Third Way

TO RESEARCH AND DEVELOP CENTRIST POLICY IDEAS.

PLEASE NOTE THAT FOR THIS PROGRAM, AND FOR ALL OF THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMS, ALL REPORTS DEVELOPED BY THIRD WAY ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THROUGH ITS WEBSITE: WWW.THIRDWAY.ORG.CLIMATE AND ENERGY THE CLIMATE AND ENERGY PROGRAM'S MISSION IS TO CHANGE THE NATIONAL POLICY CONVERSATION AND PUT THE UNITED STATES ON THE FASTEST, FAIREST PATH TO NET-ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS. WE DID THIS IN 2021 BY 1) FILLING POLICY GAPS, 2) BUILDING A COALITION, AND 3) ESTABLISHING A NARRATIVE FOR OUR APPROACH.FILLING CRITICAL POLICY GAPS: WE ESTABLISHED THE NECESSARY TOOLS AND POLICIES, INCLUDING: DEVELOPING A POLICY AGENDA TO ACHIEVE NET-ZERO EMISSIONS BY 2050 THAT TAKES FULL ADVANTAGE OF EVERY ZERO-CARBON TECHNOLOGY, INCLUDING NUCLEAR ENERGY AND CARBON CAPTURE; RAMPING UP GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT IN INNOVATION AND DRIVING THE DEMAND FOR CLEAN ENERGY; AND PRODUCING A THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND JOBS CREATED IN EACH STATE DUE TO KEY FEDERAL CLIMATE POLICIES.BUILDING A COALITION: WE ENSURED THE AGENDA CAN RESONATE AMONG STAKEHOLDERS BY: INCLUDING THE DEMOGRAPHIC, ECONOMIC, AND REGIONAL DIVERSITY WITHIN THE COALITION NECESSARY TO ENACT ROBUST NATIONWIDE POLICY; INCLUDING A WIDE RANGE OF STAKEHOLDERS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND POLICYMAKERS IN OUR RESEARCH AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT; AND FEATURING COALITION PARTNERS IN EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTS AND PUBLIC ACTIVITIES.ESTABLISHING A NARRATIVE: WE CHANGED THE CONVERSATION ON CLIMATE BY: DEVELOPING AND DRIVING A NARRATIVE AND MESSAGING THAT ACCURATELY REPRESENTS OUR VISION OF TECHNOLOGY INCLUSIVITY; COMMUNICATING AND EXPLAINING THE PROBLEM AND EQUITABLE SOLUTIONS PLAINLY AND COMPREHENSIVELY TO POLICYMAKERS AND THE AMERICAN PUBLIC; AND ENLISTING OUR COALITION PARTNERS TO HELP AMPLIFY THIS NARRATIVE THROUGH VIRTUAL EVENTS AND OTHER PUBLIC PLATFORMS.

