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Everything’s getting more expensive. Fast. Food. Gas. Rent. Your patience. And yet… somehow… Costco is out here holding the line like it’s 1999. A $1.50 hot dog combo—unchanged. No inflation. No excuses. In a world where everything keeps going up, Costco just quietly reminded everyone what consistency actually looks like.

Meanwhile, in Oklahoma, while most headlines are busy reminding you how bad things are, one man reminded everyone what this country still produces. A high school principal didn’t hesitate, didn’t wait, didn’t think twice—he ran toward a gunman, took a bullet, and stopped it. As much bad news as there is these days, that’s something worth paying attention to. A real American hero, plain and simple.

Donald Trump is already calling it a “major step toward peace” after Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz following the Israel–Lebanon ceasefire.

The Pope decided to jump into geopolitics—and not quietly. Pope Leo XIV is now accusing the world of being “ravaged by tyrants” while taking shots at Donald Trump over Iran. Even the Vatican isn’t staying in its lane anymore, and religion is being pulled right back into global conflict narratives.

Meanwhile, the world’s most powerful people met behind closed doors in Washington for the Bilderberg Meeting—no press, no records, no transparency. Just billionaires and leaders having “conversations.” The kind that shape things without ever being explained.

Back home, Congress continues its slow-motion collapse. Eric Swalwell is stepping down, citing “mistakes,” while Tony Gonzales exits after a scandal that sounds more like a Netflix script than public service. The people writing the rules can’t seem to follow basic ones.

Overseas, Europe is quietly preparing for a world where America doesn’t show up. NATO allies are exploring a “European NATO” fallback plan—basically asking what happens if the U.S. isn’t reliable anymore.

And just to round things out, North Korea is ramping up nuclear production again. Faster. Bigger. More serious.

The “American Dream” just got a lot more expensive. The average monthly mortgage payment has officially crossed $2,000 for the first time ever—up 44% in just four years. Back in 2021, it was $1,390. Same country. Same houses. Completely different reality for anyone trying to buy one.

Wages aren’t keeping up either. Prices climbed 3.3% year-over-year last month, closing in on wage growth—and on a monthly basis, inflation already won. A 0.9% spike from February to March wiped out real earnings, with workers effectively making less than they did the month before. You’re working the same hours… for less buying power.

Meanwhile, Wall Street is doing just fine. Strategy dropped $1 billion on Bitcoin, doubling down on volatility, while Michael Saylor keeps pushing the all-in strategy. And over at JPMorgan Chase, traders pulled in record profits—thanks to market chaos tied to global conflict. Turns out instability is very profitable… if you’re on the right side of it.

Back home, the IRS is shrinking—fast. Roughly 25% of the workforce gone, with more cuts coming. Fewer audits, fewer eyes, and more Americans starting to wonder just how closely anyone’s paying attention anymore. Not exactly the kind of signal you want to send from a tax system that runs on voluntary compliance.

Ticket prices finally met reality. StubHub is refunding $10 million after the FTC called out its habit of hiding fees until the last second. The fix? Show the real price upfront. Groundbreaking concept: tell people what something actually costs before they buy it.

Big Tech is shifting gears. Google is putting $10 million into AI training for 40,000 manufacturing workers. Translation: the same technology reshaping jobs is now being sold as the solution to survive it.

Out in California, the math isn’t working. Hotels in Los Angeles are getting squeezed—higher wages, rising costs, and falling demand all hitting at once. A mandated path toward $30/hour sounds great until businesses start cutting hours, slowing hiring, or just leaving altogether.

And they are leaving. KB Home is relocating its headquarters from Los Angeles to Arizona, chasing lower costs and fewer headaches. At the same time, 7-Eleven is shutting down 600+ stores as part of a broader reset. When companies start pulling back at scale, it’s usually not random.

Meanwhile, the entertainment and tech worlds are trimming fast. The Walt Disney Company is cutting 1,000 roles across TV and film, and Snap Inc. is slashing about 16% of its workforce in an AI-driven overhaul. Efficiency is in. Headcount is out.

Last Week:

Last week’s poll didn’t exactly settle the debate. 59% said the original moon landing was real… which means 41% aren’t buying it. For one of the most iconic moments in American history, that’s less “case closed” and more “jury still out.”

This Week

Every week, one person wins big while millions walk away with nothing. But what if the system flipped? Same total payout, completely different outcome. One $50 million winner… or 50 people each getting a real shot at changing their life.

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Bloomberg is reporting up to $2.5 trillion in potential dollar selling pressure as Asian nations reconsider U.S. currency holdings. When reserve currency dynamics shift, everyday Americans with retirement accounts feel it — whether they're watching or not.

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The PGA Tour:
Looks like the Saudi money might be drying up. Reports say the Public Investment Fund is pulling back, and suddenly LIV Golf’s future doesn’t look so guaranteed. After years of disruption, PGA Tour may have just outlasted its biggest threat.

American Eagle (aka Sydney Sweeney):
She’s done it again. Sydney Sweeney dropped another campaign—this time leading American Eagle’s latest denim push—and the stock jumped 9%. Not their first rodeo, and clearly not a coincidence. New campaign, same result: attention up, sales up, stock up.

World Cup Fans:
A $12.90 train ride just turned into $150+. Add record ticket prices, tailgating bans, and “limited” ticket supply… and it’s the same story—fans pay more, FIFA cashes in.

Live Nation & Ticketmaster:
Finally took a hit. A federal jury ruled their ticketing empire crossed the line into monopoly territory. Turns out everyone knew… now it’s just official.

