Sunday June 22nd

This week felt less like news and more like a live-action stress test.

While what looks like World War 3 continues to simmer, Donald Trump figured now was the perfect time to launch Trump Mobile—offering $500 phones (probably made in China, but branding over everything, right?).

Down in Florida, the governor and state police reminded protesters that standing in traffic is a great way to get legally flattened. Cue the TikTok videos of activists sprinting off intersections—conservatives everywhere tipped their hats. Well played, Florida.

Meanwhile, the government quietly admitted that Social Security and Medicare will run out of money by 2033. If you’re under 50 and planning to retire, you might want to start looking into land, livestock, or gold.

Back in corporate America, DEI initiatives are vanishing fast as public opinion shifts and CEOs realize it’s not 2020 anymore. Even woke capitalism has a shelf life.

Over at Intel, the job bloodbath continues—the chip giant just axed 20,000 employees, because AI and cost-cutting make a lovely pair when shareholders are watching.

And despite the chaos, Americans are doing what we do best—hitting the road for the Fourth of July. AAA says 72.2 million of us will be traveling at least 50 miles from home. Because when the world’s on fire, nothing says freedom like a cooler full of Ice Cold Beer (or not) and a highway escape.

Poll Time: We all see it, we all know it’s coming—AI is already reshaping the job market, and entry-to-mid level roles are on the chopping block.

With mass layoffs hitting tech, media, finance, and beyond—how secure do you feel at work?

According to UBS, the U.S. cranked out 379,000 new millionaires in 2024—averaging over 1,000 a day, which is faster than most people can get through the Chick-fil-A drive-thru. The U.S. now claims nearly 40% of all millionaires worldwide, proving once again that America still builds wealth better than anyone… if you’re holding the right assets, the right zip code, or maybe just a winning crypto wallet.

According to new data, the average U.S. homeowner is sitting on a $430,000 net worth, while the average renter? Just $10K. That’s a 43-to-1 wealth gap—and the widest it’s ever been. Since the pandemic, both groups have gained ground… until recently. While homeowners keep stacking equity, renters have seen their net worth drop nearly 4% since 2022. Translation: if you're renting, you’re paying someone else's mortgage and falling further behind doing it.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy just said the quiet part out loud—AI is coming for your job. As the company rolls out tools like Alexa-on-steroids, Jassy warned employees to “adapt through training” while also casually noting that, yeah, a chunk of the corporate workforce will be trimmed in the name of “efficiency.” Translation: robots don’t ask for raises or PTO. Welcome to the new corporate playbook—code or be coded out.

Red State Finance Opinion: Tired of news that feels like it was written by a freshman gender studies major at NPR? Same. That’s why we actually like 1440—it’s just the facts, no agenda, no lectures, no coastal elitist spin. You get the news, straight up, in 5 minutes a day. Economy, world events, politics—they hit it all without making you feel like you’re trapped in a faculty lounge debate.

It’s what the news would look like if common sense still ran the newsroom.

One dad’s trip to Disneyland turned into a financial horror story after he dropped nearly $1,000 on breakfast with some princesses and a plate of overpriced pancakes. The viral receipt for the Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures had folks online wondering if the "magic" was laced with caviar and student loan debt. Final bill: $937.65 for two kids, three adults, and a lifetime of regret—plus a 20% tip for the trauma.

Turns out the ultra-wealthy aren’t just heading to Wyoming for the scenic views and cowboy boots—it’s the taxes (or lack thereof). With no state income tax, a booming high-end real estate market, and Dynasty Trust laws that let families pass down wealth tax-free for generations, Wyoming has become America’s ultimate legal tax shelter. Translation: if you’re rich and want to stay that way, Wyoming’s calling—and it’s not just for ranchers anymore.

American Express is giving its Platinum card a serious upgrade later this year, with new perks aimed at travel, dining, and everyday lifestyle benefits. According to the company, this will be its biggest investment in the card to date—because let’s face it, travel’s gotten pricier, eating out isn’t what it used to be, and Americans want more value for what they’re paying. AmEx says it’s also redesigning the card itself, which means your wallet might soon be carrying something that looks as premium as the price tag.

