On Tuesday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) argued that widespread financial insecurity in the United States reflects a political system disconnected from working Americans who are struggling to afford basic living costs.

In a post on X, Sanders said roughly "60% of our people live paycheck to paycheck," using the figure to underscore what he described as a growing cost-of-living crisis. He paired the message with a clip in which he said many Americans feel ignored by policymakers in Washington.

"All over this country, working people are hurting," Sanders said in the video. He added, "Does anybody in Washington know that I am alive? Does anybody know that I can't afford health care, I can't afford child care?" He added that many families are also anxious about the future of work amid advances in artificial intelligence and rising costs.

Sanders argued that despite the U.S. being "the richest country in the history of the world," most households still lack financial stability. He also criticized political leaders and media institutions, saying the struggles of working Americans are not discussed enough in Congress or in mainstream coverage.

Last week, the U.S. economy was growing below its potential, according to Moody's Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi. Zandi said economic growth remained below long-term capacity, estimating about 2% GDP growth in the second quarter while cautioning that tariffs, immigration limits and geopolitical tensions were weighing on performance. He added that household finances and inflation concerns were already straining the economy.

Economist Peter Schiff argued inflation was driven more by federal deficits and Federal Reserve policy than tariffs or conflict, saying government borrowing and monetary intervention were the main long-term pressures on prices.

Gov. JB Pritzker (D-Ill) blamed President Donald Trump's tariffs and Republican policies for higher costs, saying Americans were facing rising prices for everyday essentials and pointing to state-level efforts to reduce expenses through tax and fee relief.

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