Schar School of Policy and Government

Forty-seven percent say the state is heading in the right direction, while 42 percent think it’s on the wrong track. The state's Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin gets a positive approval rating from 52 percent of Virginia voters, with 39 percent rating him negatively. Youngkin receives positive ratings from Republicans, independents and men, but negative marks among Democrats and women.

D.C.-area leaders have tried desperately to lure teleworking employees back into their offices, hoping to restore the vibrancy and generous tax revenue previously offered by buzzy commercial and downtown corridors that largely emptied during the pandemic. But a large majority of people in the region with remote-capable jobs say they would prefer to mostly work from home if offered the choice, a Washington Post-Schar School poll finds.

Despite disparities in student performance, a majority of Virginia voters say they believe the state's public schools provide equal opportunities for students across racial and income groups, according to a Washington Post-Schar School poll.

More than 6 in 10 Americans support a ban on the consideration of race in college admissions, according to a Washington Post-Schar School poll, but an equally robust majority endorses programs to boost racial diversity on campuses.

Pearlstein blames Congressional gridlock on “political fantasies.”

Mark Katz offers two theories to explain why Russian President Vladimir Putin suddenly called for an end to what, in a departure from past practice, he referred to as the “war” in Ukraine. Katz suggests that Putin might recognize the costs of the war and genuinely want to end it; he may also want to incentivize Western governments to stop supporting Ukraine at current levels.

A Chinese scientist modified the genes in human embryos that became living babies. A new paper takes note of the world’s reaction, particularly within China.

A weekend-long conference near Washington, D.C., brought undergraduate students from several universities together to learn the art of policy communications. The sessions were taught by practitioners in an event hosted by the Schar School.

After seeing a family member struggle with inadequate help in dealing with the criminal legal and treatment systems available, Faye S. Taxman devoted her career to developing change. In November, she received the criminology field’s highest honor.

A major story in the Post breaks down all the ways the Senate is designed, intentionally or not, to favor particular populations. In a telling quote, the Schar School’s Jennifer N. Victor confirms it.