Podcasts about social security

Veronique de Rugy of the Mercatus Center details the alarming surge of the United States gross national debt to record heights, exceeding forty trillion dollars. She argues that the country suffers from an out-of-control spending problem rather than a lack of tax revenue, citing massive unpaid pandemic spending. De Rugy blames both political parties for avoiding structural reforms and warns of the critical 2032 deadline when Social Security and Medicare funding will face automatic, severe cuts. She predicts that Congress will resort to further debt and inflation, which will heavily penalize the public, while indebted European nations face similar struggles. (3)

TONIGHT-CONTENTS-8-26-2026California Swells Weather And Nevada CasinosJeff Bliss discusses a massive southern ocean swell creating rare surfing conditions at Newport Harbor's channel. Driven by an intense tropical storm off Mexico, California is experiencing unprecedented humidity and a nearly five-degree Fahrenheit rise in ocean temperatures, prompting a surge in marine life including hammerhead and great white sharks. Turning to Nevada, Bliss describes the K-shaped economy, where Las Vegas strip casinos profit from wealthy international tourists, while local traffic declines. He details In-N-Out's slow, quality-controlled eastward expansion and concludes with Berkeley's controversial, permissive approach toward housing campus homeless encampments, noting they receive government-funded clean needles and glass pipes. (1)Separation Of Powers And Election FraudRichard Epstein discusses a federal ruling by Judge Indira Talwani blocking the Trump administration's postal mail-in voting regulations for the 2026 midterms. Epstein asserts the administration overstepped, as the Constitution explicitly delegates election regulation to Congress, not the executive. He criticizes Chief Justice John Roberts's defense of the unitary executive, calling his opinions a disgrace that allows executive power to swamp both the legislature and the judiciary. Lastly, Epstein references Paul Krugman's views on Trump's destructive physical and institutional teardown of Washington and laments how flawed standing doctrines prevent ordinary citizens from legally challenging executive overreach in federal court. (2)Veronique de Rugy of the Mercatus Center details the alarming surge of the United States gross national debt to record heights, exceeding forty trillion dollars. She argues that the country suffers from an out-of-control spending problem rather than a lack of tax revenue, citing massive unpaid pandemic spending. De Rugy blames both political parties for avoiding structural reforms and warns of the critical 2032 deadline when Social Security and Medicare funding will face automatic, severe cuts. She predicts that Congress will resort to further debt and inflation, which will heavily penalize the public, while indebted European nations face similar struggles. (3)Economic Boom In Idyllic Lancaster CountyJim McTague details the thriving post-pandemic economy of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Tourism remains robust, with attractions like the Renaissance Faire drawing two hundred thousand visitors annually. The local real estate market is red-hot, with retirees purchasing existing homes with cash and bid-ups creating million-dollar McMansions. McTague notes that rising inflation has packed Costco aisles with middle-class shoppers seeking the famous five-dollar loss-leader rotisserie chickens. He also discusses local commercial resistance to data centers, explaining how the impoverished borough of Columbia rejected a lucrative data center deal that would have solved its fiscal deficits, while baby boomers power local restaurants. (4)Small Business Growth And AI IntegrationGene Marks reports on his travels, conversing with host John Batchelor about a Quebec credit union conference where executives discussed loans, competitiveness, and adopting AI in front and back offices. Due to high mortgage rates, credit unions are shifting focus toward commercial loans. In Atlanta's thriving steel industry, tariffs have boosted competitiveness, and companies are deploying AI-powered robotic arms, gloves, and dogs to improve safety. Finally, a recent Pew Research survey indicates that Gen X is leading AI adoption because older, established professionals feel more secure than younger generations, though Marks calls the fear of job loss an urban legend. (5)French Resistance And World War ExileJane Rogoyska, author of Hotel Exile: Paris in the Shadow of War, Part Two: Rogoyska details how German anti-fascists and French Jews fled Paris for Marseilles and Spain in 1941. While Heinrich Mann escaped successfully, philosopher Walter Benjamin tragically committed suicide at the Spanish border. Rogoyska notes that Samuel Beckettjoined the resistance after Paul Léon's arrest. The Abwehr, aided by the treacherous priest Robert Alesch, infiltrated resistance networks, but was sidelined as the Gestapo's brutality worsened. Post-war, the Lutetia hotel became a repatriation center processing concentration camp survivors. Beckett survived and wrote literary masterpieces, while Alesch was executed. (6)Nuclear Politics And Precision Guided WarfareHenry Sokolski, executive director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center, discusses the unpublicized nuclear cooperative agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia. He warns host John Batchelor that keeping side agreements secret from the American public prevents Congressional oversight. Saudi Arabia refuses to sign the additional protocol for inspections, claiming it violates sovereignty. Sokolski also highlights Poland's conflicting stances on hosting nuclear weapons, Germany's interest in funding the United Kingdom's Trident submarine program, and how Russia uses precision-guided munitions to target civilians and demoralize Ukraine, moving nuclear weapons further into the background, concluding that this is the new reality. (7)Debating Environmental Politics Of Data CentersKevin Frazier leads a roundtable with Jim McTague and Simon Constable discussing the political and environmental backlash against data centers. Frazier details how Lancaster City welcomed data centers to erase its school district's deficit, while the poorer borough of Columbia rejected a lucrative deal due to local protests. Frazier argues that data centers are vital national infrastructure, defending the construction jobs they create and noting that blocking them harms the digital economy. Finally, Constable shares trivia from his Wall Street Journal quiz, revealing that Virginia leads the United States in data centers, followed globally by the United Kingdom. (8)V

Republicans have been complaining about Social Security since it began- have they finally persuaded a nation not to expect much so they can keep taxes on the rich as low as possible?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jim and Chris discuss listener emails on Social Security survivor benefits and earnings records, financing a home purchase, and using a fixed indexed annuity (FIA) for discretionary spending. (11:15) A listener asks why a Social Security estimate lists a $3,944 survivor benefit rather than the projected $5,101 age-70 benefit and which amount would actually be paid. (21:45) The guys consider whether adding previously omitted stock option income to a 2017 earnings record could result in higher Social Security benefits and back pay. (31:30) Jim and Chris weigh using a 60-day IRA or Roth IRA rollover to finance a home purchase before selling the current home against a HELOC or mortgage. (55:15) Another listener asks for their thoughts on using a fixed indexed annuity (FIA) with an income rider to support discretionary spending and how it compares with their simpler annuity strategies. The post Social Security, Social Security, Home Purchase, Fun Spending: Q&A #2635 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Behind on retirement savings or starting to invest later in life? Brian and Bo break down how to catch up on retirement in your 40s and 50s, including how much you should have saved by age, retirement savings rates, 401(k) and Roth IRA strategies, catch-up contributions, Social Security, and the power of working longer. You'll see how increasing your savings rate, reducing high-interest debt and fixed expenses, and growing your income can dramatically change your retirement trajectory. If you feel behind financially, learn the practical steps that can help you build wealth, invest for retirement, and create a realistic financial independence plan. Jump start your journey with our FREE financial resources⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reach your goals faster with our products⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take the relationship to the next level: become a client⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube for early access and go beyond the podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with us on social media for more content⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bring confidence to your wealth building with simplified strategies from The Money Guy. Learn how to apply financial tactics that go beyond common sense and help you reach your money goals faster. Make your assets do the heavy lifting so you can quit worrying and start living a more fulfilled life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our Head of U.S. Public Policy Research Ariana Salvatore looks at what the midterms may reveal about politician's appetite for tackling the faster-than-expected increase in the U.S. debt.Read more insights from Morgan Stanley.----- Transcript ----- Ariana Salvatore: Welcome to Thoughts on the Market. I'm Ariana Salvatore, Head of U.S. Public Policy Research at Morgan Stanley. Today, why fiscal is back in focus and what we can learn about the broader debt trajectory from the upcoming midterm elections. It's Friday, August 28th at 10am in New York. Fiscal policy has moved back onto investors' radars following Treasury's recent buyback announcements. Those came in the same week that total U.S. debt crossed $ 40 trillion for the first time, a milestone that arrived months earlier than most people expected. As my colleague Andrew Sheets puts it, that's a big number. But the more useful question isn't the number itself. It's whether all this debt is starting to act as a brake on the economy.We don't quite yet see a credibility problem in the Treasury market, but that's exactly why fiscal is back in the conversation. And it sits against a bigger backdrop. The U.S. continues to run large deficits in an economy that isn't in a recession. Our economists expect the deficit to stay around 6 percent of GDP through 2027. And voters are clearly concerned about elevated debt levels. So why isn't fiscal austerity coming up more in DC? Simply put, we think the political incentives point the other direction. At the risk of oversimplifying, fiscal consolidation or deficit reduction means either less spending or more taxes. And the political costs of those choices land immediately. We think neither party, therefore, has the incentive to take on that type of policy change – if we don't see a meaningful cliff or a risk to existing programs, especially into an election. But what about after? We think the midterms won't in and of themselves be a catalyst to fix the debt trajectory. But they can tell us something about where this goes next. And I'd point to two things in particular. The first is Social Security. It's not likely to be the headline issue in November, but we could see a useful test case for the debt conversation more broadly because the deadline is creeping closer. The latest trustees report projects the retirement trust fund will become insolvent in the fourth quarter of 2032. And at that point, it could only cover roughly 78 percent of scheduled benefits without a change in law. Now, that's likely to matter more in 2028 than in this cycle, since whoever wins the White House that year will be in office when it hits. But the midterms can still show us where the politics are consolidating. Recent polling points to a fairly consistent pattern. Voters want lawmakers to act. They prefer raising taxes on high earners over broader benefit cuts. And they're notably more open to trimming benefits when it's targeted at the top of the income distribution. That likely explains why a number of 2026 candidates have converged on lifting the payroll tax cap, while some Republicans have largely retreated from campaigning on things like a higher retirement age. Watching which of those messages actually wins, especially in Senate races like New Hampshire or Maine, where a significant share of the electorate depends on these benefits, could provide some useful hints with respect to which of these policy changes actually resonate with voters and end up reflecting the eventual fix. The second is the broader fiscal landscape after the election. If we get a divided government in November, that typically means more fiscal noise around the recurring deadlines, like government funding and the debt ceiling. Those two matter for markets in very different ways. A shutdown's bigger effect tends to be indirect. So, think delayed or lower quality government data since agencies can end up working from smaller survey samples. That leaves investors and the Fed making decisions with less complete information for weeks at a stretch sometimes. The debt ceiling is more direct. That shows up most clearly in the Treasury bill market. Bills maturing around a potential deadline tend to cheapen relative to other short-term benchmarks as investors have to price default risk into that narrow window. And that's the case even when a resolution is still the base case. So, here's the through line: fiscal likely isn't about to become Washington's top priority just because debt crossed $40 trillion. But the midterms are a chance to see whether the political incentives are starting to shift – on Social Security specifically, and on the broader appetite for political fights around funding deadlines more generally. Either way, we think fiscal policy is set to stay in the headlines in the years to come. And especially so as we head into the 2028 presidential election season. Thanks for listening. If you enjoy the show, please leave us a review wherever you listen. And share your Thoughts on the Market with a friend or colleague today.

