Episode Details

Despite Trumps optimistic State of the Union, public faith in the economy remains low. Consumer confidence is up slightly, but still far from pre-pandemic levels. Inflation has eased, but everyday folks feel the pinch of rising prices. The economy expanded by 2.2% last year, a slowdown from previous years. Job growth stalled, with employers adding just 181,000 jobs in 2025, the weakest pace outside recessions since 2002. Factories shed 108,000 positions amid higher costs from tariffs and interest rates. The goods trade deficit hit a record $1.24 trillion last year, raising questions about the benefits of tariffs. Public sentiment remains stuck at recession levels, with only 39% approving of Trumps economic leadership.

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