Elizabeth Wilkins
@elizabethwwilkins.bsky.social
President, Roosevelt Institute, Roosevelt Forward. Proud Biden FTC, WH and DC AG alum. All views are my own.
November 24, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Even @washingtonpost.com says so: "In an era defined by major political divisions and massive wealth accumulation for the richest Americans, billionaires are spending unprecedented amounts on U.S. politics. . . . wealth is now more concentrated at the very top than at any time since the Gilded Age."
From The Washington Post:
The concentration of wealth among the richest Americans is unlike anything in history — and so is billionaires’ influence in politics.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
The concentration of wealth among the richest Americans is unlike anything in history — and so is billionaires’ influence in politics.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
November 21, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Even @washingtonpost.com says so: "In an era defined by major political divisions and massive wealth accumulation for the richest Americans, billionaires are spending unprecedented amounts on U.S. politics. . . . wealth is now more concentrated at the very top than at any time since the Gilded Age."
Larry Summers’s time came and went a long time ago. Just like we need new ideas, we also need new thought leaders who put people, their pain and their wants and needs, at the center of their policy. Forward not backward. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
After decades of power, Washington shuns Larry Summers over Epstein ties
Larry Summers helped shape U.S. economic policy for decades. His close friendship with Jeffrey Epstein scuttled much of that legacy.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Larry Summers’s time came and went a long time ago. Just like we need new ideas, we also need new thought leaders who put people, their pain and their wants and needs, at the center of their policy. Forward not backward. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
This story is honestly insane. Faraway investors buying up Detroit homes and turning them into crypto tokens; letting housing fall into disrepair, and evicting residents. This is what happens in an extraction economy.
Housing + Private Equity = A recipe for profit over people.
As urgency grows around housing and affordability, we peel back the curtain on an issue impacting hundreds of Detroit residents: housing as a digital investment asset.
https://bit.ly/4o1ISIg
As urgency grows around housing and affordability, we peel back the curtain on an issue impacting hundreds of Detroit residents: housing as a digital investment asset.
https://bit.ly/4o1ISIg
November 18, 2025 at 8:31 PM
This story is honestly insane. Faraway investors buying up Detroit homes and turning them into crypto tokens; letting housing fall into disrepair, and evicting residents. This is what happens in an extraction economy.
Must read: how a PE corporate landlord’s business model is to raise the rent to the optimal profit price and aggressively evicting people: www.thenation.com/article/soci...
The Eviction Kings
One of Israel’s biggest companies is taking over huge swaths of US real estate—and tenants are paying the price.
www.thenation.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Must read: how a PE corporate landlord’s business model is to raise the rent to the optimal profit price and aggressively evicting people: www.thenation.com/article/soci...
This is what true public service looks like: Fighting like hell with every tool in the toolbox to return money but also power and dignity to people, and to hold a abusers to account. Bravo.
At our convening on the future of government on Monday, @pkryan.bsky.social shared how he pushed for accountability—and won—after a massive utility’s billing errors cost residents in his district millions of dollars.
November 7, 2025 at 2:01 AM
This is what true public service looks like: Fighting like hell with every tool in the toolbox to return money but also power and dignity to people, and to hold a abusers to account. Bravo.
This year’s data on first time homebuyers is only worse. No wonder the student I talked to didn’t have any hope of owning a home. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/r...
November 6, 2025 at 2:46 PM
This year’s data on first time homebuyers is only worse. No wonder the student I talked to didn’t have any hope of owning a home. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/r...
I love public radio, I love Michigan, and I love the possibilities for government to play a transformative role in people's lives. But we have a lot of work to do to get it there. Check out my recent interview on this. 1/2
President and CEO @elizabethwwilkins.bsky.social joined Stateside with @aprilbaerradio.bsky.social during her trip to Michigan last week to discuss how we can build a more effective government.
As she states, “ we cannot build back what we had before.”
As she states, “ we cannot build back what we had before.”
October 31, 2025 at 7:20 PM
I love public radio, I love Michigan, and I love the possibilities for government to play a transformative role in people's lives. But we have a lot of work to do to get it there. Check out my recent interview on this. 1/2
“There’s all sorts of terrible, dystopian scenarios you can imagine with crypto in real estate” For Detroiters who just want a livable home, that dystopia of evictions and faceless, unaccountable landlords is already here. 1/ outliermedia.org/crypto-real-...
The real estate scheme gobbling up Detroit, one digital token at a time
RealT sells pieces of hundreds of Detroit rentals, often in cryptocurrency, to overseas investors. Tenants are the guinea pigs.
outliermedia.org
October 23, 2025 at 10:51 PM
“There’s all sorts of terrible, dystopian scenarios you can imagine with crypto in real estate” For Detroiters who just want a livable home, that dystopia of evictions and faceless, unaccountable landlords is already here. 1/ outliermedia.org/crypto-real-...
Reposted by Elizabeth Wilkins
The cost of living crisis is hitting families at every turn—pricing people out of even our most beloved social and cultural activities.
