Watchdog on Wall Street

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  Balanced budgets? Gone. Mandates? Still there. Billions in pork, left-wing programs fully funded, and not a spine in sight. Republicans promised resistance and delivered capitulation. If Democrats are celebrating your bill, you didn't win—you surrendered.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  The only time NATO's Article 5 was invoked, Europeans bled alongside Americans. To dismiss that sacrifice is to misunderstand history, alliances, and honor itself. Thucydides warned us long ago: when societies forget the bond between thinkers and warriors, both suffer. Europe hasn't forgotten. That's why the anger is real.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  Rate caps, bans, pauses, forbearance—oh my. Trump once blasted Biden's student loan policies, but now his administration is walking the same path. With defaults soaring and repayment collapsing, this looks less like policy and more like election-year panic. The messaging spin is coming—watch closely.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  Sounds crazy, right? But Japan is finally doing what strong economies have to do: letting weak companies fail. As bond yields hit 30-year highs and zombie firms collapse, capital is finally flowing where it belongs. Recessions aren't the enemy—they're the cleanup crew. Creative destruction works, and Japan may be proving it in real time.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  A bombshell study says one in four U.S. colleges could close soon, and it's not hard to see why. Bloated administrations, runaway tuition, terrible ROI, and a refusal to adapt to demographic, economic, and technological change. Even the new president of Brandeis admits higher ed is falling behind. At some point, outcomes have to justify the price tag. This isn't anti-intellectual—it's reality. Adapt or disappear.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  The baseball card analogy is great—because it explains the stock market perfectly. You can scan a Ricky Henderson rookie card and an app will tell you it's “worth” $800. Great. Try buying groceries with it. You can't. Until someone actually pays that price, it's just a number.The same applies to markets. Assets aren't worth what a spreadsheet says—they're worth what a buyer is willing to pay. This matters now as private funds, real estate, and credit vehicles go public claiming lofty “net asset values,” only to drop fast once real trading begins.On paper, everything looks rich. In reality, liquidity, buyers, and bids matter. Assets aren't casino chips. Whether it's baseball cards, stocks, or private funds, value only becomes real when someone shows up with cash.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  As tax season nears, remember this: House of Lies wasn't fiction. Deloitte and other major consulting firms have been tied to tens of billions in wasted taxpayer dollars—failed systems, massive overruns, fraud vulnerabilities, and canceled projects.It's the revolving door in action: government insiders cashing in on access, not competence. Add private equity loading good businesses with debt they don't understand, and value gets destroyed in the name of “efficiency.”They cut what's easy to measure and ignore what actually matters. The result? Less value, more waste—and taxpayers stuck with the bill.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  That David Bowie song came to mind watching the latest Davos moments. Not because he hated Americans—but because the tone matters.Booing at Davos, attacks on Europe, and Trump claiming NATO would never come to America's aid—flatly false and insulting to allies who fought and died alongside us after 9/11. Article 5 was triggered once in history, and it was for the United States.There's a way to criticize allies without embarrassing the country or rewriting history. Leadership isn't about shooting from the hip or always declaring victory—it's about knowing when to check your mouth.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  Trump says he could crash the housing market—but won't. The idea that lower rates fix housing is wrong. Rates go down, prices go up. That doesn't make homes more affordable.You don't need a crash—you need a reset. Just like stocks, overheated real estate can cool off, and that's not bad for the economy.And let's be clear: your home is not an investment. It's a bill—mortgage interest, property taxes, maintenance, and upkeep. A place to live, raise kids, and make memories—not a wealth plan.If your wealth is tied up in your house, that's risky. Build wealth outside your home. And no—Trump can't simply crash the real estate market.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  Remember Wall Street when Gordon Gekko said, “I own”? That line matters more today than ever. If you're not an owner, you're not standing still—you're losing ground.Here's why: the top 10% now account for 49% of all consumer spending and a record 33% of U.S. GDP, while the bottom 80% make up just 25% of the economy. Over the last 30 years, the dollar has lost 54% of its value—and 28% in just the past five years. Salaries haven't kept up. Not even close.$80,000 in income in 1971 equals $1 million today. That's what inflation does. This is why passive income and asset ownership aren't “nice to have”—they're survival tools.And no, your house isn't the answer. A primary home is a bill, not a wealth engine. Real ownership means stocks, bonds, businesses—assets that grow and work while you sleep.If your money isn't working hard for you, inflation is working harder against you. Be an owner. The right kind of owner.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  While the media was busy with distractions, Washington was wide awake—and spending.In this “While You Were Sleeping: Washington Edition,” I break down how Speaker Mike Johnson, with the help of Democrats, pushed through a massive omnibus spending bill—outspending even Nancy Pelosi. What's inside? A brand-new FBI building, the reauthorization of warrantless surveillance on Americans, and $60 billion more for Ukraine—more than we spend on the U.S. Marines.Fiscal responsibility? Constitutional limits? Apparently those were asleep too.This all happened quietly, overnight—while you were sleeping.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  Presidents don't set interest rates. Markets do.In this segment, Chris explains why trying to “force” low interest rates—whether by the Fed, the White House, or political pressure—is an exercise in futility. From Trump's Davos comments to Fed rate cuts that didn't lower long-term borrowing costs, the bond market keeps delivering the same message.The Fed cut rates by 175 basis points since September 2024—yet 30-year Treasury yields jumped from under 4% to nearly 5%. Mortgage bond purchases? Temporary blips, then right back up.The bond vigilantes are real, and they don't care about speeches or spin.If you want lower rates, there's only one answer: get fiscal discipline under control—balance the budget and pay down debt. Everything else is noise.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  What can a Greek island from 416 BC teach us about today's Greenland debate? More than you'd expect.In this short history lesson, Chris revisits Thucydides' Melian Dialogue—where powerful Athens crushed the neutral island of Milos to prove its dominance. The Athenians argued that justice only applies between equals, giving us the chilling line: “The strong do what they can, and the weak suffer what they must.”Milos was destroyed. Athens eventually fell.The lesson is timeless: when power abandons morality, hubris follows—and collapse isn't far behind.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  Forget China. Forget Russia. The greatest threat to America's national security is Sell America—our exploding national debt.With over $38 trillion in debt and more than $1 trillion a year just in interest, the U.S. survives by selling its debt to the rest of the world. But what happens if foreign buyers stop—or worse, start selling? Rising bond yields, a falling dollar, money printing, and a very ugly historical precedent.From warnings by military leaders to lessons from the fall of the British Empire, the parallels are impossible to ignore. Empires don't usually collapse from invasion—they collapse from debt, overreach, and fiscal denial.This isn't fear-mongering. It's math, history, and reality—and it's unfolding right now.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured Chris warned about this yesterday. It wasn't panic—it was math.A Danish pension fund has started unloading U.S. Treasuries, calling America a bad long-term credit risk due to deficits and fiscal recklessness. Small sale, big signal.Europe is the largest holder of U.S. debt. If they lose confidence, bond yields rise, borrowing costs explode, and fiscal discipline gets enforced the hard way.The bond market doesn't care about politics. It only cares about reality.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  A year ago, many of us were optimistic. Fiscal sanity. Border control. Less government nonsense.Then came the chaos.In this episode, Chris gives Donald Trump a full Year One report card—credit where it's due, accountability where it's not. From strong border enforcement and deregulation to tariffs, abandoned DOGE reform, dangerous pardons, and constitutional overreach that no president should normalize.He's not red. He's not blue. He's not for sale.Just an honest scorecard—because the truth doesn't belong to a political party.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  A year in, and Trump is still in love with tariffs.This episode breaks down the “emergency tariff” obsession, the shaky legal authority behind it, and why Americans—not foreigners—are paying the bill. From Greenland threats to Supreme Court showdowns, we follow the data, the Constitution, and the math. Spoiler: tariffs aren't foreign policy magic. They're a tax on consumers—and math never loses.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  Using your 401(k) for a home down payment may sound like a shortcut to homeownership—but it's a bad idea that could leave buyers worse off. Chris explains why tapping retirement savings won't make housing more affordable and will likely do the opposite by inflating prices even further. As markets begin to cool and home values slowly correct, unlocking trillions in 401(k) capital would pour gasoline on the real estate fire, rewarding sellers and agents while setting buyers back years in retirement savings. It's another well-intentioned policy that misses basic economics—and risks keeping everyday Americans poorer, not better off.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  A $500 million Venezuelan oil deal raises serious questions about favoritism, legality, and trust in American institutions. In this episode, Chris unpacks how a Trump-linked oil trader secured the deal, why the proceeds were routed through Qatar instead of U.S. banks, and what that means for companies that won court judgments after Venezuela seized their assets. By sending the money offshore—out of reach of U.S. courts—the deal appears to sidestep the rule of law and stiff legitimate creditors. The result? A chilling message to investors: contracts don't matter, court victories don't count, and political connections trump property rights. If you were running an oil company, would you ever invest there again?

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  A viral claim out of Washington says Americans can eat a full, healthy dinner for just $3—based on “thousands of simulations.” Really? In this episode, Chris breaks down how out-of-touch that sounds to anyone who's actually been to a grocery store lately. If $3 meals are truly realistic, then Congress should have no problem living by the same standard—starting with slashing their $92 daily meal per diem and trading luxury apartments for dorm-style living. From tone-deaf messaging to DC's disconnect from everyday costs, this is a sharp look at how easily policymakers lose credibility when their math doesn't match real life.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  America is spiraling deeper into an immigration abyss—escalating protests, aggressive enforcement optics, and political leaders on both sides fanning the flames instead of fixing the problem. Chris argues that border security is job one—and that the current administration has succeeded there—but warns that the nation is now drifting toward domestic instability. With most ICE detainees lacking violent convictions, the focus should be on criminals, not chaos. The solution isn't skull-cracking or street theatrics—it's economics: enforce E-Verify, cut off incentives, follow the money, and let the system work. Without restraint, leadership, and clarity, the country risks tearing itself apart over a crisis Washington seems unwilling to solve.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  Calls to annex—or even threaten—Greenland have crossed from geopolitical posturing into outright absurdity. This episode breaks down why the argument collapses under basic scrutiny: no real security threat from Russia or China, no economic windfall from rare earth mining, and enormous risks to America's reserve currency status. From reckless tariff threats and strained alliances to the dangers of nationalism masquerading as patriotism, this is a sober look at how bluster, bullying, and executive overreach could trigger consequences far more damaging than any imagined Greenland “crisis.”

Chris Markowski dives deep into the complexities of the financial world, emphasizing the importance of understanding the implications of monetary policy and the Federal Reserve's role in maintaining the dollar's status as the world's reserve currency. He draws parallels between the banking crises in Iran and the U.S., highlighting how the lack of a stable currency can lead to economic collapse and social unrest. McFadden also critiques the manipulation of language in political discourse, particularly how terms like 'domestic terrorism' are misused to incite outrage and distract from real issues. He stresses the responsibility of media figures to present accurate information and the dangers of misinformation in shaping public perception. The conversation shifts to the influence of online political commentators and the need for transparency regarding their financial backing. McFadden argues that the public deserves to know when influencers are being paid to promote specific narratives. He also discusses the implications of proposed policies, such as lowering credit card interest rates, and the potential consequences of wealth taxes in California. Throughout the episode, McFadden advocates for critical thinking and informed decision-making, urging listeners to question the narratives presented to them and to seek the truth in a landscape filled with misinformation.

Chris Markowski delves into the deceptive practices of Wall Street, particularly focusing on hedge funds and private equity firms. He highlights how hedge funds often report inflated returns by excluding failed funds from their calculations, likening it to a baseball player omitting their worst games to boost their batting average. Markowski also critiques the private equity model, which he argues exploits companies by loading them with debt and extracting value, often leading to their decline. He shares a poignant example of how private equity negatively impacted the once-popular Sprinkles Cupcake brand, illustrating the broader consequences of these financial practices on American businesses and consumers. Markowski further discusses the implications of recent mergers and acquisitions, using Saks Fifth Avenue's bankruptcy as a case study to demonstrate how Wall Street's financialization leads to disastrous outcomes for companies. He emphasizes the disconnect between Wall Street's profit motives and the realities faced by everyday investors, warning listeners about the potential pitfalls of trusting financial advisors who may prioritize their own interests over those of their clients. The episode serves as a wake-up call for listeners to be vigilant about the financial narratives pushed by major institutions and to seek transparency in their investments.

