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Rox

@vppark.bsky.social
394 followers 1.2K following 1.1K posts

Navigating/parenting thru education and health care systems for kids with chronic illness. Military brat. Hill staffer and Schedule C in a past life.

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Rox
The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 18h
There’s a term for Trump’s bullying, often racist sneers and attacks, accompanied by indirect (always indirect) calls to violence: stochastic terrorism, defined as hostile rhetoric that raises the statistical risk of ideological violence. Here’s how it works:
contrariannews.org
Don’t Dismiss Trump’s Los Angeles-San Diego Comment as a ‘Joke’
No normal American would say those words. A president shouldn’t even think them.
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Mike Nellis @mikenellis.bsky.social · 18h
NEWS: Companies backed by Don Jr. and Eric Trump have pocketed more than $6 billion in Pentagon contracts since the brothers bought in, and some had never won a federal contract until a Trump son showed up.
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WIRED @wired.com · 22h
The National Design Studio has been something of a successor agency to DOGE. A WIRED investigation finds some of its members are on loan from a nonprofit run by SpaceXAI’s general counsel.
buff.ly
A Mysterious Nonprofit Run by SpaceXAI’s Top Lawyer Is Paying the Salaries of Government Workers
The National Design Studio has been something of a successor agency to DOGE. A WIRED investigation finds some of its members are on loan from a nonprofit run by SpaceXAI’s general counsel.
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Mark Copelovitch @mcopelov.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
<all together now>
publicnotice.co
“Neither our media nor our political system is designed to deal with a far right authoritarian party”
Mark Copelovitch unpacks his signature phrase.
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Jane Mayer @janemayer.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
!!! Justice Dept. Turns to Partisans and Conspiracists to Fill Depleted Ranks www.nytimes.com/2026/10/06/u...
nytimes.com
Justice Dept. Turns to Partisans and Conspiracists to Fill Depleted Ranks
The civil rights unit has recruited people whose questionable work histories and dearth of education and experience might have disqualified them in the past, former officials said.
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Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
US households pay 62% more for water than they did a decade ago, study finds. But wait: this is just the beginning. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
theguardian.com
US households pay 62% more for water than they did a decade ago, study finds
For-profit water corporations, federal cuts and climate crisis are ‘supercharging water rate hikes’, study co-author says
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Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
A reminder of the sort of society Larry and David Ellison want to build in America. And with the acquisition of Warner Bros/CNN, they'll be well on their way.
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Jacob Soboroff @jacobsoboroff.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
"In the past, most unaccompanied minors in ORR custody were children who had recently crossed the US-Mexico border by themselves—not kids who arrived with a parent and had been living in the country for years." www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
motherjones.com
“You kidnapped my son”
ICE is now separating children from their parents and deeming them “unaccompanied.”
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Jake Grumbach @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
A goal of this administration being achieved: “American pre-tax corporate earnings have grown by $1.2trn, or 30%. … And yet taxes on corporate profits have collapsed.” www.economist.com/finance-and-... h/t @talsmith.bsky.social
The unplucked goose
US, revenue from corporate-income taxes, $bn
12-month moving total
Actual
CBO
estimates*
550
500
450
400
350
300
T
T
2022
23
24
25
Sources: Congressional Budget Office;
Piper Sandler; US Treasury
THE ECONOMIST
26
27
*Feb 2026
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Gil Durán @gilduran.com · 05/10/2026
“Democracy has been hailed as, like, the holy grail for the last couple hundred years, but democracies are inefficient,” said the crypto billionaire. “If you get a benevolent dictator, it’s actually extremely efficient." Hmm, where have I heard this before? www.nytimes.com/2026/10/01/b...
nytimes.com
Inside a Billionaire’s Paradise With Crypto’s Most Powerful Ex-Convict (Gift Article)
Changpeng Zhao, jailed in the United States for a financial crime and pardoned by President Trump, is now living a gilded life in the United Arab Emirates.
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Scott Lincicome @scottlincicome.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
"Below-average-paying industries account for 50,000 of the 46,000 total private sector jobs added in September. In other words, above-average-paying industries shed about 4,000 jobs. And this has been the state of affairs for years now" www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...
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The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
🗣️Ex FTC Chair Lina Khan on A.I. Regulation: “The idea that just because we have new technological capabilities there’s some blanket exemption from the laws on the books is totally laughable.”
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Craig Pittman @craigtimes.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
To expose slipshod regs & voucher giveaways for fly-by-night charter schools (such as the ones backed by #Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds' wife Erika), reporters obtained official state charters for schools that didn't exist. www.propublica.org/article/prop... via @propublica.org
propublica.org
How ProPublica Reporters Became Private School Owners in 24 Hours
The reporting experiment demonstrates how easy it can be to open private schools that might then access public money. No credentials or background checks required.
