Does oil speculation increase gas prices?

Josh and Chuck dive into the complex world of oil speculation and whether financial trading is artificially inflating gas prices that are crippling American consumers. They explore how derivatives markets, futures contracts, and Wall Street speculation might be adding $20-25 to every barrel of oil, explaining the intricate system of "going long" and "going short" while examining how regulatory loopholes have essentially neutered government oversight. The hosts break down this controversial topic with their signature blend of accessible explanations and healthy skepticism about whether speculation is really driving oil from its "natural" price of around $50 per barrel to over $100.