Recession-Proofing in a Broken Economy

The economy is supposedly “strong.” So why do millions of Americans feel like they’re drowning? In this episode of the Labor Force Podcast, we explore the widening gap between economic headlines and the reality facing working people: rising prices, layoffs, AI anxiety, debt, housing insecurity, and a growing sense that the system is rigged for billionaires and corporations.

We discuss:

• Inflation, gas prices, and recession fears
• Jeff Bezos and the politics of taxing the rich
• AI-driven layoffs and growing panic inside tech companies
• Tech workers unionizing against dangerous AI deployment
• Corporate union-busting spending exploding nationwide
• The Cargill lockout, REI boycott, and Wizards of the Coast labor fight
• Major union victories for hotel workers and nurses
• Why labor organizing matters in an era of deep economic insecurity
• Gustavo Petro’s vision of an “economy for life” and the political economy behind it

As anger, pessimism, and distrust grow, this episode examines whether the social contract itself is beginning to fracture — and what role organized labor could play in shaping what comes next.

#LaborForcePodcast #LaborMovement #Unions #Economy #AI #WorkersRights #Inflation #Capitalism #TechWorkers #Politics