It's Friday Q&A—with a small experiment. Don slips one AI-generated voice among the listener questions and challenges you to identify the robot, with his complete two-book library hanging in the balance.The financial questions are thoroughly human: where to keep a future car fund, whether an $11,000 Roth-conversion program earns its fee, when children can fund Roth IRAs, and what happens when bond holdings move from a traditional IRA into a Roth.Don also tackles the enviable problem of an oversized HSA, its inheritance rules and post-65 flexibility, plus the timing tradeoff for Social Security survivor benefits.0:46 — Friday Q&A and the find-the-robot challenge4:03 — Where should a $70,000 car fund live?7:21 — Is an $11,000 Roth-conversion plan worth it?9:39 — Roth IRAs for children—and newborns11:13 — Bonds that move into a Roth conversion13:54 — The $500,000 HSA problem16:43 — When a surviving spouse should claim Social SecurityQuestions? Comments? Click!

This week on Five Question Friday (FQF):Question 1: Has AI fundamentally changed the stock market, and does market history still matter?Question 2: If you retire a few years before claiming Social Security, how does the 4% rule apply during that gap?Question 3: If you roll a long-held Roth 401(k) into a brand-new Roth IRA, do you still have to wait five years to withdraw earnings?Question 4: Can you use traditional IRA funds to pay for long-term care and deduct the cost?Question 5: Can you build a fixed 50/50 portfolio by splitting money between Vanguard's 40/60 and 60/40 LifeStrategy funds?Resources mentioned in the episode:Schwab on the Roth 5-year rules: https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/wh...IRS Publication 502 (Medical and Dental Expenses): https://www.irs.gov/publications/p502Vanguard LifeStrategy Funds: https://investor.vanguard.com/investm...Boldin (retirement planner): https://go.robberger.com/boldin/yt-fq...ProjectionLab: https://go.robberger.com/projectionla...Join the Newsletter. It's Free:https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...

David Hebert discusses the fiscal debates surrounding Social Security's impending 2032 shortfall. Hebert refutes the idea that raising tax rates increases treasury revenue, noting that tax revenue historically remains constant at 17–18% of GDP because high rates prompt tax avoidance. Instead of "starving the beast" of resources, Hebert advocates for "starving the beast of responsibility" by decentralizing programs through federalism to cut administrative costs. He urges structural reforms to Social Security, highlighting that the ratio of workers supporting each retiree has plummeted from 40-to-1 down to 2-to-1. (4)

CONTENTS JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 8-26-2026.832Greenwich Observatory (Robert Chambers, p.200, 1832) - Copy.pngJohn Batchelor and Michael Bernstam analyze the revenue-sharing deal between Iran and Oman over the Strait of Hormuz, which does not resolve the critical global refinery shortage. Decades of zero Western refinery expansion, alongside Ukrainian drone strikes disabling Russian capacity, has left a global deficit of 5.6 to 6 million barrels per day of refined products. This is especially severe for diesel, which requires heavy crude unlike the light sweet crude produced by the US shale revolution. With U.S. refineries running at maximum capacity, the threat of mechanical failures risks a full-blown supply crisis. (1)Richard Reinsch discusses the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and their principles, which advocate for economic collectivism, nationalizing private industries, and dismantling the U.S. constitutional republic in favor of a unicameral legislature. Reinsch contrasts this with a historical 1922 Kremlin conversation where Soviet leader Joseph Stalin accused American communist Jay Lovestone of "heresy" for arguing "American exceptionalism"—the idea that American working-class prosperity made them resistant to Marxism. Today, Reinsch views the DSA as an overeducated, white, urban phenomenon failing to win working-class or minority voters. (2)Rogier Windhorst and David Livingston: Professor Windhorst warns that the Hubble Space Telescope's orbit will begin to decay uncontrollably by September 2033 due to solar maximum atmospheric expansion. To prevent a hazardous, uncontrolled re-entry, Windhorst advocates for a robotic servicing mission to boost Hubble's orbit. As the only remaining telescope with precise blue-ultraviolet capabilities, Hubble's data remains critical and heavily in demand. Windhorst urges NASA to fund a $100 million rescue mission and eventually construct the Habitable Worlds Observatory to search for Earth-like exoplanets starting in 2040. (3)David Hebert discusses the fiscal debates surrounding Social Security's impending 2032 shortfall. Hebert refutes the idea that raising tax rates increases treasury revenue, noting that tax revenue historically remains constant at 17–18% of GDP because high rates prompt tax avoidance. Instead of "starving the beast" of resources, Hebert advocates for "starving the beast of responsibility" by decentralizing programs through federalism to cut administrative costs. He urges structural reforms to Social Security, highlighting that the ratio of workers supporting each retiree has plummeted from 40-to-1 down to 2-to-1. (4)Captain James Fanell (US Navy, retired), co-host Gordon Chang: Fanell warns that China is nearing completion of a military installation on Triton Island in the Paracels, expanding its "ring of control" in the South China Sea. He cautions that China may soon fortify Scarborough Shoal, threatening to block the northern South China Sea and degrade U.S. naval operations. In response to this rising coercion, the Philippines is boosting its 2027 defense budget by 6.3%, allocating $800 million for modernization with a heavy focus on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance drones. Fanell urges more assertive naval cooperation to deter further Chinese expansion. (5)Dean Cheng, co-host Gordon Chang: Cheng analyzes China's space program and its pursuit of reusable booster technology to match SpaceX's cost-saving launch cadences. Although China has successfully recaptured first-stage boosters, it has not yet demonstrated refurbishing or reusing them. Cheng notes that China seeks space dominance to deploy six mega-constellations and establish moon colonies. He suggests that a delay in China's lunar south pole probe—officially blamed on solar exposure—is likely due to the ongoing accident investigation of the Long March 7 rocket failure. Cheng predicts a Chinese astronaut will walk on the moon by December 31, 2030. (6)Charles Burton, co-host Gordon Chang: Burton discusses the escalating trade war between Canada and the Trumpadministration, which triggered $20 billion in Canadian retaliatory tariffs and a 7.5 billion CAD business support package. The dispute has sparked public anti-Trump sentiment and personal mudslinging between Donald Trump and Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Stalled negotiations, compounded by unacceptable U.S. demands regarding French labeling laws, have shattered bilateral trust. Burton warns that Canada is prepared to pivot away from MAGA toward free trade with Europe and China, despite severe risks of Chinese economic coercion. (7)Jack Burnham outlines China's persistent military coercion campaign targeting Taiwan, noting that Beijing separates economic trade truces from its aggressive goal to subjugate the island. China's provocations, including Coast Guardpatrols east of Taiwan and flights over the median line, are designed to establish a "new normal." In December 2025, China responded to an $11 billion U.S. arms package by launching "Justice Mission 2025," an expansive military exercise simulating blockades and practicing "all-dimensional deterrence" to discourage U.S. intervention and test regional capabilities. (8)Doug Messier details SpaceX's plans to build "Starbase Louisiana," a massive $100 billion, 125,000-acre spaceport designed as the world's largest launch facility. Scheduled for construction in 2027 and launches by 2029, the facility will feature ten launch pads supporting thousands of annual, airline-style Starship flights. While bringing thousands of jobs, the coastal development raises environmental concerns regarding wetland habitats, which SpaceX has pledged to help restore. Messier also highlights Space Force's startup funding arm, SpaceWERX, which is fostering new aerospace innovators like Antares Nuclear and Muon Space. (9)Jeremy Zakis reports on the unprecedented rainfall sweeping across Australia, driven by a super El Niño cycle interacting with the Indian Ocean Dipole. South Australia and Adelaide experienced the heaviest downpours, breaking monthly rainfall records in a single day, while Sydney's infrastructure coped with several inches of rain. Victoria and Melbourne were largely spared due to the Great Dividing Range acting as a barrier. Zakis warns that weekly spring rains are highly unusual and threaten to fuel rapid forest undergrowth, which could dry out and create a dangerous bushfire hazard during future droughts. (10)

Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com Episode 3679: Mike Ballew lays out five signs that you are not ready to retire, from financially dependent adult children and an unpaid mortgage to personal debt, thin savings, and no real plan for how you will spend the days. He argues that retirement takes the same preparation as any other major life change, and that you have decades of warning to get it right. The takeaway is a retirement plan that pays the bills and also gives you something to do. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://eggstack.com/blog/2023-10-29-5-Signs You-Are-Not-Ready-for-Retirement/ Quotes to ponder: "Retirement is the cherry on top of a life well-lived." "Social Security was never meant to be a retiree's sole source of income." "You may not have time to prepare for some other life changes, but you've got all the time in the world to prepare for retirement." Optimal Finance Daily is a daily personal finance podcast where we narrate the best articles on financial independence, investing, saving money, and money management, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your wealth a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott Bessent just called gold a sanctionable asset — the first time the Treasury has said that since 1971 — while Trump simultaneously classified gold as a strategic mineral and the Treasury bought back $4 billion in long-term bonds in what Tony Arterburn of Wise Wolf Gold calls a roundabout QE the Fed didn't authorize. Gold has moved from $4,000 to $4,600 in 60 days, silver is back near $70, and the Volcker option that stopped the last gold spike is off the table: U.S. debt-to-GDP is at 144%, and quintupling interest payments to fight inflation would make debt service larger than Social Security and defense combined. Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to https://davidknight.gold/ for great deals on physical gold/silver For 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to https://trendsjournal.com/ and enter the code “KNIGHT” For high quality made in America products go to HomeSteadProducts.shop and use promo code “Knight” for 10% off your purchases Find out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.com If you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-show Or you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-david-knight-show--2653468/support.

Listener Q&A where Andy talks about: Whether to use money in a 457b to pay down a mortgage or to pay taxes on Roth conversions ( 7:56 )How Social Security survivor benefits work, and the optimal ages for spouses to each claim their own Social Security ( 18:54 )His thoughts on why the Social Security trust fund hasn't been allowed to invest in equities ( 25:36 )Creating spreadsheets to replace financial planning software, and using it to help your ongoing retirement planning and projections ( 30:40 )His thoughts on whether someone should try to convert ALL of their pre-tax money to Roth ( 36:56 )Transferring/rolling money from an IRA to an HSA (Health Savings Account) ( 46:05 )Whether you have to start Medicare Part A if you start Social Security but are still covered by a spouse's employer's health insurance ( 49:18 )Updating beneficiaries on investment accounts after one of the beneficiaries passes ( 53:17 )His thoughts on whether comparing a portfolio's investment returns to those of the S&P 500 is appropriate, and whether it's okay to hold bonds as investments ( 58:22 )To send Andy questions to be addressed on future Q&A episodes, email andy@andypanko.comAndy's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andypanko/Links in this episode:Tenon Financial's March 2026 newsletter - Gifting, annual gift exclusions, gift taxes and gift tax returns (IRS Form 709)Tenon Financial's March 2024 newsletter - Don't compare your portfolio's returns to those of the S&P 500Tenon Financial monthly newsletter/blog - Retirement Planning InsightsYouTube channel - Retirement Planning Education (formerly Retirement Planning Demystified)Retirement Planning Education website - www.RetirementPlanningEducation.com

This week, Bethany is joined by Alex Adams, Assistant Secretary, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), to discuss changes to the Head Start program and address critics of the announcement. They also discuss progress on the work to prevent states from seizing the Social Security survivor benefits of children in foster care, updating a piece Bethany wrote […]

Scott Bessent just called gold a sanctionable asset — the first time the Treasury has said that since 1971 — while Trump simultaneously classified gold as a strategic mineral and the Treasury bought back $4 billion in long-term bonds in what Tony Arterburn of Wise Wolf Gold calls a roundabout QE the Fed didn't authorize. Gold has moved from $4,000 to $4,600 in 60 days, silver is back near $70, and the Volcker option that stopped the last gold spike is off the table: U.S. debt-to-GDP is at 144%, and quintupling interest payments to fight inflation would make debt service larger than Social Security and defense combined. Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to https://davidknight.gold/ for great deals on physical gold/silver For 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to https://trendsjournal.com/ and enter the code “KNIGHT” For high quality made in America products go to HomeSteadProducts.shop and use promo code “Knight” for 10% off your purchases Find out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.com If you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-show Or you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-real-david-knight-show--5282736/support.

In this episode of the Independent Dealer Podcast, Jeff Watson and Luke Godwin sit down with Juan O'Campo, founder and owner of Family Auto in the Dallas-Fort Worth area — six locations, 3,000 accounts, 78 employees, 160 units a month, and a $57 million portfolio built entirely in-house, entirely within the Hispanic community, and entirely without paying a single dollar in advertising. Juan started as a cop, spent a decade as the first manager at Tricolor, moved to California to turn around their worst market, came home to Fort Worth in 2017 with nothing but what he had learned — and built one of the most quietly elite buy here pay here operations in the country.What You'll Learn:How Juan went from Acapulco, Mexico to Fort Worth cop to Tricolor's first manager to running a $57 million BHPH portfolio — and why leaving a VP track to start his own store was the only move that made senseHow Family Auto carries 2024 and 2025 model year trucks and SUVs in-house at $40,000 average loan values — getting $10,000 to $12,000 down and collecting $400,000 to $450,000 every two weeks — from a customer base that cannot get approved anywhere elseWhy Juan pays zero dollars in advertising — no radio, no TV, no Facebook, no Google — and how 18 cars given away to people in need last year generated more referrals and goodwill than any marketing spend ever couldThe customer grading system Juan uses to underwrite without credit scores or Social Security numbers — using utility bills, insurance history, and a manager-to-customer interview on every single delivery as the real underwriting engineHow Juan bootstrapped from 20 cash sales a month to a $1 million line of credit from Primaland in his tenth month — and how that line grew to $25 million and is now transitioning to a $30 million facility as the portfolio crosses 3,000 accountsWhy Juan runs his own recon shops, does his own collections in-house, never outsources, and reinvests every dollar back into the business — and what he learned from watching Tricolor price themselves out of the customer's reachHow Family Luz y Esperanza — Juan's nonprofit for domestic violence and child abuse survivors — is not just a community mission but the single biggest competitive advantage his dealership has, five years ahead of anyone trying to do what he doesIf you are an independent or buy here pay here dealer trying to understand what it looks like to build something truly elite — from nothing, for a customer nobody else will serve, with no advertising budget and no shortcuts — this is the most inspiring conversation we have had on this podcast in a long time.Support the businesses that support the podcast:Buckeye Risk Services - Reinsurance and wealth strategies for independent dealers. https://theindependentdealer.com/buckeyeBlytz - BHPH payment processing with fast funding and text-to-pay. https://theindependentdealer.com/blytzpayIturan GPS - Asset protection and customer management for BHPH and retail dealers. https://theindependentdealer.com/ituranFollow & Connect: Website: www.theindependentdealer.com Facebook Group: @independentautogroup Luke Godwin: @lukegodwin Jeff Watson: /sendtojeffwLike, subscribe, and share this with a dealer who needs to hear it.

His argument is simple and hard to answer. If ICE and Border Patrol were detaining dozens of violent criminals, carjackers, traffickers, members of Tren de Aragua, this administration would put them in front of cameras every single day. It has not done that once. What the cameras show instead are car accident victims, longtime residents, and families. One case Hawk returns to: a sailor serving aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln whose father, here 30 years with a Social Security card, a license, and no criminal record, was detained while his son was deployed. Also today, better news out of Texas, where new polling shows James Talarico leading Ken Paxton in three districts Trump carried. Canadians declining to be polite about the trade war. And Arizona governor candidate Andy Biggs facing questions about a 2013 Colorado City child marriage vote. SUPPORT & CONNECT WITH HAWK- Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mdg650hawk - Hawk's Merch Store: https://hawkmerchstore.com - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mdg650hawk7thacct - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hawkeyewhackamole - Connect on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/mdg650hawk.bsky.social - Connect on Substack: https://mdg650hawk.substack.com - Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hawkpodcasts - Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mdg650hawk - Connect on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mdg650hawk ALL HAWK PODCASTS INFO- Additional Content Available Here: https://www.hawkpodcasts.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@hawkpodcasts- Listen to Hawk Podcasts On Your Favorite Platform:Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3RWeJfyApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/422GDuLYouTube: https://youtube.com/@hawkpodcastsiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/47vVBdPPandora: https://bit.ly/48COaTB

Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., beat back a close challenge from Rep. Ralph Norman to win her GOP Senate primary runoff. We look at the race, and how MAGA, Inc., a super PAC affiliated with President Trump, spent big to get her over the finish line.Then, a look at the Social Security trust fund. The mechanism funding Social Security is running out of money, and potential solutions aren't popular. How might Congress fix it?This episode: voting correspondents Miles Parks and Ashley Lopez, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.This podcast was produced and edited by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show's perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

On Tuesday's Mark Levin Show, we lost an American legend: Dolly Parton passed away at the age of 80. The news was sudden and hits in a personal way. Dolly was the quintessential American: grew up dirt poor, she became a success not due to socialism or government programs, but through talent and hard work. She wasn't a political hack and had her opinions, but she loved this country and was a great patriot. There was never any hint of scandal in her private life. She had some health problems in the last years of her life and recently posted basically a goodbye to her fans. She'll be remembered along with legends like Elvis and Johnny Cash. Dolly Parton, American legend. She will be missed. Also, Social Security is in deep trouble. Founded in 1935 as government-funded retirement insurance, it's expanded massively from its original scope to more than 58 million recipients. Unlike in years past, soon there will not be enough workers to pay into the system. It's effectively broke. Social Security is meant to be funded by payroll taxes - effectively, a tax on employment. The money is supposed to be deposited into a trust fund, but that no longer exists. Today's retirees get less benefits than they paid in. And those who didn't pay into the system, like illegal aliens, get full benefits. Politicians are running Social Security into the ground like they did Medicare. Then, why are so many young people socialists? Because they don't read substantive stuff. And not these AI-generated books, but real books by real authors who did their own original research. Young people these days would rather get on TikTok and social media than read a book about America, the Constitution, the Third Reich, the Holocaust, or isolationism in the 1930s that led to Pearl Harbor. Ever see these videos where someone goes to college campuses and ask students basic questions about American civics? What does the Senate do? What is the Electoral College? What does packing the Supreme Court mean? They haven't a clue. This is why education is so important, especially early in life. We've handed education over to the government and teachers' unions, and we wonder why kids grow up loving socialism? Finally, Jeanne Allen, author of "The Education Avengers: How and Why a New Class of Heroes Is Fighting America's Biggest Battle," tells the stories of twelve remarkable individuals who, like The Avengers from the Marvel movie, fought for those who can't defend themselves: children. The Education Avengers took on the Hydra - aka the education establishment, the many-headed tangle of rules, compliance mandates, unions and apathy. These people come from different backgrounds: teachers, entrepreneurs, pastors, parents, innovators and business leaders. They're examples of what ordinary people can do when they band together and don't accept the status quo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this summer replay, Roger talks with Dr. Daniel Crosby about learning what to ignore in an age of information overload. They explore how to filter financial advice, align decisions with your values, and focus your attention on what truly matters to your finances and your life. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN[00:00] Roger introduces this summer replay with Dr. Daniel Crosby and talks about his upcoming Social Security series. SUMMER REPLAY WITH DR DANIEL CROSBY[02:21] Roger revisits his conversation with Dr. Daniel Crosby about filtering out the noise competing for our attention.[09:18] Daniel explains how our spending can reveal whether our choices truly align with our stated values.[14:03] Roger and Daniel share four questions that can help determine whether information deserves our attention.CLOSING THOUGHTS[31:46] Roger looks ahead to the upcoming five-week Social Security series. REFERENCESThe Soul of Wealth by Dr. Daniel CrosbyDeep Work by Cal NewportThe Rational Optimist by Matt RidleySubmit a Question for RogerSign up for The Noodle