SOCIAL POLICY AND POLITICSIN 2021, THE SOCIAL POLICY AND POLITICS PROGRAM FOCUSED ON 1) ANSWERING WHAT A COALITION TO DEFEAT POPULISM MUST LOOK LIKE, 2) OFFERING A COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL COLLEGE QUALITY AGENDA THAT SHIFTS FOCUS FROM COST TO VALUE AMONG POLICYMAKERS, THE PRESS, AND OTHER INFLUENCERS AND 3) ADDRESSING THREATS ON CONTENTIOUS SOCIAL ISSUES AND ASSISTING POLICYMAKERS IN TALKING ABOUT THESE ISSUES IN A WAY THAT HAS BROAD APPEAL. WHAT A COALITION DEFEATING POPULISM LOOKS LIKE: OUR POLITICS TEAM WORKED TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION BY:UTILIZING CATALIST VOTER FILE DATA AND OTHER ELECTORAL DATA SOURCES TO DRAFT REPORTS ANALYZING AND EXPLAINING THE AMERICAN ELECTORATE AND DIFFERENCES ACROSS STATES AND DISTRICTS; CONDUCTING QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT CRITICAL SUBURBAN VOTERS PRIORITIZE, HOW THEY THINK ABOUT CURRENT ISSUES UNDER DISCUSSION IN WASHINGTON, AND WHAT THEY WANT FROM CANDIDATES AND POLICYMAKERS; AND TRACKING HOW POPULIST CANDIDATES PERFORM COMPARED TO THOSE CARRYING A MORE MAINSTREAM AGENDA. THIS MAKES THE CASE THAT MAINSTREAM IDEAS HAVE BROADER APPEAL.SHIFTING THE FOCUS IN HIGHER EDUCATION FROM COST TO VALUE: OUR EDUCATION TEAM WORKED TO BUILD THE ADVOCACY AND POLICY INFRASTRUCTURE TO PUSH FOR ACTIONABLE POLICY SOLUTIONS THAT HELP STUDENTS AND TAXPAYERS GET A GREATER RETURN ON THEIR HIGHER EDUCATION INVESTMENT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. OUR WORK ENSURED THAT FEDERAL POLICYMAKERS KNOW THEY CANNOT ADDRESS THE MYRIAD OF PROBLEMS IN OUR HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM WITHOUT TAKING SIGNIFICANT STEPS TO IMPROVE QUALITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND VALUE. THIS INCLUDED:CONDUCTING PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH TO UNDERSTAND HOW AMERICANS THINK ABOUT QUALITY IN THE HIGHER EDUCATION CONTEXT AND DEMONSTRATE THE BROAD SUPPORT FOR INCREASED ACCOUNTABILITY IN OUR HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM; PRODUCING EASY-TO-UNDERSTAND TRANSLATORS, INFOGRAPHICS, VIDEOS, AND REPORTS ANALYZING PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATA ABOUT STUDENT OUTCOMES IN HIGHER EDUCATION, CALLING ATTENTION TO THE NEED TO IMPROVE THOSE OUTCOMES AND INCREASE ACCOUNTABILITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION; AND HOSTING VIRTUAL EVENTS AND DEPLOYING DIGITAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS TO DEMYSTIFY COMPLICATED TOPICS IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND HIGHLIGHT THE NEED FOR NEW POLICY SOLUTIONS THAT INCENTIVIZE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS TO FOCUS ON IMPROVING STUDENT OUTCOMES. ADDRESSING THREATS ON SOCIAL ISSUES: WE REMAINED COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING THREATS TO AMERICAN VALUES AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS ON KEY SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ISSUES. WE EMPLOYED VARIOUS TACTICS TO COUNTER THREATS ON IMMIGRATION, GUN SAFETY, LGBT RIGHTS, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, AND COMMUNITY-BASED POLICING REFORM. THIS INCLUDED: DRAFTING AND RELEASING MEMOS THAT EXPLAIN THE MAJOR SUPREME COURT CASES THAT COULD IMPACT SOCIAL POLICY IN ADVANCE OF THEIR DECISION BY THE COURT; ANALYZING AND PRODUCING PUBLIC REPORTS ON IMMIGRATION TOPICS THAT ARE UNDER DISCUSSION AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL, INCLUDING POLICY CHANGES DURING THE PANDEMIC, ENHANCEMENTS TO BORDER SECURITY, PROPOSALS TO PROTECT THE DREAMER AND TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS POPULATIONS, AND EFFORTS TO CUT BOTH LEGAL AND UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS OFF FROM ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES; DRAFTING AND RELEASING MEMOS THAT DEMONSTRATE COMMON-GROUND, SENSIBLE POLICY OPTIONS FOR ADDRESSING GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY, PARTICULARLY MASS SHOOTINGS; AND ANALYZING THE CHALLENGES FACING POLICING REFORM AND CREATING PROPOSALS THAT COULD HELP POLICYMAKERS BRIDGE THE DIVIDE AND MAKE PROGRESS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

