Key Takeaways Volatility is rising as AI fears replace geopolitics as the top market risk. The CBOE Volatility Index jumped 30% in February, signaling growing market anxiety.Volatility ETFs can hedge downside in choppy markets.The year began on a volatile note, with heightened geopolitical uncertainties and tariff tensions accounting for much of the uncertainty in January. Even so, markets proved resilient, with the S&P 500 finishing the month in positive territory, gaining about 1.9%.However, volatility ha ...

Group 1 - The newly-appointed Federal Reserve chairman faces a significant challenge reminiscent of post-World War II, with the U.S. experiencing its largest budget crisis in 70 years, where interest payments consume one in every five dollars collected in taxes [1] - The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) predicts that by 2035, interest costs will surpass Medicare expenditures, becoming the largest budget item [1] - Rising interest rates would exacerbate the budget deficit, increasing the cost of new borrowings and accelerating interest expenses [1] Group 2 - President Trump emphasizes the need for lower interest rates to maintain the U.S. as the safest investment destination, arguing that high interest costs are detrimental to the economy [2] - The conflict between the Federal Reserve and the administration centers on managing interest costs, with potential rate increases posing challenges to fiscal policy [2] - The Treasury heavily relies on T-bills for refinancing and funding deficits, with T-bills accounting for 84% of federal borrowings in the last fiscal year, and $10 trillion in U.S. bonds maturing in the next twelve months [2]

Core Insights - The national mood regarding the United States' financial health is negative as the country enters 2026, with a significant focus on the $38 trillion national debt [1] - A report indicates that 82% of voters believe lawmakers should prioritize addressing the national debt, reflecting a decline in confidence regarding fiscal management [2][3] - The events of 2025, including a historic government shutdown and high interest costs, have intensified public concern about the debt crisis as the election cycle begins [3] Voter Sentiment - The January 2026 index shows a score of 51, indicating a six-point drop from January 2025, highlighting voters' urgency to tackle the unsustainable national debt [2] - Michael A. Peterson, CEO of the Peterson Foundation, links public anxiety to economic impacts, emphasizing that rising debt pressures inflation and interest rates, affecting the cost of living and economic growth [4] Bipartisan Consensus - There is a notable bipartisan agreement on the need for fiscal restraint, with 79% of voters considering debt reduction a top-three priority for both the president and Congress [5] - Breakdown by party affiliation shows 89% of Republicans, 75% of Democrats, and 70% of independents view debt reduction as a priority, indicating cross-party alignment on this issue [5]

Core Insights - Cost Plus Drugs can significantly reduce the price of certain generic medications from thousands of dollars to double-digit amounts, particularly benefiting uninsured patients or those with high deductibles [1] - The company operates by selling medications at manufacturing cost plus a flat 15% markup, eliminating traditional pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and providing transparency in pricing [2] - Mark Cuban advocates for dismantling opaque middlemen in healthcare to improve market efficiency and reduce fiscal strain on the national budget [4] Company Overview - Cost Plus Drugs sells medications directly to consumers, bypassing PBMs, which have been criticized for their role in inflating drug prices [5] - The company publishes acquisition costs and pricing formulas, allowing customers to understand how prices are determined [2] Industry Context - The national debt of the United States has surpassed $38 trillion, with annual interest payments around $1 trillion, raising concerns about fiscal sustainability [3] - The FTC has investigated PBMs for excessive markups, with a report indicating that they marked up drugs by $7.3 billion beyond acquisition costs [5] - Health insurance costs are a major concern for voters, with a significant portion prioritizing lower healthcare costs in upcoming elections [9] Proposed Solutions - Cuban's proposal includes imposing fines on insurers that over-bill or deny care, aiming to promote transparency and efficiency in healthcare pricing [4] - He suggests that if brand medications were sold at net pricing, it could save patients tens of billions annually [6] Challenges and Criticism - Experts caution that while Cost Plus Drugs exemplifies a model for reducing prices, it may not address the broader structural issues contributing to the national debt [10] - The criticism of PBMs has led to ongoing legal challenges, highlighting the contentious nature of the healthcare pricing landscape [7]

RT Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG)The interest on our $38 trillion dollar national debt has now reached $1 trillion dollars but they are pitching a $112.1 billion dollar plan to rebuild Gaza with the U.S. supporting half of that in grants and debt guarantees.Of course after they clear 10,000+ dead bodies buried under 68 million tons of rubble.Why do Americans have to pay for this? ...

