logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2025
41m 15s

Social Security And The Trump Administra...

NPR
About this episode
We recently spoke with personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary about how to manage money during times of uncertainty. Dozens of our listeners wrote it in with worries about the future of social security.

It's perhaps one of the most popular government programs in the country. Around 87 percent of Americans say social security should be a priority no matter what the state of the federal budget is. That's according to the National Institute on Retirement Security.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he doesn't plan to cut social security benefits. But he's also made some comments to the contrary.

We discuss the Trump administration's plans for the agency — and what they mean for the benefits it oversees.

Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy
Up next
Aug 22
The News Roundup For August 22, 2025
President Donald Trump is continuing his efforts to influence the Federal Reserve. He’s calling on one of its governors to resign, publicly criticized Chair Jerome Powell, and is trying to fast-track a close ally onto the board.The White House continued its campaign against the S ... Show More
1h 26m
Aug 22
Artificial Intelligence And Emotional Intimacy
ChatGPT has at least 500 million weekly users. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says that number is growing extraordinarily fast.When the chatbot went through an update a couple weeks ago, it brought to light how many users were relying on AI for their emotional wellbeing and even as a comp ... Show More
35m 31s
Aug 21
The new reality for student loan borrowers
Nearly 43 million Americans have federal student loan debt. Their borrowing totals more than $1.8 trillion. That’s according to the Education Data Initiative.Now, the federal student loan system is facing significant changes under the Trump administration.One of the biggest diffe ... Show More
37m 44s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2025
Outrage and exposure halts Trump's plans for Social Security service cuts
Rachel Maddow shares video of Rep. John Larson channeling the outrage of his constituents at the anticipation that Donald Trump's top donor, Elon Musk, is intending to destroy Social Security in order to privatize it. The Washington Post reported early Wednesday that Musk was pla ... Show More
44m 27s
Apr 2025
Trump's First 100 Days: Project 2025 & Its Influence
The Heritage Foundation's "blueprint" for a new Republican administration got a lot of attention during the 2024 presidential campaign. While candidate Donald Trump said he "had never read" the document, President Trump has incorporated many of its policies, and authors, into his ... Show More
15m 3s
Apr 2025
Trump's First 100 Days: Wading Into The Culture Wars
On the campaign trail, candidate Donald Trump decried "gender ideology," said the military was becoming too "woke," and that DEI programs across the federal government should be ended. As president, his executive actions & policies have mirrored his campaign promises in attemptin ... Show More
19m 1s
Feb 2025
Elon Musk's DOGE Takes Control Of Federal Spending
Elon Musk is keeping his campaign promise of trying to cut $2 trillion of federal spending through his unit, DOGE. After some questions about his role, the White House announced that he is now a "special government employee." What has Musk been able to accomplish thus far? This e ... Show More
15m 3s
Feb 2025
CBS Evening News, 02/25/25
Confusion surrounding Elon Musk’s demands that he will terminate federal employees who don’t respond to an email asking what they did last week is sparking new questions about the power structure of DOGE. Nationally, 42% of Americans say they support President Trump's push to dow ... Show More
26m 58s
Jan 2025
Trump Promises "Golden Age," Moves To Enact Sweeping Executive Actions
"I return to the presidency, confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success," Trump said after being sworn in as the 47th president of the United States. In an inaugural address where he outlined a number of policy proposals, Trump ca ... Show More
22m 58s
Jul 3
Trump's tax bill passes, jobs report, Diogo Jota and Gaza
The U.S. House passes President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax cut and spending bill, cementing his command of Congress. June saw solid U.S. jobs growth. Liverpool's Portuguese forward Diogo Jota has died in a car crash. Hamas says it’s considering Trump’s ceasefire plan. Plus, how ... Show More
12m 3s
Apr 2025
100 Days of Trump (Part 5)… Has He Redefined What It Means To Be President?
This is a special Americast mini series, looking at five ways Donald Trump has changed America in his first 100 days back, as President of the United States. “…in the USA we do no have kings, we do not have dictators we have a constitution, and the rule of law, and we’re going to ... Show More
13m 51s
Mar 2025
Trump Takes Aim at the Department of Education
In the coming days, President Trump is expected to sign an executive order that would follow through on one of his major campaign promises: to abolish the U.S. Department of Education. The catch is that he still needs the department to impose his vision on American schools.Dana G ... Show More
26m 11s
Feb 2025
Trump Attempts To Shut Down USAID And Imposes Tariffs
This past weekend, President Trump imposed new tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China. He has since walked back the 25% on Mexican imports after a conversation with Mexico's president. The others are still set to take effect on Tuesday. Then, Elon Musk announced that his DOGE was s ... Show More
16m 14s