Let Stephen Colbert Get You a Job

Staff / Truthdig Oct 28, 2009 Having trouble finding gainful employment in these difficult times? Wouldn't it be great if, say, Lorenzo Lamas could help you out in your job search for the low, low price of $300? Lucky for you, this is an achievable dream -- or you can do it for free with a handy e-mail-ready semi-personalized endorsement from Stephen Colbert. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Bernanke Gets Our Hopes Up

Staff / Truthdig May 5, 2009 The good news: Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke believes the U.S. economy may show signs of bouncing back before 2010 -- yay! The bad news: Bernanke also believes that aftershocks from the recession may continue to wreak havoc for a good while to come -- sigh. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

National Unemployment Hits 8.5%

Staff / Truthdig Apr 3, 2009 The Bureau of Labor Statistics has put March's unemployment rate at 8.5 percent, the highest in a quarter-century. After 15 consecutive months of job loss, more than one in 12 people (who are looking for work) are unemployed. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Good News and Bad News for Alternative Lifestylists

Staff / Truthdig Mar 19, 2009 The good news: The United States now supports a U.N. statement urging governments everywhere to decriminalize homosexuality. The bad news: In the words of the State Department, "supporting this statement commits us to no legal obligations," such as ending discrimination in employment, housing and the military in the U.S. itself. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Obama Pushes to Sell an Effective Stimulus

Staff / Truthdig Feb 10, 2009 He has his opponents in Congress, but President Barack Obama is stressing the need to settle the stimulus issue -- and fast. On Monday, in his first major news conference since assuming office, Obama warned of economic troubles ahead and presented the stimulus package as a possible way out. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Spare Change

Mr. Fish / Truthdig Feb 6, 2009 Dig deeper

Lilly Ledbetter Has Her Day

Staff / Truthdig Jan 30, 2009 On Thursday, President Barack Obama signed his first bill into law -- the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act -- with the lofty aim of ensuring equal pay for equal work and eradicating workplace discrimination. The bill's namesake, a former Goodyear employee, was on hand, as was first lady Michelle Obama, who at a reception after the signing ceremony called Ledbetter “one of my favorite people." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Obama Pitches Stimulus Plan to GOP

Staff / Truthdig Jan 28, 2009 President Barack Obama visited Capitol Hill on Tuesday to angle for support for his proposed stimulus plan from Republicans Though he wasn't likely to win them all over, Obama huddled with members of the House and Senate He emerged in one piece and "optimistic" after the exchanges. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Hey, Big Spender: Obama Talks Stimulus

Staff / Truthdig Jan 25, 2009 Barack Obama is coming out of the gate with quite the to-do list, not the least part being his new economic recovery plan, which carries quite the price tag at about $1 trillion. What is he thinking? Here, Obama gives some details in his weekly online address. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Obama Lays Out Stimulus Plan

Staff / Truthdig Jan 25, 2009 What's it going to take to jump-start the economy? How does almost a trillion dollars sound? That's the amount that President Barack Obama is considering for his American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, which he introduced to the public in his weekly address on Saturday. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Obama Pushes Economic Recovery Plan

Staff / Truthdig Jan 5, 2009 In this series of weekly addresses posted on Change.gov before news of the Bill Richardson scandal broke, the president-elect makes an appeal for an economic recovery strategy that would ideally prevent further job losses and spark a turnaround in Americans' prospects as soon as possible. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Unemployment Filings at 26-Year High

Staff / Truthdig Dec 24, 2008 With American jobs being steadily peeled away, hundreds of thousands of people are being forced to seek unemployment benefits for the first time. The number of first-time claims rose 5.4 percent last week, to their highest level in more than a quarter-century. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )