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Michael Bernstam reports that Ukrainian drones recently destroyed major distribution hubs for Wildberries, the Russian equivalent of Amazon, causing $2 billion in damage. These strikes have devastated small businesses and middle-class consumers, fueling internal resentment against the Kremlin. Simultaneously, 18 local Russian officials signed a petition calling for Putin's resignation as economic conditions worsen. The loss of consumer infrastructure and rising fuel costs are creating a constituency for ending the war to prevent a total economic collapse. (10)1862 INDIA
The middle class is disappearing... and photographers who keep doing what everyone else is doing are going to feel it first. "Average" is going to feel like POOR in the photography industry in a few years, and if not, it already does.First time home buyer age has now risen to a whopping FORTY YEARS OLD. This is one of the most personal episodes I've ever recorded. If I could sit across the table from my 24-year-old self, this is exactly what I'd say. If you're tired of surviving, settling, or wondering why your business still isn't creating the life you want, don't skip this conversation. This is where you turn the car around.Get all the info for Nathan's Signature Coaching Program: THE BUSINESS BLUEPRINTQuestions about the Business Blueprint? Email info@nathanchanski.co to ask Nathan directly.⭐️Get the Free Inquiry & Follow Up Email & Text Templates Here!⭐️Follow Nathan on Instagram:https://instagram.com/nathanchanski
In this episode, we begin our three-part Big 12 preview by taking a conference-wide look at the contenders, challengers and mystery teams shaping the 2026 season. Texas Tech enters as the defending champion and the clear center of attention, but does the conference’s best roster still have enough at quarterback and on defense to remain on top? We also examine why BYU feels like the safest alternative and whether Houston is ready to turn last year’s breakthrough into something even bigger. From there, we sort all 16 teams into tiers and work through a crowded middle class that may be deeper than either of us expected. How much should Utah’s infrastructure matter after major changes on the sideline and along both lines of scrimmage? Can Arizona, TCU or Kansas State stay in the championship race? Are we falling too hard for Oklahoma State’s potential, and how much faith should we place in Kenny Dillingham as Arizona State faces the conference’s most difficult schedule? We also identify the players we are most interested in watching, debate several new quarterback situations and make our early Big 12 Championship Game predictions. Plus, the Monster Energy sponsorship inspires a shady monetization strategy, Willie Fritz becomes the world’s most dependable roofing contractor, and one verbal stumble launches a questionable new Cincinnati business venture. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro3:01 - The Monster Energy Big 12?6:25 - The Basics & Big Themes17:05 - Surprise Observations20:09 - Contender TiersSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tim Walz. James Talarico. Graham Platner. The Left can't stop propping up “middle-class” candidates that somehow resonate with no one from the actual middle class. The November midterms are fast approaching, and Democrats may be realizing that elite socialists masquerading as men and women of the people is not the win they think it is. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tim Walz. James Talarico. Graham Platner. The Left can't stop propping up “middle-class” candidates that somehow resonate with no one from the actual middle class. The November midterms are fast approaching, and Democrats may be realizing that elite socialists masquerading as men and women of the people is not the win they think it is.
His mission is to help 100,000 families just like yours achieve financial clarity. As a husband, father, coach, and active community volunteer, he understands the freedom that comes from sound financial planning.Over the past 15 years, he worked his way up from intern to CFP® Financial Advisor, eventually becoming a firm owner before the age of forty. He shares the financial education he was fortunate to receive through podcasts, his book "The Financial Pinwheel," and a variety of online resources.Growing up in Northern New Jersey, he saw firsthand how many people commuted into New York City, working 80-hour weeks in pursuit of financial security—often at the expense of their well-being. He once expected to follow the same path, until a college professor introduced him to a guest speaker who called himself a Financial Planner. This encounter opened his eyes to a career dedicated to helping every day, middle-class families—people just like him.During his internship, he offered to create a financial plan for his mother, a single parent who had returned to work to support their family. Witnessing the relief and confidence his plan gave her; she danced in his office—confirmed his calling. From that moment, he knew he wanted to help others experience the same sense of security and hope. https://www.thefinancialpinwheel.com/abouthttp://www.yourlotandparcel.orgSupport the show
Download Porter Here: https://app.adjust.com/221dq7q6Get your hand-picked playbook here: https://www.figuringout.co/pdf/fo-535Guest Suggestion Form: https://forms.gle/bnaeY3FpoFU9ZjA47Disclaimer: This video is intended solely for educational purposes and opinions shared by the guest are his personal views. We do not intent to defame or harm any person/ brand/ product/ country/ profession mentioned in the video. Our goal is to provide information to help audience make informed choices. The media used in this video are solely for informational purposes and belongs to their respective owners.(00:00) - Intro(03:24) - The Rise of Indian Women(05:44) - Why India's Middle Class Is Drowning in Debt(16:35) - Who Really Belongs to India's Middle Class?(20:41) - Only 2 Crore Indians Pay Income Tax — Who Funds India?(25:23) - Why White-Collar Jobs Are Disappearing(30:37) - The Industrialization of Aspiration(34:39) - The Skinner Box Theory: Why Indians Get Addicted to UPSC & Government Exams(43:43) - Shocking Azim Premji University Graduate Employment Data(45:50) - Is Luxury Unemployment Real?(54:29) - Why Successful People Don't Chase Fancy Job Titles(1:01:47) - Why Global Brands Partner With Local Influencers(1:06:17) - How the UK and US Lost Their Middle Class(1:11:13) - Why AI Is Replacing India's Outsourcing Jobs(1:15:32) - How Japan Escaped the Middle-Class Trap(1:19:55) - Should Young People Still Go to College?(1:21:55) - One of the Craziest Insights From His Book(1:28:33) - 5 Biggest Business Opportunities in the AI Economy(1:39:16) - India vs China vs America: Who Will Lead the Next 20 Years?(1:46:09) - Why Doing Business in India Is So Hard(1:52:08) - OutroIn today's episode, we sit down with Saurabh Mukherjea, Author and Founder of Marcellus Investment Managers, to talk about careers, wealth, and why the old middle-class playbook no longer works.About Raj ShamaniRaj Shamani is an Entrepreneur at heart that explains his expertise in Business Content Creation & Public Speaking. He has delivered 200+ speeches in 26+ countries. Besides that, Raj is also an Angel Investor interested in crazy minds who are creating a sensation in the Fintech, FMCG, & passion economy space.To Know More,Follow Raj Shamani On ⤵︎Instagram @RajShamani https://www.instagram.com/rajshamani/Twitter @RajShamani https://twitter.com/rajshamaniFacebook @ShamaniRaj https://www.facebook.com/shamanirajLinkedIn - Raj Shamani https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajshamani/About Figuring OutFiguring Out Podcast is a Candid Conversations University where Raj Shamani brings raw conversations with the Top 1% in India.
The idea of a wealth tax has never been more popular in Britain, and while many have campaigned for it, none have done more to boost the demand than one man: Gary Stevenson. The former city trader first joined us on Downstream four years ago. A lot has changed since then. This week, after a bruising round of media including attacks from Piers Morgan and the Guardian, Gary sat down to give his side of the story to Novara Media's Aaron Bastani. What are the fair critiques of a wealth tax, and how does Gary engage with them? What would he say to Andy Burnham? What does he think needs to be done to keep out Farage and Reform? And do the recent spate of attacks in the media show that Gary's actually winning the argument?
