THIRD WAY

PLEASE NOTE THAT FOR THIS PROGRAM, AND FOR ALL OF THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMS, ALL REPORTS DEVELOPED BY THIRD WAY ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THROUGH ITS WEBSITE: WWW.THIRDWAY.ORG.CLIMATE AND ENERGY OUR WORK IN 2023 RESPONDED DIRECTLY TO THE HISTORIC PASSAGE OF THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT, BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW, AND CHIPS SCIENCE LAW WHICH NOW PROVIDES THE U.S. THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP, DEPLOY, AND EXPORT THE CLEAN ENERGY THE U.S. AND THE REST OF THE WORLD NEEDS TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE AND IMPORTANTLY, ADDRESS NATIONAL SECURITY, ECONOMIC, AND COMPETITIVENESS IMPERATIVES. THROUGHOUT 2023 WE WORKED IN THE FOLLOWING THREE AREAS: 1) WE CHANNELED THE INVESTMENTS FROM BOTH THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA) AND THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW (BIL) INTO THE PROPER AVENUES TO MAXIMIZE IMPACT, 2) WE TOLD THE STORY OF THESE WINS AS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES THAT BENEFIT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND 3) WE WORKED TO REFORM THE PERMITTING PROCESS TO REMOVE OBSTACLES THAT STAND IN THE WAY OF CONSTRUCTING MASSIVE CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS. WE CHANNELED THE INVESTMENTS FROM BOTH THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA) AND THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW:* PUBLISHED 10 MEMOS ON HOW AMERICA CAN COMPETE IN SPECIFIC CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES INCLUDING: ADVANCED NUCLEAR, CARBON CAPTURE, DECARBONIZATION, HYDROGEN, ELECTRIC VEHICLES, AND CLEAN STEEL. WE HAVE MET WITH HUNDREDS OF POLICYMAKERS IN CONGRESS, THE ADMINISTRATION, AND LABOR UNIONS, AND NGO LEADERS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF OUR PROPOSALS.* WE HELD WORKSHOPS ON DEVELOPING A CLEAN ENERGY INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY FOCUSED ON EFFECTIVE MODES OF OPERATIONALIZING AND BUILDING A STRATEGY, AND WAYS IN WHICH NGOS CAN BOLSTER PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO SUPPORT THE EFFORT. ATTENDEES INCLUDED STAFF FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORY, COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS, ATLANTIC COUNCIL, ROOSEVELT INSTITUTE, INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION, BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE, AMONG OTHERS.TOLD THE STORY OF THESE WINS AS AN ECONOMIC WIN THAT BENEFITS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THEIR COMMUNITIES: WE CONDUCTED AND LEVERAGED ORIGINAL PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH TO REFRAME CLEAN ENERGY AS A KEY TOOL FOR AMERICA'S ECONOMIC AND GEOPOLITICAL SECURITY AND AS MEANS OF SPARKING JOB CREATION, REDUCING COSTS, AND BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL AMERICANS. THIS RESEARCH WILL TRANSLATE INTO CRITICAL MESSAGING AND COMMUNICATIONS MATERIALS TO HELP CREATE DURABILITY FOR CLEAN ENERGY INVESTMENT. WE WORKED TO REFORM THE PERMITTING PROCESS TO REMOVE OBSTACLES THAT STAND IN THE WAY OF CONSTRUCTING MASSIVE CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS: THE HISTORIC FEDERAL INVESTMENTS AND INCENTIVES PASSED IN 2021 AND 2022 ACCELERATED A RACE TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE, SCALE CLEAN ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE, AND COMPETE WITH AUTHORITARIAN STATES LED BY RUSSIA AND CHINA. HOWEVER, USING FEDERAL FUNDS TO CATALYZE PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT IS ONLY HALF THE BATTLE. WE LAUNCHED A PROGRAM TO IDENTIFY AND QUANTIFY THE DIVERSE AND DISPARATE NATURE OF OUR REMAINING CLEAN ENERGY ROADBLOCKS THAT THREATEN TO HAMPER PROGRESS AND WILL LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR A ROBUST POLICY ROADMAP TO GUIDE FUTURE ACTION.

