The Institute for Family Studies

Red states are losing less ground on fertility and gaining ground on marriage and family stability, per the new 2026 Family Structure Index, @BradWilcoxIFS @grantjbailey report. (1 of 3) 🧵 The Index from @CCVPolicy and @FamStudies ranks states on 3 family well-being indicators: marriage rates, family stability, and fertility. Read more here: ifstudies.org/blog/first-in-…

When was the last time anyone paused, looked a mother in the eye, and listened to how she feels about the relentless messaging that motherhood is somehow lesser? New from me for the Institute for Family Studies:

Motherhood is the quiet force that shapes hearts, homes, and entire civilizations, says @LisaBritton Yet we often treat it like a burdensome side gig. Read more here: ifstudies.org/blog/moms-are-…

The moms I know want a culture that values the beauty they bring into the world through their motherhood—not one that demands they prove their worth by mimicking male career trajectories, writes @LisaBritton They’re tired of feeling devalued for the very role that gives their lives profound meaning. Read the full article: ifstudies.org/blog/moms-are-…

Utah ranks #1 on the 2026 Family Structure Index. • Highest share of married prime-age adults • Highest share of teens living with married parents • 6th-highest fertility rate in the U.S. Family structure matters and Utah shows what strong families look like. @BradWilcoxIFS @grantjbailey @CCVPolicy Read more here: ifstudies.org/blog/first-in-…

Stronger families = Stronger communities Red states manage to attract more families and foster higher marriage and fertility rates The 2026 Family Structure Index from the @CCVPolicy and @FamStudies shows where each state stands – and how states can improve on family well-being. 👉 Full interactive report here: familystructureindex.org

Big news here @FamStudies @RealDCochrane is joining our team. Brilliant and formidable, he's already worked for years as an effective champion for Big Tech accountability, kids’ safety, and emerging tech policy, most recently at Heritage. There's real urgency here and you will absolutely want to follow Daniel

👉 Learn more about the interactive report from @CCVPolicy and @FamStudies here: familystructureindex.org

The 2026 Family Structure Index finds that families are leaving Blue states, which are seeing declines in marriage and fertility, report @BradWilcoxIFS @grantjbailey (2 of 3) More here: ifstudies.org/blog/first-in-…

Red states are losing less ground on fertility and gaining ground on marriage and family stability, per the new 2026 Family Structure Index, @BradWilcoxIFS @grantjbailey report. (1 of 3) 🧵 The Index from @CCVPolicy and @FamStudies ranks states on 3 family well-being indicators: marriage rates, family stability, and fertility. Read more here: ifstudies.org/blog/first-in-…

Last month, the White House released its AI policy framework. The President & his allies have justified their “minimally burdensome” framework by citing a “patchwork” of state AI regs. But what, in fact, is the actual state of AI policy? Here’s what I found 🧵@FamStudies

"True intimacy is inherently messy and occasionally cringe. To find a lasting connection in a world of 'icks,' we must be brave enough to be a little bit uncool." @DrAndreaGurney @FamStudies: ifstudies.org/blog/the-ick-f…

Check out our new policy brief from @jareddhayden , which highlights the current status of state law governing AI. Full policy brief is here: ifstudies.org/report-brief/p…

Is AI regulation “patchwork” or consensus? Our findings indicate that the the administration’s claims do not reflect the actual state of state AI policy Only 12% of all the AI-related bills introduced during the 2025 state legislative sessions became law 81% of those enacted laws contained no mandates for private AI companies @jareddhayden Read here: ifstudies.org/blog/new-ifs-r…

Updated post: To date, state laws regulating AI express a growing consensus among the American people regarding how they want AI to be governed. @jareddhayden Read the full article: ifstudies.org/blog/new-ifs-r…

Helen Zoe Veit would like us to recover a delight in family meals by going back to the nineteenth-century model: the entire family eating together, enjoying the same meals. @NadyaWilliams81 reviews the new book, Picky: How American Children Became the Fussiest Eaters in History. Read the article: ifstudies.org/blog/picky-eat…

The idea of children as picky eaters is relatively new to history—and it is particular to modern America, argues food historian Helen Zoe Veit in her new book, "Picky." @NadyaWilliams81 Read more here: ifstudies.org/blog/picky-eat…

Maryland now spends roughly $23,000 per pupil, yet academic performance continues to lag. And many families are voting with their feet. @jtrimbath Read more here: ifstudies.org/blog/in-maryla…

"Nearly 80% of registered Democrats in Maryland support opting into a new federal scholarship tax credit program, per a recent poll," writes @jtrimbath "So far 28 governors have indicated plans to opt in to the federal program.... But for Maryland students to benefit, Gov. Moore (D) must join them. If he declines, Maryland families lose the opportunity—and those resources will simply flow to children in other states." Read more here: ifstudies.org/blog/in-maryla…

Pushing through the ick isn’t about lowering your standards; it’s about raising your dating resilience. @DrAndreaGurney with some advice for singles on the "ick" factor. Weigh the pillars against the vibes, she says. When the ick hits, intentionally pivot your focus. He wore socks with Birks, yes—but did he listen intently? Is he consistent? Did he ask a follow up question? Read more here: ifstudies.org/blog/the-ick-f…

“The Ick”—a visceral, sudden surge of cringe triggered by a specific behavior—has become a defining phenomenon of modern dating. But, explains @DrAndreaGurney , dismissing a potentially deep connection because of a moment of cringe isn’t just picky—it’s a symptom of a dating culture that prioritizes perfection over long-term compatibility. Read more here: ifstudies.org/blog/the-ick-f…