Episode Transcript
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Jason Wagner (00:01):
Welcome back to another episode of the Real Life
Investing Podcast with Jasonand Rachel Wagner.
We got some excitement today.
Why?
Because it's voting day.
Rachel Wagner (00:11):
It's here.
We did it.
It's the day before voting day.
Oh yeah, it was voting day forus.
Jason Wagner (00:15):
It was voting day for us.
Yeah, so it is November 4th andwe decided that before lunch we
were going to go cast our votein the downtown Arlington
Heights Village Hall.
And what did we do?
How did we arrive, rach?
Rachel Wagner (00:31):
You mean how did you arrive we?
It was we.
You were with me, yeah that'strue, we were in the Cybertruck
together, which is, you know,not a common car you see on the
road just yet.
So it's a little bit of astatement.
Jason Wagner (00:43):
It's kind of funny because Elon Musk joining
Donald Trump, it's like it's abeautiful little connection
there, right?
Rachel Wagner (00:52):
Yeah, and you wore your Make America Great
Again hat and your Trump 2024T-shirt.
But as we were going there wekind of learned that perhaps
there were some rules againstthat.
I'm still actually not veryclear on what the rules are in
Illinois.
I don't think Illinoistechnically has restrictions
against it.
But ultimately I asked you totake your hat off and put your
(01:13):
sweatshirt on.
But as we were rolling up wehad some music playing Make
America Great Again.
God bless the USA in theCybertruck and Jason's just
throwing out thumbs up toeverybody in line because there
was a line around the block.
Jason Wagner (01:28):
Yeah, so we were at the stoplight turning to go
into the parking lot and waitingfor it to turn green and you
know, at the.
Cybertruck.
Everybody looks at theCybertruck right, and so it's a
perfect opportunity to bewearing my MAGA hat and giving
thumbs up to people that arelike whoa, look at the
Cybertruck.
Whoa, it's a MAGA guy.
Rachel Wagner (01:50):
Yeah, you were cracking up the whole time.
It was fun, it was enjoyable.
Jason Wagner (01:55):
Nothing bad happened.
Nobody gave me a middle fingeror anything you know.
Rachel Wagner (01:59):
Yeah, nothing bad happened.
Jason Wagner (02:00):
No, it's great.
Rachel Wagner (02:02):
It's wild to me because I remember thinking this
when I voted in Chicago for thefirst time and then, especially
when we lived up in JeffersonPark.
We voted there twice, I believelocal and then national
elections.
But it's wild to me that peoplecan be standing right outside
the voting polling place andhanding out campaign material
(02:24):
you know still handing outflyers and trying to talk to you
about who you're going to votefor as you're entering the place
to vote.
They can just hand this out toyou.
And I remember the first time Ivoted in Illinois I was like,
wow, this feels wrong because inIowa you cannot do that.
So the first time I ever votedwas in Iowa and that's not
allowed at all.
Jason Wagner (02:42):
It's very odd.
It's very odd, and if you'retelling me that I can't wear my
Trump shirt inside when I go toyou might be able to.
Rachel Wagner (02:48):
I don't know.
You definitely cannot.
In Iowa I confirm that, but inIllinois I don't actually know
what the rules are.
Jason Wagner (02:55):
I did see a social media video of a guy wearing a
MAGA hat, and I don't know whatstate he was in, but they did
ask him to remove it.
Rachel Wagner (03:03):
There's like 27 states, I think, that have rules
against it.
Illinois was not listed in thestates that I saw, so that's why
I was like, oh, maybe it's nota rule, it's pretty obnoxious.
Jason Wagner (03:11):
I mean, the way I look at this is like this is my
sports team right now, Likeyou're not going to knock me if
I'm wearing a Bears jersey.
Rachel Wagner (03:29):
Yeah, I mean, I personally think personal attire
there should be no restrictionon it?
you know, obviously, unless youhave things hanging out but, um,
like a nut sack or something,yeah, yeah, I mean, yeah, agreed
right, like there's, like youknow, normal decency but, like
you know, things on your shirt,you know, whatever, but I do
have an issue with like.
So we went in today and therewere people same thing as like
voting in Chicago all along theywere across the street.
So that was a big differencefrom voting in Chicago.
In Chicago they were literallyon the property, but today they
(03:50):
were across the street where weparked.
I mean, how many signs do youthink?
There were?
Like a hundred.
Jason Wagner (03:55):
Yeah.
Like literally a hundred signslining the street, like inches
away from each other.
Rachel Wagner (03:58):
You can't even read them because they're so
close.
And then our staterepresentative, mary Beth Canty,
was there handing out flyersand talking to people, and then
her opponent's campaign peoplewere there handing out flyers,
among other people, and I justthink that's wild.
You're going in to vote.
You've already likely made yourdecision, because you're
walking in and here's yourperson on the ballot being like
(04:20):
hi, hi, I'm Mary Beth Canty.
Jason Wagner (04:23):
I think, it's crazy.
I mean I think that's electioninterference yeah, so do I, it's
very much so, hi.
You know it's like a lot ofpeople don't?
I think obviously the strategyhere is that you know there's
maybe people that have seen herads but never met her, but
wouldn't vote for her becausethey don't know her or they
(04:43):
weren't gonna vote locally, yeah, and then all of a sudden, oh,
she was standing outside and ohoh, I did just recognize that
name maybe.
Oh, here she is right here.
I'll just go ahead and I'llclick that button.
Oh, she's really nice, it'slike pity, it's pity votes yeah
you know and, and how do yourack up pity votes?
Well, you do things like thatand you hand out materials and
yeah no, I don't know, I don't.
Rachel Wagner (05:04):
I think it's totally illinois.
Jason Wagner (05:05):
I think it's totally shady.
It almost kind of reminds me oflike, you know, when you go to
an attraction, let's say newyork city, remember new york
city when we were in new yorkcity and then there were people
that would like.
As we were waiting in line for,like, the statue of liberty or
something, it was like there'dbe people in line that would be
like oh hey, do you want us totake your photo, or like you?
Know or like do these you wanta bracelet or something or like.
Rachel Wagner (05:27):
You know it's like putting it on you and if
you didn't like, forcefully belike no.
The next thing you know they'reasking you for money and you're
like exactly it just it justmakes the whole experience like
really kind of shady.
Jason Wagner (05:36):
and I'm just standing in line here and you
know, you got these people thatare kind of, you know, just
trying to give you the flyers.
I agree, I don't like thatexperience.
Rachel Wagner (05:45):
Yeah, we waited 40 minutes, which we've been
seeing on social media thatpeople were waiting one to three
hours in places around here, soit wasn't too bad, but the
longest I've ever waited to vote.
Jason Wagner (05:55):
Oh yeah, by far.
Rachel Wagner (05:56):
Yeah.
Jason Wagner (05:56):
Yeah, talk about the woman that was in front of
us who was asking the questionsto the uh.
Rachel Wagner (06:00):
yeah, there was a woman who was checking in right
in front of us and she wasasking if this is the busiest
she's seen it.
And the lady's like, oh, we'vebeen here for the last 15 days
and it's been more early votersthan we've ever experienced.
We've been busy the whole time.
And she's like, oh yes, love tohear that, that's great, that's
great.
Jason Wagner (06:17):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Rachel Wagner (06:20):
Which it is.
Jason Wagner (06:37):
I think people exercising their right to vote
is great.
I think it is really cool thatthis election is likely going to
be a proud boy, hillbilly, andyou know fist pumping his
buddies and they're all going toclearly going to go vote for
the conservatives and the thewife comes in, you know, kind of
behind them and is wearing theAmerica hat and you know it was
(07:00):
just kind of there and taggingalong and aren't they like how
does that whole ad go?
Rachel Wagner (07:06):
Yeah, so the woman gets up to the ballot or
the ballot box and she looksacross the way at another woman
and they kind of smile at eachother and she votes for Kamala
Harris.
And when they're walking out,she's walking out with her
husband and he goes did you makethe right decision, honey?
She goes.
Did you make the right decision, honey?
She goes, sure did.
And it's this, like you know,it's this perception that women
(07:31):
can secretly go in or privatelyI won't say secretly, I'll say
privately go in and cast theirballot and their husband doesn't
have to know that they didn'tvote the way they want him to
and the way he wants her to.
And of course, anyone can go inthere and vote privately, 100%.
That's how it's set up.
But I just think that thenotion of that commercial was
(07:53):
very offensive to women, atleast it was offensive to me.
I, I I'm just like I don't knowanybody who is lucky for me.
I don't know anybody who'sbeing forced by their husband,
against their will, to vote forsomebody.
But in fact we know lots ofcouples who are on opposite
sides of the political spectrumand they just don't talk about
(08:17):
it, right?
Jason Wagner (08:18):
yeah, they don't they don't talk about it, but I
also.
I also don't think that it's, Idon't think it should be
promoted that you know, you, youessentially lie, right, you
just lie.
You lie to your partner, youlie to who that person is yeah,
well, I think that is theunderlying tone of that party oh
, so we should keep everythingpolicies?
