POPULARITY
“The human part is 99 percent. The AI part is maybe 1 percent — even if 100 percent of the manuscript was dumped onto the page by AI.” — Keith Teare on writing with AI What is “real” authorship in our AI age? For That Was The Week publisher Keith Teare, all authorship, even the most AI-enabled, is real. It's the cave-dwelling Luddites who are the sloppy ones. For Keith, true creativity, in our age of Claude and Gemini, almost requires the use of AI. A couple of weeks ago Keith confessed, or perhaps boasted, that he is writing an AI-assisted book entitled Who Owns Intelligence. This week, publishing discovered what happens when others play the same game without public acknowledgement. So we have the case of the “red-hot” debut novel, fought over by fourteen publishers, dropped overnight when the agent found AI in the mix. “It's a fantastic book,” the book's agent acknowledged, before firing its less than transparent author. Which, for Keith, is precisely the scandal. His position, argued in this week's editorial “AI Detected,” is pretty absolute. Nothing is written by AI, Keith argues, because AI has no will. It doesn't produce a single word unless asked. The human part is 99 percent, he says, even when 100 percent of the manuscript is spat out by the machine. So the real sin isn't using AI but not acknowledging its use. So, on Who Owns Intelligence, Keith makes it crystal clear that “AI was heavily used in the writing of this book.” I'm not so sure. Amazon is now infested with AI slop that requires no authorship. Besides, Keith clearly has no love of reading books. He admits to reading only a single volume in the last couple of years. And he's still smarting from being, in his mind at least, ripped off by the publishing industry for his last published book some 40 years ago. He no longer needs to read books, he pronounces, because his world-view is already set. For a man who thinks he knows everything, AI isn't scary. Maybe we should rename him Claude. Postscript. Full Keith-style disclosure: these shownotes were produced with the help of Anthropic. When I fed Claude my draft, it responded: “‘Maybe we should rename him Claude' is a closer I'm contractually obliged to enjoy.” Nothing, as Keith says, is written by AI. Although some algorithms seem to have cheeky opinions of their own. Maybe Anthropic should rename it Keith. Five Takeaways • Nothing Is Written by AI. Keith's absolutism starts from the machine's lack of will: AI won't produce a word unless a human asks. His Who Owns Intelligence — fifteen chapters, arguments, and references — was structured in ninety minutes from years of thinking; the AI produced a manuscript he then shaped, like a color grader working sliders in Photoshop. The human part is 99 percent even when the machine types every word. And authorship was never solitary anyway: Plato's contemporaries thought writing itself degraded ideas, and no publisher will touch a book that hasn't passed through an editor and a subeditor. If editing doesn't change authorship, Keith asks, why would AI?• Transparency, Not Technology. The week's cautionary tale: a debut novel fought over by fourteen publishers, dropped when the agent discovered AI — while conceding, in the same breath, “it's a fantastic book.” For Keith the scandal is concealment, not composition: own the tool, as he now does with a strapline under his byline. The detection regime, meanwhile, is collapsing on its own inaccuracy — universities dropped their AI detectors this week, and Substack's new detection partner scored Keith's human-shaped editorial as 100 percent AI when a fair reading was 40. Cheating exists only against obsolete rules: the question is moving from did you use AI to how well did you use it.• “The Publishing Industry Is Basically a Scam.” Keith's response to Andy Hunter's ban on AI-generated books — from last week's Keen On interview — was one word: outrageous. There is no such thing as an AI-written book, only good and bad ones; and the true victim of publishing is not the bookstore but the author. Exhibit A: his own 1988 book sold 50,000 copies at £3.99 and earned him roughly £10,000 — about 5p a copy — while Penguin took the rest. The future he wants is direct, author-to-reader, without the middlemen. As for “organic” artisanal literature: real, elite, and tiny — the new vinyl, which is itself cut these days from digital masters.• Sharks, Playing Their Own Book. Leopold Aschenbrenner — fired young from OpenAI, transfigured by one prophetic essay into the “Nostradamus of AI” — saw his $45 billion, heavily leveraged Situational Awareness fund lose $600 million, get margin-called, and sell to Ken Griffin's Citadel. (He is, Keith suspects, still super rich.) Zuckerberg's sudden conversion to open source as “the distribution of wealth to the people” struck us both as a bit rich; Amodei's “I'm not against open source as long as it's safe” — from a man on record that no AI is safe — translates as: against. Keith's deeper complaint, from an admiring Claude user: you can't trust Dario. And China, hardware-constrained, has made open source its national strategy — undermining American foundation-model revenue one cheap routed prompt at a time.• Money Won't Matter by 2036? Elon Musk predicts money becomes irrelevant within a decade; Vinod Khosla — our post of the week — thinks he might just have a point. Keith, ever the economics tutor, reaches for tendency and ceteris paribus: money is a means of exchange and a store of value, and if abundance drives the labor-value of things toward zero, its irrelevance is not illogical — though between tendency and reality lies a whole ton of variables. I bet the opposite: that by 2036 money will matter more than ever. The problem, we discovered, is the stake — you can't bet money on money not mattering. Wives and children were proposed and hastily withdrawn (“We'd be losing, Andrew”). Loser buys dinner — at a free restaurant. About the Co-Host Keith Teare is the publisher of That Was The Week, the essential weekly tech newsletter, and founder and CEO of SignalRank Corporation. A serial entrepreneur — co-founder of, among others, EasyNet and RealNames — he was present at the creation of the UK internet and has spent four decades at the intersection of technology, capital, and ideas. He joins Keen On America every Sunday to make sense of the week in tech. His AI-assisted book in progress is titled Who Owns Intelligence. References: • That Was The Week — Keith's newsletter, including this week's editorial, “AI Detected.”• The Wall Street Journal — on the red-hot debut novel at the center of publishing's AI mystery: fourteen publishers, one discovery, one dropped author.• ...
Dupree Financial Group Blog · The Tom Dupree Show From This Week’s Episode Retirement Investing · August 1, 2026 Is Your Retirement Portfolio Too Concentrated? A 25-year-old hedge fund manager lost roughly $35 billion in a matter of days this week. Here’s what his leverage and the market’s concentration in seven stocks have to do with your retirement account. By Tom Dupree, Founder, Dupree Financial Group | dupreefinancial.com | 859-233-0400 This week, a 25-year-old former OpenAI researcher named Leopold Aschenbrenner watched roughly $35 billion disappear from his hedge fund in a matter of days. Two years ago, he wrote a 165-page essay predicting the future of artificial intelligence with such confidence that Silicon Valley treated it like scripture. This week, his fund — built on borrowed money layered on top of a handful of AI stocks — got forced into a fire sale to Ken Griffin’s Citadel at a steep discount. It’s a dramatic story. But here’s the direct answer to the question that actually matters for your retirement: if most of your money sits in a plain S&P 500 index fund, you may be more concentrated in a handful of the same stocks than you realize — and that concentration, not any single hedge fund’s collapse, is the real thing worth understanding before your next portfolio review. You don’t need borrowed money or a 165-page manifesto to be exposed to this. You just need to own “the market” and assume that means you’re spread across 500 different companies. Key Takeaways Leverage magnifies both directions. Borrowing money to buy investments can boost gains on the way up, but it can wipe out capital just as fast on the way down. That’s the entire story of this week’s hedge fund collapse. Seven stocks now make up a large share of the S&P 500. Depending on the week you check, the “Magnificent Seven” technology stocks account for somewhere between a third and roughly 40% of the entire index’s value. Owning an index fund is not automatically owning a diversified portfolio. A market-cap-weighted index gives its biggest companies the biggest influence — so when those companies wobble, so does “the market.” Know what you own and why you own it. That’s not a slogan — it’s the single most useful question a retiree can ask before the next headline-grabbing selloff. Why This Week’s Story Is Bigger Than One Hedge Fund Every generation produces an investor who seems untouchable — brilliant, early to a trend, riding a wave everyone else is still arguing about. Aschenbrenner’s fund, Situational Awareness, reportedly grew from roughly $200 million to as much as $45 billion in under two years, largely on concentrated bets in AI infrastructure names. Then, using leverage reported as high as 400% — meaning roughly four borrowed dollars for every dollar of the fund’s own capital — a sharp pullback in a handful of semiconductor and AI stocks triggered margin calls his prime brokers couldn’t ignore. That’s the mechanical part, and it’s worth understanding in plain English: when you borrow against an investment and that investment drops in value, your loan doesn’t shrink with it. At some point the lender requires more collateral — a margin call — and if you can’t provide it, your shares get sold for you, often at the worst possible moment. There’s no easy way around that math. It requires diligence, not confidence. Most retirees reading this aren’t using 400% leverage. But there’s a quieter version of the same concentration problem sitting inside a lot of 401(k)s and IRA rollovers, and it doesn’t require a single dollar of borrowed money to hurt you. What the Numbers Actually Show According to CNBC’s reporting on the collapse, Aschenbrenner’s fund held roughly $45 billion in assets at its peak, before margin calls forced the sale of its leveraged public stock positions — including major holdings like SK Hynix and CoreWeave — to Citadel at a discount, with the fund’s overall assets falling to around $10 billion within about 30 trading days (CNBC). TechCrunch’s coverage confirms Aschenbrenner had no prior professional trading experience before launching the fund in 2024, and that the losses came from both AI stocks falling and short positions in software companies moving the wrong way at the same time (TechCrunch). Meanwhile, the broader market has its own version of this concentration story. Reporting from Forbes notes that the “Magnificent Seven” technology stocks made up roughly a third of the S&P 500’s total market capitalization heading into 2026, with some advisors calling the resulting concentration risk a “legitimate concern” (Forbes). Separate reporting from CNBC put the figure as high as 35% to 40% of the index in recent trading, prompting some strategists to recommend equal-weighted alternatives to reduce that concentration (CNBC). The SEC’s own investor education office has published plain-language guidance on why borrowing to invest carries risks that go beyond the investment itself — including the fact that a broker can sell your securities to meet a margin call without waiting for you to act, and can do so without advance notice (SEC Investor.gov). It’s the kind of guardrail worth reading once, even if you never plan to use margin yourself. “Leverage is a thing to be used very judiciously and very carefully, because if you use it in a way that’s irresponsible, it can cost you everything.” — Tom Dupree The Reframe: This Isn’t a Bet on Whether AI Wins or Loses Dupree Financial Group’s Take Most of the commentary this week has been framed as a debate: Is AI spending going to pay off, or is it a bubble? That’s an interesting argument, and reasonable people disagree about it — Microsoft’s stock jumped double digits on one earnings report this year, while Oracle’s bonds have drawn scrutiny over its own AI-related spending. But that debate is largely beside the point for a retiree building income for the next 40 or 50 years. The actual lesson isn’t “buy AI stocks” or “avoid AI stocks.” It’s that when a market’s returns get concentrated in a small number of companies, your risk gets concentrated right along with it — whether you meant it to or not. That’s exactly why our approach starts with cash flow analysis, not headlines: dividend-paying companies across sectors like insurance, telecommunications, and financials keep generating income whether or not seven technology companies are having a good month. You get paid to wait, in good markets and choppy ones, instead of hoping a narrow slice of the market keeps carrying the whole index. What This Looks Like in Practice We build separately managed accounts around companies with a history of paying and growing their dividends, purchased when they’re out of favor and less expensive — not around chasing whichever seven stocks are dominating the headlines that quarter. Bonds play a role too: current income, lower volatility, and dry powder to buy good companies when the market temporarily marks them down for reasons that have nothing to do with their underlying business. None of this means avoiding growth, and it doesn’t mean the S&P 500’s biggest companies are bad businesses — several of them are genuinely excellent. It means not letting one basket, however impressive, decide the outcome of your retirement. All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal, and no strategy removes that risk entirely. The goal is to understand it, size it appropriately, and build income you don’t have to sell into a downturn to access. Five Things to Check in Your Own Portfolio 1Pull up your 401(k) or IRA’s top ten holdings. Most plan providers list this on your statement or online dashboard. If you don’t see it, call and ask — it’s your money, and you’re entitled to know. 2Add up what percentage those top ten represent. If it’s a plain S&P 500 index fund, expect a meaningful chunk of your total to be concentrated in a handful of names, most of them technology companies. 