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Guns, Girls, and Greed: I Was a Blackwater Mercenary in Iraq with Morgan Lerette

from Kerry Lutz's Financial Survival Network

Kerry and Morgan Lerette discussed various topics related to the challenges and complexities of military engagements in Iraq. They explored Lerette’s experiences as a mercenary, the difficulties of nation-building, the challenges of providing support in a self-interested environment, and the historical and contemporary role of private military contractors. The conversation shed light on the lack of coordination between different agencies, the limitations of General Petraeus’ strategy, and the difficulties of instilling democratic values in societies where tribal loyalty takes precedence. They also discussed the potential impact of private military contractors on political decision-making and the need for greater scrutiny and regulation in this area.

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Demographic Shift Impacting Gold Miner Valuations Explains Mining Sector Expert Brian Christie

from Mining Stock Education

“There has been a bit of a demographic shift. Guys my age are retiring, and they are not putting a lot of their money to risk as much anymore. Even the flow-through market here…there used to be a lot of doctors, dentists, lawyers that would typically put money in flow-through funds to get the tax advantage. The Canadian government has changed some of those rules and made it a lot harder. So, I think that is part of the disconnect [between the gold price and gold miners’ valuations],” says mining sector expert Brian Christie. Listen to this MSE interview for more insights from Mr. Christie.

Brian Christie has vast mining sector experience. He began his career as a geologist and saw two mineral discoveries first-hand. Then he traveled the world as a journalist for The Northern Miner. Brian next served as a mining equity analyst for nearly two decades before leading the investor relations team at Agnico Eagle, a leading gold producer. Currently, Brian is on the board of directors for Wallbridge Mining and, since May 2023, is the chairman of Fury Gold Mines (MSE sponsor).

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Dollars and Sense: Shield Your Wallet From Inflation’s Bite with Mindy McIntosh

from Kerry Lutz's Financial Survival Network

Kerry and Mindy McIntosh discussed the implications of the 1.6% annual GDP growth in the first quarter, including the potential effects of rate cuts on mortgage interest rates and CD rates. They also highlighted the importance of consumers having a well-diversified financial plan to combat the erosion of purchasing power due to inflation. The discussion also touched on concerns about the sustainability of the current economic path and the need for a wake-up call to pull back from the brink. In a separate discussion, they talked about the long-term implications of AI on the economy, emphasizing the need for thoughtful investment strategies and caution against knee-jerk reactions. They also discussed the potential impact of AI on personal interactions and communities, while highlighting the importance of maintaining a balance between technological advancements and human-driven experiences.

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Inflation & Fed Rate Cuts Market Outlook for S&P, Dollar, Gold, & Silver with Jim Welsh

from Kerry Lutz's Financial Survival Network

Kerry and Jim Welsh discussed the recent inflation surge and its potential impact on the anticipated Fed rate cuts. They highlighted concerns about the challenges in achieving the inflation target and the potential limitations of traditional monetary and fiscal policies. The conversation also touched on the historical evolution of Fed policy and its potential implications for future economic growth and unemployment rates. Jim Welsh presented a thorough analysis of the market, addressing the potential consequences of social security and deficit spending on treasury bonds and the bond market. He predicted a new secular bear market in the bond market, signaling a shift in market trends. Welsh also anticipated slower economic growth with higher treasury yields, providing insights into TLT, GDP, the yield curve, the dollar, and gold.

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The Economic Rollercoaster: Government Spending, Debt, and Inflation with Brad Williams

from Kerry Lutz's Financial Survival Network

Kerry and financial expert Brad Williams discussed the current economic climate and its potential impact on individuals’ financial well-being. They explored the signs of a looming recession, the hidden effects of inflation on consumer behavior, and the growing interest in alternative investments such as gold and Bitcoin. The conversation also highlighted the risks associated with government spending and monetary policies, emphasizing the need for a balanced and diversified financial approach, particularly for retirees. The speakers also discussed the importance of fiscal responsibility, political decisions on the economy, and the need for informed voting. They concluded by reminding attendees to sign up for a free newsletter and providing contact information for financial advice.

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Stagflation: The Coming Economic Storm in the U.S. with Dennis Tubbergen

from Kerry Lutz's Financial Survival Network

Kerry and Dennis Tubbergen discussed various economic challenges and potential responses from the Federal Reserve. They explored the concept of stagflation and its potential presence in the current economic environment, as well as the need for significant budget cuts to address economic challenges. The speakers also expressed concern about the potential downturn in the housing market and the challenges facing the commercial real estate market, including high interest rate resets on loans and the exodus of companies from urban areas. They also touched on the broader implications of failing states and cities, leading to a discussion about potential secession movements and political realignment in the United States.

