This week, U.S. Postmaster General David Steiner warned lawmakers that the Postal Service may have to stop deliveries if Congress doesn’t help solve its cash crunch. But many communities could already be facing service delays — with serious effects for households, local economies, and even democracy itself.
Thanks to cost-cutting measures, Sarah Anderson explains this week, “the Postal Service has stopped its practice of picking up mail at the end of every day from all post offices. This means your ballot or bill payment could sit there until the following morning or even longer before being postmarked at a huge processing center.”
Especially in rural communities, that could mean bills that don’t get paid on time, late fees that stack up, or — worryingly, with democracy already under siege — ballots that don’t get counted. “To maintain public trust, USPS should restore same-day postmarking and do whatever it takes to protect voting rights for all Americans, whether they live in the most remote mountain village or the largest city,” Sarah concludes.
Also this week, Casey Tobias shares a moving story from Michigan about how small town Americans are doing their best to help each other, but can’t cover the gaps left by federal cuts by themselves. Cynthia Barlow shares an inspiring account of tenants standing together to make delinquent landlords fulfill their responsibilities. And Jim Hightower warns about Big Tech’s political spending in the heartland as opposition to data centers grows.
New This Week…
Rural Residents Face the Biggest Risks from Postal Delays | Sarah Anderson
If the post office stops postmarking your mail the day you drop it off, that can lead to late fees, unpaid bills, and even uncounted ballots.
People Look Out for Each Other. It’s the Government That’s Letting Us Down. | Casey Tobias
Even the most dedicated volunteers can’t fill the enormous hole left by federal cuts to the safety net.
We Went on Rent Strike and Won | Cynthia Barlow
My fellow tenants and I were able to win rent relief and repairs at Bowen Tower Apartments in Raytown, Missouri. Maybe you can, too.
AI and Big Tech Are Flooding Middle America with Bribes | Jim Hightower
Data center hucksters are trying to buy state lawmakers in bulk because the public doesn’t buy what they’re selling.
In Case You Missed It…
Five Things Americans Need to Know about the U.S. and Iran | Khury Petersen-Smith
Whatever criticisms one may have of Iran’s government, the Trump administration is the aggressor in this illegal war.
Federal Safety Net Cuts Are Hurting States. A ‘Bad Business Fee’ Could Help. | Adam Shah
By taxing companies that pay poverty wages, state and local governments can help cover federal cuts to the safety net programs low-wage workers rely on.
ICE’s Appalling Warehouse Scheme Draws Bipartisan Protests | Farrah Hassen
Even communities that supported President Trump are pushing back on cruel plans to detain immigrants in warehouses.
Rural America Needs to Band Together Against Corporate Greed | Suzan Erem
New schemes for fully robotic farming could push the last remaining farmers — and their communities — to fold.
