Joan DeMartin
@thepovertytrap.bsky.social
Former environmental lawyer, college writing instructor and currently author of the Substack newsletter: The Poverty Trap, a newsletter for people who are fed up with the inequality baked into America's system and want to collectively make change.
You must see, listen to and share this post!
Everything Trump is doing now (from from Portland to Minneapolis to Chicago) is a preamble for his regime's real goal: to invoke the Insurrection Act.
I don’t want to unduly alarm you, but I've been warning for months of this imminent danger. Let me explain what’s going on.
I don’t want to unduly alarm you, but I've been warning for months of this imminent danger. Let me explain what’s going on.
January 15, 2026 at 7:06 PM
You must see, listen to and share this post!
A few of the "chaotic" policy choices impacting poverty the Trump Administration and other elected officials made in 2025. And the forecast for 2026 could be more of the same.
open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
U.S. Poverty In 2025...
And A Forecast For 2026
open.substack.com
January 15, 2026 at 7:00 PM
A few of the "chaotic" policy choices impacting poverty the Trump Administration and other elected officials made in 2025. And the forecast for 2026 could be more of the same.
open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
Yes. The is how you do it—no B.S.
This is how you do it. No preamble to swear to God you don't like Maduro.
January 4, 2026 at 12:21 AM
Yes. The is how you do it—no B.S.
Have a look at a few of The Poverty Trap's most popular posts for 2025—I'd love to hear your thoughts!
open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
The Poverty Trap's Most Popular Posts: 2025
Thank You For Your Support!
open.substack.com
January 4, 2026 at 12:13 AM
Have a look at a few of The Poverty Trap's most popular posts for 2025—I'd love to hear your thoughts!
open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
Social Safety Net Programs: Part I
Thanks to @rooseveltinstitute.org for continuing to inform and inspire!
open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
Thanks to @rooseveltinstitute.org for continuing to inform and inspire!
open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
Social Safety Net Programs: Part I
Social Security
open.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Social Safety Net Programs: Part I
Thanks to @rooseveltinstitute.org for continuing to inform and inspire!
open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
Thanks to @rooseveltinstitute.org for continuing to inform and inspire!
open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
Yes, the cruelty from this administration is endless and escalating each day.
Trump’s USDA is threatening to withhold food stamp funding for 20 Democrat-controlled states if they don’t share recipients’ sensitive personal data.
Yes: Trump is weaponizing hunger against millions of Americans, including children, to score cheap political points.
The cruelty is endless.
Yes: Trump is weaponizing hunger against millions of Americans, including children, to score cheap political points.
The cruelty is endless.
December 3, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Yes, the cruelty from this administration is endless and escalating each day.
For tens of millions of Americans, a chronic illness means chronic debt, bankruptcy or forgoing treatment...in the richest country on Earth.
povertytrap.substack.com/p/chronic-il...
povertytrap.substack.com/p/chronic-il...
Chronic Illness Equals Chronic Debt...
Listen now
povertytrap.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 12:22 AM
For tens of millions of Americans, a chronic illness means chronic debt, bankruptcy or forgoing treatment...in the richest country on Earth.
povertytrap.substack.com/p/chronic-il...
povertytrap.substack.com/p/chronic-il...
Thank you for articulating the importance of a phrase our country seems to have forgotten.
The "common good" is a set of shared values about what we owe one another as citizens who are bound together in the same society. A concern for the common good—keeping the common good in mind—is a moral attitude. It recognizes that we’re all in it together.
September 14, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Thank you for articulating the importance of a phrase our country seems to have forgotten.
I don't recall this anniversary being noted on the news...but if we ever needed a leader who unites the country around a common goal...it is now.
povertytrap.substack.com/p/the-presid...
povertytrap.substack.com/p/the-presid...
The Presidential Speech We All Need To Hear...
President Kennedy's "Moon-Shot" Call-To-Action Turns Sixty—Three Today...
povertytrap.substack.com
September 14, 2025 at 4:46 PM
I don't recall this anniversary being noted on the news...but if we ever needed a leader who unites the country around a common goal...it is now.
povertytrap.substack.com/p/the-presid...
povertytrap.substack.com/p/the-presid...
The number of Americans priced out of the home ownership market is expanding—I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Now It's Middle-Income Americans Who Are Priced Out of The Home Ownership Market...
open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
Now It's Middle-Income Americans Who Are Priced Out of The Home Ownership Market...
open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
Now It's Middle-Income Americans Who Are Priced Out of The Home Ownership Market...
And If Home Ownership For Average Americans Continues To Decline, Wealth Inequality Will Continue To Rise.
open.substack.com
August 18, 2025 at 4:07 PM
The number of Americans priced out of the home ownership market is expanding—I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Now It's Middle-Income Americans Who Are Priced Out of The Home Ownership Market...
open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
Now It's Middle-Income Americans Who Are Priced Out of The Home Ownership Market...
open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
Is this the 21st Century version of debtor's prison...or worse?
Thanks to @propublica.org & Tennessee Lookout for this super deep dive into the Tennessee "Flex" law, the legislator who guided it through and the heartbreaking stories of the people hurt.
open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
Thanks to @propublica.org & Tennessee Lookout for this super deep dive into the Tennessee "Flex" law, the legislator who guided it through and the heartbreaking stories of the people hurt.
open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
Predatory Lenders Will Swoop In For The Kill...
When Millions Of Desperate Americans Lose Their Healthcare And SNAP Benefits
open.substack.com
July 30, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Is this the 21st Century version of debtor's prison...or worse?
