New ‘Middle Class Matt’ Animated Short Tackles the Wage Gap

The Animation Nonprofit Using Comedy to Tackle Economic Inequality

In an era where economic anxiety dominates the national conversation, a unique nonprofit is turning to the power of short-form animation to decode complex systemic issues. Now What!?, a 501(c)(3) organization, is gaining traction with its mission to demystify public policy and democracy through humor, specifically through its recurring animated series, Middle Class Matt.

Meet Middle Class Matt: The Last Man Standing

Created, written, and voiced by Adam Lustick, Middle Class Matt centers on a character described as the last middle-class man in America. The series follows Matt, a well-meaning but increasingly bewildered protagonist trying to navigate a socioeconomic landscape that often feels stacked against him. By focusing on a relatable, everyday individual, the series aims to make intimidating topics—such as housing crises and childcare costs—accessible and shareable for a broad audience.

Tackling the Wage Gap

The latest installment in the series, Middle Class Matt vs. The Wage Gap, highlights the disconnect between corporate performance and worker compensation. In this episode, Matt attempts to negotiate a raise, only to be confronted by the realities of modern corporate pay structures. The short draws inspiration from a study from the Economic Policy Institute, which reported that CEO pay increased by nearly 6% in 2024, reaching a level 281 times that of the typical worker.

A Growing Slate of Projects

The success of Middle Class Matt is part of a broader effort by Now What!? to expand its reach. The organization releases new shorts on a monthly basis, building a library of content designed to translate complex policy debates into digestible comedy. Beyond the animated series, the nonprofit has also experimented with other mediums, including the comic CEO Joe, created by Pittsburgh-based artist Hannibal Gerald.

Key Takeaways

• Educational Mission: Now What!? is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to using comedy to explain public issues.
• Series Focus: The Middle Class Matt series uses the perspective of a struggling middle-class citizen to explore economic pressures.
• Data-Driven Content: The shorts frequently incorporate findings from reputable economic research to ground their comedic narratives in reality.
• Accessibility: All episodes of Middle Class Matt are available for streaming on YouTube and other social media platforms.

Looking Forward

As Now What!? continues to build its slate of recurring characters and projects, the organization remains focused on its core goal: making democracy and public policy more transparent through creative storytelling. By bridging the gap between dry economic data and engaging entertainment, the group hopes to foster a better-informed public. For those interested in the nonprofit’s ongoing projects, further information is available at now-what.us.