Layoffs, Lectures, TrumpRX and a $180 Burger

Funny how fast the slogan collapses.

“No human is illegal”… until someone steps onto a gated estate. Then it’s walls, guards, cameras, and strict rules about who belongs. Open borders for the country. Closed borders for the driveway. Security was never the issue. Hypocrisy was.

Politics & Policy: Earn It and Build it

The era of unlimited handouts is hitting a wall. Expanded SNAP rules now require able-bodied adults to work, train, or volunteer — or benefits end after 90 days. Eighty hours a month. Simple math. Accountability is back.

On the strategy front, the Trump administration is making moves. A $12 billion push to stockpile critical minerals puts America’s tech and defense supply chains back in our own hands, while a new trade deal with India aims to cut tariffs and favor U.S. businesses. And in peak Trump fashion, the President floated settling a $10 billion IRS case — with the money donated to the American Cancer Society.

Work matters. Independence matters. And for once, America comes first.

Markets & Money: Sun, Sanity and Profits

Miami just dethroned Manhattan as the luxury real estate king, with over 10,500 homes priced above $1 million. Turns out buyers prefer sunshine, low taxes, and freedom over mandates and urban chaos.

In the boardroom, the tide is turning too. Inspire Investing is pressuring CEOs to ditch woke posturing and refocus on profits. And while gold has cooled recently, JPMorgan is still bullish — forecasting a run to $6,300 an ounce by the end of 2026.

Money is moving. Culture is adjusting. And capital keeps voting with its feet.

Business & Culture: Layoffs, Leadership and a Price Cut

The “democracy dies in darkness” crowd just discovered layoffs happen in daylight too. A Washington Post reporter was let go while covering an actual war — notified, of course, over Zoom. Apparently danger pay now includes unemployment.

Meanwhile, Disney is prepping for another Bob Iger exit, casual dining keeps collapsing (RIP Bahama Breeze, 250+ Pizza Huts closing), and grocery shoppers have voted — crowning Trader Joe’s king of the grocery aisle.

One rare consumer win: PepsiCo is cutting prices on many of their brands after shoppers finally pushed back on greedflation. Funny how markets work when people say no.

Winners:

The Battle Against Cancer:
Moderna’s personalized mRNA treatment just slashed melanoma recurrence — developed in weeks, not years. That’s real progress: results that save lives, not slogans that rack up likes.

Prescription Drug Prices:
Trump added another item to the to-do list this week. With the launch of TrumpRx, the administration is targeting inflated drug prices head-on—cutting costs, expanding access, and improving health outcomes without a thousand-page bill or a new bureaucracy. Naturally, this means the Left now has to figure out how to protest Americans saving money and living healthier lives. Tough spot. Must be exhausting being a liberal when results keep getting in the way.

Losers:

Tampa Bay Lightning & the NHL:
What should’ve been a classy charity moment turned into a bad game show. A cancer survivor was paraded out, teased with $1 million for a miracle shot, then sent home with far less when the stunt failed — even with his dad watching. That’s not heartwarming. That’s tone-deaf.

Crypto Bros:
“Digital gold” just turned into digital rubble. Bitcoin slid below $67,000, extending a brutal crash that’s now erased nearly half its value since the October peak above $126,000. Fortunes vanished, timelines went quiet, and the laser eyes mysteriously disappeared.

Turns out volatility isn’t a feature when you’re the one holding the bag.

America Decides:

Last week, we asked what should happen to local officials who play games with ICE. The response wasn’t close — it was a blowout. 84% said: cut the funding and pursue criminal removal for sanctuary officials who obstruct federal law. Message received. Red Staters are done with sanctuary theatrics. If local politicians want to ignore federal law, you’ve made it clear: cut the checks and enforce it.

This Week

Halftime isn’t a snack run anymore — it’s a culture test.
One screen serves up corporate-approved spectacle. The other flies the flag.

So be honest…

We feature Jeffrey Mead a lot for a reason — he has a talent for catching the Left mid–logic crash. Case in point: anti-ICE protesters in Minneapolis opposing “cruel borders” by… building their own. Complete with ID checks and punishments for the “unwelcome.”

