
In this episode, Brandon and James recap the market as we head toward the end of the year and discuss overall investor sentiment going into 2026. They break down what the S&P 500 has done over the past year, explain the idea behind the Santa Claus rally, and talk about what to realistically expect from the market and the economy next year.The conversation also covers tariffs and why their impact often shows up months after the initial shock, how the threat of tariffs can be used as a negotiating tool, and what recent market behavior may be telling us.They dive into the ongoing debate around the AI bubble, Michael Burry closing his firm and betting against companies like Nvidia and Palantir, and what Warren Buffett’s large cash position at Berkshire Hathaway is actually meant for.Finally, they emphasize why boring investment plans and dollar cost averaging tend to work over time, discuss how AI is likely to integrate into nearly every business, and wrap up with three stocks James is watching for 2026: CrowdStrike, Lumen, and Nebius.