Why the National Debt Matters More Than It Used To and Why We Should Not Count on AI To Fix the Problem ReportJune 23, 2026 Why the National Debt Matters More Than It Used To and Why We Should Not Count on AI To Fix the Problem Jun 23, 2026 Bobby Kogan, Jared Bernstein
Trump’s Failed War in Iran Echoes Bush’s Iraq Blunder ArticleJune 2, 2026 Trump’s Failed War in Iran Echoes Bush’s Iraq Blunder Jun 2, 2026 Andrew Miller
The President’s $1.5 Trillion Pentagon Budget Will Not Make the Country Safer ArticleJune 1, 2026 The President’s $1.5 Trillion Pentagon Budget Will Not Make the Country Safer Jun 1, 2026 Allison McManus, Michael Schiffer, Steven Kosiak
Congressional Republicans Recklessly Bill Taxpayers for the Trump Administration’s ICE and CBP Slush Fund and Wasteful Ballroom ArticleMay 20, 2026 Congressional Republicans Recklessly Bill Taxpayers for the Trump Administration’s ICE and CBP Slush Fund and Wasteful Ballroom May 20, 2026 Rosa Barrientos-Ferrer, Ben Greenho, Debu Gandhi, 1 More Silva Mathema
Why the National Debt Matters More Than It Used To and Why We Should Not Count on AI To Fix the Problem ReportJune 23, 2026 Why the National Debt Matters More Than It Used To and Why We Should Not Count on AI To Fix the Problem Federal debt is larger and more expensive than in previous generations. Here is a data-driven look at what that means for the U.S. economy. Jun 23, 2026 Bobby Kogan, Jared Bernstein
Trump’s Failed War in Iran Echoes Bush’s Iraq Blunder ArticleJune 2, 2026 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. Jun 2, 2026 Andrew Miller
The President’s $1.5 Trillion Pentagon Budget Will Not Make the Country Safer ArticleJune 1, 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. Jun 1, 2026 Allison McManus, Michael Schiffer, Steven Kosiak
Congressional Republicans Recklessly Bill Taxpayers for the Trump Administration’s ICE and CBP Slush Fund and Wasteful Ballroom ArticleMay 20, 2026 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. May 20, 2026 Rosa Barrientos-Ferrer, Ben Greenho, Debu Gandhi, 1 More Silva Mathema
2026 CAP IDEAS Conference Past EventMay 19, 2026 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. Online via Zoom May 19, 2026
Proposed Electric Vehicle Fees Would Only Make Life Less Affordable for Americans ArticleMay 12, 2026 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. May 12, 2026 Leo Banks
Trump and Congressional Republicans’ Plan To Pump More Money Into ICE and Border Patrol Is a Missed Opportunity To Help Americans ArticleApril 21, 2026 Trump and Congressional Republicans’ Plan To Pump More Money Into ICE and Border Patrol Is a Missed Opportunity To Help Americans Rather than funneling more money into immigration enforcement and border protection, Congress should be ensuring Americans can afford basic necessities such as health care and groceries. Apr 21, 2026 Bobby Kogan
Trump’s Budget Request Cuts Programs That Help Ordinary Americans and Sinks That Money Toward War ArticleApril 7, 2026 Trump’s Budget Request Cuts Programs That Help Ordinary Americans and Sinks That Money Toward War What are some of the proposed cuts in the Trump administration’s fiscal year 2027 budget? Apr 7, 2026 Bobby Kogan
Trump’s new budget proposal is historic—in one of the worst ways possible In the NewsApril 4, 2026 Trump’s new budget proposal is historic—in one of the worst ways possible In an op-ed for MS NOW, Bobby Kogan argues that President Trump's military-focused budget is historically cruel, cutting funding to education, housing, and health. Apr 4, 2026 MS NOW Bobby Kogan
By the End of the Week, the Trump Administration’s War in Iran Will Likely Have Cost $25 Billion ArticleMarch 24, 2026 By the End of the Week, the Trump Administration’s War in Iran Will Likely Have Cost $25 Billion The administration reportedly plans to request another $200 billion to fund the war in Iran. What could that much money buy instead? Mar 24, 2026 Bobby Kogan
The Trump Administration’s Reckless War in Iran Has Already Cost More Than $5 Billion ArticleMarch 3, 2026 The Trump Administration’s Reckless War in Iran Has Already Cost More Than $5 Billion The Trump administration has launched a reckless war of choice in the Middle East, which has already imposed an estimated cost of more than $5 billion on the American taxpayer. Mar 3, 2026 Allison McManus
Overturning D.C.’s Tax Law Would Infringe on Common State Tax Practices and Threaten the District’s Budget and Fiscal Autonomy ArticleFebruary 9, 2026 Overturning D.C.’s Tax Law Would Infringe on Common State Tax Practices and Threaten the District’s Budget and Fiscal Autonomy Overruling the D.C. Council’s tax law flouts a common approach to the tax code, depriving the jurisdiction of revenue, raising child poverty, and throwing the tax-filing system into disarray in the middle of tax season. Feb 9, 2026 Lily Roberts, Corey Husak
President Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Raises the Fiscal Gap to 2.4 Percent ReportFebruary 5, 2026 President Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Raises the Fiscal Gap to 2.4 Percent A combination of higher deficits, higher interest rates, and lower growth has left the United States with a significantly worse fiscal outlook. Feb 5, 2026 Jared Bernstein, Bobby Kogan
