Is America a gerontocracy?

About this episode

What does the country lose when one generation refuses to yield power? In this episode, Vox host Jonquilyn Hill talks with Idrees Kahloon, staff writer at the Atlantic, about why he believes America has become a gerontocracy – a government whose rulers are older than the rest of the population. There’s the age of political leaders in Congress and the White House. And there’s also the economic impact of having Americans over the age of 55 holding nearly three-quarters of the nation's wealth. Jonquilyn and Idrees examine how this demographic and economic shift came to pass over the last several decades. They get into the political taboo over reforming Social Security and Medicare, the impact of housing market restrictions and zoning on younger home buyers, and the ways that government spending heavily favors older voters. Guest Host: Jonquilyn Hill, host of Explain It To Me Guest: Idrees Kahloon, Staff writer, The Atlantic We would love to hear from you. To tell us what you thought of this episode, email us at thegrayarea@vox.com or leave us a voicemail at 1-800-214-5749. Your comments and questions help us make a better show. And you can watch new episodes of The Gray Area on