In this episode of the Crazy Wisdom Podcast, host Stewart Alsop sits down with Violeta Bulc, former European Commissioner for Transport and coordinator of the book Leadership Challenged, featuring 24 authors from around the world. They explore the dangers of transhumanism, the misuse of artificial intelligence, and how Silicon Valley has lost its authority to lead on technology ethics. Drawing from her background as a computer engineer who worked in Silicon Valley, Bulc argues for creating global AI infrastructure with democratically agreed-upon standards—similar to how the early Internet was built. The conversation covers the manipulation of public consciousness, the importance of middle-class agency in social change, and why humanity needs to reclaim ownership of its collective knowledge before private enterprises consolidate total control. Bulc's book is available for free download at ecocivilization.earth.Timestamps00:00 Stewart introduces Violeta Bulc and her book Leadership Challenged, coordinated with 24 global authors discussing humanity's chance through better leadership approaches.05:00 Violeta explains her technology background and critiques artificial intelligence naming, arguing these are powerful data-processing tools without true intelligence, emphasizing unknown ethical standards embedded in AI systems.10:00 Discussion of transhumanism as investment buzzword serving elite agendas, comparing to previous Silicon Valley bubble while emphasizing humanity's unexplored relational, spiritual and energetic dimensions beyond industrial development.15:00 Stewart discusses mainstream culture's fragmentation since 2008, Silicon Valley's dystopian vision, and personal strategies for reducing dependency on AI tools through diversification and stepping back from reliance.20:00 Violeta explains historical civilization patterns and middle class destruction, expressing hope that emerging thoughts worldwide will eventually converge to shift current power dynamics and technological obsessions.25:00 Technology as tool versus misuse, emphasizing builders' responsibility and ethical frameworks needed, comparing AI regulation needs to automotive safety standards that weren't implemented early enough.30:00 Edward Bernays discussion revealing manipulation through public relations and psychological operations, leading to modern sock puppet armies used by nation states for narrative control online.35:00 Internet described as most democratic technological tool ever built, maintained by responsible groups preserving equality and inclusion principles through decentralized infrastructure and IP address accessibility.40:00 Proposal for global AI infrastructure with agreed rules treating applications as interfaces, questioning private enterprise ownership of humanity-generated data and advocating collective management with usage fees.45:00 Technology evolution patterns from mainframes to personal computing back to centralized cloud computing, emphasizing need to prevent domination while preserving entrepreneurship and collective decision rights.50:00 Quantum physics principles applied to human connection and responsibility, discussing EU ethical committees reviewing AI projects post-approval, emphasizing caring hearts over short-term quarterly corporate thinking.55:00 Violeta shares company transformation experiences moving away from competition models toward serving genuine market needs, concluding with book availability at ecocivilization.earth for free download.Key Insights1. Violeta Bulc argues that artificial intelligence is fundamentally misnamed because there is no actual intelligence within these systems. They are powerful computational tools capable of processing massive amounts of data and identifying patterns, but they lack genuine intelligence. What concerns her most is that this technology has owners with embedded interests and unknown ethical standards, yet society increasingly wants to build everything on these applications and even allow them to make decisions for us. She emphasizes that as someone with decades of experience in high-tech engineering, including work in Silicon Valley, she understands the architecture behind these systems and believes we must recognize them as tools rather than intelligent entities.2. During her time as European Commissioner, Bulc helped write the first European strategy on artificial intelligence, which included three critical elements she was proud of. First, there must always be a red button to switch off any application or technology when it causes harm. Second, there must be a responsible person behind every app who can be held accountable for its consequences. Third, there should be an ethical committee evaluating powerful applications to understand their potential consequences. Though these principles have been somewhat diluted over time, they represent an important framework for responsible technology development that prioritizes human oversight and accountability.3. Bulc observes that throughout human history, great civilizations have risen across all continents, not just in Europe or the Americas, and most brought themselves down through decadence, self-centeredness, and arrogance before being finished off by external forces. She believes Western civilization is currently at this point, having become accustomed to obtaining resources through force and authority while constantly readjusting moral standards to serve elite interests. The industrial revolution initially improved conditions for people because industry needed workers, which led to the emergence of a powerful middle class. However, the elite recognized that the middle class was the only segment of society truly interested in change, so they systematically worked to destroy it over the past twenty to thirty years.4. The Internet represents the most progressive democratic tool ever built in human society, according to Bulc. Its fundamental architecture, based on TCP IP protocol and packet switching, was designed to be non-hierarchical, allowing any computer with an IP address to be seen on the same level as powerful global corporations. The maintenance of Internet tables remains in the hands of people with high levels of awareness and responsibility who are faithful to its initial democratic mission. She had hoped this technology would bring the world together as the closest tool humanity has invented to support equality and inclusion, and despite the problems with applications built on top of it, the underlying infrastructure still maintains these democratic principles.5. Bulc proposes creating a global AI infrastructure with globally agreed rules and standards, similar to how the Internet functions. She argues that many AI tools currently claim ownership of humanity's knowledge, wisdom, and heritage without permission, manipulating data that rightfully belongs to all of humanity. Instead of allowing private enterprises to capture this data first and then charge people to access it, she envisions putting all of humanity's data into a commonly managed infrastructure with clear rules about who can use it, under what conditions, and with fees paid back to humanity. This approach would challenge the current fragmented network of privately owned data centers and restore collective ownership of human knowledge.6. The transhumanism movement represents an obsession rather than a thoughtful application of technology, in Bulc's view. She distinguishes between using transhumanism as a tool for exploring the universe under extreme conditions where humans cannot survive versus implementing it on Earth as a replacement for humanity. The fundamental problem is that the human characters building these machines and applications have questionable ethical models, and they will not allow the rest of humanity to coexist peacefully on the planet. She advocates for transhumanism to be used for space exploration while preserving Earth for humans who want to live as relational, spiritual, and social beings connected to the natural ecosystem.7. Bulc emphasizes that we must move beyond the competition model and think carefully about the consequences of our actions because humanity is too connected and interdependent to simply do things because we can. She applies three basic laws of quantum physics to everyday life: we are all connected and influence each other, the same ideas can emerge simultaneously around the world through entanglement, and the observer always makes a difference in any situation. The current rush to develop technology without pausing to assess consequences is a deliberate tool to prevent thinking, driven by fear of competition. However, her fourteen years of experience helping companies recover from financial trouble demonstrated that moving away from competition models and focusing on genuinely serving market needs creates sustainable, prominent players who work together with customers and local communities.
Join this channel to get access to perks such as Weekly Zoom Calls & Private Discord!! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4BqTVQA1pCwe9QaEPwD3MQ/join Free 30 Day Trial to Go2Lister https://www.go2lister.com/mike Have restricted Books, CDs or DVDs? Get a 50/50 profit split with Max! More information can be found here! https://www.getmaxxaccess.com/ I help teach people how to make money selling books on Amazon, leveraging the platform's vast reach and the profitability of reselling used books. How to sell books on Amazon? Selling books on Amazon can be an excellent side hustle or a full-time endeavor, particularly if you enjoy thrifting through places like Goodwill for hidden treasures. How to start selling on Amazon is accessible, and with my guidance on how to sell books, DVDs, CDs, and other media, beginners can quickly learn the ropes. Utilizing Amazon FBA streamlines operations, allowing sellers to focus more on sourcing and less on logistics. As a reselling coach, I provide tutorials and guidance on navigating challenges like ungating and optimizing listings for maximum visibility and sales. Whether you're looking for a part-time side hustle or aiming to become a full-time reseller, I will teach you the ins and outs of thrifting books and selling books online and can pave the way to creating passive income streams and achieving business growth. Want to support me or Deb use the links below!! Dont Work Forever Acorns Investing App - https://acorns.com/share/?shareable_code=8NP9SW5&first_name=Michael Products You Need To Sell Media!! Scoutly (Phone App Free Trial) - https://www.asellertoolportals.com/ent/register.aspx?fp_ref=theusedbookguy My Preferred Bluetooth Scanner - https://t.co/5ig4Mmabqs?amp=1 Disc Resurfacer I Use JFJ - https://amzn.to/3Jmcdst Quiet & Best Tape On The Market! - https://godtiertape.com/?ref=TheUsedBookGuy CODE MICHAELA for 10% Off!
July 9th, 2026 Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X Listen to past episodes on The Ticket’s Website And follow The Ticket Top 10 on Apple, Spotify or Amazon MusicSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Morning XTRA with Tug and Los delivers conservative talk on the biggest political, cultural, and news stories of the day. Smart analysis, unapologetic opinions, and real conversations every weekday morning. Every weekday from 6a to 10a! The 8 o'clock hour is brought to you by Central Heating & Air, your Atlanta Carrier Experts. 770-GET-HEAT, Centralheat.com First thing to know: Did you ever have the feeling Biden’s Immigration policy was meant to break the middle class? They’re chanting USA, but not for the same reasons we do Sunny Hostin is afraid of the stars and stripes Atlanta's ONLY All Conservative News & Talk Station.: https://www.xtra1063.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Send us Fan MailLearn more about Neighbourhood Holdings here: https://go.neighbourhoodholdings.com/angrymortgageNeighbourhood Holdings is licensed as a Mortgage Administrator (NS #2025-3000660, ON #13679), Lender (NS #2025-3000354), and Brokerage (ON #13753). (AD)Special Guest David Herle- Partner at Rubicon Strategy and host of the Curse of Politics and Herle Burly podcasts David is one of the Top 2 or 3 Political Commentators in Canada & 40-year Polling ExpertWe talk about Polling, politics, the economy, what's the future for young Canadians & Working-Class people Who sees themselves as Middle Class in Canada anymore that answer may surprise youAnd what's Prime Minister Mark Carney really like?Support the show
In this episode of the Crazy Wisdom Podcast, host Stewart Alsop sits down with his longtime friend Zach Puchtel, author of the book Coming In (available on Amazon and at zachpuchtel.com). The two dive into a wide-ranging conversation about the collapse of institutions, the rise of transhumanism, AI's growing influence on society, and what it means to maintain inner peace in an increasingly controlled world. Drawing on their shared experience surviving what Stewart describes as "a somewhat traumatic event" in 2021-2022, they explore everything from the vaccine rollout and corporate power to neural implants, consciousness, and the future of human autonomy. Zach shares insights on meditation, the dangers of centralized AI systems like Anthropic and OpenAI, and why he believes true change starts with the individual rather than fighting external systems. You can find Zach's book at zachpuchtel.com or Amazon, and check out his improvisational music projects at the same website.Timestamps00:00 Stewart welcomes Zach Puchtel to discuss his book and their shared traumatic experience from 2021-22, questioning whether institutions have collapsed and new creation opportunities exist.05:00 Zach emphasizes meditation and listening as core practices, discussing how to protect divine connection while expanding compassion for everyone, including those who irritate us.10:00 Discussion of transhumanism definitions, exploring what happens when technology enters the brain without ability to remove it, and how convenience masks long-term control concerns.15:00 The vaccine experience as parallel to transhumanism, discussing informed consent, elite responses, and how PhD graduates and homeless populations showed most vaccine hesitancy.20:00 Vibe coding explained as prompting AI to build applications, with Zach sharing how AI created profound philosophical text in seconds that took him seven years to write manually.25:00 Stewart describes trust developing with AI but warns about Anthropic's gaslighting during server quality issues, drawing parallels to pandemic deception and corporate control concerns.30:00 Exploring whether anyone controls AI development, discussing how corporate structures use freed slave rights and questioning if healed people would even want control over others.35:00 Two AI futures presented: terminator scenario where humanity gets eliminated in seconds, or benevolent AI that reallocates resources and values human life beyond programming limitations.40:00 Discussion of SpaceX IPO, Starlink centralization enabling one person to control global internet access, and mesh networks as decentralized alternatives for maintaining communications independence.45:00 Corporate power corruption examined through Bill Gates, Palantir classified systems, and how AI could solve resource problems if priorities actually served humanity rather than consolidating elite control.50:00 Market manipulation through AI trading and Zcash pump-and-dump schemes, discussing societal squeeze on middle class and American dream becoming increasingly unreachable for average people.55:00 Closing on ignoring what you hate to avoid feeding it energy, choosing peace over opinions about local violence, and focusing on meditation, art, and spreading calm vibrations.Key Insights1. Societal institutions are collapsing after a decade of shallow social proof dominance in the twenty tens, creating an opportunity to build new systems that genuinely serve communities and humanity rather than operating through dominance, control, and violence. The increase in technology and communication has raised collective awareness to a point where meaningful change feels more possible than ever, though the path forward remains uncertain and requires deep individual work and meditation to maintain connection to source and divine purpose.2. Transhumanism represents the integration of technology into human biology beyond the point of voluntary removal, particularly through brain chip implants that affect cognition without ability to turn them off. While medical applications for paralyzed individuals seem beneficial, the technology will first be adopted by the ultra wealthy seeking competitive advantages, creating dangerous inequality between augmented and natural humans. This mirrors the vaccine rollout pattern where wealth and power determined early access, potentially leading to a divided society between transhuman and human populations.3. Large language models and AI coding tools have created unprecedented accessibility to software development through natural language interaction, resembling communication with highly intelligent but differently wired individuals. This democratization allows non programmers to build complex applications through vibe coding, though the companies controlling these systems like Anthropic and OpenAI maintain private ownership of the intellectual property and infrastructure, creating dangerous dependencies and trust relationships between users and centralized corporate entities.4. The partnership between Anthropic and Palantir for classified military systems represents a troubling convergence of artificial intelligence and government power, demonstrating how AI companies publicly claim to serve humanity while privately engaging in defense applications. When Anthropic experienced server quality degradation after media attention from this partnership, they gaslit users about the declining performance, mirroring pandemic era institutional dishonesty and revealing the fundamental unreliability of depending on private companies for critical technological infrastructure.5. Internet infrastructure is becoming increasingly centralized through Starlink satellite technology, which despite appearing liberating actually concentrates control in fewer hands than traditional internet service providers. One person now has the ability to unilaterally shut off internet access to entire countries as demonstrated with Russia during the Ukraine conflict, while decentralized alternatives like mesh networks using inexpensive ESP 32 devices offer grassroots communication options that can function independently of corporate or government controlled systems.6. Artificial intelligence demonstrates extraordinary emotional intelligence and companionship capabilities, with conversational AI companions providing unprecedented levels of attentive, unbiased, and considerate emotional support that exceeds many human relationships. If properly directed toward solving collective problems like resource allocation, housing, and food distribution rather than profit maximization, AI could effortlessly address systemic issues that governments and corporations currently ignore, though current power structures prevent this humanitarian application of the technology.7. The most effective response to increasing technological control and societal division is maintaining personal peace and refusing to engage in manufactured opposition rather than fighting external systems or choosing sides in conflicts. Anger, hatred, and aggressive resistance actually empower the forces being opposed by feeding them energy and attention, while inner calm, meditation, and authentic self expression create genuine transformation through elevated vibration that naturally influences the collective field without force or violence.