Wait… is this the start of a third political party?

We’ll get to that in the closing comments. But first—this video asks a question that’s going to make you pause… why don’t schools actually teach this about federal income tax?

For decades, investors have treated gold and silver like interchangeable “safe havens.” They’re not. Since 1976, gold has significantly outperformed silver—turning $1,000 into nearly $38,000, compared to about $20,000 for silver. Silver has had its moments and short-term surges, especially recently, but over the long haul, gold has been the more consistent wealth builder while silver rides a much more volatile path.

Translation: Silver makes headlines. Gold makes money.

Everyone loves the idea of picking the next big winner. Reality? Most don’t. Broad index ETFs like Vanguard S&P 500 ETF keep quietly doing their job—delivering market returns without the guesswork. In 2025, the S&P 500 gained 17.8%… and 79% of professional fund managers still underperformed it. Not amateurs. Professionals. The people paid to beat the market… didn’t.

Translation: Trying to outsmart the market usually ends with the market outsmarting you.

The JD Vance anti-fraud task force just suspended 447 hospices and 23 home health agencies in Los Angeles—tied to more than $600 million in suspected fraud. That’s a 539% spike from earlier this month. Translation: this wasn’t small, and it wasn’t rare. The White House says more is coming.

Translation: Turns out the system wasn’t just leaking… it was wide open.

We’re no Nick Shirley… but clearly something we said hit a nerve.

This week’s best seller? A hoodie that states the obvious—something a surprising number of people seem to forget. Turns out, “Fraud Is Still Bad” isn’t exactly a controversial take… unless you’ve been paying attention.

If you want one, grab it here

A 34-year-old researcher exploring anti-gravity tech reportedly warned her life was in danger… then was found dead from a supposed self-inflicted gunshot. Amy Eskridge becomes the latest in a growing list of mysterious deaths tied to advanced research—with little public detail, no clear investigation trail, and a lot of unanswered questions.

Translation: When the story doesn’t add up… people start asking what’s missing.

More than 118,000 U.S. homes were hit with foreclosure filings in just the first three months of 2026—a 26% jump year-over-year. Actual repossessions are climbing even faster, up 45%, as banks move more aggressively against struggling homeowners. The pressure is building, and the trend isn’t slowing.

Translation: When people can’t afford their homes… everything else follows.

An Indiana sheriff and his wife just got booked after she allegedly collected over $200,000 in disability checks… while posting photos of horseback riding and parasailing. Richard Kelly and his wife now face fraud charges after investigators say she was medically cleared to work the entire time.

Translation: If you can parasail… you can probably work.

A California nurse drank 14 shots of tequila on a Carnival Corporation cruise, blacked out, fell… and just walked away with $300,000. Her lawyers argued staff should’ve cut her off before things went sideways. The court agreed.

Translation: Personal responsibility just got outsourced.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is backing a program handing out up to $500 vouchers for haircuts, massages, and “wellness” services to select migrant groups—right as the city stares down a roughly $50 million deficit. At the same time, public schools are bracing for staffing cuts tied to their own budget shortfall.

Translation: There’s always money… just depends who it’s for.

Three California residents just got convicted after staging “bear attacks” on luxury cars—using a guy in a costume. A biologist reviewed the footage and confirmed what everyone else was thinking: that’s not a bear… that’s a grown man in a suit. The scam ran under “Operation Bear Claw” and ended with jail time, probation, and restitution.

Translation: Even the bears aren’t real anymore.

Airport lounges used to be quiet. Business travelers, a drink, maybe some cheese cubes. Now? Chaos. Overcrowded, kids running wild, and people treating the buffet like a grocery store. At one New York lounge, a couple ordered six burgers… then stuffed them into a duffel bag and walked out like it was Costco. Plates hidden, desserts grabbed, zero shame.

Translation: Give people “free” food… and suddenly manners disappear.

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How many times have we heard this before? “We need a third option.” “Both parties are broken.” “Nothing changes.” So here we are again, looking at something new—the American Congress Party. But let’s ask the uncomfortable question first: is this actually a political party… or just the latest outlet for frustration?

Because America doesn’t have a great track record here. Ross Perot shook the system in the 90s and still couldn’t break through. Ralph Nader made noise and got blamed for elections. Gary Johnson had momentum and still barely cracked double digits. So what makes this different?

On the surface, the American Congress Party says everything people want to hear—anti-corruption, lower taxes, less war, more transparency. Then it goes further, talking about unity, consciousness, energy… a “spiritual movement.” That’s not a traditional policy platform. That’s a worldview. So ask yourself—does that attract voters… or lose them?

And here’s the bigger question no one really answers: can a third party even exist in the American system? Winner-take-all elections. Ballot access barriers. Debate stage gatekeeping. Funding pipelines. Media control. The entire structure is built for two sides. Not three. So is this a movement trying to break the system… or one the system will simply ignore until it disappears?

Because if millions of Americans are this fed up, why hasn’t anything real replaced it yet? Is it because no one’s built it properly… or because the system won’t allow it?

That’s the part worth thinking about. This isn’t really about the American Congress Party. It’s about what it represents—how many people are done, how many feel politically homeless, and how many are looking for something that actually reflects them. So if a third party ever did gain real traction… would the system adapt? Or would it crush it before it ever had the chance?

Now your turn. No filters, no safe answers—what do you actually think? Is a real third party even possible in America, or is the system locked for good? Hit reply and tell us straight. The best takes—agree or disagree—are going in next week’s email.