Election 2016 News and Resources

Spotlight’s 2016 Election Coverage

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are tightening their grips on the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations.

Selected News

Fast Company, November 4, 2016: Why Housing Is The Political Issue Candidates Aren’t Talking About

“Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump doesn’t mention housing within his list of priority issues. And while housing is among the 19 policy proposals listed on Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s website, the plan is overly broad. Clinton says she wants to make rentals more affordable and create better access to homeownership through educating people on how to build credit and manage a mortgage, updating underwriting tools, clarifying lending requirements, and providing financial support for blighted areas. Though there’s little information on how much this kind of program would cost, it does offer a very basic foundation for how Clinton would begin to deal with a large housing issue that remains largely untouched.”

Bloomberg, November 3, 2016: Here’s Why Both U.S. Parties Need to Worry About Poverty

“A big theme of this presidential election campaign that will be decided on Nov. 8 has been the battle to win low-income voters who feel left behind from the economic expansion. Trump’s rallies have been often packed with middle-class supporters who are receiving his message to ‘make America great again.’ Both him and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton have promised to raise the minimum wage and deal with the affordability of college and childcare.”

The Washington Post, October 31, 2016: The future of health care, according to Clinton or Trump

“Many Americans’ health care — and the roiling health-care debate in Washington — is likely to be very different depending on whether Democrat Hillary Clinton or Republican Donald Trump becomes the next president. We looked at what both have said they would do with major aspects of the health-care system. And to put their views in perspective, in part through analyses of experts across the ideological spectrum, we are annotating each candidate’s positions using Genius.”

The New York Times, October 31, 2016: Making Sense of the Two Candidates’ Plans on Student Debt

“The challenge of making higher education more affordable is now front and center in national politics in a way it hasn’t been in recent memory. It was a signature issue that drove Bernie Sanders’s surprisingly successful campaign in the Democratic primaries, and it has mobilized millions of young adults who are starting their careers burdened by debt, and the parents who share that burden.”

Politifact, October 31, 2016: Donald Trump says half of young black children are in ‘abject poverty’

“It turns out that the poverty rate for young African-Americans is disproportionately high, but not nearly as high as Trump suggests.”

PBS NewsHour, October 20, 2016: What people living in poverty want the presidential candidates to know

“In rural Wilkesboro, North Carolina, nearly a quarter of residents live in poverty, well above the national rate. Residents there say their needs and concerns are not being discussed in the national political dialogue, which means for some, they won’t vote at all. Lisa Desjardins reports.”

POLITICO, October 18, 2016: Kaine calls for broad rethink to combating poverty

“‘It’s important to remember: poverty isn’t confined to our cities,’ Kaine said. ‘And it isn’t only found in the places we normally think of, like isolated parts of Appalachia or rural America or Indian country.'”

The Hill, October 18, 2016: Kaine touts Clinton’s anti-poverty proposals

Tim Kaine on Tuesday touted Hillary Clinton’s plans to fight poverty, as the Clinton campaign works to ensure that young voters and minorities turn out and vote for the Democratic presidential ticket.”

The Week, October 13, 2016: (Opinion) How Hillary Clinton can beef up her child poverty plan

“On the other hand, Clinton’s approach is still dogged by an insistence that poverty benefits must be tied to work. This is a fundamental error in thinking about poverty, and a capitulation to conservative agitprop. (Conservative versions of the CTC are always totally nonrefundable, because conservatives think that irresponsible poor people will have kids simply to claim the extra money — they don’t want ‘to encourage fertility in the poor,’ as a conservative analyst told me once.)”

NPR, October 12, 2016: How Clinton And Trump Plan To Address The Issue Of Poverty

“Tens of millions of Americans live in poverty, yet the issue has received scant attention on the presidential campaign trail. We examine the candidates’ plans to address poverty.”

The Atlantic, October 12, 2016: No, Most Black People Don’t Live in Poverty—or Inner Cities

“There might have been a time when conflating inner cities and African Americans was appropriate shorthand, but it’s just not accurate anymore. The majority of African Americans are living both above the poverty line and outside of the inner cities, rendering Trump’s comments misleading and factually inaccurate.”

Vox, October 11, 2016: 3 cartoons explaining how Hillary Clinton’s new proposal helps the very poor

“Vox’s Dylan Matthews has a detailed look at the significance of this proposal. But here we’ve boiled it down to three simple cartoons. These benefits phase out for upper-middle-class and rich households, but we’re just going to look at how this impacts the lower end of incomes.”

Vox, October 11, 2016: Hillary Clinton is proposing a policy to tackle deep poverty

“On Tuesday, Hillary Clinton unveiled what is arguably among the most important policies she’s announced during her entire presidential campaign. It is an ambitious but politically attainable plan that will lift huge numbers of families with children out of poverty. It is targeted exclusively at the poor, and the extreme poor in particular, with no money spent on the middle class or rich.”

