Podcast appearances and mentions of andy cross

Turnarounds take longer than investors like to imagine. (00:21) Jim Gillies and Ricky Mulvey discuss: - Nike's return to Amazon. - The fundamentals and risks of investing in turnaround stories. - A fitness company with a potentially brighter future. Then, Motley Fool CIO, Andy Cross, and Senior Analyst, Asit Sharma, interview PubMatic CEO Rajeev Goel about trends in digital advertising and his company's future. Members of any Motley Fool service can access the whole conversation here: https://www.fool.com/premium/4056/coverage/2025/05/15/pubmatic-ceo-rajeev-goel-interview?_gl=1*wfzp4p*_gcl_au*MTE4NzAwNDAyMS4xNzQ3OTM0ODk3*_ga*MzY5MTIzMDUyLjE3NDc5MjMyNTM.*_ga_B6G4KMLCV0*czE3NDc5MzQ4OTckbzMkZzEkdDE3NDc5MzkzODQkajU1JGwxJGgzMjk1NDE2NDEkZEpJOEZWXzVabC1XWnV6ZHBicHZxZ0pmcXBubWdVRElrcmc. Companies discussed: NKE, CMG, UHC, BA, PTON, PUBM Host: Ricky Mulvey Guests: Jim Gillies, Andy Cross, Asit Sharma, Rajeev Goel Producer: Mary Long Engineer: Dan Boyd Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, "TMF") do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In one direction, there's digital. In the other, there's a treasure hunt. (00:21) David Meier and Mary Long discuss: - Target's off-the-mark results. - Lessons from TJX Companies' under-the-radar CEO. - What caused David to do a double-take when listening to Palo Alto's earnings call. Then, (17:05), Morgan Housel joins Motley Fool Chief Investment Officer Andy Cross for a conversation about investment decisionmaking and the psychology of spending money. Companies discussed: TGT, TJX, WMT, PANW Host: Mary Long Guests: David Meier, Andy Cross, Morgan Housel Engineer: Dan Boyd Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, "TMF") do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even the biggest retailer in the world is planning to pass along tariff increases to customers. (00:21) David Meier and Andy Cross discuss: - The market cheering a short-term solution to trade between the U.S. and China, and Walmart signalling that prices on the shelves are going up anyways. - Cava's “new factor” helping it continue to put up strong growth and comps numbers in a really tough market for restaurants. - Dick's headscratching $2B buy of Foot Locker, and the lesson to take away from one of athleisure's best performers – On Holdings. (19:11) Financial planning expert Robert Brokamp offers his money tips and the financial commencement speech for the class of 2025. (32:46) David and Andy break down two stocks on their radar: Evolve Technology and Booz Allen Hamilton. Stocks discussed: WMT, CAVA, DKS, FL, ONON, EVLV, BAH Host: Dylan Lewis Guests: David Meier, Andy Cross, Robert Brokamp Engineers: Dan Boyd Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, "TMF") do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“AI wouldn't exist without Nvidia, at least not in its current form.” So argues Stephen Witt, a journalist and author of the book “The Thinking Machine: Jensen Huang, Nvidia, and the World' Most Coveted Microchip.” The Motley Fool's Chief Investment Officer, Andy Cross, and Fool contributor Jose Najarro caught up with Witt for a conversation about: - What Jensen Huang is afraid of. - Whether anything can stop the current capex cycle. - Where Nvidia's next $3 trillion in market cap could come from. The full version of this conversation is able to Motley Fool members via our Fool24 livestream, available here: https://www.fool.com/premium/news-and-analysis/media Companies/tickers discussed: NVDA, META, MSFT, AAPL, TSM Hosts: Andy Cross, Jose Najarro Guest: Stephen Witt Producer: Mac Greer, Mary Long Engineer: Rick Engdahl, Austin Morgan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we talk about the economic and market impacts of tariffs, some business partnerships, and a couple of weak earnings reports. Also, Andy Cross talks to Schwab Chief Investment Strategist Liz Ann Sonders. And Asit and Jason share two stocks on their radar. Host: Ron Gross Guests: Asit Sharma, Jason Moser, Andy Cross, Liz Ann Sonders Engineer: Dan Boyd Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A discount retailer sheds some branches; a pet supply store picks up a few extra treats. (00:21) Tim Beyers and Mary Long discuss the difference in dollar stores and Chewy's latest earnings. Then, (16:36), Tom Gardner and Andy Cross talk with Sezzle CEO Charlie Youakim for a closer look at the uniquely positioned buy-now-pay-later company. Companies discussed: DLTR, DG, WMT, CHWY, SZL Host: Mary Long Guest: Tim Beyers, Tom Gardner, Andy Cross, Charlie Youakim Producer: Ricky Mulvey Engineers: Dan Boyd, Heather Horton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To stay on top, the consumer giants need a player in every potential market. (00:21) David Meier and Dylan Lewis discuss: - February retail numbers showing continued consumer struggles, and why this upcoming retail earnings season will be a key read on the economy. - Pepsi's $2B acquisition of alt-soda Poppi, the venture capital-style of trend investing for consumer brands, and how Coke and Pepsi need to keep absorbing the next potential big thing. (13:55) It's no secret that a lot of investors have high hopes about the future of artificial intelligence. But how do genuine experts, people who have been studying AI and machine learning long before it entered the mainstream, feel about the future of the field? Motley Fool analysts Andy Cross and Asit Sharma talk with Oren Etzioni, an AI Expert and Professor Emeritus at the University of Washington, about the current and future states of artificial intelligence. Check out Fool24 on TMF's YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@MotleyFool And Motley Fool members can get the replay here: https://www.fool.com/premium/4056/coverage/2025/03/06/ai-expert-dr-oren-etzioni-interview-3625-3pm Companies discussed: DG, WMT, PEP, KO. Host: Dylan Lewis Guests: David Meier, Andy Cross, Asit Sharma, Oren Etzioni Producer: Mary Long Engineers: Dan Boyd Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What were the 10 “Bestie” Rule Breaker Investing podcasts of 2024?   From timely and timeless optimism, to risk-rating frameworks, to cutting-edge AI-driven Q&A, plus a first-ever Market Cap Game Show World Championship, this week's Besties extravaganza highlights 10 remarkable episodes that defined Rule Breaker Investing in 2024.   And all the stars are back! Cameos a-plenty in this fifth annual year-end blockbuster, capped by a redux of the community-centric 100th Mailbag, featuring longtime listeners showcasing the power of shared learning.   Here's to another year of smarter, happier, and richer! (6:48)  Bestie #1: Optimism, w/ Bill Burke   (13:43) Bestie #2: Calculating Risk Foolishly, Vol. 3: KNSL v. CHWY   (17:05) Bestie #3: Rand Stagen on Long-Term Leadership, Business, and Life   (28:48) Bestie #4: Investing in Art with Tonya Turner Carroll and Michael Carroll   (40:25) Bestie #5: Reviewapalooza Ultima: 30 Five-Stock Samplers in 10 1/2 Chapters   (46:56) Bestie #6: Dividend Fools, Vol. 2 w/ Matt Argersinger & Buck Hartzell   (58:19) Bestie #7: Innovating the Future with XPRIZE's Elaine Hungenberg   (1:03:49) Bestie #8: ChatGPT Asks & David Answers, Vol. 1   (1:06:56) Bestie #9: Market Cap Game Show FINALS (Andy Cross v. Bill Mann)   (1:15:46) Bestie #10: February 2024 Mailbag (#100!): Very Good Company   Host: David Gardner   Guests: Matt Argersinger, Bill Burke, Tonya Carroll, Michael Carroll, ChatGPT (AI), Andy Cross, Dave Geck, Buck Hartzell, Elaine Hungenberg, Jumm, Mike McMahon, Bill Mann, Jason Moore, Adam Nelson, Jason Newman, Rand Stagen, Jason Trice   Music: Erick Devore   Producer: Desirée Jones   Companies Mentioned: BIP, BRK, CHWY, EGHSF, KNSL, MTYFF, NVDA, PTON, RPM, SBUX, SYNA, TSLA, UBER

