New & Noteworthy

Jordyn Wald’s latest StoryMap leverages S. Ericson’s piece on conspiracy theories, summarizing research on how belief in hidden powers offers comfort amid uncertainty. The piece traces the rise of conspiratorial thinking across social classes, examines how distrust in institutions fuels belief, and highlights the internet’s role in transforming “stigmatized knowledge” into shared community truths.

This week’s Clippings by Mallory Harrington includes:

  • Jessica Calarco on how progressives struggle to build coalitions because they must first agree on both the existence and cause of social problems before choosing solutions.
  • Philip N. Cohen warns that cuts to Department of Education data threaten a shared understanding of inequality and the labor market in the U.S.
  • David S. Cohen and Carole Joffe highlight how abortion access has persisted post-Dobbs thanks to grassroots networks and “rage spending.”
  • Michael Elliot explores how Comic-Con serves as a sacred space offering community, guidance, and hope for devoted fans.

From the Archives

On March 15th, hundreds of thousands of people rallied in Belgrade, Serbia to demand transparency and accountability for the deaths of 15 people killed in a train station collapse last November. The rally, which was estimated to be Serbia’s largest protest in history, follows months of student-led protests against the government for the perceived corruption surrounding the accident. This 2024 “There’s Research on That” draws attention to research on student protests and activism.

The federal cuts to DEI-related issues have also impacted an unexpected target. The Trump administration canceled funding for a nationwide initiative to plant more trees, making neighborhoods cooler and more resilient to climate change. The anti-DEI agenda is also impacting environmental justice programs like this initiative created by the Arbor Day Foundation. One of the goals of the project was to recover the estimated 200,000 trees lost in Hurricane Katrina and provide the crucial canopy that once covered the 9th ward in New Orleans. Learn more about climate justice here.

In 2012, Gwen Sharp walked us through ESPN’s online resources for the men’s and women’s March Madness tournaments — noting how the women’s tournament was less accessible and had fewer resources compared to the men’s. 2023 and 2024 saw a huge rise in viewership for the Women’s March Madness tournament with last year’s Final Four being the most watched Women’s Final Four on record. As the 2025 Women’s NCAA Tournament tips off today, it is important to reflect on whether media coverage, accessibility, and resources have kept pace with the sport’s rising popularity.

More from our Partners & Community Pages

give theory a chance

Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies

  • A Conversation with Dr. Mneesha Gellman, which discusses how U.S. history textbooks misrepresent marginalized groups, perpetuating white supremacy, and argues that schools can resist this by centering Indigenous knowledge, promoting accurate and inclusive curricula, and recognizing education’s dual role as both a site of trauma and potential transformation.

Engaging Sports