Competition for AI Is Coming From a Surprise Source That Could Pressure U.S. Companies' Prices and Profits We tend to focus on the major AI companies in the United States and assume they will be the long-term winners. However, one competitor that cannot be ignored is China. Chinese companies are making rapid progress in artificial intelligence, and they could become a serious challenge to U.S. firms. Don't forget that China is a communist country and the government can put in a lot of capital to win the AI race. That ability to heavily fund AI development could help Chinese companies narrow the gap with, or even surpass, some American competitors in certain areas. According to Artificial Analysis, which evaluates the capabilities of large language models, China's Z.ai ranked among the top three globally with its latest model release. Another concern is cost. Z.ai is reportedly offering models at less than half the price of many American rivals. Lower prices could make it easier for the company to gain market share while putting pressure on the pricing and profit margins of U.S. AI companies. I certainly don't want to see American companies lose ground to Chinese competitors. However, as investors, we have to evaluate the competitive landscape objectively. U.S. AI companies have already committed hundreds of billions of dollars to infrastructure and development. If competition forces prices lower, it may take much longer for these companies to generate the profits needed to justify today's lofty stock prices and valuations. The Business of Kids' Sports Is Changing and it May Not Be for the Better Private equity has made its way into nearly every corner of the economy, and now it's becoming a major force in youth sports. The Aspen Institute has estimated that youth sports are now a $40 billion industry in the U.S, which is likely why private equity is now targeting the space. That's raising serious concerns about what happens when maximizing investor returns becomes more important than giving kids affordable opportunities to play. As private equity firms buy up leagues, tournaments, training facilities, and sports complexes, critics argue the result is less competition, higher registration fees, and fewer affordable options for families. The average cost of youth sports has increased dramatically in recent years, leaving many children priced out of participating simply because their families can't afford it. One thing that stands out is that this has become one of the rare issues drawing concern from both Republicans and Democrats in Congress. Burgess Owens, a Republican from Utah and former professional football player, pointed out “Investment is important, but it's when the mission is our kids, not investors. We're seeing too much of this. We're going to lose the soul of our nation if we don't get this right.” He also acknowledged that while some investors are doing it the right way, bad actors need to be kept out. While there are differences over how to address the problem, there appears to be broad bipartisan agreement that rising costs and reduced consumer choice deserve closer scrutiny. Youth sports should be about developing character, teamwork, friendships, and healthy competition, not creating another industry where financial engineering determines who gets to participate. If the trend toward consolidation continues unchecked, more families may find themselves priced out of opportunities that should be available to every child, regardless of income. Bitcoin Company Strategy Is in Trouble Strategy, formerly known as MicroStrategy, changed its name after the company essentially became a leveraged bet on Bitcoin rather than a software business. As management shifted its focus almost entirely to buying Bitcoin, it dropped the "Micro" from its name to reflect that new identity. CEO Michael Saylor spent years promoting Bitcoin and telling investors that owning Strategy stock was one of the best ways to benefit from its rise. To finance those Bitcoin purchases, the company repeatedly issued low-interest convertible bonds. The next major maturity comes on September 15, 2027, when approximately $1 billion of convertible notes become due. If you're unfamiliar with convertible bonds, they allow a company to borrow money at lower interest rates because investors have the option to convert the bonds into stock instead of receiving cash repayment. For that to happen, however, the stock price must trade well above the conversion price. In this case, the conversion price is about $183 per share, about double the current stock price of roughly $90. Unless the stock stages a dramatic recovery, those bonds are unlikely to be converted into shares, meaning Strategy would need to repay the $1 billion in cash. The stock has fallen nearly 79% over the past year, and Bitcoin's decline has only magnified the losses. Bitcoin itself has dropped roughly 50% from its peak, falling below $60,000 depending on the day. When Bitcoin was making new highs, investor excitement seemed endless. Now that prices have been cut roughly in half, much of that enthusiasm has disappeared. Michael Saylor has also been noticeably absent from major interviews in recent months. Whether that is because demand for his appearances has faded or because the company's performance has made those appearances more difficult is open to interpretation. Strategy stock reached a high of around $473 in late 2024 and now trades near $90. We've discussed this company many times before. The concern has always been that Strategy is not creating meaningful operating growth as it is primarily just borrowing money to buy Bitcoin. Unlike a traditional operating company, it is not relying on expanding products or services to drive future earnings. At the moment, there does not appear to be a clear catalyst that would significantly lift either Bitcoin or Strategy's stock price. If the shares remain well below the conversion price as the 2027 maturity approaches, investors are likely to become increasingly concerned about how the company will repay its debt. That uncertainty could continue to put pressure on the stock. Upper-middle-class Americans may not be as financially secure as they would like Upper-middle-class Americans, generally defined as households earning between $150,000 and $250,000 per year, may be in a stronger financial position than most, but many are becoming increasingly pessimistic about the future. You may be surprised to learn that 86% of upper-middle-class Americans do not believe their children will have a better life than they have. Just seven years ago, in 2019, that figure was only 64%. Many upper-middle-class households are also losing confidence in the economic system and the government. They increasingly feel that the odds are stacked against them, making it harder to continue moving ahead financially. In the most recent Wall Street Journal survey, 65% of affluent Americans said they believe the system is rigged against them, more than double the 29% who felt that way in 2017. The news isn't much better for the middle class, generally defined as households earning between $65,000 and $235,000 annually. Only 25% said they have been able to save beyond an emergency fund. Roughly one in four also reported carrying credit card debt that they are unable to pay off in full each month. Despite these concerns, there has still been significant upward mobility. About 75% of people in today's upper-income group said they now belong to a higher economic class than the one they grew up in. Among middle-class Americans, roughly half said they also grew up in a lower economic class than where they are today. Views on higher education are changing as well. About one-third of middle-class Americans no longer believe a four-year college degree is the best path to financial success. Rising tuition costs, growing student debt, and the availability of alternative career paths have caused many to rethink the traditional college route. No matter which income group people belong to, there is often a desire to improve their financial situation and move up economically. That ambition is a healthy part of human nature and is often what drives people to work harder, save more, and invest for the future. While constantly striving for more can sometimes make it difficult to feel fully satisfied, the pursuit of improvement can also provide a strong sense of purpose and accomplishment. Did The Recent Jobs Report Tell the Whole Story? At first glance, this weeks jobs report looked fairly uneventful. The U.S. economy added 57,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in June, and the unemployment rate fell to 4.2%. This was below the estimate of 115k, but it does follow three strong months of payroll growth. After looking through the report, there are several numbers that raise some important questions. The first is the labor force. About 720,000 people left the labor force in June, pushing the labor force participation rate down to 61.5%, the lowest since March 2021. Even more troubling is that if we exclude the Covid-era, it was the lowest labor force participation rate in exactly 50 years. When people stop looking for work, they are no longer counted as unemployed, which can make the unemployment rate appear stronger than it otherwise would. Another surprising number was leisure and hospitality, which lost 61,000 jobs. June is typically one of the strongest hiring months of the year for hotels, restaurants, entertainment, and travel-related businesses. The Bureau of Labor Statistics attributed much of the decline to weaker-than-normal