3Ask whether that concentration matches your risk tolerance at your stage of life. A 35-year-old accumulating wealth can absorb more concentration risk than someone drawing income in retirement. 4Check whether you’re using any form of leverage or margin, even indirectly through certain funds or products, and make sure you understand exactly what happens if those positions move against you. 5Get a second set of eyes on the whole picture. It’s easy to know your account balance and much harder to know what’s actually driving it. That’s the gap a complimentary portfolio review is built to close. Frequently Asked Questions What is “concentration risk” in a stock market index? Concentration risk means a large share of an index’s total value — and therefore its performance — comes from a small number of companies. In a market-cap-weighted index like the S&P 500, the biggest companies carry the most influence, so a downturn in just a handful of names can drag down the whole index. Why did Leopold Aschenbrenner’s hedge fund lose so much money so quickly? Reporting indicates the fund used leverage as high as 400% on concentrated AI stock positions. When those stocks declined, the borrowed money amplified the losses, triggering margin calls that forced a distressed sale of the fund’s holdings within about a month. Should retirees stop investing in S&P 500 index funds? Not necessarily — index funds remain a legitimate, low-cost building block. The point is to understand what you actually own inside that fund, including how concentrated it has become, rather than assuming “index fund” automatically means “diversified.” What does “leverage” mean in plain English? Leverage means borrowing money to increase the size of an investment beyond what your own capital could buy. It can amplify gains, but it amplifies losses the same way — and if the investment’s value drops enough, the loan doesn’t shrink to match it. How can I tell how concentrated my own retirement portfolio really is? Start by looking up your fund’s top ten holdings and what percentage of the total they represent — most providers publish this. If you’re unsure how to interpret it, a portfolio review with an advisor can walk through what you actually own and why. The Close By the time you read this, Leopold Aschenbrenner’s fund will likely have faded from the headlines, replaced by whoever’s turn it is next — because, as history keeps showing us, there’s always a next one. But the question his week left behind isn’t really about him. It’s about whether you know what you own, and whether you’d be able to answer calmly if your own portfolio had a bad week. That’s the whole point of retiring on income instead of hope: you don’t need to guess right about which seven stocks win. You need a plan that keeps paying you regardless. Keep Learning Listen to the full episode — hear Tom, James Dupree, and Michael Dawahare walk through the Mag Seven earnings debate and this week’s market moves in more detail. Learn more about Dupree Financial Group — our fee-only, fiduciary approach and the team behind it. Schedule a complimentary portfolio review — see exactly how concentrated your own accounts are today. Tom Dupree Tom Dupree is the founder of Dupree Financial Group, a fee-only, fiduciary Registered Investment Advisory firm based in Lexington, Kentucky. He has spent 48 years in the investment business, starting as a municipal bond salesman in the late 1970s, and hosts The Tom Dupree Show, a weekly radio and podcast program covering the financial topics that matter most to retirees. About The Tom Dupree Show The Tom Dupree Show is hosted by Tom Dupree, founder of Dupree Financial Group and a 47-year veteran of the investment business. Each episode covers the financial topics that matter most to retirees and those approaching retirement — in plain English, without the Wall Street spin. Dupree Financial Group is a fee-only, fiduciary Registered Investment Advisory firm based in Lexington, Kentucky. The firm manages separately managed accounts focused on income-generating, dividend-paying portfolios — no products sold, no commissions, no conflicts of interest. Past episodes are available at dupreefinancial.com under the Radio tab. Schedule a Complimentary Portfolio Review If you’re not sure whether your retirement account is more concentrated in a handful of stocks than you’d like — we’ll take a look. No charge. No pressure. Just an honest conversation about what you own and whether it’s working for you. Call: 859-233-0400 | Visit: dupreefinancial.com All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Past market performance discussed above refers to historical index and company data, not to the performance of any Dupree Financial Group account. Dupree Financial Group · Fee-only. Fiduciary. Lexington, KY · dupreefinancial.com · 859-233-0400 { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "PodcastEpisode", "name": "Is Your Retirement Portfolio Too Concentrated?", "url": "https://www.dupreefinancial.com/sp500-concentration-risk-retirement-portfolio/", "datePublished": "2026-08-01", "description": "Tom Dupree, James Dupree, and Michael Dawahare discuss this week's hedge fund collapse, Magnificent Seven earnings, and what S&P 500 concentration risk means for retirement portfolios.", "partOfSeries": { "@type": "PodcastSeries", "name": "The Tom Dupree Show" }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Dupree" } } { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is "concentration risk" in a stock market index?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Concentration risk means a large share of an index's total value comes from a small number of companies. In a market-cap-weighted index like the S&P 500, the biggest companies carry the most influence, so a downturn in just a handful of names can drag down the whole index." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Why did Leopold Aschenbrenner's hedge fund lose so much money so quickly?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Reporting indicates the fund used leverage as high as 400% on concentrated AI stock positions. When those stocks declined, the borrowed money amplified the losses, triggering margin calls that forced a distressed sale within about a month." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Should retirees stop investing in S&P 500 index funds?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Not necessarily — index funds remain a legitimate, low-cost building block. The point is to understand what you actually own inside that fund, including how concentrated it has become, rather than assuming an index fund is automatically diversified." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What does "leverage" mean in plain English?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Leverage means borrowing money to increase the size of an investment beyond what your own capital could buy. It amplifies gains, but it amplifies losses the same way, and the loan doesn't shrink if the investment's value drops." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How can I tell how concentrated my own retirement portfolio really is?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Start by looking up your fund's top ten holdings and what percentage of the total they represent. If you're unsure how to interpret it, a portfolio review with an advisor can walk through what you actually own and why." } } ] } The post Is Your Retirement Portfolio Too Concentrated? A $35B Hedge Fund Lesson | Dupree Financial Group appeared first on Dupree Financial.
Those Long-Term Chip Deals May Not Be as Secure as Investors Are Led to Believe When you listen to memory chip companies like Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron Technology discuss their businesses, they often make it sound like customer contracts—some extending as long as five years—are essentially set in stone. Unfortunately, that's not entirely true. Yes, these companies have long-term agreements in place, but contracts in this industry are often renegotiated when market conditions change. If demand for memory chips weakens significantly, chip manufacturers have a strong incentive to work with their customers rather than strictly enforce every contractual commitment. The reason is simple: preserving long-term customer relationships is often far more valuable than maximizing short-term revenue. Imagine a customer that suddenly doesn't need as many chips because its own sales have slowed. If a supplier forces that customer to accept unwanted inventory, those chips may simply sit in a warehouse until demand recovers. By the time the customer needs additional chips, it may choose to reduce future orders or move business to a competitor that proved to be more flexible during difficult times. Competitors are always looking for opportunities to gain market share. If one supplier refuses to work with its customers, another is usually willing to offer better pricing or more favorable terms. Losing a major customer over a rigid interpretation of a contract can cost far more in future profits than making temporary concessions during a downturn. This isn't just theory and it has happened before. During the COVID-era, many long-term agreements were adjusted as demand shifted. Rather than forcing customers to take products they no longer needed, suppliers often renegotiated delivery schedules and purchasing commitments to preserve long-term partnerships. The same principle applies across many industries. Companies frequently modify or delay large commercial agreements when business conditions change. While contracts provide a framework, successful businesses understand that maintaining trust with key customers is often more important than enforcing every clause to the letter. Investors should remember that a signed contract does not necessarily guarantee future revenue will be recognized exactly as originally planned. Management teams often emphasize the value of their long-term agreements during earnings calls, but those agreements can evolve if market conditions deteriorate. At the end of the day, great businesses understand that customer relationships are built over years but can be damaged in a matter of weeks. In many cases, giving a customer flexibility during a downturn is a much better investment than insisting on strict contract enforcement. That's why investors should view long-term chip contracts as valuable, but not invincible. Why Index Investing Could Leave You Disappointed Long Term I often hear people say, "Just buy the S&P 500 and forget about it. You'll be fine." While that sounds simple, investing is rarely that easy. Many investors don't fully understand how an index works or why it has performed so well in recent years. The S&P 500 has been driven largely by a handful of technology and AI companies. By blindly investing in the index, many people are simply participating in a momentum strategy without realizing it. Very little thought is given to what those 500 companies are actually worth. There is no effort to trim positions that have become extremely expensive or overly concentrated. As valuations climb, the index simply gives those companies an even larger weighting, leaving investors with greater exposure to the stocks that have already gone up the most. Some people respond by saying, "I won't put everything in the S&P 500. I'll diversify into other index funds." But once you go down that road, investing becomes much more complicated and you'll likely underperform the S&P 500. Should you own an international index? A European index? A bond index? A growth index? A value index? Small-cap funds? REITs? There are hundreds of ETFs and mutual funds to choose from. Now you have another challenge: deciding how much to allocate to each one. When your portfolio declines will you understand why? More importantly, will you know what to do next? Many investors don't, and that uncertainty often leads to emotional decisions at exactly the wrong time. This is why I prefer managing a portfolio of individual value-oriented stocks, combined with money market funds and selected real estate investment trusts (REITs). That approach still provides diversification, but I understand what each investment is worth and why I own it. In my view, that's a much better foundation than owning five or ten different index funds without truly understanding what's inside them or how they're valued. Another common argument for index investing is lower fees. While fees certainly matter, they shouldn't be the only factor. The number that ultimately matters is your total return after all fees and expenses. A lower fee doesn't automatically translate into better long-term performance. If you own index funds, take some time to look under the hood. Do you really understand what you own? Do you know which sectors dominate your portfolio, which companies make up the largest holdings, and how expensive those businesses are today? If the answer is no, don't assume you'll be comfortable when the market experiences its next major decline. Investors who don't understand what they own are often the first to panic, and that confusion can lead to costly investment mistakes. The U.S. economy is still in much better shape than many people think. This week brought three major events for investors: GDP, PCE inflation, and the Federal Reserve meeting. While the headlines may have sounded mixed, the underlying data still paints a healthy consumer. Second-quarter GDP grew at a 1.5% annualized rate, below economists' expectations. At first glance, that may seem disappointing. But when you look under the hood, the economy continues to show resilience. Consumer spending, which accounts for nearly 70% of U.S. GDP, increased 3.2% after a weak first quarter where it only climbed 0.5%. That tells me the American consumer is still in good shape, and that's one of the biggest reasons the economy continues to avoid the recession that so many have been predicting. Major drags on the headline GDP figure included government spending, which reduced growth by 0.14 percentage points, as well as the more volatile components of trade and the change in private inventories, which subtracted 1.01 