What does it mean to be “doing well” in America today? How much income would you need to feel — if not “set” for the future — but at least solidly middle class? The “disappearing middle class” isn’t simply a turn of phrase. The American middle class is literally disappearing. [Keep reading]
For two years, I’ve been chronicling what I called America’s “Restless” problem. Today, I begin a new chapter in this effort. The Restless Project: Trump’s Turn. There’s been a lot of yelling and screaming during the past 12 months, but underneath it all, I know this: People are hurting, and [Keep reading]
Is Santa spying on your kids? A set of consumer groups think so, and are petitioning the Federal Trade Commission to step in on Tuesday. And in a broader report accompanying the complaint, consumer groups are warning that a coming “Internet of Toys” could have long-term implications for child safety. [Keep reading]
The world is full of stories we never hear about. The car crash that was narrowly averted. The oven fire that was doused in the nick of time. The credit card database that wasn’t stolen because intrusion detection systems alerted the firm about the presence of a hacker. The [Keep reading]
Fake news can have real consequences. A man with an assault rifle just walked into a busy pizza place a few blocks from me in Washington D.C., apparently inspired by an Internet conspiracy about a child pedophile ring connected to the Democratic Party. I’m writing this story not as politics [Keep reading]
Long live the credit card magnetic stripe! You won’t need those chip cards at gas stations for a looonggg time. The march towards protecting consumers from credit and debit fraud with newfangled chip cards is slow, but steady. How slow became apparent on Thursday, when Visa and Mastercard announced they [Keep reading]
I’ll be doing some “Back to Basics” stories for the folks at Insedia.com. The series starts today with perhaps the most basic — but most important — element of personal finance in our credit-driven economy. Here’s my quick-and-dirty guide to dealing with your credit report. What is it and where [Keep reading]
To understand some of the difficulties facing America’s families today, you need to examine only one shocking data point: Day care for a single child under age four costs more than college and just about the same as monthly rent. At least that’s according to a recent report by [Keep reading]
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Keep that in mind as you read stories about possible hacking in this year’s presidential election. They have reached a fever pitch as deadlines for recounts are fast approaching. The facts are these: Hillary Clinton lost the presidency to Donald Trump by a relatively small [Keep reading]
And now for some good news. Fereshteh Forough reminds you about all the wonderful things technology can make happen. This is a story about a coding bootcamp doing things, enabling human beings, in a way that would have been impossible just a few years ago. Women in Afghanistan have bleak [Keep reading]
Bob Sullivan