Poverty

Residents of Daytona Beach, Florida, line up in their cars during a free food distribution for recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program on November 9, 2025.

We All Hate AI, but if You’re Poor, It Can Really Ruin Your Life We All Hate AI, but if You’re Poor, It Can Really Ruin Your Life

Debt collection. Parole decisions. Oversight of public services. It’s all being outsourced to AI, with terrible consequences for poor people.

Apr 8, 2026 / Column / Kali Holloway

The rebuilt Industrial Canal levee wall (L) in the Lower Ninth Ward stands near restored homes in New Orleans, Louisiana, on August 6, 2025.

The Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans Can’t Get a Break The Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans Can’t Get a Break

The neighborhood is facing an onslaught of catastrophic projects that could be more damaging than Hurricane Katrina.

Mar 30, 2026 / Roberta Brandes Gratz

The construction of the Knickerbocker Village housing development in 1933.

Mary K. Simkhovitch and the Dream of an Affordable New York Mary K. Simkhovitch and the Dream of an Affordable New York

A new book revisits the public housing programs of the 1930s.

Mar 16, 2026 / Books & the Arts / Joshua Freeman

The late Rev. Jesse Jackson.

In Memoriam: the Rev. Jesse Jackson (1941–2026) In Memoriam: the Rev. Jesse Jackson (1941–2026)

The civil-rights activist and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition changed what’s possible in politics.

Mar 6, 2026 / Obituary / John Nichols

Workers harvest asparagus at Yakama Nation Farms in Harrah, Washington, on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.

The Trump Administration Wants to Make It Easier Than Ever to Exploit Farmworkers The Trump Administration Wants to Make It Easier Than Ever to Exploit Farmworkers

What is being described as “reform” in Washington will only make the abuse and wage theft that plague the program even worse.

Feb 12, 2026 / Teresa Cotsirilos

An attendee holds a campaign hat reading “Make America Great Again” during a rally for President Trump in Kentucky.

For Voters in Kentucky, Trump Is Losing His Luster For Voters in Kentucky, Trump Is Losing His Luster

In Martin County, the government shutdown and attacks on food stamps have exposed Donald Trump’s empty promises. To many, that makes him just another politician.

Nov 27, 2025 / StudentNation / Zachary Clifton

A child with brown curly hair, seen from the back, holds a teddy bear.

This Is How the Child Welfare System Becomes Less Traumatizing This Is How the Child Welfare System Becomes Less Traumatizing

Wisconsin has shown that it’s cost-effective and completely possible to keep families together by stabilizing their housing. That’s not the only promising development in the field...

Nov 24, 2025 / Bryce Covert

Trump Golfs

Trump Golfs Trump Golfs

America starves.

Nov 20, 2025 / OppArt / Mark Kaplan

People wait in line at a food bank in Miami, Florida, on the eve of the government shutdown.

For Families on the Brink, Losing SNAP Benefits Has Led to Devastating Choices For Families on the Brink, Losing SNAP Benefits Has Led to Devastating Choices

With the government shutdown now the longest in history, the neediest Americans are forgoing food, medical care, and other essentials to survive.

Nov 10, 2025 / Bryce Covert

A woman standing with a shopping cart between tall aisles of a grocery store.

The United States Is Letting Its People Starve The United States Is Letting Its People Starve

US leaders have long taken some responsibility to help poor people meet basic nutritional needs. That era appears over.

Nov 6, 2025 / Katrina vanden Heuvel

x