Yeah, I mean keep everything asecret in but what like?
Rachel Wagner (08:43):
let me ask you the same thing with the stuff in
schools, right?
Sure, they're keeping thingssecret from parents.
Jason Wagner (08:47):
Totally yeah and right.
But that's what they want to do, right.
They want to have more secrecyRight, yeah.
But what makes our marriage sostrong?
Rachel Wagner (08:56):
We talk about everything.
Jason Wagner (08:57):
We talk about everything.
Yeah, even if you and I don'talign on something, we still
talk about it.
And and that's what themessaging should be it's there
shouldn't be a promotion of,yeah, let's keep these secrets
from your partner, like, even ifyou guys don't align, he still
loves you yeah, I mean, I'm sure, I'm sure there are women out
(09:20):
there who that probably maybedid speak to, who aren't in
healthy, safe relationships.
Rachel Wagner (09:25):
You know, there's also probably some men who
aren't in healthy, saferelationships that's probably.
I mean that's totally true,that was totally true 100, but
should we be promoting that aslike that's what's happening
across america?
No, and I also don't think itis happening across america yeah
, yeah, whatever, but I thinkthat I don't agree with most of
what their political answer says.
(09:46):
Well, true.
Jason Wagner (09:47):
True, I just think that we should be promoting.
Okay, what makes a marriagenice, strong and fruitful?
Rachel Wagner (09:53):
Open communication.
Jason Wagner (09:54):
Open lines of communication.
Yeah, and that boils down tohow you vote, to how you want to
raise your kids.
Some of the how you you know ifyou want to discipline your
kids or what activities they do.
Yeah, how you spend your moneyhow you save your money, how you
spend your time ExactlyLiterally all these decisions,
all these decisions, and votingis just another one of them.
(10:16):
It's not this life or deaththing that if you two are, you
know, on opposite sides of thespectrum there, but like it
probably is going to feel alittle bit nicer if you talked
about it in a way where youcould, you know just well, and
who better person to talk tothan your spouse?
Rachel Wagner (10:32):
exactly I mean in theory.
You know you should be able tohave pretty open communications
and maybe learn something andfind some common ground and
agree to disagree once you'veheard each other out.
Jason Wagner (10:41):
But I think, uh, and actually I want to I think
people avoid these discussionsbecause they don't have the
ability to to hold theiremotions back, because because
they haven't been in these kindof like hard situations or these
hard discussions and when you,when you first do something
really hard, it's reallyuncomfortable, like extremely
(11:03):
uncomfortable, and maybe thefirst time that you hear
somebody push back on one ofyour positions, you just get on
the defense and what I'veexperienced personally is that I
have basically come out of thecloset of, like you know, being
a silent majority right, and nowI'm much more vocal about what
(11:28):
I care about and I do it onsocial media and, yeah, did I
get some backlash a little bit,but that was okay.
It didn't stop me fromcontinuing to share some things
that I thought were insightfuland some of the you know the
reasonings behind where we standand ultimately, it's gotten me
(11:48):
a lot more comfortable withlistening to some of those other
counter arguments and to beopen to just you know I've heard
this before Like my emotionalresponse is not as strong as
somebody else that doesn'tpractice being in these
uncomfortable situations.
You know what I mean.
Rachel Wagner (12:08):
Yeah, I actually think you make a really good
point.
Something I haven't reallythought about before is, I think
, when we first got married andin our early years of marriage,
I think oftentimes I held backwhat I was really thinking and
feeling out of fear of my ownemotion, creating a bigger
problem than what actuallyexisted.
Because I definitely have grownin my ability to not be overly
(12:31):
emotional, in strong convictionsthat I have right, Whereas it
used to kind of be a struggleand still can be at times, and I
think that was the wrongapproach.
And over time, through ourmarriages, we've worked through
things.
I think now I have no problemtelling you when you're
upsetting me Right, and it'sJason, this is really
frustrating me right now Likecan you please stop.
(12:53):
And then you're like well,you're really frustrating me too
because of this, this, this andthis, and then we are like, oh
okay, well, let's talk about itand move on.
I noticed that a lot in ourmarriage and it's come from
practice.
It doesn't come from anythingelse except a willingness to
communicate and practicing thatwhere I'm no longer afraid Not
that I was ever afraid, but Iwas afraid of myself.
I was hesitant to be thatemotional person.
(13:17):
I don't really have that fearanymore.
I don't think.
Jason Wagner (13:21):
It's because you practice, because we've
practiced, because you practiceit and you realize that once you
said the things that you'vebeen wanting to say and the
reaction that you got backwasn't as bad oh, oh, wow, that
wasn't that bad actually.
He took that really well.
Yeah, it's like the one timewhere I was like dude, I just
lost forty thousand dollars andI'm like crying to you, I I'm
like we're ruined and we're soscared to tell me that, and I
(13:44):
was just like I don't evendeserve you.
I lost all of our money.
And then you were like, okay,just don't do it again.
And I was like what she said,don't do it again.
She didn't care.
Rachel Wagner (13:57):
Like whoa, we build up.
Jason Wagner (13:59):
This is the point.
We build up these things thatare going to happen, and they
happen in our head.
They don't happen in reality.
The effect is much less.
It's almost like anybodystarting a business.
They're just too scared becausewhat if it fails?
And you go through all of thesescenarios of what if?
Ah, it's not a good idea, orwhat not?
Well, it may not be a good idea, but you're going to learn from
(14:21):
it and you're going to realizethat actually, hey, you know
that wasn't a good idea, but Ishifted towards this one and
that one actually did a lotbetter, and then we critiqued it
a little bit more.
Like you just keep trying and Ithink this is the point that we
should all be talking aboutfrom the political spectrum is
that you just keep trying tohave dialogue, and when it's
(14:43):
uncomfortable with somebody,that's okay.
You know, you just need morepractice with absorbing how
they're going to respond and youhave to also put yourself in
their position, which is likethis might be the first time
that they've ever had aconversation where they're you
know, you guys aren't alignedand they feel like they're under
attack because of what you said, or maybe they feel offended by
what you said.
Rachel Wagner (15:06):
Yeah, and I think finding the practice of not
having an urge to respond orcounterattack prior to actually
listening entirely.
I think you do a good job oflike asking questions of people.
Well, explain to me why youthink that you know, or where
(15:26):
did where did that come from?
What's an example of that youknow and then allowing people to
to speak it out you know.
That's a good learning exercisefor everybody actually.
Jason Wagner (15:35):
Yeah, and again, it just takes practice and like
you have to forcefully putyourself in those situations.
Now, I'm not talking about,like you know, going out on
facebook and just trollingsomeone and just trying to like
they say something that'stotally like it's very clear you
can identify people that arejust saying something that's
totally emotional.
Oh, could you imagine whatwould happen if donald trump got
(15:56):
elected president?
I would just die, like okay,you know what I mean.
Like that is not someone thatyou should engage in, right,
because they're not sayinganything that is concrete.
Like why would you just die?
Or, like you know, like give mesome substance here.
So you can't really engage withthose types of people.
But you can engage with othersthat are like I don't agree with
such and such, that donaldtrump wants to deport all of the
(16:20):
migrants, like this is rippingfamilies apart, type thing.
Like you know, there's a littlebit more substance there that
maybe that's the type of personthat you might be able to engage
with and have a thoughtfuldialogue with, right.
So you just have to.
I think you have to be a littlecareful with who you have the
conversations with, and a lot oftimes I don't I actually don't
(16:43):
engage it, I don't bring it up.
It's usually the opposite sideright.
Rachel Wagner (16:47):
So people come to me Because I no, that is not a
fair assessment, becausetypically you'll post something
on your story, right, and thenpeople respond to that, so
you're putting it out therefirst.
Jason Wagner (16:58):
Yeah, but I'm not putting it out there to the
point of calling to anindividual person that.
I am picking on.
I put it out there as more of astory share and I'm careful
about, you know, what goes on asa post versus what goes on as a
story.
Stories are only there for 24hours and, like you know, it
keeps people kind of coming backand like seeing oh, you know
what are you sharing now?
But the post stuff is like youknow what he's sharing now, but
the post stuff is like, you knowsomething a little bit more
(17:21):
concrete.
So I want to be like if I'mgoing to post something, it's
going to be something that is alot more like yeah, I'm very
convicted in what this is and Idon't post a lot of political
side of things, but I'll sharemy stories, a lot of stuff, and
that does encourage others toask questions or to you know,
(17:45):
give me a high five or whatever,or yeah, You've had.
Rachel Wagner (17:47):
you've had a lot of interactions with people.
Jason Wagner (17:49):
It's fun, it's fun and it's and it's people that
I've never interacted withbefore and you just get to know
a person on a such deeper level.
And I've and I've actually saidthis it is a privilege to have
these discussions with people,because of how taboo it is.
Think about it.
I am one of the few people thatactually get to regularly enter
(18:10):
.
We are you and I both do this.
