The Tesla Cybertruck, with its bold design and polarizing presence, has been a source of both fascination and frustration since it hit the streets. Since […]
The Jobs Market That Won’t Let You In
The latest U.S. employment figures present a curious contradiction. Layoffs remain unusually low, yet employers are barely adding workers. For people who already have jobs, that can be reassuring. For people searching for their next opportunity, it can mean weeks or months of applications, interviews, and unanswered emails. The numbers help explain why these two experiences can exist at the same time. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the economy added just 29,000 jobs in September 2026. The unemployment rate remained at 4.2%, while the number of people unemployed for at least 27 weeks reached 1.9 million. The…
When Saving Medicaid Money Could Cost States More
Starting in January 2027, millions of lower-income Americans enrolled in Medicaid will face a new requirement that has been presented as a way to reduce government spending and encourage people to work. But there is another side of the equation that deserves considerably more attention. How much will states have to spend to administer the new rules? And what happens when people who are eligible for Medicaid lose coverage because they cannot navigate the paperwork required to prove they qualify? Under the new federal Medicaid community-engagement requirements, certain adults between 19 and 64 will generally have to work, volunteer, participate…
When Firefighter Gear Becomes Toxic
Firefighters put on protective gear because the job they are about to do can kill them. The heavy coats, pants, gloves, and hoods that make up their turnout gear are designed to protect them from extreme heat, flames, water, and the many hazards encountered inside a burning building. For decades, that equipment has represented one of the most important lines of defense between firefighters and the dangers of their profession. Now, however, some firefighters and municipalities across the country are raising an unsettling question: What if some of the equipment designed to protect firefighters is also exposing them to potentially…
The Jobs Market That Won’t Let You In
The latest U.S. employment figures present a curious contradiction. Layoffs remain unusually low, yet employers are barely adding workers. For people who already have jobs,…
When Saving Medicaid Money Could Cost States More
Starting in January 2027, millions of lower-income Americans enrolled in Medicaid will face a new requirement that has been presented as a way to reduce…
When AI Reads Your Medical Records
For years, artificial intelligence in health care was largely discussed as a future technology. Doctors might someday use AI to identify diseases, analyze medical images,…
The Growing Alarm Over Facial Recognition and ICE Detentions
For years, debates about facial recognition technology largely centered on local police departments, airport security, and private sector data collection. More recently, however, a different…
The Cost of Closing Forest Research
The U.S. Forest Service is closing 23 research and development facilities across more than a dozen states as part of a sweeping reorganization of the…
When Politics Enters the Science: The Fight Over What Judges Should Know
The courts routinely deal with questions that judges cannot answer through legal precedent alone. What caused an environmental disaster? How reliable is a particular scientific…
Why Financial Literacy Matters More Than Ever
For generations, financial literacy has been viewed as a personal skill that helps people budget wisely, save for retirement, and avoid unnecessary debt. Today, it…
How Speculators Move Gas Prices
For most Americans, the price of gasoline feels deeply personal. It determines commuting costs, shipping prices, airline tickets, and, indirectly, the cost of groceries and…
When Saving Medicaid Money Could Cost States More
Starting in January 2027, millions of lower-income Americans enrolled in Medicaid will face a new requirement that has been presented as a way to reduce…
We Know How to Prevent Black Lung. So Why Are Workers Still Dying?
There was a time when black lung was considered an inevitable consequence of working in a coal mine. Miners spent decades underground breathing coal dust,…