The Brian Lehrer Show How Each Party Wants to Help Non-College Educated Workers
Aug 22, 2025
Zach Moller, Director of the economic program at Third Way, discusses how both the Democratic and Republican parties are evolving their policies to assist non-college educated workers. He highlights economic disparities between these workers and graduates, and the implications for the upcoming 2024 elections. Moller also examines the shift in Republican strategies from traditional policies to more populist approaches, and critiques current tariff impacts on working-class Americans. Furthermore, he reflects on affordability issues shaping political races.
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Representation Gap Shapes Policy
- Policymakers and institutions are dominated by college-educated people while most of the economy isn't college-based.
- That mismatch makes policy blind to the lived realities of non-college workers.
College Issues Dominate The Conversation
- Political focus on student debt and college issues skews attention toward college-educated voters.
- That focus can leave non-college workers and their different needs overlooked.
Three Policy Levers For Working Families
- There are three levers to improve non-college incomes: raise wages/take-home pay, expand training, and reduce household costs.
- Policy debates often focus on the first while neglecting training and cost reduction strategies.