Democrats trail Republicans in cash by nine figures. The DNC reported $16 million on hand against $17.9 million in debt. The RNC reported $130 million. Peter Schweizer and Eric Eggers follow the money filling the gap, and most of it comes from senior citizens. A Stanford researcher spent eight months preparing an investigation for The New York Times. Fact checkers cleared it. Lawyers cleared it. Then the Elias Law Group sent cease and desist letters on behalf of Democratic committees, and the paper walked away. What the research found: a spam text pipeline built to squeeze a captive pool of elderly donors. An 85 year old man in Oxford, Ohio gave 7,800 times, nearly $650,000, more than double the value of his house. A 90 year old woman in an Indiana senior living facility gave more than 25,000 times, $250,000 in total. Fewer than 1% of Democrat donors account for almost half of the $1.4 billion these PACs have raised since 2017. One network alone pulled in $390 million. Most of the money never reaches a candidate. It recycles back into the fundraising operation. Hakeem Jeffries shows the shift in one chart. In 2018, his average donor was 54 and 21% were 65 or older. This cycle, his average donor is 73 and 86% are senior citizens. Then the midterm ledger. Ripple and Coinbase sit at the top of $230 million in special interest spending, ahead of Big Tech and Wall Street. FanDuel and DraftKings make the top six. George Soros has given more than $102 million this year. AIPAC drew headlines for $30 million behind Haley Stevens in Michigan, while the money moving against her opponent's opponent stays far harder to trace: a $200,000 super PAC check from Abdul El-Sayed's father-in-law, an Islamic Society of North America figure; $25,000 from an Egyptian American activist sentenced to life in absentia; $115,000 tied to people affiliated with the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Saudi Arabia spent $92 million on Washington lobbying last year with roughly 148 registered foreign agents. Peter and Eric close on Sharia law, Jesse Watters' interview with El-Sayed, and whether the red-green alliance holds long enough to make Michigan competitive. (00:00) Cold open (00:31) Votes from the poor, money from the rich (02:33) The DNC has $16 million and $17.9 million in debt (04:43) Granny's Social Security check funds the campaign (06:34) The New York Times kills the story after legal threats (07:33) One donor, 7,800 gifts, $650,000 (09:30) Hakeem Jeffries' donor base ages 20 years in eight (12:27) Crypto, gambling and AIPAC lead the midterm spending (15:25) The influence money nobody tracks (20:14) CAIR cash, Jesse Watters, and the Sharia law question

In 2024, Americans spent an average of six full workdays a year filling out government forms, according to the government's own estimates. That's a total of 12 billion hours, or $430 billion of uncompensated labor a year. It's easy to read something like this and say: “Oh, well, government is inefficient. That's the price we pay for nice things.” But no, it's not. Social Security, Medicare and the Postal Service are incredibly complex programs that are easy to use. When government is hard to gain access to, it is often by design. Republicans want paying taxes to be a hellish hassle. Programs for the poor are often designed to humiliate, punish, control or scrutinize. How the government works is always a choice. When it works poorly, we should ask why — and we should demand better.   Annie Lowrey is a staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of the new book “The Time Tax: How the Government Wastes Our Time — and How to Fix It.” She is also, I should note, my wife, so this is a book whose ideas I have been living with for years. They have quietly infused more than a few episodes of this show. So it's a thrill to finally get to explore them directly.  This episode contains strong language. Mentioned: The Time Tax by Annie Lowrey Give People Money by Annie Lowrey Why Americans Hate Welfare by Martin Gilens Book Recommendations: My Silent War by Kim Philby To Hate Like This Is to Be Happy Forever by Will Blythe Gender Trouble by Judith Butler Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com. You can find the transcript and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs.html This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was produced by Annie Galvin. Fact-checking by Michelle Harris, with Kate Sinclair. Our senior engineer is Jeff Geld, with additional mixing by Aman Sahota, Johnny Simon and Isaac Jones. Our recording engineer is Aman Sahota. Cinematography by Marina King. Video editing by Brandon Belk-Yee, Dani Dillon and Julian Hackney. Our executive producer is Claire Gordon. The show's production team also includes Marie Cascione, Rollin Hu, Kristin Lin, Emma Kehlbeck, Jack McCordick and Jan Kobal. Original music by Pat McCusker. 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.

Americas IRA expert Ed Slott breaks down his personal tax-free retirement & estate planning playbook. Want To See How Permanent Life Insurance Can Improve Your Retirement Plan? Click Here: https://bttr.ly/bw-yt-aa-clarity Ed Slott walks Caleb Guilliams through traditional vs. Roth IRAs, future tax risk, permanent life insurance, tax diversification, Social Security, annuities, estate planning, and strategies for creating lasting, tax-free financial security for generations. Watch the Interview on Youtube for Visuals - https://youtu.be/tFBCwAkgkyUWant Us To Review Your Permanent Life Insurance Policy? Click Here: https://bttr.ly/yt-policy-review Want Free Whole Life Insurance Resources & Education? Go Here: https://bttr.ly/yt-bw-vault Learn More About BetterWealth: https://betterwealth.comChapters: DISCLAIMER: https://bttr.ly/aapolicy *This video is for entertainment purposes only and is not financial or legal advice. Financial Advice Disclaimer: All content on this channel is for education, discussion, and illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as professional financial advice or recommendation. Should you need such advice, consult a licensed financial or tax advisor. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy of the information on this channel. Neither host nor guests can be held responsible for any direct or incidental loss incurred by applying any of the information offered.

It's Tuesday, August 25th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson and Timothy Reed Indonesian pastor sentenced for citing Mohammed's polygamy An Indonesian pastor has been sentenced to two years in prison for pointing out Mohammad's polygamy. At the time of his death, the founder of Islam had nine wives. Dedi Saputra was falsely accused of “hostility, hatred or incitement” with a “potential of causing unrest.”  Like Dedi, the Apostle Paul ran into troubles along the way as well.  In Acts 17:4-5, Luke writes, “And some of them [in Thessalonica] were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas. “But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar.”     Surrogate mother speaks up for choosing life Baby Gabriel, the child in the middle of a massive rent-a-womb controversy, has survived his first heart surgery since being born two weeks ago. The child's surrogate mother, McKenna West, refused to abort him despite being sued by his biological parents, Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed. However, Baby Gabriel is now in the custody of the very parents who sought to have him killed!  In the New York Post, Miss West wrote, “No woman should be forced to kill the baby inside her. Most importantly, every child deserves a chance to live. As a cardiac nurse, I knew this little one had a great shot at survival if given the opportunity to receive the necessary treatment. “After I communicated to the contracting couple that I could not end this baby's life, their lawyer, and my own former lawyer, sent me letters threatening six-figure penalties if I didn't comply with their demand to terminate. The contracting couple cut off my payments, and I covered the rest of the pregnancy expenses myself.” Here's what Miss West told Lila Rose in the Live Action podcast.  WEST: “A diagnosis does not automatically mean that there is no hope or that somebody cannot live. But I knew that this baby boy that I was carrying, that I was feeling move, that he deserved that chance.” Listen to this word for our day from Exodus 22:22-24. “You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child.  If you afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry; and My wrath will become hot, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.” America and Canada at a stalemate in trade war The United States and Canada are in another trade war. The White House has announced that the U.S. will impose 50% tariffs on certain Canadian products like vehicles and steel imports. And now, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada will “hit back.”  Here's what Carney said in a press conference on Saturday: “You're at war when you're attacked, and we got attacked.” He added this. CARNEY: “We cannot accept what they've offered and we will not give what they've asked.”  (Read the transcript of Carney's remarks) Trump added this on Truth Social on Sunday: “Canada wants the benefits of being a State, without being one!!! They have also charged our great farmers, for many years, massive amounts of tariffs. No more!!!” United States to buy back its own bonds to lower inflation U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the federal government will be buying back its own bonds in an effort to rein in inflation and reduce the interest on the bonds, reports CNBC. That means that the government will use its $1 trillion checking account -- which happens to be borrowed money to begin with -- to buy its long-term bonds, in an artificial attempt to reduce interest rates. U.S. debt topped $40 trillion The United States federal debt topped $40 trillion last week, reports CBS News. (Check out the eye-opening website www.USDebtClock.org) The market responded. According to Fortune Magazine, gold is back up to $4,650 an ounce and silver is scraping $70 an ounce. Condo prices sinking Condo prices are sinking like a rock in 33 major city markets including in Florida, California, Texas, Colorado, and Washington state.  Wolf Street estimates a 29% average drop since the 2022 peak. Add inflation into that and that's a 38% drop in condominium prices. Condo prices can signal housing stress before the rest of the market collapses.  Divorce rate up for those over 55 U.S. divorce rates are way up for people older than 55 years of age. In fact, they've doubled since 1990. And,  among those over 65, the divorce rate has increase five-fold since 1990.   A recent Bowling Green University study found that the 50+ crowd now accounts for nearly 40% of all people getting divorced. That was only 8% in 1990. 2032 is Social security depletion date The Social Security depletion date has moved up another three months, now targeted for 2032. The ratio of workers paying into Social Security per retiree has plummeted from more than 5-to-1 in 1960 to 2.9-to-1 today. Mel Gibson to release Resurrection movies in 2027 Film producer and director Mel Gibson is wrapping up a 10-year project — a production of the sequel for The Passion of the Christ. The project is slated to be released as a two-part series on the Resurrection sometime in March and May next year — Good Friday and Ascension Day on the Christian calendar. The films were shot in Rome. Spiderman: Brand New Day misuses God's name 16 times And finally, the blockbuster film, Spiderman: Brand New Day, is #1 at the box office for its fourth week -- now at $2.2 billion worldwide. That's a record for the franchise. But Focus on the Family's PluggedIn.com and Ted Baehr's MovieGuide.org both warn of foul language, the single most concerning drawback for families. God's name and Jesus' name are misused a total of 16 times in the movie.  Exodus 20:7 says, “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, August 25th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ. Extra Print Water systems, connected to internet, vulnerable to hackers. Water systems connected to the internet are vulnerable, as systems in many states across the country have been hacked, according to the FBI and Environmental Protection Agency.  CBS News reported that some water systems lost pressure, while others lost their remote-control capabilities. According to officials, no drinking water has been directly affected. Water hackers have been linked to Iran and China.

