Watchdog on Wall Street

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Welcome to The Watchdog on Wall Street Podcast. Author, investment banker, consumer advocate, analyst, and trader Chris Markowski exposes the lies and myths of the big brokerage firms, the mainstream press, and the government. Chris explains the news coming out of the complex worlds of finance, ec…

Radio America


    • Dec 18, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
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    Latest episodes from Watchdog on Wall Street

    Economic Reality Check: Poll Numbers Don't Lie

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2025 6:30 Transcription Available


    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 the president prepares to address the nation, the economic reality facing everyday Americans is stark—and the polling reflects it. With economic approval hovering in the mid-30s and affordability still squeezing households, this episode cuts through the spin to examine why voters remain unhappy. From a mediocre jobs market and rising youth unemployment to AI-driven layoffs and tariff policies that raise manufacturing costs, the challenges are real and measurable. The message is simple: gimmicks won't fix this. Acknowledging the problem and pivoting toward policies that actually bring prices down may be the only way forward—politically and economically.

    I Hate It When a Plan Comes Together: Insurance Wins, You Lose

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2025 4:02 Transcription Available


    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  Just as predicted, Congress is moving to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies—another massive cash infusion for insurance companies, paid for by the public. Despite earlier promises, Republicans joined Democrats to force a vote on a three-year extension, adding hundreds of billions in new spending with no real reform attached. In this episode, Chris breaks down who really benefits, why Washington smiles while taxpayers lose, and how both parties continue to protect the same powerful interests. In the end, it's not red versus blue—it's the insurance industry versus everyone else.

    A Fool and His Money: Wall Street's Latest Casino Tricks

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2025 3:21 Transcription Available


    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  From around-the-clock stock trading to app-based parlay bets on NFL games, Wall Street is blurring the line between investing and gambling—and it's not to help individual investors. This episode breaks down why 24/7 markets serve the exchanges and trading firms, not everyday traders, and why day trading remains a losing game despite all the flashy tools and screens. With platforms like Robinhood openly embracing casino-style behavior, the warning is clear: the house always wins, and the “innovation” is just another way to separate fools from their money.

    Empire, Deterrence, and Assimilation: Why the Bar Matters at Home and Abroad

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2025 12:07 Transcription Available


    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  From America's uneasy military footprint in Syria to the broader question of assimilation at home, this episode tackles two issues that are often discussed separately—but shouldn't be. Why are U.S. troops stationed in places with no clear mission, and what happens when deterrence disappears? Drawing on insights from Victor Davis Hanson, Rand Paul, and history itself, the discussion argues that Americans should never be left as sitting ducks overseas. At the same time, it turns inward to the assimilation debate, questioning an immigration model that prioritizes numbers over shared values, cultural cohesion, and accountability. An empire that won't defend its people abroad—and won't insist on assimilation at home—eventually weakens itself on both fronts.

    Defining Deviancy Down: When Partisanship Excuses the Inexcusable

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2025 8:40 Transcription Available


    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  Drawing on Daniel Patrick Moynihan's warning about “defining deviancy down,” Chris takes a hard look at how political tribalism erodes basic standards of decency. From influencers tying themselves in knots to defend indefensible remarks, to a culture that shrugs at cruelty and even celebrates violence, we examine how society lowers the bar instead of calling bad behavior what it is. Real unity and moral clarity, the argument goes, require the courage to criticize our own side—and to say plainly that some actions and statements are wrong, no matter who says them.

    Half-Assed Reform vs. the End Game: Why “Medicare for All” Was Always the Plan

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2025 6:43 Transcription Available


    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  Republicans roll out what even the Wall Street Journal calls “better” healthcare ideas—but better doesn't mean good. From association health plans to modest regulatory relief, the GOP offers small steps while insurance companies keep cashing checks. Meanwhile, Democrats push exactly what Obamacare was designed to deliver all along: Medicare for All. In this episode, Chris breaks down why the ACA was built to fail, how expiring subsidies are being used as leverage, and why calling healthcare a “human right” opens a Pandora's box that the U.S. system—unlike Europe's—simply isn't built to handle.

    Ford's EV Collapse Is a $19.5 BILLION Taxpayer Failure (And We're the Real Losers)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2025 11:47 Transcription Available


    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  Ford just tapped out on electric vehicles — and no, this isn't a moment to gloat. The company took a staggering $19.5 billion write-down tied to its EV business, one of the largest impairments in auto industry history. That's not a win. That's proof that we were lied to — and we paid for it.In this episode, we break down: • Why Ford's EV retreat isn't a business failure — it's a government failure • How subsidies, loan guarantees, and mandates wasted billions in taxpayer money • Why Americans never wanted forced EV adoption in the first place • How CEOs folded to Washington instead of standing up for shareholders • Why “regulatory changes” really mean Americans aren't being coerced anymore • How the EV fantasy mirrors past government disasters like the Chevy Volt And why state-run capitalism never works — not in autos, not anywhere!

    From Providence to Paris: When Authorities Hide the Truth and Borders Stop Meaning Anything

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2025 9:12 Transcription Available


    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 blunt, unfiltered look at a week of violence, denial, and political cowardice—from a suspiciously murky shooting investigation near Brown University in Providence to terror threats and canceled public events across Europe and Australia. Chris breaks down why he doesn't buy the official stories, how universities and city leaders dodge accountability, and why the refusal to confront ideology, immigration failures, and public safety is pushing societies to the breaking point. At some point, pretending everything is fine isn't compassion—it's negligence.

    Trump, Rob Reiner, and a Missed Moment for Grace

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2025 11:02 Transcription Available


    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 horrific death of Rob Reiner and his wife should have been a moment for unity, reflection, and basic human decency. Instead, it became something else entirely — a reminder of how far our political culture has fallen, and how easily anger is weaponized for applause.In this episode, we break down: • Why the President's statement crossed a line no leader should cross • How tragedy was turned into political red meat • Why true leadership demands restraint — especially in moments of grief • How faith, forgiveness, and humility are being replaced by outrage and cruelty • Why no political disagreement justifies dehumanizing the dead And how this was a profound missed opportunity to bring a fractured country together!

    Rotating Out of AI? Or Just Smart Portfolio Management

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2025 2:56 Transcription Available


    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  Wall Street's chattering classes are buzzing about a “rotation out of the AI trade,” as if it's some shocking revelation. Big surprise—after massive gains, some AI stocks have run far ahead. But here's the real takeaway: rotation shouldn't be a headline event. It should be a constant discipline.Chris explains why trimming winners, taking profits, and rebalancing oversized positions isn't bearish—it's smart risk management. AI has driven markets and remains a powerful long-term theme, but no one truly knows which companies will dominate years from now. Admitting what you don't know is what protects capital.Like Mr. Miyagi tending a bonsai tree—cut here, snip there—prudent investors regularly rebalance, redeploy profits, and look for quality companies that are temporarily out of favor. This isn't market timing. It's proper portfolio management, asset allocation, and risk control—the kind that's served investors well for decades.

    China's Economic Cracks Are Widening—and Exports Are the Only Thing Holding It Together

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2025 5:52 Transcription Available


    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 latest economic data out of China is flashing warning signs everywhere. Retail sales are barely growing, industrial production is slowing, fixed asset investment is falling, and property investment has collapsed nearly 16%. Home prices are sliding, millions have their wealth tied up in unfinished or overbuilt real estate, and confidence in the future is evaporating.China is running a massive trade surplus—nearly $1 trillion so far this year—but that export dominance is masking much deeper problems at home. Consumer spending remains weak, unemployment among young people is high, the population is aging, and there's no real social safety net to fall back on. Without exports flooding global markets, the situation would look far worse.In this episode, Chris discusses why command-and-control economics never work, how Xi Jinping reversed years of liberalization, and why governments—whether in Beijing or Washington—fail when they try to pick winners and losers. From China's real estate bust to the dot-com era lessons of pets.com versus Amazon, the message is the same: when government micromanages the economy, bad outcomes follow. The free market, not central planners, is what drives real growth.

