In a recent article for ColorLines, Seth Wessler reported on one woman's struggle to support her family when cash benefits from the Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) program--the one that replaced welfare under Bill Clinton's 1996 welfare reform--run out. "Selling Food Stamps For Kids' Shoes" was the title of the article, and it creates a stark picture of the impossible choices more and more families are forced to make in the continuing recession.

"No one could've seen this coming." We heard that line over and over again as the economy crumbled around our ears. Yet many people DID see it coming, and Dean Baker was one of them.

Every week on GRITtv, we discuss the week in news: stories that made a splash, stories that were ignored, stories that were covered well, or stories that were covered badly.

In the Kurdish region of Iraq, the people faced horrendous atrocities under Saddam Hussein, including in some villages the murder of nearly all men and boys. The Kurdish women, however, have been rebuilding and redefining their roles. This film, by Mary Ann Smothers Bruni, looks at three women who are working to strengthen their region and their nation.

Yesterday, we aired the first part of activist and author Herb Boyd's recent trip to Haiti. Here is part 2 of "Haiti's Cri de Coeur" or "Cry from the Heart." Thanks to Free Speech TV for the video.

The elections at the end of 2009 were a mixed bag for progressives, but Seattle's new mayor, Mike McGinn, is interested in bringing progressive change to his city--and leading by example. In this video from Street Films, we take a bike ride to work with Mayor McGinn.

Every week on GRITtv, we discuss the week in news: stories that made a splash, stories that were ignored, stories that were covered well, or stories that were covered badly.

Nearly a month ago, Haitian-American architect Rodney Leon was part of our panel discussion on a possible future for Haiti. The devastation from January's earthquake is beginning to be cleared, but the country still faces nearly unimaginable challenges in rebuilding.

A new bill is making its way through the New York state legislature that would give minors the ability to consent to vaccinations for sexually transmitted infections, like Gardasil, the HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer. But parents are unhappy with the bill because it would allow children as young as nine to receive the immunization.

The ever-hilarious Kate Clinton is back with her thoughts on the Olympics, the Creating Change conference, and the results of the Super Bowl--and plenty more.