June 24, 2025
The Truth About Immigration and the American Worker (with Rogé Karma)
Pitchfork Economics with Nick HanauerAbout this episode
Conventional wisdom says immigration drives down wages and takes jobs from American workers. But what if that story is fueled by bad economics? Journalist Rogé Karma joins Nick and Goldy to challenge the Econ 101 logic that supercharges anti-immigrant rhetoric—and to explain what the data actually shows. Drawing on research from the U.S., Denmark, and beyond, Karma makes the case that immigrants don’t steal jobs—they grow the economy. In a moment when political leaders are pushing mass deportations in the name of “economic populism,” this conversation reveals what’s really at stake. Rogé Karma is a staff writer at The Atlantic . He was previously the senior editor of The Ezra Klein Show at The New York Times. At The Atlantic, he covers economics and economic policy. Social Media: @theatlantic.com theatlantic @TheAtlantic Further reading: The Truth About Immigration & The American Worker The Most Dramatic Shift in U.S. Public Opinion Website: http://pitchforkeconomics.com Instagram: @pitchforkeconomics Threads: pitchforkeconomics Bluesky: @pitchforkeconomics.bsky.social Twitter: @PitchforkEcon , @NickHanauer , @civicaction YouTube: @pitchforkeconomics LinkedIn: Pitchfork Economics Substack: The Pitch