AI is generating a new wave of US populism. It could be a tipping point | Robert Reich
AI has become Exhibit A.Until recently, both parties largely avoided criticizing the wealthy corporate elites that funded their campaigns. According to last week’s Times-Sienna poll, when likely voters were asked which party the word “elitist” describes, a remarkable 43% said Republicans while 33% said Democrats.This is something of a return to how the US’s two major political parties used to be seen. Robert Reich, a former US secretary of labor, is a professor of public policy emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley.
- ▪AI has become Exhibit A.Until recently, both parties largely avoided criticizing the wealthy corporate elites that funded their campaigns.
- ▪According to last week’s Times-Sienna poll, when likely voters were asked which party the word “elitist” describes, a remarkable 43% said Republicans while 33% said Democrats.This is something of a return to how the US’s two major political
- ▪Robert Reich, a former US secretary of labor, is a professor of public policy emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley.
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| Original publisher | The Guardian — US |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/sep/22/ai-economic-populism-tipping-point |
| Publication time | Tue, 22 Sep 2026 10:00:52 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-09-22T10:13:50.749Z |
| Last seen | 2026-09-22T10:13:50.749Z |
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‘AI is on the way to causing far more inequality – generating billions for its backers while reducing the number of jobs and real wages.’ Photograph: David A Lieb/APView image in fullscreen‘AI is on the way to causing far more inequality – generating billions for its backers while reducing the number of jobs and real wages.’ Photograph: David A Lieb/APOpinionAI (artificial intelligence)AI is generating a new wave of economic populism. It could be a tipping pointRobert ReichIt’s becoming obvious to many Americans that corporations have been raking it in while workers take it on the chinTue 22 Sep 2026 06.00 EDTLast modified on Tue 22 Sep 2026 06.06 EDTShareLast week, the unlikely duo of Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon both spoke before a Washington group demanding a stop to AI and its…
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