In partnership with
Happy Thursday 🇺🇸,
Nvidia's CEO admitted an affair on Sunday. U.S. intelligence officials believe the woman was working for China, and the stock fell almost 10% in two days. Today's episode runs the hit list of the biggest CEO scandals, from Enron to a Coldplay kiss cam, and tallies up who actually paid for them. (Hint: check your 401(k).)
New episode first, then 5 stories you may have missed. About five minutes, start to finish.
NEW EPISODE · OUT NOW
COMMON SENSE · EPISODE 26 · 13 MIN
The CEO Scandal Hit List: Who Really Paid
Nvidia's CEO admitted an affair with an alleged Chinese spy, and the stock sank almost 10% in two days. Cole and Savannah run the hit list: Enron, WeWork, the Nikola truck that only worked downhill, FTX and the Coldplay kiss cam. Who lied, who got caught, who walked away rich, and three ways to keep the next one out of your retirement account.
COMMON SENSE - RED STATE FINANCE
The CEO Scandal Hit List: Who Really Paid
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
Voters Grumbled. The Tariffs Are Staying.
One week after the midterms, the White House told business leaders it's sticking with its tariffs, even as a Reuters/Ipsos poll found 62% of Americans want them repealed. Trump's own former top economic adviser, Gary Cohn, said consumers are footing the bill. Congress changes hands in January; the tariffs, apparently, don't.
TRANSLATION: Don't wait for Washington to make imported stuff cheaper. If a big-ticket purchase is on your list, shop sales, not policy promises.
02 · YOUR WALLET
Gas Dips Under $4. Don't Pop the Champagne.
The national average fell to $3.98 on Tuesday, the first time under $4 since July, per AAA, thanks to cheaper winter-blend fuel. Still, the record Thanksgiving-week average was $3.58 back in 2022, and diesel sits at $6.16. Relief, technically.
TRANSLATION: Prices usually keep easing into Thanksgiving. Fill up at warehouse clubs or with a grocery fuel-rewards card before the road trip.
PARTNERS WITH:
The AI Work Handbook That Cuts Your Workday in Half
The 8-hour workday is becoming a 4-hour workday for people who know how to use AI.
Everyone else is still catching up.
This AI work playbook shows you exactly how to cut your work hours in half using AI.
Sign up for Superhuman AI and get:
50+ step-by-step AI tutorials to cut your workload in half — covering every part of your workday, from emails to strategy, used by 1M+ professionals at Google, Microsoft, and NASA
Superhuman AI newsletter (4 min daily) so you keep discovering new AI tools and skills to stay ahead in your career — the playbook is just the start
03 · MAIN STREET
Black Friday Starts... Today?
Walmart's first round of Black Friday deals opens to everyone at 12:01 a.m. ET Friday (Walmart+ members got in early this morning) and runs through Nov. 15. The actual Black Friday is Nov. 27. At this rate, it'll start in July.
TRANSLATION: Early 'deals' aren't always the best deals. Price-check the big stuff now, then compare again Thanksgiving week before you buy.
04 · MARKETS
The $64 Billion IPO Wants Your Money Too
AI lab Anthropic set its IPO at $70 to $78 a share, with trading expected Nov. 19 under 'ANT.' About 20% of shares may go to regular investors, versus the usual 5% to 10%. Top-end value: up to $1.4 trillion. No pressure.
TRANSLATION: Hot IPOs can swing hard on day one. If you want in, use money you won't need for years, and don't bet the emergency fund.
05 · LIGHTER SIDE
Facebook's AI Thinks Soda Is Booze
Rhode Island's Yacht Club Soda, around since 1915, says Meta's AI keeps age-restricting its page because its glass bottles look like alcohol. Human reviewers clear it; the bot flags it again. Two months of arguing with a chatbot. We've all been there.
TRANSLATION: Small businesses live and die by social reach. If you like a local brand, follow it directly and buy from its site.
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
