Markets remain on edge as the Strait of Hormuz stays largely closed, oil prices climb, and global supply chains face growing strain.

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong break down what actually matters right now: physical supply disruptions, rising energy costs, and the ripple effects beyond just gasoline prices.

In this hour:

• Why an oil shock isn’t just about oil
• What a prolonged Hormuz closure could mean for inflation
• The real risk to plastics, fertilizer, and global manufacturing
• Why markets may still be underpricing supply-chain damage
• China’s trade probes ahead of a key summit
• And how rising healthcare costs are reshaping retirement planning

Plus, a look at energy policy mistakes in Europe and what countries may do next to secure supply.

Stay ahead of the forces shaping markets and the global economy.

Markets turned volatile after renewed geopolitical tensions pushed oil higher and stocks lower.

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong break down what’s driving today’s selloff, from rising Treasury yields and climbing gas prices to fresh concerns about inflation and growth.

In this hour:

• Why “stagflation” headlines may be premature
• The real impact of higher rates on bonds and mortgage costs
• Meta and YouTube hit with major legal setbacks
• Investors rotating toward cash — or are they?
• AI’s growing influence, from layoffs to Hollywood

Plus, a look at housing policy, institutional investors, and why supply—not restrictions—may be the real issue.

Stay informed on the forces shaping markets right now.

Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong break down the biggest driver behind today’s market moves — and why recent investor psychology may be preventing markets from properly pricing risk.

With the Middle East conflict nearing the four-week mark, the Strait of Hormuz still largely closed, and energy markets reacting minute-by-minute to headlines, the question isn’t just what’s happening — it’s how markets are responding.

In this hour:

• Why markets may be more afraid of missing upside than pricing downside
• Whether an energy shock could last longer than investors expect
• How fertilizer, plastics, and global supply chains are already being hit
• What Lloyd Blankfein’s warning about private credit really means
• Why Congress still won’t seriously address trading conflicts
• And why the Postal Service is adding its first-ever fuel surcharge

Markets rebound as optimism grows around Middle East negotiations—but energy markets remain under pressure and gas prices are creeping higher.

In this hour, Chuck and Paul discuss:

• Whether gas prices are headed toward $5 a gallon
• Why the spring housing market is already losing momentum
• Mortgage applications falling just as buying season ramps up
• What rising rates mean for homebuilders
• Why the ultra-wealthy are having a bigger impact on prices everywhere
• The mounting headaches in air travel—and whether relief is coming

Plus, a look at volatility in stocks, oil’s pullback, and what investors should actually focus on in uncertain times.

Markets are rallying—but energy markets remain under serious strain as conflict in the Middle East continues to disrupt global oil supply.

Chuck and Paul break down:

• The real impact of a partially closed Strait of Hormuz
• Why oil prices are swinging—and what it means for inflation
• Wall Street’s rising “recession odds” (and why those predictions may not be worth much)
• Early price pressure showing up in key industries

Plus, in Ask Todd, Todd Lutsky explains the critical differences between life estates and irrevocable Medicaid trusts, the tax consequences of gifting property, and how to avoid costly estate planning mistakes.

A packed hour covering markets, macro risks, and smart planning decisions.

On this week’s Ask Todd, Todd Lutsky breaks down the real differences between life estates and irrevocable trusts — and why the “quick fix” solution isn’t always the best one.

Todd explains:

• How much control you actually give up with a life estate
• Why irrevocable Medicaid trusts are often used to protect assets from long-term care costs
• The five-year lookback rule and what it means for nursing home planning
• Capital gains consequences when selling property held in a life estate
• What happens when a parent leaves property to just one child — and how gift tax rules apply if proceeds are shared

If you own property, are worried about long-term care costs, or already have a life estate in place, this episode walks through the pros, cons, and tax implications you need to understand.

Markets swing again as oil pushes toward $91 and the 10-year yield climbs, yet stocks remain just 5% below their pre-war highs. Mike Armstrong and Paul Lane ask whether investors are underestimating the geopolitical and energy risks in front of them.

They break down:

• Why volatility hasn’t translated into deeper equity losses
• The deteriorating outlook for young and college-educated workers
• CFO warnings that AI is coming for administrative jobs
• Why timing “the worst 10 days” in markets is a fantasy
• How retirees should think about risk, guardrails, and portfolio discipline
• A heated debate over home insurance, government backstops, and market distortions

A wide-ranging hour on market psychology, labor market stress, AI disruption, and what real risk management actually looks like.

Mike Armstrong and Paul Lane break down another volatile morning in markets as conflicting headlines out of Iran whipsaw stocks and oil. With the Strait of Hormuz still disrupted, they explain why actions—not statements—are what really matter for investors.

They dive into the real economic risk: a potential “dual shock” of slowing growth and rising prices. Is stagflation back on the table? And are U.S. recessions really becoming less frequent—or are investors just forgetting what downturns feel like?

Plus:

• Why oil prices above $90 could matter more for supply chains than at the pump
• The state of the U.S. labor market heading into 2026
• Massachusetts home sales and what’s really behind the slowdown
• The private credit stress building beneath the surface

A wide-ranging look at geopolitics, inflation risk, and whether markets are underestimating what comes next.

Markets rallied sharply after President Trump announced a five-day pause on planned U.S. strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure. But as conflicting messages emerge from Tehran, Chuck Zodda and Mike Armstrong ask the only question that really matters for the global economy: when will ships resume normal traffic through the Strait of Hormuz?

They break down the market reaction, why oil and diesel prices remain a key risk, and how rising transportation costs could filter into inflation in the months ahead.

Plus:
• Why $5 diesel may not be “crushing” truckers the way headlines suggest
• The latest concerns around private credit and where real risks may lie
• Why healthcare continues to drive job growth
• The dangers of young investors taking on speculative risk
• Seven ways to think about retiring into a volatile market