The tax cap was never designed for an economy this unequal. Our CEO @elizabethwwilkins.bsky.social explains why inequality—not just demographics—is eroding Social Security's revenue base, via @aimeepicchi.bsky.social

Growing U.S. inequality is worsening Social Security's financial crunch, group says

Faster income growth for top U.S. earners has eroded Social Security's tax base, fueling calls to raise or eliminate the payroll tax cap.

cbsnews.com

The Republican food stamp cuts will affect many millions and deserve more coverage. Glad to see this writeup by @aimeepicchi.bsky.social. www.cbsnews.com/news/food-st...

Millions of Americans are facing food stamp cuts as grocery costs continue to rise

The Republicans' "big, beautiful" spending and tax law will result in cuts to food stamp benefits for many Americans, experts say.

cbsnews.com

#SocialSecurity was already dealing with backlogs. #Employees warn job cuts could worsen services. | @CBSNews.com by @aimeepicchi.bsky.social buff.ly/mlPH705 #politics #retirement #personalfinance #FinanceFriday

Social Security was already dealing with backlogs. Employees warn job cuts could worsen services.

"We are already short-staffed as it is,"one Social Security Administration employee said of the agency's plans to slash its workforce.

buff.ly

My @cbsnews.com colleague Megan Cerullo looks at the image issues impacting Tesla, given Elon Musk's work with DOGE & the Trump administration. (I edited the piece.) Some Tesla owners are selling their cars in response. Tesla shares are down 8% today on new data from Europe showing a sales slump.

As Elon Musk takes a leading role with DOGE, some Tesla customers are rethinking their allegiance

Elon Musk's close ties to President Trump is alienating some motorists. Wall Street analysts say that could hurt Tesla.

cbsnews.com

#ElonMusk's #DOGE presence at the #IRS raises concerns about #taxpayer #data #security, refund delays | @CBSNews.com by @aimeepicchi.bsky.social https://buff.ly/3CVAV5O #politics #taxes #privacy

Elon Musk's DOGE presence at the IRS raises concerns about taxpayer data security, refund delays

Some Democratic lawmakers are raising concerns about the security of taxpayer data as Musk's cost-cutting task force moves to the IRS.

buff.ly

My piece for @cbsnews.com on the federal workforce, as the #Trump administration cuts 200,000 probationary workers (less than 1 year on the job.) The federal workforce is about the same size as it was in 1980, even as the US population has increased by more than 40%.

CBS News@cbsnews.com · 2y ago

Trump says the federal workforce is too big. Here's what to know about its size.

On February 14, 1928, Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley of Jericho, #vermont photographed 100 flakes in a day, his record, according to #BTV Daily. I have always loved looking at his amazing photographs and admired his ingenuity and passion! (The image is some of his work ❄️)

Inflation picked up steam in January — and egg prices saw the biggest spike, up 15.2% since December. The price of eggs are rising due to bird flu, but they have also now hatched into a symbol of the financial pain of inflation. My @cbsnews.com story: www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/cpi...

Inflation rate picked up in January, CPI report shows. Here's what it means for your money.

The Federal Reserve's progress on taming inflation has stalled out. That could mean fewer rate cuts in 2025.

cbsnews.com

About 40,000 federal workers have so far taken the Trump admin's "deferred resignation" offer, or less than 2% of gov't employees. My @cbsnews.com piece on the offer, which expires at midnight tonight: www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-d...

The best advice for President Trump? Stop talking. The Fed needs space to follow its mandate without political interference for rates to fall. I spoke w/ @aimeepicchi.bsky.social at CBS News on why the Fed Reserve’s independence is critical for economic stability. www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-f...

The Federal Reserve should resist pressure from Trump and defend its independence, experts say

President Trump has said he will "demand" lower interest rates, raising questions about his ability to influence the Federal Reserve.

cbsnews.com

Proud Boys's trademark now belongs to a Black church they vandalized in 2020, according to a Feb. 3 court ruling. The church, the Metropolitan AME Church, can now block the use of their name. "If they thought we would be afraid, they were wrong," Rev. Lamar told me. My @cbsnews.bsky.social story:

Proud Boys lose their trademark ownership to a Black church they vandalized, court rules

Court rules Metropolitan AME Church owns Proud Boys' trademark after White supremacist group fails to pay $2.8 million judgment.

cbsnews.com

A timely cartoon for @newscientist.bsky.social

Snow patterns, corduroy and shadows.

