Are We in a Recession? Atlanta Evictions Surge & the “$5,000 Check” Warning | Rich Takes

Are we in a recession, or are the warning signs already showing up in everyday life? In this episode of Rich Takes , Sheena Allen and Sevetri Wilson Taylor break down the economic headlines raising some serious questions about where things are headed.

First up: Atlanta’s surge in evictions. With eviction filings climbing and Black renters disproportionately affected, Sheena and Sevetri discuss whether rising evictions, credit card debt, job losses, housing costs, and financial pressure are signs of deeper cracks in the U.S. economy, especially for the middle class and Black households.

Then, the conversation turns to Washington: Should elected officials be allowed to actively trade investments while in office? The hosts react to recent headlines surrounding Donald Trump’s securities trading activity and the broader, long-running debate over members of Congress trading while having access to information and decisions that can move markets.

And what about that “$5,000 check” ? Sheena and Sevetri discuss the proposal, why consumers shouldn’t count on money that hasn’t materialized, and what economic promises can look like when households are already feeling squeezed.

From Atlanta’s eviction crisis and recession warning signs to debt, the disappearing middle class, political stock trading, and the proposed $5,000 checks , this week’s Rich Takes asks a bigger question: What is the economy actually telling us right now? —— Rich Takes is the hot-takes mini-series from Rich Lessons , where Sheena Allen and Sevetri Wilson Taylor unpack the headlines everyone is talking about across money, business, entrepreneurship, technology, culture, entertainment, lifestyle, and politics. —— Follow Rich Lessons on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube for more conversations and clips. Apple Podcasts: Spotify: YouTube: Instagram: TikTok: