If America Is “Winning,” Why Does the Economy Feel Like This? (with Talmon Joseph Smith)

America has never been wealthier—so why does it feel so hard to get by? New York Times economics reporter Talmon Joseph Smith joins Nick and Goldy this week to unpack the growing gap between economic headlines and the lived reality of most Americans. With nearly $200 trillion in national wealth and half the country holding just a sliver of it, they explore why GDP and aggregate growth keep telling a story working families don’t recognize—and what that disconnect means for our economy and our politics. Talmon Joseph Smith is an economics reporter currently covering labor markets, inequality, and political economy. His recent work at The New York Times has focused on the tension between headline economic indicators and lived economic reality. His forthcoming book, Clout and Capital, examines how power, influence, and wealth shape economic outcomes in America. Social Media: @talsmith.bsky.social @talmonsmith Further reading: America Has Never Been Wealthier. Here’s Why It Doesn’t Feel That Way. Michael W. Green - How a Broken Benchmark Quietly Broke America Read more from Talmon Joseph Smith Website: Facebook: Pitchfork Economics Podcast Bluesky: @pitchforkeconomics.bsky.social Instagram: @pitchforkeconomics Threads: pitchforkeconomics TikTok: @pitchfork_econ YouTube: @pitchforkeconomics LinkedIn: Pitchfork Economics Twitter: @PitchforkEcon, @NickHanauer Substack: ⁠The Pitch⁠

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If America Is “Winning,” Why Does the Economy Feel Like This? (with Talmon Joseph Smith) is an episode from Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer by Civic Ventures.

This episode is 40:58 long.

This episode was published on Dec 23, 2025.

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