Turns out “no borders” really means my borders, my rules.
Alanis Morissette, please hold.

As fans gear up for Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium, the menu has officially entered the stratosphere with a $180 burger known as the "LX Hammer". This 3.5-pound braised beef shank monstrosity on a salt-dusted brioche bun is joined by other "luxurious" options like $35 garlic steak frites topped with au poivre sauce and pink peppercorns. While the Seahawks and Patriots battle on the field, the real robbery is happening at the concession stand, where standard game day meals have been replaced by prices that make a monthly car payment look like pocket change.

Translation: The stadium elite have "cultivated" a menu designed to separate you from your life savings one salt-dusted bun at a time. Eat before you go, or prepare to finance your lunch at 28% APR.

2026 opened with a gut punch. U.S. employers handed out 108,435 layoffs in January — the worst start since 2009, per Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Job cuts exploded 205% from December, with healthcare, transportation, and tech slamming the brakes.

Translation: the “soft landing” storyline just face-planted. When layoffs spike that fast, it’s not a reset — it’s a warning flare for the labor market.

A new poll from the National Association of Realtors tells the story nobody in Washington wants to admit: only 17% of Americans think now is a good time to buy a home — down from 69% a decade ago. Most still believe in homeownership. They just can’t afford it. High rates, tight inventory, and economic uncertainty have slammed the door shut.

Translation: when nearly 80% of the country sees housing as off-limits, that’s not a market hiccup — it’s the American Dream being quietly downgraded to a luxury item.

Amazon Addiction? Might as Well Get Paid for It

You’re already paying for Prime. You’re already spending way too much time tracking those brown paper packages to your doorstep. It’s time to stop letting Amazon have all the fun and start turning that routine shopping into something that actually pays you back.

If you spend a good amount on Amazon, this card could easily be worth $100s in cash back every year. And — even better — you could get approved extremely fast. If approved, you’ll receive an insanely valuable welcome bonus deposited straight into your Amazon account, ready to use immediately.

You also don’t have to jump through any hoops to get this bonus. No extra work or special spending requirements. Get approved, and it’s yours.

This might be one of the most powerful cash back cards available, especially considering how much most people spend on Amazon each month. It gives you the chance to earn cash back on the purchases you’re already making, turning your routine shopping into something that actually pays you back.

If you shop at Amazon or Whole Foods, this card could help you earn meaningful cash back on every purchase you make. But this offer won’t last forever — and if you’re an Amazon Prime member, this card is as close to a no-brainer as it gets.

Amazon Prime members: See what you could get, no strings attached

Learn How To Apply

Three Romanian nationals were recently arrested for running a sophisticated theft ring that turned common courtesy into a financial crime scene across Southern California. The "bill drop" scam involves one suspect distracting an ATM user—often by dropping cash and claiming it belongs to the victim—while a second suspect swiped the victim's debit card, replaced it with a fake, and vanished before the transaction even ended. Authorities say the group hit multiple counties and racked up a dozen known victims who thought they were just being helpful neighbors.

Translation: The next time a stranger drops a $20 bill at the ATM, keep your eyes on the screen and your hand on your wallet; in 2026, "good karma" is just the latest bait for a slick international theft ring.

Former activist investor Jason Ader has officially hit zero. The onetime titan just filed for personal bankruptcy, claiming he’s down to $239,000, two guinea pigs, and a lawsuit from his own mother — who’s suing him over a $13 million loan tied to a luxury NYC mansion. This comes after Chapter 11 filings, failed SPAC dreams, and a six-figure credit card binge in the French Riviera.

Translation: when Mom is your biggest creditor and rodents are your dependents, “activist investing” starts to look a lot like high-end gambling with worse odds.

Five states are officially moving toward eliminating property taxes, a shift that could finally end the "perpetual rent" homeowners pay to the government. While these taxes currently bankroll 90% of school funding and 70% of local revenue, the burden has made homeownership a luxury many Americans on fixed incomes can no longer afford. As state legislatures look for alternative revenue sources, the message is clear: the era of taxing people out of their own front doors is finally under fire.

