The States Forum

Opinion | Mamdani Will Need to Change How He Governs

Great piece from States Forum Network member @robertgo.bsky.social on how governors and mayors need to get serious about delivering excellent public services. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/23/o...

The States Forum The States Forum is dedicated to advancing the American Promise: that all people are created equal with the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and that government secures these righ...

Madison's promise only works if someone keeps it. And now it’s on the states to do just that.
Read the full journal here: www.statesforum.org/journals/iss...

And a real conversation from Marshall Kosloff about how liberals need a better story — not better talking points.

Essays on how states can use their own balance sheets, their own courts, their own corporate chartering powers to fight back.
Plans to fix the cost of living crisis at the state level.

You’ll hear from Susan Rice on why she believes we've already entered what’s called “competitive authoritarianism” — and how we can combat it.

Matt Lackey on how we can build digital media that strengthens our democracy.

The States Forum published the second issue of our journal, Double Security.

This isn't doom scrolling. This is a playbook. A series of essays, real tools, real solutions. From governors' offices to state treasuries to your statehouse.

Federal institutions are straining. Trust is collapsing. And people across the political spectrum feel like the system isn't working for them anymore. So we asked a question — what if the states are the answer?

In 1788, James Madison made a promise. He called it "double security." The idea was simple — divide power between the federal government and the states so no one can grab too much of it. That promise is the entire reason we have the system we have.

What if the thing that saves American democracy. . .isn't Washington?

You’ll see 3 things on your power bill:
• Supply – making electricity
• Transmission – big lines
• Distribution – neighborhood wires

For years T&D drove costs. Now?

Supply costs are rising because we’re not building power fast enough. States can fix this. statesforum.substack.com/p/the-year-o...

Grid reliability. Utility bills that work for consumers, not investors. Bad Bunny's half time show sent a message about power: all Americans deserve to be able to keep the lights on. thehill.com/blogs/in-the...

Americans’ Views on Immigration Aren’t at Odds—They’re Complex. And Adult. Slogans create backlash. Nuance builds consensus.

If your immigration message fits on a yard sign, you’re losing. Nuance creates consensus. Slogans create backlash. New polling on immigration in this week’s Substack: statesforum.substack.com/p/americans-...

AI is already in classrooms. Now we need to decide: whose rules, whose safeguards. States are starting to write the playbook.

www.multistate.us/insider/2026...

January is long, dark, and freezing—but the ideas in our January Book aren’t.

States have real power to take on the cost-of-living squeeze and defend our rights. We’re ending this month with ideas built for this moment. Read below. www.statesforum.org/january-book/

Former National Security Advisor @AmbassadorRice on authoritarianism, federal power, and the erosion of democratic guardrails. Read an excerpt from her full interview in next month’s edition of The States Forum Journal in this week's Substack: open.substack.com/pub/statesfo...

A look at bill proposals in the Virginia state legislature 7News is taking a closer look at some of the legislation Democrats in Virginia are focused on off the bat.That includes House Bill 863, which as it stands right

The Virginia state legislature is back — and the early agenda is a clear statement of priorities: civil rights, mental health care, and cost-of-living relief. Not culture wars - governing.

wjla.com/news/local/v...

Abundant Housing Options Near Opportunity - The States Forum Download this chapter The idea Across the United States, from big cities to growing suburbs to college, beach, and mountain towns, families and workers are struggling to find and keep homes they can a...

Alex Brennan of @futurewise.bsky.social &
@cityjane.bsky.social talk about the American housing nightmare and how states can step in to define best practice regulation that increases supply and brings down costs. 
www.statesforum.org/january-book...

Protecting Free Expression and Free Inquiry on Campuses - The States Forum Download this chapter The idea A robust culture of free expression and free inquiry is a central component of democracy, and key to continued development of science, technology, and humanistic ideas f...

Colleges play a vital role in our democracy, and preserving freedom of expression on campus is essential to our future. 

Dr. Sigal Ben-Porath discusses how states can help protect our students and faculties’ voices. 
www.statesforum.org/january-book...