America's national debt has crossed a staggering $40 trillion — but what does that actually mean for you? Michael sits down with Michael A. Peterson, Chairman and CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, to explain how the country got here, why mounting debt affects everything from mortgages to Social Security, and what it would really take for Washington to change course. Plus, listeners weigh in on whether Americans and their elected leaders are willing to make the difficult choices required to tackle the problem. Original air date 25 August 2026. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How much cash should you have set aside as you enter the early years of retirement so you can weather market downturns without constant worry? In this episode of Retirement Answers, Jacob Duke explains Rivertree's bucket strategy: keep two years of portfolio-withdrawal needs in cash (money market) and three years in short-duration fixed income to create a five-year runway, while avoiding being overly conservative and losing purchasing power to inflation. He also walks through how to take withdrawals in practice—generally pulling from what has gone up the most or down the least—and how to proactively replenish cash and bond buckets after strong market periods or following a decline.

In this episode, Pastors Joe Wilson and Lee McKinnon provide principles to help pastors steward their finances wisely. They further discuss the advantages and disadvantages of living in a parsonage, then inform listeners about Social Security and retirement. For more information, visit CBTSeminary.org

The New York Times reported that Jared Kushner met privately with Hakeem Jeffries — and the online left completely lost it. So Jeffries sat down in front of a Brooklyn housing project in a hat eight sizes too big and recorded a slow-motion selfie video to calm his own base, and it is the single most ridiculous thing you will see today. Larry O'Connor breaks down the pauses, the "Trump cartel" line, the Wolf Blitzer interview that followed on CNN, and the one thing Hakeem Jeffries never once said Democrats would actually DO for you. Raise your hand as a Social Security voter: https://AARP.org/SocialSecurityVoterBecome a Townhall VIP member with promo code "LARRY": https://townhall.com/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hillary Clinton accused Donald Trump of running "socialism for the rich" and enriching himself in office — so Larry O'Connor asks the question nobody in media ever puts to her. Bill Clinton was making $35,000 a year as governor of Arkansas and the couple left the White House in debt. So where did Hillary Clinton's fortune actually come from? Plus her claim that the Founders would be "appalled" and George Washington "heartsick" — from the party that tore their statues down. Raise your hand as a Social Security voter: https://AARP.org/SocialSecurityVoterBecome a Townhall VIP member with promo code "LARRY": https://townhall.com/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retirement planning often sounds like a math problem.But sometimes the most important question is not whether you can retire. It is what kind of life you want your money to support.In this episode, Ari Taublieb, CFP®, responds to a listener who is 52 year old and hopes to retire at 55 with approximately $2.8 million saved. On paper, he appears to be in a strong position. But like many people approaching retirement, he is trying to balance competing goals.He wants the freedom to spend more, travel, fly airplanes, and enjoy experiences he has worked decades to afford. At the same time, he is considering purchasing a home, navigating the Rule of 55, and figuring out how much is actually safe to withdraw without creating problems later.The challenge is not a lack of resources. It is deciding which priorities matter most.Ari walks through the tradeoffs involved when multiple goals compete for the same dollars. Buying a home may provide peace of mind, but it can reduce the assets available to generate retirement income. Spending more can create incredible experiences, but it may require accepting a different long-term outcome. Delaying retirement can improve the numbers, but it may come at the cost of years that can never be recovered.The deeper conversation centers around a mistake many future retirees make. They focus on reaching a specific net worth target instead of determining what income and lifestyle they actually need.By reverse engineering retirement around spending goals, future Social Security benefits, pension income, and personal priorities, a clearer picture begins to emerge.The takeaway is simple. Retirement is not about maximizing every financial decision. It is about understanding the tradeoffs, making intentional choices, and building a plan that supports the life you actually want to live.--Advisory services are offered through Root Financial Partners, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. This content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Viewing this content does not create an advisory relationship. We do not provide tax preparation or legal services. Always consult an investment, tax or legal professional regarding your specific situation.The strategies, case studies, and examples discussed may not be suitable for everyone. They are hypothetical and for illustrative and educational purposes only. They do not reflect actual client results and are not guarantees of future performance. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal.Comments reflect the views of individual users and do not necessarily represent the views of Root Financial. They are not verified, may not be accurate, and should not be considered testimonials or endorsementsParticipation in the Retirement Planning Academy or Early Retirement Academy does not create an advisory relationship with Root Financial. These programs are educational in nature and are not a substitute for personalized financial advice. Advisory services are offered only under a written agreement with Root Financial.Create Your Custom Early Retirement Strategy HereGet access to the same software I use for my clients and join the Early Retirement Academy hereAri Taublieb, CFP ®, MBA  is the Chief Growth Officer of Root Financial Partners and a Fiduciary Financial Planner specializing in helping clients retire early with confidence.

