The Cicero Institute

05/19/2026

America’s infant formula market is dominated by just a handful of companies—leaving families vulnerable to shortages, higher prices, and fewer choices.

A new report from the Cicero Institute explains how government policies helped create this broken system—and how states can restore competition, strengthen supply chains, and expand access to healthier formula options.

Read the full report: https://ciceroinstitute.org/research/restoring-competition-to-the-infant-formula-market/

05/19/2026

We are happy to welcome Eve Velasquez to the Cicero team as our newest Research Associate! 🎉

Eve recently completed her Master of Public Policy with a focus on applied economic policy, international relations, and national security. She brings strong research experience in state-level reform, Certificate of Need laws, nutrition policy, econometrics, and quantitative policy analysis.

05/06/2026

We are excited to introduce our newest team member, Victor Kilanko, who joins Cicero Institute as an Economist. He holds a PhD in Econometrics from Claremont Graduate University and has spent the past several years leading and contributing to research on criminal justice policy, public safety, and government reform. Welcome, Victor!

02/13/2026

We’re excited to welcome Bo Herlin as our new Director of Marketing & Media. Bo brings a strong background in strategic communications, most recently serving as Director of Public Affairs at the Civitas Institute, with prior experience in tech and policy communications.

01/26/2026

Are you a smart, ambitious recent graduate who wants to help fix broken public systems?

The Cicero Institute is hiring a Research Assistant to support our state-focused policy reform efforts. This is a front-line opportunity for a driven individual who shares our values and wants to improve government for the prosperity of all.

Learn more and apply 👇

Job Title: Research Assistant Manager: Director of Research Organization: The Cicero Institute Location: Austin, Texas Job Type: Full-time OVERVIEW The

10/10/2025

Well-intentioned federal proposals to reverse falling birth rates with “free childbirth” will worsen long-term health outcomes of mothers and children, while ballooning the cost of healthcare for everyone. There is a better way: Mothers’ Right to Save.

If a mother finds a delivery option that works for her at a better price, the insurance company would reward her with a portion of the savings.

Cicero’s Joshua Archambault and McKenzie Richards recently wrote about this solution in Forbes, explaining how it would empower parents, drive down costs, and invest in children. You’ll find the link in the first comment.

10/07/2025

All the talk about falling crime rates is based on bad data and false reporting. Unfortunately, the fake news is breeding bad policy that endangers our communities.

And bad data leads to bad policy.

In this recent piece at FFITSNews Cicero’s Dr. Chris Sharp examines the problems with the data and how policy can help reverse the trend.

09/03/2025

The Future of Rural Healthcare Starts with Your Ideas.

Today the Cicero Institute is officially releasing our Request for Information (RFI) for the Rural Health Transformation Program. This is your chance to help shape how states use the historic $50 billion fund created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) to revitalize healthcare in rural communities.

We're looking for innovative, evidence-based, and actionable ideas that address key challenges, from improving patient access and outcomes to strengthening local partnerships and investing in new technologies.

The insights we collect through this RFI will be summarized, published, and shared directly with state Health and Human Services Secretaries, Medicaid directors, and legislators as they develop their official state plans for CMS.

Your expertise and perspective are crucial. Let's work together to create long-term, sustainable solutions for rural health.

The official RFI is now available at the link in the first comment. Be sure to submit your ideas by September 16, 2025.

08/27/2025

North Carolina faces a crossroads in its health care future. While the state’s population has grown, the persistent challenge of physician shortages in rural and underserved communities is straining its health care system.

A common refrain in discussions about the health care workforce is the critical role of International Medical Graduates, who make up nearly one in four of all active physicians nationwide.

The Tarheel State has historically underutilized this talent pool, but HB 67 corrects this disparity.

It is a strategic, non-zero-sum solution that bolsters our health care workforce, protects the pipeline for US-trained doctors, and channels skilled professionals to the areas where they are needed most. By enacting this law, North Carolina is taking a significant step towards a healthier future for all its citizens.

Cicero's Adam Meier explains it all in the Carolina Journal – you can find it at the link in the first comment.

08/25/2025

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently announced a change in its priorities for funding efforts to combat homelessness.

Cicero’s Paul Webster explains why this is a welcome new course that signals a departure from the status quo that resulted in year-over-year increases in homelessness for the last 20 years at the link in the first comment.