‘Supply and demand fix those problems’: Jake and Spike clash over idea of rent control
Nov 23, 2025, 5:00 AM
An article in Reason Magazine asserted that rents fell and listings increased when Argentina ended rent control. People felt more comfortable renting out apartments when they could set their own price.
KIRO host Jake Skorheim used the story as an example of why rent control should not be used in Seattle.
“Supply and demand fix those problems, and when the supply goes away, the demand gets very high,” Jake said on “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio. “Katie Wilson’s going to see the same thing that’s going to happen in Seattle if they do a rent freeze.”
KIRO host Spike O’Neill combated Jake, saying cities have used rent control effectively, specifically San Francisco and New York.
“No, that’s not true,” Jake responded.
Jake pointed out that the most expensive places to rent apartments are New York and San Francisco.
“So is it working?” he asked.
“It would be more expensive if there weren’t control,” Spike replied.
Spike added that Argentina is not a great comparison to America.
“There’s different governments, there’s different social aspects, there’s a lot of differences between Argentina and the United States,” he said.
Listen to the full discussion in the video above.
Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.