It's that magical time of year before the holidays where you still have time to catch up on retirement contributions for 2024 and get yourself ready for the new year ahead.  (00:15) Andy Cross and Matt Argersinger discuss: - Disney's newfound strength at the box office and in streaming, Spotify's subscription strength and advertising opportunity, and Shopify's return to its winning ways.  - Why Cava and Instacart are both taking a breather post-earnings  - How the macro environment and housing market continues to weigh on activity for Home Depot. (19:04) Robert Brokamp runs through the key numbers investors need to know for their 401ks and IRAs for 2025 and the outlook for taxes and Social Security. (34:35) Andy and Matt break down two stocks on their radar: Nike and Papa John's. Learn more about the Range Rover Sport at www.landroverusa.com and Get 15% off the Amazfit T-Rex 3 at us.amazefit.com/Fool Stocks discussed: DIS, SPOT, SHOP, CAVA, CART, HD, NKE, PZZA Host: Dylan Lewis Guests: Andy Cross, Matt Argersinger, Robert Brokamp Engineers: Rick Engdahl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Taylor Wegrzyn, Director of Economic and Community Development at the City of North Chicago, Illinois and Siraj Asfahani, Vice President at The Lakota Group joined to podcast to discuss the City of North Chicago's award-winning Comprehensive Plan. They discussed the need for more frequent revisions of a comprehensive plan and the unique opportunities of coordinating with the federal government. They also discussed the robust community outreach and resident engagement that informed the development of the plan. This episode was recorded at the American Planning Association – Illinois Chapter Annual Conference. Host: Dan Bolin and Andy Cross

You're already pretty smart, but let's go for even smarter! Our all-Fool cast is here to help you understand some common and not-so-common investing terms, so that you can be more fun at cocktail parties — and more importantly, be a better investor! Are we heroes? Are we zeros? Keep score and let us know. Host: David Gardner Guests: Amanda Kish, Andy Cross, Sanmeet Deo Producer: Rick Engdahl

Investors get their first glimpse at Tesla's robotaxi ambitions and how regulators might be looking to break up search giant Google.  (00:42) Jason Moser and Andy Cross discuss: - Why Jamie Dimon is trying to get investors past the rate story in banking. - Tesla's splashy We, Robot product event, and how the company's new Cybercab offering might fit into the company's long-term strategy.  - Earnings updates from Delta, Pepsi, and Domino's. (19:03) The DOJ's taking a much closer look at Alphabet's Google and its online search empire. Andy and Jason talk through what a Google break-up would mean, and why it's a bit weird to be talking about Google the monopoly as its power seems to be waning. (32:06) Jason and Andy field a question from a listener on following earnings and offer up two stocks on their radar: Netflix and Meta. Visit our sponsor at www.landroverusa.com Vote here to help Motley Fool Money take home Signal's Best Money & Finance Show for 2024.   Stocks discussed: JPM, WFC, TSLA, DAL, PEP, DPZ, NFLX, META Host: Dylan Lewis Guests: Jason Moser, Andy Cross Engineers: Rick Engdahl  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(0:49) Matt Argersinger and Andy Cross discuss: - Why dividends and some specific market indicators are in focus at FoolFest. - What to watch as earnings season picks up – Netflix's metrics game, and whether spend returns for big-ticket items at Home Depot.  - Some of our favorite memories from a decade of FoolFests and a few trivia questions to revisit Fool stocks and the market over a 10-year period.  Companies discussed: NFLX, HD, PLD, BABA, HUBS, NVDA, ANET, PANW, MELI Host: Dylan Lewis Guests: Matt Argersinger, Andy Cross Engineer: Desiree Jones Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Relatively strong earnings results from Shopify and Roblox were overshadowed by questions about the outlook for the rest of the year and whether consumers will keep up the online shopping and in-game spending.. (00:21) Ron Gross and Andy Cross discuss: - Disney's path to streaming profitability, and the warnings from Shopify and Roblox that growth in the back half of 2024 might be a bit lighter. - Trade Desk's relative strength in a tough earnings environment, and Airbnb bracing for some travel slowdown. - How drinkmaker Celsius continues to find the energy for growth. (19:11) Motley Fool Co-founder David Gardner provides some timeless advice for college grads. (27:27) Ron and Matt break down two stocks on their radar: Toast and Trex. Stocks discussed: DIS, SHOP, RBLX, TTD, ABNB, CELH, TREX, TOST Host: Dylan Lewis Guests: Andy Cross, Ron Gross, David Gardner, Mary Long Engineers: Dan Boyd Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're seeing consistently strong results this earnings season, but the market keeps looking forward. It loves Alphabet's dividend and Tesla's mass market ambitions, but is less sold on Meta commingling AI and the Metaverse. (00:21) Andy Cross and Emily Flippen discuss: - Chipotle's stellar comps and future store growth opportunity. - Why Tesla's low-priced EV offering has investors overlooking down results. - Alphabet getting in on the dividend game, and the market telling Meta – don't spend on AI like that.  - What Spotify, Snap, and Roku have to say about the strength of the ad market for 2024. (19:11) Emily and Andy break down two stocks on their radar: Tyler Technologies and Visa. Stocks discussed: CMG, TSLA, GOOG, GOOGL, META, MSFT, SPOT, SNAP, ROKU, V, TYL. Host: Dylan Lewis Guests: Emily Flippen, Andy Cross Engineers: Dan Boyd Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It all comes down to this... Who will be the National World Champion of The Market Cap Game Show? In one corner is Bill Mann and in the other is Andy Cross, both investing gurus and indelible Fools. But we're betting on you to come out smarter, happier, and richer as we all play and learn together! Companies discussed: UNP, WD, UBER, SYNA, SRAD, USB, NARI, DXCM, TDOC, PI, LYV Host: David Gardner Guests: Bill Mann, Andy Cross Producer: Rick Engdahl

AI has been a boon for Oracle's cloud business, but it's also creating a lot of questions for Adobe. (00:21) Andy Cross and Matt Argersinger discuss: - The National Association of Realtors agreeing to over $400M in fines and to eliminate its commission rules. - Why AI is pushing Oracle up and Adobe down after earnings. - The numbers behind Williams-Sonoma's 18% spike, Kevin Plank's return to Under Armour, and Ulta's wild shrink story,  (19:11) Motley Fool Money's Ricky Mulvey catches up with Bloomberg entertainment reporter Lucas Shaw, for a look into the business of streaming, the power of incentives, and corporate infighting at Paramount.. (34:01) Andy and Matt break down two stocks on their radar: Equity Commonwealth and Landstar Systems. Stocks discussed: RDFN, Z, ADBE, ORCL, WSM, UA, UAA, ULTA, LSTR, EQC Host: Dylan Lewis Guests: Andy Cross, Matt Argersinger, Ricky Mulvey, Lucas Shaw Engineers: Dan Boyd Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Earnings season rolls on plus some acquisitions made the news this week: (00:21) Emily Flippen and Andy Cross discuss: - Earnings reports for Nvidia, Etsy, Wayfair, Walmart, Palo Alto Networks, and MercadoLibre - Acquisition roundup: Capital One is acquiring Discovery Financial and Walmart is acquiring Vizio (19:11) Bloomberg reporter, Kurt Wagner talks about Twitter and his new book “The Battle for the Bird.” (34:25) Emily and Andy break down two stocks on their radar: Grab Holdings and HubSpot Stocks discussed: NVDA, ETSY, W, WMT, PANW, MELI, COF, DFS, GRAB, HUBS Host: Ron Gross Guests: Emily Flippen, Andy Cross, Kurt Wagner Engineers: Dan Boyd Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Microsoft taking the spot as the largest company in the world is a good reminder that sometimes it takes a while for big names to turn it around. We explain why and talk about how IBM and Comcast could have good times ahead. (00:21) Bill Mann and Andy Cross discuss: - Microsoft crossing $3T and surpassing Apple as the largest publicly traded company. - Alibaba's co-founders buying up $200M shares, and the state of investing in China. - Tesla's tough, but predictable quarter, big subscriber growth from Netflix, and why IBM is a sneaky AI play. (19:11) Motley Fool Money's Deidre Woollard caught up with Jeff Edison, co-founder and CEO of Phillips Edison & Company, to understand the importance of necessity-based goods in retail, what consumers want right now – both in terms of concepts and convenience. (29:49) Bill and Andy talk how Comcast looks more interesting as Peacock grows and two stocks on their radar: Spotify and MercadoLibre. Stocks discussed: MSFT, AAPL, BABA, TSLA, NFLX, IBM, SPOT, MELI, PECO Host: Dylan Lewis Guests: Bill Mann, Andy Cross, Deidre Woollard, Jeff Edison Engineers: Tim Sparks, Dan Boyd Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Google's Bard just got an upgrade, can it catch up to OpenAI's ChatGPT? (00:21) Ron Gross and Andy Cross discuss: - New jobs report numbers, Alphabet's latest AI move bringing Gemini into Bard, and GameStop's curious corporate investing plan update. - Chewy's status as the #1 pet pharmacy in the U.S., Lululemon's business-as-usual quarter, and Smuckers showing it has pricing power in peanut butter. (19:11) Journalist and author Bethany McLean's talks with Deidre Woollard about her latest book “The Big Fail” and takes a look at the past three years, how we responded to COVID, and the lasting effects on households, businesses, and the economy. (33:05) Ron and Andy break down two stocks on their radar: Target and MongoDB. Stocks discussed: GOOG, GOOGL, GME, DOCU, CHWY, LULU, SJM, MDB, TGT Host: Dylan Lewis Guests: Andy Cross, Ron Gross, Bethany McLean, Deidre Woollard Engineer: Dan Boyd Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Studios struck a deal with actors and now the content engine can start back up again, but will Hollywood be tighter with its spend?.  (00:11) Emily Flippen and Andy Cross discuss: SAG-AFTRA's deal with the film and tv industry, Disney's deal to buy the rest of Hulu, and Warner Brothers Discovery's “generational disruption.” The Trade Desk's warning about ad markets, and DataDog showing healthy signs in cloud spend. How Adyen is learning how to better play the expectations game. (19:02) Motley Fool Contributor Lou Whiteman spoke with Brad Jacobs, former CEO of XPO Logistics, about embracing a problem, how a short-seller targeting his company led to a great capital allocation decision, and other lessons from his book How to Make a Few Billion Dollars. (31:14) Emily and Andy break down two stocks on their radar: Axon and Gartner. Stocks discussed: DIS, WBD, TTD, DDOG, ADYEY, CPNG, XPO, LLY, IT, AXON Host: Dylan Lewis Guests: Emily Flippen, Andy Cross, Lou Whiteman,  Engineers: Rick Engdahl, Annie Pope Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We took Motley Fool Money on the road to our ONE member event in NYC, and we've got a special episode of analyst insights and listener questions.    (00:21) Asit Sharma and Andy Cross discuss: - The Nasdaq building in NYC, and how the company and exchange have fared in 2023.  - Some sneak peeks at the sessions for our member event - One Fool stock that isn't getting enough attention, and another that has surprised the investing team.  (14:08) We take questions from our ONE members in NYC – Andy and Asit weigh in on PayPal, how high rates impact investing decisions, and some companies that have done succession well recently. Companies discussed: NDAQ, ASML, META, PYPL, COST Host: Dylan Lewis Guests: Asit Sharma, Andy Cross Engineers:  Rick Engdahl, Dan Boyd 