and 0.67 percentage points, respectively. Inflation remains the biggest challenge. The Fed's preferred inflation measure, core PCE, increased 3.3% over the past year. While that's an improvement from where we've been, it's still well above the Federal Reserve's 2% target. I continue to believe inflation will remain sticky until energy prices become more stable. Energy impacts transportation, manufacturing, and virtually every supply chain, so it's difficult to see inflation falling sustainably while energy costs remain volatile. The Fed, as expected, left interest rates unchanged. What stood out wasn't the decision, it was the growing disagreement among policymakers. The 3 dissents that voted for a 25-basis point increase highlight just how uncertain the economic outlook remains. When inflation is still elevated but the economy continues to grow, there isn't an easy policy answer. One thing I do like so far is Kevin Warsh's changes at the Fed. I like the simplified statement, the encouragement of differing viewpoints, and rather than projecting absolute confidence in economic forecasts, he has acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding them. That's a refreshing change. Economic forecasting has never been an exact science, and I would rather have a Fed Chair who recognizes the limitations of those projections than one who pretends they are precise. What's surprising is how quickly some of the talking heads have claimed Warsh already has a credibility problem. I don't see it that way. Credibility isn't about making bold predictions that later need to be revised. It's about being honest about what we know, what we don't know, and allowing incoming data to guide policy. The takeaway for investors is simple: don't let one headline drive your investment decisions. The economy continues to expand, consumers are still spending, inflation remains stubborn, and the Fed is navigating a difficult policy environment. Looking beneath the surface is often where you'll find the real story. Leverage Is Fuel... Until It Becomes the Fire The last few weeks have been a reminder that leverage looks like a wonderful tool on the way up... but it's a devastating one on the way down. FINRA's new margin rules have effectively replaced the 25-year-old Pattern Day Trader rule, allowing traders with as little as $2,000 to make unlimited day trades using intraday margin. While this opens the door for more retail participation, it also means more investors have access to leverage, something that has historically magnified both gains and losses. This is a big problem considering FINRA margin debt climbed 49% year over year to another record in June of roughly $1.5 trillion. This comes as investor net credit balances have fallen to a record negative $1.06 trillion. In other words, investors collectively owe more on margin than they have sitting in cash accounts. For comparison's sake, in March 2000 this measure stood at a negative $0.13 trillion. That's an aggressive setup if volatility returns. We also saw this past week the spectacular collapse of Leopold Aschenbrenner's AI-focused hedge fund, Situational Awareness, which shows what can happen when conviction is paired with excessive leverage. The near 25-year-old Aschenbrenner was painted as a genius with strong credentials like being Columbia University's valedictorian at age 19. His fund was launched in July 2024 and he had no experience managing money before that. Before this month's decline the fund had gains of more than 1,000% since inception. The fund used tons of leverage with some saying as much as 400% to build massive positions in AI and semiconductor stocks while shorting stocks in the software space like Adobe. The problem is when names like Coreweave, Nebius, and Sandisk fell more than 50% from their highs and the software stocks rallied, margin calls forced the liquidation of most of its public equity portfolio. The result was staggering considering the fund peaked at above $45 billion in assets and with the selloff they plunged to around $10 billion. This forced a fire sale of assets at a discount to Ken Griffin's Citadel. Some speculate that the forced selling may have helped create the bottom. Once one of the market's largest leveraged sellers had finished liquidating, the selling pressure eased and many AI stocks staged a sharp rebound. Others believe the selling is not over as Michael Burry reportedly used Thursday's powerful rally as an opportunity to increase several of his bearish positions in Micron, Nvidia and the VanEck Semiconductor ETF. Whether he's ultimately right or wrong remains to be seen, but it's a reminder that some experienced investors still believe AI-related valuations and leverage remain stretched. Here Come the Robots! Robots have been making their way into manufacturing for decades. The first industrial robotic arm, called Unimate, was installed in 1961 on the assembly line at a General Motors plant in Trenton, New Jersey. But today's robots are very different. They're no longer just stationary robotic arms bolted to the factory floor, they're starting to look and move like humans. That reality is beginning to make workers uneasy. At a Hyundai Motor plant in South Korea, employees have gone on a partial strike, with concerns over automation playing a role. Hyundai recently unveiled its humanoid robot, Atlas, which stands 6'2", weighs about 200 pounds, can lift up to 110 pounds, and can continuously carry nearly 70 pounds. It's easy to understand why workers are wondering what these machines could mean for their jobs. South Korea is already the world leader in industrial robot adoption, with approximately 1,220 industrial robots for every 10,000 manufacturing employees. By comparison, the United States has around 307 robots per 10,000 workers. One statistic that surprised me was China, which currently has only about 166 industrial robots per 10,000 manufacturing workers. If Elon Musk has anything to say about it, those numbers could change dramatically over the next several years. Tesla is aggressively developing its humanoid robot, Optimus, with the goal of having it help build vehicles in its factories before long. If that vision becomes reality, other manufacturers will almost certainly follow. The idea of humanoid robots can be unsettling, but the transition is likely to be slower than many people expect. Industry forecasts suggest that global annual production of humanoid robots could reach roughly 1.2 million units by 2030. While that sounds like a large number, it's still a tiny fraction of the global workforce. So, we're probably still a few years away from living like The Jetsons. If you're not familiar with the cartoon, it debuted in September 1962 and imagined a future filled with flying cars and household robots. I guess I will have to wait a few more years to get a maid like the Jetsons had named Rosie the robot. Financial Planning: Tax Relief Coming for Older Home Sellers? The federal home sale capital gain exclusion has remained unchanged since 1997, allowing homeowners to exclude up to $250,000 of gain if single or $500,000 if married filing jointly when selling a primary residence. With home values rising significantly over the past three decades, particularly in high-cost areas like California, many long-time homeowners now face substantial capital gains taxes when downsizing. A new proposal, the Nest Egg Protection Act, would increase the exclusion to $1 million for homeowners age 65 and older who have owned and lived in their home for at least 25 years. This would allow more seniors to keep the equity they've built over a lifetime. In addition to providing tax relief, the proposal could encourage more older homeowners to sell, increasing housing inventory and making homeownership more attainable for first-time buyers. While the legislation has not yet been enacted and homeowners should continue planning under current law, the proposal reflects a growing recognition that the existing exclusion no longer aligns with today's housing market. Companies Discussed: International Business Machines Corporation (Ticker: IBM)
P.M. Edition for July 30. The U.S. economy grew just 1.5% last quarter, lower than the previous quarter and falling short of economists' expectations. WSJ economics reporter Harriet Torry explains why the details in the report, particularly around consumer spending, suggest things aren't as bad as the headline number makes it seem. Plus, the buzzy AI-focused hedge fund Situational Awareness, founded by AI whiz kid Leopold Aschenbrenner, sold most of its stock portfolio to investment firm Citadel. We hear from WSJ special writer Greg Zuckerman about why this happened and where the company goes from here. And a big rally in tech companies sent U.S. stocks soaring today. Alex Ossola hosts. See the new fronts in the Iran war. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Is President Trump preparing a massive strike on Iran? On today's edition of The Brian Kilmeade Show, Brian breaks down the surging tensions in the Middle East, military buildup in the Red Sea, and Senator Tim Sheehy's powerful address regarding Iran's global threat. Plus, New York Post columnist Lydia Moynihan joins the show to discuss why business leaders and top taxpayers like Bill Ackman and Ken Griffin are fleeing NYC as socialist policies take hold. [00:18:26] Lydia Moynihan [00:36:50] Rep. Bryan Steil [00:55:13] Jake Altman [01:13:37] Trey Yingst [01:32:01] Doug Schoen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (patio11) is joined by Leila Clark, founder of Stardrift and formerly a software engineer at Jane Street, to discuss her essay "What Are You Getting Paid In?" They cover how a Jane Street manager staffed the firm's least lucrative corner by paying people in culture, why Ken Griffin is worth roughly fifty Taylor Swifts, and how a longtime Google product manager quietly ends up with Grammy-winner money. The conversation ranges from academia's brutal tournament structure and YC as a script to founderdom to the one currency Taylor Swift holds that Ken Griffin's $50 billion buys only awkwardly: a restaurant reservation anywhere in New York.–Full transcript available here: https://www.complexsystemspodcast.com/what-youre-actually-getting-paid-in-with-leila-clark/ –Presenting Sponsors: Mercury, Chainguard & MongoDB Complex Systems is presented by Mercury—radically better banking for founders. Mercury's new feature Command brings an LLM directly into your banking interface, so checking balances, finding invoices, or sending a wire is as easy as asking. Apply online in minutes at https://mercury.com/.If attackers are using AI to weaponize code faster than any team can review it, your scanners won't save you. Chainguard builds libraries and container images from source, verified all the way down, with near-zero CVEs and zero malware. Build safely at https://www.chainguard.dev/.What's the point of building faster with AI if your database can't keep up? MongoDB's native data model mirrors the language LLMs already speak. Ship at the speed of AI while staying ACID compliant at Fortune 500 scale. Start building at https://mongodb.com/ai.–Links:What are you getting paid in: https://www.approachwithalacrity.com/p/what-are-you-getting-paid-in –Timestamps:(00:00) Intro(01:23) What are you getting paid in?(03:16) Scripts, teacher figures, and hitting capitalism(08:18) The academia trap(11:08) Paying people in culture: Jane Street's back office(14:03) Ken Griffin vs. Taylor Swift(16:53) Learning about finance by osmosis (or not)(20:44) Sponsors: Mercury | Chainguard(23:46) Musician money vs. Google money(30:03) Keeping up with the Joneses and the meritocratic ladder(33:12) YC as a script to founderdom(36:19) What entrepreneurship pays you in(39:12) Gratitude, culture, and quirky preferences(40:11) Sponsor: MongoDB(43:48) Does winning this script look like winning to you?(48:29) Don't end the week with nothing(51:06) Fame and living in bubbles(56:57) Restaurant reservations as a currency(1:02:57) Where to find Leila(01:03:35) Wrap
Shane and Ethan are back, and the World Cup jerseys are out. Episode 195 covers the Jersey Mike's IPO and the Forbes disclosures revealing that family members collected around thirty million dollars in compensation ahead of the company going public, Jeff Bezos co-leading an AI startup called Prometheus and declaring that AI will make single income households viable again, and Vinod Khosla's ten billion dollar purchase of the Seattle Seahawks plus the 20-year beach access lawsuit he has been fighting with the state of California. They also break down New York City's new pied-à-terre tax targeting non-resident property owners and what it actually means for people like Ken Griffin who own a $238 million penthouse but live in Florida, and close with a Reddit question from a business owner going from $500K to three million dollars in income who wants to know what to do with his money and why Reddit keeps telling everyone not to hire a wealth advisor. Topics covered: Jersey Mike's IPO valuation and the family compensation disclosures Bezos is co-leading an AI startup, and his case for AI optimism Vinod Khosla is buying the Seattle Seahawks for $10 billion The 20-year beach access lawsuit and how it went to the Supreme Court New York City's pied-à-terre tax explained and who it actually affects Reddit question: business owner going from $500K to $3M in income needs a plan Why Reddit keeps telling people not to hire a wealth advisor and what to do instead Timestamps: 00:00 Intro, World Cup jerseys, and the Argentina vs England matchup 03:15 Jersey Mike's IPO and the family nepo baby compensation disclosures 07:00 Bezos co-leads AI startup Prometheus and says AI will fix the economy 09:30 Vinod Khosla buys the Seattle Seahawks for $10 billion 11:45 The 20-year California beach access lawsuit that went to the Supreme Court 14:00 Khosla Ventures and the investments that made him fantastically wealthy 15:10 New York City's pied-à-terre tax and Ken Griffin's $238 million penthouse 20:15 Reddit question: $3M income S corp owner needs a financial plan 24:00 Why Reddit tells everyone not to hire a wealth advisor and what to do instead
The Museum of Science and Industry was renamed in 2024 in recognition of megadonor Ken Griffin. The museum's original founder, Julius Rosenwald, did not want to put his own name on the institution.
Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner announces he's leaving the race by denying the allegations against him and railing against establishment Democrats. Plus, GOP donor Ken Griffin says he'd support Marco Rubio over JD Vance for president in 2028. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ken Griffin, the founder and CEO of Citadel, expects agentic artificial intelligence (AI) to enable a “golden age” of entrepreneurship and eliminate some corporate moats, even as the cost of using AI creates a deep moat around other companies. And while some jobs may be replaced by technology, Griffin says he has found that productivity increases from AI have, instead of reducing headcount, allowed his company to pursue new opportunities. Griffin shares his views on geopolitical tensions between the US and China, the need for domestic data center construction in the US, and a range of other factors rippling through global markets in this episode of Goldman Sachs Exchanges: Great Investors, recorded at Goldman Sachs's Apex Symposium. This episode was recorded on June 2, 2026. The opinions and views expressed herein are as of the date of publication, subject to change without notice, and may not necessarily reflect the institutional views of Goldman Sachs or its affiliates. The material provided is intended for informational purposes only, and does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation from any Goldman Sachs entity to take any particular action, or an offer or solicitation to purchase or sell any securities or financial products. This material may contain forward-looking statements. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Neither Goldman Sachs nor any of its affiliates make any representations or warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of the statements or information contained herein and disclaim any liability whatsoever for reliance on such information for any purpose. Each name of a third-party organization mentioned is the property of the company to which it relates, is used here strictly for informational and identification purposes only and is not used to imply any ownership or license rights between any such company and Goldman Sachs. A transcript is provided for convenience and may differ from the original video or audio content. Goldman Sachs is not responsible for any errors in the transcript. This material should not be copied, distributed, published, or reproduced in whole or in part or disclosed by any recipient to any other person without the express written consent of Goldman Sachs. Disclosures applicable to research with respect to issuers, if any, mentioned herein are available through your Goldman Sachs representative or at http://www.gs.com/research/hedge.html Goldman Sachs does not endorse any candidate or any political party. Views of the interviewee do not necessarily reflect the views of Goldman Sachs. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
John is joined by Shawn Fagan, the Chief Legal Officer of Citadel LLC and a key legal figure at Citadel Securities. Citadel is the most profitable hedge fund globally, while Citadel Securities is a leading market maker, processing nearly one-third of U.S. equities and options trades. They discuss Shawn's insights into the unique legal challenges of these rapidly growing organizations.Shawn has essentially four clients: Citadel, Citadel Securities, founder Ken Griffin, and Griffin's family office. His responsibilities extend beyond legal oversight to include regulatory affairs and compliance, reflecting the complexities of modern finance.Shawn's journey to Citadel was unconventional. He started as a litigator at Bartlit Beck, a boutique trial firm, where he spent nearly half his time in trial. He participated in high-profile cases, including Bush v. Gore, but ultimately realized that trial work was not his passion. A chance meeting with Ken Griffin led to an in-house opportunity at Citadel, where he has now been for 20 years.During that time, Citadel has grown from 1,000 employees and $12 billion in assets under management to 4,900 employees and $65 billion in assets under management. The focus of Shawn's role at Citadel is building the right teams to meet the demands of rapidly growing markets around the world, developing technology to ensure regulatory compliance across billions of transactions every day, and maintaining consistent standards in an organization that continues to grow at an extraordinary pace.Citadel has engaged in several high-profile legal battles, including lawsuits against the SEC and IRS, reflecting the firm's willingness to challenge regulations it views as unreasonable and unduly burdensome. When retaining outside counsel, Shawn looks for lawyers with strategic vision who can articulate a clear path to winning cases.Podcast Link: Law-disrupted.fmHost: John B. Quinn Producer: Alexis HydeMusic and Editing by: Alexander Rossi
We have heard so many dentists say they hate selling. What they really hate is rejection. In this episode, Peter and Craig tackle one of the most misunderstood topics in dentistry and business: sales. Not the sleazy, manipulative version. The kind that every practice owner, leader, and entrepreneur relies on whether they realize it or not. They break down why selling is ultimately about creating value, communicating clearly, and helping people make decisions. The problem is that most dentists never learn how to handle rejection, so they avoid conversations that could grow their practice, improve patient outcomes, and create opportunities for their team. Peter and Craig explore the lessons they've learned from entrepreneurs like Ken Griffin and Roy Kroc, why clarity beats charisma in sales, and how confidence is built through repetition, not talent. They also discuss why ambitious people sabotage themselves by taking rejection personally, when in reality rejection is simply the price of growth. The conversation challenges the idea that technical skill alone creates success. Because if nobody knows who you are, what you do, or why it matters, none of your expertise can create value. If you've ever felt uncomfortable selling, promoting yourself, asking for commitment, or putting yourself out there, this episode is for you. DESCRIPTION The Bulletproof Dental Podcast Episode: 440 HOSTS: Dr. Peter Boulden and Dr. Craig Spodak In this episode, Peter Boulden and Craig Spodak discuss the importance of selling, handling rejection, and creating value in business. They unpack why sales is often misunderstood, why rejection is unavoidable for anyone pursuing growth, and how practice owners can develop the confidence to communicate their value more effectively. From patient conversations and leadership communication to entrepreneurship and personal growth, this episode provides a practical framework for becoming more effective in business without becoming someone you're not. TAKEAWAYS Selling is a fundamental skill for every business owner Most people fear rejection more than they dislike sales Clarity is one of the most powerful tools in communication Confidence comes from repetition, not natural talent Adding value should always come before making an ask Rejection is feedback, not a personal attack Technical expertise alone does not create growth Leaders must learn how to communicate vision effectively Patients are more likely to say yes when they understand the value Boldness is often rewarded more than perfection Business growth requires consistent promotion and visibility The ability to sell impacts every area of leadership and entrepreneurship CHAPTERS 00:00 The Importance of Selling in Business 02:55 Overcoming Rejection and Embracing Leadership 05:28 The Power of Clarity in Selling 08:17 Creating Value and Building a Successful Practice REFERENCES Bulletproof Summit Bulletproof Mastermind
An interview with Ken Griffin, CEO of AUSactive.It's not often that the healthcare system actually has someone putting up its hand and going, hey, we've got not just a solution, but we've actually got a sustainable population-wide solution. And that we can bring to the table here, because there are very few levers that the health system can pull in a heavily regulated, highly costly environment that is constrained by so many different things, whether it's workforce, whether it's funding, whether it's regulatory structures. There are so many things that hold the health system back, and we're here, but we're in its blind spot, literally, we're just out of view.Ken GriffinAn outsider's perspective on the health & fitness industryUnderstanding the language of healthcarePresenting the industry value proposition to consumers and healthcareBuilding trust and confidence through accreditationInnovating in healthcare and fitness integration https://www.movetolivemore.com/https://www.movetolivemore.com/bookhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/move-to-live-more@MovetoLiveMore
ESG StuffBP removes chairman Albert Manifold over governance issues 9The board said the decision was unanimous. In a statement, Amanda Blanc, BP's senior independent director, described the board as having been caught off guard by what it found: "The board has been surprised and disappointed to learn of governance oversight and conduct issues it deems unacceptable and has taken decisive action."The company did not elaborate on the specific nature of the concerns.Ian Tyler has been named interim chair, BP said, with the board set to begin a formal process to identify a permanent successor: "The Board and leadership team have deep conviction in the strategic direction we have laid out, and the company is moving at pace to deliver it."Manifold took up the chairmanship just last October. At last month's annual general meeting, just 81.8% of shareholders backed his electionAmong the most consequential decisions of Manifold's short tenure: pushing out former CEO Murray Auchincloss and overseeing the selection of Meg O'Neill to succeed him — a hire that marked the first time BP had recruited an external CEO and the first time a woman had led one of the oil industry's largest players.Tulsi Gabbard Exit Marks Fourth Woman to Leave Trump Cabinet 0Apology TourBank boss sorry after describing workers as 'lower value human capital' 7Standard Chartered CEO Bill Winters triggered a massive PR firestorm by describing the bank's plan to replace back-office staff with automation as replacing "lower-value human capital" with financial investmentStandard Chartered is cutting roughly 7,800 jobs—representing about 15% of its global back-office corporate support roles—over the next four years to make room for AIAfter internal anger and blistering public criticism, Winters posted a formal apology for his "choice of words." However, he initially fueled the fire by attaching the full interview transcript to justify his broader context, drawing further criticism for being defensiveIn his first attempt to quiet the storm, Winters leaned heavily into the corporate strategy rather than apologizing for the specific phrasing: "I said that lower-value roles are more vulnerable to automation, and that we have a responsibility to help colleagues move into higher-value roles. That is what a responsible employer should do. We will continue to speak honestly about the impact of technological change, and we will continue to act responsibly in helping our people to adapt and succeed."After a barrage of negative comments on his first post, Winters returned to LinkedIn later that day to offer an explicit apology for his phrasing: "I have received a lot of support for the messages in my previous post but still get questions about my choice of words, which I know has caused upset to some colleagues. For that I am sorry.""I think the transcript makes it clear that I value our colleagues – all of them – most highly and that we are totally committed to helping them to cope with the accelerating pace of change in our industry."JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon says bank chief's viral AI comment was 'inartful' Dimon downplayed the viral backlash against Standard Chartered CEO Bill Winters—who drew fire for saying his bank would replace "lower-value human capital" with technology—calling it an "inartful" slip-of-the-tongue from a friend.Neopbabies and Dropout babiesJames Murdoch to acquire New York Magazine and Vox Media Podcast Network -1Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn't exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go' 6Bolt CEO Ryan Breslow justified firing his entire Human Resources department by claiming they actively manufactured internal frictionThe aggressive purge follows a brutal 97% collapse in Bolt's valuation—crashing from an $11 billion peak in 2022 down to $300 millionTraditional HR has been entirely swapped for a skeletal "people operations" team, shifting the focus away from employee complaints and internal processes toward basic compliance training and empowering managers to make split-second decisionsAlongside gutting HR, Breslow rolled back employee-friendly benefits like four-day workweeks and unlimited PTO, claiming a culture of complacency had taken over and that 99% of his legacy workforce was simply unwilling to work hardRyan dropped out of Stanford in 2014 to launch BoltThe Middle School Boy Man Babies Rule the WorldMan Drives Cybertruck Into Lake to Test Elon Musk's “Boat” Claims, and It Went About as Well as You'd Guess -10"The passengers abandoned the vehicle and the driver was arrested."Tesla CEO Elon Musk:randomly tweeted that the vehicle would function as a rudimentary flotation device.“It will even float for a while.”“[The vehicle would be able to] traverse at least 100m [330 feet] of water as a boat.”