Summary
The Midwest is grappling with a significant affordability crisis, as rising costs of living weigh heavily on residents' financial stability. With the midterm elections approaching, voters in states like Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, and Iowa express growing concerns about their ability to afford basic necessities such as housing, food, and healthcare. Many individuals report having to take on additional jobs or rely on credit cards to manage their expenses, highlighting a shift in the region's economic landscape, which was once considered more affordable than coastal areas.
Interviews reveal that food prices have surged, with staples like beef increasing nearly 12% year-over-year. Residents are struggling to keep up with these rising costs, with many feeling the pinch even if they previously considered themselves financially stable. The median income in the Midwest, approximately $47,000, is not keeping pace with inflation, leading to a sense of desperation among families. The situation is compounded by increasing energy costs, daycare expenses, and stagnant wages, prompting many to reevaluate their spending habits and financial priorities.
As election candidates address various issues, affordability remains a critical concern for voters. While some candidates, like Kansas gubernatorial hopeful Cindy Holscher, advocate for raising the minimum wage, many residents feel that political discourse has not adequately addressed their financial struggles. Polls indicate that affordability is a top concern for voters, transcending party lines, as individuals seek tangible solutions to their economic challenges. The upcoming elections may serve as a pivotal moment for voters to express their frustrations and hopes for change in a region that is increasingly feeling the strain of financial pressures.
Show Notes
The Midwest used to be known as an affordable place to live. Lately, though, many people there are having a hard time making ends meet. In this episode of The Sunday Story, Holly Edgell and Daniel Wheaton from NPR’s Midwest Newsroom bring us the voices of Midwesterners. We hear about how people in the region are struggling financially, and how the affordability crisis is impacting their votes in the midterms.
You can hear more of the “Costly” series here
Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
More from Up First from NPR
AI discovered a vulnerability in part of the internet's architecture, called PHP2SHELL. Security researchers rushed to fix it, but the news leaked and hackers have swooped in. France deploys hordes of police as another wave of protests begin. Netflix is regrouping after the release of its latest quarterly earnings this week. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.
The U.S. is sending a third aircraft carrier to the Middle East as oil prices climb and the prospect of another attack on Iran grows. More than 19 million Americans have already voted, with strong turnout among Democrats and voters of color, but the numbers can’t tell us who will win. A judge has ordered President Trump to testify in his $10 billion defamation case against the BBC, potentially forcing him to answer questions about his finances and January 6.
Democrats are sending former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Kamala Harris into competitive Senate races to help the party win in Republican territory. NPR has learned the U.S. and Israel are preparing for a possible attack on Iran after the midterms, while Americans face settler violence and military arrests in the West Bank. Tesla and SpaceX are exploring a merger that could create one of the world’s largest companies and give Elon Musk even greater control over his sprawling business empire.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is trying to repair ties with Washington as President Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff carries new peace proposals to Russia. President Trump is campaigning in North Carolina as Republicans struggle in key races and he ties federal relief promises to the outcome of the midterms. Britain is sending fighter jets to help Saudi Arabia defend against Houthi attacks as the war disrupts the kingdom’s economy and deepens the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
1Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is taking his concerns about delayed U.S. weapons and intelligence directly to Congress as lawmakers in both parties question President Trump’s approach to Russia. Republicans are spending heavily to defend traditionally conservative territory as Democrats expand the midterm map two weeks before Election Day. The Justice Department has charged 28 California voters it says are noncitizens while asking a federal judge to stop thousands of other ballots from being counted.