Stories of the working class in a time of renewed labor militancy and awareness that capitalism is a rotten deal.
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In this segment, we look at the escalating U.S.-Canada trade war and what it could mean for American workers and consumers. The Trump administration has revived a Depression-era trade tool, raising new questions about whether we're repeating some of the mistakes of the past. We look at how tariffs on Canadian goods and raw materials could push prices higher, why toilet paper has suddenly become part of the trade war, and why Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari is warning that prolonged tariff uncertainty could keep inflation elevated. We'll also look at the strange personal-finance advice
AI isn't just changing the jobs we do — it's changing the balance of power inside the workplace. In this segment, we look at two developments that are increasingly converging: AI-driven changes to hiring and the rapid expansion of workplace surveillance technology. New research from Goldman Sachs suggests that industries with greater exposure to AI are experiencing weaker employment growth, with **entry-level workers facing some of the strongest headwinds. At the same time, an Associated Press investigation examines the rise of workplace surveillance — or “bossware” — that can track employee l
What happens when the people who do the work have almost no control over the economic decisions that determine whether their jobs survive? In this segment, we look at a series of labor fights and economic pressures that reveal a common theme: workers are constantly being asked to absorb uncertainty created by corporations, governments, and markets — while having very little say over the decisions themselves. We start with the Trump administration's 50% tariffs on a range of Canadian exports and the potential consequences for Canadian workers. Then we turn to 10,000 John Deere workers, who reje
What happens when women become more economically independent—but the expectations of marriage and parenthood don't change? In this segment, we look at the complicated relationship between women's earnings, marriage, family life, and America's declining birth rate. A recent Hill piece examines research suggesting that couples face greater separation risks when women become the higher earners. Then we turn to Nobel Prize-winning economist Claudia Goldin, whose argument is that women aren't necessarily rejecting motherhood—they're evaluating the enormous economic and personal costs that can come
The economy may still be growing, but for millions of workers, the cost of simply getting by keeps rising. In this segment, we examine the growing affordability crisis from multiple angles: record-high August gas prices, wages struggling to keep pace with inflation, mounting recession warnings, soaring government and corporate borrowing costs, rising grain prices, and the increasingly disturbing use of buy-now-pay-later services to cover basic expenses like rent and utilities. The economy can grow. Corporate profits can grow. AI investment can grow. And workers can still get poorer. #LaborForc
Workers across the country are fighting back — and the battles are happening on multiple fronts. We start in Minnesota, where union members and activists have faced federal surveillance and indictments connected to protests against ICE. Then we turn to Amazon delivery drivers in New York, where the Teamsters are challenging mass layoffs. We also look at Tyson Foods' decision to eliminate more than 3,000 jobs — another example of how corporate restructuring can devastate workers and entire communities. In Cook County, Illinois, roughly 200 Teamsters are on strike at the Forest Preserve District
Trump built his political comeback around a series of big economic promises: lower prices, cheaper gasoline, affordable housing, lower mortgage rates, more manufacturing jobs, a balanced federal budget, and an economy that would “grow like nobody’s ever grown before.” But how much of that has actually happened? In this segment, we put the promises up against the economic reality. We also examine the increasingly K-shaped economy, Trump’s aggressive push for deregulation, and issues at the NLRB, where a new Republican majority could reverse numerous pro-worker precedents. The larger question is
Americans are working, earning more on paper—and still falling further behind. In this segment, we examine the growing disconnect between the headline economy and the economic reality facing working people. Inflation is once again outpacing wage growth, real wages have fallen for four consecutive months, and millions of workers are still trying to recover purchasing power lost during the post-pandemic inflation surge. At the same time, household debt has climbed to roughly $18.8 trillion, credit-card balances have reached approximately $1.26 trillion, and more Americans are struggling to keep
