My Weekly Recommendations

May 18, 2025

I am spending my weekend packing, because this Tuesday, May 20, I am speaking at Eastern Kentucky University Center for the Arts. I hope to see you there! The event is open to the public, and you can still buy tickets here.

And now: let’s get you caught up:

The Student Loan Problem Isn't What You Think

Struggling with student debt certainly isn’t unusual and millions of Americans have taken out college loans. During the pandemic, the government paused loan repayments and froze the accrual of interest. But now that’s over. The government has restarted efforts to collect unpaid loans, and borrowers who are behind could face serious consequences.

Trump's Agenda Could Fall Apart

It’s May 2025, six months since the 2024 election came to an end. Did you think you’d have some downtime before you’d start hearing about new elections? Think again! The 2026 midterms are already underway, and with control of both chambers of Congress up for grabs, the two parties are busily preparing to put their best candidates forward.

I Recognized Something in Biden's Face

What I saw, and what’s happening in America while we argue: shutting down food inspections, deportation bonuses, and why we're paying to fly in one specific group of refugees.

UPDATE: Why Prices Are About to Spike. Again.

The US and China have agreed to a 90-day trade deal in which the United States will impose a 30% tariff on goods coming from China, down from 145%. Further trade talks are ongoing – but the impact of tariffs has already impacted what you’re paying for everything from groceries to kitchen appliances.

US Signals it No Longer Cares About Human Rights

After Russia invaded Ukraine, it kidnapped thousands of children and forcibly relocated them to more than 100 different locations around the massive country. With the backing of the State Department, which funded it, Yale's State Humanitarian Research Lab tried to help. But then the Trump administration abruptly cut the lab’s funding, shutting down the program on March 28. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the United States’s retreat from its decades-long role as the world's human rights watchdog.

What I am reading…

A Grand Experiment in Parenthood and Friendship

By Rhaina Cohen for The Atlantic

In a 2015 Pew Research report, more than half of parents surveyed said they didn’t have enough time away from their children to hang out with their friends. But parenthood might actually be the stage of life when they need their friends the most—especially in a country that lacks structural support for families. As Heath Schechinger, a co-founder of the Modern Family Institute, said, it takes “a village, not just to raise the child but to sustain the adults raising them too.” In response, some friends are creating a village of their own.

I Can Never Own My Perfect Home

By Lydia C. Buchanan for Electric Lit

Author Lydia C. Buchanan was dismissive when her friends first started buying property, shocked at their confidence at a time when she only craved freedom. But then, the desire for a home crept up on Buchanan. Now, that dream might be out of reach for her, as well as many other people around the US. This piece is as much a discussion of what structure makes a perfect home as much as it is about ever-evolving dreams and building a life.

Three Formerly Enslaved Artists Created Beautiful Pottery 150 Years Ago, and Now Their Wares Are Coveted Around the World

By Jacoba Urist for Smithsonian Magazine

The stunning vessels from the H. Wilson & Company were forgotten for generations, only to gain new appreciation for the craftsmanship that went into them.

The Price of Remission

by David Armstrong for ProPublica

When David Armstong was diagnosed with cancer, he set out to understand why a single pill of Revlimid cost the same as a new iPhone. He’d covered high drug prices as a reporter for years. What he discovered shocked even me.

DOJ Indicts A Judge

By Joyce Vance for Civil Discourse

On Tuesday, the Justice Department’s indictment against Wisconsin state Judge Hannah Dugan was made public. Joyce Vance digs into what it says – and the questions that remain.

What I am listening to…

John B. King Jr. On Inspiring Students In His New Book “Teacher by Teacher”

John B. King Jr. has worked in nearly every role an educator can — teacher, principal, administrator, higher education chancellor, and education secretary under Barack Obama. Some big changes for education in America could be coming. The Trump administration has signaled its intention to close the Department of Education. That could have far-reaching ripple effects on parents, teachers, and, most importantly, students. What has King learned about what it takes for teachers to impact students' lives for the better? And what can teachers do to steer them to success in school and in life?

Parliamentary America with Max Stearns

Here’s Where It Gets Interesting

Ever feel like choosing between the "lesser of two evils" in the voting booth? Many Americans don’t feel represented by major candidates and worry a third-party vote is wasted. If you're frustrated with the two-party system, you're not alone. What if it didn’t have to be that way? I was joined by law professor and author Max Stearns, to hear about another option: a Parliamentary Democracy. What would this look like, and how might Americans benefit by reimagining Democracy?

What I am watching…

Are we cooked? How social media shapes your language

Ted Talks

Gen Z slang is rife with new words like "unalive," "skibidi" and "rizz." Where do these words come from — and how do they get popular so fast? Linguist Adam Aleksic explores how the forces of social media algorithms are reshaping the way people talk and view their very own identities.

Two big tips to help you avoid eating microplastics

The Washington Post

Microwaving food in plastic containers can release around 2 billion nanoplastics, or tiny pieces of plastic, into your food. Scientists have found microplastics that have ended up in the heart, brain, and even the placenta. But there are ways to limit your exposure.