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PPI’s Mid-Year Wrap Up:

Check out what PPI has been up to thus far in 2025!
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In April, PPI launched New Directions for Democrats in Denver, bringing together policymakers, strategists, and reformers to chart a new course for the Democratic Party. Over two days of candid conversations, participants focused on rebuilding trust with working Americans, forging a cross-class coalition that includes more non-college voters, modernizing the party’s agenda to deliver real results, and restoring faith in our government’s ability to serve the public effectively. New Directions is about laying the foundation for a durable, competitive center-left majority — one that meets Americans where they are, addresses their real-world challenges, and makes government work for working families again. Stay tuned for information about the next event!
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CHECK OUT THE FULL HIGHLIGHTS ([link removed])

Articles, Analysis & News
Will Marshall, President: How Four Democrats Who Saved the Party Before Would Do It Again
⮕ The New York Times ([link removed])

Ed Gresser,
Vice President and Director for Trade and Global Markets: Tariffs and Economic Isolationism: Four Principles for a Response
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PPI Analysis ([link removed])

Diana Moss, Vice President and Director of Competition Policy: Antitrust Should Be a Tool for Creating Abundance
⮕ ProMarket ([link removed])

Rachel Canter, Director of Education Policy: Dear Democrats, Republicans Are Eating Your Lunch on Education. What Are You Going to Do About It?
⮕ Real Clear Education ([link removed])

Will Marshall: Factory Jobs Aren’t the Future Working Americans Want
⮕ The Hill ([link removed])


** Research & Reports
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Watch, Listen & Subscribe

📺 Reinventing America’s Schools Webinar Series ([link removed])

🎧 Radically Pragmatic Podcast ([link removed])

🚢 Trade Fact of the Week ([link removed]) by Ed Gresser

💵
Budget Breakdown ([link removed]) by Ben Ritz & Alex Kilander

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** American Identity Project
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As America grapples with growing attacks on democratic values and increasing racial divides, public schools offer a crucial opportunity for a better path forward. To counter rising illiberalism, foundations, and researchers push for sensible reforms such as more civics instruction and accountability, but the more profound challenge lies in shaping a shared American identity.

To address these challenges, PPI has launched the American Identity Project, led by Richard Kahlenberg, that asks: “What does it mean to be an American today?” The project
recently announced ([link removed]) that a group of prominent Americans, led by former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence H. Summers and New York Times columnist David Brooks, is coming together to provide advice and recommendations about how schools and colleges can best transmit American traditions and civic ideals to the next generation.

Highlights from the project’s work this year include: A piece in the American Affairs journal on renewing the Democratic Party ([link removed]) , an appearance ([link removed]) on The Glenn Show, a report ([link removed]) on the way out of the DEI wars, and a feature for The New York Times ([link removed]) on how class-based admissions could replace affirmative action. Stay tuned for much more to come.

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** Project on Center-Left Renewal
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PPI’s Project on Center-Left Renewal resumes our long-running conversation with center-left parties in Europe and around the world. Led by Claire Ainsley, its purpose is to exchange ideas, strategies, and tactics for making center-left parties more competitive and improve their governing performance.

Highlights from the project’s work this year include: A comprehensive German Election Preview ([link removed]) , a radio interview ([link removed]) discussing the Australian Labor party’s election victory, an analysis ([link removed]) of how European youth are gravitating toward populism, an essay for The New York Times ([link removed]) on how a progressive future depends on national identity, and much more.

Ainsley also chaired a "Defeating Populism Without Becoming Populists" panel featuring Will Marshall at the UCL Policy Conference in London in May. They stressed the importance of Ainsley’s Project in this international moment and the key role the U.S. plays in the global movement.
Learn more about the project ([link removed])

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** Kyiv, Ukraine (New Ukraine Project)
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PPI’s New Ukraine Project, led by Tamar Jacoby from on the ground in Kyiv, is devoted to helping Ukraine secure its independence and take its place in Europe as a fully free and democratic nation. Jacoby’s work highlights the continued need for humanitarian and financial assistance, refugee settlement, and military aid, and explore ways to speed Ukraine’s accession to the European Union and, eventually, NATO.

Highlights of Jacoby’s 2025 work thus far include: A piece on the essential next steps ([link removed]) on Ukraine, the impact of Trump’s election ([link removed]) on American global leadership, analysis of the NATO Summit ([link removed]) , a discussion on Washington Monthly’s podcast ([link removed]) on America’s abandonment of Ukraine, and more.

Jacoby also led a Capitol Hill briefing on the state of the war in June, where an expert panel tackled questions of American aid, European defense readiness and the West's long-term strategy.
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Learn more about the project ([link removed])


** Adventures Abroad 🌎
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Australia (May 2025)

In May, PPI traveled to Australia for a series of high-level meetings and discussions on the country’s recent national elections. From Sydney to Canberra to Brisbane, conversations explored lessons from the Australian Labor Party’s electoral success, evolving political dynamics, and strategies for engaging working-class voters in today’s shifting global politics landscape.


** Staff Delegation to Brussels & Berlin (May 2025)
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In May, PPI gathered a high-level delegation of House and Senate Congressional Staff for a trip to Brussels and Berlin. The delegation met with senior EU officials, the new German government, and leading policy experts to discuss energy, competition, defense cooperation, investment, regulatory priorities, and shared transatlantic challenges.


** Staff Delegation to Honolulu, Hawai’i (May 2025)
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In May, PPI partnered with the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii to lead a delegation of senior House staff on a trip to Hawai’i, where they had the opportunity to learn firsthand about the unique impact the Jones Act has on the state, as well as other notable issues facing Hawai’i.

The delegation heard from local business leaders on the economic issues facing Hawai’i and was briefed on the current threats in the Pacific. They also had the opportunity to meet directly with Hawaii politicians such as Rep. Ed Case, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, and Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi.


** Staff Delegation to London & Stockholm (April 2025)
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In April, PPI led a congressional staff delegation to London and Stockholm to learn from their innovative and successful education and workforce development policies. In London, the delegation took a number of informative meetings related to career education and workforce training, meeting with the Gatsby Foundation, London South Bank University, and UK government officials. In Stockholm, the delegation met with labor organizations that comprise Sweden's unique labor market model and with members of parliament from multiple parties, exploring their perspectives and proposed solutions to common workforce challenges.

Prague (April 2025)

PPI’s Deanna Ross spoke on a panel at LibertyCon Europe in Prague, where she discussed the effects of migration patterns on labor markets, different global approaches to open border policies, how policymakers should best approach migration policy, and ultimately, how the labor markets and workers respond to these policies.

Marrakech, Morocco (April 2025)

PPI convened leading voices from across Africa and beyond for a timely discussion on the growing African digital and app economy. A panel conversation, hosted by CEO Lindsay Lewis at GITEX Africa, focused on how Africa can capitalize on digital opportunities to drive inclusive job growth, scale innovation, and shape regulatory approaches that support emerging tech ecosystems.

Staff Delegation to New York City (February 2025)

PPI led a congressional staff delegation to New York City with a group of bipartisan communications directors. The group had insightful conversations with national news outlets, media companies, and journalism academics, touching on topics like their approach to covering the new Congress and presidential administration, the impact of emerging technologies on news distribution, and the broader shifts in public trust and media consumption habits.

Upcoming…

In the coming months, PPI will continue its work to reform the Democratic Party by rebuilding trust with working-class voters and advancing pragmatic policy ideas focused on economic opportunity and upward mobility. Stay tuned for news on our next New Directions for Democrats convening, as well as highlights from a Project for Center Left Renewal trip to London and Paris and a staff delegation to Vietnam.

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