    $18 Trillion in Tariffs? Let's Do the Math

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2025 3:45 Transcription Available


    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  Donald Trump says tariffs generated $18 trillion in just 10 months—and some Republicans are repeating it like it's gospel. But let's slow down and apply a little basic math. $18 trillion is nearly two-thirds of U.S. GDP. If that kind of money actually flowed into the country, manufacturing, construction, and investment would be exploding. They're not—they're moving in the opposite direction.In this episode, Chris breaks down what tariff revenue really looks like (hint: it's under $300 billion), why there are no written $18 trillion investment “commitments,” and how exaggeration turns into outright misinformation once politicians and pundits start echoing it. Supporting pro-growth policy doesn't require fantasy numbers—and repeating them only insults the public's intelligence.Facts matter. Trillions matter. And if we want credibility on economic policy, we have to stop pretending a big fish story is an actual balance sheet.

    The Affordability Crisis: Hoax, Spin, or a Hard Economic Reality?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2025 17:08 Transcription Available


    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  Is America's affordability crisis real—or are we being gaslit into believing everything is fine? A new CNBC All-America Economic Survey shows high prices are now the number one reason Americans are spending less, echoing results from Fox, NYT, and other outlets. Yet political leaders and media cheerleaders insist the economy is “great” and concerns are overblown.In this episode, Chris cuts through the spin and focuses on what actually hurts households: food, housing, insurance, utilities, and other bare necessities people can't avoid. We break down why prices haven't come down, why the claim that “deflation is always bad” is a myth, and how decades of reckless government spending, debt, and Federal Reserve money creation have steadily hollowed out the dollar.From Biden to Trump, Bush to Obama, the trajectory hasn't changed—debt has exploded, the dollar has lost over half its value in 30 years, and Americans are paying the price at the checkout counter. Featuring hard data, media accountability, and Ron Paul's blunt diagnosis of the real cause behind the crisis, this is a no-nonsense look at why “more government money” won't fix what government broke.

    Tariffs: A Double-Edged Sword

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2025 39:27 Transcription Available


    Chris Markowski, the Watchdog on Wall Street, discusses various pressing economic issues, including the role of government in economic growth, the impact of tariffs, state governance, immigration, and drug trafficking. He emphasizes the importance of financial freedom and the need for individuals to take charge of their economic futures while critiquing government policies that hinder growth and prosperity.

    Political Accountability in Finance

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2025 39:40 Transcription Available


     Chris Markowski, the Watchdog on Wall Street, delves into the financial truths that are often obscured by mainstream narratives. He discusses the ethical implications of capitalism, the pitfalls of trading platforms like Robinhood, and the consequences of political decisions on financial justice. Markowski emphasizes the need for accountability in both the financial sector and government, while also critiquing the media's role in shaping public perception. The conversation touches on various topics, including Ponzi schemes, government spending, healthcare fraud, and the current state of the entertainment industry, culminating in a discussion about the implications of technology and regulation in the modern economy.

    Prioritizing What Matters Most

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2025 39:39 Transcription Available


    Chris Markowski discusses the importance of prioritizing financial planning over conventional retirement planning. He emphasizes the need for individuals to focus on what truly matters in life, such as family and experiences, rather than material possessions. The conversation also touches on the challenges faced by the Federal Reserve and the impact of private equity on financial advisories, highlighting the need for individuals to be cautious in their investment decisions.

    Tariffs, Promises, and the Farm Betrayal

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2025 4:52 Transcription Available


    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  Farmers were told they'd thrive. Instead, they got crushed—undercut by a trade war that tanked exports, forced sell-offs, and handed opportunities to big-money land barons. With China falling far short of purchase commitments and aid covering only a sliver of losses, the truth is unavoidable: America's backbone got played while the wealthy walked away with the land.

    War Drums, Lobbyists, and the China Myth

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2025 9:27 Transcription Available


    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  When the New York Times tells you to “prepare for war with China,” it's time to ask who's writing the script. This episode exposes the recycled fear messaging, the CIA timelines that never check out, the Pentagon's trillion-dollar incentives, and the political machinery that keeps obsolete weapons alive. Plus: the real history of Taiwan, what China actually wants, and why no American parent should be sending their kids to die over it.

    AI, States' Rights, and the Quiet Power Grab No One Read

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2025 5:51 Transcription Available


    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 of the media skipped the homework, but we didn't. Chris explores Trump's push for a unified national AI standard, examines how it intersects with the Tenth Amendment, and asks where state authority ends and federal power begins. From refinery-blend absurdities to outlet-standard logic, from protecting kids from deepfakes to protecting communities from soaring utility demands, we break down what this order could mean—and why Big Tech lobbyists are already celebrating.