What's up, everybody? It's Tom Bilyeu here:Want my help starting a business? Join me here inside Zero To FounderSign up for my AI Masterclass: AI MasterclassFOLLOW TOM:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tombilyeu/Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tombilyeu?lang=enTwitter: https://twitter.com/tombilyeuYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TomBilyeuQuince: Free shipping and 365-day returns at https://quince.com/impactpodWhatnot: Download the Whatnot app today and get free shipping on your first order.Quo: Try for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months at https://quo.com/impactIncogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code IMPACT at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/impact Pique: 20% off at https://piquelife.com/impactShopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://shopify.com/impactSurfshark: Go to https://surfshark.com/TOMB or use code TOMB at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark! ATT Business: Switch to AT&T Business at business.att.comKetone IQ: Visit https://ketone.com/IMPACT for 30% OFF your subscription orderNetsuite: For the first time ever you can try NetSuite Next for free. If your revenues are at least in the seven figures, go to https://NetSuite.ai/Theory.The team breaks down the viral $300,000 debate between Candace Owens and Andrew Wilson—and argues it was a case study in everything wrong with online debating. The host's core point: the two were trying to litigate a criminal case whose facts haven't been established in court, arguing "internal frame versus internal frame," which inevitably devolves into madness when those frames don't intersect. He's pointed that this isn't about who's likable—he argues Wilson walked in as a "frame of reference" debater whose bully-the-room tactics collapsed against someone prepared, and that Wilson couldn't name the actual charges in the case while Candace could, making him look like he wasn't arguing from real command of the facts. On Candace, the host makes a deliberately careful epistemics argument: whatever you think of her conclusions, treating "she's obviously wrong" as self-evident is itself a frame-of-reference trap—because the facts of the trial (Tyler Robinson has not yet entered a plea, and the case hasn't been argued) simply aren't out yet, so neither side can claim proof. He predicts how the trial may play out and why the defense's choices about which evidence to use will be the real tell, while stressing repeatedly that he's speculating and that the honest position right now is "we don't know." Ryan and the team push on where the line sits between healthy skepticism and conspiratorial thinking, and the group lands on a shared lesson: don't get pulled into a debate when there's no agreed framework for adjudicating it, and wait for the facts before declaring a winner.The team breaks down the public exchange between Rep. Ro Khanna, who argues America must tax wealth and redistribute from billionaires, and Mark Cuban, who pushes back that "ideology is not a strategy." The host agrees with the diagnosis but not the cure: he concedes that people genuinely feel the system isn't working for them—and that they're right, pointing to the college-debt pipeline, an abusive housing market, and currency inflation eroding savings—but argues that taxing wealth misidentifies the solution. Walking through Cuban's argument, he explains the mechanics most people miss: founders of $10B "deca-unicorns" are typically cash-poor and stock-rich, worth billions on paper while the raised money goes into the company, not their pockets—so a wealth tax forces them to sell or borrow against speculative shares, which is often impossible and destructive to the company itself. He highlights Cuban's warning that a California wealth tax (Prop 40) would simply push investors to require startups to relocate to Texas, Indiana, or Florida first—meaning the state loses deca-unicorns it never even sees leave—and that "when you tax something, you get less of it." He connects it to his recurring critique of Bernie Sanders' framing: even if the revenue estimate were real (roughly $20B/year against a ~$30B Medicaid funding gap), you can only spend it once, and the act of liquidating shares to collect it would be self-defeating. The host's alternative is structural: get money out of politics, be fiscally disciplined, rebuild real manufacturing to take on China, stop funneling everyone into debt-financed college, let students discharge that debt in bankruptcy to force lending discipline, and stop suppressing wages with low-wage immigration so the true price of labor is revealed. Tom, Drew, and Ryan dig into a Census Bureau data effort that cross-referenced 2020 voter records against federal citizenship files—and end up in a genuine, three-way disagreement about what it means. Tom plants a strong flag: he believes there is significant voter fraud that will be revealed as more data is processed, arguing from "first principles" that where you have access plus incentive and no safeguard, abuse will follow, and that election integrity is worth shoring up even before there's overwhelming evidence. Drew and Ryan push back as the fact-checkers in the room: Drew stresses that the reported ~24,000 figure comes from a partial, unprocessed run and, crucially, that "non-citizen" includes lawful permanent residents (green-card holders) who aren't the same as people who crossed illegally—so the headline shouldn't be read as proof of illegal-alien ballot harvesting. Ryan fact-checks the specifics in real time: how Social Security numbers actually work for non-citizens (work authorizations, ITINs, fraudulent documents, expired visas), what California's voter-verification process actually requires (signature matching, with a first-time-voter ID exception under federal HAVA law), and the point that documented voter fraud in the US has consistently been shown to be well under 1%. The group works through California's and Minnesota's differing rules, whether signature-matching and vouching systems are genuinely exploitable, and lands on a striking meta-point: three people looking at the exact same facts arrive at very different conclusions, which is itself a lesson in how much of what we call "fact" is filtered through perception. A substantive, disagreement-driven look at election-integrity claims—with the receipts checked on air.ggSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of Ask KT & Suze Anything, Suze answers questions about Social Security, layoffs and trusts. Plus, the importance of taking care of your elders. Learn more about the Ultimate Scam Protection here: SuzeOrman.com Watch Suze’s YouTube Channel Jumpstart financial wellness for your employees: https://bit.ly/SecureSave Protect your financial future with the Must Have Docs: https://bit.ly/3Vq1V3G Help with the Must Have Docs: Email:support@musthavedocuments.zendesk.com Phone: 888-510-0510 Get your savings going with Alliant Credit Union: https://bit.ly/3rg0Yio Get Suze’s special offers for podcast listeners at suzeorman.com/offer Join Suze’s Women & Money Community for FREE and ASK SUZE your questions which may just end up on the podcast. Download the app by following one of these links: CLICK HERE FOR APPLE: https://apple.co/2KcAHbH CLICK HERE FOR GOOGLE PLAY: https://bit.ly/3curfMISee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Fifth Hour with Ben Maller sets sail into the murky waters of the Sunday Mailbag, with Robbie the Mariners Fan riding shotgun as the fellas swashbuckle their way through another hodgepodge of listener questions. On the menu: a Mike & Dogs invasion of the Ben Maller Show, the great Starbucks relocation mystery, Fake News, and the comedy stylings of Lucky Tony. Also, doggy diets, Piggly Wiggly problems, automobiles with enough miles to qualify for Social Security, and living that sweet lake life. The boys visit the top human zoo on the planet, activate the Marlins Man hotline, investigate why squids are apparently taking over the highways, and debate whether kids should actually get paid to attend school. Holy cannoli! Whatever happened to a gold star and a carton of chocolate milk? It's a grab bag of malarkey, mayhem, Maller Math, and listener-generated nonsense. No hocus-pocus, just focus! All questions sent in by new listeners & P1's of the #MallerMilitia! Download, subscribe, and remember that sharing is caring (unless it's an STD.) Follow Ben on Twitter @BenMaller and listen to the original terrestrial radio edition of "Ben Maller Show," Monday-Friday on Fox Sports Radio, 2a-6a ET, 11p-3a PT!...Follow, rate & review "The Fifth Hour!" #BenMaller #FSRWeekendsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Fifth Hour with Ben Maller sets sail into the murky waters of the Sunday Mailbag, with Robbie the Mariners Fan riding shotgun as the fellas swashbuckle their way through another hodgepodge of listener questions. On the menu: a Mike & Dogs invasion of the Ben Maller Show, the great Starbucks relocation mystery, Fake News, and the comedy stylings of Lucky Tony. Also, doggy diets, Piggly Wiggly problems, automobiles with enough miles to qualify for Social Security, and living that sweet lake life. The boys visit the top human zoo on the planet, activate the Marlins Man hotline, investigate why squids are apparently taking over the highways, and debate whether kids should actually get paid to attend school. Holy cannoli! Whatever happened to a gold star and a carton of chocolate milk? It's a grab bag of malarkey, mayhem, Maller Math, and listener-generated nonsense. No hocus-pocus, just focus! All questions sent in by new listeners & P1's of the #MallerMilitia! Download, subscribe, and remember that sharing is caring (unless it's an STD.) Follow Ben on Twitter @BenMaller and listen to the original terrestrial radio edition of "Ben Maller Show," Monday-Friday on Fox Sports Radio, 2a-6a ET, 11p-3a PT!...Follow, rate & review "The Fifth Hour!" #BenMaller #FSRWeekendsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Last Call, a look at the biggest stories Jim and Greg covered over the past week on the 3 Martini Lunch.This week, they discuss a socialist state lawmaker shocking the Democrats by winning the Florida U.S. Senate primary, a company admitting it completely fabricated recent polling results, the U.S. national debt reaching $40 trillion, and a majority of Dems, independents, and Republicans favoring price controls.First, they discuss the stunning victory of socialist Angie Nixon in the Florida Democratic U.S. Senate primary over the heavily-favored establishment pick, Alexander Vindman. Jim and Greg also discuss how this result may impact the governor's race, and they round up a number of encouraging results in GOP congressional primaries.Next, they dig into "Median Strategies" announcing it is done polling, fabricated all of their results, and the whole operation was a social experiment to see how much fake polling could get reported without anyone bothering to verify the results were legitimate.Then, they wince as the U.S. national debt surges past $40 trillion. They fume at both parties for refusing to deal with this problem long before it got this bad. They also blast Democrats and some Republicans who blocked the effort more than 20 years ago to allow Americans to invest some of the money they pay in Social Security taxes. The payoff now would have been huge.Finally, they groan as a new poll shows a majority of Democrats, independents, and even Republicans all favor price controls. Charlie argues that many politicians are flat out lying about our current economic conditions and are convincing too many people of the wrong remedy.Please visit our great sponsors:Brooklyn Beddinghttps://BrooklynBedding.comGet 30% off sitewide Brooklyn Bedding with promo code 3ML. BetterHelphttps://betterhelp.com/3ML See the reviews, see what stands out, and see if BetterHelp is right for you. Noble Goldhttps://NobleGoldInvestments.com/3MLIf you want to see how physical gold and silver could fit into your portfolio, download Noble Gold Investments FREE Wealth Protection Kit.New episodes every weekday. 

Jim and Chris discuss listener emails on spousal Social Security timing, a listener PSA on the super catch-up contribution rule, early withdrawals from a Roth 457(b) plan, Minimum Dignity Floor coverage using SPIAs, QLACs as a hedge against potential Social Security cuts, and a couple’s retirement strategy. (10:00) — A listener asks whether a wife nearing full retirement age can claim her own smaller Social Security benefit now, then switch to a spousal benefit once her husband files at his full retirement age. (18:15) — A listener PSA offers clarification on a previous Q&A episode’s super catch-up contribution rule discussion. (22:15) — Jim and Chris are asked how early withdrawals of growth from a Roth 457(b) plan are taxed for someone who won’t yet be 59 and a half, since 457(b) plans avoid the 10% early withdrawal penalty but may not meet the usual requirements for tax-free Roth distributions. (32:30) — George asks for guidance on using a dual life single premium immediate annuity (SPIA) to help a retired couple with minimal Social Security and no pension cover their Minimum Dignity Floor. (45:00) — A listener asks several questions about how qualified longevity annuity contracts (QLACs) work and whether the current contribution limit could offset a potential future cut to Social Security benefits. (1:00:30) — The guys review a retirement drawdown plan involving brokerage assets, Roth conversions, and an inheritance, and are asked whether the overall strategy holds up. The post Social Security, Early Withdrawals, SPIAs, QLACs, Retirement Strategy: Q&A #2634 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

The national debt just crossed $40 trillion, and it took only 95 days to add the last trillion, so Erick Erickson opens with the math nobody in Washington wants: our debt now exceeds our GDP, Social Security and Medicare are the engine, and neither party will touch it. He plays Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on […]

Friday's question pile ranges from the safest bond fund around to the harder question of what retirement is actually for. Don sorts through the choices with his usual preference for simple, sturdy answers.He weighs the TSP G Fund against BND, checks the bona fides of Raisin and The College Investor, and argues that leaving work makes sense only when something better is waiting on the other side.Then comes a candid disagreement over 21-fund portfolios, followed by a pension decision for a well-funded couple who can afford to self-insure. The court may have advisors, but Don is still happy being its jester.Topics03:26 Is the TSP G Fund enough fixed income?05:47 Raisin and The College Investor: useful and legitimate?09:44 Retirement needs a purpose, not just an age12:37 Twenty-one funds, advisor complexity, and honest disagreement16:11 Single-life versus joint-survivor pension choices18:57 Social Security timing, RMDs, and a very strong retirement planQuestions? Comments? Click!