Economic Changes Under Trump Administration - The second Donald Trump Administration has made significant changes to the economy and shows no signs of slowing down [1] Deficit Spending and Interest Rates - The government's $2 trillion deficit is putting upward pressure on Treasury yields, which affects borrowing costs across the economy [4] - Economists suggest that reducing deficit spending could lead to lower interest rates, benefiting mortgages, car loans, and business credit [3][4] National Debt Concerns - The national debt is approaching $40 trillion, raising concerns about the budget and deficit among the public [5] Housing Market Dynamics - Single-family home prices have increased by 0.1% over the last 12 months, remaining near all-time highs [6] - Economists argue that high housing costs are due to insufficient new construction rather than the length of mortgage loans [6][7] Inflation Trends - The Consumer Price Index (CPI) has risen from 2.3% in April to 3% by September, with forecasts indicating a core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index of 3.3% for Q4 2025, largely driven by tariffs [8]

Group 1: Musk's Political Involvement and Views on National Debt - Elon Musk's political engagement is characterized as a "very interesting side quest," involving significant financial contributions to Trump's campaign and subsequent conflicts with the White House [1] - The separation between Musk and Trump was anticipated, influenced by Musk's criticism of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which he believes undermines efforts to reduce government spending [2] - Musk's concerns reflect a broader anxiety among business leaders regarding the national debt, which has surpassed $38 trillion [2] Group 2: Economic Implications of National Debt - Economists express concern not about the national debt level itself, but about the rising interest payments and their effect on the debt-to-GDP ratio, a key indicator of economic health [3] - Interest payments on the national debt are projected to reach $104 billion by October 2025, accounting for 15% of total federal spending in fiscal year 2026, with total interest for FY 2025 at $1.22 trillion [4] - To improve the debt-to-GDP ratio, nations can either cut spending or stimulate economic growth, with Musk advocating for the latter through advancements in AI [4] Group 3: Musk's Perspective on AI and Economic Growth - Musk asserts that AI and robotics are crucial for addressing the U.S. debt crisis, suggesting that technological advancements will drive economic growth [5] - He highlights that current interest payments on the national debt exceed the entire U.S. military budget, indicating a critical financial situation [5] - Musk warns that the increased production from AI could lead to "significant deflation," presenting a complex challenge for the economy [6]

Core Insights - Gold prices have surged 35% over the past year, recently exceeding $4,000 per ounce, indicating a significant increase in demand for the precious metal [1] - The U.S. national debt has reached $38.36 trillion as of November 2025, with interest costs surpassing spending on defense and Medicare, raising concerns about inflation and economic stability [2] - Central banks globally have been stockpiling gold, adding 1,045 tonnes to reserves in 2024, marking the third consecutive year of net purchases exceeding 1,000 tonnes [3] Industry Trends - The surge in gold prices is attributed to concerns over inflation and the increasing national debt, leading to a heightened demand for gold as a hedge against economic instability [2][4] - The difficulty in purchasing gold in some regions is contrasted by the ease of adding it to investment portfolios through various methods [3] - Physical bullion, such as bars or coins, remains a direct and popular method for investors to gain exposure to gold [4]

Core Viewpoint - President Trump's informal proposal to distribute tariff revenue as stimulus checks to American taxpayers may provide short-term benefits but could lead to significant long-term economic issues [1][18] Group 1: Tariff Stimulus Proposal - President Trump has proposed a "tariff dividend" of at least $2,000 per person to American taxpayers, aiming to stimulate economic activity and support a weaker job market [8][5] - The proposal has generated excitement among taxpayers and social media users, reminiscent of fiscal stimulus checks during the COVID-19 pandemic [4][8] Group 2: Economic Implications - The total customs duties revenue for the U.S. government in fiscal year 2025 was approximately $195 billion, with projections suggesting annual tariff revenue could reach around $200 billion over the next decade [11] - Concerns arise regarding whether sufficient tariff revenue exists to support the proposed stimulus payments, which could exceed the annual revenue collected [10][11] Group 3: Inflation and Economic Stability - There is a risk that tariff stimulus checks could reignite inflation, which had previously surged to a four-decade high of 9.1% in October 2022 due to rapid increases in the money supply during the pandemic [12][13] - A study indicated that fiscal stimulus during the pandemic contributed to an increase in inflation by approximately 2.6 percentage points, suggesting similar inflationary pressures could arise from the proposed tariff checks [13] Group 4: Long-term Economic Risks - The short-term boost to economic activity and employment from the stimulus checks may lead to a problematic economic snap-back after the funds are spent [14] - The potential for stagflation, characterized by rising inflation and unemployment alongside stagnant economic growth, poses a significant challenge for economic policy [16] - The proposal does not adequately address the growing national debt, raising concerns about the sustainability of using tariff revenue for stimulus payouts [17]

JUST IN: 🇺🇸 President Trump says our 'massive' tariff revenue will be used to "substantially pay down national debt." ...