The “working class” in America used to conjure a vivid image: factory workers, blue-collar jobs and a political coalition born out of the Industrial Revolution. But as Republicans and Democrats try to court voters ahead of midterms, a question keeps coming up: What is the working class today?

On today’s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder talks to Bloomberg Opinion columnist Allison Schrager, labor activist Bertha “Mama Cookie” Bradley and Distinguished Professor of Law Joan C. Williams about the moving target of defining and catering policy to working Americans.

Read more: Nobody Knows What ‘Working Class’ Even Means Anymore


We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.

Hosted by Sarah Holder; Guests: Allison Schrager, Joan C. Williams, Bertha “Mama Cookie” Bradley; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky and Brunella Tipismana Urbano; Edited by Aaron Edwards. Engineering by Emma Munger.

The &ldquo;working class&rdquo; in America used to conjure a vivid image: factory workers, blue-collar jobs and a political coalition born out of the Industrial Revolution. But as Republicans and Democrats try to court voters ahead of midterms, a question keeps coming up: What is the working class today?
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, host Sarah Holder talks to Bloomberg Opinion columnist Allison Schrager, labor activist Bertha &ldquo;Mama Cookie&rdquo; Bradley and Distinguished Professor of Law Joan C. Williams about the moving target of defining and catering policy to working Americans.
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-05-29/graham-platner-doesn-t-know-what-working-class-means-nobody-does">Nobody Knows What &lsquo;Working Class&rsquo; Even Means Anymore </a>
We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/subscriptions/podcasts">Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.</a>
Hosted by Sarah Holder; Guests: Allison Schrager, Joan C. Williams, Bertha &ldquo;Mama Cookie&rdquo; Bradley; Produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky and Brunella Tipismana Urbano; Edited by Aaron Edwards. Engineering by Emma Munger.

The Big Take from Bloomberg News brings you inside what’s shaping the world's economies with the smartest and most informed business reporters around the world. The context you need on the stories that can move markets. Every afternoon.

The Big Take from Bloomberg News brings you inside what’s shaping the world's economies with the smartest and most informed business reporters around the world. The context you need on the stories that can move markets. Every afternoon.

Big Take

Most Americans Say They’re Working Class. Are They?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/35180082-1cef-4800-920d-b4c8014a9ad3/transcript