Capital Record

The ‘Greedflation’ line is back, only it isn’t coming from Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, or Joe Biden. With beef prices up nearly +13 percent over the last year, many are wondering why, and many are providing answers that don’t pass the smell test. Fortunately for those of us on the Capital Record, first principles go a long way toward helping us sort this out. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

David devotes this week’s Capital Record to the folly of the “game-changing” idea of a 50-year mortgage. He stands within first principles by allowing risk takers to freely transact, but points out the economic reality of how people who believe they get a cheaper house by paying for it over an extra 20 years are, well, wrong. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The “conservative” world lives in interesting times, navigating on one hand the challenges of being a movement based on ideas and then on the other hand the personalities and frustrations that have recently entered the fray, often at odds with the movement and ideas they claim to have joined. We have spent ample time in this podcast defending the conservative ethos against those who would undermine its core orthodoxies either for coalitional benefits at the ballot box or for “street cred” in the desire to be popular, no matter where it leads ideologically.But what if the issue at hand is not merely where to draw the line on government intervention in the marketplace, but what to do with full-blown lunatics like Nick Fuentes? Is antisemitism, conspiratorialism, racism, and broad kookiness part of the membership package in today’s conservative world? In today’s podcast, David explains why the challenges of gatekeeping for economic cogency are less different than people may think when it comes to gatekeeping full-blown extremism. And the stakes are equally high for those who prize the American and conservative ideal. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The NBA world was rocked last week as a current head coach and two players were arrested in a major FBI investigation. The entire matter has led to great consternation over the world of sports betting and the explosive growth of how this is marketed and normalized in society. David does what this podcast exists for him to do: apply first principles to the discussion of sports betting -- its pitfalls and boundaries -- for those who value free markets but also the virtue and character we want for our society. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The pro-work message has found a resurgence, but it has hardly won the war. It is not merely up against pop psychologists and a wide array of confused thought leaders, but the allure of algorithmic screen addictions and other acts of sloth that are hurting society in more ways than one. On today’s episode of Capital Record, David argues that bemoaning the influence of social media and video games is not enough -- that we must know what is at stake, and what our counterplan is to restore a healthy society. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

David is inspired today by a recent WSJ op-ed from the widow of Apple founder, Steve Jobs, arguing that too many philanthropists are using their donations for control rather than impact. David takes the position that too many philanthropists are driven by vanity, too many charities are driven by grift, and not enough philanthropists are wisely maintaining their leverage -- not for control, but for intended impact. A nuanced Capital Record with a message a lot of people will not like.Show notes:Beware of Philanthropists Who Want Control in Exchange for Their Giving  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It feels that New Right Republicans are sometimes trying to out-socialist Bernie Sanders, and in bemoaning the extraordinary results of Amazon in building opportunity for pay and wealth for its workforce and pitting that against the executive C-suite in standard class warfare lunacy, we have teed up all that is wrong with wage controls, price controls, and the class envy that does so much damage to the cause of a free and prosperously employed society.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sanae Takaichi is not just set to be the first female prime minister of Japan -- and someone whose childhood hero was the legendary Margaret Thatcher. She also launched her global claim to fame by saying she “wanted to abandon the idea of work-life balance” and planned to “have everyone work like a workhorse.” Well, this has generated some push back from people who are apparently happy with Japan’s 0 percent real GDP growth for over 30 years. In today’s episode, David analyzes why Takaichi is starting off as his favorite leader on the planet. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As New York City prepares to elect Mamdani as mayor and young people across college campuses tout the miseries of “capitalism,” is the financial crisis of 2008 to blame for a paradigm shift in public sentiment? In this episode, David unpacks the truth of the narrative that everything changed that year. Show notes:The Rise of America’s Young Socialists—From the 2008 Financial Crisis to Mamdani  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The artificial intelligence moment is a perfect opportunity for free marketeers to defend market innovations and technological progress, but also a challenging moment to question the role of the state, the impact on society, and the errors in moving with speed but not wisdom. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A reading of the early National Conservatism movement manifesto indicated a belief in the tenets of free enterprise, albeit with qualifications that would prove to undermine that which they said they wanted to uphold. Fast forward a few years since the movement crystalized in the public square, and it is very clear that NatCon can no longer advocate for what they said they once did, that the reason for this is their very own concession, and that what they said they energetically opposed is actually what they gave birth to. A case study in being treated as useful idiots by the politicos a movement helped empower. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today’s episode goes into David’s Dividend Cafe to look at the desire of the 9/11 terrorists to strike at our nation’s financial markets, and makes the case that a love of country means a love of capital markets.https://bahnsen.co/47JU4Vn Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

David delves into the reality of youth (sports) gone wild, whether or not market forces should restrain this phenomenon gone mad, and where rightly centered and ordered priorities might create the optimal virtuous outcome. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

David is so tired of talking about the tariff debacle of 2025 that this week he brought on a special guest to do some of the talking for him. Joel Griffith of Advancing American Freedom joins David for a further rap session on all that is wrong with the current tariff regime, but the two of them take a special weapon to the imbecility of a “tariff rebate.” Show notes:Rebates Can’t Clean Up the Tariff Mess  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

David is joined by Richard Reinsch, the second guest to join Capital Record this year, for a discussion of the “new conservatives” and the “new right” movement toward populism. What you will hear in this discussion is that none of it seems very new at all.Notes:Reading the New Conservatives  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

David got very excited when a recent Wall Street Journal article said that “work-life balance will keep you mediocre.” He wrote a whole book tearing down the very concept of “work-life balance.” But this article’s rationale might be just as flawed as that of those who use this deplorable phrase.Show Notes:'Work-Life Balance' Will Keep You Mediocre Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

David takes on the state-capitalism idea that the right has been rightly critical of in China for many years (market forces that are highly directed by the state), but takes this cogent criticism to the idea of Nvidia revenue shares, Intel equity ownership, CEO selection, and other mystifying things that if a leftist president were doing the right would be losing their ever-loving minds over. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It appears from media reports that SiriusXM is done with their long-term, nine-figure (annual) relationship with Howard Stern, the former FM radio shock jock turned woke, politically correct bore. On today’s Capital Record, David walks through how the two Howard Sterns were both perfect encapsulations of the undermining of a free and virtuous society, only each Howard Stern did this in a totally different way. This is an unconventional Capital Record with a perspective you’re unlikely to hear anywhere else. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today’s Capital Record, David looks at the issue of housing affordability and walks through Rahm Emanuel’s new op-ed in the Washington Post whereby a confused explanation of the financial crisis is given, and even more confused solutions are offered to a problem Rahm mostly identifies correctly. Few subjects in the American economy touch more people than housing, and if housing has become unaffordable for too many, the one thing we really cannot afford is to get this subject wrong.Show notes:What’s Really Depressing America’s Young Men  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

David looks at the unspeakable recent murder of the Blackstone Real Estate CEO and those who have celebrated the murder. Highlighting their despicable lack of moral clarity is the easy part. But unpacking the inexplicable economic ignorance embedded in their murderous hatred is perhaps an equally important subject. Fortunately, most people do not condone horrific murders; but unfortunately, far too many do buy the rationale that a Blackstone Real Estate CEO was doing something bad for regular people. And that assumption is what we will take to the woodshed in today’s Capital Record. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.