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Bitcoin Halving: Market Impact, Debt Solutions & Economic Outlook with David Stryzewski

from Kerry Lutz's Financial Survival Network

Kerry Lutz and David Stryzewski discussed various economic topics, including the recent Bitcoin halving and its effects on the market, the potential application of halving to address U.S. debt and inflation, the current economic climate, and the potential of U.S. oil production. They highlighted the need for patience and a focus on supply and demand dynamics, as well as the potential regulatory hurdles and geopolitical risks that could impact the market in the long term. The discussion underscored the need for a strategic and proactive approach to navigating the complex economic challenges ahead, advocating for responsible policies to support sustainable growth.

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Revitalized Detroit: Affordable, Lucrative, and Growing with Nader Shariff

from Kerry Lutz's Financial Survival Network

Kerry and Nader Shariff discussed the investment potential of Detroit real estate, highlighting the city’s low entry price point, strong rental returns, and ongoing redevelopment efforts. They also addressed the risks involved in investing in Detroit, such as dealing with nonpaying tenants and the challenges of maintaining older properties. The conversation also touched on the potential for further price increases and the current opportunities for investors to enter the market. Additionally, they discussed the unemployment situation and the growth of new businesses in Detroit, particularly highlighting the impact of companies like Rocket Mortgage in providing employment opportunities. Overall, they expressed hope for the city’s resurgence and encouraged engagement with their organization.

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The Rise of Artificial Intelligence in Investment Finance with David Marra

from Kerry Lutz's Financial Survival Network

Kerry and David Marra discussed the impact of AI on quantitative investing and the financial industry. They explored the use of generative AI to handle vast amounts of data and extract valuable insights, highlighting the remarkable implications and rapid evolution of the AI revolution. The conversation also touched on the sustainability implications of AI processors for electrical infrastructure, expressing concerns about the substantial energy requirements of data centers and the potential need for additional power sources. Additionally, they discussed the implications for discretionary and systematic managers, emphasizing the importance of staying abreast of technological changes to remain competitive in the finance industry.

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West Red Lake Gold: Primed for Near-Term Production with Top-Tier Team & Infrastructure

from Kerry Lutz's Financial Survival Network

We met with West Red Lake Gold’s (🇺🇸WRLGF — 🇨🇦WRLG new sponsor), CEO and President, Shane Williams. He is a true mine builder, having brought 5 prior mines online. He highlighted his action-oriented approach and the strategic decision to join WRLG, attracted by its incredible potential.

Shane revealed the latest drill results from the Madsen mine’s South Austin Zone, intersecting 68.36 g/t Au over 1.1m and 13.83 g/t Au over 3.95m. He has assembled one of the most solid teams in his experience, explaining how these moves have given WRLG the ability to start producing in Q4 ‘25. Discussing the primary focus on the Madsen mine, once valued at $1 billion, Shane provided insights into the timetable for restarting production and the steps he’s taken to mitigate inflation impacts on project costs. He’s still surprised by the company’s good fortune in acquiring the existing mill and infrastructure (for just pennies on the dollar) noting that replacement costs are north of $700mm. Following the previous management’s inability to acquire profitability, he’s busy capitalizing upon this once in a lifetime opportunity.

He commented on the continued excellent drill results, the strategic challenges ahead, and the catalysts for success. With current gold prices holding strong, Shane is excited by the positive impact on WRLG’s economics as well as the broader industry.

Highlighting recent successful funding efforts, Shane contrasted WRLG’s position with peers who have struggled to survive, underscoring key strategies for maintaining operational momentum. For these reasons we have taken a position in WRLG.

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“Safe Haven” Yen Trending Towards Zero Against Gold

from Zero Hedge

Via SchiffGold.com,

The yen was once known as a safe-haven currency for investors to protect themselves when broader markets are shaky or other currencies are dropping, but those days are numbered. A stable government and consistent (and low) interest rates have been some of the driving factors, but it’s the unwinding of that ultra-low interest rate policy that will be the yen’s “safe haven” undoing as gold retains its protective characteristics and rockets upward.

Continue Reading at ZeroHedge.com…

Labor Rising: Will Class Identity Finally Matter Again?

by Charles Hugh Smith
Of Two Minds

That this level of incendiary outrage has seeped into the mainstream media tells us that the bill for America’s gluttony of inequality is long overdue.

