On this episode of the podcast, Amanda Head explores California’s recent $20 minimum wage hike for fast-food chains is making waves, and not in a good way. Head talks with Rebekah Paxton from the Employment Policies Institute who unpacks the real impact of the law, from 16,000 lost jobs to soaring menu prices and a growing shift toward automation and business relocation. Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom and enacted on April 1, 2024, this policy is reshaping the industry and raising questions about its long-term consequences. The duo also explores whether similar wage mandates could take shape in other states.

You can follow the work of Rebekah and her organization by following their accounts on X by searching for their handles: @PaxtonRebekah or @EPIOnline.