Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, health experts have advised the public on the use of masks. Today, the consensus is clear—mask up!—but the whys and hows of mask-wearing have changed over time. Here’s what we know now, and what we must do to stay safe. Read more >
Taryn's Latest Posts

Supreme Court Allows Census to Be Cut Short—and Considers Defying 150 Years of Precedent
October 21, 2020 12:51 PM EDT
On Tuesday, October 13, the Supreme Court ruled that the Census Bureau could end the 2020 census count early, marking an abrupt end to a months-long tussle over the Bureau’s census timeline. Then, only a few days later, the Court announced that it would consider the administration’s effort to exclude undocumented immigrants from the census, a move that would defy 150 years of constitutional precedent. Read more >

The Postal Service is Under Attack. Our Research Shows Who This Hurts Most
October 19, 2020 10:38 AM EDT
Our recent analysis of USPS records, which we received via Freedom of Information Act requests, suggests that the number of mail-delivery complaints has risen since March, especially in communities of color. Read more >

The Census Crisis: Commerce Secretary Tightens Grip on a Vital Public Good
October 2, 2020 3:12 PM EDT
In defiance of a federal judge’s order to continue the 2020 census count through October 31 after the administration cut it short, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced a new deadline—October 5, nearly a month sooner than the judge required.
In the closing acts of the nation’s most vital research effort, how did we reach this crisis point? Read more >
A UCS Guide to Involving the Public in Rulemaking
September 24, 2020 1:55 PM EDT
Today, the Union of Concerned Scientists is releasing its second batch of fact sheets to guide federal agencies toward science-based decisionmaking. One of these fact sheets, “Public Participation in Rulemaking at Federal Agencies,” focuses on how agencies can involve individuals and communities across the US in the regulatory process in 2021 and beyond. Read more >