Pawn Shops and Subprime Winners

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President Trump has shaken the financial markets by proposing a strict 10% interest rate cap on credit cards, a move that sent stocks like Visa and MasterCard tumbling. In this episode, Jack and Max break down whether this policy is a genuine legislative goal or a political stunt designed to win the midterms by addressing the affordability crisis. They explore how banks might retaliate—potentially by releasing a "teaser" card with limited access—and which subprime lenders and pawn shops could actually boom if traditional credit dries up. The duo also analyzes the surprising bipartisan roots of this idea, tracing it back to proposals from Bernie Sanders and AOC. They discuss if the current dip in payment stocks represents a buying opportunity for contrarian investors. They also explore other executive interventions from the President in defense, mortgages, and the Federal Reserve. Recorded the evening of January 13, 2026.

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Pieces Discussed:Joseph Wang’s “Sleeping Giants”: https://www.stern.nyu.edu/sites/default/files/assets/documents/NPLH_AER%20(2).pdf

Buyback Capital’s “[Updates #34] The GSE's, Bill Pulte, and Implications”: https://buybackcapital.substack.com/p/updates-34-the-gses-bill-pulte-and?utm_campaign=email-half-post&r=4jms2a&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

“No Price Like Home: Global House Prices, 1870  2012”: https://www.stern.nyu.edu/sites/default/files/assets/documents/NPLH_AER%20(2).pdf

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