Articles and analysis on today's issues

Federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could cause some DC-area families to lose an average of $187 in monthly benefits.
Q&A with public health innovator Manmeet Kaur, recipient of the Janice Nittoli Fellowship Manmeet Kaur discusses rethinking the healthcare system and bridging the gap between policy and action as the inaugural Janice Nittoli Fellow.Past-due medical debt a problem, especially for black Americans Nearly one in three nonelderly black Americans have past-due medical bills—a concerning number given the consequences for physical and financial health.Fannie and Freddie eased access to credit. Now it’s the FHA’s turn Credit is tight largely because lenders are imposing even more stringent standards than those required by the entities that guarantee or insure these loans.Three ways the Great Lakes region can find home-grown solutions to its challenges Political rhetoric on the Great Lakes has portrayed the region as a victim of global forces, but the region’s recovery depends on investments in its strengths.Four lessons to help the new secretary of labor build a skilled workforce To build a strong workforce, Alex Acosta would be wise to rely on what we know about effective workforce development programs.Rationale for Medicaid work requirements not supported by evidence Adding work requirements for Medicaid will not affect eligibility for most current beneficiaries, but will risk limiting health care access for those who need it most.