In recognition of October as Manufacturing Month, @michellepburris.bsky.social and @drewcrowemfg.bsky.social explore five ways the manufacturing sector can better recruit and pay workers. Learn more: go.tcf.org/manufacturing

The Department of Education has quietly suspended the Fostering Diverse Schools program, a Biden-era initiative that let districts opt in to racial and socioeconomic diversity efforts. TCF’s Kayla Patrick, a former senior official at ED, responds in Education Week: go.tcf.org/edgrants

“Families across Georgia are bracing for the consequences from the assault that President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress have launched against our health care system.” Chiquita Brooks-LaSure’s latest for @ajc.com on how Medicaid cuts will impact the South. @chiquitabl.bsky.social

“The fact that the acting FEMA administrator was unreachable for more than 24 hours speaks to his lack of ability and qualifications for the job.” TCF’s Jeremy Edwards joins MSNBC to discuss reports that FEMA’s Acting Administrator could not be reached for 24 hours during deadly Texas floods.

The Trump administration is refusing to release our funds for apprenticeships and other job training programs serving women because DEI or something. This grant program was targeted by the women-haters in DOGE. Thank you @juliesulabor.bsky.social & @rbreich.bsky.social for putting the pressure on.

Our new short film, The Price of Excellence, explores the unequal treatment of HBCUs through the lens of those who’ve lived it, studied it, and fought to change it—and lays out what policymakers can do today. Watch it here: go.tcf.org/excellence

We’re live from #ALC54 where TCF alumnus Denise A. Smith is in conversation with Eyang Garrison, Atlantic journalist @adamhsays.com, and Sara Partridge of @americanprogress.bsky.social to premiere TCF’s new short film, The Price of Excellence. Watch it here: go.tcf.org/excellence

“These programs have a long history of bipartisan support in most cases. Ending them without warning is breaking a longstanding agreement between the federal government and local communities.” —Kayla Patrick on the Trump admin slashing hundreds of education grants. Learn more: go.tcf.org/edweek

Trump's Big Beautiful Bill is so unpopular that he's pushing to rebrand it as The Working Families Tax Cut Bill Don't Be Fooled. The bill should be called the Billionaires' Tax Cut Bill. With its Medicaid & other cuts, the bill hurts millions of working families www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

America’s federal workers are not pawns for the President’s dangerous political games. The Trump administration must focus on fixing the mounting health care crisis and avoiding a costly government shutdown. Time is running out. aflcio.org/press/releas...

The Department of Education is slashing hundreds of grants without congressional approval, using a little-used legal mechanism to cancel some grants while leaving others in the same program. TCF’s Kayla Patrick shares her insights with Education Week.

Back-to-school also means showing up for students in the foster system. Here are 5 ways state education agencies can address the unique needs of foster youth. In partnership with the ABA's Legal Center for Foster Care & Education.

Last Thursday in D.C., I sat with Dr. Jamila K. Taylor and Angela Hanks to talk about Black women's leadership at the iconic MLK Jr. Library! Thank you #IWPR, @tcfdotorg.bsky.social , and @groundwork.bsky.social for bringing us together and for these photos Jada (another Black woman)! #dc #blacksky

“Black Americans are often the canary in the coal mine,” says @angelanhanks.bsky.social, director of policy programs. So far this year, Black unemployment has climbed from 6.2% to 7.5% and Black homeownership has reached its lowest level since 2021, via @apnews.com.

Since 1980, the Parents Plus program has let families borrow federal loans to cover the full cost of college tuition. Now, the Trump admin is setting a loan limit of $65k per student. Peter Granville (@petergranville.bsky.social) shares his perspective with @washingtonpost.com.

Today, Trump’s USDA confirmed it’s ending its annual survey on food insecurity. TCF research shows 1 in 4 households are already skipping meals just to get by. Now, as Trump’s $300B SNAP cut begins to take effect, the administration is evading accountability for the hardship these cuts will cause.

