Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) on Monday criticized the state of the economy under President Joe Biden, saying the middle class is falling behind amid high inflation.
"The truth is that the middle class in this country is falling further and further behind," Sanders said on Late Night with Seth Meyers. "Wages are not keeping up with inflation. You got over 70 million people who have no health insurance or they're underinsured. You've got 600,000 people who are homeless. You got people who can't afford prescription drugs. Kids can't afford to go to college."
The senator's cloudy assessment of the economy comes as inflation stands at 8.3 percent and the stock market is at its lowest point in two years. Polling shows the economy is the top issue for American voters heading into the 2022 midterm elections.
Sanders also took aim at Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, saying the bill came up "a lot short" and is not a sufficient accomplishment for Democrats to run on.
"What we have got to be honest about with the American people," Sanders said, is "'Look, we're in rough shape right now. This is the reality.'"