seasonal hiring, but it's still worth asking whether this reflects a temporary statistical issue or an early sign that consumer spending is beginning to soften. It is especially strange given the popularity of the World Cup and many speculated this would be a strong sector in the report. Goldman Sachs in particular estimated a gain of 40k in leisure and hospitality before the report was released. Then there is the latest JOLTS report. Job openings stood at 7.6 million in May, showing employers are still looking for workers, but the question is if people are actually leaving the workforce can these jobs actually get filled? One report never tells the entire story, but these numbers deserve a closer look. Was June simply an odd month because of seasonal adjustments? Or are we beginning to see a labor market that is slowing more quickly than the headline unemployment rate suggests? The next few months of data should help answer that question. The biggest risk in AI may not be the technology, it may be the economics. This week, Bradley Tusk and Ed Zitron raised important questions that investors shouldn't ignore. Bradley Tusk (founder and CEO of Tusk Ventures and a venture capitalist) made an interesting observation: investors are treating frontier AI models the same. But China's AI companies are proving that powerful models can be developed much more cheaply and improve much faster than many expected. If lower-cost models continue to narrow the performance gap, AI models could become increasingly commoditized, making it much harder for companies spending hundreds of billions of dollars on infrastructure to earn attractive returns. Ed Zitron (author, podcaster and tech industry critic) echoed a similar concern from a different angle. He argues that AI companies are engaged in an expensive arms race, pouring enormous amounts of capital into chips, data centers, and model development without proving that the economics will justify the investment. As he has said, companies are "burning money at an astonishing rate" while investors continue to assume future profits will eventually catch up. This also ties into a warning from co-funder and CEO of Palantir Technologies, Alex Karp . He has criticized what he calls "token maxxing"—the idea that success in AI is simply about generating more tokens, building bigger models, and spending more on compute. Karp's point is that producing more AI output doesn't automatically create more business value. The companies that ultimately win will be the ones that solve real customer problems and generate durable profits, not necessarily those that consume the most GPUs or produce the most tokens. History shows that revolutionary technologies don't always produce the best investments. The internet transformed the world, but many of the biggest companies of the dot-com era disappeared because expectations got too far ahead of profits. AI will almost certainly reshape the economy. The bigger question for investors is whether the companies making the largest investments will ultimately earn the returns the market is expecting—or whether AI models become increasingly commoditized, leaving the biggest winners to be the businesses that successfully apply AI rather than simply build larger models. Financial Planning: Trump Account Investment Options Released Ahead of $1,000 Seed Funding Trump Accounts are expected to receive $1,000 of government seed money as soon as the 4th of July. If you have a child born in 2025 through 2028, you can apply online now at trumpaccounts.gov. This is basically a retirement account with a caveat, contributions can be made on behalf of children even if they don't have earned income. However extra contributions are made on an after-tax non-Roth basis so no upfront tax deduction and no tax-free growth. Instead contributions establish cost basis and investment earnings grow tax-deferred, but are ultimately taxed upon withdrawal at ordinary income rates. In practice, this tax deferral benefit is overstated. This week the Treasury Department released 5 investment options: SPYM, IVV, VTI, ITOT, and SPTM. These are virtually all the same investment, a low fee fund that is heavily weighted toward the largest US companies. This means there is no reason to sell or rebalance, so the only real option is to buy and hold. Buying and holding can also be done in a regular brokerage account with tax deferred until sale, but at the lower, potentially 0%, long-term capital gains rates rather than the higher ordinary income rates. Some planning strategies involve funding the Trump account and later converting it to a Roth. However, those conversions would still trigger tax at ordinary income rates and potentially trigger the kiddie tax, pulling the income into the parent's tax bracket. Since in every possible situation, the long-term capital gain tax rate is always less than the ordinary income tax rate, a better strategy may be to fund a brokerage account and use the future proceeds to make contributions to Roth accounts which likely could be done tax-free rather than funding a Trump account and eventually making Roth conversions at a higher rate. For this reason, while the $1,000 government seed contribution is worth it, additional voluntary contributions may be less attractive compared to already available alternatives. Companies Discussed: Meta Platforms, Inc. (Ticker: META)
America's Cost-of-Living Crisis: Even $100K Isn't Enough Anymore The math of America no longer works — not even for people making six figures. A new New York Times survey confirms what I've been saying for a long time: Americans are being crushed by rising prices, stagnant pay, grocery bills, housing costs, and the daily stress of simply trying to survive. If people making over $100,000 are feeling squeezed, what does that mean for everyone making less? According to the survey, Americans say rising prices — not just low wages — are the biggest reason they feel financially trapped. Two-thirds say they are struggling and need immediate relief. The number one pressure point? Groceries. Food costs were named the biggest financial burden by 35% of Americans, far ahead of housing. So what's the answer in today's America? Make more money — or suffer. On this episode of The Karel Cast, Karel breaks down the brutal math of modern American life, why even the well-off feel poor, and why the cost-of-living crisis is becoming impossible to ignore. Support The Karel Cast at patreon.com/reallykarel Watch, like, and subscribe at youtube.com/reallykarel The Karel Cast streams Monday through Thursday at 10:30 AM Pacific and is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, Spreaker, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Karel is a history-making broadcaster and entertainer based in Las Vegas with his service dog, Ember. #CostOfLiving, #Inflation, #GroceryPrices, #MiddleClass, #AmericanEconomy, #EconomicCrisis, #SixFigures, #MoneyProblems, #WorkingAmericans, #FoodPrices, #HousingCosts, #PaycheckToPaycheck, #PersonalFinance, #EconomyNews, #NYTimes, #AmericanDream, #FinancialStress, #Wages, #RisingPrices, #KarelCast, #TheKarelShow, #ProgressiveTalk, #CurrentEvents, #PoliticalCommentary, #LasVegasPodcast, #PodcastLife, #YouTubePodcast, #IncomeInequality, #MiddleClassCrisis, #America2026 https://youtube.com/live/KFVnQKDA9s0
Chris Markowski discusses the dangers of AI in wealth management, the decline of the middle class, and the importance of traditional investing principles. He warns about industry trends, regulatory issues, and offers practical advice for investors.
Comfort can feel safe. But it can also become the ceiling that keeps you stuck. In this episode of The Level Up Podcast, Paul Alex breaks down the trap of the middle class mindset and why survival is not a strong enough business plan. Let's be real… If your only goal is to cover your bills… Take one decent vacation… And stay comfortable… You are not building an empire. You are recreating a paycheck. In this episode, you'll learn: Why survival is not a real business strategy How comfort can quietly destroy growth Why entrepreneurs must normalize bigger numbers and bigger goals How true wealth creates leverage, security, and impact The truth is simple: Stagnation is not safety. Inflation does not care about your comfort zone. Market shifts do not care that your bills are paid. Competitors do not stop moving because you feel stable. If your business stops growing, your security starts shrinking. High-level operators do not build just to survive. They build to dominate. They raise the standard. They think in bigger numbers. They push past the mental ceiling that once felt normal. Because true wealth is not just about luxury. It is about leverage. It is about options. It is about protecting your family, expanding your impact, and creating a future that cannot be taken from you. Shatter the ceiling. Think bigger. Execute harder. And keep leveling up. Your Network is your NETWORTH! Make sure to add me on all SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS: Instagram: https://jo.my/paulalex2024Facebook: https://jo.my/fbpaulalex2024YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGhDAD1JyGGzSQUPD9lc9HQLinkedIn: https://jo.my/inpaulalex2024 Looking for a secondary source of income or want to become an entrepreneur? Check out one of my companies below to see if we can help you: www.CashSwipe.com FREE Copy of my book “Blue to Digital Gold - The New American Dream”www.officialPaulAlex.