The Middle American Podcast

Far left. Far right. Conservative. Liberal. Republican. Democrat.
Can't fully relate? Me either. Tune in for a discussion of politics and life from the middle

[The Middle American Podcast @MidAmericanPod]

@nypost It is hard sitting courtside.

[The Middle American Podcast @MidAmericanPod]

@TriangleBIZJrnl Luxury real estate isn’t the issue. To say there is momentum amongst non-luxury housing markets is laughable.

[Steven Rattner @SteveRattner]

401(k) hardship withdrawals are rare, but they spike when Americans’ saving and income don’t cover their expenses.

Since 2020, Vanguard data shows they have more than tripled.

My @Morning_Joe Chart.

[The Middle American Podcast @MidAmericanPod]

This is what America is all about. Giving back. If only there were a lawn to mow at the White House at the moment....

[Rodney Smith Jr @iamrodneysmith]

Dear @WhiteHouse, my name is Rodney Smith Jr., founder of Raising Men & Women Lawn Care Service in Huntsville, Alabama. Through our 50 Yard Challenge, over 6,000 kids across the country have signed up to mow free lawns for the elderly, disabled, veterans, active-duty military, first responders, and single parents. With America celebrating its 250th birthday this year and me also being born on July 4th, I wanted to humbly ask if a few kids from our program and myself could travel to Washington, D.C. to help mow the White House lawn for this historic celebration.

More than anything, I want these kids to see how a simple act of service something as ordinary as mowing a lawn for someone in need can lead to extraordinary places. What better lesson in community service than showing them that helping others can take them all the way to our nation’s capital? I’d also love to bring my American flag-themed mower in hopes that the President might sign it, so I can later auction it off and donate 100% of the proceeds to a nonprofit supporting veterans. It would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to highlight the importance of service, patriotism, and the impact young people can have when they choose to make a difference. 🇺🇸

[The Middle American Podcast @MidAmericanPod]

Maybe those realtors should encourage their sellers to take a 50% profit rather than a 75% profit to get their house to sell...

[The Wall Street Journal @WSJ]

The slowest housing market in decades is stretching into its fourth year, and even real-estate agents who made it this far are reaching a breaking point. https://t.co/e7Oglua5jy

[Axios Charlotte @axioscharlotte]

🏡 In America's fastest-growing city, the annual household income needed to buy a home has skyrocketed from $79,014 in 2020 to $146,280 in 2025, per the State of Housing in Charlotte 2025 Report.
https://t.co/pNO7g2qbrW

[The Middle American Podcast @MidAmericanPod]

@axioscharlotte Simply not sustainable.

[The Middle American Podcast @MidAmericanPod]

But I thought the stock market was surging and the ultimate sign of a healthy economy?

[unusual_whales @unusual_whales]

More workers are raiding their 401(k)s as average balances fall, Fidelity has said.

[The Middle American Podcast @MidAmericanPod]

I discussed a local example of this in my most recent episode.

[Redfin @Redfin]

Nationwide, 5.8% of all home listings were pulled from the market in April, with many sellers holding out for higher prices than buyers were wiling to pay. And some sellers who delisted in the last 12 months are now re-listing: 2.5% of homes for sale were previously on the market, the highest share since 2020.

“Prices aren’t soaring like they were five years ago–high gas prices and the rising cost of living overall is trickling down to the housing market, making buyers much less likely to bid prices up,” said Patricia Ammann, Redfin Premier agent in Arlington, VA. #realestate
https://t.co/RCofTGliD4

[The Middle American Podcast @MidAmericanPod]

@TeamCooperNC The @DukeEnergy proposed 18% rate increase is just one of numerous rate increases, proposed or implemented, that has squeezed the middle class. https://t.co/Cn7PqjTtLq

[The Middle American Podcast @MidAmericanPod]

Yesterday, @WakeGOV raised property taxes. @DukeEnergy seeking an 18% increase. @NCInsuranceDept increased homeowners insurance by 15% in two years and auto 5% with the #NCRateBureau The cash-strapped middle class is reaching a breaking point. #ncpol

https://t.co/Cn7PqjTtLq

[The Middle American Podcast @MidAmericanPod]

@nypost The drops will only continue as more homeowners opt to sell and realize the market is not 2022 anymore.

[The Middle American Podcast @MidAmericanPod]

@ForwardCarolina @NCGOP @WCU I can understand issues with mail-in ballots in terms of validity concerns. But limiting in-person voting locations is a non-starter for me.

[The Middle American Podcast @MidAmericanPod]

@wakegop But also this….rates are increasing across the board. Mike Causey is a Republican and the Insurance Commissioner. Both parties are squeezing the middle class in different ways and pointing at the other side for blame.

[The Middle American Podcast @MidAmericanPod]

@ClayTravis It’s affordability. Stocks, murders, unemployment all don’t address it. The middle class can’t afford what it could five years ago. It’s that simple.

[The Middle American Podcast @MidAmericanPod]

@ClayTravis Because they can’t afford a house, car, gas, and groceries.

[Barchart @Barchart]

BREAKING 🚨: U.S. Housing Market

Home Sellers now outnumber Buyers by 630,000, the largest gap ever recorded 🤯👀

[The Middle American Podcast @MidAmericanPod]

@washingtonpost Nothing says securing a country like tapping a home builder to lead our intelligence.

[The Middle American Podcast @MidAmericanPod]

@unusual_whales AI will kill the billable hour format. Firms need to adapt. Having their own platform saves money upfront and keeps medicals confidential. But the format issue still exists.

[First Squawk @FirstSquawk]

21.3% OF CREDIT CARDHOLDERS CARRY BALANCES EXCEEDING $10,000, THE HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE RECORDS BEGAN IN 2018.