Friday's deadline for government funding seems like it will pass without a resolution. We talk through the latest government shutdown and what it means for the market.  (00:21) Jason Moser and Andy Cross discuss: - The government shutdown and how investors and federal employees should be processing the news. - The FTC's antitrust case against Amazon and what it means for big tech. - Earnings updates from Costco, Nike, and Carmax. (19:11) Motley Fool analyst Rick Munarriz gives a rundown on Rover, the petcare marketplace, and explains the tailwinds and tailwags pushing the company forward. . (33:01) Jason and Andy break down two stocks on their radar: EPAM Systems and Intercontinental Exchange. Stocks discussed: AMZN, META, COST, NKE, KMX, ICE, EPAM Host: Dylan Lewis Guests: Jason Moser, Andy Cross, Ricky Mulvey, Rick Munarriz Engineers: Dan Boyd 

Adventures in Stockton. Two guests joined the podcast to talk about their award-winning planning project in Stockton, Illinois. Both guests work for All Together, Marisa Schulz is the Principal and Abigail Rose is the Senior Planner and Designer. They shared what made the project special, lessons learned, and the importance of creative placemaking. They also responded to audience questions. This episode was recorded at the American Planning Association - Illinois Chapter Annual Conference. Host: Dan Bolin and Andy Cross

Nvidia earnings soaked up a lot of headlines, but they're not the only one making moves in AI.  (00:21) Andy Cross and Jason Moser discuss: - The epic hype around Nvidia's earnings release, and how AI is playing into the ambitions for other companies in tech like Workday.  - Why “shrink” is the buzzword of the season in retail and how investors should be looking at it. - How Williams-Sonoma and Ulta bucked tough trends in retail to put up strong numbers, and the numbers behind updates from Intuit and Autodesk.  (19:11) Olivier Pomel, CEO of DataDog, talks through the company's recent results, the promising signs he's seeing in customer spend, and why he thinks his company still has a 10X opportunity in front of it. (33:52) Andy and Jason break down two stocks on their radar: Nike and Chewy. Stocks discussed: NVDA, WDAY, WSM, ADSK, ULTA, INTU, DLTR, FL, NKE, CHWY Host: Dylan Lewis Guest: Jason Moser, Tim Beyers, Olivier Pomel, Tim Beyers Engineers: Dan Boyd, Kyle Carruthers

International travel is back in a big way, and Netflix really wants you to choose between higher tiered plans or ad-supported. (00:42) Ron Gross and Andy Cross discuss: - The reasons Netflix is doing away with its lowest paid offering. - What investors should make of the Johnson & Johnson/Kenvue splitoff.  - Why concerns over Tesla's tightening margins might be overblown - Trends in travel and consumer spending based on results from United, American, Discover, and American Express. (19:04) Motley Fool Money's Alex Friedman caught up with author David Scott about the lessons he and Hubspot co-founder Brian Halligan think businesses can borrow from the Grateful Dead. (32:40) Ron and Andy break down two stocks on their radar: Toro and Mueller Industries. Stocks discussed: NFLX, JNJ, KVUE, TSLA, AMEX, DFS, AAL, UAL, AXP Host: Dylan Lewis Guests: Ron Gross, Andy Cross, Alex Friedman, David Scott Producer: Ricky Mulvey Engineers: Rick Engdahl

2023 is half over and the stock market has rebounded significantly from its 2022 lows. (00:21) Andy Cross and Jason Moser discuss: Revised first quarter GDP data Nike earnings coming in a bit light The Biden Administration's proposed new artificial intelligence chip export restrictions for China. (19:11) Motley Fool Money's Deidre Woollard caught up with Dave Meyer, the VP of Growth and Analytics at Bigger Pockets to talk through how the housing market has held up this year in the face of higher rates and whether trends like aging in place and sunbelt migration are here to stay. (32:07) Jason and Andy talk about two ideas on their radar: Amazon and Winmark. Stocks discussed: MKC, NKE, GIS, DAL, NVDA, AMD, CCL WBA, PEP. AMZN, WINA Host: Ron Gross Guests: Andy Cross, Jason Moser, Deidre Woollard, Dave Meyer Engineer: Dan Boyd 

