Faculty in the Media

The Dallas Morning News July 3, 2026

Why the American Dream remains out of reach for many in North Texas

Professor Mechele Dickerson discusses how disparities in housing, education, and healthcare continue to shape access to the American Dream and families' ability to achieve long-term middle class stability.

More of: Mechele Dickerson

Newsweek July 2, 2026

How Americans Would Change the Constitution—New Poll

Professor Richard Albert discusses public support for constitutional reform, explaining that although Americans favor a range of proposed amendments, the Constitution's demanding amendment process makes significant change difficult to achieve.

More of: Richard Albert

Lab Roots July 2, 2026

Water Mixing Causes Heavy Metal Spikes in Texas Neighborhood

In a report she co-authored, Clinical Professor Kelly Haragan discusses drinking water contamination in Austin's Colony, warning that the findings reveal gaps in the regulatory system and raise concerns about whether oversight adequately protects residents in situations like this.

More of: Kelly L Haragan

ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice July 2, 2026

Church-State Law Then and Now: 60 Years of Religious Freedom Jurisprudence

Professor Emeritus Douglas Laycock discusses the evolution of church-state law, explaining how Supreme Court interpretations of the Establishment and Free Exercise clause have shifted over the past 60 years and the implications it has on religious liberty today.

More of: Douglas Laycock

PolitiFact July 1, 2026

Trump allies blame birthright citizenship for ‘birth tourism.’ How often does it happen?

Clinical Professor Denise Gilman explains that there is no reliable evidence showing birth tourism is widespread, noting that available estimates indicate it accounts for only a small fraction of U.S. births despite its prominence in political debates.

More of: Denise L Gilman

Straight Arrow News June 30, 2026

What will it take to solve the great American energy puzzle?

Professor Emeritus David Spence discusses the challenges of expanding U.S. energy infrastructure, explaining that political polarization, permitting uncertainty, and competing priorities have made it increasingly difficult to build the transmission and power systems needed to meet growing electricity demand.

More of: David B Spence

the Guardian June 30, 2026

Trump administration puts religious freedom at heart of US health policy

Professor Elizabeth Sepper argues that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service reorganization uses the framing of religious liberty to prioritize right-to-life agendas and protect healthcare providers who refuse to provide reproductive, emergency, and gender-affirming care, which ultimately compromises patients' rights to non-discriminatory medical treatment.

More of: Elizabeth W Sepper

Factor This June 30, 2026

Policy reform is key for states to unlock the potential of renewable energy

A white paper co-authored by Professor David Adelman arguing that clean energy opposition stems from structural policy failure is referenced in an article proposing policy reform by states.

More of: David E Adelman

CBS News June 30, 2026

Texas reactions mount after Supreme Court birthright citizenship ruling

Clinical Professor Denise Gilman characterizes the Supreme Court's birthright citizenship ruling as straightforward, however she expressed concern that the non-unanimous, delayed decision could incorrectly signal that this constitutional right is uncertain.

More of: Denise L Gilman

KXAN June 29, 2026

Central Texas leaders warn AI-driven layoffs could signal broader job losses

Lecturer Kevin Frazier proposes that, rather than taxing AI, policy makers should focus on rapid, public-private retraining and apprenticeship programs to prepare workers for a shifting, skills- based "portfolio economy."

More of: Kevin Frazier

Spectrum News 1 June 26, 2026

Paxton’s support for IVF highlights broader divide among GOP

Professor Rachel Rebouché explains that an FDA safety study on a medication with track record of safety and efficacy like mifepristone is unprecedented, while emphasizing that widespread interstate conflicts over abortion access are just beginning.

More of: Rachel Rebouché

Houston Chronicle June 26, 2026

Dan Patrick-led Religious Liberty Commission aims to alter the relationship between church and state

Clinical Professor Steven Collis states that while the term"separation of church and state" doesn’t appear in the Constitution, two religious liberty clauses limit how much the government can interfere with religion or promote one set of faith beliefs over another.

More of: Steven T Collis