The Washington Post, October 10, 2016: (Wonkblog) Donald Trump gets a basic fact wrong about black Americans

“Trump’s response is troubling for a couple of reasons. First, it contradicts federal data, which put the poverty rate among black residents of metropolitan areas at 26 percent. Though that data includes suburban neighborhoods, Trump’s number exceeds the black poverty rate in even the poorest big city in the country. Fewer than 40 percent of black residents in Detroit live below the poverty line,according to Census data.”

The Baltimore Sun, October 9, 2016: (Blog) Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton touch on urban policy in second debate

“Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump drew sharply different positions on how they would address poverty, education and crime in cities, using the debate Sunday to try to cast themselves as the best leader to unite the country.”

Los Angeles Times, October 9, 2016: (Opinion) Note to Trump: The ‘inner city’ and African Americans are not synonymous

“Trump responded to an audience question about being a president for all Americans by expounding on people living in ‘inner cities.’

‘I would be a president for all of the people, African Americans, the inner cities,’ he said. ‘Devastating what’s happening to our inner cities.’

‘You go into the inner cities and — you see it’s 45% poverty. African Americans now 45% poverty in the inner cities. The education is a disaster. Jobs are essentially nonexistent,’ he continued.”

The Huffington Post, October 7, 2016: (Blog) Trump or Clinton? How Our Next President Will Change Health Care

“Trump would shift the responsibility for Medicaid to the states through what’s known as a block-grant system. Republicans say this will give the states more control over the program, and encourage them to ‘eliminate fraud, waste and abuse,’ but critics say it could lead to massive funding cuts from cash-strapped states that would increase the number of low-income Americans without insurance. […] She would also push Congress to double the funding community health centers that provide free medical services for tens of millions of low-income families each year. This would include a request for an additional $40 billion over the next decade.”

Vote To End Hunger, October 6, 2016: Trump, Clinton Release Statements About Hunger and #Poverty in Advance of Oct. 9 Debate

“Read statements from both Democratic Candidate Clinton and Republican Candidate Trump about how they would address ending hunger as president here.”

The Hill, September 27, 2016: (blog) Trump and Clinton barely touch on poverty in first debate

“And those families living paycheck to paycheck had long since turned off the television. Sadly, many of those folks are Trump’s base. They are the American workers who’ve seen factory jobs leave the country, the ones who believe making America great again – embroidered onto Trump’s campaign hats, available for $25 – involves doing something completely different.”

The Atlantic, September 23, 2016: Trump-Care Would Leave Millions Uninsured While Somehow Costing More

“Hillary Clinton’s plan for health care can best be summed up as Obamacare Plus: If elected, she would push to preserve the Affordable Care Act as-is, but she would add financial protections for struggling consumers.

Donald Trump’s health-care ideas, meanwhile, mirror his image as a renegade who will smash the system and rebuild it from scratch. He would annihilate the Affordable Care Act and replace it with an assortment of half-measures, most of which would benefit only people who are healthy and well-off, if anyone.”

Washington Post, September 23, 2016: (Opinion) How Trump would stimulate the U.S. economy

“In sharp contrast, Donald Trump’s plan is growth-inducing. It would cut taxes, reduce regulations, remove restrictions on energy development and eliminate our debilitating trade deficit. As growth rapidly accelerated, Trumpnomics would generate millions of additional jobs and trillions of dollars in additional income and tax revenue.”

The Week, September 22, 2016: (Opinion) Hillary Clinton’s poverty plan is woefully inadequate

“The problem, at root, is the same one Paul Ryan has with his various anti-poverty ideas — a wildly disproportionate focus on work, and a corresponding lack of attention to the welfare policies that could seriously cut poverty.”

Voice of America, September 21, 2016: Trump, Clinton Clash Over Anti-poverty Plans

“U.S. presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are clashing over which one could improve the plight of low-income residents in the country’s inner cities.”

The New York Times, September 21, 2016: (Op-Ed) Hillary Clinton: My Plan for Helping America’s Poor

“The true measure of any society is how we take care of our children. With all of our country’s resources, no child should ever have to grow up in poverty. Yet every single night, all across America, kids go to sleep hungry or without a place to call home.”

PBS NewsHour, September 20, 2016: What Clinton and Trump say about school vouchers, Common Core and free college tuition

“Where do Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump stand on the hot-button issues of education reform in the U.S.? Lisa Desjardins offers a rundown, and Education Week’s Andrew Ujifusa and Scott Jaschik of Inside Higher Education join Jeffrey Brown to examine the candidates’ dramatically different proposals for K-12 and higher education.”

TIME, September 16, 2016: Read Donald Trump’s Speech on Jobs and the Economy

“Donald Trump outlined aspects of his economic plan in a new speech Thursday, promising an “American economic revival.”

Trump delivered his speech at the New York Economic Club in Manhattan. Here is the text of his remarks as prepared for delivery:”

The New Republic, September 16, 2016: (Opinion) Trump’s Childcare Plan Isn’t Great. Neither Is Clinton’s.