We are, but I think I get alittle bit more out of it
because I'm on the social sideof it is that there's not a lot
of people that want to havethese discussions, but when you
do talk to somebody, they'redying to talk to somebody, right
?
They're actually really lookingfor somebody that they can
(18:30):
connect with on some of thesetopics, because everybody else
around them maybe doesn't talkabout it or they're not good at
having a good finesse with it orjust having a good
understanding, or like yeah, andnot having the outlet just
builds up the emotion even moreit sure does yeah.
Rachel Wagner (18:47):
So going back to that commercial where we're
exiting the vote, early votinglocation, and jason turns to me
and he goes did you make theright decision, honey?
And?
And I just burst out laughing.
It felt appropriate to ask.
Oh, it was really funny it feltappropriate to ask.
It was really funny.
Jason Wagner (19:06):
Oh man.
Rachel Wagner (19:07):
All right, so let's talk about who did you
vote for on the presidentialelection of the United States of
America.
Rachel, I voted for DonaldTrump and JD Vance.
Why, why did you vote?
Jason Wagner (19:17):
for Donald Trump and JD Vance.
Why?
Why did you vote for DonaldTrump?
Rachel Wagner (19:20):
I have voted for Donald Trump since 2016, 2016,
2020, 2024.
Jason Wagner (19:27):
Why does he?
Rachel Wagner (19:29):
deserve your vote again.
I think from the beginning Iliked him because he was not a
part of the establishment and hewas already a billionaire,
which I think a lot of peopleuse that as a knock against him.
But from my perspective hecouldn't be bought.
You know, there's a lot ofpeople who go into politics, who
get rich in politics, and whyis that happening?
(19:50):
It's because they're gettingbought and then they're no
longer authenticallyrepresenting the people.
They're representing the peoplewho bought them.
And I knew, or believed Iobviously didn't know that, but
I believed that Donald Trump,already having money, already
having fame, had no need to bebought.
Nobody could buy him, right?
(20:12):
He was going to do what hethought was best, based on
solely that.
And I think, while people liketo say that, you know he wants
it for the power and he wants tobe a dictator and all these
things, I look at as what asacrifice to his family and to
himself to walk away from ahappy, cushy lifestyle of being
(20:38):
on yachts and going golfing andtaking vacations with his
supermodel wife and hisincredible kids.
And talking to all of thesepeople, I mean what a you know,
luxurious lifestyle to live, towalk away from that into the
most stressful position in theentire world, arguably the most
powerful, but there'slimitations on the power, so I
(20:59):
think it's funny when people saythat.
But the most stressful positionin the world, the most
scrutinized position in theworld, not just for him, but for
his young son, baron, at thetime.
He's obviously a lot older now,but his wife, his grown
children, who had businesses oftheir own and families of their
own, children of their own heput them all in the spotlight
and was just crucified.
(21:23):
So from my perspective, I'm justlike this guy, coming from
where he's coming from, is notcoming into this ill-willed.
He's coming into this becausehe felt a calling and I think
there's so many examples of that, historically, like when he was
talking on Oprah 25 years ago.
If I ever felt that I needed torun, I would do it for the
country.
(21:43):
He loves this country, he lovesAmerica, he loves building
business and creating jobs andsupporting the economy.
That's kind of how, initially,my support of him started.
Jason Wagner (21:55):
You were just saying all of his family and
whatnot.
Rachel Wagner (22:00):
Yeah, initially that was why he really got my
vote in 2016 and then, I thinkyou know, run through 2020
watching I.
Jason Wagner (22:09):
I don't care about 2020, I care about now well, it
all matters.
It all matters, sure sure, butwhy does he deserve your vote
today?
Rachel Wagner (22:18):
Well, I think my point is he's still going, this
guy, despite all of theinvestigations, the accusations,
attempts to kill him, put himin jail, call him every name in
the book.
All the attacks on his familyhimself, all the hardships he
had in the White House the firsttime around, all these claims
of an insurrection, everythingthat he's been through, he's
(22:40):
still fighting and he's doing it, losing money, spending
millions of dollars on theselawsuits, and everything that.
I have a ton of respect forthis guy, this guy's resilience,
this guy's love of country andperseverance to push through no
matter what.
The guy freaking got shot andstood up and threw his fist in
(23:01):
the air and said fight, fight,fight.
And then continued to go to theRNC and continue rallying.
And not only that, he thenreturned to the place that he
got shot and gave a speech, gaveanother rally, honored the
people, the man who got killedand the families who had other
people get shot.
And I, as a person like that, Ican see I have a ton of respect
(23:23):
for him, comparatively, you know, to the other party who didn't
even run in the primary.
You know that to me that's notAmerican democracy.
The Democrats totally failedthere.
The Democrat party failed allthe Democrats.
I think is a complete shit show.
Jason Wagner (23:40):
But yeah, I mean, I would agree with that.
I mean the the the mostadmirable thing about donald
trump is that he's a true leader.
He's just one of those.
I don't know anybody who is agreat who's on, who's a greater
leader than he is because ofthis guy is willing to die for
his purpose, and his purpose isto make America great again and
(24:03):
to rid it from the corruptionand the unfortunate
circumstances that we have justnaturally evolved into.
I'm sure the whole plan for ourgovernment was to get wasn't to
(24:24):
be entangled in all of thiscorruption and all of this money
that flows into these politicalarrangements and to prop people
up and to destroy others.
You know what I mean.
Like, I feel like that wasn'tthe thing that we created.
Rachel Wagner (24:35):
Yeah.
Jason Wagner (24:35):
It's just how it's all evolved, and this man is
here to fix all of that and leadus through a new era of what
the US is going to be likewithout that stuff.
Rachel Wagner (24:50):
Yeah, I don't believe the majority of people
who go into politics go into itwith the intention of getting
rich or with the intention ofbeing ill-willed toward the
people.
I think one.
I think they they get bought.
I think money talks to the vastmajority of people, and then I
also think they get blackmailed.
I think it's money and fear.
I think that is how you knowthings get get corrupted.
(25:12):
But I think, getting morespecific on politics of why I
voted for him, I have a majorissue with what's happening at
the border.
A major issue with what'shappening at the border.
There are far too many peoplewho have come into this country
that are not here to do goodthings.
We see that from the crimesthat are being done to young
children, to women, to people,and as a mother and as a woman
(25:33):
myself, it makes me veryuncomfortable to think about
what another four years couldlook like with an open border.
In no way do I believe thatKamala Harris has any intention
of closing the border orrighting the wrongs that she's
done over the last three and ahalf years, because if she did,
she would have already done itand she can sit there and she
can blame the Republicans allshe wants, but they Joe Biden
and Kamala Harris are the onesthat repealed all of the Trump
(25:56):
border policies, so they createdthe problem and now they're
saying they want to fix it.
Too little, too late.
I'm sorry, like there's a 12year old girl who was murdered
and, believe, raped, andnumerous others.
There was that college student,same thing, a five-year-old in
Long Island I mean, the listjust goes on of all these people
(26:17):
and I, just as a woman and as amother, I have a major issue
with us just to continue toallow that to happen.
So that's a very big issue forme.
Another issue is the economy.
There's too many people who arejust struggling to put food on
the table, and so when I seepeople post things like oh, I'm
never going to vote away mydaughter's rights just so I can
(26:41):
save a few bucks on groceries,it's not a few bucks.
We're talking over 20% ofinflation on groceries and the
average American's paycheck hasnot gone up 20%.
People can't afford this.
People are choosing not to havekids because they can't afford
this.
That's un-American, that is notokay and that's a direct result
of this inflation problem thatI believe was created by this
administration.
So that's the second thing.
(27:01):
The third thing is.
Jason Wagner (27:03):
I like what you said.
There is that people are nothaving children because they
can't afford it.
Rachel Wagner (27:09):
Yes.
Jason Wagner (27:11):
And what your other statement was.
I'm not going to give up mydaughter's rights to save a few
bucks on eggs or groceries.
Well, you're not going to giveup my daughter's rights to save
a few bucks on eggs or groceries.
Well, you're not going to havea daughter.
Rachel Wagner (27:26):
Yeah, I think it's crazy how many women I have
seen, you know, voting solelyon this abortion thing, and I
just can't help but think youknow, the party that you're
voting for is also the partythat's bringing rapists into the
country.
It's also the party that is notaddressing crime, that has
historically wanted to defundthe police.
I mean, all of these things gohand in hand with leading up to
(27:48):
potentially needing an abortionin the cases of rape, right?
So a struggle, a struggle, withthat a lot.
Jason Wagner (27:54):
It's a high.
It's higher on the prioritylist.
Rachel Wagner (27:57):
Yes.
Right, it's's, it's I trulydon't believe that the vast
majority of america wants totake away the right to an
abortion for a rape or incest orin the instance of the mother,
and probably even for first termchoice.
I believe most of america is inagreement on that.
Not all, certainly not all.
