In this week's episode, host and NewDEAL Leader Ryan Coonerty talks with Michelle Wilde Anderson, author of the new book, The Fight to Save the Town: Reimagining Discarded America. She discusses the never-ending, vicious poverty spiral and how we desperately need to shift its momentum by promoting mutual investment and coalition building at the institutional level. Plus, she discusses the great recession, the municipal fiscal collapse, the difference between local government tax bases, and the influence of politics on state reform. Tune in to hear more from Michelle about why communities need a robust social fabric to ensure adequate safety, functioning systems, and a healthy environment.