Democratic policymakers are increasingly frustrated with the economic populism narrative, as demonstrated by Biden's significant support for unions, particularly the Teamsters. The American Rescue Plan of 2021 allocated $5.7 billion to safeguard the pensions of over 72,000 Teamsters, reversing potential cuts of 50 to 75 percent that had been long fought against. This initiative highlights Biden's strong alignment with union interests, even beyond previous administrations. However, the pursuit of bipartisan support within union leadership can create tensions, as some union members question such outreach to Republicans, feeling it undermines the loyalty to the Democrats who have historically backed them.
Donald Trump, J.D. Vance, and Kamala Harris all want to distance themselves from the inflation and bad vibes of President Biden’s economy. The Washington Post’s Jeff Stein explains why both parties are upending decades of economic norms.
This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn and Victoria Chamberlin, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by Noel King.
Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast
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