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David Weil

@profsheenalives.bsky.social
167 followers 61 following 91 posts

Professor of Social Policy and Economics, Heller School for Social Policy, Brandeis University and Visiting Professor, Harvard Kennedy School. Former DOL Wage and Hour Administrator. Dum Spiro Spero.

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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Silica remains a grave threat to working people. The brilliant @drdavidmichaels.bsky.social, former OSHA head, describes the ongoing danger and what to do about it. share.google/1syHHzdhzopj... @jbarab.bsky.social
share.google
Quartz countertops are driving a public health crisis in the US – 2 occupational health experts explain the surge of lung transplants and lawsuits
Workers are facing a preventable and incurable lung disease from a material being used to renovate kitchens in millions of American homes.
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
And now some better Labor Day news from the great @haroldmeyerson.bsky.social and the folks @prospect.org Dum spiro spero! (Look it up). prospect.org/2026/09/07/l... @greenhousenyt.bsky.social @epi.org @aflcio.org @nelp.org
prospect.org
Labor Day 2026: Record-High Popularity, Record-Low Power for America’s Unions - The American Prospect
Wages now constitute the lowest share of the nation’s income since the government began measuring them in 1947.
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Happy Labor Day friends. First, the bad news to reflect upon: This so-called worker-focused administration's unrepentant assault on worker rights, protections and security via the great @greenhousenyt.bsky.social. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026... @prospect.org @aflcio.org @epi.org
theguardian.com
‘The most anti-union president’: how Trump turned his back on US workers
Labor experts stunned at how anti-worker Trump has been with actions since last Labor Day that have hurt unions
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Service workers across the political spectrum from those who call themselves liberal to MAGA support and need a higher minimum wage. Watch this... youtube.com/shorts/EhY_r...
youtube.com
Conservatives 🤝 Liberals: Raising the minimum wage
YouTube video by Harvard Kennedy School
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Reposted by David Weil
Jordan Barab @jbarab.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Labor Day: A Celebration of Working People—and the Movement That Made It Possible jordanbarab.com/confinedspac...
jordanbarab.com
Labor Day: A Celebration of Working People—and the Movement That Made It Possible - Confined Space
Labor Day is about recognizing the people who work: honoring the struggles that made decent work possible. And that every worker deserves to go home safe, earn a decent living, have a voice on the job...
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Workers' share of the output of the US economy continues its long decline. Gosh, that must mean that value creation is going somewhere else...
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
It's Labor Day--a chance to reflect on the state of work, workers and fairness. Inviting you to this @gamechangerspolicy.bsky.social webinar where @julietschor.bsky.social @paulsonn.bsky.social, Gerald Epstein & I will talk about fair work standards. Please join us! events.zoom.us/ev/ApCr_SWeb...
events.zoom.us
Game Changers Webinar Series
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Kudos to the Aussies for a step forward to protect platform workers. But please note: it's not a "minimum wage" in the usual sense. share.google/AoKDJUNi70yP...
share.google
Delivery drivers will get minimum wage in Australia’s ‘world-first’ deal. Is it fair – and will Uber Eats cost more?
A closer look at the new rules for gig workers – agreed to by Uber Eats and Doordash – shows ‘minimum wage’ looks a little different than usual
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Bravo Australia for taking an important first step setting a national minimum wage and insurance for platform workers in line with recently adopted ILO standards. www.linkedin.com/safety/go/?u...
linkedin.com
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
The Amazon model of delivery that benefits the company at the expense of drivers might hit a bump in the NYC road. youtube.com/watch?v=91Do... @mayor.nyc.gov @juliesulabor.bsky.social
youtube.com
It's time Amazon played by the same rules as everyone else
YouTube video by NYC Mayor's Office
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Let's focus on some basics: Raising the floor of wages in a meaningful and sustainable ways. Here are my and Ellora Derenoncourt's @princetonecon.bsky.social perspective on raising wages in ways the help change norms. peri.umass.edu/publication/... @gamechangerspolicy.bsky.social
peri.umass.edu
Raising Wages by Changing Norms: Work Policy for the Long Game
The Problem Decades of wage stagnation in the U.S. can be traced to powerful economic forces arising from product and labor markets and changes in the economic organization of work. Sluggish wage grow...
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Juliet Schor @julietschor.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
More gamechangers! Shout out to Work&Labor team. Alexander Hertel-Fernandez' great work on Solidarity Insurance, Irene Tung&Paul Sonn on "Just Cause" Job Protections & Ellora Derenoncourt & @profsheenalives.bsky.social on raising wages. @gamechangerspolicy.bsky.social gamechangerspolicy.org
gamechangerspolicy.org
Game Changers: Economic Policies for a Working America
Game Changers presents policymakers with bold, new ideas to build a stronger, fairer, greener, and more inclusive economy for all Americans.
