In this episode, we look at why housing feels so expensive today and what really ended the Long Golden Age of homeownership. You’ll hear why new ideas like 50-year mortgages, portable mortgages, and teaser-rate home loans are getting so much attention, and whether they can actually fix today’s affordability crisis.

We also break down the key history behind home prices, from 1897 to 1997, when homes stayed in line with inflation and acted as a safe, steady way to build wealth. Then we move through the events that caused the housing bubble of 1998-2007, including the rapid expansion of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, loose lending, and the Fed’s low-rate policies that pushed prices far above fundamentals.

This episode explains how these choices ended the long era of stable home values, created the Great Financial Crisis, and set the stage for today’s stretched prices. If you’re wondering whether buying a home now will deliver the same investment benefits as the past, this episode will help you understand the bigger picture.

In this episode:
• Why housing was stable for 100 years
• How inflation in the 1970s boosted homeowner returns
• How Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac changed the market
• How the Fed helped fuel the bubble
• Why affordability is so hard today
• What buyers should know about future home price growth

If this episode helped you, please share it with a friend.

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Subscribe to Todd's Substack: https://substack.com/@toddsheets 

 📖 Get the book 2008: What Really Happened: https://www.amazon.com/2008-Really-Happened-Todd-Sheets/dp/1641773936 

🎧 Podcast: Search “Todd Sheets – On Wealth and Progress” on your favorite platform

 👉 Subscribe for more deep dives on history, economy, geopolitics, and American resilience.

This Episode breaks down why prices feel high, why home costs keep hurting young people, and how years of money printing pushed us into an “affordability crisis.” We look at how Biden’s inflation helped re-elect Donald Trump, why the same issue helped Zohran Mamdani win in New York City, and how both parties keep missing the real cause of rising prices.

You’ll learn what drives real inflation, why housing keeps climbing even when inflation slows, and how big spending and big deficits made the problem worse. We also talk about Trump’s new stance on prices, the rise of the socialist wing of the Democratic Party, and what needs to happen to fix the mess.

If you want a simple walk-through of what’s going on with money, prices, the Fed, and why life feels more costly now, this video makes it easy to follow.

Watch to understand:
• What really caused the affordability crisis
• How Biden’s deals with the far-left led to record deficits
• Why Mamdani’s win shows a big shift in city politics
• Why both parties keep blaming the wrong things
• What policy changes could lower prices and raise incomes
• How real growth and sound money can help fix the problem

If this helped, share it with someone who wants clear facts without the noise.

Inflation explained, affordability crisis, Biden inflation, Trump economy, Zohran Mamdani, housing prices, Fed money printing, deficits explained, real economic growth, why prices are high, simple economics breakdown, Todd Sheets On Wealth and Progress.

🔗 Learn more at https://toddsheetswriter.com

Subscribe to Todd's Substack: https://substack.com/@toddsheets 

 📖 Get the book 2008: What Really Happened: https://www.amazon.com/2008-Really-Happened-Todd-Sheets/dp/1641773936 

🎧 Podcast: Search “Todd Sheets – On Wealth and Progress” on your favorite platform

 👉 Subscribe for more deep dives on history, economy, geopolitics, and American resilience.

In this episode of On Wealth & Progress, Todd Sheets breaks down one of the most controversial and misunderstood topics in U.S. policy  President Trump’s new tariffs on China and what they really mean for America’s future.

You’ll learn:
• Why both Republicans and Democrats have criticized Trump’s trade strategy.
• How tariffs became a key part of his long-term plan to “decouple” from China.
• Why the so-called “TACO” criticism (Trump Always Chickens Out) misses the point.
• How raising and then lowering tariffs was part of a deliberate negotiation strategy.
• What the latest deal with Xi Jinping really means for U.S. supply chains, rare-earth minerals, and inflation.

Todd also explains how decades of outsourcing to China helped fund its rise and why Trump’s gradual approach may be the only realistic way to unwind America’s dependence without crashing the economy.

If you care about global trade, economics, or America’s long-term strength, this episode offers the big picture behind the headlines.

🔗 Learn more at https://toddsheetswriter.com

Subscribe to Todd's Substack: https://substack.com/@toddsheets 

 📖 Get the book 2008: What Really Happened: https://www.amazon.com/2008-Really-Happened-Todd-Sheets/dp/1641773936 

🎧 Podcast: Search “Todd Sheets – On Wealth and Progress” on your favorite platform

 👉 Subscribe for more deep dives on history, economy, geopolitics, and American resilience.

#Trump #ChinaTrade #Tariffs #USChinaRelations #Economy #TradePolicy #Geopolitics #SupplyChain #ToddSheets #OnWealthAndProgress

The Democratic Party is at a crossroads. In this video we dig into the split between the socialist wing (led by figures like Zohran Mamdani, AOC and Bernie Sanders) and the more center-capitalist wing that defined the party through the Clinton years. 