“Cybertruck will be waterproof enough to serve briefly as a boat, so it can cross rivers, lakes and even seas that aren't too choppy.”Jeff Bezos urges US government to stop taxing 50% of America — and claims doubling his taxes won't help ‘that teacher in Queens' 400Jeff Bezos backs Mamdani's tax on luxury second homes, but says Ken Griffin isn't the villainJeff Bezos on Zohran Mamdani's big mistake: ‘When you don't know how to solve a problem, create a villain, blame them'Jeff Bezos says there is ‘no truth' to the ‘buy borrow die' tax strategyBillionaires Openly Use It: Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison has historically pledged over $30 billion worth of his Oracle stock as collateral for personal bank loans. Elon Musk has similarly pledged tens of billions of dollars in Tesla shares to secure lines of credit over the yearsHe said he was "skeptical that that's a true loophole," but added, "If it is, and we can fix it, then we should. I don't think such a loophole should exist."Jeff Bezos Praises Trump's Second Term as ‘More Mature' Jeff Bezos Says AI Will 'Elevate' Workers — Despite Amazon's 30,000 Job Cuts Amid $100 Billion AI PushElon Musk compares his company's work to that of Jesus 0In an interview on Monday, the billionaire said his Neuralink brain-implant company is progressing in its development of ‘Jesus-like technologies'Although brain-computer interface (BCI) as a concept has been around since at least the 1970s, the push to commercialize the technology is more recent. According to data from market-intelligence firm Tracxn, more than 130 BCI startups have been launched since 2016.Why Is Mark Zuckerberg Taunting His Employees Before Firing Them? 20Back in April, Meta announced it was laying off 10 percent of its workforce, or around some 7,800 workers. Unlike traditional layoffs, which are enacted relatively quickly, Meta gave its employees a nearly month-long warning period without announcing who exactly would be headed for the unemployment line.In newly leaked audio from an all-hands meeting at Meta, released by More Perfect Union, the Meta CEO seems to actually be taunting the thousands of workers who were about to be let go by pointing to how the company was harvesting employee data to train its in-house AI models ahead of the massive layoffs.“So we're in a phase where basically the AI models learn from heaving real, from watching really smart people do things. And if you're trying to get it to be able to be able to do certain capabilities, having [AI] be able to observe really smart people doing those things is, is very important.”Going on, Zuckerberg explained that it was better to train AI on soon-to-be-former Meta employees, rather than “contract companies.”“In general, the average intelligence of the people who are at this company is significantly higher than the average set of people that you can get to do tasks if you're working through… contractors,” Zuckerberg stammered. “So if we're trying to teach the models coding, for example, then having people internally, um, build tools that, or, or solve tasks that, um, that help teach the model how to code, we think is going to dramatically increase our models coding ability faster than what others in the industry have the capability to do.”Intuit to Cut 17% of Staff, Invest in ‘Big Bets' 3The restructuring cost is estimated at about $300 million to $340 millionAbout 3,100 employees: and invest the savings in “big bets” as it makes artificial intelligence a centerpiece of its business.Woke WarsTexas AG Sues ISS Over ESG Considerations 0Texas AG Ken Paxton (in a senate race) is suing ISS for allegedly “misleading” customers by pushing “radical political agendas” through its proxy adviceNotably, ISS has attempted to obstruct ExxonMobil's planned reincorporation from New Jersey to Texas“ISS has enormous influence over how billions of dollars are invested and managed across this country, and they have abused that influence in order to push woke ideology”Iowa AG Brenna Bird sues ISS, says advice risks retirement savingsIowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is suing the world's largest proxy-advice firm for abusing its influence and threatening Iowans' retirement savings by "lying" to investors.Stakeholders Rule!Wells Fargo must pay $100M to help homebuyers after discrimination lawsuit — 51 cities are eligible 7The settlement, which was recently approved by a federal judge in California, comes after four years of legal disputes involving Wells Fargo shareholders, former employees and job applicants who accused the bank of systemic problems in both lending and hiring practices.While Wells Fargo denied wrongdoing, the company agreed to the deal to avoid prolonged litigation and mounting legal costs.The case centered on allegations that Wells Fargo's board failed to maintain adequate oversight of the bank's mortgage lending operations, exposing the company to regulatory scrutiny and accusations of discriminatory practices.According to reporting from Realtor.com, plaintiffs accused the bank of “widespread and systematic discrimination in lending” and cited concerns over lending algorithms and refinancing approval patterns.The lawsuit stated that Wells Fargo was allegedly the only major lender in 2020 to reject more refinancing applications from Black homeowners than it approved.Airbus, Air France Hit With Manslaughter Charges Over Pilot Training Failures in Deadly 2009 Flight 447 Crash 1A Paris appeals court delivered a dramatic verdict in one of the longest-running and most complex legal sagas in aviation history. The court overturned a 2023 acquittal and found both Airbus and Air France guilty of corporate manslaughter for the tragic 2009 crash of Flight AF447.The ruling marks a massive victory for the victims' families after a 17-year legal battle. A lower court had previously cleared the European planemaker and the French airline in 2023, ruling that while errors were made, a direct causal link to the crash couldn't be proven. The appeals court completely rejected that logic, declaring the companies "solely and entirely responsible" for the disaster.Ride-Share Drivers in Massachusetts Formally Unionize 100The App Drivers Union said it was the first organization in the country to be formally certified to represent drivers for apps such as Uber and Lyft.In a news release, the organization, the App Drivers Union, said it would represent nearly 70,000 workers in Massachusetts who now have the power to collectively bargain.MATTA very special “who do we blame for SpaceX IPO governance” gameFirst, some S-1 highlights:“Starlink internet is what's being used to pay for humanity getting to Mars.” - MuskTranslation: We don't care much about Starlink, it's just paying our AI billsHe's not kidding: $3.2bn revenue for Starlink, net income of $1.2m$0.6bn revenue for rocket ship, net income of -$0.6bn$0.8bn revenue for AI, net income of -$2.5bnThis isn't a space company - it's classic Musk - you buy the vision (“To build the systems and technologies necessary to make life multiplanetary, to understand the true nature of the universe, and to extend the light of consciousness to the stars.”), but what you're really buying is an internet company that spends all its money on AI and does some rockets on the sideLet someone else invent the car (Tesla) and make them sexy with “big visions” for “humanity”Let someone else invent the rockets, build new ones using someone else's moneyLet someone else invent the satellites, put a whole bunch in space (and buy more satellites from someone else)Musk initially took the role of “Chief Engineer”, but every engineering task seems to have been the other employees - he supplied the moneyShoehorned AI into space exploration because…?Grok is designed as a truth-seeking AI model, built on our founder Elon Musk's mission to enable humanity to understand the universe. We believe that accomplishing this mission requires a truth-seeking approach to AI. We define truth seeking as the active, relentless pursuit of what is objectively true about reality, and grounded in evidence, logic, empirical data, and first principles thinking.AI's ability to revolutionize human potential is directly dependent on meeting exponentially increasing resource demands.We now must go to space to get more resources for AI so we can get to spaceNow the governance who do you blame gameMusk will get:85% voting power (dual class, he owns 94% of Class B 10 vote shares and 12% of Class A shares)The ability to nominate and vote exclusively on >50% of the boardA board which currently includes..TWO execs - Gwynne Shotwell (President) and Musk (three titles)Tesla mafia: Ira Ehreinpreis, Tesla board sycophant, director at the Boring Company and xAI, and longtime Musk hanger on, added Feb 2026Antonio Gracias, ex Tesla director who was explicitly called out in the Tornetta decision as corrupted, cross party transactions with Musk, on boards of Neuralink and Boring Company, added Oct 2010TWO VC bros from DFJ - Randy Glein (SpaceX board observer for 16 years, directors since Feb 2026) and Steve Jurvestson (former Tesla director, director since March 2009) who was ousted from the VC firm with his name on it for sexual harassmentPaypal mafia:Luke Nosek, co founder of PayPal, one of the founders of Founders Fund with Thiel and Ken Howery, invested in DeepMind, director since July 2008Donald Harrison - managed Google purchase of DeepMind, relationship with Nosek, director since Feb 2015Director relationship tenures to Musk: Shotwell: 24 yearsEhreinpreis: 21 yearsGracias: 21 yearsJurvetson: 17 yearsGlein: 16 yearsNosek: 26 yearsHarrison: 11 years (+1 if Nosek/Deepmind connection counts)Texas jurisdiction exclusively (judge shopped) - 3% to sue them, mandatory arbitration, anti-takeover statutes, special meetings ONLY CALLED BY MUSK (no one less than 50% of stock can call a meeting or vote)No written consent - no prior noticeAdvance notice bylaws for the zero shareholder proposals allowedFull omission of board liability - including a provision that automatically allows whatever the conflicts of interest they want with directorsWHO (WHEN) DO YOU BLAME?The US GovernmentDepartment of Energy - in 2010, the DoE gave Tesla a $465m loan, which basically paid for the Model S and helped it buy a factory 6 months before it went public - Musk has said Tesla would not have survived without the loanNevada - in 2014, Nevada gave Musk $1.3bn to build a factory, the most everNASA - spent more than $15bn over years on SpaceX and programs with themThe IRS/Congress - the EV tax credit for $7,500 single handedly pushed Tesla from losing money in 2020 to making money (they effectively got $1.6bn from the US government in 2020), and showing its first profit, which sparked the memefest during COVID and made Musk the richest man on earth - Musk then went on and called for an end to the tax credit since his “competitors” needed it more than Tesla. Tesla made ~$11bn from tax credits aloneThe DoD - started paying SpaceX in 2003 for concept work - and even when the rockets didn't work, the DoD and NASA awarded the company massive contracts anywayJeff Bezos said in 2016 that, “Elon's real superpower is getting government money.”FOMOSpaceX LOSES MONEY - it does not make moneyIf it were a satellite internet company - and NOT THE FIRST - the first was HughesNet in 1996, and Viasat offered it in 2012 - it would make money ($1.2m in income!)Instead, investors are valuing SpaceX as THE LARGEST IPO IN THE HISTORY OF EVER despite the fact that they are burning money on AI, and arguably the worst AIIncluding spending the most on R&D, marketing, and acquisition of Cursor to make up for the fact that Grok suckedIn exchange for FOMO, investors have ENTIRELY GIVEN UP THEIR RIGHTSIt is 100% a private companyTornettaIf Tornetta hadn't sued for Musk's pay, would SpaceX be structured this way?The banks underwriting the dealWho AGREED TO BUY GROK as a term of getting the underwriting, because everyone bends the knee to moneyThe boardI guess
Dave Rubin of "The Rubin Report" gives a first look to the stories you need to know to start your day including the historic indictment of former Cuban dictator Raul Castro over the 1996 Brothers to the Rescue shootdown that killed four Americans, and why many Cuban exiles believe this could mark the beginning of the end of the Castro legacy; Jeff Bezos publicly blasting NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani for targeting billionaire Ken Griffin with class-war politics and anti-business rhetoric that critics say is driving investment out of New York; and President Trump throwing his support behind Spencer Pratt's insurgent Los Angeles mayoral campaign as frustration with Karen Bass, homelessness, drugs, crime, and city leadership continues growing, and much more.
Mazie Hirono just got OWNED trying to silence Ted Cruz — you need to see this! In this explosive Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on redistricting and voting rights, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) delivers a powerful takedown of the Democrats' long history of racial discrimination and their current obsession with race-based gerrymandering. Then Hawaii Democrat Mazie Hirono interrupts him in frustration, telling Cruz to "stop lecturing" the committee. Cruz masterfully exposes how the modern Democratic Party continues pushing racial preferences while claiming the moral high ground. This heated exchange highlights everything wrong with leftist identity politics and leftists' refusal to embrace a colorblind Constitution. We also cover: Rep. Coleman on eliminating Trump. Anomalies in the Massie election. Zohran Mamdani on Ken Griffin. Jeff Bezos on taxes. Republicans are fighting for fair maps and equal treatment under the law, while Democrats desperately cling to racial division to maintain power. This is why we need strong conservative voices like Ted Cruz holding the line in the Senate. What do you think — was Hirono out of line? Drop your thoughts in the comments below! Should Republicans push harder against these race-based tactics?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JW_xItSGlM Podcast audio: In this episode of The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast, Robertas Bakula and Onkar Ghate discuss Ken Griffin's reaction to Zohran Mamdami's attack on his wealth and life, and the appropriate stance that individuals in Griffin's position should take against such attacks. Topics include: Mamdani's Attack on Ken Griffin Real Threat to Griffin's Life and Safety Griffin's Courageous Defense of the American Dream Griffin's Concession Sanction of the Victim Animal Farm is Pro-Socialism Anthem and Atlas Shrugged as Better Alternatives A Principled Stance vs. Martyrdom Resources: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand Anthem by Ayn Rand The Sanction of the Victim by Ayn Rand This episode was recorded on May 11, 2026. Image credits: Griffin: Fabrice Coffrini / AFP / via Getty Images; Mamdani: Spencer Platt / via Getty Images
Dave Rubin of "The Rubin Report" shares a DM clip of his appearance on "Ask Dr. Drew" where he and Dr. Drew Pinsky discuss the backlash against billionaires like Elon Musk and Ken Griffin, and why the progressive policies of Democrats like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Karen Bass and Zohran Mamdani are driving jobs, businesses, and investment out of states like California and New York; why outsider candidates like Spencer Pratt are gaining traction in the Los Angeles mayor's race amid homelessness, crime, drug addiction, and frustration with the progressive leadership of Karen Bass and Gavin Newsom; updates on Dennis Prager's recovery and resilience after his devastating injury; and much more.
