Video 1
Federal debt held by the public
Percent of GDP · annual
SOURCE: OMB / FRED (FYPUGDA188S)
Latest · Video 10
Why the World Can't Quit the Dollar
The United States broke the dollar's one hard promise in 1971. Central banks still hold most of their reserves in it.
70.8%
Dollar share of reserves, 2001 Q4
57.1%
Dollar share of reserves, 2026 Q1
The dollar's share of world currency reserves
Percent of allocated reserves · quarterly
SOURCE: IMF, CURRENCY COMPOSITION OF OFFICIAL FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES (COFER), CURRENT VINTAGE, RETRIEVED SEPTEMBER 24, 2026.
The numbers behind the videos
Video 2
The 30-year mortgage rate
Percent · monthly average
SOURCE: FREDDIE MAC PMMS (MORTGAGE30US)
Video 8
U.S. inflation against the 2 percent target
PCE prices, yearly change · - - 2% target
SOURCE: BEA VIA FRED (PCEPI)
Every video
Why America Stopped Building Small HomesVideo 9 · sources and credits
Why Does Anyone Still Lend Japan Money?Video 7 · sources and credits
How One Ohio Town Changed American HousingVideo 6 · sources and credits
AI Data Centers Are the Tax Nobody Voted ForVideo 5 · sources and credits
Hospital Prices Are Public So Why Is Your Bill a Mystery?Video 4 · sources and credits
Why Truckers Beg Congress to Raise Their Own TaxesVideo 3 · sources and credits