PACs supporting Mike Johnston spend big in final sprint of Denver mayoral election | Susana Cordova will be Colorado's next Education Commissioner | New Colorado GOP Chair Dave Williams is off to a rocky start | Kari Lake is running for Senate in Arizona | Ringo Starr on tour in Western U.S.  Song playsIntro by hostWelcome to High Country - politics in the American West. My name is Sean Diller; regular listeners might know me from Heartland Pod's Talking Politics, every Monday.Support this show and all the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the link for Patreon, or go to Patreon.com/HeartlandPod to sign up.  Membership starts at $1/month, with even more extra shows and special access at the higher levels.  No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.Alright! Let's get into it:  COLORADO NEWSLINE: Denver mayoral candidates Mike Johnston and Kelly Brough sprint to the finish lineBY: CHASE WOODRUFF - MAY 30, 2023 4:00 AM       Left: Denver mayor candidate Kelly Brough receives the endorsement of the Greater Metro Denver Ministerial Alliance at an event on May 12, 2023. Right: Brough's runoff opponent, former state Sen. Mike Johnston, receives the endorsement of progressive former mayoral candidates and Democratic state lawmakers in Civic Center Park on May 10, 2023. (Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline)A half-million dollar contribution from former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg was part of a flood of large donations that has helped former state Sen. Mike Johnston open up a 2-to-1 fundraising lead over opponent Kelly Brough as the Denver mayor's race enters its final week.Advancing Denver, an independent expenditure committee supporting Johnston's run, raised more than $4 million through May 22.  The pro-Johnston super PAC has relied on many of the same out-of-state billionaire donors who boosted Johnston's gubernatorial bid in 2018, including Bloomberg, LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman and hedge fund managers Steve Mandel and John Arnold. Kent Thiry, the former CEO of Denver-based dialysis giant DaVita, is the group's largest local donor, while venture capitalist Art Reimers and private equity CEO Eric Resnick have also chipped in with six-figure contributions.About three-quarters of Advancing Denver's haul has been spent on TV advertising in support of Johnston, with the remainder spent on digital ads and mail.Johnston and Brough had raised roughly equal amounts in direct contributions through the end of April, reporting total receipts of $932,060 and $895,612, for their campaign committees, respectively.  A Better Denver, the independent expenditure committee supporting Brough, has struggled to raise large sums since the April 4 first-round election, adding just $211,650 to the $1 million it had previously raised in February and March.To date, the group's top donor during the runoff is Pete Coors, former Republican nominee for U.S. Senate and prolific donor to conservative causes. Coors gave $50,000 to A Better Denver on April 24. Other top donors to the pro-Brough PAC have included real estate interests like the National Association of Realtors, Colorado Construction Industry Coalition and developer Lloyd Fulenwider.The Apartment Association of Metro Denver, a landlord group, has made contributions to both candidates. After giving $25,000 to Brough in February, the group followed up with another $10,000 contribution to Brough in late April, and a $10,000 contribution to Johnston a week later.Ballots for the city's runoff election were mailed earlier this month. Voters can return their ballot to a 24-hour drop box or vote in person until 7 p.m. on June 6.COLORADO SUN:Susana Cordova, former superintendent of Denver schools, will be Colorado's next education commissionerErica Breunlin and Jesse Paul9:13 AM MDT on May 30, 2023Denver Public Schools superintendent Susana Cordova at DPS headquarters on April 3, 2020. (Andy Cross, The Denver Post via The Associated Press)The state's Board of Education on Monday named Susana Cordova as the sole finalist among 23 applicants after a unanimous vote. Her appointment is expected to be formalized when the board next meets.State Board Chairwoman Rebecca McClellan told The Colorado Sun “We really appreciated her sharp focus on results for students and outcomes for students with an eye toward equity,”  “She's not only talked the talk, she's proven that she's capable of achieving gains for students.”Cordova will take over the position from Katy Anthes, who is stepping down from the role in July after serving as commissioner since December 2016.Cordova began her career as a bilingual language arts teacher and has since worked in education for more than 30 years, including as a teacher, principal, district leader and currently as a superintendent in residence for Transcend, a national nonprofit focused on helping schools make classrooms more equitable for all students.Cordova was also previously a deputy superintendent for the Dallas TX Independent School District.Cordova has also taught as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Denver's School of Education and now serves on the university's board of trustees.  Cordova will begin steering the state education department at a particularly consequential time for Colorado schools, as districts continue to help students recover from lost time and learning during the pandemic and as many communities struggle to recruit and retain educators and manage declining student enrollment.Susana Cordova, then superintendent of Denver Public Schools, looks on as students work on laptops in a classroom in Newlon Elementary School early Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. The school was one of 55 Discovery Link sites set up by Denver Public Schools where students could participate in remote learning during the pandemic. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, Special to The Colorado Sun)Cordova will begin her tenure just as a state task force is considering changes to how Colorado evaluates its schools, which could potentially affect how much funding schools receive.Gov. Jared Polis celebrated Cordova's selection in a written statement Tuesday, saying   “Her prior work boosting academic progress and improving access to high-quality education for learners of all backgrounds as superintendent of Denver Public Schools is sure to benefit students across the state as she brings this passion and experience to this new role,” said Polis, a Democrat. “I look forward to working with Susana as a member of my cabinet as we continue to carry forward our bold education priorities.”   COLORADO SUN:Colorado GOP paid no staff in April while fundraising lags under new Chairman Dave WilliamsSandra Fish4:20 AM MDT on May 24, 2023Dave Williams speaks during a Republican state central meeting on March 11, 2023, in Loveland where elections for a chairman, vice chairman and secretary of the Colorado GOP were conducted. (Olivia Sun, The Colorado Sun via Report for America)If the Colorado Republican Party had employees in April, they didn't get paid.  It's the first time in at least 20 years the party didn't pay any employees.And the party's bank accounts have less money than the $120,540 a recent filing said the party had on hand, the GOP acknowledged in an addendum filed Saturday with the Federal Election Commission.  The Colorado GOP raised only about $58,000 in the first four months of the year, including less than $15,000 in April. The party spent more than $15,000 last month, with $9,100 going to health and dental benefits. It's unclear if anyone is working for the party; no staff is listed on its website.The lack of a payroll for a state party in Colorado is unusual.“There have been other cycles where the party pays only one or two salaries in the off year,” said Kristi Burton Brown, who chaired the party during the last election cycle. “If they want to run it all-volunteer, they certainly can.”The party raised only a little more than $18,000 in the first two months of the year, before Williams was elected chairman.  From January through April, Colorado's GOP spent more than $263,000. That compares with $539,000 spent in the first four months of 2021, another nonelection year when five people were paid for their work in April. Of this year's spending, $73,000 went to Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck for legal services.  “Anybody who gets elected state chair should probably prioritize raising money,” said Dick Wadhams, who ran the state party from 2007 to 2011 and has been critical of Williams. “You can't run an operation without money.”The state Democratic Party raised nearly $92,000 in April, and spent nearly $211,000, including about $26,000 on payroll for a half-dozen employees. That left the party with nearly $196,000 in cash at the end of April.The Democratic Party raised more than $419,000 in the first four months of the year, while spending about $454,000. The party's state-level account had nearly $32,000 at the end of March.And the Colorado GOP has trailed Democrats in political spending in the state in recent years.Campaign accounts or PACS for several of the state's top elected Democrats have donated to the federal party account this year including U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper; U.S. Reps. Diana Degette, of Denver, Yadira Caraveo, of Thornton, Jason Crow, of Centennial, and Joe Neguse, of Lafayette; Gov. Jared Polis; Treasurer Dave Young; and others. Hickenlooper also sent two emails recently asking people to donate to the state party.The Colorado GOP received $12,500 from the terminated 8th Congressional District campaign of state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, of Brighton, in early March. It's the only money the party has received from Republican officeholders or candidates this year.Tagged:Colorado Democratic Party, Colorado Republican Party, Dave WilliamsABC NEWS:Arizona set for unpredictable Senate raceByTal AxelrodMay 23, 2023, 3:06 AM Democrats and Republicans can at least agree on one thing: They have no idea what's going to happen in next year's Arizona Senate race.The election is shaping up to be an unpredictable three-way contest in one of the nation's premier battlegrounds featuring an incumbent who left her party (Sen. Kyrsten Sinema), a polarizing conservative who remains a rock star with her base (Kari Lake), and a Democratic nominee-in-waiting who would represent a shift to the left for the historically moderate-minded state (Rep. Ruben Gallego).Sen. Sinema first set the stage when she switched from being a Democrat to an independent late last year. While she called that choice a "reflection of who [she's] always been," the switch also prevented a primary fight with Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego -- and paved the way for something more unusual.State data shows just under 35% of Arizona voters are registered Republicans and 30% are registered Democrats, while 35% aren't registered with either party.If Sinema retires, the race to succeed her could feature Gallego, a Marine Corps vet and former House colleague of Sinema's who has become vocally critical of her, and Republican Kari Lake, a former TV anchor, election denier and 2022 Arizona gubernatorial candidate.Both Gallego and Lake are more associated with their parties' ideological flanks than the centrists who have historically won statewide.state GOP strategist Lorna Romero said "It's gonna be like nothing we've ever seen before in Arizona. I think what's going to make it nasty is obviously Ruben and Kyrsten don't get along personally. And depending on who the Republican is, if you get a firebrand like a Kari Lake again, we've seen how she's operated before, that's going to take it to another level."Nineteen operatives from both parties who spoke with ABC News for this story mostly thought that Sinema would run again, pointing to her ongoing fundraising and continued involvement in high-profile legislative pushes like on immigration.Senator Kyrsten Sinema questions witnesses during a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing in the wake of recent of bank failures, on Capitol Hill, May 18, 2023. Evelyn Hockstein/ReutersSinema, who previously served in the House for three terms, quickly thrust herself into the heart of several of the chamber's most significant and successful legislative efforts, including on infrastructure, same-sex marriage, guns and more.Her style of legislating has generated mixed reviews, with supporters pointing to her scorecard and liberal detractors saying she has been overly eager to water down Democratic priorities, including raising the minimum wage, supporting prescription drug pricing reform and scrapping the Senate filibuster as a way to codify abortion rights.Cesar Chavez, a former Democratic state lawmaker said "Overall, I think the state of Arizona is content with the work that Sen. Sinema done. The issues that Sen. Sinema has advocated for will definitely result in a positive tick in her numbers."Steve Slugocki, a senior adviser to Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a former chair of the Maricopa County Democratic Party had the opposite view. He said, "I cannot stress enough how deeply unpopular she is. I traveled the state everywhere last year. The first question was always, 'What are we going to do about Sinema? How can we replace her?'"Sen. Kyrsten Sinema arrives at the Capitol, May 9, 2023. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego speaks at a CHC event. Getty ImagesAll of this will play out in the larger context of the battle for the Senate, with the Democratic caucus holding a slim 51-49 majority, but defending 23 seats in 2024, making operatives eager to avoid a spoiler candidate, but without any agreement on who that would be.A former aide to Sen. Sinema said "She has shown she knows what it takes to win in Arizona. I look at these other candidates, and I do not see proven winners. "So yeah, as a Democrat, I'm nervous because I want to keep Kari Lake out of the Senate.""If she's in the race as an independent, Ruben's already at a disadvantage as a Democrat just because of the lower registration numbers that we have," said one former state lawmaker who is supporting Gallego. "So, it comes down to how many votes is Sen. Sinema going to take? Even if it is a very small percentage, any small percentage at all could tip this."To be sure, Democrats aren't the only ones wringing their hands.Republican strategists told ABC News that a three-way race with a Democrat and an independent with a Democratic background would normally be a boon to the GOP candidate. But failed 2022 candidate Kari Lake is looming in the wings and is coming off a narrow loss to Democrat Katie Hobbs, which many observers attributed to her embrace of baseless claims of 2020 election fraud.A source familiar with Lake's thinking told ABC News they're confident she'll run for the Senate, likely launching a campaign in the fall. This person also confirmed that Lake recently met with several senators, including National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Steve Daines of Montana, and that with her broad name recognition and support from conservative voters, she would enter the race as the overwhelming primary favorite.GOP strategist Lorna Romero said "[T]he Sinema breakup from the Democratic Party looks good for Republicans on paper, theoretically. But I think that the big heartburn is what's going to happen out of a Republican primary, and are we just going to do the same ridiculous mistakes over and over again, and Democrats are just going to continue to win in the state,"Still, virtually every person who spoke to ABC News added the caveat that their analyses could end up being off given the unpredictable nature of a potential race with the incumbent running as the third-party candidate."We've never seen anything like that in Arizona," one Democratic strategist said. "I just think trying to predict anything right now, you might as well shake a Magic 8 Ball and see what it tells you." CONCERT PICK OF THE WEEK: Sir Richard Starkey MBE, otherwise known as Ringo Starr!! Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band are on a Western U.S. tour with shows this week in San Diego, Eugene and Bend OR, and next week playing Denver's Bellco Theatre and the Pikes Peak Center in Colorado Springs. Tickets and information at ringostarr.comWelp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Original reporting for the stories in today's show comes from Colorado Newsline, Colorado Sun, ABC News, Arizona Mirror, and Denver's Westword.Thank you for listening! See you next time.  

