This week marked 100 days of the second Trump administration. But with week after week jam-packed with headlines, new scandals, and crises of various orders, the time hasn’t exactly flown by.
In OtherWords, Sarah Anderson writes that these 100 days have been an unremitting assault against working people, with the administration de-fanging agencies that protect workers and consumers, raising prices through tariffs, firing hundreds of thousands of federal employees, and gutting services for ordinary people. But with the administration also “facing a barrage of lawsuits, growing protests, and falling approval ratings,” she writes, “the battle is by no means over.”
On a similar note, Jessica Looman and Seema Nanda explain how Trump’s judges have canceled a raise for overtime workers ordered by the Biden administration and call on Trump to restore it. And Stephanie Schmit highlights the devastating costs of Trump’s new proposal to destroy Head Start, which provides child care for 800,000 kids and other services for their families — along with tens of thousands of jobs.
Finally, I argue that Trump’s erratic tariff regime is a recipe for corruption, not a comeback — with billionaires coming out on top and the families most impacted by bad trade deals paying the price.
Happy May Day from all of us at OtherWords at IPS.
P.S. I’m freshly back from an inspiring trip to Iowa, where I learned from rural policy advocates from across the country. If you’re interested, I’ll be appearing on an IPS webinar on May 8 to talk about how OtherWords helps policy experts reach heartland communities. I’ll be joined by IPS executive director Tope Folarin and People’s Action leader Sulma Arias. Register now if you’d like to join us!
New This Week…
Trump 2.0 at 100 Days: An Onslaught Against Workers | Sarah Anderson
Trump has gutted labor rights, slashed the federal workforce, and opposed a minimum wage hike. But resistance is brewing.
The Real-World Costs of Eliminating Head Start | Stephanie Schmit
Families can’t afford to lose child care. Providers can’t afford to lose jobs. And the economy can’t afford to have less stability for children.
Biden Gave Millions of Overtime Workers a Raise. Will Trump Kill It? | Jessica Looman and Seema Nanda
Raises for four million workers ride on just one federal rule.
The Only Winners in This Trade War Will Be Trump and His Fellow Billionaires | Peter Certo
Trump’s erratic tariffs aren’t a recipe for an industrial comeback. They’re a recipe for corruption.
In Case You Missed It…
Immigrants Are Our Neighbors. Isn’t That Enough? | Meredith Lehman
There’s reams of data showing the benefits of immigration. But at the end of the day, compassion doesn’t have to be complicated.
The White House Spent Earth Day Lying About Climate Science | Basav Sen
Reversing this administration’s assault on our shared Earth, and the people who live on it, starts with seeing through the fog of deception.
Starving the Poor to Feed the Rich | Tania Whitfield
Why is food for children, families, people with disabilities, workers, and seniors on the chopping block? To fund tax breaks for the rich.
Each Cup of Coffee You Drink Celebrates Arab American History | Farrah Hassen
Yemeni coffee houses are sprouting up around the U.S., preserving a culture threatened by war — and enriching our own.