Two primary trends may be reversing: wage earners–labor–may be finally starting to regain some of the share of Gross Domestic Income (GDI) lost to capital over the past 54 years, and economic class identity that collapsed in favor of individual identity–enabling the siphoning of $149 trillion in GDI from labor to capital since 1970–may be reviving.

The two trends are intertwined: the cultural dominance of identity politics came at the expense of economic class identity, which effectively blinded us as a nation to the multi-decade transfer of wealth from wage earners to owners / managers of capital.

If we are wondering how the bottom 90% have lost ground, we can start with the social-cultural blindness to the collapse of class identity which enabled the dominance of capital politically, economically and socially, as manifested in the rise of globalization and financialization, the tools used to transfer income from labor to capital.

Continue Reading at OfTwoMinds.com…

Putting Gold On a Blockchain

by Alasdair MacLeod
Gold Money

In conjunction with the LBMA, the World Gold Council is promoting blockchain technology as a means of identifying and tracking the sourcing of gold, its refining, and subsequent ownership. Is this a good idea?

Two years ago, David Tait, CEO of the World Gold Council announced an initiative to introduce blockchain technology to ensure that gold bars have been responsibly sourced and to establish a chain of custody, digitising the entire supply chain of gold bar production. There is no doubt that between them, the WGC and LBMA have been bringing considerable pressure to bear on refiners, markets, and miners in Switzerland, Japan, North America, Australia, and South Africa — some of which have signed up to the initiative.

At the launch of this “gold bar integrity programme” Sakhilla Mirza, LBMA’s General Council reckoned that the pilot scheme would take about three months (to mid-2022).

Continue Reading at GoldMoney.com…

AstraZeneca Admits Vaccine Had Lethal Side Effect

by Martin Armstrong
Armstrong Economics

Vaccine manufacturers and health agencies have been silently admitting that their “safe and effective” COVID-19 mRNA vaccines have deadly side effects. AstraZeneca (AZN) is the latest manufacturer to admit that their vaccine was lethal as a class-action lawsuit attempts to hold the pharmaceutical company responsible.

One of the first cases filed against the company came from an otherwise healthy man who suffered permanent brain damage after receiving the vaccine. Remember, the dead and permanently disabled need advocates, as they cannot take on Big Pharma alone. Fifty-one people have brought claims against AstraZeneca in a case that has reached the UK High Court.

Continue Reading at ArmstrongEconomics.com…

Wall Street’s Megabanks Have Trillions of Dollars Off-Balance Sheet, in a Replay of Accounting Hubris that Led to the 2008 Wall Street Collapse

by Pam Martens and Russ Martens
Wall Street on Parade

When the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission released their final forensic report on the causes of the 2008 financial collapse on Wall Street – the worst collapse since the 1929-1932 collapse – it pointed to hidden leverage in off-balance sheet entities at the megabanks on Wall Street as a key driver of the crisis. It wrote:

“From 2000 to 2007, large banks and thrifts generally had $16 to $22 in assets for each dollar of capital, for leverage ratios between 16:1 and 22:1. For some banks, leverage remained roughly constant. JP Morgan’s reported leverage was between 20:1 and 22:1. Wells Fargo’s generally ranged between 16:1 and 17:1. Other banks upped their leverage. Bank of America’s rose from 18:1 in 2000 to 27:1 in 2007. Citigroup’s increased from 18:1 to 22:1, then shot up to 32:1 by the end of 2007, when Citi brought off-balance sheet assets onto the balance sheet. More than other banks, Citigroup held assets off of its balance sheet, in part to hold down capital requirements. In 2007, even after bringing $80 billion worth of assets on balance sheet, substantial assets remained off. If those had been included, leverage in 2007 would have been 48:1, or about 53% higher. In comparison, at Wells Fargo and Bank of America, including off-balance-sheet assets would have raised the 2007 leverage ratios 17% and 28%, respectively.”

Citigroup, of course, blew itself up in 2008 and received the largest bailouts in global banking history. By March of 2009, its stock was trading at 99 cents.

Continue Reading at WallStreetOnParade.com…

Oh Deary, Where Did My Rate Cuts Go? Fed’s Wait-and-See Now Entrenched? And Suddenly Lots of Talk About “Rate Hikes”

by Wolf Richter
Wolf Street

What Powell Said about rate hikes, no rate cuts, rate cuts, and the QT slowdown while getting rid of MBS entirely.

