Controversy Dogs Tavis Smiley and Cornel West’s Poverty Tour—but Media Attention Does, Too Controversy Dogs Tavis Smiley and Cornel West’s Poverty Tour—but Media Attention Does, Too
Did the Poverty Tour succeed in dramatizing the magnitude of poverty’s impact on America—or simply draw attention to its organizers' criticisms of Obama?
Aug 17, 2011 / Habiba Alcindor
Nation Conversations: George Zornick and Robert Pollin: Why Do Ratings Agencies Matter? Nation Conversations: George Zornick and Robert Pollin: Why Do Ratings Agencies Matter?
Why did Standard & Poor's take the seemingly radical step of downgrading the US government's credit rating, and how do ratings agencies wield such power in the first place?
Aug 12, 2011 / Audio / The Nation
Can Teachers Alone Overcome Poverty? Steven Brill Thinks So Can Teachers Alone Overcome Poverty? Steven Brill Thinks So
The journalist blames teachers unions, not economic inequality, for students’ failure to achieve.
Aug 10, 2011 / Feature / Dana Goldstein
Change the Debate Change the Debate
Obama must stop searching for common ground—and start defining higher ground.
Aug 10, 2011 / Editorial / The Editors
Subprime Contagion Subprime Contagion
Is America finally learning that extreme inequality isn't just bad for those at the bottom—it’s ruinous for those on top, too?
Aug 10, 2011 / Editorial / Chris Hayes
Downgrading Democracy Downgrading Democracy
When Congress, the president and the media run roughshod over popular will and citizen action, small-d democracy pays the price.
Aug 10, 2011 / Editorial / Ilyse Hogue
Why We Aren’t Like Greece Why We Aren’t Like Greece
Deficit hawks argue that excessive government spending drives the US’s debt woes. They're wrong.
Aug 10, 2011 / Editorial / Dean Baker
The Real Problem with the Congressional ‘Super-Committee’ The Real Problem with the Congressional ‘Super-Committee’
The scope of the debt-reduction committee, rather than who’s on it, is what should most worry progressives.
Aug 10, 2011 / The Notion / Ari Berman
Another Bailout Joins the Goofball Economy Another Bailout Joins the Goofball Economy
The economy is a shambles, saved from a free fall only by the Federal Reserve’s unprecedented promise of free money for banks for at least two years.
Aug 10, 2011 / Robert Scheer
Turning Poverty Into an American Crime Turning Poverty Into an American Crime
Ten years after the original publication of the now-classic Nicked and Dimed, things have gotten much worse for those in the bottom third of our country's income dis...
Aug 9, 2011 / Barbara Ehrenreich