Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer
Live From DC: Turning Middle-Out Economics into Good Politics
Apr 8, 2025
Moderated by Harold Meyerson from The American Prospect, the discussion features Representatives Ro Khanna, Delia Ramirez, and Jim Himes. They explore how Democrats can reclaim working-class trust through economic populism, moving away from ineffective incrementalism. The panel highlights the urgent need for affordable housing and support for working families, advocating for a bold approach to public policy. They also emphasize the importance of accountability and fresh leadership to resonate with an increasingly disillusioned electorate.
54:44
Episode guests
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- The podcast emphasizes that Democratic leaders must adopt bold economic populism to rebuild trust with the working class and drive meaningful reforms.
- A significant focus on housing affordability is necessary to ensure economic stability and protect working families from gentrification and displacement.
Deep dives
The Failure of Trickle-Down Economics
Trickle-down economics has been criticized as ineffective over the past five decades, contributing instead to rising inequality and political instability. The prevailing theory suggested that benefits for the wealthy would eventually trickle down to the middle and lower classes, but this has not materialized. In fact, data reveals that there has been a significant decline in income share for the bottom 90% of workers since 1975, with the top 1% capturing a disproportionate amount of wealth. The discussion emphasizes the need for a shift towards middle-out economics, which seeks to prioritize growth from the middle class as the true engine of economic progress.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
