The Country Trump Seems Dead Set on Imitating

| May 21, 2025 | Economy / Business|HP Subfeatured|Rights / DemocracySince the start of his second presidential term, Donald Trump seems to be inspired by the country of my birth: the United Arab Emirates. On his first day in office, Trump announced his goal to end the United States’ practice of birthright citizenship. Soon after, his...

Six Ways Trump’s Budget Will Hurt Rural America

| | Economy / Business|Environment / Health|Food / Farming|HP Featured|Rights / DemocracyRight now, Congress is working on a giant, fast-track bill that would make historic cuts to basic needs programs to finance another round of tax breaks for the wealthy and big corporations. As the Communications and Policy Director for the Rural Democracy Initiative,...

Immigration Can Help Save Social Security

| May 14, 2025 | Economy / Business|HP Subfeatured|Rights / DemocracySocial Security is all that stands between millions of Americans and poverty in old age. Two-thirds of seniors would lose most of their income if Social Security payments ceased. One in seven have essentially no other income — and if their already modest Social...

A $1,000 Taxi? That’s What Consumer Protections Are For

| | Economy / Business|HP Featured|Rights / DemocracyLast year I was vacationing with some friends when we flagged a cab to our hotel. I was annoyed that the meter seemed to be running fast — $32 to travel three miles seemed excessive, but I handed my credit card to the driver. The driver blocked my view while he did...

Want Safer Cannabis? Take It Off the Streets and Put It Behind the Counter

| | Economy / Business|Environment / Health|Food / Farming|HP Subfeatured|Rights / DemocracyUnlike alcohol and many other psychoactive substances, marijuana is incapable of causing a lethal overdose. Nonetheless, sensational accounts of overdoses from allegedly tainted marijuana products continue to proliferate. Again and again, these claims are debunked....

Should America’s Farm Bill Serve Need or Greed?

| May 7, 2025 | Economy / Business|Food / Farming|HP Subfeatured|Rights / DemocracyThe federal budget is not only about money, but fundamentally about our country’s morality — our commitment to fairness, equality, and unity. Which brings me to, of all things, our nation’s Farm Bill. This sprawling piece of legislation, updated every five years, is...