The American dream, rooted in the belief that hard work leads to success, is the very soul of the nation, and perhaps the most widely shared expression of what the country represents. In recent decades, however, progress for many has stagnated while income and wealth inequality have surged. The data is irrefutable: With a backsliding labor movement, a growing housing crisis, flatlining wages, uneven wealth distribution, and stalled social mobility, the once-bright promise of the American Dream is fading.

This episode of Common Ground with Jane Whitney explores the far-reaching consequences of these recent trends, examines the values guiding economic policy, uncovers the intricate ties between our political and economic crises, and charts a course toward making the seemingly impossible American Dream attainable for all who aspire to achieve it.