The Vanishing American Dream: Wages Stagnant as Prices Soar

Chris Markowski discusses the intersection of faith and financial principles, reflecting on societal issues and the current economic landscape. He emphasizes the importance of understanding financial realities, the role of faith in guiding moral decisions, and the need for action in troubling times. The conversation also covers labor market challenges, the impact of tariffs on businesses, and historical lessons on economic management.

Chris Markowski discusses the harsh realities of the financial world, reflecting on the impact of 9/11, the ongoing challenges of war, and the dangers of alternative investments. He emphasizes the importance of financial freedom and the need for transparency in the advisory industry. Markowski also critiques the buy now, pay later economy and the implications of government spending and national debt on the economy.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  History is repeating itself—welcome back to 2008. A major subprime auto lender just went bankrupt, and here’s the kicker: they were handing out car loans to illegal immigrants and still managed to get a AAA rating from the agencies. In this episode:Why Wall Street keeps betting on junk debt that’s destined to failHow rating agencies rubber-stamp nonsense—and get paid to do itWhy bailouts are baked into the system, no matter how reckless the playWhat this collapse signals for the broader economyYou can’t make this up. The question is—how many more of these “surprises” will there be?

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  The New York Times falsely attributed anti-Semitic remarks to Charlie Kirk—when in reality, he was critiquing the statement. Yet liberals ran with the headline, branding him an anti-Semite before the paper quietly slipped in a tiny correction. Another example of why the so-called “liberal Bible” keeps losing credibility.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  In states like West Virginia, you need over 1,200 hours of training and multiple exams just to cut hair—but to become a magistrate judge, all you need is to be 21, have a GED, and a clean record. These judges set bail, issue warrants, and preside over criminal cases without ever stepping foot in law school. Is this common-sense accessibility or a dangerous lowering of standards in the justice system?

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  Bad news is good news on Wall Street—but not for the rest of us. Jobless claims are climbing, inflation is still squeezing families, and the government’s interest bill alone now tops $1.2 trillion a year. In this episode:Why the Fed’s “dual mandate” creates perverse incentives in the marketsThe real numbers behind gas, food, housing, and wages over the last five yearsHow endless government spending and tariffs keep making life more expensiveWhy only 1 in 4 Americans now believe they can improve their standard of livingThe markets may cheer, but Main Street is buckling. At some point, the truth has to break through the spin.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  Once a global leader in learning, America’s K–12 education system is now in alarming decline. National test scores show nearly half of high school seniors can’t handle basic math, and a third struggle with simple reading—yet graduation rates keep rising due to lowered standards and grade inflation. Schools are ditching homework, easing requirements, and prioritizing equity policies over academic rigor, leaving millions unprepared for college or the workforce. With absenteeism up, behavior worsening, and achievement gaps widening, the U.S. faces an educational collapse that demands a complete reset before an entire generation is left behind.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  Despite years of recovery talk since COVID, inflation has wiped out household income gains, leaving median earnings stuck at 2019 levels. Rising costs for essentials like housing, healthcare, and insurance are pushing families into a financial hamster wheel, while only high earners see modest gains. Without real wage growth and relief from soaring prices, the gap between the cost of living and the average paycheck keeps widening—making the American dream feel increasingly out of reach.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  Epstein, Trump, and Occam’s Razor—sometimes the simplest explanation is the truest one. The latest revelations about Epstein’s “birthday book” have unleashed a storm of denial, spin, and political theater. In this episode:Why both parties want you distracted from the real Epstein storyThe absurdity of pretending Trump’s letter was planted decades in advanceHow elites—left and right—use scandals as leverage against each otherWhy Occam’s Razor cuts through the noise: if you knew Epstein, admit itWhat this circus tells us about corruption, cover-ups, and the UnipartyThe Epstein scandal isn’t just about one letter—it’s about how deep the rot goes.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  Charlie Kirk’s assassination has shaken America to its core. For many, it feels like 9/11 all over again—a moment of dread, anger, and clarity about what’s at stake. In this episode:Why Charlie Kirk’s voice was so dangerous to the status quoHow his faith and intellect made him a true threat to secular AmericaThe history of martyrs—from Socrates to JFK—and what Charlie’s death means in that lineageWhy his loss must spark a new generation to carry the mantleThe one solution Charlie believed could truly save AmericaHe was brilliant, fearless, and faithful. Now the question is—will his death be in vain, or will it ignite millions to take up his fight?