Everything Else Is Just Noise — It’s the Economy, Stupid

(Revolver)—Most people don’t want to curl up and read another boring think piece about “how the economy is doing.” Most people don’t care what Wall Street says or how the Fed spins it. They care about their rent, groceries, job security, and whether they can take a breath without stressing over their bank account.

That’s why this new focus group data, shared with Semafor, actually matters. Because for once, we’re hearing from real people, not analysts. And the findings are not shocking, but it’s a wake-up call. It turns out Americans across the board are fed up. They don’t feel secure, they don’t feel heard, and they sure as hell don’t feel optimistic.

Semafor:

American voters are “extremely pessimistic” about the economy regardless of their age, gender or race… Four in five participants said they did not feel financially secure, while nine in 10 said they think the economy is getting worse. They said they blame “greedy corporations” and view politicians as “in bed” with them.

But here’s the thing: this isn’t just some messaging problem that a PR firm can fix. It’s a disconnect between how DC measures success and how regular people actually “experience” it. The political class might be patting themselves on the back, but voters aren’t buying it and they don’t feel “heard.” The Semafor piece goes on:

Politicians in both parties … measure the economy [by] the stock market or unemployment rate or inflation,” Brown said. “That’s not how the voters think about it; that’s not how workers think about it.

What this focus group data really shows is something the right and President Trump can’t ignore. The economy isn’t just an issue. It’s the issue.

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