Money Stuff: The Podcast This Is Weird: A Mailbag Episode
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Sep 26, 2025 Matt and Katie dive into quirky themes, such as their mysterious tungsten cube and the complexities of monthly financial reporting. They explore the world of leveraged ETFs and the decline of public companies as private funds rise. The duo discusses prediction markets, pondering if unconventional contracts might sidestep outdated regulations. They also debate missed earnings and whether companies or analysts should shoulder the blame. With sharp insights on betting and investing, this conversation is as engaging as it is enlightening!
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Mysterious Tungsten Cube Gift
- Matt Levine received an anonymous tungsten cube engraved "this is weird" through the Bloomberg mailroom and found it amusing.
- He invited the sender to identify themselves and enjoyed the gag as part of his Money Stuff anniversary collection.
Why Public Firms Aren't Monthly Public
- Monthly internal books exist at public companies, but public disclosure faces litigation risk and costs.
- Matt Levine argues fear of lawsuits and auditor scrutiny explains why firms avoid more frequent public reporting.
The Leverage-Reset Problem
- Daily-reset leveraged ETFs diverge from long-term leveraged exposure due to volatility drag and rebalancing.
- Matt notes long-term leveraged exposure is feasible but doesn't fit the daily-liquidity ETF wrapper and may require other vehicles like private funds.