The State of Working America Podcast

Economic Policy Institute
  • 5.0 (20)
  • Politics
  • Updated Biweekly

Raising workers’ voices to make sure they are heard in the economic policy debate.

  1. 5d ago

    A New Way to Think About the Minimum Wage

    A New Way to Think About the Minimum Wage: How high could policymakers set a national minimum wage? 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 Institute Senior Economist Ben Zipperer, Oklahoma Policy Institute’s Carly Putnam, and was hosted by Economic Policy Institute Executive Vice President Naomi Walker. Oklahoma Policy Institute is part of EPI’s Economic Analysis and Research Network, or EARN, which is a network of close to 60 state-focused research, policy, and advocacy organizations in 43 states + DC. Originally held Thursday, May 21, 2026. Learn more: Federal Employment Standards as the Foundation of Economic Security: Revisiting Minimum Wage, Just Cause, and Tools to Combat Wage Theft by Patrick Oakford  Setting high standards for a federal minimum wage by Ben Zipperer   A new way to think about the minimum wage   __________ 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. Core topics include workers' rights, inequality, race, gender, labor markets, education, immigration, and social justice 
__  Economic Policy Institute 
https://www.epi.org

    53 min

  2. May 29

    Public education under attack

    Public education under attack: How EPI research and tools support investment in public schools 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 levels. Fully funded and strong public schools—with fairly compensated educators—lead to a society with high achieving students and fewer teacher shortages that disrupt learning. Yet policy initiatives such as school vouchers threaten to divert resources from public education when what is needed is greater investment, not less. Originally held Thursday, May 14, 2026. Learn more: https://www.epi.org/event/public-education-under-attack-how-epi-research-and-tools-support-investment-in-public-schools/  __  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. Core topics include workers' rights, inequality, race, gender, labor markets, education, immigration, and social justice 
__  Economic Policy Institute 
https://www.epi.org

    55 min

  3. May 16

    AI—Making Employee Disempowerment New Again

    AI—Making Employee Disempowerment New Again 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 rates of unemployment. Economic Policy Institute’s Chief Economist Josh Bivens and Senior Economist Ben Zipperer joined Director of Government & Advocacy Samantha Sanders in a conversation on how policymakers should respond to the rise of AI. Originally held Thursday, May 7, 2026. Learn more: https://www.epi.org/event/ai-making-employee-disempowerment-new-again/  __  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. Core topics include workers' rights, inequality, race, gender, labor markets, education, immigration, and social justice 
__  Economic Policy Institute 
https://www.epi.org

    55 min

  4. Apr 24

    State of Working America Q1 Economic Briefing

    State of Working America Q1 Economic Briefing 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-working-america-q1-economic-briefing/  __  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. Core topics include workers' rights, inequality, race, gender, labor markets, education, immigration, and social justice 
__  Economic Policy Institute 
https://www.epi.org

    56 min

  5. Mar 6

    Building Worker Power

    Building worker power in the states when federal labor laws are under attack 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 bargaining. Enjoy this discussion with policy experts, organizers, and state advocates from EPI’s Economic Analysis and Research Network (EARN) on building worker power in the states when federal labor laws are under attack. Originally held Thursday, February 19, 2026. __  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. Core topics include workers' rights, inequality, race, gender, labor markets, education, immigration, and social justice 
__  Economic Policy Institute 
https://www.epi.org

    1 hr

  6. Feb 24

    Who's Got the Power?

    “Who’s got the power? The resurgence of American unions” 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. __  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. Core topics include workers' rights, inequality, race, gender, labor markets, education, immigration, and social justice.  __  Economic Policy Institute  https://www.epi.org

    59 min

  7. Feb 17

    What’s missing from the affordability debate?

    Everyone is talking about affordability — and making the same mistake. 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. __  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. Core topics include workers' rights, inequality, race, gender, labor markets, education, immigration, and social justice.  __  Economic Policy Institute  https://www.epi.org

    59 min

  8. 05/13/2025

    Why We Have to Keep Talking About Reparations in 2025

    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.”      __  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. Core topics include workers' rights, inequality, race, gender, labor markets, education, immigration, and social justice.  __  Economic Policy Institute  https://www.epi.org

    31 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

Raising workers’ voices to make sure they are heard in the economic policy debate.

Information

  • Creator
    Economic Policy Institute
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    Copyright © Economic Policy Institute. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The State of Working America Podcast

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