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Appreciate @doctorow.pluralistic.net discussion of my @prospect.org article: Workplace “flexibility” isn’t doctorow.medium.com/https-plural...
doctorow.medium.com
Workplace “flexibility” isn’t
What the gig economy calls flexibility is just risk-shifting.
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Folks: let's talk about flexibility for workers and responsibilty for platform companies. They are compatible. See my article in @prospect.org prospect.org/2026/07/09/d...
prospect.org
The Dangerous Myth of Flexibility - The American Prospect
Uber and Lyft insist it benefits their drivers. In actuality, it benefits Uber and Lyft.
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
@wikimediafoundation.org is shared knowledge, commitment to transparent debate and neutrality via hundreds of thousands of volunteer editors from around the world. That is why it is a treasure of humanity. And it's under attack. We should all care deeply about that. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/05/b...
nytimes.com
Wikipedia Is Battling for the Soul of the Internet
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Protecting workers from #fissuring requires enforcing #jointemployment. Thanks to @timothynoah.bsky.social @newrepublic.bsky.social & @briancallaci.bsky.social for making the case. newrepublic.com/article/2124... @crampell.bsky.social @epi.org
newrepublic.com
How Trump Plans to Crush Fast-Food Workers
Franchising is usually a racket. Now it will be more of one.
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
What would it take to build an economy that works better for working people? Excited to be part of #GameChangers: Economic Policies for a Working America. Today we are sharing the trailer. More to come over the next few weeks. peri.umass.edu/gamechangers/
peri.umass.edu
Game Changers: Economic Policies for a Working America
Game Changers presents policymakers with bold, new ideas to build a stronger, fairer, greener, and more inclusive economy for all Americans.
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
The Americans Trump Would Rather Not See @crampell.bsky.social makes clear the extent this venal administration will go to help those who don't need it (billionaires) at the expense of those who do. open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
open.substack.com
The Americans Trump Would Rather Not See
There are some uncomfortably eugenicist vibes in Trump’s latest disability policy, which authorizes states to institutionalize more Americans.
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
Control freaks and sham contracting: Amazing reporting by @josheidelson.bsky.social on how Amazon, deliverer of 9 billion items daily, escapes responsibility for employment while controlling every aspect of their work. urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...
urldefense.com
What Trump Delivered for Amazon
The feds were pushing a landmark case about Amazon’s control of its contract drivers. Then the president put Amazon’s former lawyer in charge.
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Which side are you on? Well I think the NLRB General Counsel's decision to once again allow employers to hold captive audience meetings and say a union will ruin worker / manager relationships makes it abundantly clear: It ain't working people. www.law360.com/employment-a...
law360.com
NLRB GC Asks Board To Overturn 2 Biden-Era Rulings - Law360 Employment Authority
Employers should be allowed to tell workers that unionizing could end their direct relationship with their managers, as well as hold mandatory meetings to discourage unionization, the National Labor R...
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Reposted by David Weil
Dr Ella Cockbain @drellac.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Interested in workers’ rights, their protection and enforcement? Come join us at the Working Lives Conference in London on 13 & 14 May 2026, co-hosted by UCL and the Fair Work Agency. We’ve got an amazing line up for you (1/2) www.ucl.ac.uk/engineering/...
ucl.ac.uk
Working Lives Conference
Working Lives: The scale and nature of precarious work and labour market non-compliance in the UK and beyond. Presented by UCL Department of Security and Crime Science.
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
See yah, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer. That's the kind of leadership fealty to this administration gets you in terms of improving life for working people. A big zero. Great piece by @hiltzikm.bsky.social : A not-so-fond farewell to Lori Chavez-DeRemer - Los Angeles Times share.google/ZXzxbu6dYi57...
share.google
Commentary: Trump's Labor secretary departs, leaving scandal and vast disappointment in her wake
Lori Chavez-DeRemer seemed at first to be a good Trump hire as Labor secretary. Wow, were we wrong.
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
open.substack.com/pub/hardrese...
open.substack.com
How Amazon Is Conquering (and Ruining) the Package Delivery Market
To fulfill billions of orders, Amazon leans on gig workers and subcontractors—an anti-labor practice afflicting most sectors of the economy. We spoke to the preeminent expert on the subject.
