The Working Poor

The numbers are alarming -- about 10.2% of American households are food insecure, and about 15.6% Oklahoma households are food insecure.

"Nuila practices internal medicine in Houston at Ben Taub Hospital, but the doctor's new book might take place in any big city where the uninsured -- like the patients he chronicles here -- face astronomical fees, mazes of endless paperwork, and poor or insufficient diagnoses made by exhausted medical professionals. Nuila's storytelling gifts place him alongside colleagues like Atul Gawande." -- The Los Angeles Times

"An energetic case for rethinking America's economy in favor of working people." — Kirkus Reviews

"The pandemic brought America's health inequities into stark relief, but [this book] illustrates that the problem isn't new, and that it is embedded more deeply than many of us realize.... Thrasher, a gay Black man, brings figures from the viral underclass to life in this engaging, enraging read." -- The Boston Globe

"Nuila practices internal medicine in Houston at Ben Taub Hospital, but the doctor's new book might take place in any big city where the uninsured -- like the patients he chronicles here -- face astronomical fees, mazes of endless paperwork, and poor or insufficient diagnoses made by exhausted medical professionals. Nuila's storytelling gifts place him alongside colleagues like Atul Gawande." -- The Los Angeles Times

Today's guest is a professor at SMU who focuses on the links between economic development and migration; his books include "Controlling Immigration," "Understanding Global Migration," and "International Political Economy: History, Theory, and Policy" (forthcoming).

On this edition of ST, a discussion of freedom, identity, meritocracy, employment, wages, and the social safety net in America today.

"An engrossing look at a lesser-known aspect of Benjamin Franklin's legacy.... Enriched by vivid character sketches and lucid explanations of financial and policy matters, this is an entertaining examination of how a wise investment pays off." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Hartmann's take on our health care debacle is informative, fascinating, and hopefully useful." -- Booklist

"Hartmann's take on our health care debacle is informative, fascinating, and hopefully useful." -- Booklist