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

Book a call: https://remnantfinance.com/calendarEmail us at info@remnantfinance.com or visit https://remnantfinance.com for more informationFOLLOW REMNANT FINANCEYoutube: @RemnantFinance (https://www.youtube.com/@RemnantFinance)Facebook: @remnantfinance (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560694316588)Twitter: @remnantfinance (https://x.com/remnantfinance)TikTok: @RemnantFinanceDon't forget to hit LIKE and SUBSCRIBEHans opens this episode with a correction to the original recording, the SECURE 2.0 Act dropped that penalty from 50 percent to 25 percent, and then makes the case that the only incentive that explains the rule at all is that they do not want you leaving it to your children.From there, a macro roundup on the three stories driving the tape right now: the 30-year Treasury clearing above 5.3 percent for the first time since 2007, oil sitting stubbornly in the eighties while the Strategic Petroleum Reserve hits its lowest level since 1982, and the Fed holding its range at 3.5 to 3.75 while the betting markets start pricing a hike rather than a cut. Then a replay of what was, for most of this show's run, its most popular episode. Hans and Brian take apart the conventional financial planning model, starting with the assumption buried underneath all of it: that anyone can predict the future. When you retire, what taxes will be, what inflation does, how long you live, how the market performs. Every one of those has to break your way for the plan to work. Only one has to break against you for it to fall apart.Chapters 00:00 – Opening segment 01:05 – Why part two of the interest rate breakdown is delayed a week 04:55 – Correction: SECURE 2.0 took the RMD penalty from 50 percent to 25 percent 06:45 – The one piece of the tax code Hans cannot steel man 07:00 – How the two gates work: 59 and a half, then 73 08:15 – Reducing the penalty to 10 percent, and why the barrier never really left 10:20 – Tax on the seed versus tax on the harvest 11:55 – Macro roundup: how a Treasury auction actually clears 14:05 – The 30-year breaks 5.3 percent, highest since 2007 14:55 – Heavy federal issuance and the approaching 40 trillion mark 15:50 – AI data center CapEx enters the rate story 16:35 – Three straight down sessions in the S&P 17:00 – Oil, Hormuz, and the lowest SPR level since 1982 20:20 – Why "cooling inflation" is still inflation 22:10 – Replay begins: the airline gig and stop being a passenger 25:50 – What the institutions want, and the four things they are optimizing for 26:40 – Pond money versus river money 27:45 – The blackjack cheat sheet the dealer hands you for free 28:50 – The conventional model in one paragraph 30:50 – Where did 65 come from, and why is it a goal at all 32:25 – The Social Security incentive trap 33:35 – The generation that struck gold on the timeline of history 36:10 – Asset price inflation is not value creation 37:10 – A proposal: let our generation take the hit 40:40 – On spending it all and leaving nothing behind 44:15 – The Waiting List, and what you would actually trade for your children 48:55 – Back to the model: predict the future 50:20 – What will tax rates be in thirty years 53:40 – If taxes double, does your plan survive 53:55 – The family budget slide and what it actually is 59:35 – 1988 prices and the case against linear inflation 1:02:50 – How long will you live, and the barrel of water on the island 1:05:35 – Market performance as a load-bearing assumption 1:06:45 – Closing segmentKey TakeawaysThe conventional plan is a stack of predictions dressed as a strategy. When you retire, what tax brackets look like decades out, what inflation does to the cost of a car or a house, how long you live, and what the market returns over the accumulation window.

Today's Poll Question at Smerconish.com: Would you accept both higher taxes on yourself and reduced Social Security and Medicare benefits in order to reduce the $40 trillion national debt? Michael confronts a problem Americans overwhelmingly say matters—but one Washington has repeatedly failed to solve. With the national debt now above $40 trillion and interest costs mounting, Michael revisits Pete Peterson's warnings and the 2010 Simpson-Bowles Commission, which sought shared sacrifice through higher revenue and reduced spending. Today's poll puts that tradeoff directly to voters: Are Americans willing to personally pay more and receive less if that's what serious debt reduction requires? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What are the biggest Social Security and retirement mistakes retirees make? Toby Mathis and Erin Moriarity break down when to claim Social Security, Social Security taxes, Roth conversions, Medicare and IRMAA surcharges, the 4% rule, retirement income strategies, long-term care costs, and how to avoid running out of money in retirement.  Learn how smarter Social Security planning, Medicare planning, tax strategies, and retirement withdrawal decisions can help you build a more secure retirement.  Check out Erin's Channel

How is this 24% reduction to social security going to work?Aubry’s gross health food. What’s the best thing to eat on the road? Conquest doesn’t always look like armies marching. When did Democrats start hating the country? Follow The Jesse Kelly Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheJesseKellyShowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it actually too late to catch up if you did not start investing seriously until later in your career? In this episode, Dr. Jim Dahle answers a listener's honest question about starting late and wanting to retire within a couple of years. He walks through why there is no real shortcut, the math works the same for everyone, but there are still concrete levers you can pull: tightening your budget, making sure your accounts and investments are actually optimized, reconsidering your asset allocation, and in some cases taking on a reasonable amount of leverage. Jim also covers tools that can help someone with limited time before retirement stretch their income further, including single premium immediate annuities and TIPS ladders, both of which can lock in guaranteed income and reduce sequence of returns risk. He explains why working just a few extra years can dramatically improve nearly every part of the retirement equation at once, more savings, more compound growth, higher Social Security payments, and a shorter retirement to fund. The episode also covers a contract review correction, an introduction to turnkey real estate investing for out of state properties, and a detailed breakdown of tax loss harvesting, including when long short direct indexing might or might not be worth the added complexity. Starting late does not mean it is too late. It just means the plan has to be built around the time and resources you actually have. Today's episode is brought to us by SoFi, the folks who help you get your money right. Paying off student debt quickly and getting your finances back on track isn't easy, but that's where SoFi can help — they have exclusive, low rates designed to help medical residents refinance student loans—and that could end up saving you thousands of dollars, helping you get out of student debt sooner. SoFi also offers the ability to lower your payments to just $100 a month* while you're still in residency. And if you're already out of residency, SoFi's got you covered there too. For more information, go to https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/Sofi SoFi Student Loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Additional terms and conditions apply. NMLS 696891. The White Coat Investor Podcast launched in January 2017, and since then, millions have downloaded it. Join your fellow physicians and other high income professionals and subscribe today! Host, Dr. Jim Dahle, is a practicing emergency physician and founder of The White Coat Investor blog. Like the blog, The White Coat Investor Podcast is dedicated to educating medical students, residents, physicians, dentists, and similar high-income professionals about personal finance and building wealth, so they can ultimately be their own financial advisor-or at least know enough to not get ripped off by a financial advisor. We tackle the hard topics like the best ways to pay off student loans, how to create your own personal financial plan, retirement planning, how to save money, investing in real estate, side hustles, and how everyone can be a millionaire by living WCI principles. Website: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com  YouTube: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/youtube  Student Loan Advice: https://studentloanadvice.com  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewhitecoatinvestor  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhitecoatinvestor  Twitter: https://twitter.com/WCInvestor  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhitecoatinvestor  Subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/whitecoatinvestor  Online Courses: https://whitecoatinvestor.teachable.com  Newsletter: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/free-monthly-newsletter 

Join Jim and Greg for the Thursday 3 Martini Lunch as they dig into the U.S. national debt reaching $40 trillion, Los Angeles taxpayers involuntarily bankrolling local elections, Mike Lindell demanding an audit of an election he lost by 45,000 votes, and California's vote counting is once again a national embarrassment.First, they wince as the U.S. national debt surges past $40 trillion. They fume at both parties for refusing to deal with this problem long before it got this bad. They also blast Democrats and some Republicans who blocked the effort more than 20 years ago to allow Americans to invest some of the money they pay in Social Security taxes. The payoff now would have been huge.Next, they shake their heads as Los Angeles will give five dollars of taxpayer money to local candidates for every dollar actually donated to them. It's yet another symptom of a truly rotten political system, which now has two dreadful candidates facing off in the mayoral election in November.Then, they get into Mike Lindell's latest allegations of suspicious election results. This time he's challenging his loss in last week's Minneota GOP primary for governor, which he lost by 45,000 votes. Finally, they look at California's latest vote counting disgrace. The vote totals in a special congressional election have not budged in more than 24 hours. How are California Democrats not humiliated by this ridiculous system?Please visit our great sponsors:Brooklyn Beddinghttps://BrooklynBedding.comGet 30% off sitewide Brooklyn Bedding with promo code 3ML. BetterHelphttps://betterhelp.com/3ML See the reviews, see what stands out, and see if BetterHelp is right for you. Noble Goldhttps://NobleGoldInvestments.com/3MLIf you want to see how physical gold and silver could fit into your portfolio, download Noble Gold Investments FREE Wealth Protection Kit.New episodes every weekday. 