    Experts in Ivory Towers, Americans in the Real World

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2025 5:33 Transcription Available


    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  Why do so many economic “experts” sound like they've never bought groceries, run a business, or stepped foot in flyover country? Chris unpacks Stephen Moore's media cheerleading, the bad government data everyone keeps pretending is gospel, and why telling Americans “everything is awesome” only makes the disconnect worse. Real people live on real budgets—and D.C. still doesn't get it.

    Republican Leaders, Healthcare Chaos, and 15 Years of Empty Promises

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2025 14:15 Transcription Available


    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 blunt, brutally honest look at the GOP's long track record of talking big on healthcare reform but never delivering. From the first Tea Party rally in 2009 to today's push to extend Obamacare subsidies, this segment dissects the fraud, the donor money, the political gamesmanship, and the bipartisan addiction to government growth. Plus, why insurance companies are terrified, why D.C. keeps Americans fighting each other, and how real accountability—like term limits—might finally break the cycle.

    Inflation, Donkey Charts, and Gaslighting the Public

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2025 3:10 Transcription Available


    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  Democrats keep posting charts showing prices “skyrocketing under Trump”—except the charts conveniently show almost the entire surge happening during Biden's presidency. Chris breaks down the numbers, call out the spin, and explain why Trump needs to stop pretending prices are falling and instead lay out a real plan to bring them down.

    Trump, the Fed, and the Economics That Don't Add Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2025 2:37 Transcription Available


    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  This segment dives into Trump's claim that the U.S. economy could grow at 25% with low interest rates. From the Fed's money-printing reality to Washington's spending addiction, we cut through the noise and explain why Trump's off-the-cuff economics don't match how the system actually works.

    DeSantis Delivered in Florida — Now Let Him Deliver for America

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2025 5:13 Transcription Available


    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 breaks down why Ron DeSantis remains the standout conservative leader in the country. From dominating his debate with Gavin Newsom to running one of the most fiscally responsible states in America, DeSantis proves results matter more than establishment games. A deep dive into Florida's booming growth, low spending, strong test scores, and massive debt reduction—plus why the political class fears him.

    Rock, Hard Place, and a Broken Compass: The Fed's 2% Inflation Lie

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2025 7:26 Transcription Available


    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 Fed cuts a quarter point, shrugs, and tells America to trust the same priorities that have destroyed 54% of our buying power. Chris breaks down why the 2% target is nonsense, why QE is quietly creeping back, and how Washington's spending spree—from wars to earmarks to endless bailouts—has pushed us into slow-growth inflation. Three dissents won't change the fact: mortgage rates aren't coming down, and the Fed is flying with a faulty dashboard.

    Sandcastles, Sea Turtles, and the One True Priority

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2025 12:58 Transcription Available


    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 reflection on why life only works when we anchor ourselves to a single guiding priority—faith and family—and stop chasing every flashing distraction. From sea turtles losing their way to kids building sandcastles that will wash away, Chris explores how purpose beats planning, why financial “preparation” matters more than rigid “plans,” and why joy, meaning, and relationships can't be postponed for some mythical retirement finish line.

    Lessons from “Almost Famous.”

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2025 8:00 Transcription Available


    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 look at how modern journalism has abandoned its role, trading hard questions for access and friendship with the powerful. Drawing on the Lester Bangs–Stillwater storyline from Almost Famous, Chris examines the revolving door between administrations and cable news, the seduction of power, and why citizens—not cheerleaders—must hold elected officials accountable.

    Australia Pulls the Plug: The Kids' Social Media Ban America Wishes It Had

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2025 4:20 Transcription Available


    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  Australia just took a sledgehammer to Big Tech, moving to deactivate more than a million under-16 social media accounts—and honestly, it's hard to argue with the logic. From skyrocketing ADHD diagnoses to nonstop AI-generated brain rot, the research is catching up to what common sense told us years ago: social media is melting young minds. This commentary revisits early warnings, cultural red flags, and the Ghostbusters 2 “negative slime” prediction that turned out to be dead-on. Then we ask the big question: Would the world be better if every social platform vanished tomorrow?

