Obama: 'Hard to Swallow' Tax Cut for Top 1 Percent Needed

The transcript discusses the reluctance of Congress to support policies aiding the middle class, such as raising the minimum wage, while approving tax cuts for the wealthy. It questions the justification for these tax cuts, especially given the rising income inequality and the lack of empirical data supporting the benefits of such policies. The speaker challenges the notion that economic prosperity trickles down from the wealthy, arguing instead for growth driven by a thriving middle class.

What empirical data does the speaker ask for to justify tax cuts for the wealthy?

What does the speaker suggest about the relationship between economic growth and the middle class?