Deborah
Alston

May’s Headline Jobs Numbers Mask Underlying Labor Market Slack

The May 2026 jobs report shows continued job growth and a stable unemployment rate, but there are also signs that labor market weakness—including labor underutilization—is being felt by a growing number of Americans.

Introductory Remarks

CAP President and CEO Neera Tanden will provide introductory remarks.

Closing Keynote Remarks

Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) will provide closing keynote remarks.

The Iran war echoes past miscalculations in Iraq

Plus, what's really behind the Paramount–Warner Bros. merger?

Markwayne Mullin’s answer about following court orders should alarm every American

In an op-ed for MS NOW, Tom Jawetz writes about how Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin's testimony before Congress is a reminder that the department is not exempt from the rule of law.

Panel Discussion

CAP's senior vice president for Structural Reform and Governance, Ben Olinsky, will moderate a conversation with Ria Chakrabarty, Chris Crawford, and Adam Russell Taylor on religious liberty.

In Conversation

Rachel Laser of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Paul Raushenbush of Interfaith Alliance, and Fish Stark of the American Humanist Association will discuss what is at stake for religious liberty, why these organizations came together to produce this report, and what comes next.

CAP Urges Stronger Accountability Metrics and Greater Transparency in Federally Funded Postsecondary Programs

The Center for American Progress recently urged the U.S. Department of Education to reconsider proposed changes that could weaken safeguards for higher education students. As written, the proposal risks allowing low-value postsecondary programs to continue receiving federal aid, potentially steering students, especially those with limited financial resources, into pathways that fail to deliver meaningful economic returns.

Panel Discussions

Experts will discuss how documentary storytelling can shape public understanding of critical policy issues.

Introductory Remarks

Introductory remarks by Mark Toner, CAP's Executive Vice President for Communications and Strategy

Post-Screening Discussion

CAP's Jessica Ordóñez-Lancet will lead a conversation with producer Fletcher Keyes and film protagonist Bonnie Baxter.

The Trump Administration’s Taiwan Arms Freeze Is a Gift to Xi Jinping

By freezing a vital $14 billion arms package to Taiwan, the Trump administration is abandoning historic U.S. commitments, damaging Indo-Pacific deterrence, and inviting Beijing’s aggression.

Paramount’s Anticompetitive Merger With Warner Bros. Is Fueled by Investments From Regimes With Deep Trump Ties

Government regulators must block Paramount’s merger with Warner Bros. for several reasons, including that foreign autocracies with deep financial entanglements with President Donald Trump and anti-democratic values—including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar—could end up owning the combined corporation.

CAP Comments on Individual Tax Credit for Qualified Contributions to Scholarship-Granting Organizations

The Center for American Progress submitted comments to the U.S. Department of the Treasury on the pending rules for the new individual tax credit program, which provides a federal dollar-for-dollar tax credit of up to $1,700 to individuals who donate to scholarship-granting organizations.

Trump’s Failed War in Iran Echoes Bush’s Iraq Blunder

The Trump administration’s disastrous war in Iran has failed to achieve any of its strategic objectives while harming the American people, reshaping the Middle East in ways detrimental to U.S. interests, and further undermining America’s global status.

Voters Want Transformation, Not Restoration

In an op-ed for The Contrarian, Neera Tanden highlights the biggest takeaways from CAP's 2026 IDEAS Conference, arguing that voters want transformed policies, not a return to a broken status quo.

How Trump’s Potential Settlement Could Shield His Family and Businesses From Investigation

The Trump-DOJ settlement could clear the entire Trump family and organization of any potential wrongdoing committed before May 19, 2026.

The President’s $1.5 Trillion Pentagon Budget Will Not Make the Country Safer

To protect national security, the United States needs a strategic and disciplined approach to defense spending—not the Trump administration’s $1.5 trillion budget, which fails to match resources to strategy, needlessly inviting waste and increasing the deficit.

Ebola outbreak requires multifaceted response

In an op-ed published by Semafor Africa, Daniele Nyirandutiye argues that containing the Ebola outbreak will require massive mobilization—along the lines of what USAID used to help provide.

How Federal Attacks on Diversity and Inclusion Policies Have Dismantled Public Health Infrastructure and Threaten National Health Security

Federal executive orders targeting initiatives that seek to ensure diversity and equity for all are systematically dismantling America's public health infrastructure—cutting research, surveillance systems, and workforce programs while raising costs and putting national health security at risk.

Rideshare Win Could Bring Big Changes

In an op-ed for Progressive Magazine, David Madland argues that if a new union in Massachusetts representing app drivers is replicated nationwide, it could reverse decades of union decline.

CAP’s plan to make your energy bill more affordable

Hawaii passed the bill to undo Citizens United. What’s next?

Online Exclusive: Visualizing the Child Care Crisis Through Data

CAP's Hailey Gibbs will moderate a data-driven conversation about the findings of the most recent analyses by CAP, the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, and Stanford University.

Congressional Perspectives on the Child Care Crisis

Members of Congress will discuss how they are working to support the child care sector in their districts and at the national level.

Stories Behind the Child Care Crisis

Parents and providers will tell their stories about the impacts of the current child care affordability crisis and supply shortages.

Capping Rental Application Fees at $5

With rents stuck high, a Center for American Progress proposal to cap application fees would provide renters with immediate relief.

Unions Build Wealth for All Americans

New CAP analysis of the Survey of Income and Program Participation highlights that households with a union member have roughly two times the wealth of households without a union member.

The Trump Administration’s Assault on Immigrants Degrades the Rule of Law

By repeatedly breaking the law and resisting accountability—infringing on constitutional rights, disregarding statutory limits imposed by Congress, and defying binding court orders—the Trump administration is degrading the rule of law.

Not the time to cement North America’s fate

In an op-ed published by El País, Dan Restrepo argues that Mexico, the United States, and Canada would be making a mistake if they extended the USMCA for 16 years.

Fast Facts About Massachusetts Rideshare Sectoral Bargaining

A new state model leads to the biggest new private sector union bargaining unit in the past 85 years.

Nearly Two-Thirds of Governors Prioritize Child Care and Early Learning in Their 2026 State of the State Addresses

Amid federal funding cuts that strain state budgets, CAP analysis finds that governors are highlighting child care and early learning as priorities for their constituents.

CAP IDEAS 2026

Some of the country's leading elected officials, policy experts, journalists, and thinkers came together to share their ideas on the path forward.

Even more big ideas from the CAP IDEAS Conference

Leader Jeffries, Gov. Sherrill, and many more leading voices

The fight for America’s future starts with big ideas

Govs. Newsom and Moore, and Sens. Warren, Booker, and Warnock on the fight for America’s future

ExIm Reauthorization Is a Chance To Reimagine the Bank as a Potential Engine of Climate Action, Industrial Development, and Job Creation

As Congress considers reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank of the United States, this moment should be leveraged to improve and modernize the bank.

Congressional Republicans Recklessly Bill Taxpayers for the Trump Administration’s ICE and CBP Slush Fund and Wasteful Ballroom

Instead of addressing Americans’ affordability concerns, congressional Republicans funnel tens of billions more toward the Trump administration’s reckless mass deportation agenda while failing to put a stop to dangerous tactics that have cost lives.

A Canada-led clean trade pact would show that middle powers mean business

Ryan Mulholland, Rachel Doran, and Ollie Sheldrick explore how Canada's push for middle powers to align economically should be grounded in the future of the global economy.

Insurers shouldn’t make healthcare decisions: There’s a better way

Miranda Yaver and Topher Spiro discuss how prior authorization has become a harmful barrier to patient care propose replacing it with reviews conducted by independent, conflict-free clinicians using evidence-based guidelines.

2026 CAP IDEAS Conference

The Center for American Progress’ signature event, now celebrating its 15th year, where CAP convenes the big thinkers and doers on the center-left for a day of not only identifying the problems facing Americans, but also sharing solutions to improve the lives of all Americans.

Lowering the Cost of Living for American Families

As families struggle to make ends meet amid rising costs, the Center for American Progress’ affordability agenda would save a typical family $4,133 per year across housing, health care, utility bills, and groceries.

Hoja informativa: Un plan para hacer la electricidad más asequible en EE. UU.

El plan de CAP ahorraría a los hogares más de $900 en costos de energía durante cuatro años, a la vez que construiría un mejor sistema energético que ahorraría a las familias estadounidenses miles de millones en los años venideros.

The Trump Administration’s Tariffs and Iran War Will Cause Americans To Face Higher Prices This Summer

From travel to cookouts, costs are rising due to the Trump administration’s wide-ranging tariffs and its war of choice with Iran.

CAP Poll Shows How Americans Want Policymakers To Lower Electricity Bills And Provide Immediate Relief

A Plan for American Electricity Affordability

CAP’s plan is a combination of immediate relief and investment to lower electricity system costs and deliver more than $125 billion in residential consumer savings, or around $900 per household, over four years, with billions more in savings thereafter.

Fact Sheet: A Plan for American Electricity Affordability

CAP’s plan would save households more than $900 in energy costs over four years while building a better energy system that saves American families billions in the years to come.

A Plan To Keep Maryland Safe

Gov. Wes Moore will explain how his administration is delivering record crime decreases for Maryland.

The Next Voting Rights Agenda

Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock will discuss the path forward for voting rights post-Callais. Moderated by Symone Sanders Townsend.

AI and the Public Good

Ezra Klein will explore what a new approach to artificial intelligence might look like—one intended to maximize AI’s benefits for the public. Moderated by Chris Hayes.

The Future of American Foreign Policy

Sen. Andy Kim and former Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield will discuss a vision for America’s foreign policy that strengthens America without bullying allies. Moderated by Jen Psaki.

Fighting To Protect Americans’ Freedoms and Rights

Rep. Robert Garcia and Mayor Jacob Frey will discuss what's at stake for civil rights and civil liberties this year, including how mayors and a new Congress might act to check Trump. Moderated by Ari Melber.

Making Life Affordable in New Jersey and Beyond

Gov. Mikie Sherrill is showing the country how states can—and should—use every tool at their disposal to bring down costs for working families, especially utility costs. Moderated by Alicia Menendez.

New Ideas To Lower Costs

Americans are finding it harder to make ends meet as costs creep up on everything from groceries to health care to housing. Reps. Greg Casar, Maxwell Frost, and Lauren Underwood will discuss how the Hill can take action to make life more affordable. Moderated by MS NOW's Catherine Rampell.

National Security Ideas for the Future

Sen. Ruben Gallego, a Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq, will lay out how the conflict in Iran is driving up costs for every American and offer his ideas for the path forward.

Opening Remarks

Virtual Exclusive Programming: Build, Baby, Build

Host Colin Seeberger talks with CAP Senior Fellow Chad Maisel about CAP's plan to ease the housing crisis.

The Next 250 Years for Virginia and America

Gov. Abigail Spanberger will outline her agenda to make life more affordable for Virginians, as well as the state’s unique role in the America250 celebrations. Moderated by Jonathan Capehart.

Virtual Exclusive Programming: Addressing the Cost of Health Care

In the final virtual exclusive segment of the day, host Colin Seeberger is joined by CAP Senior Fellow Topher Spiro as they discuss CAP's plan to lower health care costs for everyday Americans.

A Growth and Opportunity Agenda for Everyone

Sen. Cory Booker will provide remarks ahead of a frank conversation about how economic growth can benefit working families across the country. Moderated by Neera Tanden.

The Path Forward for Universal Child Care

Sen. Elizabeth Warren will lay out an agenda for universal child care.

Fighting Fire With Fire

Gov. Gavin Newsom will lay out ideas on artificial intelligence, discuss the stakes for democracy of our politics today, and consider how to meet the current moment. Moderated by Neera Tanden.

Virtual Exclusive Programming: A Path Forward on Utilities

Host Colin Seeberger talks with CAP Senior Vice President for Energy and Environment Trevor Higgins about CAP's new plan to reign in utility costs.

A Look Ahead at the 120th Congress

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries will lay out what a new majority would do on day one and beyond. Moderated by John Podesta.

Virtual Exclusive Programming: Saving Us From the SAVE Act

Virtual programming host Colin Seeberger is joined by CAP's Director of Democracy Policy Greta Bedekovics, who has been leading the charge against the discriminatory SAVE Act.

Closing Remarks

CAP President and CEO Neera Tanden offers closing remarks.

Defending America’s Elections

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer will discuss election security ahead of the midterms.

Food, Fuel, and Fertilizer: How President Trump’s War in Iran Wreaks Havoc on the African Continent

President Trump’s war of choice has triggered a global energy and fertilizer crisis, disproportionately devastating African countries already strained by debt and climate stress.

The Trump Administration’s War in Iran Is Raising Costs for Rural Communities, Farmers, and Food Production

Rural households are paying, on average, at least $26 per week more at the pump, and an oil-dependent food supply chain means we should expect more expensive grocery prices for months to come.

GOOD NEWS: Hawaii’s bill to undo Citizens United is heading to the governor’s desk

Plus, you can hear from Gov. Gavin Newsom and more at CAP IDEAS

What the Trump Administration Report on Anti-Christian Bias Gets Wrong

This misleading report cherry-picks facts and distorts reality on abortion, LGBTQ+ equality, and vaccines in order to advance a partisan agenda and polarize Americans.

What the Iran War Taught China About Fighting the United States

In an article for the Council on Foreign Relations, Michael Schiffer argues that Iran's approach to its war with the United States is a case study for China.

Proposed Electric Vehicle Fees Would Only Make Life Less Affordable for Americans

Electric vehicles help shield Americans from volatile gas prices and are already cheaper to maintain and operate than gas-powered cars; yet some members of Congress are seeking to make this technology more expensive through the upcoming surface transportation bill.

The American workforce is a matriarchy

In an op-ed for Salon, Sara Estep argues that insufficient access to high-quality, affordable child care is the real career killer for American mothers.