Ben Olinsky is the senior vice president of Structural Reform and Governance and a senior fellow on the Economy team at American Progress. He rejoined American Progress after serving as the special assistant to the president for labor and workforce policy under former President Barack Obama. At the White House, Olinsky helped craft the president’s agenda for labor and employment issues, including raising wages, expanding worker voice, protecting worker safety and health, advancing equal pay, combating discrimination, promoting paid leave, and creating pathways to jobs and opportunity. He coordinated federal efforts to update overtime protections and led the development and implementation of executive actions to raise wages, expand paid leave, and improve labor standards for federal contractors and employees. Olinsky was previously a senior fellow at American Progress, where he led the Middle-Out Economics project, researching and publishing policies to strengthen the middle class and reduce income inequality. Before his time at the White House and American Progress, Olinsky served as the legislative director for former Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) and as the senior economic adviser for the late Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA).
The economy; democracy and the courts; and community safety and gun violence are expected to be at center stage as President Biden prepares to address the nation during his second State of the Union address.
The CHIPS and Science Act Will Boost Competitiveness and Promote Inclusive Growth
The CHIPS and Science Act, and specifically the Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program, can transform the science and technology industry while also promoting geographic diversity and inclusive growth.
New Allegations of a Leak by Justice Alito Underscore the Need for Supreme Court Reform
Shocking allegations that Justice Samuel Alito leaked the decision in the 2014 Supreme Court Hobby Lobby case must catalyze a bipartisan effort to reform the court and impose a binding, enforceable code of ethics on its justices.
The Supreme Court Censoring History and Race Would Be a Mistake
Race-conscious remedies, such as voting rights protections and affirmative action in college admissions, are supported by the Constitution, are a part of American history, and are essential to equal opportunity.
How Americans Can Fight Back Against a Radical Supreme Court Majority
Responding to the judicial overreach of a radical Supreme Court majority will require long-term structural reforms to the courts and immediate action to mitigate the harms caused by their wrongly decided decisions.
The Supreme Court’s Extreme Majority Risks Turning Back the Clock on Decades of Progress and Undermining Our Democracy
The Supreme Court’s extreme right-wing majority is poised to roll back long-standing rights and laws. This activism threatens public trust in the court and our democracy.
Michele and Igor speak with New Jersey Gov. Murphy about the progress his state has made, as well as with CAP Senior Vice President of Policy and Strategy Ben Olinsky about some of CAP's big policy ideas.
Michele L. Jawando, Igor Volsky, Sally Tucker, 2 MoreRachel Rosen, Ben Olinsky
The economy is not producing access to a good, stable middle-class life for people who do not go to college. On prudential and ethical grounds, progressives must do more to create decent job opportunities and secure family situations for all working people facing difficult economic conditions not within their control.
