As our government starts yet another war, we can't afford to despair, writes @truthout.org editor-in-chief @neginowl.bsky.social.
"This unaccountable bureaucracy makes it all the more essential that we build grassroots power to force those in power to heed our demands."
NEW: While researchers do important work to try and track it, the full cost of the Iran war will mount for generations to come, writes William Hartung in @forbes.com.
"Once the bombs start falling, the human and economic costs cannot be controlled."
Donald Trump’s attack on Iran may seem unusually brazen.
In reality, it has simply brought the U.S.’s tradition of militarism into the spotlight, exposing the deeply unpopular and undemocratic nature of U.S. foreign policy.
Khury Petersen-Smith and Azadeh Shahshahani on @truthout.org
NEW: ICE is getting intense backlash for its plan to buy dozens of warehouses across the country and brutally detain tens of thousands more people.
Even Trump-supporting communities are against this: “Nobody wants a prison in their backyard."
A congressional official via @nancyayoussef.bsky.social estimates the Iran war total costs at $1 billion a day.
That's more than enough to cover, for one year: Medicaid for all 16 million people expected to lose it due to GOP budget cuts, and food stamps for all 41 million people who rely on them.
"US immigration enforcement has evolved into a rapidly growing multi-billion-dollar industry in which profitability increasingly dictates policy and enforcement priorities."
By: @tylermcbrien.com
inkstickmedia.com/the-us-immig...
NEW: The military systems that the U.S. sent to the Iran region in recent weeks ALONE cost us nearly $60 MILLION per day — just a fraction of the cost of this war.
That ~$60 million could cover Medicaid for 4 million Americans per day, or SNAP for 9.5 million.
From @nationalpriorities.bsky.social:
More than half of American families can’t afford the true cost of living in their communities, even when both adults work full-time.
This is not normal.
It's time to tax the rich and fund the safety net that we need.
As part of their brutal anti-immigrant campaign, the Trump administration is now going after lawful immigrants with Temporary Protected Status — a cruel and unnecessary move that could endanger the lives of tens of thousands of people, writes Jordan Liz.
Almost half of all Americans (48%) disapprove of the U.S. attacking Iran, while only 28% approve.
The U.S. attacking Iran — a country of 90 million people — is aggressive, deeply unpopular, and disastrous for the region and the world.
NO WAR with Iran.
From @neginowl.bsky.social, editor-in-chief at @truthout.org: “There is no such thing as bombing a country into liberation.”
Groceries, not war.
Health care, not war.
Good schools, not war.
Safe housing, not war.
Clean energy, not war.
Democracy, not war.
We must make it clear, loudly, together: We demand better from our lawmakers.
For many veterans, access to transportation can be just as important as access to healthcare, housing, and jobs.
That’s why public transportation isn’t a luxury — it’s a lifeline.
It’s time our country invested in it accordingly.
NEW: If the hope is that Iran will continue not to develop nuclear weapons, Trump’s increasing hostility is pushing the country in the opposite direction.
IPS scholar Khury Petersen-Smith in @inthesetimes.com: #NoWarWithIran
Trump and Hegseth can’t even justify their $1.5 TRILLION defense budget ask—a staggering $500 BILLION INCREASE.
Congress should flat-out reject it.
An unserious request like this invites waste and abuse, and risks blowing up the bipartisan appropriations process altogether.
Trump said he lifted 2.4 million Americans off of food stamps.
The reality? He destroyed the program.
Trump has made it harder for millions of Americans to feed their families.
- The Pentagon budget: $1 TRILLION for fiscal year 2026
- An ongoing genocide in Gaza, strikes in Venezuela, and attacks on Iran: $21.7 billion + millions of dollars
(3/3)
Here are some of the Trump administration’s major expenses:
- National Guard occupations in U.S. cities: $500 million and counting
- Trump’s (birthday) military parade: $45 million
- Big Bad Bill funds for war and ICE: $156 billion and $170 billion through 2029
(2/3)
We remember what went down in the past year: Billions of taxpayer dollars for war and ICE instead of funding food, housing, and healthcare for millions of Americans. (1/3)
Trump’s tariffs cost the average U.S. family an extra $1,000 last year and are expected to cost $1,300 this year.
Struggling families can't afford the cost of Trump playing politics with global trade.
NEW: For millions of veterans, how to get to a doctor or a job is a pressing daily question. Reliable trains and buses are a crucial answer.
Don’t just thank veterans. Fund the public transit they rely on. @stewartcsg.bsky.social of @betterdcregion.bsky.social:
The Trillion Dollar Trade Off: War & Weapons VS. Basic Needs 👇
Via @nationalpriorities.bsky.social
Join us from April to July for our Disarming the Climate Crisis training programme! This online training programme will increase your confidence in taking action on these complex issues, and contribute to building solidarity networks internationally.
Details here: wri-irg.org/en/story/202...
Here's a reminder of where a TRILLION dollars could go to:
- Ending homelessness
- Erasing medical debt
- Providing health insurance for all uninsured children,
- Replacing all lead pipes
- Cutting child poverty
- and way more... www.nationalpriorities.org/blog/2025/05...
Trump's first year of his second term:
$1 trillion in tax cuts for the wealthy over 10 years
$1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid over 10 years
$1 trillion war budget
Trump is the trillion-dollar president—but this money is not going to the things that will keep Americans safe.
IPS mourns the immense loss of Rev. Jesse Jackson, a courageous leader in showing how to build a multi-racial coalition for peace and equality.
Many at IPS were lucky to work with and learn from Rev. Jackson. He will continue to guide our work with movements for years to come.
Rest in Power. 🕊️
☀️ APPLICATIONS OPEN: Become a 2026 paid IPS Henry Wallace Fellow!
Every summer, young activists work closely with IPS scholars in D.C. to learn how to produce groundbreaking research, work with movements, and much more.
✍️ Learn more, share, and apply now: ips-dc.org/project/henr...
NEW: ICE's tactics lead to disrupted sleep patterns, appetite loss, panic attacks, learning difficulties, and persistent anxiety in children — and much worse outcomes for those in detention.
Pediatricians are calling to close all detention centers immediately.
NEW: The people scamming SNAP aren’t the ones using it — it’s the CEOs paying their workers so little that they force the rest of us to make it up.
Watch the perfect breakdown from @moreperfectunion.bsky.social ft. IPS @inequality.org scholar @sarahanderson.bsky.social: youtu.be/VKRLZk98EOg?...