ECONOMICS PROGRAM IN 2021, OUR ECONOMIC PROGRAM FOCUSED ON TWO CORE AREAS: 1) DEVELOPING AN AGENDA TO RESCUE THE ECONOMY AND US HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, AND 2) ADVANCING A CASE FOR A NEW CONTRACT ON WORK. COVID-19 RECOVERY: AS THE PANDEMIC AND SUBSEQUENT ECONOMIC RECESSION SWEPT ACROSS THE NATION, OUR TEAM MOVED QUICKLY TO UNPACK THE TOLL THE CRISIS WAS HAVING ON THE ECONOMY AS WELL AS DEVELOP A ROBUST AGENDA FOR RECOVERY. OUR WORK INCLUDED: DEVELOPING REGULAR BLOGS THAT ANALYZED ECONOMIC TRENDS TO HELP THE POLICYMAKING COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND THE QUICKLY EVOLVING COVID-19 CRISIS; DESIGNING AN INITIAL FOUR-PART ECONOMIC RESCUE AGENDA THAT DETAILED HOW TO SAVE AMERICAN WORKERS, EMPLOYERS, STATE/LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM; AND CRAFTING A SUBSEQUENT ECONOMIC RESCUE AGENDA OUTLINING 21 KEY AREAS TO ADDRESS TO BOLSTER THE ECONOMY IN 2021.A NEW CONTRACT ON WORK: WE'VE HAD TWO ONCE-IN-A-CENTURY ECONOMIC SHOCKS IN THE LAST 12 YEARS THAT LEVELED THE COUNTRY AND PUT TENS OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS AT THE BRINK OF RUIN. THESE SHOCKS ALSO LAID BARE WHAT WAS ALREADY APPARENT DURING BETTER TIMES: WE HAVE TWO ECONOMIES IN AMERICA - ONE THAT SUFFICIENTLY REWARDS WORK AND ANOTHER WHERE THE BOND BETWEEN WORK AND A GOOD LIFE HAS GROWN TENUOUS. NONE OF THIS IS ACCIDENTAL OR INEVITABLE; MUCH OF IT IS THE CONSEQUENCE OF A 21ST CENTURY ECONOMY RELYING ON A 20TH CENTURY CONTRACT ON WORK. IN RESPONSE, OUR TEAM RESEARCHED AND ANALYZED WHAT AMERICANS GET FROM WORK - WAGES AND SALARIES, HEALTH CARE, RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTIONS, SKILL ACQUISITION, PAID FAMILY LEAVE, CHILD CARE, AND MORE - AND STARTED TO DEVELOP A DETAILED POLICY AGENDA. WORK INCLUDED: DEVELOPING A COMPREHENSIVE CRITIQUE OF THE CURRENT CONTRACT ON WORK AND DESCRIBING HOW AND WHY IT IS FAILING TO PROVIDE A PATH TO PROSPERITY AND SECURITY FOR MOST AMERICANS; BUILDING POLICIES THAT MODERNIZE THE CONTRACT ON WORK, INCLUDING IDEAS BOOSTING WAGES AND KEEPING WORKERS EMPLOYED DURING DOWNTURNS; AND CONVENING POLICY EXPERTS TO DISCUSS ECONOMIC TRENDS AND STRATEGIES TO CREATE A MODERN CONTRACT ON WORK.

NATIONAL SECURITY PROGRAMIN 2021, THE NATIONAL SECURITY PROGRAM FOCUSED ON 1) NARROWING THE CYBER ENFORCEMENT GAP AND 2) EDUCATING STAKEHOLDERS ON NAVIGATING NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES. NARROWING THE CYBER ENFORCEMENT GAP: OUR TEAM WORKED TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE CYBER ENFORCEMENT GAP (THE BIG GAP IN CYBERCRIME INCIDENTS HITTING THE UNITED STATES VERSUS ACTIONS TAKEN AGAINST THE PERPETRATORS) AND CREATE THE WILL AND POLICY SOLUTIONS TO TIGHTEN IT. THIS INCLUDED: RESEARCHING AND DEVELOPING POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CREATE CONDITIONS TO MOVE TOWARD REDUCING THE CYBER ENFORCEMENT GAP AND STRATEGICALLY PLAN FOR THE YEARS TO COME; CONVENING WORKING GROUPS OF 40 FORMER US NATIONAL SECURITY OFFICIALS, INDUSTRY, AND EXPERTS TO DEVELOP A ROADMAP OF NEARLY 60 ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN TO BRING PERPETRATORS OF CYBERCRIME TO JUSTICE; HIGHLIGHTING OUR EFFORTS ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE THROUGH OUR WORK WITH DIFFERENT GLOBAL NETWORKS; RAISING THE AWARENESS OF THE PUBLIC AND POLICYMAKERS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF CYBER ENFORCEMENT THROUGH MEDIA ENGAGEMENT AND EVENTS; AND CREATING AN INSTITUTION THAT CAN DELIVER APPROPRIATE SOLUTIONS TO CYBER-ENFORCEMENT POLICY CHALLENGES AND ACCOUNT FOR COMPETING VALUES AND TRADE-OFFS.NATIONAL SECURITY EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS: OUR EDUCATIONAL WORK ON THE NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES INCLUDED: DEVELOPING A COMPREHENSIVE BOOK OF HOT TOPICS IN NATIONAL SECURITY TO ADVISE POLICYMAKERS ON SOME OF THE MOST PRESSING NATIONAL SECURITY PRIORITIES; HOLDING DISCUSSIONS WITH ALLIES AND KEY INFLUENCERS TO GAIN THEIR PERSPECTIVES ON SHAPING THE MESSAGE ON NATIONAL SECURITY IN THE CURRENT LANDSCAPE; AND EDUCATING STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING SKEPTICS AND NEUTRAL PARTIES, ON NAVIGATING NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES.