VIDEOS
Kite & Key gives you the essentials necessary to understand the issues that affect your life. In the videos below, you’ll find insights from the world’s best researchers, academics, and journalists on a wide range of issues. From economics to science, from education to the quality of life in our cities, let us be your guide to the world of public policy research.
Watch new Kite & Key Media videos every Wednesday.
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The Surprising Truth About Recycling
May 2022In the 1980s, Americans were told that recycling would solve their waste management woes — reducing trash in landfills and facilitating the reuse of plastics. Turns out, recycling isn’t the panacea we imagined it would be. -
How Americans Changed Their Country’s Physical Landscape
May 2022Over the last 250 years, we’ve made big changes to America’s natural landscape. We built a city out of trash. Intentionally flooded a national park. And that’s just the start... -
When a College Education Helps — And When It Hurts
May 2022A bachelor’s degree can be the prerequisite for getting a good job. But in some cases it can leave students worse off than if they never went to college in the first place. -
Reforming Med School Could Help Address America’s Doctor Shortage
May 2022America is facing a physician shortage. By 2034, the country could be shy anywhere between 37,000 and 124,000 doctors. How do we get more physicians stat? One idea is to reform medical school. -
How American Air Travel Got Really, Really Safe
April 2022In the 1990s, American air travel looked destined for a safety crisis. Today, plane crashes have been virtually eliminated. So, what happened? -
The Stunning Stats Behind America’s Most Populous Megaregions
April 2022Some of America’s biggest population centers dwarf entire countries — and even a continent. -
The Role of Pipelines in America's Energy Infrastructure
April 2022Americans rely heavily on natural gas and petroleum to keep the lights on. How does most of this energy reach consumers? Pipelines. -
Who’s Shouldering America’s Tax Burden?
April 2022Whether you think taxes should be higher or lower, you may be surprised to learn who’s paying — and how much. -
Curbing Crime by Tidying Up Dangerous Neighborhoods
March 2022The signs of high-crime neighborhoods — graffiti, vacant lots, trash — signal to criminals that it’s safe to do business. So, what would happen if we … just stopped sending those signals? -
When Ancient History … Isn’t Exactly Ancient.
March 2022Many practices we associate with the distant past were probably still happening during your lifetime. -
Genetically Modified Organisms: Separating Fact from Fiction
March 2022A biotech breakthrough that’s badly misunderstood. -
-
Can We Stop a Planet-Threatening Asteroid?
March 2022NASA scientists are on a mission to protect Earth from asteroid strikes. -
3 Recent Medical Innovations You Probably Haven’t Heard About
February 2022While America focused on COVID, incredible breakthroughs were also taking place in other parts of medicine. -
How the role of America’s chief executive has changed
February 2022What is the president's job? Since America’s founding, that answer has evolved ... a lot. -
Why the Car-Buying Process is Miserable
February 2022A series of obscure laws passed decades ago still complicate the car-buying process. -
The (Surprising) Truth About Nuclear Waste
January 2022Everything you’ve heard about nuclear waste — from the danger it poses to the way it looks — is probably wrong. -
Civilization on the brink of disaster
January 2022Between meteor strikes, nuclear war, and catastrophic flooding, recent history is full of barely avoided catastrophes. -
Why a Complex Government Is an Ineffective Government
January 2022The more complicated the rules, the harder life becomes for the average American. -
Five Major U.S. Metros with Highest Population Growth
January 2022Where are Americans moving these days? Over the last decade, some cities experienced explosive growth while others stalled out. -
America’s Wildest Places
January 2022From the highest peak and the lowest valley to the hottest desert and the coldest taiga, America’s landscapes offer wild extremes. -
Three Positive Stories from a Turbulent Year
December 2021From life-saving scientific breakthroughs to environmental innovations, maybe 2021 was better than you think. -
America’s Rowdy Christmas History
December 2021Historically speaking, Christmas is one of the newsiest times of the year. -
A year of misleading reporting
December 2021When we’re denied context, understanding the year’s major news stories is next to impossible. -
A Lump of Coal from the Dismal Science
December 2021Bad news: Economists think you’re a terrible gift giver. -
Why Renewables Can’t Meet America’s Energy Needs
November 2021A country powered purely by wind and solar … will be a country that can’t keep the lights on. -
The Weird History Behind the Holiday
November 2021Much of what you think you know about Thanksgiving may not be true. -
How the Chinese Government Conquered Hollywood
November 2021A surprising amount of what ends up on the big screen is influenced by Beijing. -
Why is the National Debt Ballooning?
November 2021Figuring out how to fix the national debt is complicated. Figuring out what’s causing it…isn’t. -
The Reasons We Change the Clocks…Are Weird.
November 2021Why a bug collector—and Coldplay—are partially responsible for disrupting your sleep cycle. -
The pandemic’s effect on American schools
October 2021Post-COVID, American education may never look the same. -
Why Americans Don't Understand Each Other
October 2021What if America’s social and political polarization is driven partially by…misunderstanding? -
What’s Keeping Your Lights On?
October 2021When it comes to energy, one size doesn’t fit all. Where you get your power…depends on where you live. -
Our (Skewed) Perspective on Wealth
October 2021We take economic growth for granted—even though our ancestors barely had any. -
Earth's Last Unexplored Frontier
September 2021The deep ocean is a mystery to us. Could it provide solutions to some of society’s most pressing problems? -
-
Who Makes It Into “The Top One Percent”?
September 2021The highest-earning Americans…often don’t stay at the top for long. -
Why the West Keeps Burning
September 2021To avoid future catastrophes, states like California will have to quite literally fight fire with fire. -
Got a hefty mortgage? Your local government might be partly to blame.
August 2021How zoning keeps some cities affordable...and sends home prices soaring in others. -
America’s Deadliest Animal…Isn’t What You Think
August 2021The animals we’re the most scared of are actually responsible for a vanishingly small number of deaths. -
One surprisingly simple answer to high drug prices
August 2021Prescription drugs often start out expensive. But they rarely stay that way. -
The real problem with plastics pollution…
August 2021There is a real problem with ocean pollution—but the story isn’t about America’s use of plastics. -
The states where you’ll pay the most (and least) in taxes
August 2021How big is your tax burden? That depends in part on where you live. How does your state compare? -
The Untapped Potential of Nuclear Energy
July 2021Nuclear power is America’s single largest source of clean energy. So why are nuclear plants all around the country closing? -
Good News on Vaccine Safety
July 2021Serious side effects are rare and appear six to eight weeks after inoculation. -
How We’re Failing the Mentally Ill
July 2021Closing asylums was supposed to end mistreatment of the mentally ill. But what followed was just as tragic. -
The Surprising Truth About MSG
July 2021Scientific research has repeatedly demonstrated that MSG is safe. -
The Triumph of—and Backlash Against—Charter Schools
June 2021Charter schools offer opportunity to millions of disadvantaged kids. So why do some people oppose them? -
Here’s What's Next from Kite & Key Media
June 2021An exclusive preview of what we’ve got coming in the months ahead from Kite & Key MediaCities | Education | Future | Health | History & Civics | Human Rights | Money | Psychology | Science | Security | Tech -
The History of Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance Plans
June 2021If relying on your employer for health coverage seems strange, it’s because our insurance system is one big accident. If companies gave workers money to buy insurance directly, employee pay could increase as much as 30%. -
Should America Abolish the Penny?
June 2021Eliminating the penny would save the United States a lot of money. -
Infrastructure in America: Why Can't the U.S. Build Anymore?
May 2021America used to build monumental structures in record time—cheaply, efficiently, and flexibly. What happened? -
Surprising Facts About Education Policy Around the World
May 2021From time spent in the classroom to the number of vacation days, countries across the globe take wildly different approaches to the school year. -
What We Get Wrong About Homelessness
May 2021Should homelessness policy focus on helping individuals in need or maintaining order in our cities? Any successful approach must do both. -
The Economic and Environmental Costs of (Not) Fracking
May 2021Restricting fracking will cost the western U.S. roughly $8 billion over 5 years. Environmentally, fracking actually helps to reduce carbon emissions. -
U.S. Government Mistakenly Loses Billions of Taxpayer Dollars
May 2021The government spends trillions every year, and inevitably some of those funds end up in the wrong place. But how much money is incorrectly doled out? -
Unraveling the Standardized Testing Requirement in College Admissions
April 2021More than half of U.S. colleges have dropped the SAT requirement—but what if this actually hurts the students it's intended to help? -
Warren Buffet's Secret to Wealth
April 2021Admit it. You’ve fantasized about being rich. We all have. But what if the key to personal wealth isn't some high-paying job? -
Electric Vehicles and the Climate
April 2021What if we spent billions trying to combat climate change—and made virtually no difference? -
What is a supervolcano and how can we prevent an eruption?
April 2021There are three supervolcanoes in the U.S. alone. But before you panic, know this: scientific minds are trying to minimize chance of an eruption. -
Is overpopulation a threat to the United States?
March 2021In reality, the country is largely empty. 2010 census data found that 47% of the U.S. is in fact uninhabited. -
How COVID Unleashed Innovation
March 2021The speed of scientific breakthroughs achieved during COVID-19 couldn’t have happened without the government throwing away the rulebook. -
Can street lights deter crime?
March 2021In cities across America, public spaces are too often unlit—and chaos too often follows. Could combatting violence be as simple as flipping a switch? -
Does a cashless society have drawbacks? Ask Aretha Franklin.
March 2021With debit and credit cards, Apple Pay, Venmo, PayPal, and tons of other options, Americans are using less cash than ever before. What if that's a problem? -
Why is housing so expensive?
March 2021If home prices are high, it’s likely due to a housing shortage. But why is there such limited supply? -
The truth about mining and clean energy…
March 2021Clean energy requires far more minerals than the fuel sources it would replace. And there’s a practical problem on top of the ethical ones...
Filter Categories
All
Cities
Education
Future
Health
History & Civics
Human Rights
Money
Psychology
Science
Security
-
The Surprising Truth About Recycling
May 2022In the 1980s, Americans were told that recycling would solve their waste management woes — reducing trash in landfills and facilitating the reuse of plastics. Turns out, recycling isn’t the panacea we imagined it would be. -
How Americans Changed Their Country’s Physical Landscape
May 2022Over the last 250 years, we’ve made big changes to America’s natural landscape. We built a city out of trash. Intentionally flooded a national park. And that’s just the start... -
When a College Education Helps — And When It Hurts
May 2022A bachelor’s degree can be the prerequisite for getting a good job. But in some cases it can leave students worse off than if they never went to college in the first place. -
Reforming Med School Could Help Address America’s Doctor Shortage
May 2022America is facing a physician shortage. By 2034, the country could be shy anywhere between 37,000 and 124,000 doctors. How do we get more physicians stat? One idea is to reform medical school. -
How American Air Travel Got Really, Really Safe
April 2022In the 1990s, American air travel looked destined for a safety crisis. Today, plane crashes have been virtually eliminated. So, what happened? -
The Stunning Stats Behind America’s Most Populous Megaregions
April 2022Some of America’s biggest population centers dwarf entire countries — and even a continent. -
The Role of Pipelines in America's Energy Infrastructure
April 2022Americans rely heavily on natural gas and petroleum to keep the lights on. How does most of this energy reach consumers? Pipelines. -
Who’s Shouldering America’s Tax Burden?
April 2022Whether you think taxes should be higher or lower, you may be surprised to learn who’s paying — and how much. -
Curbing Crime by Tidying Up Dangerous Neighborhoods
March 2022The signs of high-crime neighborhoods — graffiti, vacant lots, trash — signal to criminals that it’s safe to do business. So, what would happen if we … just stopped sending those signals? -
When Ancient History … Isn’t Exactly Ancient.
