Podcast Summary

Podcast: The Majority Report with Sam Seder
Host: Emma Vigeland (filling in for Sam Seder), with Matt and Brian
Episode: 3533 - Trump Devours Thanksgiving Budgets; Major Special Election In Tennessee w/ Liz Pancotti
Date: November 26, 2025

Overview

This episode blends sharp political analysis and real-life economic concerns at the dawn of the 2025 holiday season. Emma Vigeland is in the host chair, joined by Matt and Brian, for a look at the economic and political anxieties facing Americans under the Trump administration. The centerpiece is a detailed discussion with Liz Pancotti of Groundwork Collaborative on their new report: "Trump is devouring Americans’ Thanksgiving budgets," which reveals a 10% increase in Thanksgiving meal costs. Other topics include escalating ICE detention, anti-immigrant crackdowns, labor exploitation, grassroots organizing (with a notable DSA speech), and a high-stakes special election in Tennessee.

Key Discussion Points

1. Trump's Economic Impact on Everyday Life

Thanksgiving Costs Skyrocket

• [31:35] Interview with Liz Pancotti on Groundwork Collaborative analysis: Thanksgiving meal prices are up nearly 10% this year.
• Some Thanksgiving staples (onions +60%, cranberry sauce +22%, spiral hams +50%) have seen especially sharp price increases.
• Frozen turkey prices are stable, but fresh turkeys are up 40%. Budget shoppers face fewer choices and higher costs.

Quote [32:30] – Liz Pancotti:
"Onions are up almost 60%. And cranberry sauce, my favorite thing on the Thanksgiving table, is up 22%. And if you hate turkey, you're really screwed. This year we find that spiral hams are up 50%. So lots to be thankful for this year in Trump's economy."

Dissecting Competing Statistics

• Walmart’s claim that “Thanksgiving dinner is cheaper this year” is debunked: they swapped out name brands and used canned goods instead of fresh. The American Farm Bureau Federation’s stats are based on flawed volunteer surveys and aren’t representative.
• Groundwork’s data uses scanner records (Nielsen), covering about half of all US grocery purchases for a more accurate picture.

Causes: Tariffs, Supply Chains, Corporate Profiteering

• Tariffs on aluminum, steel, glass, and food imports directly impact canned foods, wine, and beer.
• Labor shortages, ICE crackdowns, and attacks on immigrant workers are driving up produce and meat prices—especially affecting sectors that rely on immigrant labor.
• "Prices shoot up like a rocket and come down like a feather”—corporate price gouging is rampant, and companies are slow or unwilling to lower prices even after costs decrease.

Quote [45:07] – Liz Pancotti (citing economist Isabella Weber):
“Prices shoot up like a rocket and come down like a feather. There is really nothing going to force these companies... to bring [prices] down.”

Real-World Suffering: Polling and Public Sentiment

• [41:19] Polling via Data for Progress: 65% of Americans are stressed about affording Thanksgiving; 10% are skipping the holiday altogether due to cost.
• Bipartisan pain: even 20% of Republicans blame Trump’s policies for higher costs.

2. ICE Crackdowns and Immigration as a Labor Issue

ICE Detention Numbers Hit All-Time High

• [07:43-14:59] ICE is holding a record 65,135 people, with a steep rise in arrests—mostly for “other immigration violations” (no criminal record).
• ICE budgets balloon under GOP, now offering $280 million contracts to surveillance firms, essentially for “bounty hunting” immigrants.

Quote [09:39] – Emma Vigeland:
"The largest growth in people arrested by ICE during this time period has been people with no criminal charges and convictions... just clearly not any sort of criminal record besides they have an immigration violation."

Emotional Testimony from DSA Member in Salem, OR

• [12:30] "Elisa," a home healthcare worker, immigrant, and DSA member, speaks at Salem City Council about living in fear:
  "ICE does not care if I am a resident. ICE will not care when I am a citizen. ICE only cares that my skin is brown. Every day I ask, am I next? A statement is not enough. Salem workers have more demands..."

• City council votes to declare a state of emergency over ICE sweeps.