There are extremes on bothsides, but I think most of
america is okay, trusting womento make that decision early on
(28:19):
or in instances of rape andincest or life of the mother.
Jason Wagner (28:22):
Yeah.
Rachel Wagner (28:24):
So I don't see it as a oh my gosh.
Jason Wagner (28:28):
In which you think the states will.
This needs to be my number oneissue that I need to vote for.
Right, yeah, and it's all afarce too.
You know it's.
The Democrats have basicallymade that their number one
running position.
Rachel Wagner (28:40):
That's their only position.
That's their only position.
Hate Donald Trump and women'srights, right yeah.
Jason Wagner (28:45):
And.
But you have just kind of saidthat you believe the majority of
America is kind of aligned on,you know the types of things
that would be allowable.
Now then you kind of get tolike, ok, well.
Well, then you have the statesthat are like all right, texas,
after like what six weeks?
Rachel Wagner (29:02):
you know you got to make it yeah, the heartbeat
law, yeah, right right, sothat's tough yeah right.
Jason Wagner (29:06):
So it's just if you leave it up to the states, I
guess the other side, theirpoint of it, is, like you know,
you're not going to actually getthat consensus potentially yeah
, so constitutionally, theconstitution doesn't say
anything about public health orhealth care, and it also doesn't
say anything about education.
Rachel Wagner (29:23):
So, like for people who are
constitutionalists which I kindof identify myself as that I
don't think we should be addingthings or taking away things
from the federal government'ssphere of control.
Roe v wade, the reason it wasoverturned was to return it to
the state, because the SupremeCourt decided that it was not a
constitutional federal issue.
(29:44):
And if it's not, it's not inthe Constitution.
Health care, public health andeducation are not constitutional
rights.
They're not federal issues then.
So I personally don't think weshould be amending the
constitution to take things oradd things away.
So they should remain at thestate level.
(30:04):
But that's just my personalbelief.
Jason Wagner (30:06):
Right, right.
And no thanks for sharing that,because that's a really good
perspective that you know whatprobably a lot of people just
didn't really think about.
Right, they just kind of say,well, it should be a blanket
thing across the whole nation.
Well, no, because the ads havebeen.
It should be a blanket thingacross the whole nation.
Rachel Wagner (30:19):
Yeah, and it was for many years because of that
ruling.
But it wasn't a constitutionalright that was taken away, it
was a court decision.
Jason Wagner (30:28):
Well then, we just need to change the Constitution
.
Rachel Wagner (30:30):
Yeah, I don't agree with that, right, yeah, so
I mean other issues that mademe vote for Donald Trump foreign
policy.
I mean other issues that mademe vote for Donald Trump foreign
policy, national security.
I think him bringing RFK onboard was a huge factor for me,
because I will say that when RFKwas running independently, that
was going to be a very hardteam for me.
(30:50):
And then we talked about thisearlier the over reach of the
government in 2021, 2022, withthe vaccine mandates, the mask
mandates, the overall COVIDresponse, is something that I
can't get over or forget, andit's not even just COVID itself,
(31:15):
it was the government responseto it and the mandates that came
with it.
So much was the word I'm lookingfor.
It was such an overreach and itwas the first time that I ever
felt like my rights as anAmerican were really being taken
away.
And then we were being singledout and demonized.
We had the president of theUnited States speaking to people
(31:36):
demonizing us as theunvaccinated, saying that this
was a pandemic of theunvaccinated and that us as the
unvaccinated, we're going tohave a winter of death and
darkness, and I just will neverforget that.
Like you know, people want tocall Donald Trump Hitler.
When I think about what washappening in 2021, 2022
surrounding COVID, that was verydictator-like.
(32:00):
I'm not going to say Hitler,because that's an insult to
people who survived theHolocaust and those victims, but
it was very overreachingcommunist dictatorship and I
believe that Kamala will beexactly the same.
Jason Wagner (32:14):
I agree with that because she already is
continuing.
Anybody that works in hercampaign has to be fully
vaccinated.
They're enforcing that with herright now.
Rachel Wagner (32:28):
Which is wild when you consider the recent
stats that 85% of healthcareprofessionals are not willingly
taking the vaccine anymore orrecommending it to their
patients.
That just came out the otherday, and there are states and
counties and state surgeongenerals who have come out and
recommended against it.
Jason Wagner (32:44):
Yep and Idaho.
They just, they just banned itin six counties.
Rachel Wagner (32:48):
Well, in Florida previously had banned it for men
in certain age groups.
Jason Wagner (32:52):
Yep, Florida surgeon general had said that he
does not recommend these shotsto be on the market.
And so when you think about howinsane that is, take this
experimental vaccine or elselike that's what this was, and
now you have all of these heartproblems.
(33:12):
You've had these people thathave compromised immune systems.
You've had deaths.
You've had vaccine injuries,strokes, cancer, cancers, death
All kinds of problems, healthypeople dropping dead.
How many people do we know thathave had a problem that just
(33:33):
kind of happened out of nowhere?
Rachel Wagner (33:35):
Yeah, so people that we have heard about maybe
we don't know directly, butpeople we're friends or family
with, who have a friend orfamily that would be secondary
to us, it's well over 50 people.
Jason Wagner (33:46):
Over 50 people that we believe that has had
some type of experience.
That's just in our circle Since2021.
That's just in our circle.
Imagine what it's like somebodyelse in their circle another 50
people.
Rachel Wagner (33:59):
Yeah, it's been massive unexpected heart issues
stroke, blood clots, cancer andjust sudden death.
Jason Wagner (34:11):
And the life expectancy has dropped.
Rachel Wagner (34:14):
Yep.
Jason Wagner (34:15):
Which is crazy.
Rachel Wagner (34:16):
Yeah, you can look that up from life insurance
agencies.
Jason Wagner (34:19):
But as you start to think about it, well, we all
took this experimental vaccine,and so the number one reason
that I will not be voting forthe Democrats- why you did not?
Excuse me why I did not,because you voted today.
Is because of that mandate.
Yeah, that was the worstdecision anyone could have ever
(34:41):
made and it totally changed thetrajectory of the world, the
people that are still living,and it explains why we actually
have a big distrust withhealthcare professionals,
because we're starting to seethe repercussions of what has
happened.
Rachel Wagner (35:02):
Yeah, and I think living through that it changed
our relationship with people.
There was pressure from otherpeople to us to take this
vaccine and judgment from otherpeople of having not taken it.
And you know questions ofwhether we were going to be
included in certain events andallowed to go to certain things.
(35:23):
And you know we got kicked outof swimming for crying out loud,
swimming and gymnastics weweren't allowed to go because we
weren't vaccinated people losttheir jobs, people were going to
lose everything.
People were going to lose theirpensions had I not resigned
after I had layla, I would havelost my job because it was
mandated for me, right?
Jason Wagner (35:41):
so so you're either put in a point of I'm
either going to provide for myfamily or I'm going to get the
jab, and that is a horribledecision to put anybody in, and
the only person that put us inthere was Joe Biden and the
Democrats.
Rachel Wagner (35:59):
And Kamala Harris .
Jason Wagner (36:00):
yeah, and Kamala Harris.
Rachel Wagner (36:01):
Yeah, yeah.
So that's where we stand on thevoting today.
Jason Wagner (36:06):
Yeah, how do you feel about it?
Rachel Wagner (36:08):
I'm very happy with my decisions, don't waver
at all.
But as far as results go, I'msuper nervous.
I've got a lot of nerves andanxiety around it, no matter the
outcome.
I think, no matter the outcome,there's going to be hard times
one way or the other.
I think there's going to be acontinued divide, no matter
(36:31):
which way it goes.
So I'm nervous.
I'm nervous.
I obviously think we will havea better long-term outcome
should the candidate I voted forwin.
I do truly believe that, but Idon't think it's going to come
without more continued negativerhetoric, ongoing investigations
, attempted assassinations anddivision.
(36:52):
I think it will, unfortunately,continue.
I don't know what's going tobring the opportunity for
healing to this country, but itcertainly isn't.
You know the right or the leftit's, I don't know.
How do you feel?
Jason Wagner (37:06):
I think it's going to be a landslide.
I think Donald Trump is goingto win.
I think this is going to be thevictory that was long needed
and is going to give a lot ofclosure to a lot of people, and
the only way that we can reallyget closure is if it's a
landslide victory.
In one way or the other and andunfortunately I believe or
fortunately, I believe that it'sgoing to be on the right side
(37:29):
and this is not going to be aclose call I think that the
movement is totally hit a newlevel and I think there's a lot
of excitement.
So that's my prediction.
Well, we'll find out.
Landslide victory Donald Trumpis in the White House again.
All right, all right, cool,biggest takeaway from this
episode Just vote, get out.
Landslide victory donald trumpis in the white house again.
All right, all right, cool,biggest takeaway from this
(37:50):
episode just vote.
Rachel Wagner (37:52):
Get out there and vote exercise your right.
Jason Wagner (37:54):
Yeah, yeah same.
All right cool.