Chris Markowski delves into the critical distinction between financial preparation and financial planning. He emphasizes the importance of being prepared for the uncertainties of life rather than relying on rigid plans that may not hold up over time. Drawing on personal anecdotes and experiences, Markowski illustrates how mastering the fundamentals of investing can lead to success, regardless of market fluctuations. He also critiques the conventional wisdom propagated by financial institutions and the media, urging listeners to recognize the narratives that may hinder their financial freedom. Markowski further discusses the current economic landscape, highlighting the disconnect between reported economic growth and the realities faced by everyday Americans. He warns against complacency and encourages listeners to adopt a proactive approach to their finances, emphasizing the need for courage and patience in investing. The episode serves as a call to action for individuals to take control of their financial futures through informed decision-making and preparation, rather than blind adherence to outdated financial planning models.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  Private equity's favorite trick is making a comeback: buy up local businesses, roll them together, slap on some AI, cut staff, raise prices, and call it “efficiency.” From HVAC and plumbing to legal and professional services, the result is often the same—more debt, worse service, and frustrated customers.In this segment, Chris breaks down why roll-up economics frequently destroys value instead of creating it, and why history shows real winners don't buy their way to innovation—they invent it. From Kodak killing the digital camera to Amazon and Tesla building instead of rolling up, the lesson is clear: sometimes the old ways really are best. And for entrepreneurs, the backlash against these hollowed-out businesses may be the biggest opportunity of all.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  The Senate narrowly killed a war powers resolution meant to limit presidential authority in Venezuela—after assurances from the administration that there are “no plans” for ground troops or military occupation. The vote came down to a 51–50 tie, broken by J.D. Vance, with key GOP senators switching sides based on written promises from the White House.But history—and a certain Tom Clancy plot—suggests how fragile those assurances can be. Add in Venezuelan oil revenues quietly parked in a Qatari bank “to avoid seizure,” and the whole arrangement raises serious red flags. This segment questions whether Congress just surrendered its leverage, and whether anyone should feel reassured by promises that come with built-in escape hatches.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  Despite years of tariffs and predictions that China's export machine would slow, the opposite just happened. China posted a record trade surplus of $1.19 trillion, with exports up 5.5%. While shipments to the U.S. have dropped, Europe and the rest of the world are now absorbing the flood of Chinese goods. The strategy to force China into becoming a consumption-driven economy hasn't worked—and Beijing itself is struggling with the same goal amid deflation fears and a still-broken real estate market.Chris explains why tariffs failed to reshape China's economy, the difference between “good” and “bad” deflation, and why China is likely to keep doing what it does best: making—and exporting—a lot of stuff.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  Watch what's happening right now—territory casually discussed, allies pressured, sovereignty treated like a bargaining chip. From Greenland to the Mediterranean, the message to smaller nations is loud and clear: power decides everything. If you're Poland, Greece, Italy, or Belgium, what's your takeaway? That goodwill and treaties will protect you forever? Or that deterrence is the only language that still works?This is the uncomfortable, controversial case for nuclear proliferation—and why leaders watching this unfold might conclude that nukes aren't reckless… They're rational.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  Waste and immigration go hand in hand—and pretending otherwise is how we ended up here. This isn't about hating immigrants or cheering heavy-handed enforcement. In fact, Chris doesn't like the optics of masked ICE agents or the chaos we're seeing play out. There was a better way to handle this, long before it reached this point.The truth is simple: incentives matter. If you build a massive welfare state, hand out benefits, provide free healthcare, housing, and allow illegal work, people will come. That's not ideology—that's human nature. Eliminate the incentives, and illegal immigration collapses overnight.Billions of dollars in taxpayer money are flowing through refugee assistance, rental programs, NGOs, and government agencies—with officials admitting they don't even know where much of it's going. That's not compassion; that's waste, grift, and failure.You want to fix immigration? Start with this rule: if you come here illegally, you get nothing. No handouts. No benefits. No taxpayer-funded hotels. Enforce that, cut the waste, and the magnet disappears.We can't afford this system—and it's not working.