A majority of Americans believe that Republicans and Democrats are more focused on fighting each other than solving problems. Utah Governor Spencer Cox wants to change that perception of American politics. He introduced the “Disagree Better” initiative to the National Governors Association in 2023. Governor Cox speaks to Soledad O’Brien about how the effort is encouraging healthy debate between state leaders and reducing political divisiveness.
Getting a college degree in the United States can come with a high price tag. The average tuition costs around $26,000 for a public university and $38,000 at a private college – leaving many graduates with hefty loans to pay. Now, colleges are looking for ways to ease the financial burden. Soledad O’Brien visits Marshall University to learn about a pilot program that’s helping students graduate without any debt.
This week Matter of Fact travels to West Virginia to learn how a new program at Marshall University is helping some students graduate without debt. Plus, the governor of Utah talks about his initiative to end animosity between Republicans and Democrats. And, a Colorado-based designer explains how he restores dinosaur fossils for museums.
Demonstrations against the war in Gaza are happening on college campuses across the country. At Dartmouth College, professors brought the debate about the conflict into the classroom for a public forum. The school also offers a course co-taught by a Middle East studies professor and a Jewish studies professor. The class helps students form a deeper understanding of the Middle East's past, present and future. Correspondent Leone Lakhani travels to Hanover, New Hampshire to see the “scholarly exchange” in action.
This week Matter of Fact visits Dartmouth College where Jewish and Middle Eastern studies professors are co-teaching a class that addresses the conflict in Gaza. Plus, New York City’s first chief medical officer works to get rid of racially biased tests in healthcare. And, 175 countries join forces to curb plastic pollution.