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
The vital work of homecare workers require assured rights and shouldn't be a political football. Enshrining them in the law is essential. www.law360.com/employment-a... @americanprogress.bsky.social @nelp.org @aflcio.org
law360.com
Domestic Workers' Wages In Flux Amid New Laws, Proposals - Law360 Employment Authority
Domestic workers and their employers could see changing wage and hour practices as state and federal lawmakers seek to grant them new protections, while the U.S. Department of Labor has proposed takin...
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
There were no tawdry DOL scandals during the @Obama or Biden administrations. Just dedication to enforcing our laws. Just sayin'. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/03/u... @drdavidmichaels.bsky.social @juliesulabor.bsky.social @alt-dol.altgov.info
nytimes.com
Labor Secretary’s Top Aides Forced Out
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
So the editorial board of @washingtonpost.com supports the Trump rule on independent contractors. Yet NO disclaimer that Bezos and Amazon depend on misclassification of drivers for their biz model. @prospect.org www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
washingtonpost.com
Opinion | A win for 11.9 million workers
Most independent contractors want the flexibility they lose when they become direct employees.
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
And speaking of failing to understand the most basic idea of externalities, another voice from this twisted administration. Jonas Salk is rolling in his grave. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/h...
nytimes.com
Rejecting Decades of Science, Vaccine Panel Chair Says Polio and Other Shots Should Be Optional
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
This action says it all about this administration: the value of reducing deaths in the workplace, community, and from exposure to risk? $0. Even the most conservative economists would say this is insane policy. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/21/c...
nytimes.com
Trump’s E.P.A. Has Put a Value on Human Life: Zero Dollars
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 26/12/2025
Important piece by @noamscheiber.bsky.social on why tech workers exercise voice and organized even in tough times. Hint: They realize they are more like each other than their boss. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/b...
nytimes.com
Despite Crackdown on Activism, Tech Employees Are Still Picking Fights
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
More evidence of the collapse of federal wage theft enforcement under Trump from @goodjobsfirst.org. See more details at goodjobsfirst.org/worker-prote...
Trump DOL levied 95% fewer penalties per month (in constant dollars) than under Obama ($26 million per month under Obama vs. 1.3 million per month under Trump).
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
It matters to workers who is President: @goodjobsfirst.org reports that 2025 has witnessed a dramatic drop in federal enforcement of wage and workplace safety regulations. goodjobsfirst.org/worker-prote...
goodjobsfirst.org
Worker Protections in Freefall: The Collapse of Federal Labor Enforcement under the Second Trump Administration - Good Jobs First
Worker Protections in Freefall: The Collapse of Federal Labor Enforcement under the Second Trump Administration - Good Jobs First
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
We all have relied at one time on homecare help. I was proud to work for @barackobama.bsky.social to make sure these workers receive overtime and minimum wage protection. Now Trump wants to take it away. We need to fight like hell to make sure that doesn't happen. www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNYt...
youtube.com
Home Care Workers Are Losing Minimum Wage Protections — and Fighting Back
YouTube video by Capital & Main
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
I led the DOL's Wage and Hour Division when the homecare rule was affirmed and we implemented it for 2+million workers and the people they help. This article captures the cost of Trump's effort to take away those protections. capitalandmain.com/home-care-wo... @nelp.org @capitalandmain.bsky.social
capitalandmain.com
Home Care Workers Are Losing Minimum Wage Protections — and Fighting Back
Three million care workers, many of them Black and Latina women, could be classified as “companions” instead of professionals.
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
In the context of a White House that chafes at the rule of law, we need to think about real enforcement for work, consumers, and citizens--not just laws on the books. Read this great piece by @daveyseligman.bsky.social & @srf1802.bsky.social to see why. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/01/o...
nytimes.com
Opinion | Americans Won’t Have Faith in the Rule of Law Until the Law Works for Them
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 28/11/2025
A worrisome stat but critical to commit to memory: @nytimes.com reports the top 10% account for 50% of consumer spending. That's how income inequality can let the few do well while the many sink. Beware. @epi.org @hiltzikm.bsky.social
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
@alexshultz.bsky.social and I have a long discussion of how all those packages show up on your door so quickly--and who is paying the price of "free Prime delivery." Hint: There is no such things as a free lunch...
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 23/11/2025
I normally leave it to others to recommed movies, but Good Fortune is a sweet comedy about life, empathy and gig work. And even about organizing unions. @veenadubal.bsky.social is even thanked in the credits! youtu.be/SAMkXY2Ja80?...
youtu.be
Good Fortune (2025) Official Trailer #2 – Seth Rogen, Aziz Ansari, Keke Palmer, Keanu Reeves
YouTube video by Lionsgate Movies
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Think that gig work requires sacrificing worker rights? Pronita Gupta and I describe a way to provide good jobs and REAL flexibility for those who need both. And it doesn't rhyme with "tuber." www.commondreams.org/opinion/gig-... @caseygrants.bsky.social @theworkeragency.com
commondreams.org
Gigs That Work For All | Common Dreams
​A California pilot program offers a new blueprint for workforce development.
