JUNE 18, 2026 Harvard Kennedy School Even though national divides have crept into local politics, everyday issues draw less partisan disagreement. (Photo by John Greim/Loop Images/Universal Images Group/Getty Images) Cities & Communities Potholes unite us (even when nothing else does)  You might avoid talking about hot-button issues like international conflicts or climate policy with a relative from a different political party. But would you chat about street parking? What about potholes? New research from HKS Professor Justin de Benedictis-Kessner finds that while national divisions have crept into local politics, everyday issues (the kinds that city governments actually control) tend to draw far less partisan disagreement. The study also found that mayors are often more polarized than their own constituents, taking stronger partisan stances than the people they represent. A lesson for local leaders: there’s still plenty of room to govern on common ground. Also see: Students tackle state and local government projects in HKS Professor Chris Avery’s class, and HKS Professor Stephen Goldsmith explains how AI can empower city workers to make decisions while remaining accountable.  Learn more about Cities & Communities at HKS » What we're reading Research by Professor Jim Stock, a member of the HKS faculty, finds that climate uncertainty is bad for economic policy. Democracy & Governance How a “radical duke” sparked the “Age of Revolution” As we approach 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Professor Danielle Allen argues that the “Age of Revolution” didn’t start here in the United States—or even with the French Revolution. Allen has uncovered the little-known story of a reform-minded British aristocrat who shaped his nation’s path in turbulent times, and whose friendship with Thomas Paine turned to bitter rivalry. “England came much closer to a revolution in the years between 1765 and 1790 than most people realize,” Allen explains in a Q&A. She points to parallels between Lennox’s time and our own: “We have all of those problems today: an unbounded executive, a legislature that is supposed to be independent of the executive but has become dependent instead, corruption, abusive use of funds to control politics.”  Also see: Allen recently hosted a conversation with policymakers, scholars, and innovators on how societies around the world rebound from crises.  Learn more about Democracy & Governance at HKS » What we're Doing Loneliness is both a personal experience and a public crisis. Researchers, policymakers, and advocates who are addressing the loneliness epidemic in the United States and the U.K. spoke about setbacks and progress at an event hosted by Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy.  Education, Training & Labor Do school phone bans actually work? Here’s what early findings suggest As young people spend more time on their screens, educators and parents are working to keep cell phones out of classrooms. Nearly half of U.S. states have now passed “bell-to-bell” laws keeping phones out of students’ hands during the school day. HKS Professor Paul Peterson breaks down the early research, including a study from Florida, the first state to adopt a cellphone ban. While it’s too early to know the long-term implications, these findings show a promising pattern: an initial bump in suspensions as students pushed back, followed by improved learning outcomes and lower absenteeism.   Learn more about Education, Training & Labor at HKS » What we're learning “Points systems” in service jobs mean sick workers put themselves and others at risk research by HKS Professor Daniel Schneider shows. Upcoming Online Events Hosted by the Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights Adaptive Leadership for LGBTQI+ Movement Builders Wednesday, June 24, 2026  |  8:30AM ET See more events » In the News • Interest in government careers dipped after 2025 federal workforce purge, Harvard research finds Elizabeth Linos, Boston Globe • Beyond ‘Pax Americana’: How JFK’s lessons on unilateral nuclear restraint show that Trump should do more Matthew Bunn, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists • Ambassador Samantha Power on the loss of USAID Samantha Power, WBUR • Bernie Sanders’ AI sovereign wealth fund plan is good. But we think this is better Bruce Schneier, The Guardian • Did a rowdy English nobleman mastermind the American Revolution? Danielle Allen, New Yorker • I worked in the White House. We never imagined this problem would get this bad. Jason Furman, New York Times 79 John F. Kennedy Street Cambridge, MA 02138 USA Manage Subscriptions | Update Profile | Unsubscribe © 2026 Harvard Kennedy School