The American Floor

16 parts in this series

Part 1 May 6, 2026 6 min read

The Federal Minimum Wage Hasn't Changed Since 2009—and Its Value Is Evaporating

While prices for housing and groceries have climbed for decades, the federal wage floor has remained frozen at $7.25 for nearly 17 years, …

Part 2 May 8, 2026 6 min read

Medical Bills Are Now the Primary Reason Americans File for Bankruptcy

As U.S. bankruptcy filings surge 11 percent, an estimated 100 million Americans carry $220 billion in healthcare debt, highlighting a unique …

Part 3 May 10, 2026 6 min read

Why Keeping a Car on the Road Now Costs Americans Nearly $1,000 a Month

Record-high insurance premiums and complex repair costs have pushed the average cost of vehicle ownership to $11,577 annually, creating a …

Part 4 Jun 1, 2026 8 min read

Why a Hospital Stay Doesn't Bankrupt Families in Other Wealthy Countries

While 20 million Americans struggle with $220 billion in medical debt, nations like Taiwan, France, and Australia have virtually eliminated …

Part 5 Jun 3, 2026 6 min read

Medical Bills Are Now the Leading Cause of Personal Bankruptcy in America

Nearly two-thirds of U.S. bankruptcies are now tied to healthcare costs, highlighting a uniquely American financial fragility that persists …

Part 6 Jun 12, 2026 7 min read

Why $7.25 an Hour Buys 40 Percent Less Today Than It Did in 1968

The federal minimum wage has remained frozen for a record 17 years, leaving the U.S. as a global outlier with a wage floor that has lost …

Part 7 Jun 18, 2026 7 min read

American Workers Still Have No Legal Right to a Single Day of Paid Vacation

While European counterparts enjoy mandated six-week breaks, millions of Americans remain legally entitled to zero days of paid leave, …

Part 8 Jun 21, 2026 7 min read

Why Most Americans Get No Mandated Vacation While Europeans Get Six Weeks

The United States remains the only advanced economy without a federal requirement for paid time off, creating a sharp divide between …

Part 9 Jun 22, 2026 7 min read

Why Life-Saving Insulin Costs So Much More in America Than Anywhere Else

While a vial of insulin costs less than $7 to manufacture, American patients have spent decades paying hundreds. An investigation into the …

Part 10 Jun 24, 2026 6 min read

Therapy Sessions Now Cost $150 and Your Insurance May Not Help

While the demand for mental health services reaches record highs, a widening gap between provider rates and insurance coverage is leaving …

Part 11 Jun 26, 2026 6 min read

Why the World Is Racing to Provide $10-a-Day Childcare — and What the U.S. Is Missing

As Canada approaches its target for a nationwide universal childcare system, a global experiment is revealing that while subsidies can boost …

Part 12 Jun 27, 2026 7 min read

Your Rising Home Value Is Coming With a Hefty Price Tag — A Growing Property Tax Bill

As property tax assessments catch up to pandemic-era price surges, millions of Americans on fixed incomes are facing a 'sticker shock' that …

Part 13 Jun 29, 2026 6 min read

Why a Hospital Visit Bankrupts Americans But Not the French

As medical debt becomes a uniquely American crisis driving over half a million bankruptcies a year, the systems in Taiwan, France, and …

Part 14 Jul 2, 2026 7 min read

In These Three Countries, Getting Sick Does Not Mean Going Broke

While medical debt drives two-thirds of U.S. bankruptcies, systems in Taiwan, France, and Australia offer a blueprint for decoupling …

Part 15 Jul 3, 2026 6 min read

Why Medical Bills Still Bankrupt Americans—and How Other Countries Solved It

While 100 million Americans struggle with medical debt, nations like Taiwan, France, and Australia have virtually eliminated medical …

Part 16 Jul 4, 2026 6 min read

How Three Other Countries Prevent Medical Bills From Ruining Families

While 100 million Americans struggle with $220 billion in medical debt, nations like Taiwan, France, and Australia have virtually eliminated …