Plus, America’s digital divide, the normalization of relations with Syria, and jump starting economic renewal.
Harris’ chances could hinge on a women’s voting surge Will new enthusiasm and a voting surge among women be enough to propel Kamala Harris to victory in November? To address this question, William H. Frey assesses the role of women’s votes in recent presidential elections, which women’s demographic groups were most favorable to Democratic candidates, gender differences in voter turnout, and more key data. | How the internet is creating the new underclass | In her new book, “Digitally Invisible,” Nicol Turner Lee tells the story of the digital divide in the United States, uplifting stories from individuals around the country. She makes the case that achieving digital equity is crucial for the future of America’s global competitiveness. Get the book | More research and commentary The normalization of relations with Syria. Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia appointed its first ambassador to Syria since it closed its embassy in Damascus 12 years ago. This move was only the latest step by Arab states to normalize relations with the Assad regime. Steven Heydemann argues that normalization rewards the regime’s criminality, erodes prospects for accountability, and facilitates sanctions avoidance. Jump starting economic renewal. This week, the Economic Development Administration announced the first awardees of its new Recompete Pilot Program grants, meant to improve economic growth in distressed communities. Anthony F. Pipa and Zoe Swarzenski explain how this money will support a diverse selection of communities, regions, and activities, with a majority of the funds from this round awarded to rural areas. | About Brookings The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. Our mission is to conduct in-depth, nonpartisan research to improve policy and governance at local, national, and global levels. If you were forwarded this email, sign up for the Brookings Brief to stay updated on our latest work. | The conclusions and recommendations of any Brookings publication are solely those of its author(s), and do not reflect the views of the Institution, its management, or its other scholars. | |