NPR

Leaders across the region are worried because it could spark a major regional confrontation.

Should the Fed change course and give in to political pressure from either side of the political spectrum, then history does not bode well for US inflation.

The RAND Corporation estimates that over those 50 years, $50 trillion in wealth has been shifted upward to a very small number of people while people at the average level of society have not benefited.

“The United States is a vastly more unequal society today than it was 50 years ago. And that's partly because the power of oligarchs has been so great for the last half-century that the RAND Corporation, for example, estimates that over those 50 years, $50 trillion in wealth has been shifted upward to a very small number of people while people at the average level of society have not benefited.”

There is a risk to having that much visibility, which is, we saw in the gilded age, in the robber baron era, that there was a backlash.

“Yeah, literally right there - there is a risk to having that much visibility, which is, we saw in the gilded age, in the robber baron era, that there was a backlash. So one of the strategies of oligarchs throughout history has been not to be too visible, and that has worked well for them, and visibility has not always worked well.”

People are concerned about the impact.

“But I would say, definitely one of the reasons we and the country are talking about it is, it is incredibly visible, and people are concerned about the impact.”

The billionaires were right there.

“CHANG: I mean, we saw the seating chart at inauguration. It is very visible. The billionaires... WINTERS: Yeah. CHANG: ...Were right there.”

Political scientists have a hard enough time explaining what has happened and trying to predict...

“I'm going to deflect the question by saying, political scientists have a hard enough time explaining what has happened and trying to predict...”

Jeffrey Winters is a professor of political science at Northwestern University.

“Jeffrey Winters is a professor of political science at Northwestern University and joins us now.”

He's also author of the upcoming book called "Domination Through Democracy: Why Oligarchs Win."

“Jeffrey Winters is a professor of political science at Northwestern University. He's also author of the upcoming book called "Domination Through Democracy: Why Oligarchs Win."”

The No. 1 political objective of oligarchs throughout history has been wealth defense, defending their fortunes from redistribution.

“Well, OK. It might be personal, but it is the deploying of it in politics. So let me give you an example. There might be an oligarch who feels very strongly about abortion policy, but they're using that money power in the political system to sway the political outcome. That's one, but overwhelmingly, what you refer to is correct, which is - the No. 1 political objective of oligarchs throughout history has been wealth defense, defending their fortunes from redistribution.”

He has been conducting a "Fighting Oligarchy Tour" around the U.S. for much of this year.

We're the only major country on Earth that doesn't guarantee health care to all people despite spending twice as much as most countries.

“We're the only major country on Earth that doesn't guarantee health care to all people despite spending twice as much as most countries.”

Democrats should not be proud of: And that is in the richest country in the history of the world, 60% of the American people living paycheck to paycheck.

“And that is in the richest country in the history of the world, 60% of the American people living paycheck to paycheck.”

In America today, one guy, Elon Musk, owns more wealth than the bottom 53% of American households.

“In America today, one guy, Elon Musk, owns more wealth than the bottom 53% of American households.”

Sixty thousand people a year die because they don't get to a doctor on time.

“Sixty thousand people a year die because they don't get to a doctor on time.”

Democrats need to put up candidates who can channel the anger of voters who are worried about recent moves by President Trump.

“Democrats need to put up candidates who can channel the anger of voters who are worried about recent moves by President Trump.”

Support for this right-wing agenda is about a proposal which will give over, if passed, over $1 trillion in tax breaks to the top 1% and allow for massive cuts to Medicaid, nutrition, housing and other programs.

“I think support for this right-wing agenda, which is not only about authoritarianism and oligarchy, it is about a proposal which will give over, if passed, over $1 trillion in tax breaks to the top 1% and allow for massive cuts to Medicaid, nutrition, housing and other programs,”

80-90% of the American people think that that is totally insane.

“If you poll that, I would guess that 80-90% of the American people think that that is totally insane.”

Sanders on Friday argued the case to a crowd in West Virginia – a state that Trump won overwhelmingly – that the Democratic Party has turned its back on the working class.

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