These experts from the UW-Madison faculty and staff have agreed to comment on breaking news, ongoing developments and trends in their areas of expertise. If you need help arranging interviews, email University Communications.
SCOTUS overturns Roe v. Wade
In the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, the U.S. Supreme Court has ended constitutionally protected access to abortion, overturning Roe v. Wade. The experts below are available for interviews on the Dobbs decision, and more UW—Madison experts on numerous aspects of the story are available upon request.
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Jenny Higgins on: Impacts of restricted abortion access, physician sentiment, and public health aspects of Dobbs decision
Jenny Higgins is director and research hub co-advisor at UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity (CORE) and a professor of Gender and Women’s Studies and Obstetrics and Gynecology. Higgins is available to discuss the potential impacts of restricted abortion access, physican sentiment about the issue, and abortion as a component of public health.
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Tiffany Green on: Disparities and restricted reproductive health access
Tiffany Green is an assistant professor in the departments of Population Health Sciences and Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is an expert in the causes and consequences of racial/ethnic disparities in reproductive health. Green is available for interviews to discuss the outlook for disparities of impact resulting from restricted reproductive health access.
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Miriam Seifter on: Wisconsin state law regarding abortions
Miriam Seifter is an associate professor of law, Co-Director of the State Democracy Research Initiative, and Rowe Faculty Fellow in Regulatory Law at the University of Wisconsin Law School.
She is an expert on administrative law, state and local government law, executive power, federalism, and the U.S. Supreme Court
Experts on today’s news
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Joshua Braver on: Court-packing and the future of the U.S. Supreme Court
The subject of adding to the number of sitting justices on the U.S. Supreme Court is again under discussion following the recent Dobbs decision ending the constitutional right to abortion. Joshua Braver, an assistant professor of law, is available to discuss the possibility of court-packing and what it would mean for the future of the U.S. Supreme Court.
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Ajay Sethi on: Outlook for an updated covid vaccine
Ajay Sethi, an associate professor of population health sciences, is available to discuss the recent FDA recommendation to udpate covid vaccines in the fall to target the omicron variant in particular.
Sethi says, "An updated booster will broaden our immunity and give us additional protection for the newer variants that will be spreading this fall and winter.”
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Howard Schweber on: What to expect next from SCOTUS
Howard Schweber, a constitutional law expert and an associate professor of political science and legal studies, is available for interviews about the future direction of the Supreme Court. Schweber is ready for analysis on the upcoming Bruen and Kennedy cases, as well as the court's likely movement in the near future.
Ryan Owens, director of the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership and professor of political science, is also available for interviews on the topic. Owens says, "If the Dobbs decision is any indication, the Court is poised to deliver some serious constitutional decisions in the upcoming terms. A solid majority of justices are willing to consider and, in some cases, reconsider the constitutionality of major issues."
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Moses Altsech on: Gas prices
Moses Altsech is a marketing lecturer int the School of Business. Altsech is available for interviews about why gas prices in the U.S. seem to be closely tied to world events, like the war in Ukraine.
Altsech says, "Part of the reason prices are affected is an actual supply disruption, but the other part is due to the hoarding of crude oil by oil companies willing to pay a premium price to stockpile it just in case there’s a future, even more severe or long-term supply disruption." Click here for more.
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Michael Wagner on: January 6 hearings
This month, the House select committee is currently conducting televised hearings of the January 6 Capitol insurrection. Mike Wagner, professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, is available for interviews about what the committee hopes to achieve with the hearings, how the public might react, and how history could judge the content of the hearings.
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Cliff Robb on: Inflation impact on consumers
With inflation continuing to rise, consumers are having to reconsider budgets and make some tough choices about spending. Cliff Robb, faculty director for the Consumer Finance and Personal Financial Planning programs and an expert on consumer financial decision-making, can discuss.
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J. Michael Collins on: Increasing retirement savings
The House of Representatives recently passed The Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2022, also known as the “Secure Act 2.0,” which would expand and encourage retirement savings and include increasing the required minimum distribution (RMD) age from 72 to 75 over time, broaden automatic enrollment in retirement plans, and enhance 403(b) plans. The Senate is expected to consider a similar version of this legislation in later in 2022.
J. Michael Collins can discuss retirement savings and the impact these changes could have. He studies consumer decision-making in the financial marketplace, including the role of public policy in influencing credit, savings and investment choices. He served on Governor Evers's Retirement Security Task Force, and is faculty director of the UW's Center for Financial Security.
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Beth Olson on: Baby formula shortage
Beth Olson, associate professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences is available for interviews about how families an cope with the baby formula shortage.
Olson says, "Any families unable to find formula for their baby should call their baby’s health care provider to help them make the best decisions they can for feeding their baby. If families participate in the Women, Infant and Children (WIC) Program, they can contact them for help, as well. There may be alternate places to obtain formula or different formulas which may be okay for their baby. Never water down formula, and the American Academy of Pediatrics says don’t make homemade formula. Both of these things may be dangerous for babies’ health."
