Politics of Parenting

Get By With a Little Help From… the White House?

What’s going on: Childcare is so expensive that many parents are asking if working is worth it when their entire paycheck is eaten up by daycare. The Trump administration is proposing a solution… but only married couples need apply. Per The New York Times, four-time dad Vice President JD Vance is pushing a federal subsidy for families with one stay-at-home parent that would likely amount to $9,000 annually per child. According to The NYT, the money will be reallocated from a fund that mainly helps single working parents (disproportionately mothers) afford childcare. The proposed rule, which needs to go through a public comment period, could go into effect by next year if finalized.

What it means: Every parent could use a little childcare help, but the administration’s approach of moving money that’s earmarked for struggling working parents is raising red flags. As one conservative think tank fellow told The NYT, the proposal means “more parents competing for the same dollars, and leaving more parents — particularly single working parents — worse off.” Others say this is all part of the Trump administration’s efforts to “push women into motherhood” by rewarding families with married mothers who stay home and have as many children as possible. Women are already being pushed out of the workforce thanks to the childcare crisis. This proposal won’t help.

Related: Can New Mexico Deliver on Universal Childcare? (The Washington Post gift link)

Smokey the Bear Needs Help

A Climate Feedback Loop

What's going on: If you had to break out an N95 mask this summer just to walk to the corner store, you won’t be surprised to hear this. A new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a UN agency, found that we’re in a “powerful climate feedback loop.” Essentially, a hotter climate means more wildfires and heatwaves, and air pollution from those wildfires and heatwaves leads to an increasingly hotter climate. We’re literally sweating. The report calls wildfires “a growing public health threat” because of their link to outcomes like increased asthma attacks and hospitalizations for heart disease. Regions that successfully reduced air pollution from cars and industrial sites in recent decades, including Europe and North America, are now facing new threats thanks to wildfire smoke. 

Can we do anything about it?: Yes, but the larger question might be will we do anything about it? The report’s main takeaway is that climate and air quality must be tackled together. And it outlines 25 solutions to help reduce greenhouse gas and fossil fuel emissions, including transitioning to renewable energy and tightening vehicle emissions standards. (A big ask, especially in the US.) If enacted, these changes would also benefit the global economy and prevent an estimated 144 million air pollution-related deaths by 2050. With Earth about to exceed the safe temperature threshold set by the 2015 Paris climate accord, we don’t have a great track record here. But as one climate scientist told PBS, "every tenth of a degree we avoid still means less damage."

Related: The Post-9/11 Air Quality Was Worse Than New Yorkers Knew (The New York Times gift link)

Thirst Trap

Do You Need That XL Water Bottle?

What’s going on: The emotional support water bottle has become more than a crutch — it’s an essential. The reusable bottle market is now worth nearly $11 billion, and Owala just dethroned Stanley as the "it" hydration accessory. But according to The New York Times, most people obsessing over ounces get plenty of water without re-hydrating on their stroll to the mailbox.

It's OK to stop tracking your gulps: For many, thirst is a good enough guide. (The 8x8 rule was never scientifically proven, anyway.) But “just drink when you're thirsty” assumes something that nearly 60 million Americans don't believe they have: tap water they trust. And often, that hunch is correct –– especially for non-white populations, which a 2025 study found are far more likely to be exposed to polluted drinking water. Dehydration climbs during heat waves and other extreme weather, so your Owala is legitimately useful… but only if you have safe water to fill it with. Not sure how your water stacks up? The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonpartisan public health advocacy group, has a tool where you can plug in your zip code to assess water safety.

Related: Four Hydration Options for People Who Are Over Water (Vogue)

PS: Wellness is more complicated than willpower. Every Wednesday, the Skimm Well + Good newsletter helps you figure out how to protect your health in the world we're actually living in. Subscribe here.