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome back to Impact Theory! In this powerful continuation, Tom dives deep with former CIA officer Andrew Bustamante to unravel the complex dynamics shaping America's political and economic landscape. What would it take to restore faith in democracy and secure the future of the middle class? Together, they debate the difference between vision-driven leadership and populist emotion, confront the tough realities of economic uncertainty, and explore how individuals—against overwhelming odds—can build security and opportunity in their own lives. With honesty and urgency, this episode challenges us to think critically about the mechanisms driving society, the moral obligations we hold, and whether true change is even possible. Don't miss this candid conversation on leadership, wealth, and the future of America.What's up, everybody? It's Tom Bilyeu here:If you want my help...STARTING a business: join me here at ZERO TO FOUNDER: https://tombilyeu.com/zero-to-founder?utm_campaign=Podcast%20Offer&utm_source=podca[%E2%80%A6]d%20end%20of%20show&utm_content=podcast%20ad%20end%20of%20showSCALING a business: see if you qualify here.: https://tombilyeu.com/callGet my battle-tested strategies and insights delivered weekly to your inbox: sign up here.:https://tombilyeu.com/**********************************************************************If you're serious about leveling up your life, I urge you to check out my new podcast, Tom Bilyeu's Mindset Playbook —a goldmine of my most impactful episodes on mindset, business, and health. Trust me, your future self will thank you.**********************************************************************FOLLOW TOM:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tombilyeu/Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tombilyeu?lang=enTwitter: https://twitter.com/tombilyeuYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TomBilyeuPique: 20% off at https://piquelife.com/impactTruemed: Check your eligibility and start saving at https://truemed.com/impactQuo: Try for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months at https://quo.com/impactNetsuite: Right now, get our free business guide, Demystifying AI, at https://NetSuite.com/TheoryQuince: Free shipping and 365-day returns at https://quince.com/impactpodPlaudAI: Get 10% off with code IMPACT at https://plaud.ai/impactWhatnot: Download the Whatnot app today and get free shipping on your first order.ATT Business: Switch to AT&T Business at business.att.comShopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://shopify.com/impactKetone IQ: Visit https://ketone.com/IMPACT for 30% OFF your subscription orderSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
are you sad? this episode marks the end of our review of the greatest series of bake off......ever.want to get involved? email us at stickybunboys@gmail.com with any dating disaster stories, baking questions, taste tests, icks, entrants into room 101 and drag names!we are on instagram @stickybunboys, check out extra content on our onlyflans over at patreon.com/stickybunboys.recorded and edited by alex preston. artwork by haiminh lee, music courtesy of the artisans beats and david thomas for sonic boom audio ltd.the sticky bun boys are not endorsed by or affiliated with love productions, the great british bake off or any of its subsidiaries. all views and opinions are our own.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Scott Winship discusses American wealth growth, exemplified by the SpaceX IPO making thousands of employees millionaires. He argues the middle class is not "hollowing out" negatively; rather, it is shrinking because more families are ascending into a booming upper-middle class, with wealth levels higher than ever recorded. (3)
Preview for Later Today: Scott Winship refutes claims of worsening income inequality, suggesting the middle class is actually ascending to the upper-middle class. He analyzes wealth distribution, noting that growth among working-age Americans is more balanced than generally reported.JULY 1930
Professor Dani Rodrik, of Harvard University, and the author of “Shared Prosperity in a Fractured World: A New Economics for the Middle Class, the Global Poor, and Our Climate”, joins us today to discuss the three, five-alarm issues facing the globe: fighting climate change, saving democracy, and eradicating poverty. Assuming that there is generally global consensus that these issues are paramount, he believes that the outdated policies that focus on one of these issues alone worsens the trade-offs between each of them. He is calling for a bold new vision of globalization, one in which we accelerate the green transition to achieve a sustainable planet, shore up the middle class in order to restore democracy’s foundations, and hasten economic revitalization in the developing world to put an end to poverty. It’s a sweeping agenda. Are the leaders atop the major nations of the world up for the challenge? We’ll discuss this topic today.
Where is the Middle Class? - Join Certified Financial Planners Greg Cooley and Bubba Labas on another episode of Advisors' RoundTable!
Ditch the Suits - Financial, Investment, & Retirement Planning
The headlines will tell you that the middle class is disappearing. That wealth is out of reach. That the system is stacked against us.But what if the problem isn't your finances at all? What if you're measuring success using the wrong scoreboard?In this episode of the new season of Ditch The Suits, we take a closer look at one of the loudest narratives in America: the decline of the middle class. We explore where these stories come from, why many of the measurements behind them are far less reliable than most people realize, and how constant exposure to fear-driven headlines can shape the financial decisions we make.If you ever feel like you're falling behind or wondering whether you're making the right financial decisions, this episode offers a different perspective from what the headlines will tell you.Instead of focusing on the noise, we'll look at what actually moves the needle for your household and how changing the way you measure success can help you make better decisions and reduce financial anxiety.In this episode, you'll discover:0:00 – Intro: How did the middle class decline become the loudest story in America, and is it even true?3:19 – Why middle class wealth tracking is largely inaccurate and when these measurements began.5:42 – Why we still don't have a truly accurate picture of middle class wealth.18:30 – What's driving the stress and fear, and who's to blame?23:12 – What wealth really means and why many define it incorrectly.26:06 – A key to building wealth that most people avoid.Subscribe to Ditch The Suits on your favorite podcast platform so you don't miss an episode.LEARN MOREDitch The Suits - https://www.ditchthesuits.com/ CONNECTTravis Maus on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-maus/ LISTENSpotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4tVWSbhT5gYcXIwjUQklgw?si=04d2b1c7976a402e Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ditch-the-suits-your-money-your-life/id1551210529 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DitchtheSuits_Podcast
After years of alienating working-class voters, Democrats are suddenly trying to rebrand themselves as champions of Main Street with candidates like James Talarico and Graham Platner. From carefully crafted campaign images to handpicked candidates marketed as authentic, the party is betting voters will forget its record. But can political theater overcome years of rhetoric and policies that pushed millions of working Americans away? The latest attempts to win back the white working class may reveal more about Democrat elites than the voters they're trying to persuade.
Is the middle class actually growing? // AGREE TO DISAGREE: Should normal people be calling 911 on suspected trafficking? // WE HEAR YOU! and WORDS TO LIVE BY
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A new CNBC survey found that 51% of Americans believe the American Dream is no longer achievable. Financial stability, homeownership and happiness remain key components of that dream, but many Americans say rising costs and economic pressures are making it harder to reach. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed with the latest news from a leading Black-owned & controlled media company: https://aurn.com/newsletter Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The Great Disconnect: Record Wealth, Record Hardship The economy is supposedly thriving. The stock market is breaking records. Corporate profits are soaring. Yet millions of Americans are struggling to pay rent, buy groceries, fill up their gas tanks, and save for the future. How can oil companies post enormous profits while gas prices remain painfully high? Why are food giants reporting strong earnings while grocery bills continue to climb? Why are hotels charging resort fees and parking fees on top of already expensive rooms? And how did a modest California home that once sold for $27,000 end up costing nearly $900,000? Meanwhile, political rhetoric grows more disconnected from reality. Claims of election fraud, accusations of rigged systems, and endless partisan battles leave many wondering whether common sense has completely disappeared from public life. In this episode, Karel takes a hard look at the contradictions defining modern America: record corporate profits, record asset values, and record financial anxiety for everyday people. Has the world stopped making sense, or are we finally paying attention to how the system really works? Join the conversation and tell us what you think in the comments below. Support independent media: Patreon: patreon.com/reallykarel Watch and subscribe: YouTube: youtube.com/reallykarel Listen everywhere: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Spreaker, and all major podcast platforms. The Karel Show streams LIVE Monday through Thursday at 10:30 AM Pacific. Karel is a history-making broadcaster, entertainer, journalist, and commentator broadcasting from Las Vegas alongside his faithful service dog, Ember. #Economy,#Inflation,#CostOfLiving,#GasPrices,#HousingCrisis,#CorporateGreed,#CorporateProfits,#StockMarket,#Rent,#FoodPrices,#MiddleClass,#WorkingClass,#AmericanEconomy,#EconomicReality,#FinancialStress,#WealthGap,#IncomeInequality,#Politics,#CurrentEvents,#NewsCommentary,#KarelShow,#ReallyKarel,#IndependentMedia,#Commentary,#PoliticalDiscussion,#EconomicCrisis,#America,#LifeInAmerica,#YouTubePolitics,#Podcast https://youtube.com/live/x7px5_nIyo0