Translation: When the government owns 25% of all aggregate state and local revenue through your backyard, you don't actually own your home—you're just a tenant with a 30-year mortgage and an eternal landlord.

Lawyers in Fulton County, Georgia, are scrambling to file a federal lawsuit after the FBI executed a criminal search warrant and hauled away hundreds of boxes of 2020 election records. Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr. and County Chair Robb Pitts are leading the charge to challenge the "legality" of the raid, demanding the immediate return of original ballots, voter rolls, and tabulator tapes. Despite three previous counts and audits, the Trump administration’s DOJ—headed by AG Pam Bondi—is citing "anomalies" and potential violations of federal law as the basis for the seizure.

Translation: If the 2020 count was as "perfect" and "secure" as the county claims, you’d think they’d be rolling out the red carpet for the FBI to finally verify it and shut the "deniers" up once and for all—but apparently, "transparency" stops where a federal subpoena begins.

Tipping has officially morphed from a "thank you" into a high-stakes social minefield, as waitstaff across the country unveil a new list of "taboos" that have customers seeing red. According to a 2026 FinanceBuzz report, the old rule of tipping on the pre-tax total is now considered a "rude" relic of the past, with servers expecting a full percentage of the post-tax bill. Even the morning coffee run has been weaponized; baristas now argue that skipping the tip on a "specialty drink" is an insult to their craftsmanship—even if you did all the heavy lifting of walking to the counter and carrying the cup yourself.

Translation: When "optional" gratuity becomes a mandatory tax on your patience and the screen asks for 25% on a $7 latte you stood in line for, the service industry isn't asking for a tip—it’s asking you to pay the payroll because the boss won’t.

The former boss of Capital Public Radio, Jun Reina, was arrested this week after allegedly treating the nonprofit broadcaster like his personal ATM. Prosecutors claim Reina orchestrated a multi-year scheme to siphon over $1.3 million from the station to fund a life of luxury, including international vacations to Dubai and Fiji, college tuition for his kids, and over $100,000 in high-end renovations to his West Sacramento home. While the station was forced to lay off 12% of its staff and cancel music programs due to "financial mismanagement," Reina was reportedly busy linking the company credit card to his Apple Pay for fine dining and luxury vehicles.

Translation: It turns out "listener-supported radio" actually meant supporting the General Manager’s kitchen remodel and a first-class seat to the French Riviera.

Joe Rogan was visibly disgusted this week after revealing that the UK is currently locking up more than 12,000 people a year for the "crime" of posting on social media. Sitting down with English comedian Andrew Doyle, Rogan highlighted the terrifying reality that British police are making over 30 arrests a day for "offensive" uploads under the country's draconian Communications Acts. It turns out that in the UK, a spicy take or an unpopular opinion isn't just a reason for a "ratio" on X—it's a reason for a knock on the door from the actual police.

Translation: While the American Left treats the First Amendment like an annoying suggestion, this is a grim reminder that without it, the only thing standing between your opinion and a jail cell is a bureaucrat’s hurt feelings.

Before you go — your turn. This isn’t state media, a TED Talk, or a group therapy circle. It’s a conversation. And with 20,000+ of you reading every week, we know the opinions are strong.

So let’s hear them.

Is the Left officially the worst political party in the world right now?
Is Trump actually delivering on the promises he made — or doing more than anyone expected?
Are you more optimistic about America today than you were under Biden or Obama?
What specific changes do you want the government to make next?
What does America look like in 5–10 years: comeback, collapse, or course correction?
And is AI about to trigger unemployment on a scale we’ve never seen — or is that just the next manufactured panic?

Praise, criticism, policy ideas, hard truths, and unpopular opinions are all fair game. Say what everyone else is thinking. We read every message, and we’ll feature your thoughts next week.

This is a community. Not an echo chamber. And definitely not a safe space.

Hit reply and tell us what you think.