If you found any value in theshow, please share it and we
will catch you on the nextepisode.
Welcome back to another episode of the Real Life
Investing Podcast with Jasonand Rachel Wagner.
We got some excitement today.
Why?
Because it's voting day.
Rachel Wagner (00:11):
It's here.
We did it.
It's the day before voting day.
Oh yeah, it was voting day forus.
Jason Wagner (00:15):
It was voting day for us.
Yeah, so it is November 4th andwe decided that before lunch we
were going to go cast our votein the downtown Arlington
Heights Village Hall.
And what did we do?
How did we arrive, rach?
Rachel Wagner (00:31):
You mean how did you arrive we?
It was we.
You were with me, yeah that'strue, we were in the Cybertruck
together, which is, you know,not a common car you see on the
road just yet.
So it's a little bit of astatement.
Jason Wagner (00:43):
It's kind of funny because Elon Musk joining
Donald Trump, it's like it's abeautiful little connection
there, right?
Rachel Wagner (00:52):
Yeah, and you wore your Make America Great
Again hat and your Trump 2024T-shirt.
But as we were going there wekind of learned that perhaps
there were some rules againstthat.
I'm still actually not veryclear on what the rules are in
Illinois.
I don't think Illinoistechnically has restrictions
against it.
But ultimately I asked you totake your hat off and put your
(01:13):
sweatshirt on.
But as we were rolling up wehad some music playing Make
America Great Again.
God bless the USA in theCybertruck and Jason's just
throwing out thumbs up toeverybody in line because there
was a line around the block.
Jason Wagner (01:28):
Yeah, so we were at the stoplight turning to go
into the parking lot and waitingfor it to turn green and you
know, at the.
Cybertruck.
Everybody looks at theCybertruck right, and so it's a
perfect opportunity to bewearing my MAGA hat and giving
thumbs up to people that arelike whoa, look at the
Cybertruck.
Whoa, it's a MAGA guy.
Rachel Wagner (01:50):
Yeah, you were cracking up the whole time.
It was fun, it was enjoyable.
Jason Wagner (01:55):
Nothing bad happened.
Nobody gave me a middle fingeror anything you know.
Rachel Wagner (01:59):
Yeah, nothing bad happened.
Jason Wagner (02:00):
No, it's great.
Rachel Wagner (02:02):
It's wild to me because I remember thinking this
when I voted in Chicago for thefirst time and then, especially
when we lived up in JeffersonPark.
We voted there twice, I believelocal and then national
elections.
But it's wild to me that peoplecan be standing right outside
the voting polling place andhanding out campaign material
(02:24):
you know still handing outflyers and trying to talk to you
about who you're going to votefor as you're entering the place
to vote.
They can just hand this out toyou.
And I remember the first time Ivoted in Illinois I was like,
wow, this feels wrong because inIowa you cannot do that.
So the first time I ever votedwas in Iowa and that's not
allowed at all.
Jason Wagner (02:42):
It's very odd.
It's very odd, and if you'retelling me that I can't wear my
Trump shirt inside when I go toyou might be able to.
Rachel Wagner (02:48):
I don't know.
You definitely cannot.
In Iowa I confirm that, but inIllinois I don't actually know
what the rules are.
Jason Wagner (02:55):
I did see a social media video of a guy wearing a
MAGA hat, and I don't know whatstate he was in, but they did
ask him to remove it.
Rachel Wagner (03:03):
There's like 27 states, I think, that have rules
against it.
Illinois was not listed in thestates that I saw, so that's why
I was like, oh, maybe it's nota rule, it's pretty obnoxious.
Jason Wagner (03:11):
I mean, the way I look at this is like this is my
sports team right now, Likeyou're not going to knock me if
I'm wearing a Bears jersey.
Rachel Wagner (03:29):
Yeah, I mean, I personally think personal attire
there should be no restrictionon it?
you know, obviously, unless youhave things hanging out but, um,
like a nut sack or something,yeah, yeah, I mean, yeah, agreed
right, like there's, like youknow, normal decency but, like
you know, things on your shirt,you know, whatever, but I do
have an issue with like.
So we went in today and therewere people same thing as like
voting in Chicago all along theywere across the street.
So that was a big differencefrom voting in Chicago.
In Chicago they were literallyon the property, but today they
(03:50):
were across the street where weparked.
I mean, how many signs do youthink?
There were?
Like a hundred.
Jason Wagner (03:55):
Yeah.
Like literally a hundred signslining the street, like inches
away from each other.
Rachel Wagner (03:58):
You can't even read them because they're so
close.
And then our staterepresentative, mary Beth Canty,
was there handing out flyersand talking to people, and then
her opponent's campaign peoplewere there handing out flyers,
among other people, and I justthink that's wild.
You're going in to vote.
You've already likely made yourdecision, because you're
walking in and here's yourperson on the ballot being like
(04:20):
hi, hi, I'm Mary Beth Canty.
Jason Wagner (04:23):
I think, it's crazy.
I mean I think that's electioninterference yeah, so do I, it's
very much so, hi.
You know it's like a lot ofpeople don't?
I think obviously the strategyhere is that you know there's
maybe people that have seen herads but never met her, but
wouldn't vote for her becausethey don't know her or they
(04:43):
weren't gonna vote locally, yeah, and then all of a sudden, oh,
she was standing outside and ohoh, I did just recognize that
name maybe.
Oh, here she is right here.
I'll just go ahead and I'llclick that button.
Oh, she's really nice, it'slike pity, it's pity votes yeah
you know and, and how do yourack up pity votes?
Well, you do things like thatand you hand out materials and
yeah no, I don't know, I don't.
Rachel Wagner (05:04):
I think it's totally illinois.
Jason Wagner (05:05):
I think it's totally shady.
It almost kind of reminds me oflike, you know, when you go to
an attraction, let's say newyork city, remember new york
city when we were in new yorkcity and then there were people
that would like.
As we were waiting in line for,like, the statue of liberty or
something, it was like there'dbe people in line that would be
like oh hey, do you want us totake your photo, or like you?
Know or like do these you wanta bracelet or something or like.
Rachel Wagner (05:27):
You know it's like putting it on you and if
you didn't like, forcefully belike no.
The next thing you know they'reasking you for money and you're
like exactly it just it justmakes the whole experience like
really kind of shady.
Jason Wagner (05:36):
and I'm just standing in line here and you
know, you got these people thatare kind of, you know, just
trying to give you the flyers.
I agree, I don't like thatexperience.
Rachel Wagner (05:45):
Yeah, we waited 40 minutes, which we've been
seeing on social media thatpeople were waiting one to three
hours in places around here, soit wasn't too bad, but the
longest I've ever waited to vote.
Jason Wagner (05:55):
Oh yeah, by far.
Rachel Wagner (05:56):
Yeah.
Jason Wagner (05:56):
Yeah, talk about the woman that was in front of
us who was asking the questionsto the uh.
Rachel Wagner (06:00):
yeah, there was a woman who was checking in right
in front of us and she wasasking if this is the busiest
she's seen it.
And the lady's like, oh, we'vebeen here for the last 15 days
and it's been more early votersthan we've ever experienced.
We've been busy the whole time.
And she's like, oh yes, love tohear that, that's great, that's
great.
Jason Wagner (06:17):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Rachel Wagner (06:20):
Which it is.
Jason Wagner (06:37):
I think people exercising their right to vote
is great.
I think it is really cool thatthis election is likely going to
be a proud boy, hillbilly, andyou know fist pumping his
buddies and they're all going toclearly going to go vote for
the conservatives and the thewife comes in, you know, kind of
behind them and is wearing theAmerica hat and you know it was
(07:00):
just kind of there and taggingalong and aren't they like how
does that whole ad go?
Rachel Wagner (07:06):
Yeah, so the woman gets up to the ballot or
the ballot box and she looksacross the way at another woman
and they kind of smile at eachother and she votes for Kamala
Harris.
And when they're walking out,she's walking out with her
husband and he goes did you makethe right decision, honey?
She goes.
Did you make the right decision, honey?
She goes, sure did.
And it's this, like you know,it's this perception that women
(07:31):
can secretly go in or privatelyI won't say secretly, I'll say
privately go in and cast theirballot and their husband doesn't
have to know that they didn'tvote the way they want him to
and the way he wants her to.
And of course, anyone can go inthere and vote privately, 100%.
That's how it's set up.
But I just think that thenotion of that commercial was
(07:53):
very offensive to women, atleast it was offensive to me.
I, I I'm just like I don't knowanybody who is lucky for me.
I don't know anybody who'sbeing forced by their husband,
against their will, to vote forsomebody.
But in fact we know lots ofcouples who are on opposite
sides of the political spectrumand they just don't talk about
(08:17):
it, right?
Jason Wagner (08:18):
yeah, they don't they don't talk about it, but I
also.
I also don't think that it's, Idon't think it should be
promoted that you know, you, youessentially lie, right, you
just lie.
You lie to your partner, youlie to who that person is yeah,
well, I think that is theunderlying tone of that party oh
, so we should keep everythingpolicies?