In this segment, we connect several stories that reveal a growing contradiction in the American economy. At Cargill's meatpacking facility in Fort Morgan, Colorado, more than 1,700 workers remain locked out as employees fight over a contract and their future at the plant. Meanwhile, Cargill salt workers in Newark, California, have gone on strike over wages and soaring health-care costs. At the same time, a new survey finds that 54% of workers would accept a pay cut simply to keep their jobs — a striking indication of just how much economic insecurity is reshaping workers' priorities. And then
The Trump administration says America has entered a “new kind of economy.” But what does that actually mean for working people? In this segment, we look beyond the political and economic headlines and examine what workers are actually experiencing in 2026. Housing remains painfully out of reach. Instability surrounding the U.S.-Iran conflict threatens to push energy and transportation costs higher. At the same time, millions of workers—especially Gen X—are struggling to balance full-time employment with caring for children and aging parents. And perhaps most revealingly, younger Americans are
Workers are finding new ways to fight back—and the latest battles show just how much the American labor movement is changing. In this segment, we look at a federal judge blocking the VA for the third time from terminating its union contracts with AFGE, the growing push to unionize Uber and Lyft drivers in California and Illinois, and what these new forms of collective bargaining could mean for the future of gig work. We also examine the latest jobs data and the emerging “deportation economy”—and why removing immigrant workers isn't necessarily creating more opportunities for U.S.-born workers.
The economy may look strong on paper—but for millions of Americans, everyday life is getting harder to afford. From groceries and gas to housing, healthcare, and even dating, rising costs are forcing working people to make increasingly painful choices. Americans are cutting back, working more hours just to stay in place, and questioning whether they can afford the life they were promised. And the affordability crisis doesn’t stop at the checkout line. Nearly half a million New Yorkers have lost healthcare coverage following federal Medicaid changes, while the cost of replacing that coverage is
AI is changing the workforce—but not in the way most people expected. In this segment, we examine the contradictions of the AI economy. While Silicon Valley celebrates a new "golden age of entrepreneurship," thousands of workers are experiencing a very different reality. AI is making it easier than ever to launch a business, but it's also eliminating traditional jobs, reshaping industries, and creating entirely new labor shortages. The biggest question isn't whether AI will create or destroy jobs. It's who benefits from the productivity gains—and whether workers will have the power to claim th
In this segment, the stories may seem unrelated—but together they point to something much bigger. We examine Abdul El-Sayed's upset victory in Michigan's Democratic Senate primary, growing signs of working-class politics gaining traction across the Midwest, and what those elections may signal about the future of economic populism. Then we turn to the labor movement, where 1,700 locked-out Cargill workers reject a contract they believe still falls short, Iowa nurses fight for recognition after voting to unionize, and nearly 10,000 Michigan nurses secure a landmark first union contract after mor
The path to the middle class used to seem straightforward: earn a degree, land a stable job, and build a career. But for millions of young Americans, that formula is breaking down. From shrinking hiring opportunities to the rise of YouTube, TikTok, and Substack entrepreneurs, we examine why more workers are questioning whether the traditional career ladder still exists—and what that means for the future of the American Dream. If you enjoy in-depth discussions on labor, unions, AI, economics, and the changing world of work, subscribe and join the conversation. #LaborForcePodcast #Jobs #CollegeG
Kevin Hassett says the economy is "firing on all cylinders." So why do so many Americans feel like they're falling further behind? In this segment, we examine the disconnect between economic headlines and everyday reality—from inflation, rising mortgage rates, and AI-driven job insecurity to shrinking affordability, mounting debt, and the growing gap between the middle class and real wealth. We also explore why anti-capitalist ideas are gaining renewed attention as more workers question whether the American Dream is still within reach. #LaborForcePodcast #LaborNews #Economy #Inflation #AI #Wor
From Division I athletes to VA employees, John Deere workers, and refinery operators, this week's labor news makes one thing clear: unions aren't disappearing—they're expanding into every corner of the workforce. In this episode segment, we break down the largest athlete-led unionization effort in college sports, the latest court victory protecting the AFGE's contract at the Department of Veterans Affairs, the UAW's push for a stronger agreement at John Deere, and the ongoing lockout of more than 800 United Steelworkers at BP's Whiting refinery. Different industries. Different workplaces. The