PACs supporting Mike Johnston spend big in final sprint of Denver mayoral election | Susana Cordova will be Colorado's next Education Commissioner | New Colorado GOP Chair Dave Williams is off to a rocky start | Kari Lake is running for Senate in Arizona | Ringo Starr on tour in Western U.S.  Song playsIntro by hostWelcome to High Country - politics in the American West. My name is Sean Diller; regular listeners might know me from Heartland Pod's Talking Politics, every Monday.Support this show and all the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the link for Patreon, or go to Patreon.com/HeartlandPod to sign up.  Membership starts at $1/month, with even more extra shows and special access at the higher levels.  No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.Alright! Let's get into it:  COLORADO NEWSLINE: Denver mayoral candidates Mike Johnston and Kelly Brough sprint to the finish lineBY: CHASE WOODRUFF - MAY 30, 2023 4:00 AM       Left: Denver mayor candidate Kelly Brough receives the endorsement of the Greater Metro Denver Ministerial Alliance at an event on May 12, 2023. Right: Brough's runoff opponent, former state Sen. Mike Johnston, receives the endorsement of progressive former mayoral candidates and Democratic state lawmakers in Civic Center Park on May 10, 2023. (Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline)A half-million dollar contribution from former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg was part of a flood of large donations that has helped former state Sen. Mike Johnston open up a 2-to-1 fundraising lead over opponent Kelly Brough as the Denver mayor's race enters its final week.Advancing Denver, an independent expenditure committee supporting Johnston's run, raised more than $4 million through May 22.  The pro-Johnston super PAC has relied on many of the same out-of-state billionaire donors who boosted Johnston's gubernatorial bid in 2018, including Bloomberg, LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman and hedge fund managers Steve Mandel and John Arnold. Kent Thiry, the former CEO of Denver-based dialysis giant DaVita, is the group's largest local donor, while venture capitalist Art Reimers and private equity CEO Eric Resnick have also chipped in with six-figure contributions.About three-quarters of Advancing Denver's haul has been spent on TV advertising in support of Johnston, with the remainder spent on digital ads and mail.Johnston and Brough had raised roughly equal amounts in direct contributions through the end of April, reporting total receipts of $932,060 and $895,612, for their campaign committees, respectively.  A Better Denver, the independent expenditure committee supporting Brough, has struggled to raise large sums since the April 4 first-round election, adding just $211,650 to the $1 million it had previously raised in February and March.To date, the group's top donor during the runoff is Pete Coors, former Republican nominee for U.S. Senate and prolific donor to conservative causes. Coors gave $50,000 to A Better Denver on April 24. Other top donors to the pro-Brough PAC have included real estate interests like the National Association of Realtors, Colorado Construction Industry Coalition and developer Lloyd Fulenwider.The Apartment Association of Metro Denver, a landlord group, has made contributions to both candidates. After giving $25,000 to Brough in February, the group followed up with another $10,000 contribution to Brough in late April, and a $10,000 contribution to Johnston a week later.Ballots for the city's runoff election were mailed earlier this month. Voters can return their ballot to a 24-hour drop box or vote in person until 7 p.m. on June 6.COLORADO SUN:Susana Cordova, former superintendent of Denver schools, will be Colorado's next education commissionerErica Breunlin and Jesse Paul9:13 AM MDT on May 30, 2023Denver Public Schools superintendent Susana Cordova at DPS headquarters on April 3, 2020. (Andy Cross, The Denver Post via The Associated Press)The state's Board of Education on Monday named Susana Cordova as the sole finalist among 23 applicants after a unanimous vote. Her appointment is expected to be formalized when the board next meets.State Board Chairwoman Rebecca McClellan told The Colorado Sun “We really appreciated her sharp focus on results for students and outcomes for students with an eye toward equity,”  “She's not only talked the talk, she's proven that she's capable of achieving gains for students.”Cordova will take over the position from Katy Anthes, who is stepping down from the role in July after serving as commissioner since December 2016.Cordova began her career as a bilingual language arts teacher and has since worked in education for more than 30 years, including as a teacher, principal, district leader and currently as a superintendent in residence for Transcend, a national nonprofit focused on helping schools make classrooms more equitable for all students.Cordova was also previously a deputy superintendent for the Dallas TX Independent School District.Cordova has also taught as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Denver's School of Education and now serves on the university's board of trustees.  Cordova will begin steering the state education department at a particularly consequential time for Colorado schools, as districts continue to help students recover from lost time and learning during the pandemic and as many communities struggle to recruit and retain educators and manage declining student enrollment.Susana Cordova, then superintendent of Denver Public Schools, looks on as students work on laptops in a classroom in Newlon Elementary School early Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. The school was one of 55 Discovery Link sites set up by Denver Public Schools where students could participate in remote learning during the pandemic. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, Special to The Colorado Sun)Cordova will begin her tenure just as a state task force is considering changes to how Colorado evaluates its schools, which could potentially affect how much funding schools receive.Gov. Jared Polis celebrated Cordova's selection in a written statement Tuesday, saying   “Her prior work boosting academic progress and improving access to high-quality education for learners of all backgrounds as superintendent of Denver Public Schools is sure to benefit students across the state as she brings this passion and experience to this new role,” said Polis, a Democrat. “I look forward to working with Susana as a member of my cabinet as we continue to carry forward our bold education priorities.”   COLORADO SUN:Colorado GOP paid no staff in April while fundraising lags under new Chairman Dave WilliamsSandra Fish4:20 AM MDT on May 24, 2023Dave Williams speaks during a Republican state central meeting on March 11, 2023, in Loveland where elections for a chairman, vice chairman and secretary of the Colorado GOP were conducted. (Olivia Sun, The Colorado Sun via Report for America)If the Colorado Republican Party had employees in April, they didn't get paid.  It's the first time in at least 20 years the party didn't pay any employees.And the party's bank accounts have less money than the $120,540 a recent filing said the party had on hand, the GOP acknowledged in an addendum filed Saturday with the Federal Election Commission.  The Colorado GOP raised only about $58,000 in the first four months of the year, including less than $15,000 in April. The party spent more than $15,000 last month, with $9,100 going to health and dental benefits. It's unclear if anyone is working for the party; no staff is listed on its website.The lack of a payroll for a state party in Colorado is unusual.“There have been other cycles where the party pays only one or two salaries in the off year,” said Kristi Burton Brown, who chaired the party during the last election cycle. “If they want to run it all-volunteer, they certainly can.”The party raised only a little more than $18,000 in the first two months of the year, before Williams was elected chairman.  From January through April, Colorado's GOP spent more than $263,000. That compares with $539,000 spent in the first four months of 2021, another nonelection year when five people were paid for their work in April. Of this year's spending, $73,000 went to Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck for legal services.  “Anybody who gets elected state chair should probably prioritize raising money,” said Dick Wadhams, who ran the state party from 2007 to 2011 and has been critical of Williams. “You can't run an operation without money.”The state Democratic Party raised nearly $92,000 in April, and spent nearly $211,000, including about $26,000 on payroll for a half-dozen employees. That left the party with nearly $196,000 in cash at the end of April.The Democratic Party raised more than $419,000 in the first four months of the year, while spending about $454,000. The party's state-level account had nearly $32,000 at the end of March.And the Colorado GOP has trailed Democrats in political spending in the state in recent years.Campaign accounts or PACS for several of the state's top elected Democrats have donated to the federal party account this year including U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper; U.S. Reps. Diana Degette, of Denver, Yadira Caraveo, of Thornton, Jason Crow, of Centennial, and Joe Neguse, of Lafayette; Gov. Jared Polis; Treasurer Dave Young; and others. Hickenlooper also sent two emails recently asking people to donate to the state party.The Colorado GOP received $12,500 from the terminated 8th Congressional District campaign of state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, of Brighton, in early March. It's the only money the party has received from Republican officeholders or candidates this year.Tagged:Colorado Democratic Party, Colorado Republican Party, Dave WilliamsABC NEWS:Arizona set for unpredictable Senate raceByTal AxelrodMay 23, 2023, 3:06 AM Democrats and Republicans can at least agree on one thing: They have no idea what's going to happen in next year's Arizona Senate race.The election is shaping up to be an unpredictable three-way contest in one of the nation's premier battlegrounds featuring an incumbent who left her party (Sen. Kyrsten Sinema), a polarizing conservative who remains a rock star with her base (Kari Lake), and a Democratic nominee-in-waiting who would represent a shift to the left for the historically moderate-minded state (Rep. Ruben Gallego).Sen. Sinema first set the stage when she switched from being a Democrat to an independent late last year. While she called that choice a "reflection of who [she's] always been," the switch also prevented a primary fight with Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego -- and paved the way for something more unusual.State data shows just under 35% of Arizona voters are registered Republicans and 30% are registered Democrats, while 35% aren't registered with either party.If Sinema retires, the race to succeed her could feature Gallego, a Marine Corps vet and former House colleague of Sinema's who has become vocally critical of her, and Republican Kari Lake, a former TV anchor, election denier and 2022 Arizona gubernatorial candidate.Both Gallego and Lake are more associated with their parties' ideological flanks than the centrists who have historically won statewide.state GOP strategist Lorna Romero said "It's gonna be like nothing we've ever seen before in Arizona. I think what's going to make it nasty is obviously Ruben and Kyrsten don't get along personally. And depending on who the Republican is, if you get a firebrand like a Kari Lake again, we've seen how she's operated before, that's going to take it to another level."Nineteen operatives from both parties who spoke with ABC News for this story mostly thought that Sinema would run again, pointing to her ongoing fundraising and continued involvement in high-profile legislative pushes like on immigration.Senator Kyrsten Sinema questions witnesses during a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing in the wake of recent of bank failures, on Capitol Hill, May 18, 2023. Evelyn Hockstein/ReutersSinema, who previously served in the House for three terms, quickly thrust herself into the heart of several of the chamber's most significant and successful legislative efforts, including on infrastructure, same-sex marriage, guns and more.Her style of legislating has generated mixed reviews, with supporters pointing to her scorecard and liberal detractors saying she has been overly eager to water down Democratic priorities, including raising the minimum wage, supporting prescription drug pricing reform and scrapping the Senate filibuster as a way to codify abortion rights.Cesar Chavez, a former Democratic state lawmaker said "Overall, I think the state of Arizona is content with the work that Sen. Sinema done. The issues that Sen. Sinema has advocated for will definitely result in a positive tick in her numbers."Steve Slugocki, a senior adviser to Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a former chair of the Maricopa County Democratic Party had the opposite view. He said, "I cannot stress enough how deeply unpopular she is. I traveled the state everywhere last year. The first question was always, 'What are we going to do about Sinema? How can we replace her?'"Sen. Kyrsten Sinema arrives at the Capitol, May 9, 2023. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego speaks at a CHC event. Getty ImagesAll of this will play out in the larger context of the battle for the Senate, with the Democratic caucus holding a slim 51-49 majority, but defending 23 seats in 2024, making operatives eager to avoid a spoiler candidate, but without any agreement on who that would be.A former aide to Sen. Sinema said "She has shown she knows what it takes to win in Arizona. I look at these other candidates, and I do not see proven winners. "So yeah, as a Democrat, I'm nervous because I want to keep Kari Lake out of the Senate.""If she's in the race as an independent, Ruben's already at a disadvantage as a Democrat just because of the lower registration numbers that we have," said one former state lawmaker who is supporting Gallego. "So, it comes down to how many votes is Sen. Sinema going to take? Even if it is a very small percentage, any small percentage at all could tip this."To be sure, Democrats aren't the only ones wringing their hands.Republican strategists told ABC News that a three-way race with a Democrat and an independent with a Democratic background would normally be a boon to the GOP candidate. But failed 2022 candidate Kari Lake is looming in the wings and is coming off a narrow loss to Democrat Katie Hobbs, which many observers attributed to her embrace of baseless claims of 2020 election fraud.A source familiar with Lake's thinking told ABC News they're confident she'll run for the Senate, likely launching a campaign in the fall. This person also confirmed that Lake recently met with several senators, including National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Steve Daines of Montana, and that with her broad name recognition and support from conservative voters, she would enter the race as the overwhelming primary favorite.GOP strategist Lorna Romero said "[T]he Sinema breakup from the Democratic Party looks good for Republicans on paper, theoretically. But I think that the big heartburn is what's going to happen out of a Republican primary, and are we just going to do the same ridiculous mistakes over and over again, and Democrats are just going to continue to win in the state,"Still, virtually every person who spoke to ABC News added the caveat that their analyses could end up being off given the unpredictable nature of a potential race with the incumbent running as the third-party candidate."We've never seen anything like that in Arizona," one Democratic strategist said. "I just think trying to predict anything right now, you might as well shake a Magic 8 Ball and see what it tells you." CONCERT PICK OF THE WEEK: Sir Richard Starkey MBE, otherwise known as Ringo Starr!! Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band are on a Western U.S. tour with shows this week in San Diego, Eugene and Bend OR, and next week playing Denver's Bellco Theatre and the Pikes Peak Center in Colorado Springs. Tickets and information at ringostarr.comWelp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Original reporting for the stories in today's show comes from Colorado Newsline, Colorado Sun, ABC News, Arizona Mirror, and Denver's Westword.Thank you for listening! See you next time.  

