The Dividend Cafe
The Bahnsen Group
The Dividend Cafe is your portal for market perspective that is virtually conflict-free, rooted in deep philosophical commitments about how capital should be managed, and understandable for all sorts of investors. Host David L. Bahnsen is a frequent guest on CNBC, Bloomberg, and Fox Business. He is the author of the books, Crisis of Responsibility: Our Cultural Addiction to Blame and How You Can Cure It (Post Hill Press), The Case for Dividend Growth: Investing in a Post-Crisis World (Post Hill Press), and Full-Time: Work and the Meaning of Life (Post Hill Press).
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 22, 2026 • 10min
Tuesday - September 22, 2026
Markets delivered a split performance as investors weighed easing long-term yields, stubborn inflation signals, and expectations for tighter Federal Reserve policy. The discussion explores a more selective relationship between AI, semiconductor, and software stocks, plus the global implications of Japan’s rate hikes and the unwinding yen carry trade.
Sep 21, 2026 • 14min
Monday - September 21, 2026
Markets rally near record highs, but shrinking breadth raises warning signs. Technology enthusiasm surges as energy slides with oil prices, while changing margin-debt patterns complicate leverage concerns. Media deals, a Yankees investment, AI policy, trade tensions, housing weakness, mixed economic data, and shifting Fed rate expectations round out the discussion, along with income opportunities in midstream energy.
Sep 18, 2026 • 23min
"The Most Performative Interest Rate Hike Ever"
A quarter-point Fed hike takes center stage, but is it merely symbolic after markets already tightened financial conditions? The discussion explores political pressure, Trump’s push for 1% rates, the odds of another hike, and the Fed’s unanimous vote. It also examines mortgage rates, muted bond-market moves, and why earnings, oil, AI, and valuations may matter more to stocks.
Sep 17, 2026 • 6min
Thursday - September 17, 2026
Markets rebound as major indexes climb, Treasury yields ease, and tech briefly retakes the lead. Economic data offers a mixed but largely resilient picture, with stronger manufacturing and jobless claims offset by softer housing figures. The discussion explores whether today’s AI anxiety echoes past technology cycles and whether higher oil prices combined with Fed hikes truly signal recession.
Sep 16, 2026 • 7min
Wednesday - September 16, 2026
A volatile Fed day brings a unanimous quarter-point rate hike, shifting expectations for one more move this year. Markets wobble before recovering from their lows as Treasury yields react unevenly. Strong retail sales contrast with weakening homebuilder sentiment. Plus, a listener question explores the difference between isolated price shocks and broad inflation.
Sep 15, 2026 • 10min
Tuesday - September 15, 2026
Markets retreat as oil remains above $100, Middle East tensions persist, and the 10-year Treasury yield nears 5%. The discussion explores whether a 5% or 10% pullback would still leave stocks reasonably valued, why credit markets remain calm, and what to expect from the Fed. It also examines weak Treasury auction headlines and whether AI-related corporate borrowing could challenge demand for long-term government debt.
Sep 14, 2026 • 16min
Monday - September 14, 2026
Markets digest a semiconductor selloff sparked by warnings from AI industry leaders, while credit spreads remain calm. Inflation data, a sharp rise in producer prices, surging tanker rates, cooling housing activity, and a likely Federal Reserve hike shape the outlook. Oil climbs above $100 as pipeline and shipping disruptions add fresh pressure.
Sep 11, 2026 • 24min
What 9/11 Meant and Still Means for Investors
A reflection on 9/11 through the lens of markets, memory, and resilience. It revisits the market’s vulnerability before the attacks, the trading halt and historic losses that followed, and the forces that shaped recovery. The discussion also turns to post-9/11 national unity, personal uncertainty, and the importance of remembrance.
Sep 10, 2026 • 13min
Thursday - September 10, 2026
Stocks slide as oil surges nearly 20% amid Middle East tensions and threats to key Red Sea shipping routes. Markets brace for CPI and debate the Federal Reserve’s next rate move, with comparisons to the 2000 bubble under scrutiny. The discussion also examines when tariffs may be justified, while benign producer-price and jobless-claims data offer a calmer note.
Sep 9, 2026 • 9min
Wednesday - September 9, 2026
Markets extend their losing streak as stocks slide, bonds weaken, and the 10-year yield climbs. Treasury buybacks face skepticism, while a thought experiment on replacing long-term debt with T-bills highlights risks for rates, inflation, and fiscal stability. Japan’s zero-rate policy and Europe’s negative-rate experience offer cautionary parallels. PPI and CPI loom ahead.
