Explainer

March 20, 2017

Explainer: What you should know about the Meals on Wheels controversy

Embed from Getty Images What’s the story? Last week, numerous media outlets falsely reported that the Trump administration proposed 2018 budget would eliminate charities like Meals on Wheels. The reports also claimed that White House budget director Mick Mulvaney had said during a press conference that Meals on Wheels “doesn’t work.” Continue Reading...

March 16, 2017

Explainer: What you should know about President Trump’s FY2018 budget

What is the president’s budget? Technically, it’s only a budget request (and in this case, just a blueprint of a request). The budget request is a proposal telling Congress how much money the president believes should be spent on the various Cabinet-level federal functions, like agriculture, defense, education, etc. Continue Reading...

March 15, 2017

Understanding the President’s Cabinet: HHS Secretary

Note: This is the eighth in a weekly series of explanatory posts on the officials and agencies included in the President’s Cabinet. See the series introduction here.   Cabinet position: Secretary of Health and Human Services Department: Department of Health and Human Services Current Secretary: Thomas E. Continue Reading...

March 08, 2017

Understanding the President’s Cabinet: HUD Secretary

Note: This is the seventh in a weekly series of explanatory posts on the officials and agencies included in the President’s Cabinet. See the series introduction here. Department:  Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Current Secretary:  Dr. Continue Reading...

March 07, 2017

Explainer: What you should know about the Republicans’ bill to replace Obamacare

Embed from Getty Images Last night Congressional Republicans released two bills (here and here) which together constitute the current plan to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare). Here’s what you should know about the legislation known as the “American Health Care Act” (AHCA). Continue Reading...

February 16, 2017

Understanding the President’s Cabinet: Labor Secretary

UPDATE: Andy Puzder withdrew his name from consideration yesterday, so we’re updating and reposting this article with the information for the new nominee, Alexander Acosta. Note: This is the fifth in a weekly series of explanatory posts on the officials and agencies included in the President’s Cabinet. Continue Reading...

February 01, 2017

Understanding the President’s Cabinet: Treasury Secretary

Note: This is the third in a weekly series of explanatory posts on the officials and agencies included in the President’s Cabinet. See the series introduction here. Cabinet position: Secretary of the Treasury Department: U.S. Continue Reading...