A federal funding freeze on domestic violence programs threatens to shutter shelters, silence crisis lines, and leave survivors with nowhere to turn.
Money & Jobs
Don’t Freeze Federal Funds—Invest in Place-Based Programs Instead
The Trump administration’s recent attempt to freeze federal funding has sparked renewed debate about government efficiency and program effectiveness. While the freeze was quickly reversed following public outcry, it highlights a fundamental tension: how to balance fiscal responsibility with essential support for vulnerable populations. There’s a proven approach that could satisfy both imperatives: place-based programming.
For the First Time in History, Women Will Have Serious Philanthropic Power. Will They Choose to Use It?
Women are at a historic moment financially. In 2020, McKinsey reported that by 2030, $30 trillion of assets would be passed down into the hands of women—called “The Great Wealth Transfer.” For the first time in history, women will have a serious seat as a cohort to make financial decisions and donations.
As wealth and power increasingly grow in the hands of a few, it is clear how the world of philanthropy has been overwhelmingly shaped and guided by men. However, with today’s pressing global challenges—from economic inequality to climate change—if women philanthropists don’t step up now, when will they? It’s time for women to not just participate, but to lead with bold, transformative giving.
Women’s Paychecks Are Shrinking—And Policy Isn’t Keeping Up
Last September, the National Partnership for Women and Families reported the wage gap for all women workers had widened to 75 cents for every dollar men earned, representing a 3-cent decrease in real pay per hour for women.
While on the surface this may seem negligible in a paycheck, even a seemingly small increase in wage disparity dramatically impacts the significant gains in pay since the 1980s. American Progress reports that with this current backslide, it will now take until 2068 to close the wage gap.
‘There Will Always Be Journalists to Stand Up and Fight’: Women Reporters Brace for Trump’s Second Term
A conversation between Women Press Freedom senior editor Inge Snip; Ms. managing digital editor Roxanne Szal; California-based journalist Cerise Castle; and CFWIJ founding director, Kiran Nazish:
As Donald Trump returns to the presidency, women journalists are bracing for heightened threats—including online harassment, physical violence, and legal intimidation—building on the hostility they faced during his first term. In a panel hosted by the Coalition for Women in Journalism, reporters shared their experiences navigating these dangers, emphasizing both the risks ahead and the resilience of the press. Despite growing fear, they remain committed to telling critical stories and holding power to account.
Why Raising the Minimum Wage Beats Tax Breaks for Tipped Workers Every Time
It’s a brand new administration, and the new prez is determined to fight for the underdog—if his past pronouncements can be taken seriously. Case in point? Trump’s campaign declared last June, “When I am president, we will continue our fight for working families of America, including to raise the minimum wage and eliminate taxes on tips for service and hospitality workers.”
If the new Congress passes the bill, it should be a real boost for low wage workers who depend on tips to make ends meet—right? Well, not exactly. Cutting taxes on tipped wages sounds great, until you get under the hood and learn that most tipped workers don’t earn enough to pay taxes in the first place. It’s what you might call a phantom benefit, but it sounds good when politicians propose getting rid taxes on tips.
Reclaiming the Economy: Women Take on Bitcoin, Private Equity, Debt Dollars and Billionaire Bros
On Dec. 27, 2024, The New York Times published an article titled, “Wall Street is Minting Easy Money for Risky Loans. What Could Go Wrong?” The key word here is “Minting.”
Why? Three days earlier, we had learned from The Washington Post how a “strategic bitcoin reserve” would work. Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency, is being easily minted too. Unlike our government-backed dollars, crypto is privately created, the reason there are now about 9000 such currencies. Easy-peasy, they’re what your mom might call too good to be true.
The Post’s article recapped how president-elect Donald Trump, who once poo-pooed bitcoin for being “based on thin air,” had recently claimed it was “going to the moon.” He wants to make sure the U.S. leads the way. So Trump is now entertaining the idea of the U.S. government purchasing bitcoin and holding it in reserve. What does that mean?
Pregnant Dockworkers in L.A. and Long Beach Need Better Workplace Protection
Post-Dobbs, the fight for abortion access has rightly dominated headlines. While that’s a fight that’s still being waged, reproductive justice comprises many facets, including the right to healthy, dignified working conditions for those who choose to continue their pregnancies. Even in states with strong protections, like California, the fight is far from over to ensure pregnant workers don’t lose their livelihoods simply for starting a family.
The ILWU relies on the powerful labor movement motto: “An injury to one is an injury to all.” The Pacific Maritime Association boasts, “workplace safety is a key consideration” in its operations. It’s time to make the sentiments behind those declarations a reality for pregnant and parenting workers.
Care Can’t Wait: Why Families Must Come Before Billionaires in the 2025 Tax Fight
When doctors discovered a concerning spot during Martresa’s routine checkup, they urged her to come in immediately for further tests and treatment. But as a single mother caring for both her chronically ill mother and young daughter, Martresa faced an impossible choice. With no paid leave or caregiving support, seeking treatment meant potentially losing her job and health insurance. Like so many, she made the decision to put her family’s care before her own. A few years later, Martresa received an alarming cancer diagnosis—the consequence of a system that forces us to choose between work, caring for ourselves and caring for the people we love. It’s not a real choice at all.
The new Republican-dominated Congress has already begun preparations for debating new tax legislation, and Martresa’s story illuminates what’s at stake. Will the U.S. continue to enrich those whose wealth is already unimaginable, or will Congress invest in families and the care that families need in order to work?