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Reposted by David Weil
Hard Reset @hardresetmedia.com · 18/11/2025
With Black Friday fast approaching, @alexshultz.bsky.social spoke with David Weil (@profsheenalives.bsky.social) about how Amazon leans on gig workers, a profoundly anti-labor practice, for their billions of deliveries: www.hardresetmedia.com/p/how-amazon...
hardresetmedia.com
How Amazon Is Conquering (and Ruining) the Package Delivery Market
To fulfill billions of orders, Amazon leans on gig workers and subcontractors—an anti-labor practice afflicting most sectors of the economy. We spoke to the preeminent expert on the subject.
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 17/11/2025
I had a long discussion with @alexshultz.bsky.social of @hardresetmedia.com about how the rise of Amazon undermines work for delivery drivers and wider impacts on labor. www.hardresetmedia.com/p/how-amazon...
hardresetmedia.com
How Amazon Is Conquering (and Ruining) the Package Delivery Market
To fulfill billions of orders, Amazon leans on gig workers and subcontractors—an anti-labor practice afflicting most sectors of the economy. We spoke to the preeminent expert on the subject.
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
UPS & Amazon represents an epic battle of two work systems: one offering protections for workers and good jobs and one that undermines them. Guess whose winning? share.google/wrWucVQJshXU... @danielschneider.bsky.social @juliesulabor.bsky.social @bruey
share.google
The unraveling of workplace protections for delivery drivers: A tale of 2 workplace models
A first-of-its-kind study finds Amazon’s delivery drivers earn less and face more instability than their unionized counterparts.
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
UPS with its unionized workforce is hiring more gig workers. Wonder why? How about the pressure from Amazon that directly hires no one. We discuss that below. www.wsj.com/business/log...
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
Remember that the lowest quartile of the income distribution grew faster than the top quartile during the Biden administration (meaning decreased inequality)? Guess what is happening now? Yep. We are back to widening earnings gap. Just in time for the holidays...
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
He tears down the WH East Wing without any warning, plan or approval. He pardons hucksters like George Santos and now an individual who committed crimes with direct connections to his family. Democrats: Where the hell are you? www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...
nytimes.com
Trump Administration Live Updates: President Pardons Binance Founder With Ties to First Family’s Crypto Venture
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
Fresh for Prime Day, my report with @dschneider.bsky.social @juliesulabor.bsky.social and Kevin Bruey shows how the rise of Amazon depresses wages, benefits and protections for their drivers compared to union drivers @ UPS. This is how good wages and protections unwind. @shift-project.bsky.social
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
Intimidating workers because of their immigration status weakens rights and protections for ALL workers. A disturbing report in @prospect.org . prospect.org/labor/2025-1... @nelp.org @aflcio.org @shift-project.bsky.social
prospect.org
How ICE Terror Campaigns Are Used to Discipline Labor
While Chicago sees a surge of ICE detentions, workers are facing retaliation as immigrants when they advocate for their rights.
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
@hiltzikm.bsky.social on the challenges of a post-Trump era in terms of labor, health, and science. It's not a pretty picture, but important to think ahead... www.latimes.com/business/sto...
latimes.com
Commentary: Trump won't last forever. Here's what it will take to rebuild what he's tearing down
Trump's targets and adversaries start to think about how to rebuild the America he has demolished.
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
Seema Nanda, Solicitor of Labor in the Biden administration, lays out the high costs of Trump's effort to end essential labor protections for millions of homecare workers who provide critical services. msmagazine.com/2025/08/20/t... @domesticworkers.bsky.social @nelp.org @rdnayak.bsky.social
msmagazine.com
Over a Million Women Are at Risk of a Pay Cut Under a New Trump Rule
Care workers were deemed 'essential' during COVID-19. The Trump Department of Labor wants to strip away their most basic wage protections.
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David Weil @profsheenalives.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
@hiltzikm.bsky.social explains the outrageous, scurrilous and groundless claims made against Lisa Cook, Adam Schiff and Leticia James by this administration. These actions make Nixon's enemies list look benign. www.latimes.com/business/sto...
latimes.com
Commentary: Why are all these leading Democrats suddenly facing mortgage fraud charges? Guess who's behind it
Bill Pulte at the Federal Housing Finance Agency is hitting Democrats with criminal mortgage fraud charges. Here's why they look ginned-up.
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