Top Staff Essays of 2021

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The Regulatory Review highlights the top regulatory stories written by our staff in 2021.

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The Regulatory Review is pleased to highlight the top 50 essays from 2021 authored by our staff. These essays, which qualify for this list based on the number of page views, are arranged below in alphabetical order by last name of author.


Religious Freedom or Pandemic Safety?

March 25, 2021 | Safaa Aly

The Supreme Court blocked Governor Cuomo from enforcing COVID-19 restrictions on houses of worship.


Rescinding the Muslim Ban Is Not Enough

May 19, 2021 | Safaa Aly

Muslims and activists call on President Biden to protect Muslims against discriminatory federal practices.


Climate Change Stress Testing

January 12, 2021 | Shakad Barkay

The Fed is beginning to consider policy responses to climate change.


Google’s Break

January 20, 2021 | Shakad Barkay

In one of the biggest antitrust cases in a generation, the Justice Department opted for a narrow claim.


Essentially Snake Oil

September 9, 2021 | Annie Blackman

The structure of some essential oils companies makes it harder for federal agencies to restrain false claims.


Can Public Banking Save the Postal Service?

March 3, 2021 | Annie Blackman

Policymakers say that postal banking could offer financial support to underserved people while saving an American institution.


Compassionate Release During COVID-19

February 22, 2021 | Meghan Downey

Administrative and judicial processes offer those incarcerated in federal prisons a path home.


Expanding Home Confinement During COVID-19

April 1, 2021 | Meghan Downey

A regulatory remedy can help reduce the federal prison population during the pandemic.


How The Constitution Regulates Funding Religious Schools

January 14, 2021 | Meghan Downey

A Supreme Court decision from last term allows states to subsidize student attendance at religious schools.


The Justice Department Should Preserve Home Confinement

March 1, 2021 | Meghan Downey

The Biden Administration should reject arguments to re-incarcerate people released from prison during the COVID-19 pandemic.


The Cowboy State Tames Bitcoin’s Regulatory Wild West

April 7, 2021 | Milad Emamian

Wyoming’s first cryptocurrency bank may herald a new era of U.S. cryptocurrency regulation.


What Will Happen to DACA?

January 9, 2021 | Adam Garnick

After the Supreme Court spares key immigration initiative, Dreamers may face their greatest threat yet.


Human Rights Abuses at 30,000 Feet

June 17, 2021 | Adam Garnick

Scholars document the abuse of noncitizens in airports and airplanes across previous administrations.


Lost in Translation in Immigration Detention

July 7, 2021 | Adam Garnick

Scholars analyze linguistic and cultural barriers asylum-seekers face in the credible fear interview process.


The Struggle for Voting Rights in Georgia

January 4, 2021 | Allie Gottleib

Voters, lawyers, and activists continue to fight for voting rights in the Peach State.


Time to Rescue the Rescue Dog Industry

February 23, 2021 | Aaron Kaufman

Rescue dog groups may be exacerbating the very problem they claim to address.


Pet Food Regulation May Be More Bark Than Bite

October 7, 2021 | Aaron Kaufman

Regulators strive to keep our animal companions’ food safe, but gaps remain.


The Fight Over California’s Abortion Coverage Mandate

February 3, 2021 | Bethany Lee

HHS may carry out a Trump Administration enforcement action against California for its abortion coverage mandate.


Reviving the Power of the FTC

March 17, 2021 | Bethany Lee

High-level officials within the FTC call for the return of a key enforcement authority.


Rallying Around Paid Family Leave

February 24, 2021 | Bethany Lee

Stakeholders weigh in on a potential federal paid-leave program.


Pennsylvania Lawmakers Restrict Access to Fentanyl Test Strips

October 19, 2021 | Brinna Ludwig

Pennsylvania law prevents people who use drugs from testing for fentanyl and avoiding overdoses.


Macaroni and Cheese With a Side of Regulation

May 26, 2021 | Hannah Leibson

FDA faces mounting pressure from advocacy groups claiming a high chemical content in macaroni and cheese.


China’s Hukou System and the Urban-Rural Divide

August 18, 2021 | Max Masuda-Farkas

Economists show that the Chinese household registration system restricts economic mobility for rural migrants.


Service Animals at 30,000 Feet

February 9, 2021 | Lynn McDonough

A federal rule finalized under the Trump Administration allows airlines to narrow the use of animals as a disability accommodation on flights.