Our president and CEO’s take on the impact, both social and economic, of skyrocketing costs of tickets for sporting events👇
Our president and CEO’s take on the impact, both social and economic, of skyrocketing costs of tickets for sporting events👇
I'm not a sports fan. But this is outrageous. Ticket prices are going up according to three rules of sports econ. 1: Sell fewer tickets for more, don't care if your seats are empty. 2: Use data to charge each fan exactly what they're willing to pay. 3: More uber premium seats. 1/
October 23, 2025 at 8:20 PM
The cost of living crisis is hitting families at every turn—pricing people out of even our most beloved social and cultural activities.
Our president and CEO’s take on the impact, both social and economic, of skyrocketing costs of tickets for sporting events👇
Our president and CEO’s take on the impact, both social and economic, of skyrocketing costs of tickets for sporting events👇
Spent yesterday at UMich talking to law students and undergrads about what the economy looks like to them, what kind of lives they want to lead, and what barriers they see to creating that life. What I heard was both heartbreaking and hopeful. 1/
October 23, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Spent yesterday at UMich talking to law students and undergrads about what the economy looks like to them, what kind of lives they want to lead, and what barriers they see to creating that life. What I heard was both heartbreaking and hopeful. 1/
I'm not a sports fan. But this is outrageous. Ticket prices are going up according to three rules of sports econ. 1: Sell fewer tickets for more, don't care if your seats are empty. 2: Use data to charge each fan exactly what they're willing to pay. 3: More uber premium seats. 1/
October 23, 2025 at 11:59 AM
I'm not a sports fan. But this is outrageous. Ticket prices are going up according to three rules of sports econ. 1: Sell fewer tickets for more, don't care if your seats are empty. 2: Use data to charge each fan exactly what they're willing to pay. 3: More uber premium seats. 1/
Lunch today with policymakers from across Michigan made it clear to me that we need different kinds of leader in this moment: Ones who listen deeply, act boldly and creatively, aren’t afraid to talk across difference and make mistakes in order to be of service.
October 23, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Lunch today with policymakers from across Michigan made it clear to me that we need different kinds of leader in this moment: Ones who listen deeply, act boldly and creatively, aren’t afraid to talk across difference and make mistakes in order to be of service.
Michigan is a bellwether for public policy. The Trump administration’s robinhood-in-reverse tax policy isn’t landing. What Michiganders want: to tax the rich and invest in the public good. New @freep op-ed from me and @bilalb.bsky.social: www.freep.com/story/opinio...
Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill is wrecking Michigan’s middle class | Opinion
Trump promised to save post-industrial Michigan. Instead, he gave tax cuts to millionaires.
www.freep.com
October 22, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Michigan is a bellwether for public policy. The Trump administration’s robinhood-in-reverse tax policy isn’t landing. What Michiganders want: to tax the rich and invest in the public good. New @freep op-ed from me and @bilalb.bsky.social: www.freep.com/story/opinio...
I’m a DC native so I think my city sometimes gets a bad rap. That said, sometimes we gotta get out of here. We’ve got leaders everywhere who listen to their neighbors—their problems, their dreams—and deliver bold results, and Washington needs to take their cue. SO…
October 22, 2025 at 10:26 AM
I’m a DC native so I think my city sometimes gets a bad rap. That said, sometimes we gotta get out of here. We’ve got leaders everywhere who listen to their neighbors—their problems, their dreams—and deliver bold results, and Washington needs to take their cue. SO…
“For-profit media conglomerates are accountable first and foremost to their shareholders, not to the tradition of free speech that is the lifeblood of their industry and American democracy.” And when those shareholders find it in their interest to deal with a strongman, we are the ones who lose.
If we don’t start treating our media system as core democratic infrastructure, we’re in real trouble. Hyper consolidated media conglomerates are accountable to their shareholders, not to the free expression that is the lifeblood of their industry and our democracy. My latest:
Last night, Kimmel returned to ABC—except in the ~25% of markets controlled by Nexstar & Sinclair. As broadcasters like Nexstar pursue mergers, the FCC may be signaling that approval requires loyalty. @bilalb.bsky.social on how consolidation magnifies threats to free speech: https://bit.ly/4myICQe
September 24, 2025 at 10:38 PM
“For-profit media conglomerates are accountable first and foremost to their shareholders, not to the tradition of free speech that is the lifeblood of their industry and American democracy.” And when those shareholders find it in their interest to deal with a strongman, we are the ones who lose.
The crypto lobby is pushing bills that most of us don’t even understand, but that would rip a hole in our financial regulatory system. Check out our explainers. Get educated because these markets should work for us, not for them.
Congress is rewriting the rules of crypto—and the stakes couldn’t be higher. In our new explainer, Brad Lipton explains why new bills moving through Congress could open dangerous loopholes in our financial system. 🧵1/3 rooseveltinstitute.org/blog/what-is...
September 24, 2025 at 10:33 PM
The crypto lobby is pushing bills that most of us don’t even understand, but that would rip a hole in our financial regulatory system. Check out our explainers. Get educated because these markets should work for us, not for them.
Talking about the kind of policy and governance that can truly deliver for people and restore faith in our political system with @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social - a real pleasure.
