Economy

Fixing the Student Loan Crisis Starts With Defending the Department of Education Fixing the Student Loan Crisis Starts With Defending the Department of Education

Borrowers stand to lose more than they could ever gain if the department is shut down.

StudentNation / Sabrina Cereceres

Biden Was a Remarkably Consequential One-Term President Biden Was a Remarkably Consequential One-Term President

Inheriting a post-pandemic economy, Biden orchestrated the best recovery in the industrial world.

Katrina vanden Heuvel

The New Tech Oligarchy The New Tech Oligarchy

On this episode of Tech Won’t Save Us, Gaby Del Valle on the billionaires at the inauguration.

Tech Won’t Save Us / Paris Marx

Policy

President Joe Biden delivers his farewell address to the nation from the Oval Office of the White House on January 15, 2025, in Washington, DC.

Biden Was a Remarkably Consequential One-Term President Biden Was a Remarkably Consequential One-Term President

Inheriting a post-pandemic economy, Biden orchestrated the best recovery in the industrial world.

Katrina vanden Heuvel

A sign on the door of a Walgreens refrigerator in Queens, New York.

Why Won’t the Federal Government Reimburse People Whose Food Stamps Are Stolen? Why Won’t the Federal Government Reimburse People Whose Food Stamps Are Stolen?

The disastrous consequences for working-class families.

Devon Gray

President-elect Donald Trump takes the oath of office during the 60th Presidential Inauguration, in the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025.

Trump’s Supposed Unity Message Is a Gloating Threat of MAGA Triumphant Trump’s Supposed Unity Message Is a Gloating Threat of MAGA Triumphant

The new president uses shock and awe to claim a mandate over demoralized Democrats.

Jeet Heer

Labor

Automation in Retail Is Even Worse Than You Thought Automation in Retail Is Even Worse Than You Thought

New technology is not just making shopping more challenging for workers and consumers—it’s poised to rip off the most vulnerable.

Ann Larson

In 2025, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Economic Populism Is More Relevant Than Ever In 2025, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Economic Populism Is More Relevant Than Ever

The political media calls Trump a “populist.” But as Dr. King made clear in a 1965 speech, American populism was a movement against everything Trump stands for.

Malaika Jabali

The CIA Illegally Spied on Puerto Rican and Mexican American Activists for Decades The CIA Illegally Spied on Puerto Rican and Mexican American Activists for Decades

And is probably still at it. As newly released classified documents confirm activists’ long-held suspicions, the disclosures should also alert us to current dangers.

Roberto Lovato

The Labor Crisis Putting People With Disabilities at Risk The Labor Crisis Putting People With Disabilities at Risk

The workers who care for people with disabilities are underpaid, overwhelmed, and increasingly leaving the field. Advocates say action is desperately needed to stem the tide.

Isabel Ruehl

The Score

Georgia’s Disastrous Medicaid Work Requirements

Georgia’s Disastrous Medicaid Work Requirements Georgia’s Disastrous Medicaid Work Requirements

Georgia’s Republican governor, Brian Kemp, said that 345,000 people would enroll in the state’s Medicaid program, which has strict work requirements—so far just 5,118 have.

Column / Bryce Covert

Every Schoolchild Should Eat Free

Every Schoolchild Should Eat Free Every Schoolchild Should Eat Free

Full bellies lead to attentive minds.

Bryce Covert

Raising the Minimum Wage Comes Cheap

Raising the Minimum Wage Comes Cheap Raising the Minimum Wage Comes Cheap

Studies overwhelmingly show that the effect of increasing the minimum wage on employment rates is basically zero.

Bryce Covert

Latest in Economy

Santa Ana Families for Fair Elections launching a campaign to expand local noncitizen voting in September 2023.

The Case for Letting Noncitizens Vote The Case for Letting Noncitizens Vote

Measures to allow local noncitizen voting failed in the last election, but that hasn’t always been the case throughout American history.

Jan 22, 2025 / StudentNation / Fatimah Azeem

Decolonization as Advocacy

Decolonization as Advocacy Decolonization as Advocacy

On this episode of American Prestige, Lydia Walker on her book States-in-Waiting: A Counternarrative of Global Decolonization.

Jan 21, 2025 / Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison

Trump’s Inauguration Revealed Whom He Really Serves: the Billionaires and the Crypto Bros

Trump’s Inauguration Revealed Whom He Really Serves: the Billionaires and the Crypto Bros Trump’s Inauguration Revealed Whom He Really Serves: the Billionaires and the Crypto Bros

In front of Trump stood a handful of CEOs whose combined wealth topped $1.2 trillion. They and the crypto scammers are the true beneficiaries of Trump’s second term.

Jan 20, 2025 / Chris Lehmann

A banned TikTok logo displayed on a smartphone in Suqian, China, on January 15, 2025.

On TikTok, the Supreme Court Did the Right Thing On TikTok, the Supreme Court Did the Right Thing

And while the “I was for it before I was against it” crowd opposing the ban now stretches from Chuck Schumer to Donald Trump, that doesn’t mean they’re right.

Jan 20, 2025 / Zephyr Teachout

Trump meets with NATO leaders in 2017.

The Political Economy of Trumpism The Political Economy of Trumpism

Though he started by threatening Mexico, Canada, and China, Trump’s tariffs mean the US will drain Europe as Ukraine fades.

Jan 15, 2025 / James K. Galbraith

Donald Trump appears remotely for a sentencing hearing with his attorney Todd Blanche on January 10, 2025.

Despite Trump’s Felony Conviction, Prosecutorial Liberalism Has Failed Despite Trump’s Felony Conviction, Prosecutorial Liberalism Has Failed

When voters are consumed with anti-system rage, a criminal rap sheet is no barrier to high office.

Jan 13, 2025 / Jeet Heer

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