Thanks to @propublica.org & Tennessee Lookout for this super deep dive into the Tennessee "Flex" law, the legislator who guided it through and the heartbreaking stories of the people hurt.
open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
Thanks to @propublica.org & Tennessee Lookout for this super deep dive into the Tennessee "Flex" law, the legislator who guided it through and the heartbreaking stories of the people hurt.
open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
Love this!
July 16, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Love this!
Any thoughts on why the Political assassinations in Minnesota got so little coverage by the national news media?
Political Assassinations, Americans In The Peasant Class, New York City Primary Shocker...And More. open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
Political Assassinations, Americans In The Peasant Class, New York City Primary Shocker...And More. open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
Political Assassinations, Americans In The Peasant Class, New York City Primary Shocker...And More.
End-of-Month Link Roundup
open.substack.com
July 2, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Any thoughts on why the Political assassinations in Minnesota got so little coverage by the national news media?
Political Assassinations, Americans In The Peasant Class, New York City Primary Shocker...And More. open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
Political Assassinations, Americans In The Peasant Class, New York City Primary Shocker...And More. open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
Are we going to shut up and be shut down or will we protest?
Thanks to @rbreich.bsky.social, @raskin.house.gov and @pkrugman.bsky.social for their astute analysis and leadership.
What We Are Losing And Why We Must Protest open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
Thanks to @rbreich.bsky.social, @raskin.house.gov and @pkrugman.bsky.social for their astute analysis and leadership.
What We Are Losing And Why We Must Protest open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
What We Are Losing And Why We Must Protest
And It's Not "Just" The Millions Of Poor And Middle Class Citizens Who Will Lose Health Care And Even Access To Food...
open.substack.com
June 14, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Are we going to shut up and be shut down or will we protest?
Thanks to @rbreich.bsky.social, @raskin.house.gov and @pkrugman.bsky.social for their astute analysis and leadership.
What We Are Losing And Why We Must Protest open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
Thanks to @rbreich.bsky.social, @raskin.house.gov and @pkrugman.bsky.social for their astute analysis and leadership.
What We Are Losing And Why We Must Protest open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
Is there a link between slashing our country's social safety net and the graft in the Oval Office? I'd love to hear your thoughts...
Graft Like Our Country Has Never Seen: Our Government Is Literally Taking From The Poor To Give To The Rich... open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
Graft Like Our Country Has Never Seen: Our Government Is Literally Taking From The Poor To Give To The Rich... open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
Graft Like Our Country Has Never Seen: Our Government Is Literally Taking From The Poor To Give To The Rich...
Cheery Thoughts from Joni "...We are all going to die" Ernst and Trump's "Politics Of Plunder"
open.substack.com
June 6, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Is there a link between slashing our country's social safety net and the graft in the Oval Office? I'd love to hear your thoughts...
Graft Like Our Country Has Never Seen: Our Government Is Literally Taking From The Poor To Give To The Rich... open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
Graft Like Our Country Has Never Seen: Our Government Is Literally Taking From The Poor To Give To The Rich... open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
The Medicaid Debacle
Thanks to pkrugman.bsky.social; crampell.bsky.social; @nycjayjay.bsky.social for their superb reporting and commentary that enabled this post.
I'd love to hear what you think...
open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
Thanks to pkrugman.bsky.social; crampell.bsky.social; @nycjayjay.bsky.social for their superb reporting and commentary that enabled this post.
I'd love to hear what you think...
open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
The Medicaid Debacle
Do We Really Believe The Poor Should Not Have Medical Care? The Answer Might Be "Yes".
open.substack.com
May 23, 2025 at 7:40 PM
The Medicaid Debacle
Thanks to pkrugman.bsky.social; crampell.bsky.social; @nycjayjay.bsky.social for their superb reporting and commentary that enabled this post.
I'd love to hear what you think...
open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
Thanks to pkrugman.bsky.social; crampell.bsky.social; @nycjayjay.bsky.social for their superb reporting and commentary that enabled this post.
I'd love to hear what you think...
open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
Remember this.
Cal-Maine, the biggest egg producer, has been accused of using bird flu as cover to jack up prices and triple its profits from a year ago.
It also received $22M in federal aid.
While you're getting gouged at the grocery store, your tax dollars are subsidizing corporate greed.
It also received $22M in federal aid.
While you're getting gouged at the grocery store, your tax dollars are subsidizing corporate greed.
May 2, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Remember this.
We are accepting the lies, but we must counter them instead. Have a read and sign up for The Poverty Trap.
The Lies That Sow Distrust In Government And Threaten Our Democracy: open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
The Lies That Sow Distrust In Government And Threaten Our Democracy: open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
The Lies That Sow Distrust In Government And Threaten Our Democracy:
Our Country Continues To Wallow In Lies — Not Disinformation Or Misinformation— LIES
open.substack.com
April 19, 2025 at 1:34 AM
We are accepting the lies, but we must counter them instead. Have a read and sign up for The Poverty Trap.
The Lies That Sow Distrust In Government And Threaten Our Democracy: open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
The Lies That Sow Distrust In Government And Threaten Our Democracy: open.substack.com/pub/povertyt...
Eternal thanks for your hard work and persistence.
AOC: We need to be taxing the rich on the floor of the Congress
We need to be establishing guaranteed healthcare on the floor of the Congress
We need to be passing a living wage on the floor of the Congress
We need to be establishing guaranteed healthcare on the floor of the Congress
We need to be passing a living wage on the floor of the Congress
March 24, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Eternal thanks for your hard work and persistence.