© 2025 KALW 91.7 FM Bay Area
KALW Public Media / 91.7 FM Bay Area
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

The Magic Bureaucrat: Welfare reform, 20 years later

Gina Delvac/Marketplace
Lawrence Townsend, the Magic Bureaucrat

“The Uncertain Hour,” Marketplace’s podcast documentary and multimedia series, is a timely, immersive look at the welfare system 20 years after reform.

Producers from Marketplace's Wealth and Poverty team follow the money and read the fine print to magnify how one of the most controversial federal programs works.

KRISSY CLARK: "Over the last 20 years, the number of families living in deep poverty—on less than $2 a day—is rising. And, most of them don't receive welfare."

The first episode, "The Magic Bureaucrat" is presented here by KALW News. Find the complete series here. You can also download the complete welfare music album and the explore Marketplace's database to discover how your state spends welfare dollars.

This episode was produced by Krissy Clark, Nancy Farghalli, Gina Delvac, Caitlin Esch and Ben Tolliday.