We go back through history: from pre-capitalism, to free-market capitalism, to communism and then democratic socialism. You’ll learn why growth rates jumped under market-based systems, how socialist models have performed for large populations, and what it means for today’s politics. 

📌 Some topics covered:
 • Why the “D” brand is under pressure and what Joe Manchin meant when he said “the party of the far-left is defining us.”
 • Why Zohran Mamdani’s rise in NYC matters to the national story.
 • How Karl Marx, the Bolsheviks, and Scandinavian socialism fit into the bigger picture.
 • Real data on economic growth: pre-capitalism, capitalism, various socialist regimes.
 • What this means for us now—and what choices the party (and country) face going forward. 

👍 If this analysis helps you understand where the party is heading and why it matters, hit the Like button, leave a Comment below with your thoughts, and Subscribe for more deep dives on politics and economics.

🔗 Learn more at https://toddsheetswriter.com

Subscribe to Todd's Substack: https://substack.com/@toddsheets 

 📖 Get the book 2008: What Really Happened: https://www.amazon.com/2008-Really-Happened-Todd-Sheets/dp/1641773936 

🎧 Podcast: Search “Todd Sheets – On Wealth and Progress” on your favorite platform

 👉 Subscribe for more deep dives on history, economy, geopolitics, and American resilience.

Is Trump’s Military Deployment an Authoritarian Power Grab or Just Law Enforcement?

In this episode, Todd breaks down the controversial deployment of federal troops under President Trump to cities like Los Angeles, Portland, Chicago, and Washington D.C. asking the tough question: Is this a threat to democracy or just enforcement of the law?

We explore:

✅ Why critics say Trump is violating the Posse Comitatus Act
✅ Claims of a hostile takeover of blue cities
✅ The legal fight over states’ rights vs federal authority
✅ Whether these moves are politically motivated or necessary
✅ The truth about troop numbers, local control, and judicial rulings
✅ The deeper issue behind urban unrest and policy failure in inner cities

You’ll also hear quotes from Kamala Harris, statements from protest leaders, and analysis of what’s actually happening on the ground in each city.

🎙 Plus: Is Trump complying with court rulings? Who’s really inciting violence? What role does political opportunism play?

If you’ve been trying to make sense of the headlines and partisan noise, this podcast brings facts, context, and clarity.

👉 Listen now and decide for yourself.

🔗 Learn more at https://toddsheetswriter.com

Subscribe to Todd's Substack: https://substack.com/@toddsheets 

 📖 Get the book 2008: What Really Happened: https://www.amazon.com/2008-Really-Happened-Todd-Sheets/dp/1641773936 

🎧 Podcast: Search “Todd Sheets – On Wealth and Progress” on your favorite platform

 📢 Like, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who needs a deeper look at today’s political chaos.

#Trump #TroopDeployment #Politics2025 #Democracy #ICE #StatesRights #KamalaHarris #PosseComitatus #PortlandProtests #ChicagoViolence #RuleOfLaw #FederalVsState #AmericanPolitics #Podcast

Israel–Hamas Ceasefire: Hope, History, and What Comes Next

Last Friday’s ceasefire brought Israel’s long nightmare one step closer to peace with the release of the final hostages and cautious optimism spreading across the region.

But only days later, Hamas executed rival Palestinian leaders in Gaza, raising new fears that peace may already be unraveling.

In this episode, Todd Sheets breaks down what’s really happening beneath the headlines and what it means for the future of the Middle East.

You'll discover:

🕊️ How the Abraham Accords reshaped alliances across the Arab world
 ⚔️ Why Hamas launched the October 7 attacks — and what Iran had to gain
 🇮🇱 How Israel’s intelligence and military changed the balance of power
 🛢️ Why Iran’s oil ties to China keep fueling conflict
 🌍 What this ceasefire means for America, Israel, and global stability

Whether you’re a student of history, a news watcher trying to make sense of the chaos, or someone who still believes peace is possible this episode gives you the context you need in just 10 minutes.

🔗 Learn more at https://toddsheetswriter.com

Subscribe to Todd's Substack: https://substack.com/@toddsheets 

 📖 Get the book 2008: What Really Happened: https://www.amazon.com/2008-Really-Happened-Todd-Sheets/dp/1641773936 

🎧 Podcast: Search “Todd Sheets – On Wealth and Progress” on your favorite platform

 👉 Subscribe for more deep dives on history, geopolitics, and American resilience.

#Israel #Hamas #Ceasefire #MiddleEast #Iran #AbrahamAccords #Peace #Geopolitics #ToddSheets #WealthAndProgress

Gold Hits $4,000 – What Does It Really Mean?

Gold just hit $4,000 an ounce for the first time in history. But what is the market trying to tell us?

In this episode, Todd Sheets breaks down the economic and historical forces behind this massive move in gold and why it may be a canary in the coal mine for America’s fiscal future.

