Ivy Sullivan

What exactly is a government shutdown, and what does it mean for our democracy?

In today’s episode of Democracy Deciphered, New America’s @mschmitt9.bsky.social unpacks why shutdowns happen and what history can teach us.

🎧 Tune in: https://bit.ly/474dXWq

White House Pulls Pick to Lead Labor Data Agency

Now you see me, now you don’t!

Good job he has his amateur magician work to fall back on.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/30/b...

Related to this story, we are so grateful to @duckworth.senate.gov for requesting a GAO investigation into whether ED not awarding CCAMPIS grants amounts to an illegal impoundment of appropriated funds.

www.duckworth.senate.gov/imo/media/do...

Proposed DOL Rule Scraps Anti-Discrimination Supports for Apprentices A review of proposed changes to Department of Labor's equal opportunity employment protections and anti discrimination rules for apprenticeship programs

ICYMI: The @dol.gov plans to roll back equal employment requirements for federally registered #apprenticeship programs.

🚨 Yes, really.

Here, our policy experts @morganpolk.bsky.social and @ivysullivan.bsky.social detail how this new rule "deconstructs protections" for women and workers of color.

Why Gen Z Needs More Than Trump’s ‘Make America Skilled Again’ Empty Promises Trump promised to “Make America Skilled Again,” but slashed funding and student debt relief. Now Gen Z is pushing back and building a better future.

The president promised young people new opportunities. But his policies fall short.

🧵 Writing for @newamerica.org's digital magazine The Thread, @ivysullivan.bsky.social unpacks how cuts to #college and career readiness programs leave #GenZ with fewer pathways to success—and how we course correct.

Proposed DOL Rule Scraps Anti-Discrimination Supports for Apprentices A review of proposed changes to Department of Labor's equal opportunity employment protections and anti discrimination rules for apprenticeship programs

The Trump admin is weakening federal agencies that support worker rights, and wants to make it easier for employers to get away with discriminatory practices. More on this in my @educationwork.newamerica.org blog with @morganpolk.bsky.social:
www.newamerica.org/education-po...

New America experts around the web:

1️⃣ @politicalreform.newamerica.org Maresa Strano for @thefulcrum-us.bsky.social bit.ly/3UN4HiJ

2️⃣ @educationwork.newamerica.org Rachel Fishman for @insidehighered.com bit.ly/4fwx7GY

3️⃣ Heela Rasool-Ayub for @aljazeera.com bit.ly/47schqb

Text image discussing the role of school districts, policymakers, and employers in helping Gen Z build their careers by stepping out of comfort zones.

Despite promises to "Make America Skilled Again," federal cuts to career readiness programs have left Gen Z without the support they need to explore and launch their careers, argues @ivysullivan.bsky.social of @educationwork.newamerica.org.

💻 go.newamerica.org/gen-z-skille...

Why Gen Z Needs More Than Trump’s ‘Make America Skilled Again’ Empty Promises Trump promised to “Make America Skilled Again,” but slashed funding and student debt relief. Now Gen Z is pushing back and building a better future.

While we wait for Congress, Gen Z is getting to work! Check out my latest piece for @newamerica.org The Thread! www.newamerica.org/the-thread/g...

Screenshot of Columbia's settlement with the White House

Columbia University has handed over its undergraduate admissions process to Donald Trump and his MAGA allies, who will now decide at their sole discretion whether the university has admitted enough white people. It's no longer an independent institution.

Democrats and Republicans agree, the cost of attending colleges and universities are too expensive

Democrats and Republicans agree on this -- the cost of attending college is a huge problem. Check out the other insights in @educationwork.newamerica.org 2025 Varying Degrees report 🔎 www.newamerica.org/education-po...

Painting of a woman at a table looking at another woman who is holding a serving tray. My caption “can I get you anything else?” “A new president and another coffee would be great.”

back from vacation (a week ago) and about to make it everyone’s problem

Episode 11: What Does it Mean to be an American Patriot? How have our shared visions of American ideals influenced the meaning of patriotism? How has this definition evolved over time? Ted Johnson from New America delves into the complexities of American…

"What Does it Mean to be an American Patriot?" great listen from New America's podcast team!

Why Colleges Should Get Involved in Child Care Advocacy Colleges should get involved in advocacy for child care solutions.

What if colleges got involved in child care advocacy at the state and local level?