    The GOP's Healthcare Faceplant: A Decade of Excuses and Zero Solutions

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2025 6:41 Transcription Available


    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  Republicans spent years campaigning on “repeal and replace,” yet when the moment came, they had nothing—no plan, no replacement, no preparation. This segment breaks down a decade of missed opportunities, internal dysfunction, and empty promises as the party still fumbles health-care reform while premiums soar and insurers rake in record profits. From the McCain vote to today's hollow pledges of “working hard on healthcare,” it's an indictment of a party that criticizes Obamacare but never bothered to build an alternative.

    The Government Can't Really Solve This Problem

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2025 4:38 Transcription Available


    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  Governor Andy Beshear went on TV to defend Biden's inflation record and claimed the White House is “building the economy of tomorrow” with EVs, chips, and subsidies. What a joke. Politicians don't build economies — they only distort them, inflate them, or screw them up.In this episode, we break down: • Why no president — Republican, Democrat, or Marxist — “builds” an economy • How subsidies, public-private partnerships, and government meddling always raise prices • Why the free market works best when politicians keep their hands off • How billions of daily decisions — not DC bureaucrats — create real economic growth • Why government interference turns markets into a “Dr. Moreau experiment” of distortions And what the rule of law actually requires from Washington: neutrality, not intervention!

    The WAKE UP CALL The GOP Really Needs

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2025 8:57 Transcription Available


    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  This morning, after listening to a parade of Republican senators and representatives regurgitate talking points about healthcare, farm policy, and government spending, I hit a breaking point: I'm never voting for “less bad” again. Watching these people dodge reality while their constituents suffer was embarrassing — for them, and for the country.In this episode, we break down: • Why the GOP's current leadership is terrified of saying anything real • How Republicans now rely on the same canned bullet points as Democrats • Why nothing meaningful has been accomplished under Mike Johnson's Congress • How the party continues to rubber-stamp spending, foreign aid, and bureaucratic growth • Why Republicans treat criticism like “mean tweets” instead of feedback And why refusing to vote for weak candidates may be the only way forward.

    The Trump ‘Say Anything' Tour: Comedy, Casinos, and Economic Reality Checks

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2025 9:19 Transcription Available


    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  Donald Trump took his free-wheeling stand-up-style routine to a Poconos casino, offering jokes, jabs, and a rosy portrait of the economy that doesn't quite square with the data. From the pencil rant to the choreographed “Lower Prices, Higher Paychecks” signs behind him, the spectacle contrasts sharply with rising bankruptcies, soaring debt, shaky consumer confidence, and signs of a coming electoral backlash. This breakdown cuts through the spin, the slogans, and the stagecraft to look at what's actually happening—and why even some conservative voices are sounding the alarm.

    Tariffs Don't Fix Trade—They Just Tax Americans

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2025 5:21 Transcription Available


    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  All the promises about reshoring, weakening China, and making other nations “pay” have collapsed under the numbers. China found new markets, allies followed suit, and U.S. importers are stuck with the bill. Until spending is cut and policy becomes targeted, this is just another self-inflicted economic wound.

    Trump's New National Security Blueprint Is NOT What the Media Says

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2025 11:16 Transcription Available


    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 just released a 33-page national security strategy — and the media is counting on you not to read it. Instead, they're cherry-picking, rage-baiting, and calling it “radical.” But if you actually open the document, the worldview Trump lays out is practical and brutally honest about the Western Hemisphere, Europe, Russia, and America's limits.In this episode, we break down: • Why the buildup around Colombia and Venezuela has nothing to do with “narco-trafficking” • How control of the world's largest oil reserves shapes U.S. behavior — no matter who's president • Why Trump is challenging Europe and pushing NATO to grow up • How European decline — from demographics to GDP to identity — is driving their political panic • Why Europe quietly agrees with Trump more than the media wants to admit • Why stabilizing Ukraine quickly is now a core U.S. interestAnd how Trump's business-minded foreign policy contrasts with the neocon approach of endless war!

    The Nvidia–China Deal Makes ZERO Sense (And No One Can Explain It)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2025 4:15 Transcription Available


    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 cuts a deal with Xi Jinping to allow China to buy Nvidia's H200 chips — the same chips the U.S. government says will determine who controls the future of AI and modern warfare. And somehow we're supposed to pretend this all makes sense? You'd have an easier time decoding a Fellini film.In this episode, we break down: • The deal: China gets access to Nvidia's H200s as long as the U.S. keeps 25% of the sales • The contradiction: DOJ says these chips are the “building blocks of AI superiority” • The confusion: Why sell strategic tech to an adversary we're told to fear? • The chaos: DOJ shuts down a China-linked chip-smuggling network the same day • The twist: China now says it might restrict access to the very chips we just approvedAnd the reality: None of this adds up — not strategically, not economically, not politically!