The Next Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Must Restore Trust in the Agency While Managing Fiscal Constraints ArticleOctober 7, 2025 The Next Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Must Restore Trust in the Agency While Managing Fiscal Constraints The next BLS commissioner will have the power to fill an unusually high number of vacancies at a time when the agency’s funding struggles could reduce data quality. Oct 7, 2025 Sara Estep, Kyle Ross
Health Insurance Premium Costs Will More Than Double for Millions of Americans Unless Congress Acts ArticleSeptember 29, 2025 Health Insurance Premium Costs Will More Than Double for Millions of Americans Unless Congress Acts If enhanced tax credits expire, net premiums for those receiving financial assistance to purchase health insurance would rise 136 percent on average in 2026. Sep 29, 2025 Emily Gee
Congressional Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act Creates an Unaccountable Slush Fund for the Trump Administration’s Deportation Force ReportSeptember 19, 2025 Congressional Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act Creates an Unaccountable Slush Fund for the Trump Administration’s Deportation Force The OBBBA pumps $75 billion into ICE with no guardrails, supercharging the Trump administration’s massive, indiscriminate deportation agenda that is operating without accountability and threatening local communities and economies. Sep 19, 2025 Rosa Barrientos-Ferrer, Ben Greenho, Silva Mathema
New Trump Administration Policies Will Decrease Average Incomes for All Americans Except the Top 1 Percent ArticleSeptember 10, 2025 New Trump Administration Policies Will Decrease Average Incomes for All Americans Except the Top 1 Percent New policies in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, paired with the Trump administration’s tariffs, will leave the bottom 99 percent of Americans with less after-tax-and-transfer income by 2027, while the top 1 percent benefit—per combined scores from nonpartisan analysts. Sep 10, 2025 Corey Husak
Why a judge shut down Trump’s latest budget stunt In the NewsSeptember 6, 2025 Why a judge shut down Trump’s latest budget stunt In an op-ed published by MSNBC, Bobby Kogan explains how the president is trying to use a “pocket rescission” to ignore parts of spending laws that he already signed off on. Sep 6, 2025 MSNBC Bobby Kogan
Public Education Under Threat: 4 Trump Administration Actions To Watch in the 2025-26 School Year ReportAugust 27, 2025 Public Education Under Threat: 4 Trump Administration Actions To Watch in the 2025-26 School Year As public K-12 schools across the country face increasing threats from federal policies and actions, state and local leaders should prepare to respond. Aug 27, 2025 Paige Shoemaker DeMio, Weadé James
Congressional Republicans’ Big Shift on Public Land Payments to Counties ArticleAugust 21, 2025 Congressional Republicans’ Big Shift on Public Land Payments to Counties While the One Big Beautiful Bill Act may have stopped short of selling off public lands, it did end some public land payments that rural communities have relied on since 1908—diverting those funds to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy. Aug 21, 2025 Mark Haggerty, Jenny Rowland-Shea
House Spending Plans Would Increase Pollution, Harming Americans’ Health and Raising Energy Costs ArticleAugust 12, 2025 House Spending Plans Would Increase Pollution, Harming Americans’ Health and Raising Energy Costs The House appropriations proposal for FY 2026 would make deep cuts to programs that fight air pollution and climate change, putting Americans’ health at risk and driving up their energy costs. Aug 12, 2025 Jamie Friedman
The administration is attacking America’s opportunity engine In the NewsAugust 8, 2025 The administration is attacking America’s opportunity engine In an op-ed published by The Hill, Dr. Alondra Nelson explains how the Trump administration’s 2026 budget threatens American science and innovation. Aug 8, 2025 The Hill Dr. Alondra Nelson
What Is a Pocket Rescission? ArticleAugust 5, 2025 What Is a Pocket Rescission? Understanding President Donald Trump and Russ Vought’s new plan to illegally stop spending. Aug 5, 2025 Bobby Kogan
The Trump Administration’s Budget Will Undermine ATF’s Efforts To Prevent Violent Crime ReportJuly 9, 2025 The Trump Administration’s Budget Will Undermine ATF’s Efforts To Prevent Violent Crime After passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Congress is now considering a budget proposal from the Trump administration that reduces ATF’s funding by 29 percent, making communities less safe. Jul 9, 2025 Nick Wilson
Tackling Climate Change and Environmental Injustice IssueNovember 1, 2021 Tackling Climate Change and Environmental Injustice We pursue climate action that meets the crisis’s urgency, creates good-quality jobs, benefits disadvantaged communities, and restores U.S. credibility on the global stage.
Restoring Social Trust in Democracy IssueNovember 1, 2021 Restoring Social Trust in Democracy Democracy is under attack at home and abroad. We must act to ensure it is accessible to all, accountable, and can serve as a force of good.
Building an Economy for All IssueNovember 1, 2021 Building an Economy for All Economic growth must be built on the foundation of a strong and secure middle class so that all Americans benefit from growth.
Advancing Racial Equity and Justice IssueNovember 1, 2021 Advancing Racial Equity and Justice We apply a racial equity lens in developing and advancing policies that aim to root out entrenched systemic racism to ensure everyone has an opportunity to thrive.