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Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said Washington is contributing to higher energy costs through foreign conflicts and domestic climate policies that he argues restrict U.S. energy production.
Paul Blames Washington for Higher Energy Costs
On Tuesday, Paul outlined his position in a post on X, saying Washington makes energy more expensive in two ways: “Sending us into foreign conflicts that disrupt global markets” and “imposing climate mandates that restrict supply at home.”
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“I have opposed both,” he said, arguing that putting American families first requires a “restrained foreign policy” and an energy policy that “unleashes domestic production.”
Washington makes energy more expensive in two ways:
1. Sending us into foreign conflicts that disrupt global markets.
2. Imposing climate mandates that restrict supply at home.
I have opposed both. Putting American families first means a restrained foreign policy and an energy…
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) October 6, 2026
Energy Costs Hit Households
Last month, Moody’s Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi said the Iran war had added about $115 billion in energy costs, or roughly $860 per household, as higher prices for gasoline, diesel and jet fuel affected Americans.
He said lower- and middle-income households were hit harder and warned gasoline could reach $4.50 a gallon if oil prices approached $100 a barrel.
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Zandi said the quickest relief would come from the war ending and more oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Higher Treasury yields had also increased borrowing costs, while rising energy prices had heightened inflation concerns for the Federal Reserve.
Rising Energy Costs
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) blamed the Iran war for rising U.S. energy costs, citing gasoline at $4.38 per gallon, heating oil at $5.87 and diesel at $6.20.
He said “Big Oil” was benefiting from higher prices and called for an immediate end to the conflict.
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Last month, Investor Kevin O’Leary also warned that high energy prices and the Middle East crisis were fueling inflation and weighing on the global economy, arguing that lower gas prices were needed.
Meanwhile, U.S. investor-owned utilities are planning roughly $1.4 trillion in capital spending through 2030, with data-center and AI growth, aging infrastructure, grid hardening and electrification among the major drivers.
PowerLines said utility bills had risen 40% since 2021, while utilities requested nearly $31 billion in rate increases in 2025.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock
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Building Wealth Across More Than Just the Market
Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That’s why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn’t tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry.
EquityMultiple
For accredited investors looking beyond stocks and bonds, EquityMultiple provides access to vetted commercial real estate deals starting at $5,000, with only ~5% of opportunities passing their due diligence process.
Arrived
Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly.
Realberry
For accredited investors looking beyond traditional stocks and bonds, Realberry provides access to institutional-quality real estate investments, including a preferred equity opportunity in the 297-room Hyatt Place Boston Seaport. The firm has invested across multiple property types and markets, with 13 million square feet of real estate across seven U.S. states and $481 million in cumulative distributions paid to investors as of Q4 2025.
Skybound Entertainment
Entertainment franchises can become valuable long-term assets when they successfully expand across multiple platforms. Skybound Entertainment, the company behind The Walking Dead and Invincible, develops original intellectual property that spans comics, television, film, video games, merchandise, and licensing. With more than 250 IPs in its portfolio and a strategy focused on retaining franchise rights while scaling successful stories across media, Skybound offers investors exposure to the growing entertainment and creator economy through a private company rather than traditional public market investments.
American PowerGen
As artificial intelligence drives a surge in electricity demand, reliable power generation is becoming a critical part of the technology ecosystem. American PowerGen is developing natural gas-fired power plants in Texas, a fast-growing market fueled by AI data centers, manufacturing expansion, and population growth. By advancing projects through permitting, fuel supply, and grid interconnection, the company is positioning itself to help meet rising energy needs while offering investors exposure to the infrastructure supporting the next wave of AI and industrial growth.
Bito
As AI coding tools take on more of the work traditionally done by developers, companies are facing new challenges around code quality, context and the rising cost of AI-powered development. Bito is building software designed to help AI coding agents better understand complex codebases while helping companies control AI development costs. Founded by former PubMatic executives, Bito has raised more than $10 million from institutional and individual investors and is now raising additional capital through a Wefunder offering, giving investors an opportunity to invest in a company targeting an emerging need within the rapidly expanding AI software market.
DLP Capital
For accredited investors looking beyond stocks and traditional real estate opportunities, DLP Capital provides access to private real estate strategies focused on workforce housing — homes for essential workers such as teachers, nurses, firefighters, and police officers. With more than $5.5 billion in assets under management and a community of 4,000+ accredited investors, DLP Capital gives investors access to real estate strategies designed around the growing need for housing that working Americans can actually afford.
FarmTogether
Farmland has historically held its value through market volatility and delivered returns uncorrelated to stocks and bonds. For accredited investors, FarmTogether offers direct access to high-quality U.S. farmland starting at $15,000 — fully managed, with no landlord headaches.
Fundrise
Private real estate and private credit can add income and stability to a stock-heavy portfolio. Fundrise offers access to diversified private real estate and credit strategies through an easy-to-use platform, with professionally managed portfolios designed to generate passive income and long-term growth.
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