The following resources from government and nonpartisan sources can help voters become up-to-date on critical policy issues and debates.
No matter your political position or policy preference, it's important to understand how these issues are framed and discussed by policy makers.
GENERAL - ECONOMy - ENVIRONMENT - FOREIGN AFFAIRs - National security - HEALTHCARE - IMMIGRATION
Economy
Bureau of Economic Analysis's Interactive Data Tool
Simple interface for accessing BEA's wealth of national, international, regional, and industry statistics. These are the numbers that enable policymakers, business leaders, and the American public to follow and understand the performance of the US economy.
Bureau of Labor Statistics' Data Tools
Provides access to economic data from all BLS programs, including the most recent numbers on inflation and unemployment. BLS is the principal fact-finding agency of the federal government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics.
Environment
MIT Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research
Research center within MIT which promotes rigorous, objective research for improved decision making in government and the private sector.
Foreign affairs
CIA World Factbook
Provides almanac-style summaries of countries and territories around the world, including information on demographics, geography, government, economy, and military.
Council on Foreign Affairs Backgrounders
"Backgrounder" briefs that provide quick and highly readable summaries on more than one hundred issues ranging from NAFTA's economic impact to the China-North Korea relationship.
National Security
Center For a New American Security
Independent think tank that develops strong, pragmatic, and principled national security and defense policies.
Center for Strategic & International Studies
Conducts policy studies and strategic analyses of political, economic, and security issues throughout the world.
Brookings Institute's Defense & Security
Extensive coverage of arms control, cybersecurity, energy security, intelligence community, and other pressing national security issues.
Health care
Kaiser Family Foundation
Non-profit organization focusing on national health issues, as well as the US role in global health policy. Kaiser serves as a non-partisan source of facts, analysis and journalism for policymakers, the media, the health policy community and the public.
Immigration
The Migration Policy Institute
Independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank that provides analysis, development, and evaluation of migration and refugee policies at local, national, and international levels.