Government shutdowns are… bad, right? For most of us, yes! But as Igor Volsky warns this week, politically connected billionaires have often used shutdowns — or even pushed for them — to avoid paying taxes, shrug off regulations, or win service cuts for working people.
Each shutdown is different, but Igor argues there’s a through line: Billionaires have too much power and we need to tax them.
Also this week, Mitchell Zimmerman surveys ICE’s rampant abuses in Chicago and warns our Fourth Amendment rights against unconstitutional searches, seizures, and arrests are under threat. And Sonali Kolhatkar ridicules the big tech companies trying to push AI “friends” off on lonely, tech-addled customers.
If you’re looking for more hopeful reading, try Richard Sclove’s reflections on rebuilding hope in our dark times, starting in the communities where we live.
New This Week…
How Billionaires Benefit from Government Shutdowns | Igor Volsky
America’s richest often push for shutdowns to dodge taxes, avoid regulation, and slash benefits for working people.
Our Fourth Amendment Rights Are Endangered Like Never Before | Mitchell Zimmerman
Trump is trying to disappear the part of the Constitution that stops the government from searching your house — or seizing you — without a warrant.
AI ‘Friends’ Are a Big Joke — At Our Expense | Sonali Kolhatkar
Most Americans think technology is making us lonelier. Big Tech’s solution? Be friends with your tech.
Rebuilding Hope in a Time of Darkness | Richard Sclove
Surviving our dark age will require more than “resistance” — we also need hope. We can start by making real connections in our own communities.
In Case You Missed It…
The Health Care Emergency Behind the Government Shutdown | Karen Dolan
Health care costs are about to skyrocket for working Americans, but GOP lawmakers are prioritizing tax breaks for the wealthy.
Declaring War on the American People | Peter Montgomery
The White House’s war on “the enemy within” is dangerous, unconstitutional, and grounded in lies.
Stop Trump’s SNAP Coverup | Ta’Kyla Bates
The administration isn’t just cutting food benefits for hungry kids. It’s canceling federal research into who’s even hungry.
The More Americans See of Trump’s Immigration Crackdown, The Less They Like It | Alliyah Lusuegro
Amid a wave of attacks on migrants, 80 percent of Americans now say immigration is good for this country — a record high.
