The three post–Civil War constitutional amendments offered the United States a second, more democratic founding. Preserving this framework is essential.
New York, NY — As health care costs continue to rise faster than incomes, families are turning to credit cards to pay for medical care, according to new research by Demos and the Access Project. The public policy groups published the findings today in a report entitled "Borrowing to Stay Healthy: How Credit Card Debt Is Related to Medical Expenses."
Foundations can play an important role in helping movements not only survive but thrive. But doing so requires a shift in mindset—and accountability to the public good.
Can movement advocates imagine liberation in a time of mounting authoritarianism? Not only can we, but we must. To do so requires imagination, planning, and action.
In his reflections on Dēmos’ and NPQ’s Third Reconstruction series, Aron Goldman uplifts the call to look beyond the crises of today and envision a new path toward our collective liberation.
As 2026 employment data rolls out and we try to make sense of the new year's economy, the U-6 rate offers a less-cited but revealing indicator of labor market health.
New York, NY — Today's young adults are feeling the full, deep impact of a massive shift in the US economy, and are no longer able to start and sustain a family, build a career and grow assets in the same manner as the previous generation, according to a new report series published today by Demos, a national, nonpartisan public policy center.
This report exposes the hidden labor crisis behind America's booming houseplant industry and makes the case for a worker-driven accountability model that has already delivered real improvements for workers in other industries.
In her latest piece, Dēmos President Taifa Smith Butler imagines what it will take for us to build forward, guided by the principles that Dr. King described as the “beloved community.”
If we want to build an economy that works for everyone, we must focus not only on how many jobs are created, but also on strengthening worker power and advancing policies that improve job quality—especially in undervalued sectors.
A stronger economy starts with a stronger care system. Treating care as public infrastructure would benefit care recipients, care workers, and caregivers alike, while strengthening the economy for all of us.
At a time when democratic norms are under authoritarian attack and concentrated power threatens to drown out people’s voices, Stephen Heintz, one of Dēmos’ founding presidents, reminds us why the work of building a multiracial democracy and inclusive economy remains as urgent—and as possible—as ever.
New York, NY — Homeowners have been tapping into their home equity to get the cash needed to pay down credit card debt incurred not for luxury expenses, but for basic needs. This strategy leaves them on precarious financial footing after two years of interest rate hikes and the largest drop in home prices in 35 years, according to House of Cards 2006 Update: Still Refinancing The American Dream, a report published today by Demos, a non-partisan public policy organization based in New York.
In the second piece of the series, Dēmos co-founder David Callahan takes us back to the late 1990s—a moment that appeared prosperous on the surface yet held deeper warning signs.
Former Dēmos president Heather McGhee reflects on how the organization grew from a small experiment in policy advocacy into something more distinctive: a multi-issue “think and do” tank.
From protesting outside a courthouse to shaping policy inside the White House, former Dēmos president Sabeel Rahman learned a defining lesson during his tenure: transformational change must begin with people power.
Charged with both honoring Dēmos’ legacy and looking to the future, current president Taifa Smith Butler closes the Presidents’ Series by reflecting on the present moment and what it calls us to do.
