Trending Now - America's Future: Navigating a Landscape of Trump's Legacy
WHO:
Alternet - Robert Reich is a professor of public policy at Berkeley and former secretary of labor.
WHAT:
Alternet - Worker compensation grew 0.8 percent from the fourth quarter of 2025 to the first quarter of 2026.
Alternet - Corporate profits grew 2.7 percent during the same period.
Alternet - Hourly wages have risen 3 percent since the end of 2019 when adjusted for inflation.
Alternet - Corporate profits have risen 50 percent since the end of 2019.
Alternet - Workers’ share of the nation’s income has dropped to the lowest level since records began in 1947.
Alternet - Profits’ share of the nation’s income is at the highest level since 1950.
Alternet - Three companies centered on AI—SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic—are expected to go public with valuations of around $1 trillion each.
Alternet - A billionaire tax is likely to be voted on by California voters in November.
Newsweek - The article questions whether the U.S. economy is "wrecked" and "failed" under President Trump, indicating a perspective on economic performance during his administration.
WHERE:
Alternet - The U.S. economy is discussed in the context of major corporations like Amazon, Alphabet (Google), Apple, Microsoft, and others.
WHY:
Alternet - The article states that the trend toward lower wages and higher profits began in the 1980s, increased in the 2000s, and picked up speed after the pandemic, indicating a long-term shift in the economy.
Alternet - The increasing shift of the American economy from wages to profits is attributed to monopolization and the concentration of economic power in a few giant corporations.
Alternet - The erosion of workers' bargaining power is linked to a decline in unionization, which has fallen to 6 percent of private sector workers.
HOW:
Alternet - The article outlines five proposed steps to address economic issues, including the need for a new era of antitrust to break up giant corporations, taxing the wealthy, regulating AI, providing universal health care, and distributing capital more widely.
Alternet - The article suggests that a new era of antitrust is needed to break up giant corporations and that a universal basic income should be provided to cushion those who lose jobs due to AI.
Alternet - The article outlines five proposed steps to address economic issues, including taxing the wealthy, regulating AI, and providing universal health care.
(UPDATED May 31, 2026 15:19 UTC)
A recent article from Alternet highlights a significant economic trend that began in the 1980s, with lower wages and higher profits accelerating after the pandemic, suggesting a long-term shift in the economy. To tackle these pressing issues, the article proposes five steps, including implementing a new era of antitrust to dismantle large corporations, taxing the wealthy, regulating artificial intelligence, providing universal health care, and distributing capital more equitably. These measures aim to create a more balanced economic landscape for everyone.
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(UPDATED May 31, 2026 13:20 UTC)
Robert Reich, a professor of public policy at Berkeley and a former secretary of labor, highlights significant economic trends in the U.S. as worker compensation grew by 0.8 percent and corporate profits increased by 2.7 percent from the fourth quarter of 2025 to the first quarter of 2026. However, the share of income going to workers has dropped to its lowest level since 1947, while corporate profits have surged to their highest share since 1950, raising concerns about the concentration of economic power among a few giant corporations. Looking ahead, California voters are expected to consider a billionaire tax in November, as discussions around antitrust measures and universal basic income gain momentum to address these growing economic disparities.