Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer

This week, Gregg Colburn, co-author of "Homelessness is a Housing Problem," joins Nick and Goldy to dissect the complex factors fueling America’s homelessness crisis. Colburn presents compelling evidence that challenges common misconceptions around homelessness, revealing that it stems primarily from the rising costs of housing rather than issues like addiction or mental illness. He explains that evidence shows comprehensive strategies—combining affordable housing, rental assistance, and supportive services—can meaningfully reduce numbers in the unhoused population. While acknowledging the long-term nature of the challenge, Colburn reframes housing as essential infrastructure, calls for big investments in building more housing units, and offers a compelling, data-driven case for rethinking America’s approach to homelessness and housing affordability. Gregg Colburn is an associate professor of real estate at the University of Washington’s College of Built Environments. He publishes research on topics related to housing and homelessness and is co-author of the book Homelessness is a Housing Problem: How Structural Factors Explain U.S. Patterns. Professor Colburn is co-chair of the University of Washington’s Homelessness Research Initiative and is a member of the National Alliance to End Homelessness Research Council. Further reading:  Homelessness is a Housing Problem: How Structural Factors Explain U.S. Patterns  [https://bookshop.org/a/101360/9780520383784] Website: http://pitchforkeconomics.com [http://pitchforkeconomics.com/] Instagram: @pitchforkeconomics [https://www.instagram.com/pitchforkeconomics/?hl=en] Threads: pitchforkeconomics [https://www.threads.net/@pitchforkeconomics] Bluesky: @pitchforkeconomics.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/pitchforkeconomics.bsky.social] Twitter: @PitchforkEcon [https://twitter.com/PitchforkEcon], @NickHanauer [https://twitter.com/nickhanauer?lang=en], @civicaction [https://twitter.com/civicaction] YouTube: @pitchforkeconomics [https://www.youtube.com/@pitchforkeconomics] LinkedIn: Pitchfork Economics [https://www.linkedin.com/company/pitchfork-economics/] Substack: The Pitch [https://civicventures.substack.com/]

This week, Nick and Goldy discuss the concept of social housing with Vox Policy Correspondent Rachel Cohen. They explore how local government investments in mixed-income housing can keep cities affordable for the middle class. Drawing from her reporting, Cohen spotlights the innovative social housing experiment in Montgomery County, Maryland, which demonstrates how well-designed public housing can rival private market options without falling prey to stigma or inefficiency. They also explore the financial benefits of publicly owned housing and its potential to alleviate the widespread housing crisis by providing a sustainable, scalable solution that benefits low- and middle-income earners by delivering lasting affordability. Rachel Cohen is a policy correspondent for Vox Media. She focuses on U.S. social policy, covering issues such as education, abortion, economic policy, and housing. Rachel has been covering social policy issues for more than a decade, with her reporting published in more than two dozen national outlets, including the New York Times, the Atlantic, Bloomberg, the Daily Beast, and the Washington Post. Social Media: @rmc031 [https://twitter.com/rmc031] @rachelmcohen.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/rachelmcohen.bsky.social] Further reading:  What if public housing were for everyone? [https://www.vox.com/policy/2024/2/10/24065342/social-housing-public-housing-affordable-crisis] One possible housing crisis solution? A new kind of public housing for all income levels [https://www.npr.org/2024/10/07/nx-s1-5119633/housing-crisis-solution-public-housing-mixed-income-maryland] An Innovative Financing Model for Affordable Housing [https://www.probuilder.com/design/house-styles/multifamily/article/55229177/an-innovative-financing-model-for-affordable-housing] Website: http://pitchforkeconomics.com [http://pitchforkeconomics.com/] Instagram: @pitchforkeconomics [https://www.instagram.com/pitchforkeconomics/?hl=en] Threads: pitchforkeconomics [https://www.threads.net/@pitchforkeconomics] Bluesky: @pitchforkeconomics.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/pitchforkeconomics.bsky.social] Twitter: @PitchforkEcon [https://twitter.com/PitchforkEcon], @NickHanauer [https://twitter.com/nickhanauer?lang=en], @civicaction [https://twitter.com/civicaction] YouTube: @pitchforkeconomics [https://www.youtube.com/@pitchforkeconomics] LinkedIn: Pitchfork Economics [https://www.linkedin.com/company/pitchfork-economics/] Substack: The Pitch [https://civicventures.substack.com/]

