Affordability has emerged as the defining political theme heading into the next election cycle. Democrats successfully used it in recent municipal races, and now Donald Trump is embracing the message, framing Republicans as the true champions of economic well-being. Yet the narrative is complicated by soaring tech profits, widening inequality, and a cultural shift in which elites increasingly downplay displays of wealth. Even New York City’s Flatiron Building residents reportedly resisted the arrival of high-end retail, signaling the desire to appear “with the people.”

Trump’s strategy mirrors this trend. He has leaned heavily into imagery of populist relatability — hosting a “McDonald’s impact summit,” repeatedly highlighting his fast-food habits, and joking that he is the nation’s “first McDonald’s fry cook president.” He blames President Biden for inflation and an affordability crisis rooted in shutdown policies. Trump cites certain falling prices — breakfast items down 14% at McDonald’s, egg prices down 86% — to argue conditions are improving.

Eddy identifies the administration’s three major affordability proposals and critiques each.First, the 50-year mortgage aims to reduce monthly payments, but Eddy argues it merely traps borrowers in massive long-term debt while ignoring the real problem — a housing shortage. The solution is to build 3–4 million new homes, not to extend loan terms.Second, tariff-funded $2,000 checks are meant to boost disposable income. Eddy contends the idea is unrealistic: the funds should go toward national debt, Congress won’t approve it, and the government cannot afford such payments.Third, healthcare reform centered on direct payments is labeled a political loser. The ACA’s true issue, Eddy argues, is fraud, not subsidies, and meaningful reform requires reducing waste and adding work requirements.

The broader message: affordability matters, but poorly designed policies won’t fix structural problems in housing, healthcare, and income. Real solutions require supply increases, fraud reduction, and stricter qualification standards — not gimmicks.

Political Campaign Focus: Affordability

The central theme for the upcoming election campaign has shifted to affordability, a narrative driven mainly by Democrats following their success in off-year municipal elections. Donald Trump is embracing this theme, arguing that Republicans have a better track record on the economy. However, this argument is complicated by the significant profits of tech companies and a perceived widening gap between the rich and poor.

Trump’s “With the People” Strategy

* Context: There’s a trend among wealthy individuals and brands to distance themselves from overt displays of wealth to appear more aligned with the general populace.

* Example: Residents of the Flatiron Building in New York City are reportedly hesitant to have a premium brand like Ralph Lauren as a tenant, signaling a desire to avoid being associated with high-end retail.

* Trump’s Approach: In a similar vein, Trump is positioning himself as being “with the people.”

* He held a “McDonald’s impact summit” to focus on affordability and economic improvement.

* He frequently highlights his McDonald’s consumption to connect with middle- and lower-class voters.

* He claimed to be “America’s first president,” a “McDonald’s fry cook,” and that he often eats McDonald’s on Trump Force One.

Economic Claims and Critiques

* Blame for the Affordability Crisis: Trump blames the Joe Biden administration for the current affordability crisis, citing inflation and economic shutdowns.

* Price Reductions: He points to specific price drops as evidence of improvement:

* McDonald’s breakfast items are down 14% (especially with the app’s “buy one, get one” deals).

* Egg prices are down 86%.

* Economic Growth: Trump’s speech emphasized surging wage growth and employment for American-born workers, particularly in manufacturing sectors.

* Media Criticism: He addressed what he considers dishonest reporting from NPR, suggesting their even-keeled style makes their content deceptively believable.

* Other Mentions: The speech also touched upon the Epstein files and the “Kash Patel FBI protection scandal.”

Analysis of Key Affordability Proposals

Eddy identifies three core pillars of the administration’s affordability plan and provides a critical analysis of each.

1. Home Affordability: The 50-Year Mortgage

* The Problem:

* Home prices have doubled in the last 15 years.

* Mortgage rates are nearly double what they were four years ago.

* First-time buyers represent an all-time low of only 20% of the market.

* Proposed Solution: A 50-year mortgage to lower monthly payments.

* Critique (Conclusion: “This does not work”):

* Higher Total Cost: While monthly payments are lower, the total interest paid over the life of the loan is significantly higher.

* Example: On a $425,000 home with 15% down, a 30-year loan accrues ~$450,000 in interest, whereas a 50-year loan accrues ~$920,000.

* Increased Lender Costs: UBS estimates this type of loan would cost an additional 50 basis points per loan.

* Long-Term Debt: Borrowers would be “enslaved by that home” for an extended period, with many not outliving the loan term.

* The Real Issue: The fundamental problem is a housing shortage, not financing.

* The market is short by an estimated 3 to 4 million homes.

* Only 1.5 million new privately owned units were built last year.

* Real Solution: The only practical solution is to increase the housing supply by incentivizing homebuilders.

2. Disposable Income: $2,000 Tariff-Funded Checks

* The Problem: Americans need more money in their pockets (disposable income).

* Proposed Solution: Issue $2,000 checks to low and middle-income Americans, funded by revenue from tariffs.

* Critique (Conclusion: “Bad idea”):

* Debt: The revenue should be used to pay down the national debt, not for direct payments.

* Legislative Hurdle: Congress must pass legislation to authorize the payments, which is unlikely to get Democratic support.

* Insufficient Funds: The government cannot afford to issue $2,000 checks. Josh Hawley’s more realistic proposal was for a $600 rebate check.

3. Healthcare: Direct Payments and ACA Reform

* The Problem: The high cost of healthcare and inefficiencies within the system.

* Proposed Solution: Trump will only approve healthcare legislation that sends money directly to Americans, replacing insurance subsidies with direct payments.

* Critique (Conclusion: A “political loser” and needs a bigger conversation):

* Systemic Fraud: Dr. Oz noted widespread fraud within the Affordable Care Act (ACA) system, which is the primary issue that needs to be fixed.

* High Cost of Subsidies: Extending current ACA subsidies is projected to cost an additional $400 billion between 2026 and 2035, while only increasing the insured population by 3.8 million.

* Work Requirements: Eddy suggests a fair approach would be to implement work requirements (e.g., a minimum of 20 hours per week) for individuals to qualify for benefits.

* The Real Issue: The focus should be on eliminating waste and fraud within the existing system rather than creating new payment structures.

📅 Next Steps

* Increase the housing supply by incentivizing homebuilders to build more properties.

* Fix the widespread fraud within the ACA system.

* Hold a broader conversation on healthcare reform focused on eliminating waste and implementing qualification requirements (e.g., work requirements).

* Re-evaluate the proposals for a 50-year mortgage and $2,000 tariff-funded checks, as they are considered unworkable.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rockoftalk.substack.com