Author: Hugo Stern
Congress is pushing Medicaid work requirements for childless adults, threatening coverage for millions. Here is what the proposals demand and who stands to lose.
Federal contractor layoffs are hitting suburbs hard, straining local budgets, housing markets, and small businesses built around government spending.
Childcare centers are closing as subsidy reimbursement rates fail to keep pace with actual operating costs, leaving families without options and providers without a viable business model.
Child care subsidy cliffs cut off benefits abruptly when income rises slightly, leaving working parents worse off financially after a raise than before.
Rising student loan defaults are straining federal budget projections as default rates climb and income-driven repayment costs outpace original estimates.
Gig worker misclassification crackdowns are forcing platform companies to confront the true cost of their labor models, with reclassification exposure now appearing in financial disclosures.
A federal court blocked the CFPB’s $8 late fee cap before it took effect. With credit card debt above $1.1 trillion, the legal fight has real stakes for millions of cardholders.
Municipal bond defaults are rising as cities miss revenue targets. Smaller issuers and retail investors face growing credit risk as reserve buffers dry up.
Nonprofit hospitals face growing legislative pressure to justify billions in annual tax exemptions, with states and Congress questioning whether charity care spending matches the subsidy.
Auto loan delinquencies are rising as used car values fall, leaving borrowers underwater and lenders facing shrinking recovery rates on repossessed vehicles.