Pelosi Discloses AI Stock Trades

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JAN 22

Above: Rep. Nancy Pelosi speaks at the US Capitol on Feb. 13, 2024. Image copyright: Al Drago/Contributor/Bloomberg via Getty Imagesstory last updated JAN 23

The Facts

US Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) disclosed multiple stock trades Monday, including positions in technology companies Apple, Nvidia, Google, and Amazon, with transactions potentially ranging between $50K and $25M
The trades included the sale of 31.6K Apple shares and 10K Nvidia shares on Dec. 31, followed by new purchases of Nvidia call options in January. Further trades included purchases of Tempus AI, Vistra, and Palo Alto.
Pelosi's portfolio reportedly increased by nearly 71% in value during 2024, while Quiver Quantitative estimates that Pelsoi has seen returns of +779% since mid-2014. Unusual Whales places GOP Rep. David Rouzer (149%) and Democrat Rep. Debbie Schultz (142%) with the highest yearly returns.

The Spin

Establishment-critical narrative

Congress should be barred from trading stocks, if for no other reason than polls show that the vast majority of Americans, across party lines, support a ban because lawmakers have an unfair advantage due to their access to sensitive information. This undermines public trust, so to preserve democracy, Congress must prioritize ethics over personal financial gain.

US News & World Report New York Post

Pro-establishment narrative

In a free market economy, members of Congress should be allowed to trade stocks. Banning lawmakers from the market would shield them from the real-world impact of their decisions, creating a disconnect from the economic realities faced by everyday Americans. The US should prioritize stronger enforcement of pre-existing regulations, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Representative Nancy Pelosi The Hill