abortions. For a thorough understanding of how medication abortions work, see this overview, and then consult our Q&A with experts on mifepristone and misoprostol. For information about pregnancy, start with our recent interview about in vitro fertilization covering assisted reproductive technologies and impacts of fetal personhood laws, then listen to overview presentations on pregnancy-related death in the United States and take a look at our interview on racial inequities in pregnancy-related death.
Social safety nets: Social programs aim to keep Americans from experiencing the worst effects of homelessness and food insecurity. Start with context from our interview about why people become homeless and research-based strategies to prevent and end homelessness. Then listen to presentations about the cost of housing and strategies for increasing affordability, as well as details from our interview on the impact of racial discrimination and short-term rentals on housing affordability. To understand the current state of food costs, we interviewed an expert about rising grocery prices and the potential impact of tariffs on food prices. Pair this with context from our interview about food insecurity: what it is, factors causing food insecurity, health impacts of food insecurity, and ways to reduce or eliminate food insecurity.
Vaccines: Get up to speed on vaccine basics, including how they work, how they’re tested, and how they are assessed for safety. Then, for context about vaccine hesitancy, listen through three experts’ presentations on the role of social values and personal belief systems, including religion, in people’s decisions to get vaccinated or not. Childhood vaccinations are often a point of contention, so see this overview of childhood vaccinations and school vaccine requirements and these tips for covering school vaccination requirements. Children may also fear vaccination, so we interviewed an expert about how many children aren’t vaccinated because of their fears and how caregivers can reduce their children’s pain and anxiety. Wrap up with information about updates to this season’s COVID, flu, and RSV vaccines from our fall interview.
Drinking water pollution: The U.S. has advanced water, wastewater, and sanitation infrastructure, but we still face pollution problems in our drinking water. Start with our expert interview to get an overview of the state of water infrastructure in the U.S, including needed maintenance and upgrades. Next, see this roundup of research on fluoride in water and answers to fifteen common questions about fluoride in drinking water. Then, drill down into lead contamination through expert presentations about how and where lead gets into the water supply and an interview about the federal government’s efforts to eradicate lead pipes. For general context about PFAS, consult expert presentations on PFAS in groundwater and wells along with a recent interview about PFAS in water supplies, including details about how individuals can reduce their PFAS exposure.