At its annual developers conference, Google's parent company reminded everyone how it got to be one of the most dominant businesses in America. (0:21) Matt Argersinger and Andy Cross discuss: - The latest inflation data and the current state of play for investors - Skepticism around the near-term future of Airbnb sending the stock lower - Alphabet shares rising 10% after the company unveiled new devices and AI-enhanced software - The latest from Disney, Roblox, JD.com, and PayPal (19:11) Ross Anderson, co-founder of Craftwork Capital and co-host of the "Check Your Balances" podcast, shares the most common question he's getting from clients, advice for college graduates, and the economic data he's watching most closely. (31:50) Matt and Andy answer a mailbag question about portfolio strategy, discuss The Cheesecake Factory's new rewards program, and share two stocks on their radar: A.O. Smith and Deere. Got a question about stocks? Email podcasts@fool.com You can find the "Check Your Balances" show on your favorite podcast app, including Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/check-your-balances/id1551991071 Stocks discussed: ABNB, DIS, RBLX, JD, PYPL, GOOG, GOOGL, CAKE, AOS, DE Host: Chris Hill Guests: Matt Argersinger, Andy Cross, Ross Anderson Engineer: Dan Boyd

The biggest company in American led a packed week of earnings and macro data. (0:21) Andy Cross and Ron Gross discuss: - The Fed's latest rate hike, April's jobs report, and the latest banking drama - Apple's surprising 2nd-quarter results and $90 billion share buyback plan - Shopify shares rising 25% due to multiple company announcements - The latest from Marriott, Booking Holdings, and Starbucks (19:11) Andy and Ron continue their analysis, with a focus on: - Mercadolibre's continued growth and impressive runway - Warner Bros. Discovery posting a 1st-quarter profit in its streaming division - The latest from Uber, Lyft, Atlassian, and Johnson & Johnson - Two stocks on their radar: Nice and Oxford Industries Stocks discussed: JPM, PACW, WAL, FHN, AAPL, MAR, BKNG, SBUX, SHOP, UBER, LYFT, TEAM, JNJ, KVUE, MELI, WBD, NFLX, PARA, DIS, CMCSA, BRK, OXM, NICE Host: Chris Hill Guests: Andy Cross, Ron Gross Engineer: Dan Boyd

As earnings season heats up in the U.S., investors had good reasons to keep their eyes on China and India. (0:21) Andy Cross and Jason Moser discuss: - Tesla's challenge with margin pressure - Intuitive Surgical's stock rising on strong 1st-quarter results and guidance - American Express continuing to catch on with Millennials and Gen Z - Shares of D.R. Horton, America's largest homebuilder, hitting a new all-time high - The latest from Netflix, P&G, Johnson & Johnson, and Lululemon (19:11) Motley Fool senior analyst Bill Mann discusses China's rise as an automotive exporter, Apple's growing presence in India, and why he's keeping an eye on mining companies in Brazil. (33:17) Andy and Jason discuss the growing business of tiny snacks and share two stocks on their radar: Tractor Supply and Amazon. Stocks discussed: NFLX, TSLA, ISRG, PG, AXP, JNJ, DHI, LULU, AAPL, GIS, TWNK, PEP, TSCO, AMZN Host: Chris Hill Guests: Andy Cross, Jason Moser, Bill Mann Engineer: Dan Boyd

The end of the month is here again, so we're tossing you the keys and letting you drive. Sure enough, you're taking us somewhere smarter, happier, and richer! (7:46) Is Gamifying Life Bad? (10:42) Pushing the Limits of the GKC Score (21:18) Diversification vs. Stock Concentration (31:13) Education and Questioning (44:06) Transparency and Scorekeeping (52:54) A Blind Spot for GAAP? (1:11:01) Bring Rule Breakers Together Stocks Mentioned: AMZN, NFLX, SBUX, ATVI, NET Host: David Gardner Guests: David Kretzmann, Andy Cross, Tim Beyers Producer: Rick Engdahl

Just because things go as expected doesn't mean the ripple effects aren't surprising.   (0:20) Andy Cross discusses: - The Fed's 0.25% rate hike - Unfortunate timing around Chairman Powell's press conference and Sec. Yellen's public testimony - Why he's going to be paying more attention to annual reports in the coming weeks   (10:20) Nick Sciple and Jim Gillies face off in the semi-finals of our stock investing version of March Madness! Choose the winner by casting your vote in our Twitter poll @MotleyFoolMoney!   Companies discussed: RMAX, BWXT   Host: Chris Hill Guests: Andy Cross, Nick Sciple, Jim Gillies Producer: Ricky Mulvey Engineers: Steve Broido, Rick Engdahl

We're talking market caps, Fool! And unlike Andy Cross and Jim Mueller, our game show contestants here in the studio, you get to play at home and out of the spotlight! But no one is off the hook as we put price tags on companies we love, companies our spouses hate, and companies we have never even heard of. Companies Discussed: PANW, ABNB, ASML, CELH, PCOR, KYMR, MELI, ETSY, BOC, MA Host: David Gardner Guests: Andy Cross, Jim Mueller Producer: Rick Engdahl

Big changes could be coming to the NFL playoffs. (0:21) Emily Flippen and Andy Cross discuss: - The growing AI battle between Microsoft and Alphabet - Lyft shares falling 35% - PayPal CEO Dan Schulman announcing his retirement - CVS Health buying a primary care business for $10 billion - The latest from Disney, Cloudflare, Chipotle, and Pepsi (19:11) Andrew Brandt, former NFL executive and director of Villanova University's Moorad Center of Sports Law, discusses the business health of the NFL, how the playoffs may change, and his prediction for a blowout Super Bowl 57.   (34:40) Andy and Emily share two stocks on their radar: Domino's Pizza and Boot Barn. Looking for even more stock research and recommendations? Check out the details on our Epic Bundle membership at Epicstart.Fool.com Stocks discussed: MSFT, GOOG, DIS, LYFT, UBER, PYPL, NET, CMG, CVS, PEP, DPZ, BOOT Host: Chris Hill Guests: Emily Flippen, Andy Cross, Andrew Brandt Engineer: Rick Engdahl

It's the perfect time to review your financial plan for investing in 2023. (0:21) Andy Cross discusses: - His optimism after the worst year for investors since 2008 - The potential for 2023 to be "a stock picker's market" - Why financials and healthcare are two of the industries he's watching for opportunities (10:15) Robert Brokamp weighs in on whether all investors should more seriously consider bonds, why retirees might be able to increase their safe withdrawal rates, and the biggest asset younger investors have this year.  Looking for more investing ideas? Go to www.fool.com/report to get your free copy of our "5 Stocks Under $49" report. Host: Chris Hill Guests: Andy Cross, Robert Brokamp Engineer: Rick Engdahl

Small-cap, mid-cap, large-cap, mega-cap...? How do these companies compare? It's not enough to know the share price; you have to know the market cap! And that's why we play the game—now with the new “Throwdown Rule.” Play along with our guests, Andy Cross and Matt Argersinger to claim your fame as the market cap masters of 2022! Stocks Mentioned:  NCNO, SJM, ULTA, HCA, LKQ, ZS, MTCH, SQ, STEM, CRI Host: David Gardner Guests: Andy Cross, Matt Argersinger Producer: Rick Engdahl

It's time to lawyer up! (0:21) Andy Cross and Ron Gross discuss: - Wholesale prices rising higher than expected - Costco's surprisingly disappointing quarter - DocuSign ending the year on a positive note - Casey's General Stores hitting an all-time high thanks in part to beer cheese pizza - The latest from Lululemon, RH, Campbell's Soup, and Chewy (19:11) Rachel Warren talks with Jay Jacobs from BlackRock about megatrends to watch in healthcare, infrastructure, and electric vehicles. (30:20) Andy and Ron discuss the FTC suing Microsoft over its proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, and share two stocks on their radar: Stanley Black & Decker and Houlihan Lokey. Stocks discussed: COST, LULU, RH, DOCU, CPB, CHWY, CASY, BLK, MSFT, ATVI, SWK, HLI Host: Chris Hill Guests: Andy Cross, Ron Gross, Rachel Warren, Jay Jacobs Producer: Ricky Mulvey Engineer: Rick Engdahl

Executives at Warner Bros Discovery are planning to unveil a new streaming service combining the assets of HBO Max and Discovery+. (0:21) Jason Moser discusses: - How CEO David Zaslav's focus on profitability could pay off - WBD's underrated library of content - The rise of FAST (Free Ad-Supported TV) (12:30) Andy Cross talks with Airbnb co-founder Nat Blecharczyk about the latest improvements for the home-sharing platform. Stocks mentioned: WBD, NFLX, DIS, CMCSA, TTD, ABNB Holiday Music: Christmas Is Starting Now by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Host: Chris Hill Guests: Jason Moser, Andy Cross, Nate Blecharczyk Producer: Ricky Mulvey Engineers: Rick Engdahl

If the jobs report and Federal Reserve didn't surprise investors, some earnings reports sure did. (0:30) Andy Cross and Jason Moser discuss: - How two of the "War On Cash" stocks are doing - Etsy's cautious optimism heading into the holidays - North American same-store sales fueling the rise of Starbucks - The latest from Qualcomm, Atlassian, and Uber (19:15) Rachel Warren talks with Jon Maier, chief investment officer at Global X, about how to protect your portfolio during an economic downturn and trends he's watching over the next 3, 5, and 10 years. (30:30: Andy and Jason return to talk about - Hershey's latest quarter - Investing strategy for a college student - Two stocks on their radar: Ulta Beauty and The Trade Desk Stocks mentioned: SQ, PYPL, ETSY, SBUX, QCOM, TEAM, UBER, HSY, VOO, ULTA, TTD Host: Chris Hill Guests: Jason Moser, Andy Cross, Rachel Warren, Jon Maier Producer: Ricky Mulvey Engineers: Rick Engdahl, Dan Boyd