Exploitation Enabled by Immigration Status

• Non-citizens live in limbo, leaving them vulnerable to workplace abuse, wage theft, and dangerous conditions. This system creates an exploited labor underclass for corporate profit.

Quote [15:36] – Emma Vigeland:
"It creates a sub citizen status for so many people that allows them to be more easily exploited... immigration is a labor issue. We talk about this all the time."

• Children are scared to attend school; community activity declines under threat of raids.

3. Surveillance, Technology, and Price Manipulation

Algorithmic Collusion and Rent-Gouging

• DOJ and Biden-era efforts to curb algorithmic price-fixing are rolled back under Trump, with companies like RealPage and Fetcher using AI to artificially increase housing, airline, and consumer goods prices.
• Polls show bipartisan outrage and real financial pain.

Quote [47:56] – Liz Pancotti:
"Trump has said this week that they put out this big AI action plan that says that they want to take away the ability for states to regulate AI... these companies are boasting about how they are either these AI companies are either enabling this type of price gouging..."

4. Major Special Election in Tennessee’s 7th District

Competitive Race with National Implications

• [52:39] Emerson poll shows Democrat Aftyn Behn within two points of the GOP candidate in what was formerly a Trump+20 district.
• Behn has spoken out against the genocide in Gaza, showing that bold progressive stances can be electorally viable even in red districts.
• Both parties have poured millions into the race—a Democratic win would make life even tougher for Speaker Mike Johnson and the narrow GOP House majority.

Quote [54:20] – Emerson College pollster:
"It looks not like a 22 point district that Trump won by, but closer to like a 10–12 point district... when we look at those numbers, [the race] looks much more competitive."

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Emma Vigeland [14:23] on DSA member Elisa’s bravery:
  "I just thought that was amazing and really brave for her to show her face as a dreamer... you can be activated on that level and demand that of your representation.” (12:30–14:23)

• Brian [17:54] on why socialism is gaining:
  "Socialism is the answer to this... the Nazi playbook is just being run again by all those people that are hoarding the money that we're just trying to find some other that people can hate and blame all this on."

• Liz Pancotti [41:19] on polling:
  "65% of Americans are stressed about affording Thanksgiving this year. That stretches across party lines. 10% of people are just skipping the holiday altogether because they simply can't afford it."

• Matt & Emma, on the Tennessee race:
  "This race could make it even harder for Mike Johnson to do his job, which is of course, something that we support." (54:20–55:37)

Important Timestamps

• [02:52] Show open and rundown of stories: ICE crackdowns, immigrant detention, Bolsonaro imprisoned, CDC hires anti-vaccine official, new National Parks surcharges
• [07:43-17:08] In-depth discussion of ICE's growing brutality and labor exploitation
• [12:30-14:23] DSA member Elisa's powerful speech at Salem City Council
• [31:35-51:23] Interview with Liz Pancotti on inflation, tariffs, corporate gouging, AI price-fixing
• [41:19-43:02] Polling on food prices and cost-of-living anxieties
• [52:39-55:37] Tennessee special election: polling, candidate stances, national stakes

Tone & Style

• Mix of energetic banter and deep moral outrage.
• Irreverent, sharply critical of Trump and the GOP, and unsparing in calling out Democratic failures too.
• Empathetic to working people and immigrants, supportive of grassroots activism (especially DSA).
• Relentless focus on structural causes, not just surface politics.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode delivers an accessible yet hard-hitting overview of America’s current economic and political crossroads. Whether it’s Thanksgiving dinner, your rent, or your basic safety from ICE, costs are rising and insecurities deepening under Trump’s policies. The hosts—and their expert guest—combine lived experience, data, and organizing know-how to cut through right-wing narratives and corporate spin, pushing listeners to connect economic anxiety with political action. The Tennessee special election is presented as a perfect microcosm: when emboldened progressives step up, even entrenched power can be challenged.

Recommended for:
Anyone hoping for a sharp, timely take on US politics, labor, food inflation, immigration policy, progressive organizing, and why it all matters for ordinary people.