Lily Roberts
@lilyroberts.bsky.social
VP, Washington Center for Equitable Growth. Opinions are mine unless they're actually David Byrne lyrics.
Reposted by Lily Roberts
The Kennedy Center was a beloved Washington institution, enjoyed by millions of people. It has been destroyed for no real reason. Just vanity, carelessness, indifference.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Trump’s Kennedy Center Shakedown
The only appropriate response is to refuse to accede to his demands.
www.theatlantic.com
September 15, 2026 at 8:24 PM
The Kennedy Center was a beloved Washington institution, enjoyed by millions of people. It has been destroyed for no real reason. Just vanity, carelessness, indifference.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Reposted by Lily Roberts
New simple but striking analysis from @americanprogress.bsky.social Wealth inequality has exploded since the end of 2024:
-In real dollars, the top 0.1% has gained 8,000X as much wealth per household, as most American households.
-In real dollars, the top 0.1% has gained 8,000X as much wealth per household, as most American households.
September 15, 2026 at 4:53 PM
New simple but striking analysis from @americanprogress.bsky.social Wealth inequality has exploded since the end of 2024:
-In real dollars, the top 0.1% has gained 8,000X as much wealth per household, as most American households.
-In real dollars, the top 0.1% has gained 8,000X as much wealth per household, as most American households.
Reposted by Lily Roberts
We’re not in the habit of recognizing celebrity deaths here at 925. That said, Dolly Parton is a national treasure and some folks here joke that Dolly is our Locals patron saint. After all her song “9 to 5” is our anthem. Today we remember all the love and kindness Dolly brought the world.
August 25, 2026 at 7:23 PM
We’re not in the habit of recognizing celebrity deaths here at 925. That said, Dolly Parton is a national treasure and some folks here joke that Dolly is our Locals patron saint. After all her song “9 to 5” is our anthem. Today we remember all the love and kindness Dolly brought the world.
"Light of a Clear Blue Morning" has one of the 20th century's most beautiful choruses, and Dolly Parton sends my baby free books and an email every year on his birthday telling him she loves him. What a person. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BaV...
Dolly Parton 01 - Light Of A Clear Blue Morning
YouTube video by littlesparrow185
www.youtube.com
August 25, 2026 at 6:35 PM
"Light of a Clear Blue Morning" has one of the 20th century's most beautiful choruses, and Dolly Parton sends my baby free books and an email every year on his birthday telling him she loves him. What a person. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BaV...
Reposted by Lily Roberts
New analysis from me & Diane Schanzenbach, possibly my favorite piece ever:
We study the SNAP payment error rate and explain why tying how much a state will have to contribute toward SNAP payments to its PER is inherently empirically unstable. Remand.
www.hamiltonproject.org/publication/...
We study the SNAP payment error rate and explain why tying how much a state will have to contribute toward SNAP payments to its PER is inherently empirically unstable. Remand.
www.hamiltonproject.org/publication/...
August 25, 2026 at 1:17 PM
New analysis from me & Diane Schanzenbach, possibly my favorite piece ever:
We study the SNAP payment error rate and explain why tying how much a state will have to contribute toward SNAP payments to its PER is inherently empirically unstable. Remand.
www.hamiltonproject.org/publication/...
We study the SNAP payment error rate and explain why tying how much a state will have to contribute toward SNAP payments to its PER is inherently empirically unstable. Remand.
www.hamiltonproject.org/publication/...
Reposted by Lily Roberts
We just put out a cool interactive scale that lets you weigh the $73 billion Trump and Republicans are requesting for Iran against things that actually help people instead of killing children overseas.
Weighing Priorities: What U.S. Spending on the Iran War Could Fund Instead
The House of Representatives took the first step toward passing a bill that would provide the Trump administration $73 billion to fund its already costly war in Iran. That funding, if better allocated...
www.americanprogress.org
August 24, 2026 at 3:59 PM
We just put out a cool interactive scale that lets you weigh the $73 billion Trump and Republicans are requesting for Iran against things that actually help people instead of killing children overseas.
Reposted by Lily Roberts
“A 1-year-old baby appeared in immigration court without legal representation in Arizona and received an instruction: File an asylum application before the next hearing or face deportation.”