On a day when Shopify and Comcast gave shareholders reasons for hope, Meta Platforms slid to its lowest level since 2016. (0:21) Andy Cross discusses: - Meta's worrisome R&D spending metric - Low expectations helping to fuel Shopify's rise - Comcast beating tough quarterly comps, thanks in part to the Minions (13:41)  Ricky Mulvey talks with Scott Ford, CEO of WestRock, a "brand behind the brands" coffee business serving up 20 million cups a day. Companies discussed: META, SHOP, CMCSA, WEST Host: Chris Hill Guest: Andy Cross, Scott Ford Producer: Ricky Mulvey Engineers: Dan Boyd, Rick Engdahl

Make no mistake, investors, September's jobs report is just one more indication that the Federal Reserve will increase interest rates in November. (0:21) Andy Cross and Jason Moser discuss: - AMD warning about lower revenue - Constellation Brands posting a lost in the 2nd quarter - Apple looking to boost production in India - Macy's gaining inventory insights from its own credit-card data - The latest from McCormick, Peloton, and more (19:11) Malcolm Ethridge, host of "The Tech Money Podcast", weighs in on prospects for more interest rate hikes, expectations for earnings season, why he's watching seasonal hiring, and the S&P 600. (32:45) Jason Moser and Andy Cross discuss the possibility of DraftKings signing an exclusive partnership with ESPN, and share two stocks on their radar: Alphabet and Dream Finders Homes. Stocks mentioned: AMD, NVDA, MKC, STZ, PTON, AAPL, M, TGT, NKE, DKNG, DIS, GOOG, GOOGL, DFH Host: Chris Hill Guests: Andy Cross, Jason Moser, Malcolm Ethridge Engineers: Dan Boyd, Rick Engdahl

Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon provide a welcome lift to the market. (0:30) Andy Cross and Ron Gross discuss: - The Fed raising interest rates and GDP contracting - Apple and Amazon surprising to the upside - Microsoft's cloud division delivering again - Shopify's relative attractiveness as a stock - Meta Platforms warning investors (19:45) Andy and Ron discuss Chipotle's impressive ability to raise prices, as well as: - McDonald's stock closing in on a new high - The war on cash with Visa and Mastercard - Diageo wrapping up a strong year - The latest from Etsy and Roku - Unilever shutting down the Choco Taco - Two stocks on their radar: Masimo and NextEra Energy Sign up for Stock Advisor at http://fool.com/foolfest and you'll get a complimentary digital pass to our biggest member event of the year! (If you're already a Motley Fool member looking for details on this year's FoolFest investing conference, go here - foolfest.fool.com) Stocks discussed on the show: AAPL, AMZN, MSFT, GOOG, GOOGL, SHOP, META, CMG, MCD, ETSY, ROKU, V, MA, DEO, UL, MASI, NEE Host: Chris Hill Guests: Andy Cross, Ron Gross Engineer: Dan Boyd

SEC chairman Gary Gensler outlined rule changes to require trading firms to directly compete to execute trades from individual investors (0:25) Andy Cross discusses: - Why payment-for-order-flow (PFOF) is going to be a big topic this summer - Potential threats to Robinhood's business model - Five Below's recent (and uncharacteristic) struggles - Takeaways from Spotify's investor day event, including a push into audiobooks (15:45) Deidre Woollard continues her conversation with Jason Hall about homebuilders, including key metrics to watch and a few stock ideas.  Stocks discussed: HOOD, FIVE, DLTR, DG, WMT, SPOT, AMZN, AAPL, MTH, LGIH, NVR Host: Chris Hill Guests: Andy Cross, Deidre Woollard, Jason Hall Producer: Ricky Mulvey Engineer: Rick Engdahl

The Nasdaq fell 5%, continuing a rough year for investors. (0:20) Andy Cross discusses: - The short-term pain being felt by all investors, including us - Shopify's 1st-quarter results looking similar to Amazon's - Deliverr, the logistics company Shopify just bought for $2.1 billion - EPAM Systems, the IT services provider that surprised investors with a strong 1st quarter (17:00) Jim Gillies talks with Ricky Mulvey about MTY Food Group, a Canadian food franchisor small cap with potential. Stocks discussed: SHOP, AMZN, EPAM, MTY, MTYFF, WEN Host: Chris Hill Guests: Andy Cross, Jim Gillies Producer: Ricky Mulvey Engineers: Dan Boyd, Rick Engdahl

Our portfolios benefit from spring cleaning as much as our closets and yards do. (0:30) Andy Cross and Maria Gallagher discuss: - Stocks investors should consider trimming like hedges - 2 stocks to throw out altogether - Stocks that spark so much joy Marie Kondo would be proud - Potential comebacks for online retailers - Why they'd be hold Zscaler and Disney shares like Brood X cicadas - Actual cleaning tips! (19:00) Bill Mann talks with Oaktree Capital co-founder Howard Marks, author of Mastering the Market Cycle: Getting the Odds on Your Side. Got a question about stocks, industries, or trends? Call our voicemail: (703) 254-1445. Stocks discussed: WIX, OPEN, SFIX, PTON, MSFT, TREX, MELI, REAL, POSH, ETSY, ZS, DIS, OAK-A, OAK-B Host: Chris Hill Guests: Andy Cross, Maria Gallagher, Bill Mann, Howard Marks Engineers: Dan Boyd, Rick Engdahl

Having led Restoration Hardware since 2014, Gary Friedman is an experienced CEO. But on his company's latest earnings call Friedman says he's never been more uncertain about the future. (00:20) Bill Mann discusses: - The record year RH just closed - Friedman invoking the 2008 collapse of Bear Stearns - Why RH is doing a 3-for-1 stock split Bill also answers a listener's question about small-cap stock 22nd Century Group. Post a review on Apple and include a question about a stock or industry! (14:00) Tim Beyers and Andy Cross talk with Jay Chaudhry, CEO of Zscaler, about what other cybersecurity companies are missing and the biggest misconception that Wall Street has about his company. Stocks: RH, WSM, XXII, ZS, CRM, TSLA Host: Chris Hill Guests: Bill Mann, Tim Beyers, Andy Cross, Jay Chaudhry Producer: Ricky Mulvey Engineer: Rick Engdahl, Tim Sparks

The S&P 500 rose for the 2nd week in a row, giving investors more reasons for optimism. Are we the only ones who believe the narrative for investors is shifting away from fear and towards increasing confidence? (0:45) Jason Moser and Andy Cross discuss investor sentiment, as well as: - Google striking an app-store deal with Spotify - Uber teaming up with New York City taxis - Reports that Apple is developing a hardware subscription service - Darden Restaurants seeing improvement in its fine dining segment - The latest from Berkshire-Hathaway, Adobe, and Nike (19:00) Corporate governance expert Nell Minow analyzes how public companies are doing with their communications related to Russia, and why she's unimpressed with how Starbucks' board of directors handled the latest CEO change. Then she puts on her film critic hat to offer a preview of the Academy Awards and share who will win (and should win) Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Picture. (32:00) Jason and Andy discuss Pepsi's latest limited-run flavor and share two stocks on their radar: McCormick and KB Home. Got a stock or topic you want us to discuss? Post a review on Apple and include your pitch! Stocks discussed: SPOT, GOOG, GOOGL, MTCH, BMBL, UBER, BRK, AAPL, NKE, DRI, SBUX, DIS, PEP, MKC, KB Host: Chris Hill Guests: Jason Moser, Andy Cross, Nell Minow Engineer: Steve Broido

The S&P 500 rose for the 2nd week in a row, giving investors more reasons for optimism. Are we the only ones who believe the narrative for investors is shifting away from fear and towards increasing confidence? (0:45) Jason Moser and Andy Cross discuss investor sentiment, as well as: - Google striking an app-store deal with Spotify - Uber teaming up with New York City taxis - Reports that Apple is developing a hardware subscription service - Darden Restaurants seeing improvement in its fine dining segment - The latest from Berkshire-Hathaway, Adobe, and Nike (19:00) Corporate governance expert Nell Minow analyzes how public companies are doing with their communications related to Russia, and why she's unimpressed with how Starbucks' board of directors handled the latest CEO change. Then she puts on her film critic hat to offer a preview of the Academy Awards and share who will win (and should win) Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Picture. (32:00) Jason and Andy discuss Pepsi's latest limited-run flavor and share two stocks on their radar: McCormick and KB Home. Got a stock or topic you want us to discuss? Review the show on Apple and include your pitch! Stocks discussed: SPOT, GOOG, GOOGL, MTCH, BMBL, UBER, BRK, AAPL, NKE, DRI, SBUX, DIS, PEP, MKC, KB Host: Chris Hill Guests: Jason Moser, Andy Cross, Nell Minow Engineer: Steve Broido