Perspectives

We imagine you have a lot going on in the lead-up to the Fourth of July and America 250 celebrations. Many of our friends and neighbors are putting the final touches on their parade floats, buying up hot dogs for their barbecues, or just trying to stay cool amidst the heat wave making its way across the country right now. As for us? We’re reflecting on the first anniversary of the signing of President Trump and congressional Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).

We feel it’s a bit ironic—and, frankly, eerie—that we’re witnessing the birth of our first trillionaire on the eve of America’s 250th birthday. For this week’s Closer Look, we want to highlight the Founding Fathers’ complicated role in delivering America its first trillionaire 250 years after they declared independence from the British monarchy.

As a still-young (kinda) person myself, and the mother of a young person who will be starting his college journey next year, I worry a lot about what we are doing—and more importantly, not doing!—to ensure that young people still have a chance at the American Dream.

It's only been five weeks, but the good news on unions just keeps piling up—so much so that we feel we are in for a repeat of the summer of 2023. You may remember that was what organizers called “Hot Labor Summer,” given the historic victories that unions notched for workers across a variety of industries.