Will Trump or Harris’ anti-poverty talk appeal to the working class?

Supporters of Donald Trump demonstrate outside Trump Tower in New York City, a day after the shooting at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, U.S., July 14, 2024.
Photo credit: NurPhoto/Beata Zawrzel.

The phrase “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) has become more popular over the past decade thanks to Donald Trump’s campaign. But Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton both used that message. How has the meaning of the slogan changed from its beginnings to now?

This election, both parties are focused on the fight against poverty. While Donald Trump touted his 2017 tax cuts as a way to boost the economy, Kamala Harris wants the government to help Americans pay for food and housing. Which campaign will win over the middle class?

For the first time, Minnesota students will get free lunches and breakfasts, thanks to a bill that Gov. Tim Walz sponsored and that the state passed in 2023. But those free meals on campus could cost the state $400 million in 2024-25. This week’s 50 States series looks at anti-poverty measures in public schools.