Jamie Feldman

Elena calls all of this the debt machine.

Elena calls all of this the debt machine.

And how few of us seemed to know anything at all about the devious ways these companies were working against us at every turn.

And how few of us seemed to know anything at all about the devious ways these companies were working against us at every turn.

But this interview is from 15 years ago, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that established the CARD Act has been under attack ever since. Just this year, Elon Musk tweeted, RIP CFPB.

But this interview is from 15 years ago, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that established the CARD Act has been under attack ever since. Just this year, Elon Musk tweeted, RIP CFPB.

To Elena, the CART Act was like putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. But we don't need Band-Aids. We need to stop the shooting in the first place.

To Elena, the CART Act was like putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. But we don't need Band-Aids. We need to stop the shooting in the first place.

Sort of like the business model for cigarettes.

Sort of like the business model for cigarettes.

Cigarettes damage your organs. Cigarettes cause cancer. Tobacco smoke harms children. Cigarettes cause impotence. Cigarettes cause leukemia.

Cigarettes damage your organs. Cigarettes cause cancer. Tobacco smoke harms children. Cigarettes cause impotence. Cigarettes cause leukemia.

You cannot escape the foreboding message, which is, this product is designed to hurt you. How do we get those on American cigarettes?

You cannot escape the foreboding message, which is, this product is designed to hurt you. How do we get those on American cigarettes?

After learning everything we did from Elena, we thought about Donna and her beloved American Express. Was this the future that these feminists from the 70s were fighting for?

After learning everything we did from Elena, we thought about Donna and her beloved American Express. Was this the future that these feminists from the 70s were fighting for?

And in 2025, I don't make that much money either. What I do have is lots of access to credit.

And in 2025, I don't make that much money either. What I do have is lots of access to credit.

When we were wrapping up this episode, I got an email from Chase with the subject line, congratulations. I'm calling because I was recently sent an email that my credit limit was extended from $16,500 to $20,600 and I didn't ask for this extension and I don't want it. The customer service agent was kind and helpful and reversed it immediately.

When we were wrapping up this episode, I got an email from Chase with the subject line, congratulations. I'm calling because I was recently sent an email that my credit limit was extended from $16,500 to $20,600 and I didn't ask for this extension and I don't want it. The customer service agent was kind and helpful and reversed it immediately.