Off the Rails

Your Tax Dollars (Not) at Work

What’s going on: If that metro station by your apartment has been under construction for years, this may be why. In President Donald Trump’s second term, the Federal Transit Administration hasn’t approved a single new infrastructure grant under the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) system. This multi-billion-dollar line-item helps fund everything from subway projects in Chicago to bus revamps in San Antonio. The Trump administration has approved spending on World Cup accessibility, enhanced policing of metro lines, and earmarked $610 million to modernize bus systems — but none of that is coming from the nearly $8 billion that Congress set aside for CIG this fiscal year. 

Big Dig Energy: The Department of Transportation (DOT) said in a statement that it’s following "the multistage grant process required by law." But the slow pace reflects a troubling trend: instead of officially denying grants, the DOT simply leaves applicants on read. And, non-responses are a lot harder to take to court. Over a dozen transit agencies and local governments awaiting grants declined interviews with The New York Times because they worried “a fleeting phrase could anger the administration.” Some projects stuck in the pipeline are expensive and time sensitive (see: Salt Lake City for the 2034 Winter Olympics), but most are between $50-$150 million — a drop in the bucket for the feds. The stonewalling affects all residents, but especially those in lower-income communities. Public transportation is meant to bridge socioeconomic gaps — but that can't happen if it's not getting funded in the first place.

Related: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy Is Coming for Bike Lanes and EV Chargers (SmartCities Dive)

Sick & Tired

Hanging On for Dear Life Insurance 

What’s going on: A new Gallup report found that nearly a fourth of US workers are staying in their jobs for fear of losing their health insurance — an eight percentage-point increase from 2021. The trend contributes to a phenomenon called "job lock," when employees feel forced to stay in jobs they want to leave just to keep their benefits. This also comes as US adults' ability to afford healthcare consistently hit a five-year low, per the West Health-Gallup Affordability Index. And job lock isn’t just a career-advancement issue — it can force people to stay in roles that take a toll on their mental and physical health. One study found it was associated with higher work-related injuries for those under 65, while research indicates burnout contributes to chronic stress, anxiety, and depression. So, feeling stuck isn’t just demoralizing, but can also be dangerous — even as people stay put specifically to prioritize their health and insurance.

A bitter pill to swallow: This comes at a time of collective financial anxiety. Even though Americans are feeling slightly more hopeful about the economy overall, we’re still in a low-hire, low-fire job market, which makes quitting a riskier gambit. Gallup also found that (you guessed it) women are more likely to be job locked, in part because they are more likely to have chronic conditions. The Affordable Care Act has helped more people get insured in the US, but millions still go without due to the cost. And as care grows less affordable, more people have to stay in jobs they dislike just to keep their coverage. Now that’s a preexisting condition.

Related: Mitch McConnell, Beneficiary of Taxpayer-Funded Healthcare, Not Yet Approved To Return to Work (NBC News)

Implicit Bias 

What’s in a Name?

What's going on: When you hear “Christopher Stewart,” who do you picture? Probably not the 40-year-old Black woman from New York whose TikTok video about her name has racked up 2.2 million views and counting. (The top comment? “christop ✨HER✨.”) Stewart says her parents intentionally gave her “a white male name,” hoping it would help her get ahead in her career. “They knew that being a woman — and a Black woman — meant I would face obstacles,” she told TODAY.com. “They gave me the education, the experience, the manners, and the integrity. They also gave me a name they believed would be dominant on paper and help me get my foot in the door.” 

And it worked: Stewart credits her successful career as a chef — a male-dominated field — in part to her name. Research backs this up. One 2024 study found that “white-sounding names” like Brad and Amanda were more likely to be considered for a job than “Black-sounding names” like Lamar and Ebony, even when their resumes were identical. Just ask the Black man who only landed an interview after submitting the same resume under the fake name “John Jebrowski” (exactly the reason some push for an anonymized resume review process). Research has also linked name bias to college admissions and even mortgage and loan approvals. Sorry to be a Debbie Downer, but this fun viral story doubles as a stark reminder of how bias shapes opportunity in the US.

Related: Here’s Why Universities Are Scaling Back Women’s Scholarships (Yahoo Finance)

Quick Hits

🦟 600,000 infected mosquitoes are being released in Washington, DC. It sounds like the beginning of a dystopian mini-series, but this is actually a really good thing.

😋 Costco is selling a $2 replacement for a beloved breakfast favorite. No need to be in line before 10:30 am. 

🏰 King Charles reportedly extended an invitation to Prince Harry for his next UK visit. Of course he has some to spare.

🕵️ This Gilded Age robber baron is coming for one of Tom Hanks' most iconic roles, and honestly we see it.

🥑 Eating these seven foods for breakfast can help sustain energy all day long. Number two might be tough for us.  

🍿 Two stars from this canonical 80s movie reunited backstage. We'd be down for a sequel, 40 years later.

Skimm'd by: Marisa Iallonardo, Molly Longman, Aryanna Prasad Bhullar, Erika W. Smith, Samantha Darby, Stephanie Gallman, Kate Preziosi, Jessica Prois, and Marina Carver. Fact-checked by Sara Tardiff.