Judge to Baby: File an Asylum Application
The 1-year-old is one of the migrant children who advocates say appeared in immigration court without legal representation.
www.notus.org
August 22, 2026 at 9:36 PM
“A 1-year-old baby appeared in immigration court without legal representation in Arizona and received an instruction: File an asylum application before the next hearing or face deportation.”
One of the many lies about OBBBA was that it would only affect adults. Which ignores that adults live in households, and people buy groceries for their whole families. Now, 1M kids have lost access to food they need. Kids are going hungry and moms are eating ice.
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
‘Mom, are we OK?’ Children worry their families can’t afford food after Trump’s SNAP cuts
The Trump administration’s “big, beautiful bill” slashed spending on food stamps. Now, more than 1 million fewer children receive benefits.
www.nbcnews.com
August 20, 2026 at 7:38 PM
One of the many lies about OBBBA was that it would only affect adults. Which ignores that adults live in households, and people buy groceries for their whole families. Now, 1M kids have lost access to food they need. Kids are going hungry and moms are eating ice.
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
Reposted by Lily Roberts
Lincoln! In The Bardo
August 18, 2026 at 1:18 AM
Lincoln! In The Bardo
Reposted by Lily Roberts
New research from nonresident scholar Carlos Fernando Avenancio-Leon shows that homeowners who participate more consistently in elections also accumulate more housing wealth. Read more about what these findings mean for housing policy and political representation:
equitablegrowth.org/new-research...
equitablegrowth.org/new-research...
New research shows how U.S. homeownership and the accumulation of housing wealth are linked to political participation
Housing wealth and political representation are aligned—with homeowners who supply a disproportionate share of political participation benefitting from increased wealth.
equitablegrowth.org
August 14, 2026 at 6:30 PM
New research from nonresident scholar Carlos Fernando Avenancio-Leon shows that homeowners who participate more consistently in elections also accumulate more housing wealth. Read more about what these findings mean for housing policy and political representation:
equitablegrowth.org/new-research...
equitablegrowth.org/new-research...
Reposted by Lily Roberts
Haitians living in Springfield, Ohio are being required to wear ankle monitors and turn their passports over to United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/08/14/h...
Haitians in Springfield are required to report to Ohio's ICE offices and wear ankle monitors • Ohio Capital Journal
Haitians living in Springfield, Ohio are being required to wear ankle monitors and turn their passports over to United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
ohiocapitaljournal.com
August 14, 2026 at 12:51 PM
Haitians living in Springfield, Ohio are being required to wear ankle monitors and turn their passports over to United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/08/14/h...
Reposted by Lily Roberts
“One baby at a time, the world is marching toward a grim milestone: Because of global cuts to foreign aid, the Gates Foundation has predicted that 2025 will be the first year this century where child deaths will increase.” apnews.com/article/usai...
August 14, 2026 at 12:53 AM
“One baby at a time, the world is marching toward a grim milestone: Because of global cuts to foreign aid, the Gates Foundation has predicted that 2025 will be the first year this century where child deaths will increase.” apnews.com/article/usai...
Reposted by Lily Roberts
New estimate of Elon Musk’s death toll just dropped www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
August 12, 2026 at 4:42 AM
New estimate of Elon Musk’s death toll just dropped www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reposted by Lily Roberts
It's been a year since President Trump deployed the National Guard in D.C., and for many seeing the 4,600 troops in the city can seem like a new normal. But activists and some elected officials say that creeping normalization is what worries them the most: www.notus.org/metro/nation...
After a Year in D.C., the National Guard Seems Almost Normal
Critics say that's exactly the problem.
www.notus.org
August 11, 2026 at 11:37 AM
It's been a year since President Trump deployed the National Guard in D.C., and for many seeing the 4,600 troops in the city can seem like a new normal. But activists and some elected officials say that creeping normalization is what worries them the most: www.notus.org/metro/nation...
Reposted by Lily Roberts
NEW: One year in, Trump's troop deployment in D.C. is ongoing, unending, pointless — and very bad.
The "America 250" flags are a particularly empty emblem on the uniforms of troops deployed on the streets of the nation's capital.
