We Use Welfare for WHAT?! (The Uncertain Hour)

Photo Credit: "Migrant Mother" - Dorothea Lange (1936)

The Uncertain Hour is a new podcast produced by Marketplace's Wealth & Poverty Desk. Its interesting mission is to tackle issues that people spend the most time fighting over yet know the least about. Each season will deal with a different topic and in this first season the issue at hand is welfare, also known as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

You'd be forgiven for wondering how a podcast on welfare is all that interesting, but the not-so-well-known problem with the TANF program is that only a quarter of the funds actually go to poor families; the rest is spent on a number of things that are questionable at best and downright infuriating at worst. The podcast begins with the landmark welfare reform implemented under President Bill Clinton, exploring its effects on states and impact on the poor. Host Krissy Clark does an excellent job throughout, keeping people and families at the center of each episode while breaking down bureaucratic jargon and deftly explaining the impact of historic decisions. The Uncertain Hour will leave a major impression on anyone who listens to it, and is sure to enthrall those with an interest in public policy, economics, government, social services, and advocacy.

Additional Notes:
With the help of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the podcast has made an impressive data tool that breaks down TANF spending in each state: http://features.marketplace.org/yourstateonwelfare/

Series Link: http://www.marketplace.org/topics/uncertain-hour
Episode Length: 25-30 minutes
Episode Frequency: Bi-Weekly
Series Debut: April 28, 2016