"Two American Families: 1991-2024" is a "knockout documentary" (The New York Times) chronicling the economic struggles of two Milwaukee families—one Black, one white—over three decades. From 1991 to 2024, the Stanleys and Neumanns have battled poverty amidst a changing U.S. economy, marked by global shifts and lower-wage work, raising unsettling questions about America's economic future.

With profound intimacy, this FRONTLINE film reveals how these families and their now-grown children have navigated six presidential administrations, facing continuous challenges. As Terry Neumann notes, "It's like we haven't come very far," yet Jackie Stanley declares, "I won't give up." Directed by Tom Casciato and Kathleen Hughes, it offers a powerful window into enduring hardship.

News media must actively address climate change. Over 150 outlets, including Columbia Journalism Review and The Nation, dedicated a week (September 16-23) to reporting on humanity's devastating impact on the planet.

Veteran journalist Bill Moyers shared his perspective within this initiative. For the complete series, visit CJR's website.

Economist Paul Krugman explains how the United States is becoming an oligarchy, a system our founders revolted against. He discusses redistribution, progressive taxation, and related concepts.

This analysis was originally published on April 18, 2014.

Joey Perez serves as spokesperson for the Whale Call Project.

This initiative champions ocean and marine conservation, acting as a critical call for help to protect our vital marine environments.

Activists Marshall Ganz, Rachel Laforest, and Madeline Janis explain how organized people achieve social change. Ganz, affiliated with the Leading Change Network, highlights the distinction between movements and special interests, the power of strategy and narrative, and that the powerful don't always win. Visit Marshall Ganz's website for more insights.

His book, Why David Sometimes Wins: leadership, organization and strategy in the California farm worker movement, delves into these themes. An interview, "Why Stories Matter," also references Paul Tillich's Love, Power and Justice, another recommended read. Both books are available on Amazon or at your local bookstore.

Since 1991, Bill Moyers has followed two Milwaukee families caught in the undertow of a merciless economy and a changing city. They constantly faced devastating challenges and difficult choices.

Moyers revisits these reports, exploring the human price of inequality with journalists Barbara Miner and Barbara Garson. Their books are available for order on Amazon or at your local bookstore.

Bill critiques the hypocrisy of "justice for all" in a society that squanders billions on fraudulent wars while neglecting its poor. He specifically highlights the failing legacy of *Gideon v. Wainwright*, the landmark Supreme Court ruling that established the constitutional right to legal representation for indigent criminal defendants.

Despite this foundational right, true justice remains largely inaccessible and unaffordable for the most vulnerable. This report, originally published on March 29, 2013, argues that the promise of "justice for all" remains unfulfilled.

America faces a growing economic divide, yet public outcry remains minimal. Media scholar Marty Kaplan attributes this to a pervasive appetite for media distraction.

The program also features acclaimed historian Gary May, who offers historical context on the recent Supreme Court decision impacting the Voting Rights Act.

America faces undeniable economic inequality. Bill's essay highlights extreme wealth and poverty, exemplified by California's Silicon Valley. There, tech giants like Facebook, Google, and Apple create millionaires, while the region's homeless population has surged 20% in two years, living in tent cities near these companies.

A social equality illustration by Brandon Cripps accompanies this discussion.

This content was originally published on April 11, 2013.

Acclaimed historian Gary May, interviewed by Bill Moyers, provides historical context for the Supreme Court's decision to weaken the Voting Rights Act. He emphasizes this ruling as part of a long, continuous struggle to ensure voting rights for all Americans.

May, a specialist in American political and social history, authored "Bending Toward Justice: The Voting Rights Act and the Transformation of American Democracy." The book is available for order on Amazon or at your local bookstore. This interview was published on July 12, 2013.