“Hike” and “rate hike” were mentioned 8 times by reporters and by Powell during the FOMC’s post-meeting press conference today. Those terms weren’t mentioned at all in the press conferences during Rate-Cut Mania, which were all about “rate cuts,” how many and when.

Powell was obviously unenthusiastic about rate hikes, and thought it “unlikely that the next policy rate move will be a hike” – “our policy focus is really how long to keep policy restrictive,” he said. But rate hikes weren’t even on the table before, so that alone was a big shift, from a bunch of rate cuts to having to deal with the possibility of a rate hike. One step at a time.

Continue Reading at WolfStreet.com…

When Governments Want More Revenue, Police Gin Up the Cash by Writing Traffic Tickets

by Ryan Wardle
Mises.org

On some level, all of us realize that traffic tickets are seen by local governments as a form of revenue. Supposedly, the intent behind issuance of fines for traffic offenses is to disincentivize behaviors which are deemed to be unsafe, such as driving over the speed limit or not wearing a seatbelt (despite the fact that the latter poses no risk to anyone but the driver). The punishment for this type of offense being almost always a fine, as opposed to any type of nonmonetary punishment, is suspect in itself. But even if the monetary cost of speeding tickets really is better at preventing speeding than some other punishment, the fact remains that local governments do lay claim to the money forfeited and for that reason have another incentive besides community safety to issue those tickets.

It is common wisdom that one runs an especial risk of being ticketed if caught speeding in or around a small town because those towns don’t have as much money as bigger cities, and they’d quite like to have some of yours. Intuitively, this makes sense. If a small town can accrue revenue from people passing through, they have less reason to burden their voting constituency with additional taxes, which makes the local officials’ outlooks in future elections a bit more favorable.

Continue Reading at Mises.org…

Noem On Dog Controversy: I Had a Choice Between Keeping My Small Children Safe or a Dangerous Animal

[Ed. Note: Listen up sugartits, the real problem isn’t that you killed the dog. The problem is that you’re stupid enough to write about it in a book, and not smart enough to listen to any of the people who advised against doing so. #SmartLikeRock]

by Jeff Poor
Breitbart.com

Wednesday on FNC’s “Hannity,” Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD) insisted she had a binary choice on whether or not to kill a 14-month-old dog, as she disclosed in her book.

The South Dakota Republican is under fire for handling what she deemed an untrainable dog.

Partial transcript as follows:

HANNITY: Governor, I know you have — you have responded. You responded on X on Sunday. And you gave more explanation to this, but you talk about this 14-month-old dog as untrainable. You describe it as a trained assassin, how you — how the dog was killing chickens of a local neighbor, and how the dog even went to bite you, and I believe bit others as well.

Continue Reading at Breitbart.com…

This Elderly Man Was Arrested After Shooting a Burglar in Self-Defense – Because His Gun Was Unlicensed

Vincent Yakaitis is unfortunately not the first such defendant. He will also not be the last.

by Billy Binion
Reason.com

Dennis Powanda and Vincent Yakaitis are bound together by a common experience: They were both criminally charged in connection with an attempted burglary. Powanda was the burglar, and Yakaitis was the property owner.

Ah, justice.

Indeed, that’s not a misprint, parody, or a bad joke (although I wish it were the latter). Powanda was arrested and charged with criminal trespass and burglary, along with other related offenses, for executing the botched raid a little before 2:00 a.m. in February 2023 at Yakaitis’ property in Port Carbon, Pennsylvania. The government charged Yakaitis, who is in his mid-70s, with using a firearm without a license after he shot Powanda, despite that it appears prosecutors agree Yakaitis justifiably used that same firearm in self-defense.

Continue Reading at Reason.com…

On Oil Prices, Biden Between a Rock and a Hard Place

by Warren Beatty
American Thinker

For the appeaser-in-chief, lower gasoline prices are becoming politically expensive.

Joe Biden finds himself, as a “political and world leader,” between a rock and a hard place when it comes to rising gasoline prices, despite record U.S. oil output and his raiding of the Strategic Oil Reserve (SRO). The scale of Biden’s SRO releases, roughly 200 million barrels, dwarfed those of his predecessors, sending stores in the reserves to their lowest levels since the 1980s. Pressure by Congress is building to actually enforce sanctions against Russia, Iran, and Venezuela.

If (and this is a big “if”) Biden does enforce existing sanctions, prices will increase. That’s bad politically. A YouGov and Economist March poll suggests that inflation is the most important issue to voters, with 24% of them considering it their top priority.