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Mother Jones @motherjones.com · 05/10/2026
Children living safely with families are being picked up by ICE and referred to the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which places them in shelters or foster care. These shelters were designed for new arrivals, not settled kids—and the children are struggling badly.
motherjones.com
“You kidnapped my son”
ICE is now separating children from their parents and deeming them “unaccompanied.”
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Timnit Gebru @timnitgebru.blacksky.app · 04/10/2026
Your favorite Anthropic so-called "whistleblower" said that the rationalists have "specialized minds" that allow them to see that the end is about to be brought on to us by a magical machine god. Parroting the cult leader (of the rationalists, the R in TESCREAL) who says the same about himself.
His autobiography even opens with a parable: as a small child he threw his favorite squirtgun off a third-floor balcony rather than accept that his mother could lend out what was his, and felt complete when he heard it hit the pavement. He goes on to describes himself as a specialist in the technological transformation of the human species, one of the few people alive with the standing to steer it. He identifies with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the one person who sees the danger clearly and has to act while everyone else gets on with ordinary life.
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The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Translation: Sociopath elitist tech fascists who think they’re creating God and believe democracy is the enemy want us to finance our own demise to let them take over the world. www.politico.com/news/2026/10...
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Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Trump is holding the G7 at his own golf resort so he can shovel more money from the US treasury into his private pocket, and collect from other governments, too. This time no one says a word about it, even though everyone thinks it's record-breaking corruption and sleaze.
nytimes.com
How Trump Moved Ethical Lines With His Ads, Businesses and Summits
The president’s decision to hold an international summit at his own private golf club, an idea rejected in his first term, illustrates how much he has shattered norms.
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Barb McQuade @barbmcquade.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Gift link. Rewriting Nixon’s Watergate story allows DOJ to reject the ethical reforms that followed. www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...
wsj.com
Exclusive | Decades After Watergate, Justice Department Reviews Whether Nixon Got a Raw Deal
A revisionist historian went to the DOJ headquarters to present his case that the former president and his associates weren’t treated fairly.
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Christopher Mathias @letsgomathias.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
New: Chris Rufo & his co-host devoted a podcast to "The Indian Question," framing Desi people as a problem to be solved. Their "solution?" Mass expulsion. For those allowed to remain: an “assimilation hazing process” w/ instances of “vulgar, defamatory racism" talkingpointsmemo.com/news/chris-r...
talkingpointsmemo.com
Chris Rufo — Known For ‘DEI’ and ‘CRT’ Panics — Tries to Make ‘the Indian Question’ a Thing
To the degree that a “respectable” or “moderate” right exists today in...
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Democracy Docket @democracydocket.com · 02/10/2026
NEW: A new USPS policy will eliminate evening mail pickups from select post offices across the country — a change that will eventually slow pick-up and delivery times for around 70% of zip codes in the U.S. We mapped those zip codes to help you figure out whether your mail ballot could be affected👇
democracydocket.com
The Postal Service is slowing delivery. Will your mail ballot be affected?
Democracy Docket mapped the affected zip codes.
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Rich Raho @richraho.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
The Keynote Speaker at the Annual National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in March, folks.
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Matthew Gertz @mattgertz.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
They're holding up a major escalation in Iran and a crackdown on abortion until after the midterms to limit political damage. To the extent that the last two years have been a right-wing smash-and-grab operation, the next two will be worse.
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Dean Baker @deanbaker13.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Wage growth slows further to just 3.0%, taking the average for last 3 months compared with the prior 3 months, the annualized rate is 2.6%, both are well below inflation meaning real wages are falling.
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Amanda Carpenter @amandacarpenter.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Why is MAGA suddenly enthusiastic about rewriting the history of Watergate? They want to make post-Watergate anti-corruption reform laws go away. If Nixon was never corrupt, those laws were never needed, and Trump and his cronies shouldn't have to abide by them. They are planning ahead.
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ProPublica @propublica.org · 02/10/2026
NEW: We learned that the rules for starting a private school vary wildly across states. Some require background checks and specific qualifications. Others invite anyone with a dream and a pulse. See where your state draws the line. Take our quiz and share your results ⤵️
projects.propublica.org
It’s Easy to Start a Private School. Take Our Quiz to Find Out Where You Can Open Yours. — ProPublica
Private school requirements vary wildly across states. Take our quiz to find out just how easy starting one can be.
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Craig Pittman @craigtimes.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
US poised to boot LEGAL immigrants from Medicaid, including 177,000 in #Florida www.bradenton.com/news/immigra... via @bradenton.com
bradenton.com
US poised to boot legal immigrants from Medicaid, including 177,000 in Florida
Florida alone identified nearly 177,000 immigrants who would no longer qualify for the state’s Medicaid program starting in October.