March 2022Many practices we associate with the distant past were probably still happening during your lifetime. -
Genetically Modified Organisms: Separating Fact from Fiction
March 2022A biotech breakthrough that’s badly misunderstood. -
-
Can We Stop a Planet-Threatening Asteroid?
March 2022NASA scientists are on a mission to protect Earth from asteroid strikes. -
3 Recent Medical Innovations You Probably Haven’t Heard About
February 2022While America focused on COVID, incredible breakthroughs were also taking place in other parts of medicine. -
How the role of America’s chief executive has changed
February 2022What is the president's job? Since America’s founding, that answer has evolved ... a lot. -
Why the Car-Buying Process is Miserable
February 2022A series of obscure laws passed decades ago still complicate the car-buying process. -
The (Surprising) Truth About Nuclear Waste
January 2022Everything you’ve heard about nuclear waste — from the danger it poses to the way it looks — is probably wrong. -
Civilization on the brink of disaster
January 2022Between meteor strikes, nuclear war, and catastrophic flooding, recent history is full of barely avoided catastrophes. -
Why a Complex Government Is an Ineffective Government
January 2022The more complicated the rules, the harder life becomes for the average American. -
Five Major U.S. Metros with Highest Population Growth
January 2022Where are Americans moving these days? Over the last decade, some cities experienced explosive growth while others stalled out. -
America’s Wildest Places
January 2022From the highest peak and the lowest valley to the hottest desert and the coldest taiga, America’s landscapes offer wild extremes. -
Three Positive Stories from a Turbulent Year
December 2021From life-saving scientific breakthroughs to environmental innovations, maybe 2021 was better than you think. -
America’s Rowdy Christmas History
December 2021Historically speaking, Christmas is one of the newsiest times of the year. -
A year of misleading reporting
December 2021When we’re denied context, understanding the year’s major news stories is next to impossible. -
A Lump of Coal from the Dismal Science
December 2021Bad news: Economists think you’re a terrible gift giver. -
Why Renewables Can’t Meet America’s Energy Needs
November 2021A country powered purely by wind and solar … will be a country that can’t keep the lights on. -
The Weird History Behind the Holiday
November 2021Much of what you think you know about Thanksgiving may not be true. -
How the Chinese Government Conquered Hollywood
November 2021A surprising amount of what ends up on the big screen is influenced by Beijing. -
Why is the National Debt Ballooning?
November 2021Figuring out how to fix the national debt is complicated. Figuring out what’s causing it…isn’t. -
The Reasons We Change the Clocks…Are Weird.
November 2021Why a bug collector—and Coldplay—are partially responsible for disrupting your sleep cycle. -
The pandemic’s effect on American schools
October 2021Post-COVID, American education may never look the same. -
Why Americans Don't Understand Each Other
October 2021What if America’s social and political polarization is driven partially by…misunderstanding? -
What’s Keeping Your Lights On?
October 2021When it comes to energy, one size doesn’t fit all. Where you get your power…depends on where you live. -
Our (Skewed) Perspective on Wealth
October 2021We take economic growth for granted—even though our ancestors barely had any. -
Earth's Last Unexplored Frontier
September 2021The deep ocean is a mystery to us. Could it provide solutions to some of society’s most pressing problems? -
-
Who Makes It Into “The Top One Percent”?
September 2021The highest-earning Americans…often don’t stay at the top for long. -
Why the West Keeps Burning
September 2021To avoid future catastrophes, states like California will have to quite literally fight fire with fire. -
Got a hefty mortgage? Your local government might be partly to blame.