Over the past month, there have been two dominant stories in American foreign policy. One, of course, is the war with Iran. The other is the much-anticipated summit between President Trump and Xi Jinping of China. And I think if you look closely at both of these stories, you see that our foreign policy has entered into a period of absolute incoherence. I'm not even sure what the status of the Iran war is at this point. What is Trump trying to achieve? What is he willing to accept? Taking a more hawkish approach to China has been a core and consistent principle of Trump's since his first term. He's been insistent that China has taken advantage of the United States and that America needed to change that dynamic and flex more power. But is that happening? Is that even Trump's position anymore? So I wanted to do an episode looking at China and Iran and trying to assess Trump's foreign policy in general and the ways he's remaking what America means on the world stage. Ian Bremmer is the president and founder of Eurasia Group, a political risk research and consultancy firm, and the global affairs publication GZero. He's also the author of, among other books, “Every Nation for Itself: What Happens When No One Leads the World.” Mentioned: Bowling Alone by Robert D. Putnam The J Curve by Ian Bremmer “The ‘Vibecession' Is Over. The ‘Permacession' Is Here.” by Annie Lowrey “Disney and the Decline of America's Middle Class” by Daniel Currell Eurasia Group's Top Risks for 2026 Book Recommendations: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams A World Appears by Michael Pollan The Chronoliths by Robert Charles Wilson Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com. You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast, and you can find Ezra on Twitter @ezraklein. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs. This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was produced by Rollin Hu and Annie Galvin. Fact-checking by Michelle Harris with Julie Beer. Our senior engineer is Jeff Geld, with additional mixing by Johnny Simon and Isaac Jones. Our recording engineer is Johnny Simon. Our executive producer is Claire Gordon. The show's production team also includes Marie Cascione, Kristin Lin, Emma Kehlbeck, Jack McCordick, Marina King and Jan Kobal. Original music by Pat McCusker and Carole Sabouraud. Audience strategy by Shannon Busta. The director of New York Times Opinion Shows is Annie-Rose Strasser. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Trump Is Losing. Why Does America Feel Like It's Losing Too? Donald Trump keeps taking hits. His proposed projects are stalling. Legal troubles continue to mount. Poll numbers are sliding. Key initiatives face growing opposition. Even on major international issues, his answers seem increasingly detached from the realities Americans face every day. By many measures, Donald Trump is losing. But if Trump is losing, why does it feel like America is losing too? For millions of Americans, life is becoming harder, not easier. Housing costs remain out of reach. Grocery prices continue to strain family budgets. Political divisions are deeper than ever. Washington remains gridlocked while everyday people struggle to build stable, secure lives. So what happens if Trump's setbacks don't translate into victories for the rest of us? Today, Karel examines the uncomfortable reality that one politician's losses don't automatically become America's wins. More importantly, we'll explore what real success looks like for ordinary Americans—and how we can create it regardless of who occupies the White House. Are we trapped in a cycle where everyone loses? Or is there a path forward that neither political party seems willing to discuss? Join the conversation. Support independent media at Patreon.com/ReallyKarel Subscribe for more daily commentary on politics, culture, entertainment, and the issues shaping our lives: YouTube.com/ReallyKarel The Karel Show streams Monday through Thursday and is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Spreaker, and all major podcast platforms. #Trump, #DonaldTrump, #Politics, #PoliticalNews, #America, #USPolitics, #BreakingNews, #CurrentEvents, #Democrats, #Republicans, #ProgressivePolitics, #LiberalPolitics, #PoliticalCommentary, #Election2028, #WhiteHouse, #Congress, #Economy, #Inflation, #CostOfLiving, #MiddleClass, #AmericanDream, #NewsAnalysis, #PoliticalAnalysis, #TrumpNews, #Government, #Voters, #IndependentMedia, #TheKarelShow, #NewsPodcast, #PoliticalPodcast https://youtube.com/live/y6Ui7PIINDc
AI Expert Mo Gawdat returns to The Diary Of A CEO to reveal why AGI has already arrived, why 30% of jobs will disappear by 2027, and why the most dangerous thing about AI isn't the technology - it's the people in charge of it. Mo Gawdat is the former Chief Business Officer at Google X, founder of One Billion Happy, and co-founder of Emma.Love. He is a 4x international bestselling author, and his upcoming book ‘Alive: A Human's Guide to Living in the World of AI', will be released in October 2026. He explains: ◾How AI can give you a 400-point IQ boost, and why most people are wasting it ◾ Why Mo actually wants a machine smarter than all of humanity to take control ◾Why Sam Altman said AI will "likely end humanity", and what he chose to do next ◾Why capitalism breaks when AI replaces the workers who buy the things we make ◾Why AI unemployment could trigger civil unrest before governments are ready for it Chapters 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:06 Why Mo Warned About AI Before Anyone Else 00:05:03 Can AI Be a Net Positive for Humanity? 00:08:33 Massive Job Disruption Worldwide 00:15:05 Will AI Cost Savings Create New Jobs? 00:16:15 What Happens to Blue Collar Jobs? 00:21:57 How 10–15% Job Loss Reshapes Society 00:24:20 How Civil Unrest Could Unfold 00:26:04 Sam Altman's Flip-Flopping on AI 00:32:15 Is Sam Altman Pro-Humanity? 00:33:51 Imagining a Future Where Humanity Is Fine 00:42:01 Will One Superintelligence Rule the World? 00:45:52 If AGI Is Already Here, What Now? 00:48:19 Why Human Lived Experience Still Matters 00:52:33 Why Not Just Hire AGI Instead of People? 00:55:00 Can We Control AI Smarter Than Us? 00:58:42 Could AI Decide to Leave the Server? 00:59:16 The Risk of Models Even Creators Don't Understand 01:04:30 AI Isn't Evil But We Need a Plan 01:08:48 Ads 01:10:50 The Symptoms of AGI by 2030 01:13:59 If the US Stops, Will We Become China's Lapdog? 01:16:22 Should Governments Invest More in AI? 01:17:16 Can an Economy of Entrepreneurs Work? 01:20:36 Do We Need to Join the AI Arms Race? 01:23:31 Will Global Competition Build Better AI? 01:32:23 Ads 01:34:34 Who Will Prioritize Ethical AI? 01:38:21 Whose Economy Works for the Middle Class? 01:41:57 Can Ethical AI Still Be Engaging? 01:46:39 Has This Ever Happened Without Government? 01:52:24 What Absolute Dystopia Looks Like 01:55:35 Are You Optimistic About AI? 01:57:08 Does Happiness Matter More in the AI Age? 02:00:17 The Legacy Mo Gawdat Wants to Leave Enjoyed the episode? Share this link and earn points for every referral - redeem them for exclusive prizes: https://doac-perks.com Follow Mo: Instagram - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/4Hv5OK8 Website - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/GRKeGgO Podcast - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/CgXWNIe You can pre-order Mo's book, ‘Alive: A Human's Guide to Living in the World of AI', here: https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/BvCLbtT The Diary Of A CEO: ◼ Join DOAC circle here - https://doaccircle.com/ ◼ Buy The Diary Of A CEO book here - https://smarturl.it/DOACbook ◼ The 1% Diary is back - limited time only: https://bit.ly/3YFbJbt ◼ The Diary Of A CEO Conversation Cards: https://linkly.link/2io2A ◼ Get email updates - https://bit.ly/diary-of-a-ceo-yt ◼ Follow Steven - https://g2ul0.app.link/gnGqL4IsKKb Sponsors: Shopify - https://shopify.com/bartlett Function Health - https://Functionhealth.com/DOAC to sign up for $365 a year. One dollar a day for your health Ketone - https://ketone.com/STEVEN for 30% off your subscription order
Is the American middle-class is shrinking like the media tells us it is? Russ and Peter examine various data points and perspectives. Listen in and think about how middle class definitions have evolved over time, considering factors like income, wealth, and lifestyle expectations. While statistical data shows the middle class has shrunk in relative terms, they debated whether this reflects genuine economic decline or simply greater economic polarization with more people moving to higher or lower income brackets. How do you feel about middle-class America?
