Groundwork Collaborative

The first months of President Donald Trump’s second term have been marked by chaotic policymaking and instability, which continues to bear out in the economic data. Today, consumer confidence data from the Conference Board showed a fifth straight month of decline, the worst since the COVID-19 pandemic, with consumer expectations at a 13-year low. “This is a manmade crisis. In his first 100 days, Trump did all he could to engineer a recession,” said Lindsay A. Owens, PhD. https://lnkd.in/df7ag8pa

As President Trump’s approval rating on the economy plunges to new lows and Americans brace themselves for a Trump-manufactured recession, final data from the April University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Survey showed that consumer sentiment fell for the fourth straight month. Year-ahead inflation expectations surged from 5.0% last month to 6.5% this month, the highest reading since 1981 and marking four consecutive months of major increases. Working families are going to bear the brunt of Trump’s self-made recession, while the wealthy thrive. https://lnkd.in/etHMtSiH

Trump’s agenda is clear: high prices for us, and lower taxes for the wealthy. His tariffs will be particularly hard for working people, while the wealthy can save and Republicans seek to slash taxes for those at the top. Our Lindsay A. Owens, PhD joined The Electorette Podcast to discuss the devastating and permanent effects recessions have on working class Americans. Anyone who graduated college in 2008 knows just how permanent and devastating a recession can be. https://lnkd.in/eh6Y2a3Y

The president knew his proposed tariffs might land us in the intensive care unit, but he didn’t want us actually dead. If Trump were on trial for murdering our economy, this would be like his lawyer arguing to the judge that he should be tried for second-degree murder, rather than first degree. ‘Your honor, we concede that the President absolutely planned to beat the living daylights out of us. But he never meant to kill us. I swear.’ Our Lindsay A. Owens, PhD in Rolling Stone on how Trump’s tariffs could put America into a particularly painful recession. https://lnkd.in/eY6ukp4B

Today, new data from the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Survey showed that Americans are panicking about the state of the economy and their financial futures. Consumer sentiment declined another 11% from March, falling even further than expectations. And to top it all off, Trump said he was willing to push the country into a recession over his sweeping tariff policies. “The scariest part of today’s plunging consumer sentiment numbers is that we might be looking at the high-water mark. The president’s reckless trade policies have roiled markets, shattered retirement accounts, and halted shipping orders. We could be looking at price spikes, shortages, and even a recession in the weeks and months to come,” said Lindsay A. Owens, PhD. https://lnkd.in/g569NUCR

New report from Groundwork just dropped! As Congress weighs another multi-trillion dollar tax giveaway for corporations and their wealthy investors, our new policy brief, “Tax Giveaways for Gouging: How the Trump Tax Law Fueled Corporate Profiteering,” details how President Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act emboldened major corporations that provide essential goods like food, housing, and health care to hike prices on consumers while raking in record profits. The brief focuses on 11 major companies that dominate the industries that make up the majority of Americans’ household budgets each month. Despite paying 40% less in taxes since Trump’s first giveaway went into effect, these companies gouged consumers, allowing them to more than double their profits. “The cost-of-living crisis facing American families is the result of deliberate decisions by corporations to hike prices, shrink products, and charge excessive junk fees,” said Elizabeth Pancotti, Managing Director of Policy and Advocacy. “Now, Trump and the GOP want to hand the companies that spent the last several years ripping off working families a gilded trophy for their efforts and a permission slip to continue.”  https://lnkd.in/gUTnKzh6

We’re hiring for two communications positions to join our growing comms team! Early on in your career? We’re seeking a Communications Associate to support our core communications team, focusing on helping to execute Groundwork’s media and digital engagement efforts. More experienced? We’re also looking for a Chief of Communications to serve as a senior leader and chief strategist and help us advance new stories about the economy and who it works for. Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis – apply today! https://lnkd.in/eHMGC3FR

As President Trump prepares for his so-called “Liberation Day” announcement today, he’s claiming that his chaotic tariff policies will bring a “manufacturing boom” to the United States. But if history is any indication, the reality will be far different. After the investment in construction of manufacturing facilities fell in his first term, it skyrocketed over the last four years and has stalled since his return to the White House. A slew of recent manufacturing data shows that Trump’s chaotic approach to the economy is a major liability for manufacturers. https://lnkd.in/eUBGAxJJ

NEW POLLING: Americans say they're worse off under President Trump and are unhappy with his administration's lack of focus on lowering prices. New polling from CBS News reveals a striking shift in how Americans view President Trump’s handling of the economy. In January, 42% of Americans believed the president’s policies would make them better off financially. Now, just over two months into his second term, that number has flipped – 42% believe he’s making them worse off. As Lindsay A. Owens, PhD said: "With prices continuing to rise, tariff threats causing chaos, and the GOP laser-focused on gutting Social Security and Medicaid to pay for billionaire tax breaks, it’s no surprise Americans are worried about where this Administration is headed." https://lnkd.in/e2byutnJ

Americans across the country will take their seats for MLB Opening Day today. However, captive audiences at concerts, baseball games, and airports are sitting ducks for price gougers. The cost of attending major league games is becoming unaffordable for families ($240 for a family of 4) because taxpayer-funded stadiums wield extraordinary – and growing – power to gouge families and consumers at every turn. Our tax dollars fund these venues. The least billionaire sports owners could do is offer their loyal fans affordable concessions. Lawmakers should enact a "street pricing" policy for all publicly funded venues. Check out our new plan to ensure any family can afford the occasional game: https://lnkd.in/edyjyA-V