Saturday's notebook— Several stories you might have missed this week: Patel hunting reporters. Trump bombing Iran for peace. Rubio lying about a nuclear weapon Iran does not have. *In this episode:* • Kash Patel sics the FBI on the reporter who caught his drinking problem • Kash Patel polygraphs his own agents to find out who likes him • Pete Hegseth wants a "red, white, and blue dome" — sounds like a Vegas buffet • Trump bombs Iran and calls it peace • Trump tore up the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018 — this is the bill coming due • Marco Rubio lies — says Iran has a nuclear weapons program • Our own intelligence told Trump twice — Iran abandoned that program in 2003 • Iran was inspected. Iran was compliant. Iran does not have a bomb. • Rubio claims foreign nations begged us to escort their ships — can't name one • North Korea quit the treaty and built a bomb. Iran signed the treaty and didn't. • Five countries with nukes, five countries still at war — the bomb stops nothing • Justice Alito fast-tracks Louisiana redistricting to gut a Black congressional district • California's billionaire tax hits the 2026 ballot — Newsom, Porter, Becerra all run • Tom Steyer is the only billionaire in the governor's race who supports the tax • NYC Mayor Zoran Mamdani freezes a slumlord's assets and gives the building back • Ken Griffin's hedge fund skims your pension while retired teachers eat dog food
Howard Lutnick begged Jeffrey Epstein for an island invite. Kash Patel lost it after losing his bourbon. Putin's and Shell Oil's quarterly oil profits more than doubled since the war began In this episode: • Howard Lutnick's emails to Jeffrey Epstein — and his defense: "I brought my wife and kids" • Epstein's suicide note finally made public — found by his cellmate, an ex-cop charged with quadruple homicide • Kash Patel's missing bourbon at Quantico and the threat to prosecute the FBI agent who took it • Three U.S. destroyers attacked in the Strait of Hormuz — and the ceasefire Trump never wanted • Shell Oil's quarterly profits more than doubled since the war began • The two people who put Trump in office: Big Oil and Vladimir Putin • Pete Hegseth and the War Crimes Act of 1996 • Marco Rubio's Cuba story falls apart — his family came three years before Castro • Zoran Mamdani puts a slumlord's head on a stick — $31 million judgment, $900,000 frozen • Steven Roth says "tax the rich" is the same as a racial slur • John Catsimatidis defines the middle class from his Florida mansion • Ken Griffin's $238 million Manhattan penthouse and the pied-à-terre tax • California governor race — the 2026 Billionaire Tax Act, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer • If you're not angry, you're depressed Key figures: Howard Lutnick, Jeffrey Epstein, Kash Patel, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth, Marco Rubio, Zoran Mamdani, Steven Roth, John Catsimatidis, Ken Griffin, Gavin Newsom, Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Ro Khanna, Kamala Harris
In part two of Red Eye Radio with Gary McNamara and Eric Harley, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez believes there is no legitimate way to “earn” $1 billion, so billionaires instead have to “create a myth” about how they made their money. While speaking on Ilana Glazer's “It's Open” podcast this week, the New York representative explained that, after a certain threshold, money is no longer well-earned. This underscores the greed and now stupidity of the radical left pointing their narrative at the concept of capitalism in this country. Also former NYC Mayor Eric Adams blasts Zohran Mamdani amid Ken Griffin spat: "Stop dividing our city by demonizing success" and secessionists in the western Canadian province of Alberta recently announced that they have gathered enough signatures to launch a referendum on independence from the rest of the country. For more talk on the issues that matter to you, listen on radio stations across America Monday-Friday 12am-5am CT (1am-6am ET and 10pm-3am PT), download the RED EYE RADIO SHOW app, asking your smart speaker, or listening at RedEyeRadioShow.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
115,000 new jobs were added to the economy last month. There is a strong possibility that Kamala Harris will run again in the 2028 presidential race. The United States has fired upon and disabled two Iranian tankers attempting to evade the blockade. President Trump referred to the ongoing exchange of fire between Iran and the USA as just a "love tap." Trump also criticized Nancy Pelosi, claiming she represents everything wrong with politics in Washington, D.C. Governor Ron DeSantis commented on Mayor Mamdani's video targeting billionaires, specifically Ken Griffin. Governor Hochul claims there is a budget deal in NYC, but is there really?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
115,000 new jobs were added to the economy last month. There is a strong possibility that Kamala Harris will run again in the 2028 presidential race. The United States has fired upon and disabled two Iranian tankers attempting to evade the blockade. President Trump referred to the ongoing exchange of fire between Iran and the USA as just a "love tap." Trump also criticized Nancy Pelosi, claiming she represents everything wrong with politics in Washington, D.C. Governor Ron DeSantis commented on Mayor Mamdani's video targeting billionaires, specifically Ken Griffin. Governor Hochul claims there is a budget deal in NYC, but is there really? Mark interviews Roger Friedman from Showbiz 411. The Rolling Stones are in NYC, celebrating their 62nd year as a band! Roger shares insights on some of the band's new songs, provides updates on the progress of The Devil Wears Prada 2 film, discusses the Michael Jackson movie's box office performance, and gives an overview of how Broadway is currently faring in NYC. Governor Kathy Hochul remains firm on keeping ICE out of New York City through new legislation, while Border Czar Tom Homan supports ICE continuing to patrol the city. Mark shares new research showing that eating eggs regularly can lower your risk of certain health issues. Marco Rubio visited the Vatican and brought Pope Leo a special gift. Mark discusses whether a deal with Iran will actually happen, noting that it might not. Private company Flock Safety is collecting large amounts of data using speed camera technology. Mark interviews Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman. Bruce provides an update on his campaign. He also emphasizes his commitment to lowering taxes and electric bills and criticizes Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul for raising taxes. Governor Hochul's restrictions on purchasing gas from certain areas are causing difficulties for many New Yorkers. Bruce discusses his actions as Nassau County Executive to remove violent migrants with ICE. He also addresses how driving billionaires out of certain cities can impact tax rates and job creation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
115,000 new jobs were added to the economy last month. There is a strong possibility that Kamala Harris will run again in the 2028 presidential race. The United States has fired upon and disabled two Iranian tankers attempting to evade the blockade. President Trump referred to the ongoing exchange of fire between Iran and the USA as just a "love tap." Trump also criticized Nancy Pelosi, claiming she represents everything wrong with politics in Washington, D.C. Governor Ron DeSantis commented on Mayor Mamdani's video targeting billionaires, specifically Ken Griffin. Governor Hochul claims there is a budget deal in NYC, but is there really? Mark takes your calls! Mark interviews Roger Friedman from Showbiz 411. The Rolling Stones are in NYC, celebrating their 62nd year as a band! Roger shares insights on some of the band's new songs, provides updates on the progress of The Devil Wears Prada 2 film, discusses the Michael Jackson movie's box office performance, and gives an overview of how Broadway is currently faring in NYC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
115,000 new jobs were added to the economy last month. There is a strong possibility that Kamala Harris will run again in the 2028 presidential race. The United States has fired upon and disabled two Iranian tankers attempting to evade the blockade. President Trump referred to the ongoing exchange of fire between Iran and the USA as just a "love tap." Trump also criticized Nancy Pelosi, claiming she represents everything wrong with politics in Washington, D.C. Governor Ron DeSantis commented on Mayor Mamdani's video targeting billionaires, specifically Ken Griffin. Governor Hochul claims there is a budget deal in NYC, but is there really? Mark takes your calls! Mark interviews Roger Friedman from Showbiz 411. The Rolling Stones are in NYC, celebrating their 62nd year as a band! Roger shares insights on some of the band's new songs, provides updates on the progress of The Devil Wears Prada 2 film, discusses the Michael Jackson movie's box office performance, and gives an overview of how Broadway is currently faring in NYC.
115,000 new jobs were added to the economy last month. There is a strong possibility that Kamala Harris will run again in the 2028 presidential race. The United States has fired upon and disabled two Iranian tankers attempting to evade the blockade. President Trump referred to the ongoing exchange of fire between Iran and the USA as just a "love tap." Trump also criticized Nancy Pelosi, claiming she represents everything wrong with politics in Washington, D.C. Governor Ron DeSantis commented on Mayor Mamdani's video targeting billionaires, specifically Ken Griffin. Governor Hochul claims there is a budget deal in NYC, but is there really? Mark interviews Roger Friedman from Showbiz 411. The Rolling Stones are in NYC, celebrating their 62nd year as a band! Roger shares insights on some of the band's new songs, provides updates on the progress of The Devil Wears Prada 2 film, discusses the Michael Jackson movie's box office performance, and gives an overview of how Broadway is currently faring in NYC. Governor Kathy Hochul remains firm on keeping ICE out of New York City through new legislation, while Border Czar Tom Homan supports ICE continuing to patrol the city. Mark shares new research showing that eating eggs regularly can lower your risk of certain health issues. Marco Rubio visited the Vatican and brought Pope Leo a special gift. Mark discusses whether a deal with Iran will actually happen, noting that it might not. Private company Flock Safety is collecting large amounts of data using speed camera technology. Mark interviews Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman. Bruce provides an update on his campaign. He also emphasizes his commitment to lowering taxes and electric bills and criticizes Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul for raising taxes. Governor Hochul's restrictions on purchasing gas from certain areas are causing difficulties for many New Yorkers. Bruce discusses his actions as Nassau County Executive to remove violent migrants with ICE. He also addresses how driving billionaires out of certain cities can impact tax rates and job creation.
115,000 new jobs were added to the economy last month. There is a strong possibility that Kamala Harris will run again in the 2028 presidential race. The United States has fired upon and disabled two Iranian tankers attempting to evade the blockade. President Trump referred to the ongoing exchange of fire between Iran and the USA as just a "love tap." Trump also criticized Nancy Pelosi, claiming she represents everything wrong with politics in Washington, D.C. Governor Ron DeSantis commented on Mayor Mamdani's video targeting billionaires, specifically Ken Griffin. Governor Hochul claims there is a budget deal in NYC, but is there really?
Tax the rich? More like tax the jobs away. Billionaire hedge fund titan Ken Griffin is scaling back in New York City and pouring jobs into Miami as a DIRECT response to socialist NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani's “tax the rich” antics. This could be the beginning of the wealthy exodus Democrats fear most. In a stunning move, Griffin cited Mamdani's creepy viral video — filmed outside his $238 million penthouse — as the final straw. Instead of expanding Citadel's massive Park Avenue project in NYC, the firm is supersizing its Miami headquarters. Other Wall Street giants like Apollo are eyeing moves to Florida or Texas too. New Yorkers are about to feel the pain of lost jobs, shrinking tax revenue, and a dying financial capital. We also cover: David Hasselhoff gets a NEW hip & knee. President Obama on aliens & message to Republicans. Property taxes are UNCONSTITUTIONAL! Delta to cut snacks & drinks on short flights. CNN founder Ted Turner dies at 87. This story exposes the dangerous reality of socialist policies: Attack job creators and they leave, taking opportunities with them. Griffin and his team have already paid billions in taxes while supporting major charities — yet radical Democrats treat them like enemies.
Mark breaks down President Trump's latest comments on the war in Iran. He also discusses reports that the planned ballroom project could cost nearly $1 billion instead of the original $400 million estimate because of additional upgrades and improvements. Questions continue surrounding Jeffrey Epstein's death after a 2019 note resurfaced and sparked new debate over whether he was killed or died by suicide. Mark also talks about violent protesters clashing with the NYPD outside a Manhattan synagogue and criticizes Zohran Mamdani for not speaking out. Mark interviews economist Steve Moore. They discuss New York City's budget framework and the likelihood of it finally passing after nine attempts. Steve explains why he believes Democrats often ignore economic fundamentals and policy data. They also talk about billionaires potentially pushing back against Mayor Mamdani's proposed taxes on the wealthy after Mamdani targeted billionaire Ken Griffin in a recent video. The guys also discuss the growing importance of data centers in the U.S. and around the world for the future of technology and business. Mark discusses Zohran Mamdani's response to accusations of anti-Semitism following violent protests outside synagogues in New York City that sparked backlash and concern. He also talks about political narratives pushed by Democrats, including comparisons between President Trump and Hitler, arguing that those claims have become exaggerated. Mark reflects on how CNN has changed over the years, saying the network was once more balanced in its political coverage. He also continues to remember media pioneer Ted Turner. Mark interviews WOR weeknight host Jimmy Failla. Jimmy shares a story about how Mark's promotion of his show may have helped bring together a couple in his audience at his show's taping. They also discuss Stephen Colbert leaving his late-night show in two weeks and talk about how the program's new format will lean more heavily into comedy and how it could change the feel of the show's audience.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark breaks down President Trump's latest comments on the war in Iran. He also discusses reports that the planned ballroom project could cost nearly $1 billion instead of the original $400 million estimate because of additional upgrades and improvements. Questions continue surrounding Jeffrey Epstein's death after a 2019 note resurfaced and sparked new debate over whether he was killed or died by suicide. Mark also talks about violent protesters clashing with the NYPD outside a Manhattan synagogue and criticizes Zohran Mamdani for not speaking out. Mark takes your calls! Mark interviews economist Steve Moore. They discuss New York City's budget framework and the likelihood of it finally passing after nine attempts. Steve explains why he believes Democrats often ignore economic fundamentals and policy data. They also talk about billionaires potentially pushing back against Mayor Mamdani's proposed taxes on the wealthy after Mamdani targeted billionaire Ken Griffin in a recent video. The guys also discuss the growing importance of data centers in the U.S. and around the world for the future of technology and business.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
They discuss New York City's budget framework and the likelihood of it finally passing after nine attempts. Steve explains why he believes Democrats often ignore economic fundamentals and policy data. They also talk about billionaires potentially pushing back against Mayor Mamdani's proposed taxes on the wealthy after Mamdani targeted billionaire Ken Griffin in a recent video. The guys also discuss the growing importance of data centers in the U.S. and around the world for the future of technology and business.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark breaks down President Trump's latest comments on the war in Iran. He also discusses reports that the planned ballroom project could cost nearly $1 billion instead of the original $400 million estimate because of additional upgrades and improvements. Questions continue surrounding Jeffrey Epstein's death after a 2019 note resurfaced and sparked new debate over whether he was killed or died by suicide. Mark also talks about violent protesters clashing with the NYPD outside a Manhattan synagogue and criticizes Zohran Mamdani for not speaking out. Mark interviews economist Steve Moore. They discuss New York City's budget framework and the likelihood of it finally passing after nine attempts. Steve explains why he believes Democrats often ignore economic fundamentals and policy data. They also talk about billionaires potentially pushing back against Mayor Mamdani's proposed taxes on the wealthy after Mamdani targeted billionaire Ken Griffin in a recent video. The guys also discuss the growing importance of data centers in the U.S. and around the world for the future of technology and business. Mark discusses Zohran Mamdani's response to accusations of anti-Semitism following violent protests outside synagogues in New York City that sparked backlash and concern. He also talks about political narratives pushed by Democrats, including comparisons between President Trump and Hitler, arguing that those claims have become exaggerated. Mark reflects on how CNN has changed over the years, saying the network was once more balanced in its political coverage. He also continues to remember media pioneer Ted Turner. Mark interviews WOR weeknight host Jimmy Failla. Jimmy shares a story about how Mark's promotion of his show may have helped bring together a couple in his audience at his show's taping. They also discuss Stephen Colbert leaving his late-night show in two weeks and talk about how the program's new format will lean more heavily into comedy and how it could change the feel of the show's audience.
