test content 10.17.2025

Invisible forces shape the world around us. Rules and regulations determine everything from the cars we drive to the medical treatments we receive, influencing how we build our future.

In the Regulatory Transparency Project’s new three-part video series, host Adam Thierer takes us through the hidden boundaries shaping the things Americans use daily. Experts will explore the tensions between innovation and control, safety and freedom.

Regulations Controlling the Road: CAFE Standards & EV Mandates [Shaped Docuseries Ep. 1]

Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards were enacted in the 1970s as a minimum threshold intended to improve fuel efficiency and reduce foreign oil dependence. As CAFE standards evolved, "footprint-based standards" were adopted, which allowed manufacturers to comply with standards in accordance with the footprint of their vehicles. How has the evolution of CAFE standards impacted the cars we drive and the potential for vehicle electrification? What impact has an emphasis on fuel efficiency had on vehicle and road safety?

In the first episode of The Regulatory Transparency Project’s new three-part series, "Shaped," legal and industry experts discuss the relationship between safety and innovation, freedom and control, within the automobile industry.

Should the FDA approve MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD? [Shaped Docuseries Ep. 2]

MDMA, once hailed in the 1970s for its medical potential, was outlawed in 1985 over concerns of abuse. While it remains a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law, advocates and therapeutic companies continue to submit applications to the FDA for approved medical use, particularly for PTSD treatment. 

In the second episode of the Regulatory Transparency Project's three-part series, "Shaped," experts across the legal and medical industries explore the difficult question at the heart of medical progress: How do we balance providing access to life-changing treatments with the duty to protect the consumer's long-term safety? 

AI at a Crossroads [Shaped Docuseries Ep. 3]

As AI becomes increasingly integrated into everyday life, the conversation around how to regulate it grows more complex. To what extent should AI be regulated, and who should be responsible for making those decisions—government, industry, or consumers? Can legal frameworks keep pace with rapidly evolving technology?

In the final episode of the Regulatory Transparency Project’s three-part series, “Shaped,” experts discuss the challenges of AI regulation in the United States and examine the potential impact of regulatory changes on innovation, public safety, and consumer choice.

*******

As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.