On Wednesday, the Census Bureau announced that median income had reached its highest recorded level in 2017, while the poverty rate declined. The report inspired glowing coverage from mainstream news sources, while President Trump predictably took credit. “Middle-Class Income Hits All-Time High!” @foxandfriends And will continue to rise (unless the Dems get in and destroy […]
Kalena Thomhave
Kalena Thomhave is a freelance journalist and researcher based in Pittsburgh. She is a former Prospect writing fellow.
Posted inEconomic Policy
Not Everyone Can Evacuate as Hurricane Florence Approaches
Many in the path of the storm, including poor residents and hundreds of prisoners, are forced to stay put.
Posted inWorking in America
Stop Saying Minimum-Wage Hikes Kill Jobs
A new study on the effects of an increased minimum wage on employment shows that increased wages in six cities had no discernible effect on employment. But while this is great news, the prospect of employment losses should not be how we evaluate the worthiness of raising the minimum wage. But first, the positive news: […]
Posted inWorking in America
Incarcerated Workers Demand Better Conditions in Nationwide Strike
After three weeks, prisoners will have ended their work and hunger strikes, but their demands are no less powerful.
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
My (Zero) Time on the Manafort Jury
A couple of months ago, I was summoned for jury duty for the federal district court in D.C. for a “special” four-week trial, the “pre-selection” process for which was set to begin today, the Tuesday after Labor Day. A quick search on the district court’s website said that “special” trials were “mainly high-profile.” “Maybe it’s […]
Posted inWorking in America
The Coming Progressive Agenda for Workers’ Rights
Fixing the National Labor Relations Act is a must—but only a start.
Posted inCivil Rights in America
Baltimore Reckons with Its Racist Past—and Present
The vestiges of hundreds of years of racist policies still affect black families in Baltimore. New legislation would start repairs in city government itself.
Posted inCivil Rights in America
Sorry, Sarah Sanders: Black Job Creation Doesn’t Excuse Racism
Besides, the administration is pushing policies that would only further hurt black workers.
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
Federal Employee Union Begins ‘Shame on HHS’ Campaign
The Trump administration’s targeting of federal employee unions is unsurprising, considering its transparent disdain for labor. But this Friday, a major federal union plans to fight back with a union-wide campaign. The National Treasury Employees Union, which represents 150,000 federal workers in 31 agencies, recently filed a grievance against the Department of Health and Human […]
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
Q&A: We All Benefit from Welfare. Most of Us Just Don’t Realize It.
Americans benefit from government social programs more than ever. They also hate government more than ever.