When politics and markets collide, it’s easy to let emotions take over. In this episode of Click Beta, Matt Zeigler, Dave Nadig, and Cameron Dawson break down the latest government shutdown, how politics really impact markets (if at all), and what investors should pay attention to amid the noise. They also explore whether AI spending could mirror past bubbles, how Fed rate cuts might hurt the very consumers they’re meant to help, and the importance of creative feedback in work and life—all wrapped in the trio’s signature mix of humor, insight, and surprise topics.

Topics covered:
• Should investors let politics influence portfolio decisions
• How government shutdowns historically impact markets and GDP
• The concentration of market gains and “earnings bubbles” in AI-related sectors
• Why the Fed cutting rates could slow high-income consumer spending
• The rise of prediction markets and “casino capitalism”
• Whether the AI boom could lead to one of the biggest wealth redistributions ever
• The difference between valuation bubbles and earnings bubbles
• How overinvestment cycles in railroads and fiber optics mirror today’s AI buildout
• Lessons from editing, feedback, and doing your best creative work
• The case for (and against) shushing during yoga

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro and cold open
02:00 Politics and investing—should they mix?
06:30 The market’s indifference to shutdowns
10:00 How to tell if news events really matter to markets
12:00 Shutdown effects on GDP and employment
14:00 What could make this shutdown different
17:00 How Fed rate cuts might backfire
20:30 Data blackouts, prediction markets, and Calci
25:00 The psychology of betting and “casino capitalism”
26:50 Market concentration and the “data center blob”
28:30 When the market becomes the economy
29:00 Surprise topic: Will the AI bubble burst?
33:00 Over-earning and capital destruction in past bubbles
36:00 The redistribution effect of AI CapEx
40:00 Creative feedback and doing your best work
47:00 Shushing, silence, and respecting quiet spaces
53:00 Closing thoughts and sign-offs