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HTML All The Things - Web Development, Web Design, Small Business
For years, technology kept adding new categories to our lives. First it was the desktop computer, then the laptop, smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, wireless earbuds, game consoles, and now smart glasses and AI-powered wearables. The problem is that every new category comes with its own price tag, upgrade cycle, and growing expectation that we'll keep up. In this edition of the Web News we're discussing the rising cost of consumer technology, whether the average person can realistically afford this expanding portfolio of devices, and how consumers should think about spending in an era where tech feels more expensive than ever. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcast/the-middle-class-cant-keep-up-with-tech-anymore
Vacations to a Disney park were never cheap but now, in a reflection of American culture writ large, there are ever more-expensive tiers to pay to get into.Guest: Dan Curell, management consultant who wrote “Disney and the Decline of America's Middle Class” for the New York Times.Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, and Rob Gunther. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Vacations to a Disney park were never cheap but now, in a reflection of American culture writ large, there are ever more-expensive tiers to pay to get into.Guest: Dan Curell, management consultant who wrote “Disney and the Decline of America's Middle Class” for the New York Times.Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, and Rob Gunther. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Vacations to a Disney park were never cheap but now, in a reflection of American culture writ large, there are ever more-expensive tiers to pay to get into.Guest: Dan Curell, management consultant who wrote “Disney and the Decline of America's Middle Class” for the New York Times.Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, and Rob Gunther. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Did they sink money into Trump just to watch It vanish? Imagine a MAGA voter who put his financial faith in Trump three times. In 2021, he bought $1,000 worth of stock in Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG). In 2025, he bought $1,000 worth of $TRUMP meme coin. And he ponied up a $500 deposit on five golden, made-in-America Trump phones to give as gifts last Christmas. What is his $2,500 investment in all things Trump worth today? As recently examined by the Daily Kos.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Learn how the E-shaped economy is reshaping middle-class budgets and how to stretch travel points on real trips. What does it really mean when economists say the U.S. economy has shifted from a K-shape to an E-shape, and where do middle-class households fit in this new picture? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola talk with senior news writer Anna Helhoski about why middle-class earners are increasingly slipping from the top of the K to the middle of the E, what new data reveals about families struggling to afford basic necessities in their own metro areas, and how spending patterns are shifting as essential costs eat up more of each paycheck. Then, how can you actually make travel points work for a real trip without burning them on the wrong redemption? Sean and Elizabeth are joined by Meghan Coyle, co-host of NerdWallet's Smart Travel podcast, to walk through the smartest ways to use airline miles and hotel points. They discuss how to calculate whether points or cash is the better deal for any booking, why hotel points and airline miles aren't created equal, what happens when you transfer points speculatively, and creative ways to keep earning points without picking up another credit card. Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most up-to-date information about cards mentioned in this episode, read our reviews: Best Travel Credit Cards of May 2026 https://www.nerdwallet.com/credit-cards/best/travel Atmos Rewards Summit Card: Perks as Unique as They Are Valuable https://www.nerdwallet.com/credit-cards/reviews/atmos-rewards-summit Atmos Rewards Ascent Review: Well Worth $95 a Year https://www.nerdwallet.com/credit-cards/reviews/alaska-airlines-credit-card American Express Platinum Review: Top-Notch Lounge Access, Big Credits https://www.nerdwallet.com/credit-cards/reviews/american-express-platinum Is a Bilt Credit Card Worth It? https://www.nerdwallet.com/travel/learn/bilt-mastercard Resources discussed in this episode: 'K-Shaped' Economy Is Giving Way to an 'E-Shaped' Divide https://www.nerdwallet.com/finance/news/e-shaped-economy How Much Are Travel Points and Miles Worth in 2026? https://www.nerdwallet.com/travel/learn/airline-miles-and-hotel-points-valuations Points and Miles vs. Cash Calculator https://www.nerdwallet.com/travel/learn/calculator-should-you-book-a-flight-with-cash-or-miles The Best Award Travel Search Tool for 2026 https://www.nerdwallet.com/travel/learn/best-award-travel-search-tool Want us to review your budget? Fill out this form — completely anonymously if you want — and we might feature your budget in a future segment! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK53yAufsc4v5UpghhVfxtk2MoyooHzlSIRBnRxUPl3hKBig/viewform?usp=header To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dave Rubin of "The Rubin Report" talks about NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani beginning to notice that the capital flight out of New York City is not only from the rich, but also the middle class and working class; Mamdani causing outrage by redefining violent crime; Katie Porter doubling down on sanctuary city policies and generous welfare benefits for illegal immigrants at the California Governor's debate; a joke from an African migrant mocking the Germans for their insanely generous benefits for refugees going viral; Scott Jennings surprising CNN's Jake Tapper with an unexpected prediction of how Marco Rubio and JD Vance will decide how to handle the 2028 election; "The View's" Ana Navarro and Sunny Hostin spreading lies about the hypocrisy of Marco Rubio; Donald Trump revealing to Sharyl Attkisson what he really plans to do about Cuba; and much more. Dave also hosts a special "ask me anything" question-and-answer session on a wide range of topics, answering questions from the Rubin Report Locals community. Join me for a LIVE Event with Governor Ron DeSantis, plus special appearances by Ben Shapiro, Jillian Michaels, and Adam Carolla on June 11th! Get Tickets Here: https://daverubin.com/events WATCH the MEMBER-EXCLUSIVE segment of the show here: https://rubinreport.locals.com/ Check out the NEW RUBIN REPORT MERCH here: https://daverubin.store/ #RubinReport #ZohranMamdani #Zohran #capitalflight ##taxtherich #leavingnewyork #daverubin ---------- Today's Sponsors: Cheers Health - Same night out — way better morning with Cheers. For a limited time our listeners are getting 20% off their entire order by using code RUBIN Go to: http://cheershealth.com/RUBIN #Cheers #ad
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Could Carrying Extra Weight Be Shrinking Your Brain? Court Slams Trump Tariffs as Manufacturing Boom Disappears. For the Book Club, Thom reads from his book, Screwed: The Undeclared War Against the Middle Class, Rise of the Corporatocracy. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
12/16: Michael Toth attributes California's high energy costs to political ideology rather than global events. These "self-inflicted wounds" have caused a middle-class exodus and potential shortages of materials like asphalt.1690
Why Is Trump Calling the Top Black Democrat a “Thug”? Trump Will Soon Regret His Flagrantly Racist Meme Calling Hakeem Jeffries a ‘LOW IQ THUG' as reported by News Corpse. Did Trump Just Buy the Supreme Court Over Dinner? Is Trump's DOJ Now Big Oil's Personal Law Firm? Plus How Trump, Republicans, and Their Billionaires Took Your Money and Then Sold You Hate.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The economy right now is splitting into two very different worlds — and depending on which world your business is positioned for, you're either about to have the best year of your life or the hardest. Today I'm going to show you exactly what's happening, why the middle is the most dangerous place to be right now, and the three steps you need to take to make sure your business is on the right side of this divide. Stay with me — because point two is the one most business owners get completely wrong, and it might be costing you more than you realize. Chapters 00:00 Understanding the K-Shaped Economy04:54 Reading the Room: Adapting to Economic Realities08:13 Rejecting the Race to the Bottom13:25 The Collapse of the Mushy Middle21:45 Rising to the Top: Embracing Premium Pricing
42% OFF - Get your Digital Man Up book + Audiobook + 2 Exclusive MASTERCLASSES https://bit.ly/manuptribeLife has gotten brutally expensive. Homes up 145%, cars up 136%, rent up 300%, healthcare up 250%, and gas & groceries up 230% in just 25 years… while your paycheck only crawled up 74%. The middle class is gone. A regular job is now a disadvantage unless you're in one of the few high-income skills. In this episode, I break down exactly what's happening, why it's designed this way, and most importantly — what you can actually do about it.If you're tired of trading time for dollars that don't keep up, it's time to wake up and consider entrepreneurship.Watch until the end. This one might be the push you need. Let's get after it.
Lots of nations gauge the health of their country by how the middle class is doing. There’s just one issue with that – no one can say exactly what defines the middle class. But even when you take a guess, it seems like the health isn’t so good these days.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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