I made the case here for why colleges should be involved in efforts to address the child care crisis- to the benefit of parenting students, their workforce, and really all of us.

www.newamerica.org/education-po...

Apprenticeships for high schoolers are touted as the next big thing. One state leads the way High school apprenticeships are slowly spreading, as young people become more disillusioned with four-year college and well-paying jobs that don’t require bachelor’s degrees go begging.

Great to see @hechinger covering youth apprenticeships in Indiana!

Poster for the event "Katrina's America: 20 Years Since the Storm" held by New America Fellows Program, featuring multiple speaker portraits arranged above a background image of a storm seen from above. The event is scheduled for July 16, from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM EDT, and will be conducted online.

📅 7/16; 9:30a ET
📍Online

Join us for Katrina’s America, a day-long event exploring the legacy of Hurricane Katrina.

🗣️ Vann R. Newkirk II, @drtedj.bsky.social, @sherifink.bsky.social, @clintsmithiii.bsky.social, @nhannahjones.bsky.social, & more.

#NewAmericaEvents go.newamerica.org/katrinasamer...

It's hard to believe it's already the start of the official wildfire season in California. The volunteers and fire fighters are essentially miracle workers, but they shouldn't have to be.

See How Much Federal Money Trump Is Holding Back From Your District Hundreds of districts will lose more than $1 million each, according to a new analysis.

Yesterday, I shared my @educationwork.newamerica.org team's district impact analysis of the $6+ billion that the Trump admin is refusing to disburse to schools (link in 2nd post). Now, @edweek.org has published our funding figures for ALL districts in the US for which we have data. Search for yours↓

Did you see his NYT interview about the "anti christ". His brain is mush!

How the House Reconciliation Bill Harms the Average American Family The House reconciliation bill makes college less affordable—ignoring Americans’ top higher ed concern.

A preview unreleased polling data which will be published in the next few weeks: 74% of Americans — (91% of Democrats, 58% of Republicans) — say the federal government should spend more taxpayer dollars to make higher education affordable.

One Big Beautiful Bill Act Fails Students and Our Education System New America's Education & Work programs share concerns about the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and its threat to public education in the United States.

Cuts to Medicaid would impact the 28 percent of early educators who rely on it for health care. Check out New America's review of the reconciliation bill here:

It’s all a bit too much.

US Department of Labor awards nearly $84M in grants to expand Registered Apprenticeships

Has anyone been able to find descriptions of the winning competitive grants from apprenticeship formula SAEF3 funding? www.dol.gov/newsroom/rel...

States Face Uncertainty as an Estimated $6.2 Billion in K–12 Funding Remains Unreleased: Here’s the Fiscal Impact by State States face uncertainty as $4.8 billion in K–12 federal funding remains unreleased. If the U.S. Department of Education doesn’t distribute these funds by July 1, state educational agencies will need p...

learningpolicyinstitute.org/blog/states-...
From the Learning Policy Institute, showing the impact of the administration's reckless decision to withhold billions of critical education dollars. Vermont and DC are set to see over 20% of their federal school funding yanked. Over 10% in every state.

The Disability Pride flag with bold text that reads: “All Policy is Disability Policy. July is Disability Pride Month.”

Welcome to #DisabilityPrideMonth!

➡️ ICYDK: Inclusive education isn’t charity—it’s a legal right.

And celebrating with us in July also means celebrating year-round the policies that build systems for all learners: like early intervention services, accommodating classrooms, and a fully-funded IDEA.

Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship The Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship supports the success of efforts in states and cities to expand access to high-quality apprenticeship opportunities for high school age youth.

Get an email from us once-a-month to keep up with the latest youth apprenticeship & pathways news, grants, and events! www.newamerica.org/center-educa...

Solidarity. Forever.

Promising Partners: Community Colleges and Child Care Resource & Referral Networks Child Care Resource and Referral Networks are a promising partner to help community colleges address child care challenges for student parents.

Parenting students make up a significant share of those enrolled in #CommunityCollege, but finding reliable #ChildCare remains a big barrier to their school success.

🌈 Our #HigherEd expert @stephabaker.bsky.social highlights how campus partnerships can help these students—and their young families.

What Is the PAYA Network? A Preview of Events and Upcoming Resources

What is the PAYA Network?? Join us June 17 to learn more and learn more about if you're eligible to join the network! www.newamerica.org/center-educa...