“Building a child care system that works for everyone is important to our children, to parents, to employers, and to economic growth...Families need all parents to be working right now in order to have any sort of economic security.” —TCF’s Julie Kashen (@kashenj.bsky.social)

Rural families will see the biggest jump in health care costs with recent federal policies, with marketplace premiums rising much more there than in cities. Older adults and people with chronic conditions will be hit hardest, per @tcfdotorg.bsky.social: buff.ly/iGWVdxS

U.S. schools serve roughly 5 million newly arrived students nationwide. Our recent report, “Falling Short on Newcomers” by @alevazquezbaur.bsky.social, examines how state agencies are serving this growing population.

Trump’s unprecedented assault on the Federal Reserve's independence iS DANGEROUS & BAD FOR OUR ECONOMY Just as Trump failed to understand the huge problems his tariffs would create, he fails to understand the serious damage his attacks on the Fed could cause. www.theguardian.com/global/comme...

“There’s an estimate that over 300 hospitals will close as a result of this legislation…we are in a very, very uncertain time and ultimately, this has a big impact on patient outcomes.” – @chiquitabl.bsky.social appearing on @osmosismed.bsky.social 🎧 Tune in: www.osmosis.org/podcast/fall...

After WWII, the U.S. ended universal child care so women would return to caregiving and soldiers could take their jobs. Now there's a new effort to get women out of the workplace. "I am not on board with going backwards,” says @kashenj.bsky.social in @whyy.org interview whyy.org/episodes/wor...

Two years ago today, I inducted these incredible humans — collectively the El Monte Thai Garment Workers — into the DOL’s Hall of Honor so they could take their rightful place alongside the heroes of American labor. Today and everyday, you should be honored.

"Women get punished for having children and not having children." - Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman at event with Institute for Women's Policy Research & @tcfdotorg.bsky.social

MY BELOVED DMV FAMILY!!! I'm on my way to Washington D.C. to be in conversation about Black women in leadership with some of my favorite Black women leaders!! In collaboration IWPR, @groundwork.bsky.social, and @tcfdotorg.bsky.social, join us at 6 PM EST at MLK Jr. Auditorium in D.C. #PackTheHouse

What would the ideal child care infrastructure in America look like? A system that’s affordable, accessible, and builds community. TCF’s @kashenj.bsky.social in conversation with @rowefinkbeiner.bsky.social of @momsrising.org. Full episode ➡️ go.tcf.org/momsrising Julie's latest ➡️ go.tcf.org/ccwfa

Federal pandemica-era investments showed states what is possible when they invest in child care. Now, @kashenj.bsky.social says, states including CT, NM, NY, OR, and VT are working to build out their child care infrastructure. www.usatoday.com/story/money/...

TCF fellow Amber Villalobos joined @americanprogress.bsky.social's "The State of Online Higher Education in 2025" to discuss online program managers (OPMs), their risks, and the urgent need for more transparency. Tune in ⬇️

"If you're worried about a labor shortage, the solution is not to create fewer jobs. The solution is not to tank the economy." –Sec. Julie Su (@juliesulabor.bsky.social) in conversation with @thewarningses.bsky.social Full episode: go.tcf.org/warning

As Trump continues with policies that hurt workers and eliminate jobs, his administration is also on a reckless path to cover up facts and lie about it. I partnered with @meidastouch.com to describe how this is the Trump administration in a nutshell.

“UI benefits were designed to cover basic expenses and help you stay afloat during short-term unemployment,” says Andrew Stettner, director of economy and jobs. But longer periods of unemployment and rising costs are putting added pressure on the system, via @marketplace.org.

This Thursday, join Anna Gifty (@itsafronomics.bsky.social) as she launches her new book, "The Double Tax: How Women of Color Are Overcharged and Underpaid" and discusses Black women's employment with IWPR's Jamila Taylor and TCF's @angelanhanks.bsky.social.

