Of Consuming Interest is a weekly show examining the most important consumer issues today.
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with Adam Andrzejewski, founder of OpenTheBooks.com, who introduces Benjamin, a bot that allows consumers to discover how their tax dollars are being spent. Our national debt is over $36 trillion. Where is the money going? Find out. Pay Benjamin a visit! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with Bruce McClary of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, who discusses the special needs of military and the many frauds targeting other consumers. He describes how the debt relief promised may only increase the debt load, how promises to erase credit card debt may backfire and other scams that trap consumers. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with Daniel Turner, the founder of Power the Future, who discusses how the drive to eliminate the use of fossil fuels could affect production of thousands of items we depend on, including medical devices, medication, clothing, cars, computers and cell phones. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with Christie Matherne, editor at Wallethub, to discuss the reasons Maryland has the dubious honor of having the highest mortgage levels in the country. She also outlines ways to help deal with inflation, credit card debt and type budgets. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with Joe Hemsley, a private wealth advisor, about the many ways we can save money or make the most of our investments. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with Mark Jamison of the American Enterprise Institute, who says government regulation of what we see on social media is a threat to democracy. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with Rick Berman, president of RBB Strategies, who describes how some charities are spending very small amounts of donations on their mission of helping veterans. He also talks about the move to use aluminum instead of plastic containers. And the health concerns about the element being absorbed by the human body. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with John Berlau of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, who discusses the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's proposed rule that would cap the amount of overdraft fees financial institutions can charge customers. He also talks about the data breach at the Bureau that affected personal files of 256,000 consumers.. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with Herb Weisbaum, contributing editor at Consumers’ Checkbook Magazine, who discusses wiping personal data off devices before recycling them, the questions to ask before joining a gym and the move to limit high overdraft fees charged by banks. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with Tom Gordon, the executive director of Responsive Law, who discusses actions being taken to make the legal system more accessible and affordable to consumers. In addition, he describes the need to raise the dollar amount for cases in small claims court. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with WalletHub's Cassie Happe, who discusses a study on the most dangerous cities in the country and some of the factors that contribute to the ratings. While homicides have seen a small decline, other crimes have risen steeply. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with Mike McCartin of Joseph W. McCartin Insurance to discusses travel insurance, ways to save on your auto insurance and the importance of reading the fine print. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with Debra Berlyn , the executive director of the Project to Get Older Adults onLine (Project GOAL), about what the latest consumer electronics show in Las Vegas has to offer the cyber-savvy senior citizen. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with Tom Gordon of Responsive Law, who discusses the push for better and more affordable access to the legal system. He outlines things that are positive in this direction as well as barriers being erected by some in the legal community. In addition, a recent study found that our country ranks very low on consumer accessibility to the civil legal system. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-se...
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with Christie Matherne, an editor at Wallethub, to discuss a Federal Reserve report that found credit card debt increased by $1.27 trillion in 2023, a 6 % increase over the previous year. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with Daniel Turner, the founder of Power the Future, who discusses how the drive to eliminate the use of fossil fuels could affect production of thousands of items we depend on, such as medical devices, medication, clothing, cars, computers, cell phones, etc. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Host Shirley Rooker talks with Kevin Brasler of Checkbook Magazine, who discusses the difficulties facing homeowners trying to remodel their homes, including shortages of supplies and workers. He also talks about the importance of finding a good electrician. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with Ben Lieberman, senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. He discusses the push to make household products such as air conditioners and washing machines more energy efficient and the negative effects on the cost, performance and endurance of these products. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with Debra Berlyn, the executive director of The Project to Get Older Adults onLine (GOAL), about innovations at the The Consumer Electronics Show (CES), that could make life simpler for consumers, particularly for seniors who are not entirely comfortable with the latest technology. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with Wayne Crews of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, who discusses the tens of thousands of federal regulations which cost $1.939 trillion annually. The guest offers reforms designed to get control of the spiraling number of regulations. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with Mark Jamison of the American Enterprise Institute, who discusses the reasons government regulation of what we see on social media is a threat to democracy. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
Host Shirley Rooker speak with WalletHub's Jill Gonzalez to discuss a study that found consumers are willing to go into debt for the new iPhone. However, there are plans that will reduce the cost. And she talks about a survey that provides a look at the cities with the highest credit card debt. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with Daren Bakst of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, who discusses the impact of the recent Supreme Court ruling that defines the scope of the federal government's jurisdiction over the wetlands of the United States. The unanimous decision will protect landowners from broad and sometimes vague applications of the Clean Water Act.. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with Joe Hemsley, a private wealth advisor, who discusses the myths surrounding Social Security, how you may be missing tax breaks on your savings accounts and the pros and cons of long term health care. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with Ben Lieberman, senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. He discusses the push to make household products such as air conditioners and washing machines more energy efficient and the negative effects on the cost, performance and endurance of these products. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with Gene Marks of the Marks Group, who points out the serious impact of federal, state and local regulations on the finances of small businesses, as well as the importance of keeping up to date on proposed regulations. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with WalletHub's Cassie Happe, who discusses a recent study on the most dangerous cities in the country and some of the factors that contribute to the ratings. While homicides have seen a small decline, other crimes have risen steeply. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with psychotherapist Jill Robin Payne, who discusses a report by the Surgeon General about the ways our young people can be harmed by social media. Studies indicate the rates of teenage depression, sadness and hopelessness have increased dramatically over the last 10 years See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with Tom Gordon of Responsive Law, who discusses the push for better and more affordable access to the legal system. He outlines things that are positive in this direction as well as barriers being erected by some in the legal community. In addition, a recent study found that our country ranks very low on consumer accessibility to the civil legal system. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-se...
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with Mike McCartin of McCartin Insurance, who gives pointers on ways to help reduce the budget squeeze caused by increasing costs of car and home insurance policies. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
