Inflation, Debt, and the $1 Million Starter Home: Why America's Economy Is Broken | 07-16-26

Inflation, Debt, and the $1 Million Starter Home: Why America's Economy Is Broken | 07-16-26

From Liberty Roundtable Podcast by Sam Bushman

July 16, 2026 · 25 min

About this episode

Sam discusses the disconnect between reported cooling inflation and the reality of a crisis in the housing market, tracing the issues back to a debt-based economy and government regulation.

Sam breaks down why "cooling inflation" doesn't match reality, why solar power claims don't hold up, and why the housing market has spiraled into crisis, with starter homes now hitting $1 million in cities across America. He traces it all back to a debt-based economy, government regulation, and misplaced dependence on foreign supply chains, then makes the case for returning to constitutional currency, domestic manufacturing, and agricultural independence. Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro 0:18 – Why inflation never really went away 1:04 – Solar power myths vs. reality 1:30 – The move toward a digital/electricity-based dollar 2:25 – America's dependence on foreign oil, gas, and trade routes 3:06 – Losing manufacturing and agricultural independence 4:35 – Why service jobs alone aren't enough 6:14 – Return to blue-collar trades over college debt 6:53 – Home costs, regulation, and rising construction costs 9:34 – Starter homes now cost $1 million in hundreds of cities 11:37 – Breaking down the real cost of a $1M mortgage 15:24 – How government drives housing costs at every level 17:26 – Personal example: home value from $150K to $600K 20:52 – How home sizes have changed since 1970 22:44 – GAO…

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