I'm #hiring! 📝 Are you a comms and media expert with a passion for #immigrantjustice? A skilled project manager who works well with diverse stakeholders? Apply to be our National Newcomer Network Communications Consultant! 🌟 thecenturyfoundation.bamboohr.com/careers/126 @tcfdotorg.bsky.social

On the radio show this week we dive into Trump's inconsistent policies on child care, which exacerbate the child care crisis by creating uncertainty and underfunding programs w/ @tcfdotorg.bsky.social. https://www.momsrising.org/bt08sep25/?source=bsky

📢 We’re partnering with the Institute for Women’s Policy Research and @tcfdotorg.bsky.social for the DC launch of Anna Gifty's (@itsafronomics.bsky.social) new book, “The Double Tax: How Women of Color Are Overcharged and Underpaid.”

For decades, HBCUs have produced world-class leaders with only a fraction of the funding of predominantly white institutions. Our new documentary, “The Price of Excellence,” tells that story. The film premiers Sep. 25 during the @cbc.house.gov Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, DC. #ALC54

The ACA’s premium tax credits are set to expire on January 1, 2026. For more than 18 million Americans living with cancer, congressional inaction would mean higher premiums and an increased risk of losing access to life-saving care. Learn more: go.tcf.org/hurts

It's no secret the national unemployment system needs modernizing and the last administration initiated some important projects to help. Instead of building on this progress and funding modernization efforts, the Trump administration is doing the opposite. The result could be catastrophic.

Today, The Century Foundation published a new report from three of the nation's leading experts on unemployment insurance: Sec. @juliesulabor.bsky.social, and @aimstettner.bsky.social and @micheleevermore.bsky.social—leaders of DOL’s Office of UI Modernization during the pandemic: go.tcf.org/ui

Join us for an evening with award-winning researcher and writer Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman as she launches her new book, The Double Tax: How Women of Color Are Overcharged and Underpaid. 📍 MLK Library Auditorium, Washington, DC 📅 Thursday, Sept. 18 | 6 PM 🎟️ Complimentary books + signing to follow

Today, the Census Bureau released new data that show that in 2024, 13.4% of U.S. children under 18—9.7 million children—lived in poverty TCF's Rachel West and Julie Kashen analyze these data and explore policies to end child poverty: go.tcf.org/childpoverty

A hedge fund manager. A private equity lawyer. A realtor. These are the people now running the CDC under HHS Secretary RFK Jr. None have medical expertise. @sanders.senate.gov is right: This is dangerous.

“About 60% of people using Buy Now, Pay Later already have subprime credit scores—and they’re mostly stacking this debt on top of credit cards…” Don’t miss TCF president @jmargetta.bsky.social’s deep dive on Buy Now, Pay Later loans on the Odd Lots podcast: go.tcf.org/oddlots ⬇️

Three people represent $1 trillion—the same amount Republicans plan to rip from over 35 million people’s health care plans over the next ten years. This level of inequality is completely unsustainable.

Trump’s policies are forcing families to pay more for pencils, notebooks, even index cards—supplies are up 7.3% this year, with spikes up to 40%. “Parents are being squeezed at every turn.” Learn more: go.tcf.org/fwmag

“The Tri-Share model is not a solution to the child care crisis because it does not build child care supply or substantively improve compensation and benefits for early educators.” – TCF’s Lea Woods (@lea9223.bsky.social)

Former Acting Secretary of Labor @juliesulabor.bsky.social responds to today’s disastrous news that employers added just 22,000 jobs in August.

Bumping this

“Buy Now, Pay Later” isn’t always the no-interest, no fee model it’s marketed as. Families are using BNPL for everything from groceries to medical bills and education costs. TCF president @jmargetta.bsky.social discusses BNPL and America's debt crisis on Bloomberg’s Odd Lots: go.tcf.org/oddlots

Latest TCF/@groundwork.bsky.social research on Trump admin's back-to-school tax: "These cost increases are going to [continue] across our economy, and I think parents are going to have to begin to stock up to try to make it through the year." - @jessicajfulton.bsky.social