Being True to America Towards a Healthy Civic Education

“All we say to America is, ‘Be true to what you said on paper.’” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Teaching U.S. history requires being clear-eyed about our challenges & how we've worked to overcome them.

More on what civic education *should* look like:
statesforum.substack.com/p/being-true...

Expanding Citizen-Led Policymaking in the 21st Century This report explores opportunities and strategies for expanding ballot initiative access to more states.

Citizen-led ballot initiatives can be a key way to institute the change we want to see at the state level. 

Read more in @newamerica.org about how everyone can join the governing process. 
www.newamerica.org/political-re...

Fixing Government Hiring - The States Forum Download this chapter The idea If democracy is going to deliver for its citizens, government needs the right people doing the people’s work. Strong staff matter—in the classroom1 or on the beat,2 in c...

More from our January book!

@robertgo.bsky.social discusses how
we hire the right people to do the people’s work. Delivering on democracy requires getting the best talent into government - efficiently.

www.statesforum.org/january-book...

Is the Sky Blue? A call to public action for utility rate case intervention

In this week’s Substack, Marissa Gillett talks investor-owned utilities, why (and how) rates are skyrocketing, and how YOU can get involved in fixing this cost of living crisis. 
statesforum.substack.com/p/is-the-sky...

On the Donroe Doctrine And Its Domestic Implications

In this piece, Danielle Allen argues that President Trump’s recently coined ‘Donroe Doctrine’ is a dagger aimed at the heart of American democracy. statesforum.substack.com/p/on-the-don...

The Service Year - The States Forum Download this chapter The idea Service has been a defining American characteristic that has long provided a path of opportunity. For more than 30 years, AmeriCorps has formally engaged more than 1.4 m...

From the January Book: Paul Monteiro writes about service and helps us deeply engage in civic life, and how states like Maryland, California, and New York are instituting programs to support young people in strengthening their communities. 
www.statesforum.org/january-book...

De-Gouging the Economy - The States Forum Download the full paper The idea Since the pandemic, families are angry about the increasing costs of everyday essentials and monthly bills. Given the lack of meaningful rationale for rising prices, m...

As the cost of living continues to increase, January Book contributor @choprausa.bsky.social is looking to the states & the powerful—& often overlooked—tools they have to drive down the costs families face.

And, the benefits come much sooner than you’d think.
www.statesforum.org/january-book...

Cheap and Abundant Electricity Is Good - The States Forum Download the full paper The idea Energy is the lifeblood of the modern economy. Electricity powers homes, factories, and our digital world, allowing us to enjoy comfortable lives in a competitive coun...

It’s simple: cheap and abundant electricity is good! 

In our January Book, @janeaflegal.bsky.social discusses the growing need for energy, the policy challenges thwarting new supply, and how we move towards more cheap AND clean energy. 

www.statesforum.org/january-book...

State-Based Civil Rights Enforcement to Fill the Federal Vacuum - The States Forum Download the full paper The idea At a crucible moment in American history, after the nation witnessed firehoses wielded against children seeking justice, a governor blocking a schoolhouse door, and br...

“States create new possibilities. Meaningful civil rights infrastructure at the state level includes nondiscrimination protections & a functioning & transparent enforcement apparatus.”

Catherine E. Lhamon &
Katy Joseph talk about how states protect civil rights.

www.statesforum.org/january-book...

Kicking off the new year the only way we know how: with a collection of policy ideas sure to make life better and more affordable!

Introducing…The January Book!
www.statesforum.org/january-book/

Students Take a Deep Dive into Connecticut Policymaking A new course taught by Professor Zachary Liscow uses Connecticut as a case study for understanding how state government can work more effectively.

Effective government means thinking not just about policy design but also policy *implementation*.

An interesting read on how we streamline state government systems.
law.yale.edu/yls-today/ne...

Let’s Tidy Up State Government - The States Forum As the pandemic put millions of people out of work, states developed a backlog of unemployment insurance claims. Many governors blamed COBOL, a programming

A more efficient state government is a more effective state government! 

More from @pahlkadot.bsky.social on how we clean up policy clutter to deliver for Americans. 
www.statesforum.org/journal/issu...