Tara takes a hard look at the collapse of the American Dream — and how decades of reckless spending, congressional dysfunction, and Biden-era inflation have priced an entire generation out of homeownership. From her own story of buying a house at 23 on a journalist’s salary to today’s reality where the average first-time buyer is 40, Tara exposes how government greed, perpetual stimulus extensions, and a failure to pass real budgets have turned the U.S. into the stagnating Europe she once pitied. With sharp analysis and personal reflection, this episode connects economic policy to political paralysis — and what must happen to restore America’s future.

*When Congress stopped budgeting, America stopped building.*

bidenomics, housing crisis, inflation, first-time homebuyers, american dream, stimulus spending, congress budget failure, national debt, covid spending, obamacare subsidies, generational economics, trump policies, socialism, tara podcast

Tara explores how economic mismanagement and endless government spending have destroyed homeownership opportunities for young Americans. She recalls buying her first home in her early 20s — something now nearly impossible as first-time buyers hit a record low of 21%, with the average age rising to 40. The episode dissects how printing money, continuing temporary stimulus measures, and passing no real budgets since 1996 have inflated prices and destabilized the economy. Tara explains how continuing resolutions have locked in trillions in permanent spending from one-time COVID and stimulus bills, fueling inflation and debt. She also discusses the political gridlock preventing budget cuts, Trump’s challenge to reduce federal waste, and how Supreme Court and census reforms could shift congressional power. Ultimately, Tara warns that if these cycles continue, America will mirror the economic stagnation of socialist Europe — where homeownership is a luxury of the middle-aged and opportunity is out of reach for the next generation.