Since we first ran this episode, the likelihood of expanded or permanent child aid has fallen. There's some speculation that build back better will be split up into separate pieces of legislation. We put in a call to hilary hoynes, the berkeley economist, and played her back this tape cut from last summer when things were looking good. I'm honestly still surprised its happening right now," she said.
Among O.E.C.D. nations, the U.S. has one of the highest rates of child poverty. Until recently, it looked as if Washington was about to change that. But then … Washington happened.