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  Most people are living in a financial illusion—and it's time to wake up. From grocery prices in Italy that are less than half of what Americans pay, to restaurant meals that would cost triple back home, the contrast is impossible to ignore. Yet we're told nonstop by economic “high priests” that everything is booming because GDP is up and stocks are at record highs.Who cares if GDP is 10% when people can't afford rent, homes, healthcare, or to start a family?Essential survival items—food, energy, housing, insurance—have inflated two to four times faster than official inflation numbers over the past five years. The metrics are lying, the models are broken, and too many people are ignoring what their own eyes and bank accounts are telling them.This is the financial matrix: an economy that looks great on paper while everyday life gets harder. At Markowski Investments, they don't deal in illusions—they deal in reality, the terrain as it actually exists, and prepare people to survive and thrive despite ruinous policy, fraud, and currency devaluation.Take the red pill. See the world as it is.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  It's fascinating—and disturbing. The same far-left groups that can mobilize in the blink of an eye, with signs printed and protests ready to roll, are nowhere to be found as reports emerge of mass killings in Iran. The industrial complex seems to have gone silent.We don't know the exact numbers. The Islamic regime itself claims around 2,000 dead—which should immediately tell you the real figure is likely far higher. Some estimates put it at 12,000… others 20,000. Regardless of the precise count, the scale of brutality is undeniable.So where are the protests? Where are the emergency rallies, the social media campaigns, the nonstop moral outrage? The silence is telling—and it raises serious questions about who gets defended, who gets ignored, and why.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  Chris hates the phrase financial planning—and he's not alone. Plans assume you know what's coming. You don't. Life doesn't run on a terminal date, a questionnaire, or a neat retirement timeline. Opportunities and setbacks show up without warning, and the people who thrive aren't the ones with the prettiest plans—they're the ones who are prepared.At Markowski Investments, they focus on financial preparation: building strong habits, flexibility, and resilience so you're ready for whatever life throws at you—good or bad. Just like athletes who don't care who lines up across from them because they've done the work, proper preparation puts you in position to win no matter the circumstances.Do the right things. Practice good habits. Prepare properly—and you'll be fine.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  The headline numbers look great: unemployment down, GDP up, trade deficit shrinking. But once you dig past the surface, a very different story emerges. In this deep dive, Chris breaks down the latest labor, trade, and GDP data—and explains why the official narrative doesn't line up with economic reality.Job growth is weak and narrowly concentrated, hiring is sluggish, and layoffs are quietly spreading through small and mid-sized businesses. The “improving” trade deficit? Strip out massive gold shipments and it actually worsens. GDP growth? Inflated by savings drawdowns, falling imports, and gold exports—not rising incomes or real consumer strength.This is why we don't play the TV guessing-game with economic numbers anymore. You have to look inside the data, not just at the headlines. The real economy isn't what the wizards of smart want you to believe—and you're better off being your own economist.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  Everyone wants lower mortgage rates—but strong-arming the Federal Reserve or squeezing banks isn't the answer. In this episode, Chris lays out practical, free-market solutions that could actually bring mortgage rates down without political pressure or economic distortions.Drawing on how commercial loans and bond markets really work, Chris explains why features like prepayment risk drive mortgage rates higher in the U.S. Unlike many business loans or callable bonds, American mortgages allow borrowers to prepay at any time—forcing lenders to charge more to compensate for that risk.So what's the fix? Options like non-prepayable mortgages with penalties, Fannie and Freddie offering alternative loan structures, and even portable or assumable mortgages that allow buyers to take over existing low-rate loans. These changes could shave meaningful basis points off rates while improving market efficiency.Instead of grandstanding and pressure campaigns, there are intelligent, market-based reforms sitting right in front of us. If policymakers are serious about affordability, this is where the conversation should start.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  Are prosecutors really coming after the Federal Reserve Chair—or is this something else entirely? Reports that the Justice Department is investigating Jerome Powell over testimony related to the Fed's building renovation have ignited speculation, outrage, and a very real debate about central bank independence.In this episode, Chris breaks down what's actually happening, why grand jury subpoenas matter, and how this investigation fits into a broader campaign of political pressure on the Fed. With interest rates at the center of a heated midterm-year fight, Powell says the probe is a pretext designed to intimidate the central bank into lowering rates—despite inflation realities saying otherwise.Chris also unpacks the misconceptions about interest rates, why mortgage rates don't move the way people think they do, and why using the legal system as a political weapon sets a dangerous precedent. If this is about accountability, where are the prosecutions everyone was promised elsewhere? And if it's about pressure, what does that mean for the future of independent monetary policy?This isn't just about Jay Powell—it's about whether evidence-based policy survives political intimidation.