Nobody Trusts the Numbers. (The Economy Is Fine. For Some People.)

73% of Americans say they're financially stable. That number is up 10 points from 2013. So why does nearly everyone say the economy isn't working for them?

Dr. A and Jack break down the K-shaped economy, congressional stock trading, prediction market addiction, and why trust — not data — is the real economic crisis right now.

In this episode:

00:00 — Welcome & intro

02:12 — The K-shaped economy: why the average hides the real story

06:50 — Economics has become the third rail — after religion and politics

09:15 — Congress is working less. Is that actually the problem?

12:04 — Gen Z, voting, and institutional trust

15:47 — Congressional stock trading: the incentive structure is broken

19:46 — Prediction markets are the new cigarette ads 22:40 — Capitalism runs on trust and hope — what happens when both erode

25:44 — Where to find us this week

Links & resources mentioned:

→ Washington Post: prediction market ads appear every 4 minutes during sports broadcasts

→ Senate committee meets this week to examine prediction market oversight

→ OGE financial disclosures: 3,700+ stock transactions tied to Trump portfolio in Q1 2026

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Decode Econ helps people understand what economics and data actually mean in the real world. Led by economist and educator Dr. Abdullah Al-Bahrani, the show translates data, policy, and research into clear, responsible analysis — without jargon, hype, or partisan framing.