April is Arab American Heritage Month. Her community has made countless contributions worth celebrating, columnist Farrah Hassen writes this week. But amid the suffering in Gaza, the celebration feels bittersweet at best. One thing she takes heart in, however, is the remarkable movement of Arab Americans and others from all walks of life calling for a ceasefire in the conflict, a view that’s now broadly popular among Americans if not their elected officials.
Also this week, we offer more perspectives from our ongoing coverage of the structural causes of — and solutions to — poverty. Tiffany Tagbo calls on lawmakers who refuse to expand the safety net to spend a day in her low-income clients’ shoes, trying to live off $6 a day or sleeping in a homeless shelter. And Sulma Arias shares the latest evidence that corporations have gouged consumers since the pandemic under the guise of “inflation.”
Finally, have you tried to buy an EV using one of those new tax credits? As Sonali Kolhatkar writes this week, it’s not as easy as it sounds. She explains how over-complicated tax credits and a trade war with China have held up the country’s transition to zero-emission vehicles.
New This Week…
A Bittersweet Arab American Heritage Month | Farrah Hassen
Our culture is worth celebrating. But amid the immense suffering in Gaza, it’s hard to feel celebratory.
Lawmakers Should Spend a Night in a Homeless Shelter | Tiffany Tagbo
Maybe then they’d drop their opposition to even modest tax credits for low-income people like the ones I work with.
Why Do My Groceries Cost So Much? | Sulma Arias
Giant corporations want to keep their taxes low and the prices we pay high. We can’t let them win.
Still Can’t Afford an EV? Here’s Why | Sonali Kolhatkar
EVs can quickly reduce our carbon footprint. But the tax credits are too complicated — and trade warriors are blocking cheaper Chinese models.
Cartoon: The Speaker’s Slippery Balancing Act | Khalil Bendib
The House Leader isn’t so much “leading” as “trying not to plummet.”
In Case You Missed It…
Last Year, You Spent More Than a Month’s Rent on Pentagon Contractors | Lindsay Koshgarian
A dollar by dollar look at how our taxes enrich military contractors — at the expense of things that actually make us secure.
Billionaires Are Bad for Democracy. Taxing Them Is Good for It. | Omar Ocampo | Apr 10, 2024
Extreme wealth inequality leads to extreme political inequality. Progressive taxation would be better for our economy and democracy alike.
We Need Housing, Not Handcuffs | Farrah Hassen
Too many communities are responding to rising homelessness by criminalizing the unhoused. It’s more humane and effective to house people.
Rents Are Unaffordable Nationwide. A Renter’s Tax Credit Would Help. | Ashley Dines
A monthly tax credit that capped housing costs at 30 percent of income could keep millions of Americans — including me — in our homes.