    Don't Doubt Me: Minnesota Just Laundered Millions Through NGOs

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2025 4:15 Transcription Available


    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  Minnesota shoved $38 million in property tax dollars into hundreds of NGOs, all while jacking up local taxes—and no one will face consequences. As usual, it'll disappear from the news cycle the moment the next shiny outrage arrives. From Florida to the Midwest, waste and political payouts are everywhere, and until someone actually cracks down, nothing changes.

    Missed Again: Congress Just Pulled Another Holiday Heist

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2025 8:41 Transcription Available


    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 Phil Collins' Missed Again? That's America right now—getting taken for another ride while Congress crams $5+ billion in earmarks into a Christmas-time minibus no one can even find in the PDFs. A handful of Republicans are holding the line, but the rest are ignoring their own moratorium and greenlighting money for activist groups, sports arenas, fish tunnels, and foreign militaries. This is what happens when voters look away and Washington counts on it.

    Farm Aid or Farce? Another $12 Billion Proves Big Ag Still Runs the Show

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2025 4:58 Transcription Available


    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 administration is rolling out another $12 billion in “Farm Aid”, supposedly to help farmers hurt by the ongoing trade war—yet most of that cash, just like in 2018 and 2019, is poised to flow straight through the farmers and into the pockets of Big Ag giants like Bayer and Monsanto. With China falling far short of its promised soybean purchases and America doubling down on the same broken agricultural policies—ethanol mandates, corporate consolidation, and subsidizing bad incentives—we're once again treating symptoms instead of fixing the system. From misguided crop priorities to farmland mismanagement, Chris calls out the waste, the politics, and the corporations cashing in while taxpayers foot the bill.

    Follow the Money: The DEA Insider Who Sold Out to a Cartel

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2025 8:46 Transcription Available


    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 25-year DEA veteran allegedly laundered cash, advised traffickers, and even discussed explosive-laden drones—all while retaining a security clearance. This isn't just corruption; it's a roadmap for why the drug trade thrives. When dirty money flows into crypto, real estate, and luxury developments—from Miami's high-rise boom to New York's ghost towers—the system quietly absorbs it. Here's why the war on drugs won't be won until America targets the money pipeline, not the boats.

    Trump's One-Rule AI Order: National Unity or States' Rights Clash?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2025 7:44 Transcription Available


    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 president is preparing a sweeping “one rule book” executive order for AI, arguing that only a single national standard can keep America ahead of China. But while Washington pushes uniform rules, states like Florida are rolling out their own AI Bills of Rights—targeting deepfakes, data privacy, therapy bots, parental oversight, and data-center protections. Is a unified framework necessary for innovation, or does it trample the Constitution and the 10th Amendment? A deep dive into the coming showdown between federal ambition and state authority.

    Hollywood Hostile Takeover: Skydance vs. Time Warner and the Streaming Chaos Ahead

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2025 6:51 Transcription Available


    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  Paramount–Skydance just launched a full-blown hostile bid for Time Warner, going straight to shareholders with a $30-per-share cash offer—setting off a year of regulatory wrangling and backroom deal-cutting. From the rise of Netflix and the collapse of old-school studios to streamer consolidation, licensing battles, and consumer exhaustion over too many platforms, the entire entertainment landscape is shaking. Will Netflix counter? Will regulators balk? And is a streamer owning a massive legacy library the turning point Hollywood's been dreading?

    Trump, Tariffs & Toy Trouble: The Hidden Costs Nobody Wants to Admit

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2025 10:18 Transcription Available


    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 deep dive into Trump's latest tariff messaging, the Supreme Court signals he may be bracing for, and the eyebrow-raising behavior of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's former firm betting against the very tariffs he champions. Plus—how toy makers, from major brands to small U.S. designers, are getting crushed by the reality of 30–145% duties and a labor market that makes reshoring fantasy. It's a whirlwind of politics, economics, and holiday-season chaos.

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