Tonight, at Law Dork:
The "America 250" flags are a particularly empty emblem on the uniforms of troops deployed on the streets of the nation's capital.
Tonight, at Law Dork:
One year in, Trump's troop deployment in D.C. is ongoing, unending, pointless — and very bad
The "America 250" flags are a particularly empty emblem on the uniforms of troops deployed on the streets of the nation's capital. And for paid subscribers: Closing my tabs.
www.lawdork.com
August 10, 2026 at 2:27 AM
NEW: One year in, Trump's troop deployment in D.C. is ongoing, unending, pointless — and very bad.
The "America 250" flags are a particularly empty emblem on the uniforms of troops deployed on the streets of the nation's capital.
Tonight, at Law Dork:
The "America 250" flags are a particularly empty emblem on the uniforms of troops deployed on the streets of the nation's capital.
Tonight, at Law Dork:
Reposted by Lily Roberts
"The Trump administration admitted that it terminated nearly 300 federal research grants 'solely because' the projects were connected to states that voted against Donald Trump in 2024 and had two Democratic senators in office, according to court filings." www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
Trump administration concedes it canceled research grants in blue states
The administration said 284 research grants were canceled because they were in states that voted against Donald Trump in 2024.
www.nbcnews.com
August 3, 2026 at 8:15 PM
"The Trump administration admitted that it terminated nearly 300 federal research grants 'solely because' the projects were connected to states that voted against Donald Trump in 2024 and had two Democratic senators in office, according to court filings." www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
Reposted by Lily Roberts
More than 4.5 million people — including at least 1.5 million kids — have already lost access to SNAP in the wake of the deep cuts in last year's reconciliation law. There’s still time to make improvements to this bill & this unfolding hunger crisis demands a stronger response.
In the face of the child hunger crisis unfolding in plain sight, Chair Boozman’s farm bill proposal falls short on SNAP, despite including a step in the right direction, and further changes are needed before the legislation moves forward.
August 1, 2026 at 5:37 PM
More than 4.5 million people — including at least 1.5 million kids — have already lost access to SNAP in the wake of the deep cuts in last year's reconciliation law. There’s still time to make improvements to this bill & this unfolding hunger crisis demands a stronger response.
Reposted by Lily Roberts
The SNAP cuts are already causing kids far more harm than most expected, despite Republican claims that kids would be protected. Yet, this proposal uses deeper SNAP cuts down the road to offset the 1-year payment delay even while Rs press for farm relief without offsets.
August 1, 2026 at 5:15 PM
The SNAP cuts are already causing kids far more harm than most expected, despite Republican claims that kids would be protected. Yet, this proposal uses deeper SNAP cuts down the road to offset the 1-year payment delay even while Rs press for farm relief without offsets.
Reposted by Lily Roberts
Prisciliano Trejo Ricano came to the U.S. at 3yrs old.
ICE took him this June. He was 29.
He told his family he didn't feel right but ICE wouldn't give him medical attention.
After a month, ICE finally moved him to a hospital
Prisciliano died five days later
enlacelatinonc.org/en/Young-Mex...
ICE took him this June. He was 29.
He told his family he didn't feel right but ICE wouldn't give him medical attention.
After a month, ICE finally moved him to a hospital
Prisciliano died five days later
enlacelatinonc.org/en/Young-Mex...
A young Mexican man living in Durham died in ICE custody.
News in Spanish about politics, immigration and community issues for Latinos in North Carolina.
enlacelatinonc.org
July 30, 2026 at 5:50 PM
Prisciliano Trejo Ricano came to the U.S. at 3yrs old.
ICE took him this June. He was 29.
He told his family he didn't feel right but ICE wouldn't give him medical attention.
After a month, ICE finally moved him to a hospital
Prisciliano died five days later
enlacelatinonc.org/en/Young-Mex...
ICE took him this June. He was 29.
He told his family he didn't feel right but ICE wouldn't give him medical attention.
After a month, ICE finally moved him to a hospital
Prisciliano died five days later
enlacelatinonc.org/en/Young-Mex...
