Sunday July 27th

This week, America lost more than a wrestling legend—we lost a cultural icon. Hulk Hogan, the man who defined an era of muscle, mullets, and unapologetic patriotism, passed away. For millions of adults who grew up in the '80s glued to the screen watching WWF(e), Hogan wasn’t just a wrestler—he was the guy. And for the MAGA crowd? He was the embodiment of what it meant to fight for truth, justice, and the American way—while ripping his shirt in half. His legacy will live on every time someone leg-drops adversity and flexes in the mirror.

Meanwhile, in the land of the living and slightly less inspiring: mortgage rates inched down to 6.74% this week, according to Freddie Mac. Sure, it's not exactly a fire sale—but in this economy, a quarter-point drop feels like a parade. Rite Aid is closing another 114 stores, proving once again that retail is dying faster than customer service in a self-checkout world. UnitedHealth is getting a full-body scan from the DOJ over Medicare billing, and its stock continues to tumble like a toddler in roller skates. The company says it's cooperating, which is what they all say before the perp walk.

Back at corporate HQ, TD Bank is forcing staff back into the office four days a week—because apparently fluorescent lighting and awkward breakroom chats are essential to productivity. Uber announced a new feature letting female riders and drivers match by gender, which is either a win for safety or a lawsuit waiting to happen, depending on who you ask. State Farm is hiking home insurance rates by a brutal 27% in Illinois, blaming weather and repair costs—but we all know it’s mostly inflation and corporate math.

And in the “this is why we can’t have nice things” category: a TikTok “micro-influencer” got a San Francisco chef fired after she cried on camera because he wouldn’t comp her meal. Why? She wasn’t famous enough. Apparently tears and entitlement now beat out talent and work ethic in our upside-down reality.

So yeah—it’s been one of those weeks. Hulk’s gone, mortgage rates dipped, retail’s collapsing, and TikTok is still ruining lives. Just another chapter in the American saga.

We all know something’s off—but which part of the system is really dragging the country down? Let us know what you think.

According to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Trump’s new AI plan isn’t just bold—it’s historic. Speaking with Fox News, Huang praised the move as a turning point that could “fundamentally change” America’s position in the global tech race, especially if paired with serious energy development. Trump’s laying the groundwork for the next computing revolution.

While Big Banks fund DEI nonsense and woke pet projects, Coign is putting its money where red-blooded Americans are. The conservative fintech just launched a new savings product aimed at helping customers hit their financial goals andsupport values-aligned causes—like Heritage Foundation, Turning Point USA, and veterans' groups. CEO Rob Collins says Coign gave more to conservative charities last year than the top five credit card companies combined—and now they’re on a mission to “rebuild America” one unapologetic dollar at a time.

The clock is ticking on Social Security, and Washington’s still hitting snooze. New projections show the retirement fund will run dry by 2032, triggering automatic 24% cuts to benefits—just in time for millions of Americans to need them most. For a working couple, that’s $18,100 less per year, courtesy of decades of government mismanagement and empty promises.

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President Trump just dropped a bombshell idea: cutting capital gains taxes on home sales to give the housing market a serious jolt. The move could unleash a flood of new listings, ease prices, and put money back in sellers’ pockets—something Bidenomics never managed with a thousand task forces and a trillion in spending. If the Fed gets in line and drops rates too? Buckle up, it’s bull market time.

Call it the CapEx Comeback—thanks to Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” U.S. businesses are investing like it’s 1997. The bill’s full expensing provision for capital expenditures—retroactive to day one of Trump’s term—is igniting the strongest non-pandemic surge in equipment production in nearly three decades. While the Democrats were busy writing checks for feelings, Trump’s policies are revving the real economy.

In-N-Out’s billionaire heiress Lynsi Snyder is packing up her burgers—and her family—and heading for Tennessee. After decades in the Golden State, she’s had enough of California’s “business-friendly” policies (read: taxes, crime, and chaos) and is trading the coastal mess for some Southern sanity as the company expands into freer pastures.

Once the gold standard for global travel, the U.S. passport has now fallen to 10th place—its weakest ranking ever. Just a decade ago, Americans topped the list for visa-free access; now we’re getting lapped by Asian countries while D.C. plays global hall monitor instead of fixing our own status.

Vice President JD Vance didn’t hold back at this week’s AI summit, calling out Big Tech for firing American workers while importing cheap foreign labor under the H-1B visa program. Vance questioned the so-called “labor shortage,” slamming tech giants for gaming the system to cut costs and replace U.S. talent—while pretending to care about domestic innovation.

President Trump announced a $36 million settlement victory against CBS, 60 Minutes, and Paramount over what he called a "fraudulent, heavily edited" Kamala Harris interview. Calling it a "BIG AND IMPORTANT WIN," Trump says the payout includes $16M cash and $20M in future ad slots and programming—marking another blow to legacy media and a reminder that when Trump sues, he doesn’t miss.

The White House announced a new trade agreement with the Philippines and finalized a $550 billion trade deal with Japan, just days before the tariff deadline. Alongside expanded military cooperation with Manila, the deals are being hailed as major victories for American manufacturing, agriculture, and defense—and a reminder that Trump negotiates with a pen in one hand and leverage in the other.

Turns out your golden years will cost you actual gold if you retire in California. Six of the top 10 most expensive retirement spots in America are in the Golden State, with Saratoga leading the charge at a jaw-dropping $282,625 a year—because nothing says “relaxation” like burning through your savings just to survive in the Bay Area.

This week, Trump made waves—again—by floating the idea that he could pardon Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted child s*x trafficker and Epstein’s longtime enabler. He didn’t say he would, just that he “could.” But let’s be real: even suggesting it set off alarm bells across the political spectrum.

So here’s the question—would a pardon be the final straw for MAGA… or just another distraction in a high-stakes war to save the country?

On one hand, pardoning Maxwell could fracture the base in a way not even COVID lockdowns, vaccine programs, or mean tweets ever did. She’s tied to one of the most vile, disturbing s*x trafficking operations in modern history. The idea that Trump—champion of draining the swamp and protecting children—would even entertain letting her walk? To some, that’s unforgivable. Full stop.

But on the other hand, some argue this is just bait. Trump’s known for playing media judo—dropping bombs to shift attention, test reactions, or bait the Left into exposing themselves. Others say the country is dealing with far bigger threats: weaponized justice, economic collapse, a southern border wide open, and a Democrat party openly embracing Marxism. Why focus on one pardon when the republic is burning?

So we’re asking you, the Red State Finance reader: If Trump pardoned Ghislaine Maxwell, would you still have total faith in him? Would that be the breaking point—or just political noise in a much bigger war?

Hit reply and tell us where you stand. We’ll feature the best (and boldest) responses in next week’s edition.