Broke

The authors share more behind-the-scenes stories from their book, Broke in America. In the telling, they reveal why so many people in the U.S. don’t have the money – or the time – to eat healthfully.

Keywords: school nutrition, food insecurity, SNAP, community eligibility, food environment

Drawing on their book, Broke in America, Goldblum and Shaddox discuss enormous problems with water affordability and safety within the U.S.

Keywords: Flint, bottled water, infrastructure, Nestle

Some employers are saying that they cannot fill jobs. Goldblum and Shaddox have a revolutionary idea: Pay your workers and treat them well.

Keywords: McDonald's, Target, Bob's Red Mill, BJ's, Costco, King Arthur Flour, wage fairness, employment, tax policy, Patriotic Millionaires

In 2019, 35 million US Americans experienced food insecurity. Half again as many may go hungry because of the pandemic. We talk with Betti Wiggins, a school nutrition officer in Houston, about changes that can increase food access during (and after) COVID-19.

Children who live in low income and minority households are more likely to lack Internet access. If you can’t do your online homework, do you fail? Will distance learning still be the standard come fall? Joanne and Colleen discuss the necessity of Internet access in the 21st century and the urgency of making it universal.

Keywords: Digital divide, internet access, access to education, inequity, COVID-19

The US could lose 4.5 million childcare slots if the industry doesn’t get immediate assistance. Why is Congress dragging its feet? Joanne and Colleen discuss why, as usual, women in low-wage jobs and their children will suffer most.

Description: Broke welcomes Lindsay Gray of Bundles of Hope Diaper Bank in Alabama and Rachel Alston of the PDX Diaper Bank in Oregon. They talk about how they are struggling with dramatically increased need created by the pandemic - and how you can help.

Keywords: diaper banking, COVID-19, nonprofits

The president is proposing $500 billion in cuts over the next decade. This would result in closed hospitals, less access to primary care and hikes in supplemental plan premiums.

Deep cuts to entitlements, a failure to invest in infrastructure and affordable housing — all in the name of tax cuts for the rich and spending on weapons. We break down the Trump budget and what you can do about it.

While the country is focused on impeachment, the Trump administration is cooking up new ways to harm people in poverty. Listen up and get active to push back against these regressive moves.

An intense conversation about the Trump administration’s plans to criminalize homelessness, and suggestions about what you can do.

People in poverty are at high risk during natural disasters. Strengthening systems to support low-income Americans today is the best preparation for disaster. Unfortunately, the social safety net is under perpetual attack.

A new federal “public charge” rule will make immigrants in the US legally chose between green cards and putting food on the table. Joanne Goldblum and Colleen Shaddox talk about things you can do in your own community to push back against this cruel policy.

Poverty warriors Joanne Goldblum and Colleen Shaddox talk about the Clintonian overhaul of welfare that has pushed children into extreme poverty for decades. As always, they have opinions, strong ones, and question why the richest nation in the world embraces such a cruel public policy.

One in three US families cannot afford the diapers their babies need. National Diaper Bank Network CEO Joanne Goldblum talks with journalist Colleen Shaddox about the economic and medical harm done by diaper need.

Joanne and Colleen talk about why food assistance is always on the chopping block and how disastrous the president's proposed cuts will be. Special guest Dan Giusti, a renowned chef who left a five-star restaurant to revolutionize school lunches, talks about the barriers to cooking while poor. Check your assumptions at the door - and get ready to be an educated advocate.