Affordability Takes Center Stage As Voters Say They Feel Worse Off

Kayal and Company · Aug 17, 2026 · 41m

We begin hour two by giving Phil Almquist his flowers for the performance of his Saturday-night rock show and the deep cuts he plays before turning hard into affordability. A Financial Times poll says 53 percent of registered voters feel financially worse off, and credit-card delinquencies are sitting near Great Recession territory. Bill Maher’s “Burrito Gate” argument becomes the centerpiece: if a burrito reaches $20 because someone adds delivery and fees, does that prove food itself is unaffordable, or does it prove convenience has become an expensive habit? That opens a full crew debate…