Trillbilly Worker's Party Episode 421: Cart Blanche
11 snips
Dec 4, 2025 Aaron and Tom dive into the holiday retail scene, discussing the growth of Black Friday spending alongside soaring buy-now-pay-later financing. They share personal stories about financing sneakers at staggering interest rates, drawing parallels between today’s consumer habits and past subprime catalogs. The hosts also explore the implications of gamifying news through prediction markets, highlighting the ethical concerns and manipulative potential. The conversation wraps up by reflecting on the broader themes of wealth, political influence, and the rising cost of living.
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BNPL Masks Weak Consumer Power
- Buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) inflated Black Friday spending while most users carry balances past interest-free windows.
- Aaron argues this normalizes high-interest consumer debt and masks weak underlying purchasing power.
Financed Air Jordans Cost Much More
- Aaron shares buying Spider-Man Air Jordan 1s on Affirm and paying huge interest over time.
- He reports ending up paying roughly $360 for a $180 shoe due to financing costs.
Childhood Credit From Fingerhut
- Aaron recalls Fingerhut and layaway as early subprime retail tactics that hooked low-income shoppers.
- He remembers long installment plans with ~22% notes to own shoes he wanted for tournaments.
