We can’t defund our way to prosperity. We need to support our schools, nurses and firefighters

At the dawn of what was billed as a new American "Golden Age," President Donald Trump stood before the nation and proclaimed, "The American Dream will soon be back and thriving like never before." 

That was January 20, 2025. Now, just a few months into this new chapter, it's worth asking: What does a thriving American Dream actually require? It’s not built on speeches or slogans, but on the everyday systems that support working families — schools, hospitals, firehouses and other vital services...