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Find the latest stories, research, and insights on policies, programs, and ideas shaping the national conversation on poverty and economic mobility.
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Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity leads research and consulting initiatives that identify and address barriers to economic well-being.
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America's Looming Food Bank Crisis
“America’s food banks are facing a looming crisis under President Donald Trump‘s administration as proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits get closer to becoming a reality.

Sen. Tim Scott Stays Silent as His Minority Business Legacy Crumbles
"Senate Banking Chair Tim Scott (R-S.C.) has spent years boosting a federal program to support minority-owned businesses. President Donald Trump's administration dismantled it in a matter of weeks.

Republicans Clash Over Medicaid in Hunt to Pay for Trump�s Agenda
“When Republican leaders weigh which of their members might defy the party and defect on major legislation, Senator Jerry Moran’s name rarely comes up.

Trump's Next Target: Poverty-Stricken Kids
“As the Trump administration has hacked away at the Department of Health and Human Services these past few weeks, most of the attention has focused on the cuts applied to high-profile agencies like the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Three States That Are Especially Stuck if Congress Cuts Medicaid
"If congressional Republicans go through with some of the deep Medicaid cuts they are considering, three states would be left in an especially tight bind.

HHS Layoffs Hit Meals on Wheels And Other Services For Seniors And Disabled
“The layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services slashed the staffs of major federal aging, disability and anti-poverty programs, leaving the future of those programs uncertain.

Many People With Disabilities Risk Losing Their Medicaid if They Work Too Much
“PLEASANTVILLE, Iowa — Zach Mecham has heard politicians demand that Medicaid recipients work or lose their benefits. He also has run into a jumble of Medicaid rules that effectively prevent many people with disabilities from holding full-time jobs.

RFK Jr.'s Food Stamp Plan Fuels Tension with USDA
“Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s campaign to swiftly bar the use of food stamps to buy soda is fueling tensions between his team and the Agriculture Department, according to four people inside and outside government familiar with the dynamics.

In a Shift, More Republicans Want Government Investment in Children
“Democrats have long looked to the government to support their families through public programs and spending. Increasingly, Republicans want the same.

How the Education Department Cuts Could Hurt Low-Income and Rural Schools
“President Trump’s efforts to shutter the U.S. Department of Education are in full swing.

Kentucky Senate Passes Medicaid Reform Bill Amid Late-Hour Debate
“LOUISVILLE, Ky. — House Bill 695 passed the Senate Friday night in the eleventh hour. The bill includes changes to Kentucky’s Medicaid program and adds a work requirement to the program.

Millions in U.S. Live in Places Where Doctors Don't Practice and Telehealth Doesn't Reach
“BOLIGEE, Ala. — Green lights flickered on the wireless router in Barbara Williams’ kitchen. Just one bar lit up — a weak signal connecting her to the world beyond her home in the Alabama Black Belt.