Mark breaks down President Trump's latest comments on the war in Iran. He also discusses reports that the planned ballroom project could cost nearly $1 billion instead of the original $400 million estimate because of additional upgrades and improvements. Questions continue surrounding Jeffrey Epstein's death after a 2019 note resurfaced and sparked new debate over whether he was killed or died by suicide. Mark also talks about violent protesters clashing with the NYPD outside a Manhattan synagogue and criticizes Zohran Mamdani for not speaking out. Mark takes your calls! Mark interviews economist Steve Moore. They discuss New York City's budget framework and the likelihood of it finally passing after nine attempts. Steve explains why he believes Democrats often ignore economic fundamentals and policy data. They also talk about billionaires potentially pushing back against Mayor Mamdani's proposed taxes on the wealthy after Mamdani targeted billionaire Ken Griffin in a recent video. The guys also discuss the growing importance of data centers in the U.S. and around the world for the future of technology and business.
They discuss New York City's budget framework and the likelihood of it finally passing after nine attempts. Steve explains why he believes Democrats often ignore economic fundamentals and policy data. They also talk about billionaires potentially pushing back against Mayor Mamdani's proposed taxes on the wealthy after Mamdani targeted billionaire Ken Griffin in a recent video. The guys also discuss the growing importance of data centers in the U.S. and around the world for the future of technology and business.
Dave Rubin of "The Rubin Report" gives a first look to the stories you need to know to start your day including how billionaire Ken Griffin's warning about Zohran Mamdani's leadership and Citadel's expansion in Miami signals a major shift in where wealth and jobs are heading; why the clock is ticking on potential charges against Dr. Anthony Fauci as pressure builds ahead of a critical legal deadline; and a Texas jury's verdict in the tragic Athena Strand case and what it reveals about justice and accountability, and much more.
In this episode, we break down the latest developments in U.S.–Iran tensions as President Trump pauses “Project Freedom” amid escalating conflict and growing pressure. With commentary from Marco Rubio and a deeper look into what “Project Freedom” actually means, we analyze whether this strategy is defensive or something more. We also cover Trump's press interaction on Iranian aggression, the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, and how past administrations handled similar threats. On the domestic front, we dive into viral campaign moments and political misfires, including Katie Porter's awkward ad, debate controversies over healthcare for illegal immigrants, and a fiery temperament meltdown clip. We also break down a controversial “Mamdani-style” campaign ad and what demographic shifts could mean for future elections.Additional segments include the Obama Presidential Library debate, Ilhan Omar's refusal to turn over documents, and reactions from major figures like Ken Griffin. We also touch on trending TikToks, influencer drama, and media personalities shifting their narratives.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS TO SUPPORT OUR SHOW!Take control of your data and keep your private life private by signing up for DeleteMe. Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan https://DeleteMe.com/CHICKS and use Code CHICKSRefresh your skincare routine this spring with a skincare upgrade from Bon Charge. Visit https://BonCharge.com/chicks and use code CHICKS for 15% off sitewideFresh Pressed Olive Oil gives you a FREE full-size $49 bottle for just $1 shipping—no commitment. Taste the difference at https://ChicksLoveOliveOil.comFor a limited time, get two FREE gifts when you buy the Pocket Hose Ballistic—a 360° rotating Pocket Pivot and a Thumb Drive Nozzle—just text CHICKS to 64000, message and data rates may apply.Subscribe and stay tuned for new episodes every weekday!Follow us here for more daily clips, updates, and commentary:YoutubeFacebookInstagramTikTokXLocalsMore InfoWebsite
Patrick Bet-David, Tom Ellsworth, Brandon Aceto and Jeff Snider break down California gas prices hitting $6.06 a gallon, Trump's sudden pause of Project Freedom, Nvidia's pitch to put personal AI data centers in your home, Ken Griffin firing back at NYC Mayor Mamdani's wealth tax targeting his $238M penthouse, and the Anthropic CEO warning that AI disruption to white-collar jobs is coming faster than anyone is prepared for.------✍️ FILL OUT THE PBD PODCAST SURVEY & GET $25 TO VTMERCH.COM: https://bit.ly/42dpShr
Big shake-ups in the primaries last night, Indiana saw several senators who opposed Trump's policies lose their races, and in Ohio, Trump-backed candidates, including Vivek Ramaswamy, picked up wins. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was at the podium yesterday, filling in for Karoline Leavitt (she's out on maternity leave), and got grilled about the war in Iran. Rubio hinted that the end might be in sight, but there are still hurdles to clear. Mark breaks it down for us. Mayor Mamdani is pushing his socialist agenda so hard that it's blocking out any practical talk about how big players like Ken Griffin, who is a billionaire, actually help keep the city afloat with their tax dollars.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Big shake-ups in the primaries last night, Indiana saw several senators who opposed Trump's policies lose their races, and in Ohio, Trump-backed candidates, including Vivek Ramaswamy, picked up wins. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was at the podium yesterday, filling in for Karoline Leavitt (she's out on maternity leave), and got grilled about the war in Iran. Rubio hinted that the end might be in sight, but there are still hurdles to clear. Mark breaks it down for us. Mayor Mamdani is pushing his socialist agenda so hard that it's blocking out any practical talk about how big players like Ken Griffin, who is a billionaire, actually help keep the city afloat with their tax dollars. Mark takes your calls! Mark interviews Boston radio host Howie Carr. Howie's got strong opinions; he thinks Trump shouldn't lift the blockade in Iran. And some sad news: Ted Turner, the founder of CNN, passed away at 87. Mark shares some memories about Turner and the early days of CNN, which launched back in 1980. And speaking of Indiana, those state senators who fought against Trump's redistricting efforts got wiped out in the primaries, a huge win for Team Trump. In New York, Mayor Mamdani seems more like a salesman than a politician lately, raising questions about how that approach is affecting the city. Mark and Howie also talk about JB Pritzker and Gavin Newsom, how they might have had a leg up before their big political gigs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Big shake-ups in the primaries last night, Indiana saw several senators who opposed Trump's policies lose their races, and in Ohio, Trump-backed candidates, including Vivek Ramaswamy, picked up wins. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was at the podium yesterday, filling in for Karoline Leavitt (she's out on maternity leave), and got grilled about the war in Iran. Rubio hinted that the end might be in sight, but there are still hurdles to clear. Mark breaks it down for us. Mayor Mamdani is pushing his socialist agenda so hard that it's blocking out any practical talk about how big players like Ken Griffin, who is a billionaire, actually help keep the city afloat with their tax dollars. Mark interviews Boston radio host Howie Carr. Howie's got strong opinions; he thinks Trump shouldn't lift the blockade in Iran. And some sad news: Ted Turner, the founder of CNN, passed away at 87. Mark shares some memories about Turner and the early days of CNN, which launched back in 1980. And speaking of Indiana, those state senators who fought against Trump's redistricting efforts got wiped out in the primaries, a huge win for Team Trump. In New York, Mayor Mamdani seems more like a salesman than a politician lately, raising questions about how that approach is affecting the city. Mark and Howie also talk about JB Pritzker and Gavin Newsom, how they might have had a leg up before their big political gigs. Remember when the speed limit got dropped from 75 to 55 mph back in 1979 to save gas? Mark draws a line to today's foreign policy, where the U.S. is blocking the Strait of Hormuz, creating gas lines, and crippling Iran's economy. A reminder: Ted Turner died at 87, and Mark takes a moment to reflect on his legacy. And mark your calendars, May 21st is the last night for Late Night with Stephen Colbert. Actor Charlie Sheen wrote in his book about tuning into Newsmax and realizing their coverage might be more truthful than what you get from networks like MSNOW or CNN. He even drops some names you'll recognize. Maybe there's hope for TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome) in Hollywood after all! Meanwhile, FBI Director Kash Patel told Sean Hannity on his podcast about finding a secret room in D.C. stuffed with fake Russian classified documents in burn bags. Out in California, Cedars-Sinai Hospital's Nurse Matthew Shaffer posted something awful on X. He said he was disappointed the latest Trump assassin missed. The hospital responded but chose not to discipline him. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Big shake-ups in the primaries last night, Indiana saw several senators who opposed Trump's policies lose their races, and in Ohio, Trump-backed candidates, including Vivek Ramaswamy, picked up wins. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was at the podium yesterday, filling in for Karoline Leavitt (she's out on maternity leave), and got grilled about the war in Iran. Rubio hinted that the end might be in sight, but there are still hurdles to clear. Mark breaks it down for us. Mayor Mamdani is pushing his socialist agenda so hard that it's blocking out any practical talk about how big players like Ken Griffin, who is a billionaire, actually help keep the city afloat with their tax dollars. Mark takes your calls! Mark interviews Boston radio host Howie Carr. Howie's got strong opinions; he thinks Trump shouldn't lift the blockade in Iran. And some sad news: Ted Turner, the founder of CNN, passed away at 87. Mark shares some memories about Turner and the early days of CNN, which launched back in 1980. And speaking of Indiana, those state senators who fought against Trump's redistricting efforts got wiped out in the primaries, a huge win for Team Trump. In New York, Mayor Mamdani seems more like a salesman than a politician lately, raising questions about how that approach is affecting the city. Mark and Howie also talk about JB Pritzker and Gavin Newsom, how they might have had a leg up before their big political gigs.
Big shake-ups in the primaries last night, Indiana saw several senators who opposed Trump's policies lose their races, and in Ohio, Trump-backed candidates, including Vivek Ramaswamy, picked up wins. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was at the podium yesterday, filling in for Karoline Leavitt (she's out on maternity leave), and got grilled about the war in Iran. Rubio hinted that the end might be in sight, but there are still hurdles to clear. Mark breaks it down for us. Mayor Mamdani is pushing his socialist agenda so hard that it's blocking out any practical talk about how big players like Ken Griffin, who is a billionaire, actually help keep the city afloat with their tax dollars. Mark interviews Boston radio host Howie Carr. Howie's got strong opinions; he thinks Trump shouldn't lift the blockade in Iran. And some sad news: Ted Turner, the founder of CNN, passed away at 87. Mark shares some memories about Turner and the early days of CNN, which launched back in 1980. And speaking of Indiana, those state senators who fought against Trump's redistricting efforts got wiped out in the primaries, a huge win for Team Trump. In New York, Mayor Mamdani seems more like a salesman than a politician lately, raising questions about how that approach is affecting the city. Mark and Howie also talk about JB Pritzker and Gavin Newsom, how they might have had a leg up before their big political gigs. Remember when the speed limit got dropped from 75 to 55 mph back in 1979 to save gas? Mark draws a line to today's foreign policy, where the U.S. is blocking the Strait of Hormuz, creating gas lines, and crippling Iran's economy. A reminder: Ted Turner died at 87, and Mark takes a moment to reflect on his legacy. And mark your calendars, May 21st is the last night for Late Night with Stephen Colbert. Actor Charlie Sheen wrote in his book about tuning into Newsmax and realizing their coverage might be more truthful than what you get from networks like MSNOW or CNN. He even drops some names you'll recognize. Maybe there's hope for TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome) in Hollywood after all! Meanwhile, FBI Director Kash Patel told Sean Hannity on his podcast about finding a secret room in D.C. stuffed with fake Russian classified documents in burn bags. Out in California, Cedars-Sinai Hospital's Nurse Matthew Shaffer posted something awful on X. He said he was disappointed the latest Trump assassin missed. The hospital responded but chose not to discipline him.
