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Understanding the Inflation Reduction Act
Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, and Joe Manchin at a bill signing. Biden is sitting at a desk with the Presidential Seal. Schumer and Manchin are standing behind him. Behind all three are two American flags and a third other flag.

President Joe Biden hands the pen he used to sign the Democrats’ landmark climate change and health care bill to Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022. (Image: AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Understanding the Inflation Reduction Act

Penn experts explain the climate, health care, and economic aspects of the legislation that President Biden signed into law this week, plus the politics of getting it passed.

Katherine Unger Baillie, Michele W. Berger, Kristen de Groot, Dee Patel

How ideologically divided is the American public?
A drawing of two people shouting at each other from castle turrets, which are placed on top of silhouetted heads. Ladders are on the side of each head, and in the background are clouds, sky, and plant fronds.

Image: iStock/VectorMine

  • Q&A

    • How ideologically divided is the American public?

    The Polarization Research Lab, a new initiative from Annenberg’s Yphtach Lelkes and colleagues at Dartmouth and Stanford, will work to answer that question through surveys and partnerships with community organizations.

    Michele W. Berger

    What is it like to be a journalist during the ‘fake news’ era? Not easy
    Two hands holding microphones questioning a person talking.

    What is it like to be a journalist during the ‘fake news’ era? Not easy

    Doctoral student Jeanna Sybert looks at how journalists in the U.S. are dealing with stress and job insecurity as newspapers shutter, wages are cut, and the legitimacy of their field is called into question.

    From Annenberg School for Communication

    Cable news networks have grown more polarized
    A person watching a television channel with the words FAKE NEWS on the screen.

    Cable news networks have grown more polarized

    An Annenberg School for Communication analysis of 10 years of cable TV news reveals a growing partisan gap as networks like Fox and MSNBC have shifted to the right or the left of the political spectrum.

    From Annenberg School for Communication

    ‘Trusted messengers’ distill science, debunk myths about COVID-19 vaccine
    A person, Helaine Heggs, standing outside in front of a tree.

    Helaine Heggs is one of 24 ambassadors recruited by VaxUpPhillyFamilies, an initiative spearheaded by Penn’s School of Nursing, in collaboration with the Annenberg School for Communication, Perelman School of Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philly Counts, and Konquered Healthcare Solutions. (Image: Linda Jiang)

    ‘Trusted messengers’ distill science, debunk myths about COVID-19 vaccine

    VaxUpPhillyFamilies, led by Penn’s School of Nursing, engages Philadelphia parents and caregivers as vaccine ambassadors to identify concerns and provide support related to COVID-19 vaccines, increase vaccine uptake, and address social support needs.

    Michele W. Berger

    Cultural representations in films
    Maori amidst foliage
  • Q&A

    • Cultural representations in films

    In partnership with BlackStar Projects, Maori Karmael Holmes of Penn Live Arts curates films to uplift the work of Black, brown, and Indigenous artists.

    Anna Chen

    TV news top driver of political echo chambers in U.S.
    An illustration of an old television with a person in sunglasses on it. On top sits a laptop computer with an arm reaching out past the screen, holding a rolled up newspaper. Another newspaper lays flat on top of the screen.

    TV news top driver of political echo chambers in U.S.

    Duncan Watts and colleagues found that 17% of Americans consume television news from partisan left- or right-leaning sources compared to just 4% online. For TV news viewers, this audience segregation tends to last month over month.

    Michele W. Berger

    Who, What, Why: Annenberg doctoral student Ava Irysa Kikut
    Ava Kikut in front of the Annenberg School for Communication

    Ava Kikut, a 2020-22 Provost’s Graduate Academic Engagement Fellow, focuses on health communication. 

  • Who, What, Why

    • Who, What, Why: Annenberg doctoral student Ava Irysa Kikut

    Through a Netter Center ABCS course, Kikut worked with high school students and Penn undergrads to develop media messages that speak to the health needs and inequalities pertinent to adolescent Philadelphians.

    Kristina García

    Video experiment brokers peace among ex-FARC combatants and locals in Colombia
    Film still of two Colombian children meeting an ex-FARC member.

    An image from the intervention video shown to promote peace between everyday Colombians and ex-FARC members (Image: Pirata Films)

    Video experiment brokers peace among ex-FARC combatants and locals in Colombia

    A new study from the Peace and Conflict Neuroscience Lab explores the impact of media interventions on brokering peace among former members of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and non-FARC Colombians.

    From Annenberg School for Communication