Sponsored by
Happy Thursday 🇺🇸,
Kansas just elected its first Democratic senator since 1932. Texas, Ohio and Iowa got Democratic governors. Today's episode skips the victory laps and asks what the new Congress actually means for your taxes, gas, mortgage and 401(k) over the next two years.
New episode first, then 5 stories you may have missed. About five minutes, start to finish.
NEW EPISODE · OUT NOW
COMMON SENSE · EPISODE 25 · 13 MIN
Blue Tsunami: What It Does to Your Money
Kansas elected its first Democratic senator since 1932, and Democrats now run Congress. Cole and Savannah skip the victory laps: why it happened (hint: your gas receipt), what actually changes for your taxes, mortgage, 401(k), gold and crypto by 2028, what Democrats should do with the gavel, and what they'll probably do instead.
COMMON SENSE - RED STATE FINANCE
Blue Tsunami: What It Does to Your Money
Also on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart and every other podcast app.
Search "Common Sense Red State Finance."
PLUS: 5 STORIES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
01 · WASHINGTON
Vance's Verdict: "The Reason We Lost Is the War"
JD Vance dropped a post-mortem on X Wednesday. Republican voters showed up, he says, but many 2024 Trump/Vance voters went Democrat. His verdict: "The reason we lost is the war." Meanwhile, the GOP finger-pointing started fast. One Texas GOP lobbyist: "a disaster of the first magnitude." Trump says the war was "a piece of it," and he'd do it again.
TRANSLATION: Gas and grocery bills just decided an election. Expect both parties to suddenly discover the word "affordability." Watch what they pass, not what they post.
02 · YOUR WALLET
A Record Nobody Wanted at the Pump
Gas averaged $4.15 a gallon on Election Day, the highest ever on a congressional Election Day, per AAA. Diesel hit $6.29. The good news: prices fell 12 cents last week thanks to cheaper winter-blend fuel. The bad news: the year started at $2.83.
TRANSLATION: Prices usually bottom out in late fall. Fill up when you see a dip, and budget holiday road trips at today's price, not January's.
PARTNERS WITH:
I Almost Threw Out My Keurig. It Wasn't Broken.
Every cup from my Keurig started tasting weak, flat, stale — so I unplugged it and stuck it in a closet. Then I learned the dirty secret of grocery store K-Cups: by the time a pod reaches your kitchen, it's usually spent months going from factory to warehouse to truck to shelf. The flavor oils are long gone. Some brands even over-roast to hide it.
The fix wasn't a new machine. It was fresh pods from Angelino's, a family-owned L.A. roastery that roasts, packs, and ships within 3–5 days — straight to your door, from 39¢ a cup. Over 1,000,000 happy customers. 50+ flavors, no subscription required, and 15% off your first order, applied automatically at checkout.
03 · MAIN STREET
Fewer People Under the Golden Arches
McDonald's said U.S. sales at older stores slipped 0.2% last quarter. Fewer customers came in; the ones who did just paid more. Its Under $3 menu didn't land, so a new value deal is coming. Shareholders still got a 4% dividend raise. Priorities.
TRANSLATION: When the dollar menu struggles, chains fight for you with deals. Use the app; that's where the real discounts live now.
04 · MARKETS
The Robots Ate Your Laptop Budget
AI data centers are hoovering up memory chips, and memory costs are up about 300% in a year, per Fox Business. Estimates have PC prices up 17% and smartphones up 13%. Just in time for the holidays, naturally.
TRANSLATION: If a new laptop or phone is on the gift list, buy during an early sale. Waiting for prices to drop may not work this year.
05 · LIGHTER SIDE
The Great Turkey Price War
Amazon rolled out a $25 Thanksgiving meal with an 8-pound Butterball, beating Walmart's $35 basket. The catch: Amazon's feeds six (about $4.17 a head), and Walmart's feeds 10 ($3.50). Somewhere, a math teacher is smiling.
TRANSLATION: Compare cost per person, not the sticker. And if Uncle Rick eats for three, plan accordingly.
Want the full version? The Common Sense Club is $4/mo or $36/yr: no ads, every Vault guide, members-only episodes, plus the full Sunday issue.
See you Sunday.
The Red State Finance team