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ProPublica @propublica.org · 01/10/2026
About 30 states have adopted programs that allow families to spend public money on private school tuition. But our investigation found that many states have little interest in overseeing private schools. Join us Oct. 6 for a virtual discussion. RSVP: events.propublica.org/wild-west-sc...
Virtual Event: The Wild West of School Vouchers. Tuesday, Oct. 6. 4 p.m. Eastern time. Illustration: A giant orange pencil points up and to the right. In the background is a pattern made up of gray school chairs.
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Democracy Docket @democracydocket.com · 01/10/2026
EXCLUSIVE: The Trump administration quietly removed resources from a voter assistance guide that previously helped U.S. citizens living abroad determine their voter eligibility in each state. The move could make it harder for these Americans to understand their rights and restrict ballot access.
democracydocket.com
Exclusive: Trump administration removes resources to help U.S. citizens born abroad vote
The move could make it harder for a small but significant group of American citizens abroad to understand their voting rights. It’s part of a sweeping attack by the administration on access to the bal...
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Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
“.. We’re the only major country in the world losing visitation,” the head of the US Travel Association said. “It’s mind-boggling.” @semafor.com www.semafor.com/article/09/2...
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Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
We are paying CNN and MS NOW to run ads for Donald Trump right before the midterms. You and I are paying for them. And CNN and MS NOW are taking the cash while their hosts and guests say the scheme is illegal. That is the current state of corporate media in America.
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Forbes @forbes.com · 30/09/2026
Hegseth announced Project Meridian on Wednesday, explaining the initiative will identify weapons and technologies for soldiers and propose solutions to test and implement the weapons.
forbes.com
Pete Hegseth Taps Elon Musk For Military Weapons Development Project
Hegseth announced Project Meridian on Wednesday, explaining the initiative will identify weapons and technologies for soldiers and propose solutions to test and implement the weapons.
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Joseph Cox @josephcox.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
New: USPS is to put cameras in its trucks that continuously record. This is to gather data on roads, signage, and to improve "community safety," the agency tells me. The cameras are marketed to capture passing license plates too, but don't run ALPR software www.404media.co/usps-to-put-...
404media.co
USPS To Put Cameras in Trucks That Scan Roads for ‘Community Safety’
USPS says the cameras, put on USPS truck dashboards, will scan roads, signs, and more.
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Craig Pittman @craigtimes.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Over the past 10 years, #Florida utility bills have jumped by as much as 70% —far outpacing inflation. Meanwhile, the 4 utilities that provide electricity to the state made more than $6 billion in profits last year. www.wusf.org/costofpower?... via @wusf.org
wusf.org
The rising cost of power in Florida — and the system that allows it
Over the past several months, WUSF has researched what's behind rising electricity costs and what — if anything — can be done about them.
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Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Four-byline alert: “.. Meta claimed that $4.1 billion of stock options exercised by Mr. Zuckerberg counted as a research expense ..” @nytimes.com $META www.nytimes.com/2026/09/30/t...
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Gillian Brockell @gillianbrockell.com · 29/09/2026
SCOTUS’s shadow docket strikes again. Third-country removals are back on, using a policy that two federal courts have now ruled is unlawful.
CORDER LIST: 609 U.S.)
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2026
26-426
(26A406)
CERTIORARI GRANTED
DEPT. OF HOMELAND SEC., ET AL. V. D.V.D., ET AL.
The application for stay presented to Justice Jackson and
by her referred to the Court is granted. The February 25, 2026 order and judgment of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, case No. 1:25-cv-10676, are stayed.
The application is also treated as a petition for a writ of certiorari, and the petition is granted. The parties are directed to brief and argue the following questions: (1) Whether the district court had jurisdiction over Respondents' claims.
(2) Whether the
district court had
authority to enter classwide
declaratory
relief
and APA vacatur under 8 U. S. C. §1252 (f) (1).
(3) Whether the Government's Guidance on third-country removals
is unlawful under 8 U. S. C. §1231(b), the Due Process Clause, or
FARRA/CAT and its
implementing regulations. (4) Such other
questions that the Government determines are appropriate for the
proper disposition of the case. The Clerk is directed to
establish a briefing schedule that will allow the case to be
argued in the December 2026 argument session. The stay shall
terminate upon the sending down of the judgment of this Court.
Justice Sotomayor, Justice Kagan, and Justice Jackson would
deny the application for stay.
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Rox @vppark.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
How Meta Uses A.I. Data Centers to Avoid Billions in Federal Taxes www.nytimes.com/2026/09/30/t...
nytimes.com
How Meta Uses A.I. Data Centers to Avoid Billions in Federal Taxes (Gift Article)
Meta is exploiting a lucrative tax break intended to support research and experimentation. Its own accountants say the gambit is risky.