Continue Reading at AmericanThinker.com…

Top Trading Strategies

by Craig Hemke
Sprott Money

Watch Craig Hemke and David Brady wrap up the volatile month of April in the precious metals market. From discussing price movements to analyzing market trends and offering insights into trading strategies, this episode covers it all. Plus, learn why physical gold and silver are essential for protecting against economic uncertainties.

Topics Discussed:

  • Volatility in April’s precious metals market
  • Importance of physical precious metals as a hedge against economic uncertainty
  • Elliott wave analysis and trading signals
  • Factors driving gold and silver prices, including loss of confidence in the dollar and global geopolitical tensions
  • Potential scenarios for the future, including stock market crashes and Federal Reserve interventions
  • Strategies for accumulating precious metals and navigating market fluctuations
  • Long-term outlook for gold and silver prices and the role of fiat currency

Continue Reading at SprottMoney.com…

Trump: London, Paris Have “Opened Their Doors to Jihad”

by Steve Watson
Modernity News

Speaking at a campaign rally in Wisconsin on Wednesday, Donald Trump urged that Europe has “opened its doors to jihad” and as a result, cities including London and Paris are sacrificing their own culture and tradition.

“We’ve seen what happened when Europe opened their doors to jihad,” Trump told the large crowd, adding “Look at Paris, look at London – they’re no longer recognisable.”

“I’m going get myself into a lot of trouble with the folks in Paris and the folks in London, but you know what, that’s the fact,” he continued.

“They are no longer recognisable and we can’t let that happen to our country,” Trump urged, adding “We have incredible culture, tradition – nothing wrong with their culture, their tradition – we can’t let that happen here.”

Continue Reading at Modernity.News…

An Absolutely Enormous Economic Shift of Historic Proportions is Now Taking Place Right in Front of Our Eyes

by Michael Snyder
The Economic Collapse Blog

Can you feel it too? Over the past few weeks, I have heard from so many readers that are deeply troubled about economic conditions where they live. In some cases, sales are way down. In other cases, it seems almost impossible to find a decent job. It is almost as if a tremendous chill descended upon the U.S. economy as the second quarter of 2024 began. Yes, economic conditions have certainly not been good for a few years, but it appears that an absolutely enormous economic shift of historic proportions is now taking place right in front of our eyes. Other than the early stages of the pandemic, we haven’t seen anything like this since 2008 and 2009.

Let me give you an example that will illustrate what I am talking about. A reader that lives near Seattle recently wrote me about the horrible downturn that she is witnessing in the tech industry, and she said that I could share this information with all of you…

Continue Reading at TheEconomicCollapseBlog.com…

The U.S. Constitution is Another Victim of Genocide

by Dr. Paul Craig Roberts
PaulCraigRoberts.org

A 19th century plantation slave suffered less abuse than an American today and was less likely to have his head cracked open by a police baton than a Columbia University Student. Here are the lost rights of Americans from A to Z: https://www.lewrockwell.com/2024/05/no_author/the-steady-slide-towards-tyranny-how-freedom-dies-from-a-to-z/

Republican US senators are no better friends of the US Constitution than the administrators at Columbia University, Netanyahu and the Israel Lobby, the NYPD, and the whore media. For example, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R, TN) labeled as “terrorists” students who protest against Israel’s destruction of Palestine. In order to protect Israel from students protesting genocide, Blackburn wants the students added to the terrorist watch list and prohibited from flying:

Continue Reading at PaulCraigRoberts.org…

OpenAI CEO’s Eyeball-Scanning Digital ID Project, Worldcoin, Hopes To Partner With OpenAI & Has Had Conversations With PayPal

Worldcoin eyes partnerships with OpenAI and PayPal amid regulatory challenges and privacy concerns, signaling a potential expansion in digital ID networks.

by Didi Rankovic | Reclaim The Net
Info Wars

Worldcoin, a digital ID project based on biometrics, namely, eyeball scanning, co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, is eying (no pun) partnerships not only with OpenAI, but also PayPal, reports say.

However, these movements are not accompanied by any clarity for now, an example of this being another Worldcoin co-founder and its CEO Alex Blania refusing to make a direct announcement regarding the deal with OpenAI.

Blania at the same time confirmed that the company (specifically, Tools for Humanity, the main Worldcoin developer) is talking to PayPal – but the payments transactions giant is currently not commenting on any of this.

Continue Reading at InfoWars.com…