Reposted by Lily Roberts
Overland couple shot dead in Guatemala after local ICE stop led to deportations www.stlpr.org/law-order/20...
Overland couple shot dead in Guatemala after local ICE stop led to deportations
The couple’s 14-month-old daughter was found crying beside her mother’s body in a sugarcane field last week, according to Guatemalan authorities and media.
www.stlpr.org
July 27, 2026 at 11:46 PM
Overland couple shot dead in Guatemala after local ICE stop led to deportations www.stlpr.org/law-order/20...
Reposted by Lily Roberts
Harnessing anti-data center sentiment is good but unless it can be funneled into getting tech giants to pay for grid upgrades as part of going in they're just going to keep building them in the poorest parts of the South www.nytimes.com/2026/07/27/t...
How Meta Got Everything It Wanted in a Secret Louisiana Data Center Deal
A Times examination details how the Silicon Valley giant used private talks with local officials to start a project big enough to cover nearly six square miles.
www.nytimes.com
July 27, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Harnessing anti-data center sentiment is good but unless it can be funneled into getting tech giants to pay for grid upgrades as part of going in they're just going to keep building them in the poorest parts of the South www.nytimes.com/2026/07/27/t...
Reposted by Lily Roberts
the real discrimination is doing anything to fight discrimination, you see apnews.com/article/eeoc...
US civil rights agency moves to end demographic data collection after 60 years
The Trump administration is seeking to toss aside a 60-year-old requirement for tens of thousands of private sector employers to submit workforce demographic reports each year to the Equal Employment ...
apnews.com
July 21, 2026 at 8:54 PM
the real discrimination is doing anything to fight discrimination, you see apnews.com/article/eeoc...
1/2 Arizona is offering an early warning of what SNAP cuts look like in practice. As states respond to new federal requirements and penalties tied to last year’s budget law, hundreds of thousands of eligible Arizonans have reportedly been dropped from the program. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/20/u...
Faced With Piles of New Paperwork, People Are Losing Food Stamps
Arizona’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program rolls have plummeted, offering a possible preview of national trends as states try to avoid new federal penalties.
www.nytimes.com
July 21, 2026 at 6:33 PM
1/2 Arizona is offering an early warning of what SNAP cuts look like in practice. As states respond to new federal requirements and penalties tied to last year’s budget law, hundreds of thousands of eligible Arizonans have reportedly been dropped from the program. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/20/u...
Reposted by Lily Roberts
Almost a year after Trump’s domestic policy bill passed, at least 770,000 children are no longer receiving SNAP benefits.
In Arizona, the number of children receiving SNAP has dropped by more than 200,000 since July 2025 — a 55% decline.
In Arizona, the number of children receiving SNAP has dropped by more than 200,000 since July 2025 — a 55% decline.
More Than 770,000 Children Are No Longer Receiving SNAP Benefits After Trump Changes Federal Food Program
Republican backers of Trump’s signature domestic policy bill repeatedly claimed that revisions to the food benefits program wouldn’t affect the most vulnerable. But reports from a dozen states show ch...
www.propublica.org
July 18, 2026 at 12:52 AM
Almost a year after Trump’s domestic policy bill passed, at least 770,000 children are no longer receiving SNAP benefits.
In Arizona, the number of children receiving SNAP has dropped by more than 200,000 since July 2025 — a 55% decline.
In Arizona, the number of children receiving SNAP has dropped by more than 200,000 since July 2025 — a 55% decline.
1/4 While we commemorated (or avoided celebrations of) America 250, another anniversary passed: a year ago on July 4, the One Big “Beautiful” Bill Act became law. We don’t have to project its impact on people or economic growth anymore, as the evidence comes in: equitablegrowth.org/the-one-big-...
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, one year later: Parsing the evidence on the law’s consequences so far
One year after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was passed, research shows that its cuts to social programs negatively impact U.S. families.
equitablegrowth.org
July 6, 2026 at 1:20 PM
1/4 While we commemorated (or avoided celebrations of) America 250, another anniversary passed: a year ago on July 4, the One Big “Beautiful” Bill Act became law. We don’t have to project its impact on people or economic growth anymore, as the evidence comes in: equitablegrowth.org/the-one-big-...