Policy Briefs

YIP's policy briefs provide clear, nonpartisan summaries of key national issues and policies. Designed for accessibility, they distill complex topics into concise, understandable analyses, bridging the gap between intricate policy debates and a broad audience. These briefs embody our commitment to informed, unbiased discourse, crucial for fostering a well-informed public and encouraging active engagement in policy discussions.

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Briefs harmonize diverse political perspectives in policy teams of 4-6 for insightful policy solutions.

Recent Policy Briefs

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AI Content Safeguards for Minors

Technology Policy

Nishna Makala

With the growing prevalence of AI-generated content on the internet, children become more vulnerable to manipulation through disinformation, inappropriate, and misleading media. This policy brief aims at introducing measures to guarantee that online platforms will be obliged to reveal the use of AI-generated content, mitigate its negative algorithmic impact, conduct human review, and be subject to independent oversight.

Temporary Protected Status in the Wake of Mullin v. Doe

Social Policy

Lilian Tsai

This brief will analyze the recent changes in U.S. policy on Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a humanitarian immigration program. It will examine the history of this program, the end to TPS protections for many countries, and the legal challenges against this that led to the Supreme Court’s involvement.

Canada’s Recent Wildfires: Effects on the United States

Rapid Response

Aram Jung

Since late June 2026, large-scale wildfires across Canada have sent hazardous smoke plumes into the United States, exposing over 120 million Americans to dangerous air quality levels. This brief examines the scope of the crisis, its public health consequences, and the structural governance gaps it has exposed between the U.S. and Canada.

July Periodical

Rapid Response

Aisha Foday

This periodical examines four developments that shaped July across the Middle East, Ukraine, and the transatlantic policy landscape. We open with the U.S. airstrikes against Iran, and the escalation they signal in an already fraught standoff. We then turn to the continued Russian missile strikes on Kyiv throughout the month, and what that persistence of these attacks reveals about the state of the war. We examine the newly signed U.S.-Saudi nuclear cooperation agreement and the last-minute conditions that have complicated its path forward. We close with Spain’s FIFA World Cup victory, a rare moment of celebration in a month of tension and uncertainty.

The STREETS Initiative: A New Approach to Homelessness

Public Health Policy

Anika Agrawal

This brief analyzes the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ recent announcement of more than $700 million in funding to cohesively address mental illness conditions, substance use disorders, and homelessness.

Nuclear Deterrence in Foreign Policy

Foreign Policy

Kate Chu

This brief examines the evolution of nuclear deterrence from its Cold War origins to its role in contemporary foreign policy. It evaluates major theoretical frameworks, identifies emerging challenges—including multipolarity, artificial intelligence, and alliance credibility—and proposes policy options to strengthen deterrence while reducing escalation risks.