Why America’s $40 Trillion Debt Matters to Your Wallet episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 25, 2026 · 32 MIN

Why America’s $40 Trillion Debt Matters to Your Wallet

from The Smerconish Podcast · host Michael A. Peterson, Michael Smerconish

America’s national debt has crossed a staggering $40 trillion — but what does that actually mean for you? Michael sits down with Michael A. Peterson, Chairman and CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, to explain how the country got here, why mounting debt affects everything from mortgages to Social Security, and what it would really take for Washington to change course. Plus, listeners weigh in on whether Americans and their elected leaders are willing to make the difficult choices required to tackle the problem. Original air date 25 August 2026. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Aug 25, 2026

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Why America’s $40 Trillion Debt Matters to Your Wallet

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