August 2021How zoning keeps some cities affordable...and sends home prices soaring in others. -
America’s Deadliest Animal…Isn’t What You Think
August 2021The animals we’re the most scared of are actually responsible for a vanishingly small number of deaths. -
One surprisingly simple answer to high drug prices
August 2021Prescription drugs often start out expensive. But they rarely stay that way. -
The real problem with plastics pollution…
August 2021There is a real problem with ocean pollution—but the story isn’t about America’s use of plastics. -
The states where you’ll pay the most (and least) in taxes
August 2021How big is your tax burden? That depends in part on where you live. How does your state compare? -
The Untapped Potential of Nuclear Energy
July 2021Nuclear power is America’s single largest source of clean energy. So why are nuclear plants all around the country closing? -
Good News on Vaccine Safety
July 2021Serious side effects are rare and appear six to eight weeks after inoculation. -
How We’re Failing the Mentally Ill
July 2021Closing asylums was supposed to end mistreatment of the mentally ill. But what followed was just as tragic. -
The Surprising Truth About MSG
July 2021Scientific research has repeatedly demonstrated that MSG is safe. -
The Triumph of—and Backlash Against—Charter Schools
June 2021Charter schools offer opportunity to millions of disadvantaged kids. So why do some people oppose them? -
Here’s What's Next from Kite & Key Media
June 2021An exclusive preview of what we’ve got coming in the months ahead from Kite & Key MediaCities | Education | Future | Health | History & Civics | Human Rights | Money | Psychology | Science | Security | Tech -
The History of Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance Plans
June 2021If relying on your employer for health coverage seems strange, it’s because our insurance system is one big accident. If companies gave workers money to buy insurance directly, employee pay could increase as much as 30%. -
Should America Abolish the Penny?
June 2021Eliminating the penny would save the United States a lot of money. -
Infrastructure in America: Why Can't the U.S. Build Anymore?
May 2021America used to build monumental structures in record time—cheaply, efficiently, and flexibly. What happened? -
Surprising Facts About Education Policy Around the World
May 2021From time spent in the classroom to the number of vacation days, countries across the globe take wildly different approaches to the school year. -
What We Get Wrong About Homelessness
May 2021Should homelessness policy focus on helping individuals in need or maintaining order in our cities? Any successful approach must do both. -
The Economic and Environmental Costs of (Not) Fracking
May 2021Restricting fracking will cost the western U.S. roughly $8 billion over 5 years. Environmentally, fracking actually helps to reduce carbon emissions. -
U.S. Government Mistakenly Loses Billions of Taxpayer Dollars
May 2021The government spends trillions every year, and inevitably some of those funds end up in the wrong place. But how much money is incorrectly doled out? -
Unraveling the Standardized Testing Requirement in College Admissions
April 2021More than half of U.S. colleges have dropped the SAT requirement—but what if this actually hurts the students it's intended to help? -
Warren Buffet's Secret to Wealth
April 2021Admit it. You’ve fantasized about being rich. We all have. But what if the key to personal wealth isn't some high-paying job? -
Electric Vehicles and the Climate
April 2021What if we spent billions trying to combat climate change—and made virtually no difference? -
What is a supervolcano and how can we prevent an eruption?
April 2021There are three supervolcanoes in the U.S. alone. But before you panic, know this: scientific minds are trying to minimize chance of an eruption. -
Is overpopulation a threat to the United States?
March 2021In reality, the country is largely empty. 2010 census data found that 47% of the U.S. is in fact uninhabited. -
How COVID Unleashed Innovation
March 2021The speed of scientific breakthroughs achieved during COVID-19 couldn’t have happened without the government throwing away the rulebook. -
Can street lights deter crime?
March 2021In cities across America, public spaces are too often unlit—and chaos too often follows. Could combatting violence be as simple as flipping a switch? -
Does a cashless society have drawbacks? Ask Aretha Franklin.
March 2021With debit and credit cards, Apple Pay, Venmo, PayPal, and tons of other options, Americans are using less cash than ever before. What if that's a problem? -
Why is housing so expensive?
March 2021If home prices are high, it’s likely due to a housing shortage. But why is there such limited supply? -
The truth about mining and clean energy…
March 2021Clean energy requires far more minerals than the fuel sources it would replace. And there’s a practical problem on top of the ethical ones...