Big shake-ups in the primaries last night, Indiana saw several senators who opposed Trump's policies lose their races, and in Ohio, Trump-backed candidates, including Vivek Ramaswamy, picked up wins. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was at the podium yesterday, filling in for Karoline Leavitt (she's out on maternity leave), and got grilled about the war in Iran. Rubio hinted that the end might be in sight, but there are still hurdles to clear. Mark breaks it down for us. Mayor Mamdani is pushing his socialist agenda so hard that it's blocking out any practical talk about how big players like Ken Griffin, who is a billionaire, actually help keep the city afloat with their tax dollars.
On this Wednesday Tunnel to Towers edition of Sid & Friends in the Morning, Sid covers the "gambling man" Ken Griffin and his bet on Miami over New York City when it comes to moving his billion dollar business aways from Mayor Zohran Mamdani and utter communism. In other news of the day, Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman met with President Donald Trump at the White House yesterday, describing the 90-minute meeting as a conversation between “friends," the reigning Miss Israel said she randomly bumped into New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's wife in a Brooklyn cafe over the weekend — and that the first lady “brushed her off'' when she learned she was Israeli, an NYPD captain has been transferred after video surfaced of him criticizing New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Democrats while on duty and in uniform - in apparent violation of department policy, and Project Freedom - the U.S. military effort to guide ships trapped in the Strait of Hormuz - is paused for 'a short period of time' amid Iran agreement progress according to President Trump. Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo, Melanie Shiraz, Peter King & Scott LoBaido join Sid on this hump day T2T installment of Sid & Friends in the Morning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
They've got it all wrong. Citadel CEO Ken Griffin isn't fleeing New York because of high taxes, but because he's afraid Democrats, the party he used to donate to ... will kill him? Is he right to fear for his life? (Subscribe & share.) Sources: https://nypost.com/2026/05/04/us-news/palisades-arsonist-became-fixated-with-luigi-mangione-before-deadly-blaze-prosecutors/ https://nypost.com/2026/01/08/real-estate/tech-titans-leaving-california-for-florida-over-billionaire-tax/ https://www.reuters.com/business/hedge-fund-citadel-doubling-down-miami-ceo-ken-griffin-says-2026-05-05/
Start your journey to financial independence. Learn how you can be an Empowered Investor today! Get your tickets to https://empoweredinvestorlive.com/ now! Jason and Michael Zuber discuss the negative consequences of current economic and social policies in Western nations. They argue that countries like Australia and the United States are using high levels of immigration to temporarily mask deeper financial mismanagement and housing shortages. They focus on progressive tax regimes in cities like Seattle and New York, which aggressively target the wealthy and drive away essential tax revenue. They assert that mobile capital will naturally flee predatory government environments, leaving the middle class to bear the resulting financial burden. Ultimately, they critique big government intervention and advocate for asset ownership as the only reliable path to wealth in a fiat economy. Key Takeaways: 0:00 Why so many intellectuals are often left leaning 3:56 Australia is booming 10:46 Get your tickets to https://empoweredinvestorlive.com/ now! 11:05 Mayor of Seattle and the mobile millionaires 17:02 Mayor of New York vs. Ken Griffin 23:00 Spencer Pratt and the Socialist Republic of California 23:56 See you all at Empowered Investor LIVE! May 15-17, 2026 Friday to Sunday #CapitalMobility #TaxRefugees #EconomicMigration #MillionaireTax #RealEstateInvesting #HousingCrisis #FiatEconomy #AssetOwnership #WealthGap #KShapedEconomy #GovernmentOverreach #EconomicRefugees #TaxRegimes #FinancialFreedom #StateTaxes _______________________________________________________________ Follow Jason on TWITTER, INSTAGRAM & LINKEDIN Twitter.com/JasonHartmanROI Instagram.com/jasonhartman1/ Linkedin.com/in/jasonhartmaninvestor/ Call our Investment Counselors at: 1-800-HARTMAN (US) or visit: https://www.jasonhartman.com/ Free Class: Easily get up to $250,000 in funding for real estate, business or anything else: http://JasonHartman.com/Fund CYA Protect Your Assets, Save Taxes & Estate Planning: http://JasonHartman.com/Protect Get wholesale real estate deals for investment or build a great business – Free Course: https://www.jasonhartman.com/deals Special Offer from Ron LeGrand: https://JasonHartman.com/Ron Free Mini-Book on Pandemic Investing: https://www.PandemicInvesting.com
On this Friday edition of Sid & Friends in the Morning, Sid recaps the money meeting held yesterday between Governor Kathy Hochul & local billionaire Ken Griffin yesterday, where Mamdani's ridiculous socialist policies were discussed in length. In other news of the day, the 76-day partial government shutdown - which impacted funding for the Department of Homeland Security - has ended, the New York City Council has passed a package of bills aimed at combatting vaccine misinformation - and expanding access to shots across the city, brazen thieves who moved with the speed and precision of a “racetrack pit crew” swiped more than 250 car parts and vehicles across the Bronx and other parts of the Big Apple, and the New York Knicks eliminated the Atlanta Hawks last night in a historic 140-89 blowout to end the playoff series and advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Arthur Aidala, Brian Kilmeade, Dick Jerardi, Joe Tacopina, K.T. McFarland, Michael Rapaport & Sean Spicer join Sid on this Friday installment of Sid & Friends in the Morning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Republicans had a golden opportunity to make America great again, but they're squandering it. Here's what they need to do if they want to avoid getting crushed in the midterms. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) thought he had a clever stunt — filming a “tax the rich” video right outside billionaire Ken Griffin's $238 million penthouse. That stunt backfired spectacularly, and now his socialist schemes are falling apart. Buddy Brown, author of “Ain't No Wi-Fi in the Woods,” joins us to discuss why getting kids off screens and back into the real world is more important now than ever. Sara reacts to viral videos, like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) trying to act like a normal human and force an ugly smile just to not scare the kids and leftists wishing President Donald Trump dead and pushing rainbow indoctrination on kids. ► Watch my latest H-1B visa scam video: https://youtu.be/iIsYhVSQCM0?si=_AQ6zoM3v72was-k ► Email me at saratips@blazemedia.com if you have uncovered potential fraud in your area. ► Subscribe to my second YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SaraGonzalesTX?sub_confirmation=1 ► Preborn To donate, dial #250 and say the keyword, “BABY.” Or visit PreBorn.com/SARA. ► Blaze TV ‘The Coverup' Head over to faucicoverup.com/SARA and use code LABLEAK for $40 off a full subscription. Timestamps: 00:00 - How to Win the Midterms 24: 45 - Mamdani FAFO 30:02 - Buddy Brown 40:23 - Viral Woke Videos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mike Crawford of the Young Jurks joins Grace to discuss Michael Proctor's texts, as Karen Read has requested them for her latest trial. Then, Zorhan Mamdani doxing Ken Griffin could land him in hot water. Visit the Howie Carr Radio Network website to access columns, podcasts, and other exclusive content.
Meet my friends, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton! If you love Verdict, the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show might also be in your audio wheelhouse. Politics, news analysis, and some pop culture and comedy thrown in too. Here’s a sample episode recapping four takeaways. Give the guys a listen and then follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Iran's Game Plan Breaking news out of Virginia, where a state circuit court judge blocked certification of the voter‑approved redistricting referendum that would have shifted the state’s congressional map from a 6–5 split to a 10–1 Democratic advantage. The judge ruled the process unconstitutional, citing violations of Virginia’s constitutional requirements, improper use of a special legislative session, insufficient public notice, and what the court called a misleading ballot question. Clay and Buck explain why this ruling could derail the entire redistricting effort and force rapid intervention by the Virginia Supreme Court and possibly the U.S. Supreme Court. They emphasize that the legal uncertainty threatens election timelines, ballot preparation, and primary contests, turning Virginia into a potential national test case for how far courts will allow mid‑cycle redistricting to go. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton then pivot to Iran and global security, with extensive analysis of President Donald Trump’s statements on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz. The hosts examine Trump’s claim that the U.S. controls maritime traffic and is enforcing an effective blockade until Iran produces a deal, while also noting severe internal divisions inside Iran between hardliners, the IRGC, and civilian negotiators. Clay explains why Iran’s leadership crisis complicates diplomacy, while Buck lays out in detail how the blockade is inflicting devastating economic harm—particularly through Iran’s limited oil storage capacity and the long‑term damage caused by halting production. Resistance Judiciary Clay and Buck discuss the idea that the judiciary has become a de facto political actor, particularly during the Trump era. Buck describes what the hosts call a “resistance judiciary,” with judges using injunctions and procedural rulings to halt policy even when cases are likely to be overturned later. They contrast this trend with the Supreme Court’s role, warning that without a conservative majority, constitutional interpretation itself would become unrecognizable. The Virginia redistricting case is used as the most recent example of how a single judge can temporarily upend elections, legislative plans, and national strategy. They then pivot into an extended and highly critical discussion of Spirit Airlines and the blocked JetBlue merger, which Clay describes as one of the clearest examples of judicial failure in recent years. Clay explains how Spirit agreed to a multibillion‑dollar acquisition by JetBlue, warned that bankruptcy was inevitable without the merger, and then saw the deal halted after the Biden administration sued on antitrust grounds. A federal judge sided with the government, rejecting Spirit’s warning—only for the airline to file for bankruptcy months later and now face another potential collapse. Clay argues that the ruling wiped out shareholders, endangered thousands of jobs, and may now force taxpayers to subsidize an airline that could have survived through private market solutions. The Opposite of Reality Rafael Mangual, head of research for the Manhattan Institute’s Policing and Public Safety Initiative, for an extended interview that anchors much of the hour. The discussion opens with encouraging national crime trends, as Mangual explains that serious violent crime—especially homicides and shootings—is declining across many U.S. cities, with especially sharp drops in places like Memphis and Washington, D.C., which have been targeted by Trump administration federal task forces. Those efforts, combining multi‑agency law‑enforcement deployments and National Guard support, have produced dramatic results, including a reported more‑than‑40 percent reduction in violent crime in Memphis. Mangual and the hosts emphasize that crime reduction is not mysterious or unattainable but the product of consistent enforcement and public support for policing. Mangual contrasts the positive reception officers receive in high‑crime cities desperate for safety with hostility he says law enforcement faced in Minneapolis, illustrating how political culture and public messaging affect outcomes on the ground. The conversation then transitions into a frank, statistics‑based examination of homicide in America. Mangual outlines the typical profile of both homicide offenders and victims—young men, overwhelmingly Black or Hispanic, with extensive criminal histories and repeated prior arrests—arguing that the justice system already knows who the most dangerous individuals are but repeatedly releases them. He makes the case that serious habitual‑offender policies could cut the murder rate by another 50 percent, potentially saving roughly 10,000 lives per year, most of them in minority communities. The hosts build on those findings by discussing the historical precedent: from 1990 to 2014, the U.S. already reduced homicides by half, a change that added a full year of life expectancy to the average Black male. Mangual argues that public fatigue with permissive criminal‑justice policies after the post‑2020 crime spike is driving a political shift, with progressive prosecutors losing elections and states rolling back earlier reforms. Hour 3 of the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show also digs into transit crime, highlighting how enforcement measures like fare gates and barriers on San Francisco’s BART system produced both a major revenue increase and a 41 percent drop in crime—evidence, the hosts say, that “broken windows”–style policies still work. This data‑backed approach is contrasted with proposals in New York to make buses free, which Clay and Buck argue would worsen safety and quality of life. Class Warfare Backfires Clay and Buck pivot to New York City politics and economics, focusing on Zohran Mamdani’s “tax the rich” agenda and a class‑warfare video targeting hedge‑fund billionaire Ken Griffin over his Manhattan penthouse. Clay and Buck criticize Mamdani for publicly singling out wealthy residents and businesses, arguing such rhetoric will accelerate capital flight, job losses, and long‑term fiscal damage. They highlight Griffin’s tax contributions, philanthropic giving, and job creation, warning that vilifying high‑income taxpayers risks hollowing out the city’s economic base and making New York less safe and less prosperous. Make sure you never miss a second of the show by subscribing to the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton show podcast wherever you get your podcasts! ihr.fm/3InlkL8 For the latest updates from Clay and Buck: https://www.clayandbuck.com/ Connect with Clay Travis and Buck Sexton on Social Media: X - https://x.com/clayandbuck FB - https://www.facebook.com/ClayandBuck/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/clayandbuck/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuck Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/ClayandBuck TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@clayandbuck YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.