Yeah, I mean keep everything asecret in but what like?
Rachel Wagner (08:43):
let me ask you the same thing with the stuff in
schools, right?
Sure, they're keeping thingssecret from parents.
Jason Wagner (08:47):
Totally yeah and right.
But that's what they want to do, right.
They want to have more secrecyRight, yeah.
But what makes our marriage sostrong?
Rachel Wagner (08:56):
We talk about everything.
Jason Wagner (08:57):
We talk about everything.
Yeah, even if you and I don'talign on something, we still
talk about it.
And and that's what themessaging should be it's there
shouldn't be a promotion of,yeah, let's keep these secrets
from your partner, like, even ifyou guys don't align, he still
loves you yeah, I mean, I'm sure, I'm sure there are women out
(09:20):
there who that probably maybedid speak to, who aren't in
healthy, safe relationships.
Rachel Wagner (09:25):
You know, there's also probably some men who
aren't in healthy, saferelationships that's probably.
I mean that's totally true,that was totally true 100, but
should we be promoting that aslike that's what's happening
across america?
No, and I also don't think itis happening across america yeah
, yeah, whatever, but I thinkthat I don't agree with most of
what their political answer says.
(09:46):
Well, true.
Jason Wagner (09:47):
True, I just think that we should be promoting.
Okay, what makes a marriagenice, strong and fruitful?
Rachel Wagner (09:53):
Open communication.
Jason Wagner (09:54):
Open lines of communication.
Yeah, and that boils down tohow you vote, to how you want to
raise your kids.
Some of the how you you know ifyou want to discipline your
kids or what activities they do.
Yeah, how you spend your moneyhow you save your money, how you
spend your time ExactlyLiterally all these decisions,
all these decisions, and votingis just another one of them.
(10:16):
It's not this life or deaththing that if you two are, you
know, on opposite sides of thespectrum there, but like it
probably is going to feel alittle bit nicer if you talked
about it in a way where youcould, you know just well, and
who better person to talk tothan your spouse?
Rachel Wagner (10:32):
exactly I mean in theory.
You know you should be able tohave pretty open communications
and maybe learn something andfind some common ground and
agree to disagree once you'veheard each other out.
Jason Wagner (10:41):
But I think, uh, and actually I want to I think
people avoid these discussionsbecause they don't have the
ability to to hold theiremotions back, because because
they haven't been in these kindof like hard situations or these
hard discussions and when you,when you first do something
really hard, it's reallyuncomfortable, like extremely
(11:03):
uncomfortable, and maybe thefirst time that you hear
somebody push back on one ofyour positions, you just get on
the defense and what I'veexperienced personally is that I
have basically come out of thecloset of, like you know, being
a silent majority right, and nowI'm much more vocal about what
(11:28):
I care about and I do it onsocial media and, yeah, did I
get some backlash a little bit,but that was okay.
It didn't stop me fromcontinuing to share some things
that I thought were insightfuland some of the you know the
reasonings behind where we standand ultimately, it's gotten me
(11:48):
a lot more comfortable withlistening to some of those other
counter arguments and to beopen to just you know I've heard
this before Like my emotionalresponse is not as strong as
somebody else that doesn'tpractice being in these
uncomfortable situations.
You know what I mean.
Rachel Wagner (12:08):
Yeah, I actually think you make a really good
point.
Something I haven't reallythought about before is, I think
, when we first got married andin our early years of marriage,
I think oftentimes I held backwhat I was really thinking and
feeling out of fear of my ownemotion, creating a bigger
problem than what actuallyexisted.
Because I definitely have grownin my ability to not be overly
(12:31):
emotional, in strong convictionsthat I have right, Whereas it
used to kind of be a struggleand still can be at times, and I
think that was the wrongapproach.
And over time, through ourmarriages, we've worked through
things.
I think now I have no problemtelling you when you're
upsetting me Right, and it'sJason, this is really
frustrating me right now Likecan you please stop.
(12:53):
And then you're like well,you're really frustrating me too
because of this, this, this andthis, and then we are like, oh
okay, well, let's talk about itand move on.
I noticed that a lot in ourmarriage and it's come from
practice.
It doesn't come from anythingelse except a willingness to
communicate and practicing thatwhere I'm no longer afraid Not
that I was ever afraid, but Iwas afraid of myself.
I was hesitant to be thatemotional person.
(13:17):
I don't really have that fearanymore.
I don't think.
Jason Wagner (13:21):
It's because you practice, because we've
practiced, because you practiceit and you realize that once you
said the things that you'vebeen wanting to say and the
reaction that you got backwasn't as bad oh, oh, wow, that
wasn't that bad actually.
He took that really well.
Yeah, it's like the one timewhere I was like dude, I just
lost forty thousand dollars andI'm like crying to you, I I'm
like we're ruined and we're soscared to tell me that, and I
(13:44):
was just like I don't evendeserve you.
I lost all of our money.
And then you were like, okay,just don't do it again.
And I was like what she said,don't do it again.
She didn't care.
Rachel Wagner (13:57):
Like whoa, we build up.
Jason Wagner (13:59):
This is the point.
We build up these things thatare going to happen, and they
happen in our head.
They don't happen in reality.
The effect is much less.
It's almost like anybodystarting a business.
They're just too scared becausewhat if it fails?
And you go through all of thesescenarios of what if?
Ah, it's not a good idea, orwhat not?
Well, it may not be a good idea, but you're going to learn from
(14:21):
it and you're going to realizethat actually, hey, you know
that wasn't a good idea, but Ishifted towards this one and
that one actually did a lotbetter, and then we critiqued it
a little bit more.
Like you just keep trying and Ithink this is the point that we
should all be talking aboutfrom the political spectrum is
that you just keep trying tohave dialogue, and when it's
(14:43):
uncomfortable with somebody,that's okay.
You know, you just need morepractice with absorbing how
they're going to respond and youhave to also put yourself in
their position, which is likethis might be the first time
that they've ever had aconversation where they're you
know, you guys aren't alignedand they feel like they're under
attack because of what you said, or maybe they feel offended by
what you said.
Rachel Wagner (15:06):
Yeah, and I think finding the practice of not
having an urge to respond orcounterattack prior to actually
listening entirely.
I think you do a good job oflike asking questions of people.
Well, explain to me why youthink that you know, or where
(15:26):
did where did that come from?
What's an example of that youknow and then allowing people to
to speak it out you know.
That's a good learning exercisefor everybody actually.
Jason Wagner (15:35):
Yeah, and again, it just takes practice and like
you have to forcefully putyourself in those situations.
Now, I'm not talking about,like you know, going out on
facebook and just trollingsomeone and just trying to like
they say something that'stotally like it's very clear you
can identify people that arejust saying something that's
totally emotional.
Oh, could you imagine whatwould happen if donald trump got
(15:56):
elected president?
I would just die, like okay,you know what I mean.
Like that is not someone thatyou should engage in, right,
because they're not sayinganything that is concrete.
Like why would you just die?
Or, like you know, like give mesome substance here.
So you can't really engage withthose types of people.
But you can engage with othersthat are like I don't agree with
such and such, that donaldtrump wants to deport all of the
(16:20):
migrants, like this is rippingfamilies apart, type thing.
Like you know, there's a littlebit more substance there that
maybe that's the type of personthat you might be able to engage
with and have a thoughtfuldialogue with, right.
So you just have to.
I think you have to be a littlecareful with who you have the
conversations with, and a lot oftimes I don't I actually don't
(16:43):
engage it, I don't bring it up.
It's usually the opposite sideright.
Rachel Wagner (16:47):
So people come to me Because I no, that is not a
fair assessment, becausetypically you'll post something
on your story, right, and thenpeople respond to that, so
you're putting it out therefirst.
Jason Wagner (16:58):
Yeah, but I'm not putting it out there to the
point of calling to anindividual person that.
I am picking on.
I put it out there as more of astory share and I'm careful
about, you know, what goes on asa post versus what goes on as a
story.
Stories are only there for 24hours and, like you know, it
keeps people kind of coming backand like seeing oh, you know
what are you sharing now?
But the post stuff is like youknow what he's sharing now, but
the post stuff is like, you knowsomething a little bit more
(17:21):
concrete.
So I want to be like if I'mgoing to post something, it's
going to be something that is alot more like yeah, I'm very
convicted in what this is and Idon't post a lot of political
side of things, but I'll sharemy stories, a lot of stuff, and
that does encourage others toask questions or to you know,
(17:45):
give me a high five or whatever,or yeah, You've had.
Rachel Wagner (17:47):
you've had a lot of interactions with people.
Jason Wagner (17:49):
It's fun, it's fun and it's and it's people that
I've never interacted withbefore and you just get to know
a person on a such deeper level.
And I've and I've actually saidthis it is a privilege to have
these discussions with people,because of how taboo it is.
Think about it.
I am one of the few people thatactually get to regularly enter
(18:10):
.
We are you and I both do this.
