NC State economist Mike Walden on the first two months of Trump 2.0
Prof. Mike Walden (Photo: NC State University)
Over the past few decades, one of North Carolina's best known and most prolific economists has been Prof. Mike Walden. Walden, the Reynolds Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Agricultural and Resource Economics at NC State University, is an outspoken champion of free markets and a longtime regular contributor to the pages of the conservative John Locke Foundation.
As with a lot of traditional economic conservatives, however, Walden is not necessarily a cheerleader for the roller-coaster economic policies that President Trump has pursued since his return to office, and recently, Walden joined NC Newsline editor Rob Schofield to share his assessment of what's been going on thus far and some concerns about what Trump's trade policies could mean for North Carolina.
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Governor signs Medicaid work requirements, Opioid Settlement Fund bills into law
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The Investment Ryan Reynolds Says He's 'More Proud Of Than Anything He's Done In His Life'
Actor Ryan Reynolds has accomplished the rare feat of being as famous for his prowess as an investor and businessman as he is for his work on the silver screen. One of his early forays into investing was Mint Mobile, which he famously pitched in television commercials before selling the company to T-Mobile US (NASDAQ: TMUS) for $1.35 billion. Although Fortune estimates he made $300 million on that transaction, it's not Reynolds' favorite investment. Reynolds is co-owner of English soccer club Wrexham, and he reflected on his time with the club during an episode of the "Men in Blazers" podcast. "If I were to look back and tell you what I'm most proud of, it would be from my family," Reynolds said. "Wrexham has informed more of my life than I could ever possibly calculate." Don't Miss: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — Invest where it hurts — and help millions heal:. That is incredibly high praise considering Reynolds is married to actress Blake Lively, with whom he shares four daughters. It's highly doubtful Reynolds will net a larger profit from his investment in Wrexham than he did from his 25% stake in Mint Mobile. Yet, Wrexham has captured his heart in a way that dollars and cents on a spreadsheet never could. It could have something to do with the passion that English soccer is famous for. That's because soccer clubs in England are more than just sports teams, something which is especially true for lower division teams like Wrexham. Even though many of the biggest teams in the top-level English Premier League are owned by billionaires like Arsenal's Stan Kroenke or Manchester City's Sheikh Mansour, there is an entire community of supporters behind every club. In many cases, this community of supporters stretches back several generations, and the clubs become central parts of life in the cities where they play. 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A promotion to the Premier League would be the crowning achievement for Reynolds. It would also be very lucrative. Accounting firm Deloitte estimates that promotion to England's top level can increase a club's value by several hundred million dollars. All Premier League clubs participate in revenue sharing from multibillion-dollar television rights and merchandising deals. With that said, it's clear that Reynolds is more interested in what promotion would mean for the Wrexham community than his bank account. He has embraced the community, and it has embraced him. It's the ultimate feel-good investment story. Read Next: Here's what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy. Image: Shutterstock UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article The Investment Ryan Reynolds Says He's 'More Proud Of Than Anything He's Done In His Life' originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
