The immigration debate is still going on in Congress and may lead to another government shutdown. Part of the problem is that President Trump keeps changing his position, and as the following clip demonstrates he seriously (in fact, bizarrely) misunderstands … Continue reading
There are a lot of real jerks out there, most of them men, who harass and worse their students, employees, or just those they happen to run into. The good news is that a lot of these people — Bill … Continue reading
As you surely know by now, this influenza season is turning out to be very bad. This is mainly because the predominant type of flu virus this year mutates rapidly, making the vaccine less effective. But “less effective” doesn’t mean … Continue reading
If you’ve paid any attention to news coverage of the new Republican tax law, you’ve probably heard that the standard deduction is being doubled. But did you know that personal exemptions are going away? This means that if you’re a … Continue reading
Lower income people dealing with unexpected expenses often turn to companies that offer very short-term loans. These businesses are commonly known as “payday lenders” since the loans are typically meant to last just until the next payday. This isn’t at … Continue reading
President Trump has announced a steep 30 percent tariff on Chinese solar panels supposedly to protect U.S. businesses from cheap Chinese competition. (The tariff falls to 15 percent after four years.) The remaining U.S. solar panel manufacturers are happy with … Continue reading
As you surely know, Congress and the president failed yesterday to create a budget despite a near-consensus on what the final result should be. Here’s all they have to do: Fund the government at something like last year’s level, with … Continue reading
The number of infants and mothers who die around the time of birth is worse in the U.S. than in the rest of the developed word. We’re making progress in reducing infant mortality, but maternal mortality is actualy getting worse. … Continue reading
I’ve just updated one of the most frequently viewed posts on this blog concerning the national debt. It can be found here. by … Continue reading
In a column published yesterday in The New York Times, public health researcher Austin Frakt discusses ways of attacking the deadly opioid crisis that save money, have tested with good results, and have a number of other benefits. They involve … Continue reading