Live May 19, 2026 | Yaron Brook Show
(Season 12, Episode 88)
US vs. China; Hating AI; Trump Slush Fund; Texas; Iran; Short Selling | Yaron Brook Show

Is America Losing Its Mind? China Rising, AI Panic, Trump Corruption & the Collapse of Economic Sanity

The West built the modern world. So why does America suddenly seem determined to sabotage itself?

In this explosive episode of the Yaron Brook Show, Yaron takes on the growing geopolitical threat from China, the irrational backlash against AI, Trump’s alleged “slush fund” politics, the economic insanity spreading through red states, Iran’s long-term ambitions, and why short sellers are essential to functioning markets.

Why are politicians attacking AI instead of embracing innovation?
Can America compete with China while punishing success and demonizing technology?
Are property taxes really the problem—or is government spending the disease?
And why do so many people hate the investors who expose fraud and bad businesses?

This episode connects the dots between fear, collectivism, corruption, economic ignorance, and the cultural collapse of confidence in reason itself.

Watch now: https://youtube.com/live/Y0K_JSjb9a8

⏱️ TOPIC TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction
01:00 US vs. China
26:05 Hating AI
36:25 Trump Slush Fund
46:20 Texas
51:45 Iran
59:25 Short Selling

💬 LIVE AUDIENCE QUESTIONS
1:16:54 Is the news becoming too depressing—or is realism necessary?
1:18:01 Should Objectivism be shared with everyone—or are some people closed off to reason?
1:18:51 When will Yaron return to NYC?
1:19:04 Why are Texas, Florida, and Ohio pushing to eliminate property taxes?
1:21:03 Is anti-AI hysteria just modern-day Luddism?
1:23:14 Is Trump’s alleged slush fund an impeachable offense?
1:23:36 Is antisemitism influencing modern American politics?
1:24:35 “Nothing so needs reforming as other people’s habits” — Mark Twain
1:25:07 Eurovision favorites and cultural trends
1:26:17 Missed Super Chats from yesterday’s show
1:26:30 Why is antisemitism exploding in Australia?
1:27:31 Is low-quality AI content fueling resentment toward AI itself?
1:28:05 Should you participate in your HOA—or ignore it?
1:29:28 Reflections on Yaron’s interview with Joshua Windham
1:29:44 Will warmer weather hurt Super Chat revenue?
1:30:03 Remembering historian John Ridpath

#China #ArtificialIntelligence #ElonMusk #OpenAI #Trump #Iran #Economics #ShortSelling #Capitalism #Politics #Objectivism #BigTech #CultureWar #ForeignPolicy

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Yaron is the executive chairman of the Ayn Rand Institute and a world class speaker. He is the coauthor of the national best-seller Free Market Revolution: How Ayn Rand’s Ideas Can End Big Government, Equal is Unfair: America's Misguided Fight Against Income Inequality and In Pursuit of Wealth: The Moral Case for Finance. He speaks around the world on a variety of topics including the morality of capitalism, Ayn Rand and her philosophy, finance and economics, and the value of inequality.