America's wealth divide hits record levels as voters turn populist
Wealth inequality in the US keeps widening, and voters in both parties are now backing populist economic fixes — bad news for the political establishment, which has not acted on any of it.
- Most Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, and nine in ten of those have less than $500 left over each month after bills.
- The richest 0.1% now hold about 15% of all US wealth, while the bottom half of the country holds barely 2%.
- A new Wall Street Journal poll found majority support across party lines for Medicare for all, forcing insurers to cover prescribed care, banning surprise medical bills, a $20 minimum wage, higher taxes on million-dollar incomes, rent control, and a path to citizenship for long-term migrants.
- Prices keep climbing even though Trump campaigned on affordability, and the Iran conflict plus damage to Russian refineries has pushed diesel into shortage in places like Texas.
- Farmers — mostly Republican voters — are getting hit hardest, with bankruptcies and suicides rising under tariffs and the war.
Outlook: Affordability stays the top voter issue heading into the next election, and neither party looks ready to deliver on the policies most Americans say they want.