We are, but I think I get alittle bit more out of it
because I'm on the social sideof it is that there's not a lot
of people that want to havethese discussions, but when you
do talk to somebody, they'redying to talk to somebody, right
?
They're actually really lookingfor somebody that they can
(18:30):
connect with on some of thesetopics, because everybody else
around them maybe doesn't talkabout it or they're not good at
having a good finesse with it orjust having a good
understanding, or like yeah, andnot having the outlet just
builds up the emotion even moreit sure does yeah.
Rachel Wagner (18:47):
So going back to that commercial where we're
exiting the vote, early votinglocation, and jason turns to me
and he goes did you make theright decision, honey?
And?
And I just burst out laughing.
It felt appropriate to ask.
Oh, it was really funny it feltappropriate to ask.
It was really funny.
Jason Wagner (19:06):
Oh man.
Rachel Wagner (19:07):
All right, so let's talk about who did you
vote for on the presidentialelection of the United States of
America.
Rachel, I voted for DonaldTrump and JD Vance.
Why, why did you vote?
Jason Wagner (19:17):
for Donald Trump and JD Vance.
Why?
Why did you vote for DonaldTrump?
Rachel Wagner (19:20):
I have voted for Donald Trump since 2016, 2016,
2020, 2024.
Jason Wagner (19:27):
Why does he?
Rachel Wagner (19:29):
deserve your vote again.
I think from the beginning Iliked him because he was not a
part of the establishment and hewas already a billionaire,
which I think a lot of peopleuse that as a knock against him.
But from my perspective hecouldn't be bought.
You know, there's a lot ofpeople who go into politics, who
get rich in politics, and whyis that happening?
(19:50):
It's because they're gettingbought and then they're no
longer authenticallyrepresenting the people.
They're representing the peoplewho bought them.
And I knew, or believed Iobviously didn't know that, but
I believed that Donald Trump,already having money, already
having fame, had no need to bebought.
Nobody could buy him, right?
(20:12):
He was going to do what hethought was best, based on
solely that.
And I think, while people liketo say that, you know he wants
it for the power and he wants tobe a dictator and all these
things, I look at as what asacrifice to his family and to
himself to walk away from ahappy, cushy lifestyle of being
(20:38):
on yachts and going golfing andtaking vacations with his
supermodel wife and hisincredible kids.
And talking to all of thesepeople, I mean what a you know,
luxurious lifestyle to live, towalk away from that into the
most stressful position in theentire world, arguably the most
powerful, but there'slimitations on the power, so I
(20:59):
think it's funny when people saythat.
But the most stressful positionin the world, the most
scrutinized position in theworld, not just for him, but for
his young son, baron, at thetime.
He's obviously a lot older now,but his wife, his grown
children, who had businesses oftheir own and families of their
own, children of their own heput them all in the spotlight
and was just crucified.
(21:23):
So from my perspective, I'm justlike this guy, coming from
where he's coming from, is notcoming into this ill-willed.
He's coming into this becausehe felt a calling and I think
there's so many examples of that, historically, like when he was
talking on Oprah 25 years ago.
If I ever felt that I needed torun, I would do it for the
country.
(21:43):
He loves this country, he lovesAmerica, he loves building
business and creating jobs andsupporting the economy.
That's kind of how, initially,my support of him started.
Jason Wagner (21:55):
You were just saying all of his family and
whatnot.
Rachel Wagner (22:00):
Yeah, initially that was why he really got my
vote in 2016 and then, I thinkyou know, run through 2020
watching I.
Jason Wagner (22:09):
I don't care about 2020, I care about now well, it
all matters.
It all matters, sure sure, butwhy does he deserve your vote
today?
Rachel Wagner (22:18):
Well, I think my point is he's still going, this
guy, despite all of theinvestigations, the accusations,
attempts to kill him, put himin jail, call him every name in
the book.
All the attacks on his familyhimself, all the hardships he
had in the White House the firsttime around, all these claims
of an insurrection, everythingthat he's been through, he's
(22:40):
still fighting and he's doing it, losing money, spending
millions of dollars on theselawsuits, and everything that.
I have a ton of respect forthis guy, this guy's resilience,
this guy's love of country andperseverance to push through no
matter what.
The guy freaking got shot andstood up and threw his fist in
(23:01):
the air and said fight, fight,fight.
And then continued to go to theRNC and continue rallying.
And not only that, he thenreturned to the place that he
got shot and gave a speech, gaveanother rally, honored the
people, the man who got killedand the families who had other
people get shot.
And I, as a person like that, Ican see I have a ton of respect
(23:23):
for him, comparatively, you know, to the other party who didn't
even run in the primary.
You know that to me that's notAmerican democracy.
The Democrats totally failedthere.
The Democrat party failed allthe Democrats.
I think is a complete shit show.
Jason Wagner (23:40):
But yeah, I mean, I would agree with that.
I mean the the the mostadmirable thing about donald
trump is that he's a true leader.
He's just one of those.
I don't know anybody who is agreat who's on, who's a greater
leader than he is because ofthis guy is willing to die for
his purpose, and his purpose isto make America great again and
(24:03):
to rid it from the corruptionand the unfortunate
circumstances that we have justnaturally evolved into.
I'm sure the whole plan for ourgovernment was to get wasn't to
(24:24):
be entangled in all of thiscorruption and all of this money
that flows into these politicalarrangements and to prop people
up and to destroy others.
You know what I mean.
Like, I feel like that wasn'tthe thing that we created.
Rachel Wagner (24:35):
Yeah.
Jason Wagner (24:35):
It's just how it's all evolved, and this man is
here to fix all of that and leadus through a new era of what
the US is going to be likewithout that stuff.
Rachel Wagner (24:50):
Yeah, I don't believe the majority of people
who go into politics go into itwith the intention of getting
rich or with the intention ofbeing ill-willed toward the
people.
I think one.
I think they they get bought.
I think money talks to the vastmajority of people, and then I
also think they get blackmailed.
I think it's money and fear.
I think that is how you knowthings get get corrupted.
(25:12):
But I think, getting morespecific on politics of why I
voted for him, I have a majorissue with what's happening at
the border.
A major issue with what'shappening at the border.
There are far too many peoplewho have come into this country
that are not here to do goodthings.
We see that from the crimesthat are being done to young
children, to women, to people,and as a mother and as a woman
(25:33):
myself, it makes me veryuncomfortable to think about
what another four years couldlook like with an open border.
In no way do I believe thatKamala Harris has any intention
of closing the border orrighting the wrongs that she's
done over the last three and ahalf years, because if she did,
she would have already done itand she can sit there and she
can blame the Republicans allshe wants, but they Joe Biden
and Kamala Harris are the onesthat repealed all of the Trump
(25:56):
border policies, so they createdthe problem and now they're
saying they want to fix it.
Too little, too late.
I'm sorry, like there's a 12year old girl who was murdered
and, believe, raped, andnumerous others.
There was that college student,same thing, a five-year-old in
Long Island I mean, the listjust goes on of all these people
(26:17):
and I, just as a woman and as amother, I have a major issue
with us just to continue toallow that to happen.
So that's a very big issue forme.
Another issue is the economy.
There's too many people who arejust struggling to put food on
the table, and so when I seepeople post things like oh, I'm
never going to vote away mydaughter's rights just so I can
(26:41):
save a few bucks on groceries,it's not a few bucks.
We're talking over 20% ofinflation on groceries and the
average American's paycheck hasnot gone up 20%.
People can't afford this.
People are choosing not to havekids because they can't afford
this.
That's un-American, that is notokay and that's a direct result
of this inflation problem thatI believe was created by this
administration.
So that's the second thing.
(27:01):
The third thing is.
Jason Wagner (27:03):
I like what you said.
There is that people are nothaving children because they
can't afford it.
Rachel Wagner (27:09):
Yes.
Jason Wagner (27:11):
And what your other statement was.
I'm not going to give up mydaughter's rights to save a few
bucks on eggs or groceries.
Well, you're not going to giveup my daughter's rights to save
a few bucks on eggs or groceries.
Well, you're not going to havea daughter.
Rachel Wagner (27:26):
Yeah, I think it's crazy how many women I have
seen, you know, voting solelyon this abortion thing, and I
just can't help but think youknow, the party that you're
voting for is also the partythat's bringing rapists into the
country.
It's also the party that is notaddressing crime, that has
historically wanted to defundthe police.
I mean, all of these things gohand in hand with leading up to
(27:48):
potentially needing an abortionin the cases of rape, right?
So a struggle, a struggle, withthat a lot.
Jason Wagner (27:54):
It's a high.
It's higher on the prioritylist.
Rachel Wagner (27:57):
Yes.
Right, it's's, it's I trulydon't believe that the vast
majority of america wants totake away the right to an
abortion for a rape or incest orin the instance of the mother,
and probably even for first termchoice.
I believe most of america is inagreement on that.
Not all, certainly not all.
