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The push to shrink the Federal Reserve’s balance sheet assumes that reducing reserves tightens monetary policy. In today’s operating regime, that assumption no longer holds. Before 2008, the Federal Reserve managed a scarce-reserve system. Bank reserves were limited and draining them tightened credit mechanically. In that environment, shrinking the balance sheet and tightening policy were […]

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, millions of rural women are being overlooked and their potential remains untapped. For too long, the narrative of economic growth has been dominated by urban centers, corporate boardrooms, and global trade corridors. Yet, hidden in the fields, villages, and community gatherings across Africa lies an untapped force, the economic […]

This past decade has forced every American to reckon with profound doubts about the resilience of our democracy. As our nation grows increasingly divided, certain bedrock assumptions have begun to crack: just how free and fair are our elections? Is the United States climbing a path of moral progress, or tumbling into chaos? Will we […]

MEA CULPA. In 2023, I wrote that even amid the AI tech bubble, “human-generated content” would still be king. Now, I’m not so sure. (The irony—or appropriateness—of Newsweek being where Cliff Stoll’s infamous, premature burial of the World Wide Web appeared is not lost on me.) While it seemed clear in 2023 that AI was an overhyped parlor trick […]

Having a chronic illness is never easy, but it is particularly difficult when the disease is a rare one that many doctors have never heard of and that, therefore, they are unlikely to diagnose promptly or correctly. Take my situation, for instance: I have familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), a hereditary autoinflammatory disease that is characterized […]

Let’s be clear from the beginning: an apology does not erase harm. During a New York City Community Education Council meeting, while a scholar was speaking, a Hunter College associate professor, Allyson Friedman, was caught on a live microphone making racist remarks about Black students — remarks about intelligence, remarks invoking segregation, remarks rooted in […]

For years, parents were told that Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) was simply about helping children manage emotions, build empathy, and succeed in relationships. More recently, they have been assured that artificial intelligence (AI) can help schools personalize learning, identify students at risk, and support student mental health. What is far less discussed is how […]

As ICE raids shatter the security of communities across America, an even deadlier threat is lurking in the shadows: the increasing danger facing immigrant victims of domestic violence. The Trump administration’s brutal immigration crackdown is actively tearing apart families and dismantling the fabric of American’s diverse culture. But the scope of the damage reaches far […]

In today’s political climate, neutrality is becoming increasingly difficult and arguably indefensible, especially for those with large public platforms. As political tensions intensify and policy decisions carry tangible consequences for everyday people, celebrities, influencers, and public figures are no longer just entertainers or trendsetters. They are cultural actors whose silence, alignment, or engagement can shape […]

The first day of February marked the start of SNAP cuts in Illinois. On Jan. 30th, our SNAP office of 23 years closed after our funding was eliminated under the One Big Beautiful Bill, resulting in the layoff of 37 staff members. This comes on the heels of the U.S. Department of Health and Human […]