On any given day, Groundwork's analyses, op-eds, reports, and commentary are featured in leading publications and on the most influential news programs and podcasts.
Alex Jaquez, Chief of Policy & Advocacy at Groundwork Collaborative, joins the show to discuss an analysis from Groundwork entitled: “Big Oil Racks Up Windfall Profits While Consumers Pay Higher Prices”.
As Trump’s war in Iran drives up gas, grocery, and travel prices for Americans, oil executives are celebrating the $23 billion in windfall profits created by the crisis.
"This is kind of the same playbook,” said the progressive Groundwork Collaborative’s Alex Jacquez, who served on Biden’s National Economic Council. “You stare at a long list of things that either will make a marginal amount of difference or will at least kind of look like you are taking this seriously and taking action — but the reality is that there’s only so much that you can do from the executive branch.”
The cost of toppings and sides are up, too: Lettuce, tomatoes, hot dogs, beer and soda helped push the average price of the classic Memorial Day menu up 13% from a year ago, according to an analysis from the advocacy groups the Century Foundation and Groundwork Collaborative.
"It’s going to be virtually impossible to avoid price hikes for summer fun, whether that’s a road trip, that’s a flight, a vacation, whether that’s a couple nights in a hotel, or whether that’s a backyard barbecue," Lindsay Owens, Groundwork Collaborative’s executive director, said. "If you sit inside and watch TV, you’re going to be paying more for your AC."
Surveillance pricing is using data to potentially alter a price based on the customer's behavior, said Lindsay Owens, executive director of Groundwork Collaborative.
Lindsay Owens: “Traveling is obviously a real budget-buster. Most families are aware of that, but what people may not realize is your Memorial Day barbeque is going to set you back big time this year.”
Across party lines, nearly 80% of voters say it is unfair for companies to use personal data to set prices and demand a ban on the practice.
The price for a classic apple pie has skyrocketed nearly 40%, bratwursts are up nearly 30%, and watermelon will run 17% more, while travel prices soar heading into summer.
Kitty Richards: “We're really seeing consistently that voters feel like the economy is headed in the wrong direction. And they care very, very deeply about the cost of living and affordability, and that has been on voters' minds throughout the past year, but it's really the war with Iran and the effect that that has had on energy prices.”