The State of Working America Podcast

Imagine if one-in-three private-sector workers belonged to a union.

What would wages, benefits, and working conditions look like if more workers had access to a union contract and the labor movement gained strength to beat back billionaires and big corporations? What would it mean for our economy and democracy? And what policy changes are neces...

The Trump administration’s deployment of DHS agencies—such as ICE—has caused irreparable harm to our communities, neighbors, and families across the country. The economic costs are also substantial—and mounting.

University of Colorado Economics Professor Chloe N. East, Senior Economist and Deputy Director of Research at the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research A...

Creating justice in a multiracial democracy

The Trump administration is attacking diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and the public sector. Inspired by the book Creating Justice in a Multiracial Democracy, this Economic Policy Institute webinar provides an actionable path forward to defend against these attacks and ultimately build a better soci...

In partnership with the Roosevelt Institute and Oklahoma Policy Institute, Economic Policy Institute hosted this webinar that shares a new, evidence-backed framework for raising the federal minimum wage. 

The webinar included Roosevelt Institute Director of Worker Power and Economic Security Patrick Oakford, Economic Policy Inst...

EPI’s Chief Economist, Josh Bivens; Director of EPI’s Program on Race, Ethnicity, and the Economy, Valerie Wilson; and Economist Hilary Wething, along with a special introduction by Peter Rivera from the Hewlett Foundation, discuss public education and how critical public goods are being attacked at both the state and federal ...

There is much panic around AI’s impact on the labor market. Efforts to blame inequality and unemployment on AI and technology divert attention from the root cause: excess employer power. The best “AI policy” to protect workers would be boosting workers’ power by improving social insurance systems, removing barriers to organizing unions, and sustaining lower r...

Economic Policy Institute Chief Economist Josh Bivens and Senior Economist Ben Zipperer, in conversation with Senior Policy and Economic Analyst Chandra Childers, on how current policies are impacting working people and families, along with solutions that create a more affordable life for everyone.

Originally held Thursday, April 9, 2026.

Learn more: https://www.epi.org/event/state-of-w...

The Trump administration brazenly attacks workers and their unions, undermining federal labor laws and emboldening corporate union busters. Amid this escalating US worker rights crisis, states across the country are stepping up to strengthen threatened labor standards, level the playing field for unionizing workers, and expand pathways to collective bargai...

Enjoy this conversation with author, labor historian, union organizer and Economic Policy Institute Senior State Policy Strategist Dave Kamper about his exciting new book, Who’s Got the Power?: The Resurgence of American Unions.  

Originally held Wednesday, January 28, 2026.

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The State of Working America Podcast is part of EPI’s...

Enjoy this conversation with Economic Policy Institute President, Heidi Shierholz; Director of the Program on Race, Ethnicity and the Economy, Valerie Wilson; and Chief Economist, Josh Bivens; moderated by Samantha Sanders, about what’s missing from the current debate!

Originally held Thursday, January 22, 2026.

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The State of Working America ...

In an environment where pursuing equity goals could invite dangerous scrutiny, one could reasonably ask: Is it still prudent to talk about reparations?  Join Kyle Moore, an economist with the Economic Policy Institute’s Program on Race, Ethnicity, and the Economy (PREE) for this episode of the State of Working America podcast about his piece on “Why we have to keep talking about reparations in 2025.” &nb...

Season six of the podcast presents a series of discussions about economic issues related to the election. In this episode, EPI's Executive Vice President Naomi Walker is joined by Chandra Childers, senior policy and economic analyst with the Economic Analysis and Research Network (EARN), to discuss this history and impact of the Southern economic development model. Southern politicians claim that “business-friendly” pol...

Season six of the podcast presents a series of discussions about economic issues related to the election. In this episode, EPI's Executive Vice President Naomi Walker is joined by EPI Chief Economist Josh Bivens to discuss the historical economic performance of different administrations as detailed in his report, Economic performance is stronger when Democrats hold the White House. According to the report, there is a pronounce...

In 2023, workers across the country—from Hollywood writers to autoworkers, nurses, and Starbucks baristas—went on strike to improve their working conditions. Heidi Shierholz, president of the Economic Policy Institute and former chief economist at the U.S. Department of Labor, discusses what this surge in labor actions means for workers and the fight for racial and economic justice.

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The State of Working America Podca...

Sixty years later, policymakers have failed to meet the economic demands of the March on Washington. Policy analyst Adewale A. Maye discusses new Economic Policy Institute research finding that post-civil rights era legislation has largely failed to address disparities in wages, wealth, and homeownership for Black Americans.

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The State of Working America Podcast is part of EPI’s effort to raise workers’ voices to...

Economist Elise Gould discusses surprising new Economic Policy Institute research showing that the lowest-paid U.S. workers saw historic wage growth between 2019 and 2022, even after accounting for high inflation.

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The State of Working America Podcast is part of EPI’s effort to raise workers’ voices to ensure they are heard in the economic policy debate. Hosted by Nick Kauzlarich, Media Relations and Digital Director....

Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman is a Ghanaian-born American activist and writer. She is a co-founder and former CEO of the Sadie Collective, as well as a co-founder and co-organizer of Black Birders Week. She discusses her new book, The Black Agenda.

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The State of Working America Podcast is part of EPI’s effort to raise workers’ voices to ensure they are heard in the economic policy debate. Hosted by Kyle K. Moore, Economist...

Nina Banks discusses her new book "Democracy, Race, and Justice: The Speeches and Writings of Sadie T. M. Alexander." Banks, an economist, talks about her journey to unearth the economic insights of the first Black economist, Alexander, who was unable to find work in her field when she graduated in 1921 but went on to influence economics and press for equity for black workers and their families.

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The State of Working America Podc...

Dorothy A. Brown discusses her new book, The Whiteness of Wealth: How the Tax System Impoverishes Black Americans—and How We Can Fix It. Brown, a law professor and expert in tax policy, provides a cross-disciplinary analysis exposing the racism of the American tax system.

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The State of Working America Podcast is part of EPI’s effort to raise workers’ voices to ensure they are heard in the economic policy debate....