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  At first glance, a 10% cap on credit card interest rates sounds like a win for consumers. Who wouldn't want relief from 20–30% APRs? But dig one layer deeper, and this proposal turns from populist applause line into an economic mess that would hurt the very people it claims to help.In this episode, Chris explains how the credit card industry actually works—who really charges interest, where swipe fees go, and why Visa, Mastercard, and AmEx aren't the villains they're made out to be. Spoiler: banks take the risk, banks charge the interest, and credit cards are largely unsecured, non-recourse loans.Cap rates at 10%, and banks won't suddenly become generous—they'll pull credit, cancel cards, jack up fees, or require cash collateral. Young workers, lower-credit borrowers, and anyone new to the system get squeezed out first. That's how credit rationing works, every time.Chris breaks down why this idea is straight out of the price-control playbook, why it's midterm political theater, and why it can't be enforced without blowing up access to credit across the country.Misusing credit cards is a real problem—but government-mandated rate caps won't fix it. They'll just make credit scarcer, more expensive in other ways, and far less accessible.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  Picture it: Tommy Norris, the Clampetts, and J.R. Ewing all strolling into Washington as Big Oil's finest gather with the president to talk Venezuela. As entertaining as that image is, the reality was far less glamorous—and far more troubling.In this episode, Chris breaks down the tense, lukewarm reception oil executives gave the president's push to invest billions in Venezuelan oil. Promises of “security guarantees” raise a serious question: should U.S. taxpayers—and even U.S. troops—be on the hook to protect corporate oil investments in one of the most unstable countries on earth?With assets previously seized, billions written off, sanctions still looming, and the State Department warning Americans to get out of Venezuela immediately, Big Oil isn't buying the pitch. Exxon flatly called Venezuela “uninvestable,” and behind closed doors, executives were likely relieved when the White House walked that back.Chris also unpacks the contradictions, the fact-free tangents, and the dangerous idea that past losses should simply be forgotten in the hope of future profits—all while ignoring the real technical, legal, and geopolitical barriers to Venezuelan oil production.Let companies risk their own money if they want. But taxpayers and the military? Absolutely not.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  Lobbyists have always shaped policy from the shadows—but today, a more deceptive force is at work: paid online influencers. Unlike traditional lobbyists, whose money trails can at least be tracked, political influencers are quietly paid to push ideologies, narratives, and agendas without disclosure.In this episode, Chris pulls back the curtain on how social media personalities have become unregulated mouthpieces for governments, corporations, and industries—often without audiences realizing they're being sold an opinion. From payola in radio to “paid advertisements” buried in fine print, this practice isn't new—but its scale and impact are far more dangerous now.Drawing from firsthand experience in finance, media, and political pressure campaigns, Chris explains why undisclosed influencer advocacy undermines critical thinking, distorts public debate, and does more societal harm than old-school lobbying ever did.Who's paying these voices? Why aren't they required to disclose it? And how can you protect yourself from manufactured consensus?As always: do your own homework—and demand transparency.

 Chris Markowski, the Watchdog on Wall Street, delves into various pressing financial topics, including the war on drugs, the economic situation in Venezuela, the challenges facing the oil industry, and the current state of the U.S. economy. He discusses the implications of rising bankruptcies, government fraud, and the realities of the real estate market, while emphasizing the importance of understanding economic indicators and the need for reform in agricultural practices. Markowski encourages listeners to seek financial freedom and be aware of the truths behind the financial narratives presented by the media and government.

Chris Markowski discusses various pressing issues in the financial and political landscape, including government intervention in the housing market, the implications of property taxes on ownership, the defense industry's challenges, and the recent government shutdowns affecting healthcare subsidies. He also delves into the controversial topic of Greenland and the potential use of military force, questioning the morality and practicality of such actions.

Chris Markowski discusses the harsh realities of the financial world, emphasizing the importance of building wealth and the dangers of identity politics. He explores how society's obsession with ideology can lead to self-destruction and the need for individuals to focus on building, creating, protecting, and teaching within their communities. The conversation also touches on the rise of individual traders, the pitfalls of financial discipline, and the pervasive scams that prey on people's greed and fear.