This week, Nick And Goldy are joined by Faiz Shakir, Executive Director of A More Perfect Union, to discuss the shocking revelation of an international oil price-fixing conspiracy. Their conversation explores how the collusion between American oil companies and the foreign nations that make up OPEC significantly contributed to inflation, costing American families between $500 and $1,000 annually. Shakir explains how the Federal Trade Commission uncovered this conspiracy and highlights the urgent need for increased regulatory oversight and harsher penalties to protect consumers from corporate malpractice. Faiz Shakir is the Executive Director of the nonprofit education, advocacy, and journalism organization, More Perfect Union, and former campaign manager of Senator Bernie Sanders’ 2020 Presidential Campaign. Prior to his work with Senator Sanders, Shakir held various leadership positions within the Democratic Party and progressive organizations, working to advance social and economic justice issues. Social Media:  @faiz.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/faiz.bsky.social] @fshakir [https://x.com/fshakir] @perfectunion [https://www.instagram.com/perfectunion/] @moreperfectunion.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/moreperfectunion.bsky.social] @MorePerfectUS [https://x.com/MorePerfectUS] Further reading:  An Oil Price-Fixing Conspiracy Caused 27% of All Inflation Increases in 2021 [https://www.thebignewsletter.com/p/an-oil-price-fixing-conspiracy-caused] A 2024 Timeline of Big Oil Greed  [https://timepath.co/timelines/public/qcYcnXJtAYd232vCVEv4] House Democrats investigate whether Big Oil colluded with OPEC to inflate gas prices [https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/22/investing/opec-exxon-investigation/index.html] The Truth Behind the Latest Oil Price-Fixing Scandal [https://newrepublic.com/article/181334/exxon-scott-sheffield-price-fixing-ftc] Gas Price Fixing Scandal Grows as Another US Oil Exec 'Caught Colluding With OPEC' [https://www.commondreams.org/news/ftc-oil-price-fixing] Website: http://pitchforkeconomics.com [http://pitchforkeconomics.com/] Instagram: @pitchforkeconomics [https://www.instagram.com/pitchforkeconomics/?hl=en] Threads: pitchforkeconomics [https://www.threads.net/@pitchforkeconomics] Bluesky: @pitchforkeconomics.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/pitchforkeconomics.bsky.social] Twitter: @PitchforkEcon [https://twitter.com/PitchforkEcon], @NickHanauer [https://twitter.com/nickhanauer?lang=en], @civicaction [https://twitter.com/civicaction] YouTube: @pitchforkeconomics [https://www.youtube.com/@pitchforkeconomics] LinkedIn: Pitchfork Economics [https://www.linkedin.com/company/pitchfork-economics/] Substack: The Pitch [https://civicventures.substack.com/]

This week, Natalie Foster, co-founder of the Economic Security Project, joins Nick and Goldy to discuss her book The Guarantee: Inside the Fight for America's Next Economy. Foster argues that as the world’s wealthiest nation, the U.S. can ensure a basic economic floor for all by guaranteeing essentials like housing, healthcare, higher education, family care, good jobs, and income, regardless of race, religion, or location. Foster explains how giving people money might just be the key to growing the economy for everyone. Their wide-ranging conversation covers topics including the wealth gap, housing affordability, baby bonds, and the political dynamics surrounding guarantee programs. Natalie Foster is the president and co-founder of the Economic Security Project and author of the book The Guarantee: Inside the Fight for America’s Next Economy. Natalie previously founded the sharing economy community Peers, and co-founded Rebuild the Dream, and served as Digital Director for President Obama’s Organizing for America. Twitter: @nataliefoster [https://twitter.com/nataliefoster] Further reading: The Guarantee: Inside the Fight for America’s Next Economy [https://bookshop.org/a/101360/9781620978467] Website: http://pitchforkeconomics.com [http://pitchforkeconomics.com/] Twitter: @PitchforkEcon [https://twitter.com/PitchforkEcon], @NickHanauer [https://twitter.com/nickhanauer?lang=en], @civicaction [https://twitter.com/civicaction] Instagram: @pitchforkeconomics [https://www.instagram.com/pitchforkeconomics/?hl=en] Threads: pitchforkeconomics [https://www.threads.net/@pitchforkeconomics] YouTube: @pitchforkeconomics [https://www.youtube.com/@pitchforkeconomics] Substack: The Pitch [https://civicventures.substack.com/]

Voting is the cornerstone of a functioning democracy, yet access to the ballot is increasingly under threat in America. No matter who wins the Presidential race, it should be a priority to strengthen and expand accessible and secure voting. This election day, we’re revisiting a conversation we had in 2021 with Andrea Hailey, CEO of Vote.org, where we unpack the ongoing fight for voting rights and discuss how restrictive policies disproportionately impact marginalized communities. Hailey shares insights into the tools and strategies we can all use to ensure that every American has an equal voice at the polls. She also explains why voting access matters more than ever and how we can stand up for democracy by defending the right to vote. This episode originally aired on October 21, 2021. [https://pitchforkeconomics.com/episode/how-to-stand-up-for-voting-rights-with-andrea-hailey/] Andrea Hailey is the CEO of Vote.org, the nation’s largest nonpartisan digital voter engagement organization. Twitter: @votedotorg [https://x.com/votedotorg] See what’s on your ballot  [https://www.vote.org/ballot-information/] Sign up to get election reminders [https://www.vote.org/election-reminders/] Website: http://pitchforkeconomics.com [http://pitchforkeconomics.com/] Twitter: @PitchforkEcon [https://twitter.com/PitchforkEcon], @NickHanauer [https://twitter.com/nickhanauer?lang=en], @civicaction [https://twitter.com/civicaction] Instagram: @pitchforkeconomics [https://www.instagram.com/pitchforkeconomics/?hl=en] Threads: pitchforkeconomics [https://www.threads.net/@pitchforkeconomics] YouTube: @pitchforkeconomics [https://www.youtube.com/@pitchforkeconomics] Substack: The Pitch [https://civicventures.substack.com/]