America’s criminal justice system has exploded in scope over recent decades and the punishment for these individuals does not always end when they leave prison or jail. In this episode of Deep Dive, Laura Arnold sits down with three guests to examine the vast and complex web of legal barriers and exclusions that people with criminal records face, the way these barriers reinforce racial inequity and the implications for society writ large.

Deep Dive with Laura Arnold

A Lifetime Sentence to Poverty

Birth control is one of the most popular innovations of modern history, with eight out of 10 Americans supporting it as essential health care. Yet millions lack access, and the politicization of contraception has exacerbated the problem. Is there hope for change on the horizon? In this episode of Deep Dive, Laura Arnold sits down with three guests to examine contraceptive equity, explore the barriers to giving women true choice and discuss potential policy solutions that could help close the gaps in access.

The Chance to Choose

Nearly two out of every five students who start a full-time, four-year undergraduate program drop out. This is especially true for part-time students, low-income students and students of color.  The U.S. higher education system is clearly broken, yet solutions have remained elusive because of a lack of data needed to answer basic questions about a school’s performance. 

The accountability crisis in higher education

Recent mass shootings in Georgia and Colorado have spurred cries for change, including President Biden's effort to ban assault rifles.  But will this moment be any different?  In this episode, Laura Arnold sits down with four experts on gun violence prevention to discuss the evidence about the causes of gun violence and effective approaches to prevention.  Together, they dissect the political dynamics that continue to stand in the way of action. 

Has the Gun Reform Debate Reached a Tipping Point?

 The video of police officer Derek Chauvin pressing his knee into George Floyd’s neck for approximately 9 minutes served as the spark that ignited a tinder box of demonstrations calling for police reform. We examine the root causes of the accountability crisis in policing and the impacts on communities of color; outline the various policies that have been proposed and the evidence on their effectiveness; and explore what’s next in this movement to effect change in policing. 

Confronting racism in policing

Systemic failures in the nation’s electoral and legislative systems have led to extreme polarization and partisan rancor, raising questions about whether American democracy is still working.  This episode examines three possible improvements:  ranked-choice voting, open primaries, and changes in legislative rulemaking.

Democracy in Crisis

Voters in California have a historic issue in front of them on election day: whether to become the first state to abolish money bail and replace it with a system centered on safety, not money, or stick with the status quo. This episode, which includes interviews with California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Alliance for Safety and Justice President Lenore Anderson, examines ballot measure Prop. 25 and explores how California's decision could have a dramatic impact on the national movement for bail reform.

Money Bail in California

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating impact on families, individuals, and organizations around the world.  The global health crisis has touched virtually every aspect of our lives, from the way we interact with one another to the manner in which we work and travel.  In this episode, we take a closer look at how the work at Arnold Ventures is adjusting to the "new normal" in two critical areas, criminal justice and health care.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Reform

Right now in the United States, there are almost 500,000 people being held behind bars who have yet to receive their day in court.  In the vast majority of those cases, the defendant is being held simply because they cannot meet the financial demands imposed by a money bail system.  In short, they do not have enough money to buy their freedom.  Now, in the midst of a reform movement, the fundamental fairness of that system is being questioned.  But reform is also giving rise to a new question, "what should the new system look like?"

Your Money or Your Freedom

There are 115,000 Americans on an organ transplant waiting list, and their future health hangs on several different factors — age, blood type, condition — that play a key role in determining who gets placed next in a potentially life-saving line. But another key factor is the answer to one simple question: How good is the government contractor where you live?

The Dire State of America's Organ Donation System

For 75 years, the GI Bill has provided military service members with invaluable educational opportunities.  And for just as long, for-profit colleges and universities have sought to gain and maintain access to that funding stream.  In this episode, we examine some of the questionable recruiting tactics being employed by the institutions and discuss ways in which the system can be improved for the brave men and women who have proudly served.

"Dollar Signs in Uniform"

It's a heated debate that's unfolding at the federal, state, and local levels.  What is the appropriate minimum wage that employers must pay their workers in the United States? On the latest episode of the podcast Deep Dive with Laura Arnold:  a closer look at "the fight for $15," and whether mandatory wage increases are a benefit to workers or a jobs killer.

The Fight for $15

 Criminalizing poverty in America. For too many, it starts with a traffic ticket and can end with lost jobs, homes, and even dignity. On the latest episode of the podcast Deep Dive with Laura Arnold: a closer look at the hidden price tag behind our outdated system of courthouse fines and fees. 

The Hidden Costs of Fines & Fees

Even though it's been around for almost 400 years, most Americans know very little about the inner workings of Harvard University.  But with University President Lawrence Bacow at the helm, that trend is beginning to change.  In this episode, Laura Arnold covers a wide range of topics, from immigration to the skyrocketing cost of tuition and beyond.

A Conversation in Cambridge

The practice of gerrymandering is more than 200 years old in the United States, and yet its impact on our nation's politics is likely stronger today than at any other time in our American history.  Drawing voting maps with pure political partisanship in mind may seem inherently wrong, but the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that it's not necessarily illegal.  In this episode, hear from the attorney at the heart of the most recent case, and from a twenty-something activist in Michigan who used social media channels to spark a state-level movement against the practice of gerrymandering.

Cheating Between the Lines

Sky-high drug prices. Mass incarceration. Predatory lending. These are the surface-level symptoms of broken systems. To find answers, we must peel back the layers and look deeper. Join Arnold Ventures Co-Chair and host Laura Arnold as she shares the mike with leading data-driven experts in this podcast by the Arnold Ventures philanthropy that explores market failures in health care, criminal justice, education, and public finance — and how to fix them.

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Deep Dive with Laura Arnold

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