Winning the Vote Is Just the Beginning. In this segment, we examine what happens after workers organize—and why winning a union election is often only the first step. In this episode: 🥩 More than 1,700 Teamsters at Cargill in Colorado reach a tentative agreement after a 70-day lockout.⚓ ILWU solidarity forces C&H Sugar back to the bargaining table after longshore workers refuse to cross picket lines.🌿 Workers at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden launch a public boycott to pressure management during contract negotiations.⚖️ Wisconsin's Act 10 legal battle continues as an appeals court reinstates
Is capitalism losing America's confidence? New polling shows favorable views of capitalism have plummeted, while most Americans believe the economy is rigged for the wealthy. In this episode, we connect that shift in public opinion to rising grocery prices, soaring housing costs, expensive gas, shrinking purchasing power, and why many workers feel they're falling behind despite a growing economy. We also examine why consumer confidence is slipping, why investors are growing more cautious, and what all of this says about the future of the American economy. #Capitalism #Economy #Inflation #Labor
Union organizing is spreading far beyond factories and warehouses. In this segment, we examine the growing movement among Kaiser Permanente physicians, the Mount Nittany Medical Center strike, Harvard graduate workers' strike threat, Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh employees winning their union, and SUNY faculty negotiating AI protections into their new contract. We also break down a new Economic Policy Institute report arguing that stronger unions could raise wages, reduce inequality, and give workers more power across the economy. As hospitals become more corporate and AI reshapes the wor
Will AI replace your job—or simply change it? In this segment, we separate AI hype from reality. We examine why today's AI still struggles with real-world work, the controversy surrounding an AI robot introduced in a New York school district, and why even AI companies admit there's little evidence of widespread job displacement—at least for now. We also explore how AI is quietly reshaping workplaces through hiring freezes, heavier workloads, and changing power dynamics, and why even Silicon Valley workers are increasingly organizing for a voice in how AI is deployed. The future of work isn't j
When politicians talk about low wages, the debate almost always centers on the hourly rate: $15, $17, or $20 an hour. But there’s a massive side of the equation we rarely talk about: hours. If you make $17/hour at 40 hours a week, you’re making ~$35,000 a year before taxes. Cut those hours in half, and your income drops off a cliff—no matter how high the hourly rate is. In this segment, we break down new research from the People's Policy Project (as highlighted by Jacobin) detailing the crisis of involuntary part-time work in America. Have you ever dealt with unpredictable hours or being kept
Millions of Americans feel trapped in jobs they no longer want—and one of the biggest reasons isn't their paycheck. It's their health insurance. In this segment, we examine the growing problem of "job lock," where workers stay in jobs they dislike because losing employer-sponsored health coverage could put their family's finances—and their health—at risk. We also look at what this means for retirees, as new estimates show healthcare costs in retirement continue to climb. If employment isn't truly voluntary because healthcare is tied to your job, how free is the American worker? If you enjoy in
In this segment, we explore why rising fuel costs don't just mean paying more at the pump—they drive up grocery prices, shipping costs, school supplies, and nearly everything else that depends on diesel-powered supply chains. Drawing on reporting from CNBC, the Associated Press, and The American Prospect, we examine how global conflict, shrinking refining capacity, and supply chain pressures are squeezing household budgets. We also take a closer look at the lockout of 800 union refinery workers at BP's Whiting refinery and ask a difficult question: if refinery workers are so essential to keepi
Why does the economy feel great to some Americans and impossible to others? In this segment, we examine the growing divide between investment income and wage income—and why rising productivity no longer guarantees higher pay. Drawing on reporting from The American Prospect and research from the Economic Policy Institute, we explore how workers have become more productive while receiving a shrinking share of the wealth they create. We also revisit the remarkable story of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, whose members turned automation into shared prosperity instead of mass displ