The stock market may be hitting all-time highs, but is that a reason to celebrate or worry about what comes next? On the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase turn current headlines and listener questions into a lively conversation about investing, retirement, Social Security, housing, 55+ communities, healthcare, and more. ·       See what history may tell us about stock market all-time highs, why they have historically arrived in bunches, and how corrections may fit into the picture. ·       Track the S&P 500's historical performance and put today's market highs into historical perspective. ·       Ask whether early retirement might work by weighing spending, taxes, healthcare, Social Security, and retirement withdrawals. ·       Consider how much your adult children should know about your net worth, inheritance, and estate plans. ·       Weigh the pros and cons of using 529 plan funds for private education, including a potential wrinkle for families in New York. ·       Picture life in a 55+ community and explore ways to test-drive the lifestyle before making a move. ·       Think through renting in retirement and how rising housing costs may affect a long-term retirement budget. ·       Navigate the tougher side of retirement planning, including healthcare, Social Security, long-term care costs, and caregiving. ·       Revisit when to claim Social Security as questions continue around the program's future funding and potential changes. ·       Discover the Retire Sooner Method and explore a framework intended to help you think through the financial and lifestyle pieces of an earlier, happier retirement. Listen and subscribe to the Retire Sooner Podcast for an engaging, educational take on the money and life questions that often come along with planning for retirement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joseph Sternberg addresses the looming "year of doom" in 2032, when the Social Security trust fund is projected to run out. Without reform, benefits could be slashed by 22% to match current payroll tax revenues, creating a massive political crisis. Sternberg explores potential remedies such as means testing for high-earners like Elon Musk or raising the payroll tax cap, though he warns these could impact broader economic growth. He highlights the generational fairness issue of asking younger workers to fund benefits that baby boomers were unprepared to pay for themselves. The discussion also covers the rise of Hasan Piker, a popular Twitch streamer who broadcasts far-left economic views to a younger audience. While Piker is photogenic and compelling, Sternberg describes him as a "popularizer" rather than a deep thinker. Piker's pugnacious approach serves as a bellwether for whether radical progressive ideas can succeed in general elections. (5)

TABLE OF CONTENTS, JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 8-18-2026Liz Peek discusses the resilience of the American economy, noting that high-end consumer spending remains strong despite recession fears. Small businesses are reportedly "humming," with hiring and profitability reaching their highest levels since 2026. This economic momentum is increasingly driven by a massive boom in AI development, which has created an exponential demand for long-term capital. However, this appetite for money is pressuring the bond market, leading to higher mortgage rates that hinder the housing industry. Peek highlights a growing divide between red and blue states, where the former are more likely to embrace AI investment while the latter resist it. She also addresses the influence of Hasan Piker, a radical Twitch streamer who mobilizes young men for Democratic candidates like Abdul El-Sayed. Despite concerns about AI-related job losses, Peek argues it is a vital tool for productivity and medical advancement. (1)Jonathan Schanzer examines the fractured state of Hamas, noting the group currently controls only 30% of Gaza while facing internal discord over potential disarmament. International negotiators are discussing a "disarm first" condition, which Hamas leadership currently rejects, demanding an Israeli withdrawal instead—a term Schanzer deems unacceptable to any Israeli leader. The conversation turns to Iran, where Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Omandue to its perceived collaboration with the Iranian regime. Despite its "Switzerland of the Middle East" reputation, Oman hosts Houthi and IRGC headquarters, facilitating intelligence and weapon transfers. Schanzer warns that Iran is in "war mode," coordinating closely with its proxy network to prepare for future violence. He also details the rapid rearmament of the Syrian military under Turkish and Russian influence, which concerns Israel. Finally, a new Sunni alliance between Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia seeks to diminish Iranian Shiite power. (2)Gregory Copley analyzes China's recent ICBM test in the South China Sea, interpreting it as "Wolf Warrior diplomacy" designed to signal naval reach to the US and regional neighbors. Australia is countering this threat through the AUKUSand Five Eyes alliances, though Copley notes a lack of cohesion between current heads of government. He highlights Canada's significant pivot under Mark Carney toward independent defense spending, reaching 5% of GDP to secure the Northwest Passage and Arctic interests. Regarding Yemen, Copley argues the Houthis represent the legitimate military weight of North Yemen, while the internationally recognized government is merely a "Saudi puppet." He suggests Western diplomacy should deal directly with the Houthis rather than adhering to Saudi preferences. Additionally, Copley provides a historical defense of Charles I, arguing his execution was an illegal abrogation of the social contract. He maintains that constitutional monarchies remain a viable and flourishing modern system. (3)Mary Kissel discusses the strained US-South Korea alliance, where disagreements over military funding have prompted Seoul to seek independent nuclear-powered submarine capabilities. She characterizes North Korea as a reckless actor that has committed tens of thousands of combat troops and ballistic missiles to aid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Kissel critiques the "transactional nature" of current diplomacy, noting that contradictory signals toward Kim Jong-unundermine national security strategies. Regarding Oman, she defends the nation as a moderate partner vital for counterterrorism and the release of detained Americans, viewing Trump's threats to bomb the country as an expression of frustration over Iran. Kissel also highlights political successes in South America, where center-right victories in Colombia and Chile represent a return to capitalist principles and closer ties with the US. She concludes by noting that environmental factors like El Niño will soon challenge regional stability in Brazil. (4)Joseph Sternberg addresses the looming "year of doom" in 2032, when the Social Security trust fund is projected to run out. Without reform, benefits could be slashed by 22% to match current payroll tax revenues, creating a massive political crisis. Sternberg explores potential remedies such as means testing for high-earners like Elon Musk or raising the payroll tax cap, though he warns these could impact broader economic growth. He highlights the generational fairness issue of asking younger workers to fund benefits that baby boomers were unprepared to pay for themselves. The discussion also covers the rise of Hasan Piker, a popular Twitch streamer who broadcasts far-left economic views to a younger audience. While Piker is photogenic and compelling, Sternberg describes him as a "popularizer" rather than a deep thinker. Piker's pugnacious approach serves as a bellwether for whether radical progressive ideas can succeed in general elections. (5)Thaddeus McCotter analyzes the recent Michigan Democratic primary, where Dr. Abdul El-Sayed narrowly defeated the establishment candidate, Haley Stevens. El-Sayed, an "anti-establishment" fighter endorsed by Bernie Sanders, capitalized on unhappiness within the Democratic base, particularly in counties with large young populations like Washtenaw and Kent. While El-Sayed distances himself from the "Socialist" label, he supports extensive economic regulation and holds anti-Israel sentiments popular in Ann Arbor. McCotter notes that the Democratic establishment is now rallying around El-Sayed to preserve their Senate majority, hoping a "common enemy" in Donald Trump will bridge internal divides. Republican candidate Mike Rogers, a former Intelligence Committee chair, plans to counter El-Sayed by focusing on manufacturing, border security, and the risks of "Medicare for All" to seniors. McCotter warns that Trump's messaging on the "Iran war" and rising inflation remains a significant hurdle for Republican candidates in the general election. (6)Bob Zimmerman reports on the successful recovery of a SpaceX Starship near Christmas Island, which remained seaworthy for 24 days after a vertical splashdown in the Indian Ocean. This achievement, along with SpaceX's record-breaking launch frequency, signals a "renaissance to American ingenuity." Zimmerman notes that Elon Musk's political involvement was a defensive reaction to the Biden administration's regulatory pressure on his companies. In the Ukraineconflict, Ukrainian missiles successfully targeted a Russian factory producing Soyuz-2 rockets, aiming to cripple Russia's military satellite and drone communication capabilities. Regarding spaceport expansion, Zimmerman details SpaceX's potential new site in Louisiana, which offers hundreds of square miles for operations. He also critiques government-funded spaceports, like those in Australia or New Mexico, which often fail because they lack dedicated rocket companies as customers. Finally, research on mice aboard the International Space Station suggests that weightlessness does not fundamentally damage the heart's contracting mechanisms. (7)Two corrections applied, pending your confirmation: Hasan Piker (transcribed as "Hassan," segments 1 and 5 — the Twitch streamer spells it with one s) and Washtenaw County (transcribed as "Washington," segment 6 — Ann Arbor's county, which fits the context of young Democratic voters; flag me if the audio genuinely said Washington).

On Friday's Mark Levin Show, the pseudo-conservative, Woke Reich isolationist, and national-conservative voices are undermining the president, abandoning traditional Reaganite principles, and pushing for greater government intervention.  We have an alarming near-$50 trillion on-budget debt (with true obligations including Social Security, Medicare, and pensions closer to $300–350 trillion against an economy producing only about $20 trillion annually). Such demands for more government play into Democrats' hands, and principles are needed most when confronting economic and security threats. The proper path is growth and wealth creation through freer markets, competition, and smarter regulation rather than new programs; critics should present concrete plans if they have any. Election success ultimately depends on doing what is necessary, such as the president's decisive action to prevent the Iranian regime from obtaining nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles which deserves immediate credit. Later, the Vice President has argued that free-market advocates should stop invoking the market system and instead develop a plan to help younger people avoid socialism. Traditional Reaganite and Friedman-style conservatives who back the President's tax and regulatory policies are questioning these remarks. With nearly a $50 trillion on-budget debt the real problem is too much government, not more of it, and that debate belongs in the primaries.  Finally, Michele Tafoya, Minnesota Senate candidate, calls in and argues that Minnesota has been racing in the wrong direction under single-party Democrat rule, with Peggy Flanagan serving as lieutenant governor under Tim Walz for two terms during which the state became a national embarrassment. Drawing on her experience as an early WNBA play-by-play announcer who watched the league grow through women's pure skill and athleticism, she criticized the idea that biological men should compete in women's sports, noting that exclusion is fundamental to athletics and that giving roster spots to biological males simply excludes actual women in an absurd, Alice-in-Wonderland distortion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“MK Confidential” begins with a man who is actively getting away with murder. John List arrives in Denver and politely applies for a new Social Security card, under a new name. Robert P. Clark. The people of Denver will never suspect that the quiet, fastidious man who drifted into town aboard a train is a wanted fugitive. For weeks, while the bodies of his wife, mother, and three children lie on the floor of their family home, John builds a new life around his new name. He picks up work as a night cook line, then in a country club kitchen. Eventually, he reenters the accounting world, telling a series of half-truths about his past. He finds a Lutheran church in Denver, and meets the lovely Delores Miller, a divorcée who finds Bob Clark faithful and trustworthy. They marry in Maryland, where her parents live, and where John married the wife he would later kill. The image of John List haunts the people of Westfield, and the legend only grows with time. Many on the police force take the case personally; two detectives take it to the TV show, “America's Most Wanted.” After 18 years on the run, even the missing man's face is a mystery — until now. This is Episode 4 of the John List story. Lean: Discover why LEAN is becoming the choice for real weight‑loss results—shop now at https://TAKELEAN.com use code KELLY AquaTru: Head to https://AquaTru.com & use code MKC for 20% off your purifier and a 30-day best-tasting water guarantee. Follow The Megyn Kelly Show on all social platforms: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MegynKelly Twitter: https://Twitter.com/MegynKellyShow Instagram: https://Instagram.com/MegynKellyShow Facebook: https://Facebook.com/MegynKellyShow 
Find out more information at:
 https://www.devilmaycaremedia.com/megynkellyshow Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.