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Education

Many of the issues facing our country are extraordinarily complex and nuanced. In order to understand these policy issues and the various perspectives around them, elected leaders, government staff, the public, industry, and nonprofits must first have an objective basic knowledge that is rooted in fact. Center Forward’s Basics series presents complicated issues in a non-partisan and easy-to-understand manner.

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Justin Trudeau’s Resignation: A Turning Point for Canada

Governance

As Canada prepares for a new chapter, the implications of Trudeau’s departure for the Liberal Party, Parliament, and the nation’s political trajectory loom.

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Turning the Page: U.S.-Mexico Relations in the Era of Sheinbaum and Trump

Trade

President Claudia Sheinbaum’s commitment to energy transition and judicial reform contrasts President-elect Donald Trump’s proposals for stringent immigration measures and economic tariffs. How these leaders address shared challenges, including migration and security, will define the future trajectory of U.S.-Mexico relations.

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Emerging AI: Open vs Closed Source

Technology Trade

Breakthroughs in AI have sparked new discussions about the open versus closed technology debate. As policymakers worldwide confront the rise of artificial intelligence, much of their focus has turned to powerful foundation models capable of performing various advanced tasks.

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International Organization Glossary

Governance Trade

While by no means exhaustive, this Basic provides an overview of international organizations, as well as their jurisdictions and objectives. 

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Reauthorizing WIOA: What’s Next for Federal Workforce Development Programs?

Workforce

For nearly a century, federal workforce development programs have operated to equip workers with the skills they need and businesses with the resources and manpower to thrive in a growing and changing economy. Congress passed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) in 2014 with strong bipartisan support as part of the long recovery from the 2008 financial crisis. Now, as WIOA is up for reauthorization more than a decade later, policymakers from both parties recognize the importance of maintaining an adaptive and forward-looking federal workforce development program.

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Pandemic Preparedness: Strengthening the U.S. Response Framework

Health Care

Pandemic preparedness is at the cornerstone of public health resilience, national security, and economic stability. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the devastating consequences of underfunded public health infrastructure and uncoordinated responses. This Basic outlines critical goals set by relevant federal agencies, provides a baseline understanding of pandemic funding, and summarizes the legislative state of play related to American preparedness.

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Defense Blueprint: Unpacking the NDAA

As the cornerstone of U.S. defense budgeting, the NDAA addresses issues such as military pay, benefits, procurement of weapons systems, research and development, and foreign policy strategies.

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The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act – Tax Series Part 2 of 5

Tax

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), passed in December 2017, represents one of the most significant overhauls of the U.S. tax system in decades. The act was designed to spur economic growth by reducing the tax burden on individuals and businesses. However, the long-term effectiveness of the act in achieving sustained economic growth continues to be debated.

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