You'll discover:

💰 Why Warren Buffett calls gold a speculative bet
📉 What happened the last time gold spiked this much (hint: 1970s inflation)
🏛️ How the Fed, deficits, and money printing have shaped gold prices over 200+ years
🔮 Why gold might be the real inflation prediction market
📉 What rising gold means for asset prices, jobs, and the 2025 economy

Whether you're an investor, a student of history, or just trying to make sense of today’s headlines this podcast gives you context and clarity in under 15 minutes.

🔗 Learn more at https://toddsheetswriter.com

📖 Get the book: 2008 – What Really Happened available on Amazon, Bookshop.org, B&N, and Encounter Books

 🎧 Podcast: Search “Todd Sheets – On Wealth and Progress” on your favorite platform

👉 Subscribe for more deep dives on money, markets, and American resilience.

#Gold #Gold4000 #EconomicHistory #Inflation #FederalReserve #MonetaryPolicy #Deficits #Investing #ToddSheets #WealthAndProgress

Why Housing Worked for 100 Years (Before It All Went Wrong)

This podcast takes you on a walk down memory lane to explore why America’s housing market worked so well for a century and what changed.

Inspired by a recent Wall Street Journal article on young socialists and the 2008 Financial Crisis, we look at what made housing affordable and stable for decades. From local markets and mortgage rates to inflation-tracking home prices, this “Golden Age” of housing offers key lessons that challenge modern narratives.

📚 Excerpt adapted from the book: “2008 What Really Happened”
🏠 Why could a high school teacher afford a home in a nice neighborhood in 1970?
💸 What role did capitalism vs government play in long-term housing affordability?
📉 What changed in 1998 that broke the system?

If you're curious about the real causes of the housing crisis—and what history tells us about fixing affordability today—this video is for you.

👉 Subscribe for more stories on wealth, housing, and American progress.
🎙️ Also available in podcast form: search “On Wealth and Progress” by Todd Sheets.
🌐 Learn more: https://toddsheetswriter.com

📖 Buy the book: 2008 What Really Happened available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop, and Encounter Books.

#HousingCrisis #FinancialCrisis #RealEstate #Economics #AffordableHousing #History #PeterLynch #2008Crash #YoungSocialists #WallStreetJournal

In this episode, we explore the dynamics of the real estate market and its impact on the economy. Understanding financial education and money management is crucial as we analyze past trends that contributed to the housing market's stability before its downturn. Stay tuned for insights on financial literacy that can help navigate these changes! 📈🏡

Charlie Kirk Assassination Fallout: Free Speech, Violence & Media Firestorm

 What happened after Charlie Kirk’s tragic assassination shocked the nation perhaps even more than the murder itself. From Jimmy Kimmel’s controversial remarks and FCC threats, to Disney’s suspension and reinstatement of Kimmel’s show, this episode explores the dangerous collision of free speech, political violence, and media hypocrisy. Featuring reactions from Trump, Obama, Ted Cruz, The Wall Street Journal, and more, this story is far from over.

🔹 Did Kimmel cross the line?
 🔹 Is the FCC overreaching?
 🔹 What happens when both sides weaponize tragedy?

📢 Listen now to get the full picture of the political storm no one is talking about clearly.

🎙️ Subscribe to On Wealth and Progress wherever you get your podcasts.
🌐 Learn more at toddsheetswriter.com

#CharlieKirk #JimmyKimmel #FreeSpeech #FCC #Trump #Obama #MediaBias #CancelCulture #PoliticalViolence #FirstAmendment #Toddsheets #OnWealthAndProgress #Podcast

What’s happening in America right now? Rising violence, political polarization, and deep cultural divides have many asking: What the hell is going on here?

In this video, we look at today’s events from high-profile assassinations and social unrest to battles between cities and the federal government  and place them in the context of America’s history. 

Could we be in the midst of the fifth major regime change in U.S. history?We’ll trace the cycles that reshaped our nation:

The Founding (1776–1800)
The Civil War (1860s)
The Great Depression (1930s)
The 1960s cultural revolution

And today’s struggle, driven by anger, fear, and division. 

By looking at the past, we can better understand the present — and see how America has always risen to overcome even its darkest moments. 

If you’ve been asking:Why does America feel more divided than ever?Are today’s struggles worse than the 1960s?

How can we find hope and direction in times of chaos?This episode offers perspective, context, and cautious optimism.

👉 Subscribe for weekly insights on history, politics, culture, and America’s future: https://substack.com/@toddsheets

🔗 Learn more at: toddsheetswriter.com

📖 Read the book 2008: What Really Happened (available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, Encounter Books)

🎧 Listen to the podcast “On Wealth and Progress” on all major platforms

Recent events are causing widespread chaos and a sense of divide across the nation. From heated protests to concerns over national security, many question the current political instability. Stay informed with the latest news and analysis, especially with what's happening with Donald Trump