There are extremes on bothsides, but I think most of
america is okay, trusting womento make that decision early on
(28:19):
or in instances of rape andincest or life of the mother.
Jason Wagner (28:22):
Yeah.
Rachel Wagner (28:24):
So I don't see it as a oh my gosh.
Jason Wagner (28:28):
In which you think the states will.
This needs to be my number oneissue that I need to vote for.
Right, yeah, and it's all afarce too.
You know it's.
The Democrats have basicallymade that their number one
running position.
Rachel Wagner (28:40):
That's their only position.
That's their only position.
Hate Donald Trump and women'srights, right yeah.
Jason Wagner (28:45):
And.
But you have just kind of saidthat you believe the majority of
America is kind of aligned on,you know the types of things
that would be allowable.
Now then you kind of get tolike, ok, well.
Well, then you have the statesthat are like all right, texas,
after like what six weeks?
Rachel Wagner (29:02):
you know you got to make it yeah, the heartbeat
law, yeah, right right, sothat's tough yeah right.
Jason Wagner (29:06):
So it's just if you leave it up to the states, I
guess the other side, theirpoint of it, is, like you know,
you're not going to actually getthat consensus potentially yeah
, so constitutionally, theconstitution doesn't say
anything about public health orhealth care, and it also doesn't
say anything about education.
Rachel Wagner (29:23):
So, like for people who are
constitutionalists which I kindof identify myself as that I
don't think we should be addingthings or taking away things
from the federal government'ssphere of control.
Roe v wade, the reason it wasoverturned was to return it to
the state, because the SupremeCourt decided that it was not a
constitutional federal issue.
(29:44):
And if it's not, it's not inthe Constitution.
Health care, public health andeducation are not constitutional
rights.
They're not federal issues then.
So I personally don't think weshould be amending the
constitution to take things oradd things away.
So they should remain at thestate level.
(30:04):
But that's just my personalbelief.
Jason Wagner (30:06):
Right, right.
And no thanks for sharing that,because that's a really good
perspective that you know whatprobably a lot of people just
didn't really think about.
Right, they just kind of say,well, it should be a blanket
thing across the whole nation.
Well, no, because the ads havebeen.
It should be a blanket thingacross the whole nation.
Rachel Wagner (30:19):
Yeah, and it was for many years because of that
ruling.
But it wasn't a constitutionalright that was taken away, it
was a court decision.
Jason Wagner (30:28):
Well then, we just need to change the Constitution
.
Rachel Wagner (30:30):
Yeah, I don't agree with that, right, yeah, so
I mean other issues that mademe vote for Donald Trump foreign
policy.
I mean other issues that mademe vote for Donald Trump foreign
policy, national security.
I think him bringing RFK onboard was a huge factor for me,
because I will say that when RFKwas running independently, that
was going to be a very hardteam for me.
(30:50):
And then we talked about thisearlier the over reach of the
government in 2021, 2022, withthe vaccine mandates, the mask
mandates, the overall COVIDresponse, is something that I
can't get over or forget, andit's not even just COVID itself,
(31:15):
it was the government responseto it and the mandates that came
with it.
So much was the word I'm lookingfor.
It was such an overreach and itwas the first time that I ever
felt like my rights as anAmerican were really being taken
away.
And then we were being singledout and demonized.
We had the president of theUnited States speaking to people
(31:36):
demonizing us as theunvaccinated, saying that this
was a pandemic of theunvaccinated and that us as the
unvaccinated, we're going tohave a winter of death and
darkness, and I just will neverforget that.
Like you know, people want tocall Donald Trump Hitler.
When I think about what washappening in 2021, 2022
surrounding COVID, that was verydictator-like.
(32:00):
I'm not going to say Hitler,because that's an insult to
people who survived theHolocaust and those victims, but
it was very overreachingcommunist dictatorship and I
believe that Kamala will beexactly the same.
Jason Wagner (32:14):
I agree with that because she already is
continuing.
Anybody that works in hercampaign has to be fully
vaccinated.
They're enforcing that with herright now.
Rachel Wagner (32:28):
Which is wild when you consider the recent
stats that 85% of healthcareprofessionals are not willingly
taking the vaccine anymore orrecommending it to their
patients.
That just came out the otherday, and there are states and
counties and state surgeongenerals who have come out and
recommended against it.
Jason Wagner (32:44):
Yep and Idaho.
They just, they just banned itin six counties.
Rachel Wagner (32:48):
Well, in Florida previously had banned it for men
in certain age groups.
Jason Wagner (32:52):
Yep, Florida surgeon general had said that he
does not recommend these shotsto be on the market.
And so when you think about howinsane that is, take this
experimental vaccine or elselike that's what this was, and
now you have all of these heartproblems.
(33:12):
You've had these people thathave compromised immune systems.
You've had deaths.
You've had vaccine injuries,strokes, cancer, cancers, death
All kinds of problems, healthypeople dropping dead.
How many people do we know thathave had a problem that just
(33:33):
kind of happened out of nowhere?
Rachel Wagner (33:35):
Yeah, so people that we have heard about maybe
we don't know directly, butpeople we're friends or family
with, who have a friend orfamily that would be secondary
to us, it's well over 50 people.
Jason Wagner (33:46):
Over 50 people that we believe that has had
some type of experience.
That's just in our circle Since2021.
That's just in our circle.
Imagine what it's like somebodyelse in their circle another 50
people.
Rachel Wagner (33:59):
Yeah, it's been massive unexpected heart issues
stroke, blood clots, cancer andjust sudden death.
Jason Wagner (34:11):
And the life expectancy has dropped.
Rachel Wagner (34:14):
Yep.
Jason Wagner (34:15):
Which is crazy.
Rachel Wagner (34:16):
Yeah, you can look that up from life insurance
agencies.
Jason Wagner (34:19):
But as you start to think about it, well, we all
took this experimental vaccine,and so the number one reason
that I will not be voting forthe Democrats- why you did not?
Excuse me why I did not,because you voted today.
Is because of that mandate.
Yeah, that was the worstdecision anyone could have ever
(34:41):
made and it totally changed thetrajectory of the world, the
people that are still living,and it explains why we actually
have a big distrust withhealthcare professionals,
because we're starting to seethe repercussions of what has
happened.
Rachel Wagner (35:02):
Yeah, and I think living through that it changed
our relationship with people.
There was pressure from otherpeople to us to take this
vaccine and judgment from otherpeople of having not taken it.
And you know questions ofwhether we were going to be
included in certain events andallowed to go to certain things.
(35:23):
And you know we got kicked outof swimming for crying out loud,
swimming and gymnastics weweren't allowed to go because we
weren't vaccinated people losttheir jobs, people were going to
lose everything.
People were going to lose theirpensions had I not resigned
after I had layla, I would havelost my job because it was
mandated for me, right?
Jason Wagner (35:41):
so so you're either put in a point of I'm
either going to provide for myfamily or I'm going to get the
jab, and that is a horribledecision to put anybody in, and
the only person that put us inthere was Joe Biden and the
Democrats.
Rachel Wagner (35:59):
And Kamala Harris .
Jason Wagner (36:00):
yeah, and Kamala Harris.
Rachel Wagner (36:01):
Yeah, yeah.
So that's where we stand on thevoting today.
Jason Wagner (36:06):
Yeah, how do you feel about it?
Rachel Wagner (36:08):
I'm very happy with my decisions, don't waver
at all.
But as far as results go, I'msuper nervous.
I've got a lot of nerves andanxiety around it, no matter the
outcome.
I think, no matter the outcome,there's going to be hard times
one way or the other.
I think there's going to be acontinued divide, no matter
(36:31):
which way it goes.
So I'm nervous.
I'm nervous.
I obviously think we will havea better long-term outcome
should the candidate I voted forwin.
I do truly believe that, but Idon't think it's going to come
without more continued negativerhetoric, ongoing investigations
, attempted assassinations anddivision.
(36:52):
I think it will, unfortunately,continue.
I don't know what's going tobring the opportunity for
healing to this country, but itcertainly isn't.
You know the right or the leftit's, I don't know.
How do you feel?
Jason Wagner (37:06):
I think it's going to be a landslide.
I think Donald Trump is goingto win.
I think this is going to be thevictory that was long needed
and is going to give a lot ofclosure to a lot of people, and
the only way that we can reallyget closure is if it's a
landslide victory.
In one way or the other and andunfortunately I believe or
fortunately, I believe that it'sgoing to be on the right side
(37:29):
and this is not going to be aclose call I think that the
movement is totally hit a newlevel and I think there's a lot
of excitement.
So that's my prediction.
Well, we'll find out.
Landslide victory Donald Trumpis in the White House again.
All right, all right, cool,biggest takeaway from this
episode Just vote, get out.
Landslide victory donald trumpis in the white house again.
All right, all right, cool,biggest takeaway from this
(37:50):
episode just vote.
Rachel Wagner (37:52):
Get out there and vote exercise your right.
Jason Wagner (37:54):
Yeah, yeah same.
All right cool.
If you found any value in theshow, please share it and we
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