Texas-based Republic National Distributing is tapping out of California, citing the skyrocketing cost of doing business. The company, which moves more than 2,500 alcohol brands, says it’s done dealing with the Golden State’s regulatory mess come September 2nd. It’s a major blow to the largest wine market in the U.S., and a red flag for an industry already struggling as Americans cut back on drinking—and businesses keep fleeing states that make it nearly impossible to operate.

Ken Langone isn’t mincing words—the U.S. economy has a debt problem, and it’s getting scary. The Home Depot co-founder warned that America’s annual borrowing binge is a flashing red light for what’s coming next. While D.C. keeps printing and spending like Monopoly money, business leaders like Langone are asking the obvious question: Who’s going to pay for all this? (Spoiler: probably you.)

Nearly one-third of the $36 trillion national debt is coming due for refinancing, and doing that with today’s interest rates? It’s a budget nightmare. Interest payments have already surged 34% to nearly $1 trillion, surpassing what we spend on defense and Medicare. Trump’s calling on the Fed to cut rates before we spend the next decade just paying off interest—because when Washington racks up the bill, it’s taxpayers who get stuck footing it.

Barstool’s Dave Portnoy says what half of America’s been screaming at their TV for years—trust in traditional media is toast. With CNN slipping from first to third in primetime and Americans turning to online voices they actually relate to, it’s clear: the old guard’s crumbling. When mainstream media loses the locker room, the game’s over.

Fresh out of college and ready to conquer the world? Good luck. The job market for recent grads is looking rough—thanks to a combo of rising unemployment and companies swapping humans for ChatGPT. According to the Fed, the 22–27 crowd is staring down 5.8% unemployment, the worst since 2021. So while your degree might’ve cost six figures, it might not come with a paycheck just yet. Welcome to the future—now learn to prompt engineer.

If you’ve spent five minutes online lately, you’ve probably had the same thought we have: Are they still debating policy—or have they just completely abandoned reality altogether?

One side wants to lower taxes, secure the border, and rebuild American strength. The other side? Can’t define what a woman is, thinks shoplifting is “justice,” and claims 8% mortgage rates are a “sign of economic resilience.” Somewhere between drag brunches for toddlers and pretending crime isn’t real, the Left stopped engaging with truth—and started fabricating their own reality.

Let’s be blunt: this isn’t policy—it’s narrative warfare.

“Misinformation” now just means anything that embarrasses the Biden legacy. “Recession” became “economic transition.” “Illegal immigrant”? That’s now your “undocumented neighbor.” And if you challenge any of this nonsense, Big Tech silences you while legacy media lectures you.

But here’s the good news: Republicans are back in power, and the adults are finally in the room.

Border security is tightening. Energy policy is being put back in American hands. The markets are slowly stabilizing. Confidence is creeping back into Main Street. After four years of fiscal chaos, cultural decay, and inflation that nearly broke the working class—we’re beginning to right the ship.

But let’s not kid ourselves: the damage from the last administration runs deep.

Social Security is on track to run out of money by 2033. Our military readiness was hollowed out by woke priorities. Cities are still reeling from soft-on-crime madness. And our national debt? It’s past $36 trillion and climbing.

It’s going to take more than one election cycle to fix this. It’ll take grit, discipline, and a return to truth over narrative.

Because while the Left is busy inventing new pronouns and redefining economics, Republicans are out here trying to salvage what’s left of the American dream. Not for the consultants. Not for Wall Street. For everyday Americans who still believe in faith, freedom, and a future worth fighting for.

So no—we’re not out of the woods yet. But we’re moving in the right direction.

And no matter how loud the media screams, how hard the bureaucrats cling to power, or how many TikTok activists throw tantrums—we’re not giving up. This country still belongs to the people who build it, protect it, and believe in it.

The narrative may be broken, but the American spirit isn’t.