OtherWords

3 weeks ago | otherwords.org | Peter Certo

The right wing routinely demonizes family-friendly policies of liberals as “social engineering.”But look out! Here come those same politicians, putting on MAGA hardhats and firing up their political bulldozers to push one of the most arrogant and intrusive social schemes imaginable.

3 weeks ago | otherwords.org | Peter Certo

Elon Musk may have left the White House for now, but his damage will be long-lasting. This week in OtherWords, David Douglas examines one of Musk’s most controversial moves: gutting the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID. David has worked in nonprofits promoting clean water access for over 40 years.

3 weeks ago | otherwords.org | Peter Certo

In the largest eviction of a homeless encampment in recent history, around 100 unhoused people were recently forced to vacate Oregon’s Deschutes National Forest — or else face a $5,000 fine and up to one year in jail. The forest was the last hope for the encampment’s residents, many of whom were living in broken down RVs and cars. Shelters in nearby Bend — where the average home price is nearly $800,000 — are at capacity, and rent is increasingly .

3 weeks ago | otherwords.org | Peter Certo

In early 2018, I remember sitting at my kitchen table, trying to make sense of how the 2017 Trump tax law was supposed to help families like mine. I’d read headlines promising “middle class tax relief.” But when tax season rolled around, there was little relief to be found — especially for me, a Black woman navigating caretaking for elderly parents and a demanding career. My refund was smaller, my deductions had vanished, and the math simply didn’t add up.

1 month ago | otherwords.org | Peter Certo

With more tariffs and uncertainty looming, the last thing anyone wants is to feel insecure at work. But as this week’s writers show, some bad actors are using workarounds to poke holes in federal labor law. Lena Simet, for example, reports on how app-based employers like Uber, Lyft, and so on classify their employees as “independent contractors” despite controlling every aspect of their work — all to get around minimum wage laws, taxes, and other rules responsible employers follow.