Prison Reform and Olmstead

April 13, 2021 | Lynn McDonough

Scholar argues that a key disability rights framework could support prison reform or even abolition.


Federal Courts Disagree Over Accessibility Online

June 16, 2021 | Lynn McDonough

Differing judicial positions on the ADA’s application to websites set up a potential Supreme Court case.


Community Land Trust Gets a California Makeover

February 17, 2021 | Katie McKeen

California laws may help community land trusts tackle a housing crisis and other issues.


A Modern Antitrust Law for Tech Tycoons

April 15, 2021 | Katie McKeen

Proposed legislation could update antitrust legal standards and the U.S. government’s enforcement capacity.


Is the Roadless Rule Exemption a Highway to Environmental Hell?

January 7, 2021 | Katie McKeen

Despite protests, the U.S. government has opened the largest forest in North America to industrial activity.


Stopping Predatory Fintech Lending

January 14, 2021 | Sabrina Minhas

Scholar argues that fintech firms engage in predatory lending.


Law Reforms Promote Nurse-Managed Care

September 1, 2021 | Larissa Morgan

Amid rising insured rates, physician shortages, and COVID-19, nurse-led care seeks to address health inequities.


Highway to Better Healthcare

February 9, 2021 | Larissa Morgan

Mobile clinics seek to address disparities in health care delivery by dismantling barriers for rural Americans.


Formaldehyde Lurks in Hair Products Despite FDA Warning

July 22, 2021 | Maryam Nasir

FDA warns consumers to protect themselves from a known carcinogen in hair smoothing products.


How Will President Biden Address the Student Debt Crisis?

January 20, 2021 | Oliver Paprin

Progressives call for Biden to take sweeping action to relieve student debt.


Reimagining the Public Option

January 6, 2021 | Oliver Paprin

Expert argues that social benefit, not market-competitiveness, should drive health care reform.


A New Reporting Structure for Bureau of Land Management Rangers

May 11, 2021 | Hannah Pugh

A Bureau of Land Management policy may weaken enforcement of federal laws and regulations on public lands.


What Comes Next for ANWR?

April 14, 2021 | Hannah Pugh

Regulatory reversals raise questions about future oil development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.


A Sandbox for the U.S. Financial System

August 19, 2021 | Alessandra Carolina Rossi-Martins

To experiment with regulatory sandboxes, Congress must address the fragmentation of financial regulation.


Californians Debate Controversial Ethnic Studies Curriculum

June 3, 2021 | Elle Rothermich

A state-level debate over model lesson plans echoes a national battle over teaching racial justice.


How Artificial Intelligence Can Combat Climate Change

August 25, 2021 | Megan Russo

Scholar explains how regulators can use artificial intelligence as an effective tool for slowing climate change.


Mismatched Gender Markers on State ID cards

March 10, 2021 | Megan Russo

Scholar argues for simpler processes to change gender on identification cards.


Reversing a Midnight Expansion of the Death Penalty

July 14, 2021 | Megan Russo

The Biden Administration is expected to withdraw last-minute Trump Administration death penalty regulation.


Regulating Police Use of Deadly Force in the United States

April 19, 2021 | Leticia Salazar

Scholars argue that reform is needed to address the unjust practices of law enforcement officers.


Another Federal Name, Image, and Likeness Proposal

April 29, 2021 | Andrew Schaengold

Endorsement money may soon become legal for college athletes.


A Case for Mandatory Voting

July 7, 2021 | Alana Sheppard

Scholars argue that civic duty voting could revive American democracy.


Zoning Changes to Create Affordable Housing

August 17, 2021 | Alana Sheppard

Scholars argue for “upzoning” to build more multi-family homes on land near transit stations.


The Accredited Investor Exemption Must Go

March 2, 2021 | Lucus Siegmund

Scholar argues that the SEC should protect investors by requiring greater disclosures for private offerings.


The Paranormal Nature of Ghost Kitchens

January 13, 2021 | Maddie Verniero

Online-only cooking warehouses are on the rise—but they may evade traditional food safety regulations.


The Future of the Abortion Pill

January 26, 2021 | Jasmine Wang

FDA’s regulation of medication abortion must be guided by science, not politics.


Electricity Problems are Bigger in Texas

January 13, 2021 | Jasmine Wang

Despite historic power vulnerability, state regulators failed to prepare for the winter storm of the century.

This page is part of a five-part series, entitled The 2021 Regulatory Year In Review.