E298 - America’s $40 Trillion Debt Trap Is Accelerating
Published: August 25, 2026
Duration: 7:42
America's national debt has reached the $40 trillion level discussed in this episode, but Dean Heskin and Chris Agelastos argue that the trajectory matters even more than the headline number.
In this episode of The Secret War on Cash, they examine why federal debt can become self-reinforcing.
When debt levels rise, Treasury investors may demand higher yields to compensate for increasing financial risk. Those higher yields make federal borrowing more expensive.
The government must then devote more revenue to servicing its existing obligations. Dean and Chris note that annual interest expense has already moved above $1 trillion i...
In this episode of The Secret War on Cash, they examine why federal debt can become self-reinforcing.
When debt levels rise, Treasury investors may demand higher yields to compensate for increasing financial risk. Those higher yields make federal borrowing more expensive.
The government must then devote more revenue to servicing its existing obligations. Dean and Chris note that annual interest expense has already moved above $1 trillion i...