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MeidasTouch @meidastouch.com · 28/09/2026
NEW: Food banks across America are being overwhelmed by surging demand. Scott MacFarlane went inside to see the crisis firsthand. Here’s what he found:
meidasnews.com
“They don’t understand the scale of the hunger!”- An unfolding crisis at the nation’s food banks
Weeks before the midterm elections, the cost crisis is hammering food pantries in red and blue states
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Headquarters @headquartersnews.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Ken Paxton: The criticism has been that I let a child predator out after one day. Well guess what? They served 60 days.
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Rox @vppark.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
“…the extension of potentially billions in taxpayer-backed loans from EXIM Bank deserved more scrutiny because of Mr. (Jason) Miller’s role. “In any other administration, this would be treated as a monumental scandal,” Mr. Weissman said. “But in this one, it’s just another day.””
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ryan cooper @ryanlcooper.com · 28/09/2026
"it certainly sounds like the US government through the DFC is being used leverage a deal for business pals of the Trump family." talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/us-ta...
talkingpointsmemo.com
US Tax Dollars Now Used to Secure Deals for Trump Family Cronies
This has gotten very little attention, as far as I can tell....
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Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
NEW YORK, Sept 24 (Reuters) - New York sued Polymarket on Thursday, accusing the prediction markets operator of running an illegal gambling operation. @reuters.com
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Brennan Center @brennancenter.org · 24/09/2026
Billions of dollars in undisclosed, dark money are already flooding the election. New York Times’ Theodore Schleifer, Kareem Crayton, and Dan Weiner join The Briefing with Michael Waldman to discuss what can be done about corruption.
youtube.com
Are the Midterms for Sale? (with Theodore Schleifer, Kareem Crayton & Dan Weiner)
YouTube video by Brennan Center for Justice
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John Fugelsang @johnfugelsang.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
"House Republicans will continue to hold Hunter Biden’s feet to the fire until we have his testimony...no one – not even the president’s son – is above the law.” - Tom Emmer, 1.17.24 "Don Jr is a private citizen and businessman so this unwarranted attack will go nowhere," Tom Emmer, 9.23.26
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The New Yorker @newyorker.com · 24/09/2026
Congress has not passed a single federal law regulating A.I. in any meaningful way. Meanwhile, by 2025, there was more bot traffic on the internet than human traffic—and some futurists believe Androids could outnumber humans in the real world, too. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/n-gNNg
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
Is A.I. Above the Law?
Our legal system isn’t ready for machines that act on their own.
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 24/09/2026
Democrats demand answers after DoJ drops bribery case against Indian billionaire
theguardian.com
Democrats demand answers after DoJ drops bribery case against Indian billionaire
Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal raise concerns in new letter about officials’ handling of Gautam Adani case
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Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
RFK Jr. took $4 million in book advances and $270,000 in gifts from close allies working to advance his agenda. His wife received $210,000 in consulting fees from a MAHA group. Ethics experts are troubled. w/ @by-cjewett.bsky.social Jewett www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/u...
nytimes.com
RFK Jr. Drew $4 Million in Book Advances From Publisher Who Also Monetized MAHA (Gift Article)
A new disclosure also shows $210,000 in consulting fees paid to Cheryl Hines, the health secretary’s wife, by one of several MAHA-affiliated groups capitalizing from his agenda.
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Mother Jones @motherjones.com · 22/09/2026
Jaw-dropping documents from our lawsuit against Microsoft and OpenAI reveal how tech leaders talk when they think no one is listening: We may have pulled off “the largest theft of labor in human history.”
motherjones.com
AI exec: We may have pulled off “the largest theft of labor in human history.”
Documents from our lawsuit reveal how tech leaders talk when they think no one is listening.
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Jesse Eisinger @jeisinger.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
NEW: In ‘24, the FBI sought to launch a sweeping bribery probe that could ensnare top lawmakers, including Sen. Susan Collins. Then Trump eviscerated the FBI & DOJ public corruption teams. ProPublica unearthed the investigation and you can read it 👇 www.propublica.org/article/fbi-...
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Faine Greenwood @faineg.com · 22/09/2026
"OpenAI co-founder and president Greg Brockman gave Trump's super PAC a whopping $25 million" is one of those things that could really stand to be pointed out more:
finance.yahoo.com
OpenAI exec becomes top Trump donor with $25 million gift
The super PAC will help fund Republicans' midterm election battle.
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Brian Goldstone @brian-goldstone.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Related, but not mentioned in the NYT article linked above: people aged 50 and older are now the fastest-growing group experiencing homelessness in America.
npr.org
Seniors Are The Fastest-Growing Group Experiencing Homelessness. Why? : 1A
People aged 50 and older have grown from about 10 percent of the homeless population to half. That's according to the most recent federal data.The increase is being driven by a number of factors inclu...
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