How Russia Weaponized Facebook’s Crisis, Reducing Violence in America, and More

November 18, 2021

Former Facebook employee and whistleblower Frances Haugen testifies during a Senate hearing in Washington

How the Kremlin has weaponized the Facebook files

Whistleblower Frances Haugen has created a PR crisis for Facebook and spurred renewed calls for better oversight of online platforms. But Haugen’s revelations have also resulted in a less expected outcome: Russian propagandists using her testimony for their own ends. Jessica Brandt explains how the Kremlin seized this opportunity and what this means for the future of the internet.

Want to reduce violence? Invest in place.

America’s recent rise in violent crime has unleashed a fury of speculation about the causes, with many blaming protests, the “defund the police” movement, and the COVID-19 pandemic. To truly understand the causes of—and potential solutions to—violence, it is critical to understand the intersection between violence and place, Hanna Love argues.

Kindergarden students work in classrooms at Ross Elementary School in Topeka Wednesday morning

Using classroom simulators to transform teacher preparation

Nearly 200,000 teachers enter the workforce each year, and these newcomers have only a limited time to prepare themselves for what awaits them in the classroom. Julie Cohen and Vivian Wong discuss how simulations can help train teachers to provide equitable and effective instruction from day one.

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