Poynter Beat Academy: The midterms, data and America’s safety net

    When:
    February 26, 2026 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
    2026-02-26T13:00:00-05:00
    2026-02-26T14:00:00-05:00
    Cost:
    Free

    The GOP’s signature budget bill — OBBBA — cut taxes but also safety net programs, particularly SNAP and Medicaid. Learn to track how new work requirements affect your community with county and state-level data. Join Poynter Beat Academy for a webinar on Feb. 26 at 1 p.m. ET to get localized story ideas that explore where data makes a difference and boost your midterm coverage. Webinar offered free of charge thanks to the support of The Joyce Foundation.

    Learning Outcomes

    • Quantify SNAP and Medicaid impacts in your coverage area.
    • Transform abstract policy into tangible effects on local communities.
    • Navigate America’s Essential Data web tool to discover story ideas.
    • Grasp how data sets contribute to everyday challenges in business and consumer life.
    • Name withdrawn or degraded federal data sets and describe the local consequences.
    • Identify data loss workarounds where they exist.