At about noon today, political Twitter and news junkies were offered a gift: Representative Kevin McCarthy, the presumed successor to House Speaker John Boehner’s throne, abruptly withdrew from the leadership contest. McCarthy’s election was by no means certain-just yesterday, the conservative Freedom Caucus decided to back Representative Dan Webster instead-but things were looking pretty good […]
Amanda Teuscher
Amanda Teuscher is The American Prospect’s managing editor.
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Posted inWorking in America
Why the DOL’s New Overtime Rule is Such a Big Deal
As many as 15 million workers may soon be eligible for overtime protection for the first time in decades.
Posted inEconomic Policy
What the Federal Poverty Line Leaves Out
The federal poverty line was first developed in 1963, and since then has been updated for inflation. Beyond the fact that it does not vary by geography (it’s a lot more expensive to live in New York City than in Tennessee), there are a number of flaws in the measurement. For instance, it was calculated […]
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
Conan O’Brien Wants to Help Lincoln Chafee’s Campaign
Here at the Prospect, we had intended to be your No. 1 place for Lincoln Chafee news. You know, Lincoln Chafee, the former Rhode Island governor (and former Republican) who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination? If we’ve been neglecting our duties, it’s only because, well, it wasn’t clear anyone actually wanted to read […]
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
From #BlackLivesMatter to the Bureau of Land Management, Oath Keepers Aim to Intimidate
In the early morning on Tuesday, about half a dozen men armed with assault rifles began walking the streets of Ferguson, Missouri, which was under a state of emergency following protests on the August 9 anniversary of the killing of Michael Brown. They were members of Oath Keepers, described by the Southern Poverty Law Center […]
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
A Toast to John Kasich, the GOP Debate’s Token “Moderate”
Tonight, 17 Republican presidential candidates will take the stage in Cleveland in an attempt to differentiate themselves from the competition, or, if all else fails, offer entertainment during a highly anticipated primetime event. Public health officials are even warning viewers of the danger of playing drinking games while watching such predictably unpredictable candidates as front-runner […]
Posted inCivil Rights in America
The Inclusive Strength of #BlackLivesMatter
Why the fast-growing movement has been intertwined with labor, economic justice, immigration, and LGBT rights from the beginning.
Posted inCivil Rights in America
Black Lives Matter Convenes in Cleveland for First National Meeting
Today, hundreds of organizers, activists, and people involved in the Black Lives Matter movement arrived in Cleveland for the first national Movement for Black Lives convening. The timing is striking: two weeks after Sandra Bland was stopped by an authority-abusing Texas state trooper and was later found dead in her jail cell, and one week […]
Posted inBooks, Arts and Culture
The Evolving Politics of Punk in the Nation’s Capital
Retrospective projects like the library’s new Punk Archive uncover D.C.’s radical past, but the scene remains at the center of the struggle for inclusion and human rights.
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
QUIZ: Is This Quote Defending Cosby or Trump?
Great news for those on the right with victim complexes and deep-seated fears of non-white immigrants: Donald Trump is currently polling in first place among GOP presidential contenders. It’s proof that even with lethal doses of self-delusion, you can still count on the support of thousands to embrace your racist, nativist beliefs as brave truths, […]