Alissa Quart

'From barely affordable to unaffordable': What does it mean to be middle class? Many people are feeling squeezed in today’s economy, with the prospect of affording college and a house, as well as saving for retirement, feeling further out of reach. But is the middle class actuall...

whyy.org/episodes/eco...

Great to be on WHYY for an hour (!) talking about the squeezed middle class in the Trump 2.0 era (federal worker lay offs, defunding of PBS, med research etcetera). Plus: jokes & Bourdieu... @whyy.org @economichardship.bsky.social @jillgrinberglit.bsky.social @deniseoswald.bsky.social

Right. Zohran explicitly links his economic populism w/his attack on Trump's authoritarian abuses, which also hurt working people. Some commentators are trying to only elevate the former, to push Dems away from taking on Trump frontally, but they're (deliberately?) missing the real innovation here:

Meme from the Simpsons, Moe (labeled Francis Fukuyama) throws Barney (labeled History) out of the bar, only for us to see in the third panel Barney standing behind Moe inside the bar

It is, or should be, possible to craft a two-week journalism education program around Florida’s theme parks, given their impact on the state’s economy, environment, and politics. But an online brochure from the University of Georgia’s journalism program doesn’t generate a lot of confidence that its May course will give students much more than a totally awesome time. This “Introduction to Travel Journalism” class, the school promises, “will challenge you to look at theme park tourism and food writing through a journalistic lens.” To do that, these budding journalists will spend nine nights at Disney World and six at Universal Orlando—with the school promising access to seven theme parks, “resort amenities, including pools,” and, perhaps most important, “beverage coolers.” Moms and dads will be reassured to know that the $3,000-ish fee for the class also includes not just the parks but also “hotels and shopping/dining/entertainment districts which will serve as our classroom,” and that “this course will combine academic rigor with experiential and hands-on learning.” For their toil, these undergrad and grad students will earn three credit hours.

You can't really call yourself a reporter til you've gone on a 2-week school trip (called "Introduction to Travel Journalism") to Orlando that includes tickets to 7 theme parks, and "beverage coolers."

www.cjr.org/laurels-and-...

Justice Dept. Official Pushes Prosecutors to Investigate George Soros’s Foundation

George Soros has done as much as anyone to strengthen democratic freedoms in the United States—democratic freedoms that are important to the right as well as the left. It’s those freedoms that are the real target of this outrageous attack. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/25/u...

Yes! And we'd love any coverage too. You just have to RSVP journalism.columbia.edu/events

I know you do. Maybe we need you to write something about this while you are in the hospital...

Excited about next week’s nearly daylong @economichardship.bsky.social event at @columbiajournalism.bsky.social starring @jeffsharlet.bsky.social , @hamiltonnolan.bsky.social , @lizafeatherstone.bsky.social Ray Suarez and others!

It is the dystopian safety net, as @alissaquart.bsky.social has written. But necessary so often. Thank you Leran! 💕

I loathe that we need GoFundMe campaigns for this type of thing, but Randy is a real one. Kind, dedicated, smart, funny, and deeply a good person. If you have a few dollars or well wishes please send them his way

Randy, I can't believe this...so sorry

If you, like me, are the parent of a neuro-atypical child dreading this autism press conference, please remember: These are the people hurting our kids. Not us. They are the ones stigmatizing and pathologizing them. They are the ones peddling untested science. And we should be very, very angry.

"Tasteless" does not even begin to describe what is happening here.

山 Noa Shpigel 2 hours ago 'Real estate bonanza': Smotrich says Israel in discussion with U.S. over dividing Gaza "The Gaza Strip is becoming a real estate bonanza," and the plan is "on President Trump's desk," Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said at the "Real Estate Center" conference. According to Smotrich, negotiations have begun with the U.S. regarding a business plan for Gaza. "We paid a lot of money for the war, so we need to decide how to divide the percentages of the land in Gaza. The demolition phase is always the first phase of urban renewal. We did that, now we need to start building."

Ghouls

So sorry...what is the upshot?

🥗 Latest SNAP data (through 6-2025):
doi.org/10.7910/DVN/...

Nice personal news to share among all of this political misery. Just sold my new book Terra Infirma to @pantheonbooks.bsky.social & editor @deniseoswald.bsky.social, Squeezed's editor. Thanks @jillgrinberglit.bsky.social and @economichardship.bsky.social Read about it in @publisherswkly.bsky.social

Oof we've got a lot of work to do to counter these persistent myths about poverty. Right @alissaquart.bsky.social?

It has been three years and one day since Barbara Ehrenreich left us. She meant a great deal to me personally and professionally, as a literary and political figure & weirdly, as a metaphysical guide. Here we are after a book event I did with BE in Vogue. @economichardship.bsky.social @ips-dc.org

What Labor Day Sales Say About the American Dream Alissa Quart writes about the relationship between Labor Day sales and economic opportunity in America.

My latest story for @timemagazine.bsky.social on Labor Day, Labor Day Sales and the American Dream. A very personal essay time.com/7313480/labo... @eccobooks.bsky.social @economichardship.bsky.social @jillgrinberglit.bsky.social @maiasz.bsky.social @maassp.bsky.social @economichardship.bsky.social

x.com/npquarterly/...

a man with long hair is laying on a bed with his hand up . ALT: a man with long hair is laying on a bed with his hand up .

God, "Magnolia" is so freaking good.

One of the great movies about seemingly disconnected lives in Los Angeles, what Alissa Quart described as "hyperlink cinema."

That millennial anxiety about how we're all simultaneous separate and intertwined, and how that breaks us.

I don’t identify with my country’s values anymore. Is this ‘citizenship insecurity’? Since Trump’s crackdown on immigrants, global perceptions of America have plummeted. Citizens and non-citizens alike are rethinking whether we still want US passports

🥗 Really thought-provoking essay by @alissaquart.bsky.social on “citizenship insecurity”. What is America anymore? When is it ok/imperative to expand citizenship options? When is it time to leave America? Answers change based on privilege.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

My new piece on what I call "citizen insecurity" in @theguardian.com @economichardship.bsky.social @jillgrinberglit.bsky.social

I don’t identify with my country’s values anymore. Is this ‘citizenship insecurity’? Since Trump’s crackdown on immigrants, global perceptions of America have plummeted. Citizens and non-citizens alike are rethinking whether we still want US passports

fabulous piece by @lisquart about the dislocation so many of us feel as the U.S. abandons any pretense of even having democratic ideals.... www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

For any of you still on here, this is my piece about my mother, art, affordability and mortality in
@nytimes.com @nytopinion.nytimes.com @hyperallergic.com @mollyjongfast.bsky.social @artforum.com @artnews.com.web.brid.gy @anya1anya.bsky.social

Opinion | My Mother, the Artist, Discovered at 90

Beautiful tribute/ layered musing on creativity and life by @alissaquart.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/o...

Ford Foundation Makes Landmark Contribution to Economic Hardship Reporting Project for Social Justice Storytelling The Ford Foundation's $1.65 million grant to the Economic Hardship Reporting Project supports storytelling about economic vulnerability, amplifying underrepresented voices.

Ford Foundation Makes Landmark Contribution to Economic Hardship Reporting Project for Social Justice Storytelling #USA #Brooklyn #Ford_Foundation #EHRP #Building_Institutions