“Donald Trump made headlines this week when he became the first Republican presidential nominee ever to put forward plans to ensure paid maternity leave and tackle the high cost of childcare. But he was, of course, late to the party—Hillary Clinton was talking about paid leave back in 2007 and released her plans on these issues in January and May, respectively. Clinton’s plans are also more universal and progressive, and together they constitute an approach to these issues that will go much further in assisting working families.

Even so, neither candidate has offered the kind of policy design that will both adequately address the growing challenges working parents face and stand the test of time.”

The Washington Post, September 15, 2016: What Clinton’s and Trump’s child-care plans mean for parents

“Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump both have pledged to revolutionize American child care as president — an unusual political development, even for this convention-shattering election year. The left has historically dominated that conversation, and now Trump is trying to own it.

Clinton, the Democratic candidate, aims to expand cash-strapped public child-care programs for low-income parents. Trump, on the Republican side, wants to ease America’s child-rearing burden by changing the tax code and revamping unemployment insurance programs.”

Bloomberg, September 15, 2016: (Video) Donald Trump: Low-Income Americans Will Pay No Income Tax

“Republican nominee Donald Trump discusses his tax proposal during a speech at the Economic Club of New York on Thursday.”

Quartz, September 15, 2016: (Opinion) Donald Trump’s new paid leave and childcare proposals fall far short of Hillary Clinton’s

“Still, Trump’s proposals don’t go nearly far enough. Childcare costs have overtaken the cost of college tuition in 23 states, and reach on average nearly $8,000 a year nationwide. Trump’s rebate for low-income families is a start, but provides relief only once a year to families who are shelling out nearly 40% of their incomes year-round for childcare.”

The New York Times, September 13, 2016: (Editorial) The Failure to Talk Frankly About Poverty

“Poverty in the United States is deeper than in all other wealthy nations. Yet neither Hillary Clinton nor Donald Trump has a specific anti-poverty agenda.”

PBS NewsHour, September 11, 2016: How Clinton and Trump plan to tackle education as president

“Hillary Clinton has spent decades talking about the needs of children and touting the benefits of early education. It’s a new subject for Donald Trump.”

The Republican presidential nominee added plans for education to his still relatively thin roster of policy proposals this past week, unveiling an effort to spend $20 billion during his first year in office to help states expand school choice programs. Trump wasn’t shy about his intentions, debuting his ideas at an inner-city charter school in Cleveland as part of his new outreach to minority voters.”

PBS NewsHour, September 8, 2016: Could a Hillary Clinton presidency spark a preschool revolution?

“For the first time in U.S. history, Americans may be about to elect a president whose signature issue is early childhood.

‘If we want our children to thrive in tomorrow’s economy, we must invest in our children’s future today, starting with our youngest learners, especially those from our most vulnerable and at-risk communities,’ Hillary Clinton told The Hechinger Report in an exclusive email interview conducted through her campaign staff. ‘I’ve made a career out of fighting for children and families.’

Politico, September 8, 2016: (Opinion) Why Trump’s child care plan won’t help poor families

“Donald Trump on Monday unveiled a new economic proposal to make child care tax deductible, a response to Hillary Clinton’s plans for universal pre-kindergarten and a cap on the cost of child care.

His campaign says the proposal will help low-income families and middle class Americans afford the increasing costs of raising young children, making it easier for parents to work. But the vast majority of poor families will not benefit from Trump’s plan.”

The Guardian, September 6, 2016: (Blog) Clinton’s critics say college tuition proposal won’t reach poorest families

“Clinton’s tweaks to the plan recognize the fact that a universal tuition-free system would give the children of affluent families a free ride that they don’t need. But as students head off to campus and parents, wincing, start writing hefty checks, the Clinton plan is fielding attacks not just from disappointed Sanders supporters but also the right and even the center.”

Look back at Spotlight’s events at the 2016 RNC and DNC


Spotlight
, in conjunction with Policy Matters Ohio and Cleveland State University in Cleveland and Temple University in Philadelphia, sponsored two forums aimed at fostering bipartisan dialogue and engagement about how to address poverty and create opportunity in the two host cities.

rnc2016In two panels over two hours at CSU’s Waetjen Auditorium, several hundred Cleveland residents and RNC delegates and participants had a passionate but civil discussion about the key issues that are driving the city’s poverty debate and what solutions the GOP can offer. Moderators were CNN Political Editor Juana Summers and Policy Matters Ohio Executive Director Amy Hanauer. Read a full recap here.

 

dnc2016In Philadelphia, DNC delegates and participants and Philadelphia residents had a wide-ranging and often personal discussion about the key issues in the city’s poverty debate, including gentrification, child welfare, and housing discrimination. Rachel Van Dongen, editor of the Washington Post’s PowerPost blog, moderated the event. Read a full recap here.

 

 

Both events provoked lively conversation on Twitter — see the highlights in our Storify recaps!

 

See below for more from Spotlight on the 2016 presidential campaign.

From Spotlight

2016 Election Events and Campaigns