"Is the economy rigged?" asks Sen. Bernie Sanders in a new presidential campaign ad. "Well, the 15 richest Americans acquired more wealth in two years than the bottom 100 million people combined."
Sanders isn't technically lying: As the Washington Post calculates, the 15 richest people in America collectively gained $170 billion between 2013 and 2015, and the poorest 138 million Americans (the bottom 43 percent) have a combined worth of just $134 billion. That's a big disparity.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
The Week Unwrapped: Sudan, tackling homelessness and fake newsPodcast What is happening in Sudan? Could London really end rough sleeping? And why has Joe Lycett being making up stories?
-
Taylor Swift's surprise double album: an event of 'world-shaking proportions'Why Everyone's Talking About Fans are 'reeling' after The Tortured Poets Department is followed by The Anthology – 15 additional tracks
-
Quiz of The Week: 13 - 19 AprilPuzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
-
Peter Murrell: Sturgeon's husband charged over SNP 'embezzlement' claimsSpeed Read SNP expresses 'shock' as former chief executive rearrested in long-running investigation into claims of mishandled campaign funds
-
Mark Menzies: Tories investigate MP after 'bad people' cash claimsSpeed Read Fylde MP will sit as an independent while party looks into allegations he misused campaign funds on medical expenses and blackmail pay-out
-
Why Johnson won't just pass Ukraine aidSpeed Read The House Speaker could have sent $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine — but it would have split his caucus
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of warSpeed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picksSpeed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
-
How will Israel respond to Iran's direct attack?Speed Read Iran’s weekend attack on Israel could escalate into a wider Middle East war
-
US, Israel brace for Iran retaliatory strikesSpeed Read An Iranian attack on Israel is believed to be imminent
-
Congress honors real-life Rosie the RivetersSpeed Read These American women reshaped the work force during World War II
