A sign in a shop in Miami, Florida, March 5, 2021 (Joe Raedle/Getty)

I joined Monocle 24’s Andrew Mueller on Tuesday to discuss the latest situation around US unemployment and the Coronavirus pandemic, with President Joe Biden updating the Administration’s approach to the issue.

We begin be reviewing both the economics and politics of Biden’s approach in the face of a weaker-than-expected jobs recovery in April. We analyze the short-term and long-term dimensions, from unemployment benefits to the American Jobs Plan to issues such as an inadequte minimum wage, child care, and infrastructure.

And I point to the biggest obstacle for recovery — not Biden, but the obstruction of Republican Party leaders.

Listen from 1:30:

Many Republicans are not there to work with Biden. They’re not there to try to help all Americans. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell says his objective is to obstruct this Administration.

And obstructing this Administration means hoping the economy gets worse so you can say, “Don’t blame us. Blame the President” — even if the real damagers and destroyers are the guys standing in the way.