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