Last weekend, I was thrilled to spend an evening with Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz, Anya Schiffrin and a group of brilliant policy minds they gathered to discuss a range of issues facing our city.
September 23, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Talking about the kind of policy and governance that can truly deliver for people and restore faith in our political system with @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social - a real pleasure.
👇🏾right here. We need to understand the machine behind the machine - corporate consolidation means fewer heads to knock together when out of control state power comes knocking. It means a small group of wealthy individuals doing deals with a corrupt set of leaders. Consolidation is bad for democracy.
Yesterday, a late-night show vanished with a simple directive from 2 of the largest media companies you’ve never heard of (Nexstar & Sinclair), backed by the FCC. That’s not “the market at work.” It’s concentrated corporate power cooperating with an authoritarian. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/b...
ABC Pulls Jimmy Kimmel Off Air for Charlie Kirk Comments After F.C.C. Pressure
www.nytimes.com
September 18, 2025 at 8:45 PM
👇🏾right here. We need to understand the machine behind the machine - corporate consolidation means fewer heads to knock together when out of control state power comes knocking. It means a small group of wealthy individuals doing deals with a corrupt set of leaders. Consolidation is bad for democracy.
Reposted by Elizabeth Wilkins
For decades, an elite few have amassed wealth & power taking away resources & influence from the working class majority.
@elizabethwwilkins.bsky.social writes about how the disconnect between policy & lived experience has created a populist moment—& emphasizes the direction we take now is critical.
@elizabethwwilkins.bsky.social writes about how the disconnect between policy & lived experience has created a populist moment—& emphasizes the direction we take now is critical.
September 14, 2025 at 7:17 PM
For decades, an elite few have amassed wealth & power taking away resources & influence from the working class majority.
@elizabethwwilkins.bsky.social writes about how the disconnect between policy & lived experience has created a populist moment—& emphasizes the direction we take now is critical.
@elizabethwwilkins.bsky.social writes about how the disconnect between policy & lived experience has created a populist moment—& emphasizes the direction we take now is critical.
Reposted by Elizabeth Wilkins
To make sure AI serves workers we need bold action: corporate regulation, worker voice + sectoral bargaining.
More on AI and power from the @rooseveltinstitute.org @elizabethwwilkins.bsky.social in this post for the @eop.aspeninstitute.org: www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/w... #FutureOfWork
More on AI and power from the @rooseveltinstitute.org @elizabethwwilkins.bsky.social in this post for the @eop.aspeninstitute.org: www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/w... #FutureOfWork
Worker Power in the Age of AI Monopolies: Why We Need Structural Solutions Now
Elizabeth Wilkins
www.aspeninstitute.org
September 16, 2025 at 12:04 AM
To make sure AI serves workers we need bold action: corporate regulation, worker voice + sectoral bargaining.
More on AI and power from the @rooseveltinstitute.org @elizabethwwilkins.bsky.social in this post for the @eop.aspeninstitute.org: www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/w... #FutureOfWork
More on AI and power from the @rooseveltinstitute.org @elizabethwwilkins.bsky.social in this post for the @eop.aspeninstitute.org: www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/w... #FutureOfWork
Reposted by Elizabeth Wilkins
The New Right
September 6, 2025 at 12:30 AM
The New Right
I mean, they’re asking for more public comment. But we already heard from 26,000 people. How can we not agree that workers — all workers, everywhere, without waiting for a lawsuit that’s likely never to happen — should be free?
🧵It looks like the FTC will address noncompete clauses case by case. But that’s no answer to this broad array of harms caused by these manipulative employment terms.
President and CEO @elizabethwwilkins.bsky.social wrote about why in her recent op-ed:
otherwords.org/employers-wa...
President and CEO @elizabethwwilkins.bsky.social wrote about why in her recent op-ed:
otherwords.org/employers-wa...
Employers Want to Trap You in Dead-End Jobs. Will Trump’s FTC Help Them? - OtherWords
I worked for the Federal Trade Commission when we banned employers from trapping workers with “noncompete clauses.” Now that victory is in danger.
otherwords.org
September 5, 2025 at 6:59 PM
I mean, they’re asking for more public comment. But we already heard from 26,000 people. How can we not agree that workers — all workers, everywhere, without waiting for a lawsuit that’s likely never to happen — should be free?
Reposted by Elizabeth Wilkins
Great insights in this piece and a solid plan for rebuilding an economy that works for people. Thanks for citing Equitable Growth's research, @elizabethwwilkins.bsky.social!
The market-first consensus has collapsed—leaving stagnant wages, rising costs, and hollowed-out communities. CEO @elizabethwwilkins.bsky.social in Democracy Journal argues: the choice ahead is authoritarian decline or a democratic economy that delivers. democracyjournal.org/magazine/78/...
Winning a People-Powered Future
By bringing the public into the policymaking process, we can shape a better economy and rebuild faith in democracy.
democracyjournal.org
September 4, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Great insights in this piece and a solid plan for rebuilding an economy that works for people. Thanks for citing Equitable Growth's research, @elizabethwwilkins.bsky.social!