SOCIAL POLICY AND POLITICSADDRESSING THREATS ON SOCIAL ISSUES: THIRD WAY REMAINS COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING THREATS TO AMERICAN VALUES AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS ON KEY SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ISSUES. WE EMPLOYED VARIOUS TACTICS TO MAKE PROGRESS ON CRIME, IMMIGRATION, MARIJUANA, AND LGBT RIGHTS IN THE PAST YEAR. THIS INCLUDED:* RELEASING A FOLLOW UP TO OUR RED STATE MURDER PROBLEM REPORT SHOWING THAT HOMICIDE RATES HAVE BEEN HIGHER IN RED STATES THAN BLUE STATES EVERY YEAR THIS CENTURY TO PUSH BACK ON THE NARRATIVE THAT CRIME IS CAUSED BY CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM POLICIES.* TESTIFYING AT A CONGRESSIONAL HEARING ON VIOLENT CRIME IN MANHATTAN TO PUSH BACK ON THE NARRATIVE THAT CRIME IS OUT OF CONTROL IN CITIES LIKE NEW YORK THAT HAVE IMPLEMENTED CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS AND BAIL REFORM. * RELEASING A SERIES OF MEMOS TO HELP SHIFT THE NARRATIVE ON IMMIGRATION BY HIGHLIGHTING ACTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO IMPROVE BORDER SECURITY AND ADVOCATING FOR MORE POLICIES THAT WOULD RESTORE ORDER AT THE BORDER. * CONDUCTING AND PRESENTING SEVERAL ROUNDS OF PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH ON VOTERS' ATTITUDES TOWARDS ISSUES AROUND TRANSGENDER YOUTH, SPECIFICALLY ON SPORTS PARTICIPATION AND MEDICAL CARE, AND SHARING MESSAGING GUIDANCE TO REACH CONFLICTED AUDIENCES.* SUPPORTING BIPARTISAN PROGRESS AROUND GUN SAFETY AND MARIJUANA POLICY THROUGH A SERIES OF SHORT MEMOS AND EXPLAINERS. CENTERING VALUE IN THE HIGHER EDUCATION DEBATE: THIRD WAY'S EDUCATION TEAM CONTINUES TO LEAD A COORDINATED MOVEMENT TO CHANGE THE FEDERAL POLICY NARRATIVE ON HIGHER EDUCATION FROM COST TO RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND SOCIALIZE A SLATE OF ACTIONABLE, DEFENSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE POSTSECONDARY VALUE, QUALITY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR STUDENTS AND TAXPAYERS. WE'VE ADVANCED THESE EFFORTS BY:* HOSTING DIGITAL AND IN-PERSON EVENTS, DEPLOYING DIGITAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS, AND PRODUCING A SUITE OF EASY-TO-UNDERSTAND EXPLAINERS, INFOGRAPHICS, AND REPORTS TO TRANSLATE WONKY TOPICS LIKE COLLEGE ACCREDITATION, FEDERAL STUDENT AID, AND STUDENT OUTCOMES DATA FOR NONEXPERT AUDIENCES.* CONDUCTING LANDMARK PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH ON GRADUATE STUDENTS, DEMONSTRATING BROAD PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR GRADUATE PROGRAMS.* TESTIFYING BEFORE THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AT AN EDUCATION & THE WORKFORCE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING ON HIGHER EDUCATION INNOVATION, CALLING ATTENTION TO HOW INNOVATION AND QUALITY ASSURANCE MUST GO HAND-IN-HAND TO PROTECT STUDENTS.* PUBLISHING OUR THIRD ANNUAL ECONOMIC MOBILITY INDEX TO CELEBRATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES THAT OPEN THEIR DOORS TO STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME BACKGROUNDS AND PRIORITIZE THEIR SUCCESS.* CHAMPIONING THE POSTSECONDARY STUDENT SUCCESS GRANT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT EVIDENCE-BASED COLLEGE RETENTION AND COMPLETION PROGRAMS AND MAKING THE CASE FOR MAKING THIS FUND PERMANENT.* SHAPING THE FINAL RULES ON GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT AND FINANCIAL VALUE TRANSPARENCY, WHICH WILL IMPROVE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR CAREER EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND EXPAND THE DATA AVAILABLE TO PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS ABOUT ALL COLLEGE PROGRAMS.DEFINING WHAT AMERICANS WANT FROM WASHINGTON: OUR POLITICS TEAM WORKED DILIGENTLY TO UNDERSTAND HOW AMERICANS VIEW THE POLITICAL SYSTEM, POLICYMAKERS IN WASHINGTON, AND POLICY ACTIONS THEY TOOK, IN ORDER TO INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT SHIFTING TRENDS AND PRIORITIES IN WHAT THE PUBLIC WANTS FROM THEIR GOVERNMENT. * WE UTILIZED CATALIST VOTER FILE DATA AND OTHER ELECTORAL DATA SOURCES TO DRAFT REPORTS ANALYZING AND EXPLAINING THE AMERICAN ELECTORATE AND DIFFERENCES IN OPINION, WORLDVIEW, AND VOTING BEHAVIOR ACROSS STATES AND DISTRICTS;* WE CONDUCTED QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT AMERICANS PRIORITIZE, HOW THEY THINK ABOUT CURRENT ISSUES UNDER DISCUSSION IN THE ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS, AND WHAT THEY WANT FROM CANDIDATES AND POLICYMAKERS; * WE TRACKED HOW EXTREME CANDIDATES PERFORM COMPARED TO THOSE CARRYING A MORE MAINSTREAM AGENDA, TO MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT MAINSTREAM IDEAS HAVE BROADER APPEAL, AND THAT AMERICANS WANT BIG ACTION, BUT NOT REVOLUTION; AND, * WE EDUCATED INFLUENCERS AND PRESS ABOUT THE IMPLAUSIBILITY OF A THIRD-PARTY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE'S PATH TO VICTORY UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, WARNING OPINION-MAKERS AND VOTERS AWAY FROM FALSE PROMISES FROM A SO-CALLED "UNITY TICKET" RUN BY NO LABELS.