NEWSNATIONNOW (Andrew Dorn) - Treasury secretary says K-shaped economy is 'over'
The letter "K" has become a popular way to describe uneven economic outcomes between high- and low-income Americans.
NYTIMES (Alan Rappeport) - Bessent Declares Widening Gap Between Rich and Poor ‘Dead’
Despite data to the contrary, the Treasury Secretary made the case that the K-shaped economy no longer exists.
AXIOS (Courtenay Brown) - The K-shaped economic divide might be narrowing
For years, the economy has looked K-shaped . There's new evidence that some of that divide is beginning to narrow. - The wage-growth gap between lower- and middle-income workers has disappeared — with pay gains among lower-income workers nearly matching those of their higher-income counterparts. - Spending growth among lower- and higher-income households is the most similar in years. Why it matters: A resilient labor market is chipping away at one dimension of the K-shaped economy, even as the wealth divide remains firmly intact. Source: Bank of America Institute By the numbers: Bank of America Institute, drawing on anonymized customer deposit account data, estimates that lower-income households saw after-tax wage growth accelerate…
AXIOS (Matt Phillips) - Stocks drive record share of American wealth
Data: Federal Reserve, FactSet ; Note: Includes both directly held stocks and shares held indirectly in mutual funds and ETFs, as a share of total assets of U.S. households and non-profits; Chart: Matt Phillips/Axios Americans are letting it ride, with a record share of their wealth in the stock market. Why it matters: It means that the AI-driven rally is enriching Americans more than usual and exposing them to potentially painful losses from a reversal. State of play: A record 33% of the total wealth of the U.S. household sector was in stocks at the end of 2025, according to Federal Reserve data. - That beats the ~30% during the meme stock-and-SPAC mania of 2021. - And tops the ~27% reached in Q1 2000, just as the internet boom peaked.…
AXIOS (Rebecca Falconer) - Watches, movies and burrito taxis: How Americans splurge in a vibecession
Americans feeling pinched financially are splurging on small treats while economic anxiety and inflation jitters put off larger purchases. Why it matters: From movie tickets to collectible watches , those affordable indulgences are helping sustain consumer spending . - The economy remains in what some economists call a "vibecession," where consumers feel relatively stable personally while pessimistic about the broader economy. - Consumers feel caught between a "combination of rising inflation, slowing after-tax real incomes, and rising credit card debt," Wayne Winegarden, a senior fellow in business and economics at Pacific Research Institute, tells Axios. - In a K-shaped economy, the wealthy can still indulge while lower-income…
YOUTUBE (NewsNation) - Authoritarian rhetoric warning, K-shaped economy, RFK Jr.’s health plan | CUOMO Full Show 2/2
Chris Cuomo says President Trump’s suggestion of “nationalizing” elections ignores the Constitution, which gives states control over election administration, and raises concerns about authoritarian overreach ahead of the midterms. Cuomo argued the rhetoric is also diverting attention from a widening K-shaped economy. NYU professor, author and podcaster Scott Galloway discusses growing economic anxiety and his proposed response, which he calls “Resist and Unsubscribe.” Plus, Criminologist Casey Jordan weighs in on the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of “Today” show anchor Savannah Guthrie. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. discusses the new mental health and addiction initiative aimed at…
YOUTUBE (NewsNation) - Cuomo warns Trump election rhetoric and economic divide signal growing risks | CUOMO
Chris Cuomo said President Trump’s suggestion of “nationalizing” elections ignores the Constitution, which gives states control over election administration, and raises concerns about authoritarian overreach ahead of the midterms. Cuomo argued the rhetoric is also diverting attention from a widening K-shaped economy. Chris Cuomo hosts "CUOMO," a no-nonsense show featuring the day's most important news from all perspectives. "CUOMO" airs weeknights at 8p/7C on NewsNation. #CUOMO NewsNation is your source for fact-based, unbiased news for all Americans.