On this day in Vermont history: Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley photographs his first snowflake in 1885. From an early age, he was interested in snow and devised a way to photograph individual flakes, discovering that no two were alike.

Visit to Avebury Henge in 2018 — we had visited Stonehenge earlier that day (which was fantastic) and then added this stop on a whim. Amazingly the stones encircle the village — and you can walk right up to them. Very few tourists — in fact I recall we were the only ones there. #StandingStoneSunday

At CBS News, I wrote about former Rep. Billy Long of Missouri, whom President-elect Donald Trump wants to run the #irs. While in Congress, Long co-sponsored a bill that would have eradicated much of the tax code in favor of a flat tax. www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-i...

What to know about Billy Long, the ex-congressman and auctioneer Trump wants to head the IRS

President-elect Donald Trump wants former lawmaker and auctioneer Billy Long to replace IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel.

cbsnews.com

At @cbsnews.com.web.brid.gy, I look at a new Transamerica #retirement study that finds most Americans retire years earlier than 65 — and not because they want to. Telling people they must work into old age doesn't jibe with reality. Many "retire" earlier than expected due to ill health & layoffs.

Planning to retire at 65? Most Americans stop working years earlier — and not because they want to.

Most Americans are forced to retire earlier than they had expected, often disrupting their financial planning.

cbsnews.com

Really eye-opening conversation with Amy Diehl and her co-authors for @cbsnews.com.web.brid.gy about their research into the 30 types of biases that women face in leadership roles. It’s not related to skillsets or abilities — but more like appearance, body size and age.

Amy Diehl, Ph.D.@amydiehl.bsky.social · 2y ago

As I told CBS MoneyWatch, I was shocked when we found *30* identity factors masquerading as excuses why women aren't right for leadership. Things like age, body size, class, marital status that have nothing to do with ability to do the job. @aimeepicchi.bsky.social www.cbsnews.com/news/women-3...

Throwing this out to the Bluesky hivemind: what are some horror short stories published in 2024 that stuck with you? (Send your own stories too!)

scary stories to tell in the dark is written in red on a dark blue background

ALT: scary stories to tell in the dark is written in red on a dark blue background

media.tenor.com

Happy weekending

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is hiring — it wants "super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week." Oh, and Elon Musk says the job comes with "zero" pay. My piece at CBS News: www.cbsnews.com/news/elon-mu...

Elon Musk's DOGE is hiring. Here's the kind of person he's looking for.

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency said it is already recruiting people to work on the new initiative to cut federal spending.

cbsnews.com

Writerly fun with eldritch horrors from @aimeepicchi.bsky.social in @lightspeedmagazine.com ! www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/the-...

The Only Writing Advice You’ll Ever Need to Survive Eldritch Horrors - Lightspeed Magazine

1. Second Person POV: You’re a good person, although your ex doesn’t believe it---and here you are, writing in the second person, which your ex says is a limiting, even off-putting POV, simply to get ...

lightspeedmagazine.com

So thrilled that my short story “Image Not Found: Francesca’s Bridge” is live today at @thedeadlands.com 😍👻 Take one online Scooby gang and mix to combine with an old crime, a dose of folk horror, feminism, and rural Vermont where cell phone signals are anemic. Enjoy!! 👻

The Deadlands@thedeadlands.com · 3y ago

"Some of you probably have seen the crime scene photos—they’ll give you some idea that this isn’t one of those charming Vermont covered bridges on Instagram." new today! Image Not Found: Francesca’s Bridge, by @aimeepicchi.bsky.social read it here 🥀 thedeadlands.com/issue-32/ima...

Happy birthday to CS Lewis and Madeleine L’Engle, two authors whose works got me through childhood (and continue to help with adulthood!) Something magical about the fact they share the same birthday. 🎂 ✨

HAPPY HALLOWEEN oh fellowship of fiends! Here, have a podcast! About haunted places, oooOOoooo spooky stuff. With guests @aimeepicchi.bsky.social, @nadiabulkin.bsky.social, and Frances Pai Ippolito fearisthefire.com/podcast/epis...

So first episode of Fear is the Fire will be about haunted places, and dropping Halloween, with guests @aimeepicchi.bsky.social, @nadiabulkin.bsky.social, and Frances Pai. The next episode, dropping in November, will be about Body Horror. fearisthefire.com

A daily dose of pumpkins. #vermont #fall #autumn

You-know-what is coming …. Yes, spooky season 🎃🍁

Have you had a talk yet with your kids about Jell-O salads? (From a 1960s cookbook)