Can Trump make buying a home more affordable?
Planet Money
NPR
4.6 • 30.5K Ratings
🗓️ 31 January 2026
⏱️ 28 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Housing is too expensive. Everyone knows this. Democrats know that talking about it plays well with voters. And now – in a midterm election year – President Donald Trump seems to be focused on it, too.
His administration has recently started talking more about affordability. And they’re taking action with two new initiatives that aim to make buying a house easier.
Today on the show, we’re gonna take a close look at these two moves. And ask: Will they work?
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Support for NPR and the following message come from the Kauffman Foundation, |
| 0:05.0 | providing access to opportunities that help people achieve financial stability, |
| 0:09.7 | upward mobility, and economic prosperity, regardless of race, gender, or geography. |
| 0:15.6 | Coffman.org |
| 0:18.6 | Big news, Planet Money listeners. |
| 0:25.7 | Planet Money is going on tour to promote our first ever book. |
| 0:27.2 | It's going to come out in April. |
| 0:30.7 | We will be celebrating in about a dozen cities around the country. |
| 0:37.2 | And because it's public radio, there will be a limited edition tote bag that is included with your ticket while supplies last. |
| 0:39.1 | Details, dates, and how to get your ticket are at planetmoneybook.com. Or you can click the link |
| 0:44.9 | in the show notes. |
| 0:51.4 | This is Planet Money from NPR. |
| 0:56.6 | It is hard to buy a house. |
| 0:59.1 | It has been hard to buy a house for a while now. |
| 1:02.0 | And the other day, I heard a story of someone who I think might have gone further than anyone else in that quest. |
| 1:08.5 | James Lawrence. |
| 1:10.1 | James is your classic New Hampshire guy. He likes the cold, |
| 1:14.0 | likes the mountains, and he likes his girlfriend's cats. Lorelei and Rory. Love it. Loreline. Yes, |
| 1:20.4 | they are named after the Gilmore Girls. Amazing. In 2019, James was in a bit of a tough spot, |
| 1:26.7 | housing-wise. Yeah, James is in the National of a tough spot, housing-wise. |
| 1:29.2 | Yeah, James is in the National Guard. |
| 1:29.7 | Yes, sir. |
... |
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