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2024 Year of the Bank Run with John Rubino

from Kerry Lutz's Financial Survival Network

Kerry and John Rubino delve into pressing economic issues, predicting a looming crisis driven by rising mortgage rates and increasing retail store closures. They argue the necessity for significant government intervention, similar to the pandemic-era stimulus measures, to mitigate the economic downturn. The conversation also explores the unique challenges facing retailers, especially in California, where lax laws on shoplifting complicate business operations. Additionally, they discuss the controversial “weaponization” of the criminal justice system, suggesting its impact on social order and business environment. Rubino and Lutz propose radical ideas for government restructuring, such as firing government employees in alphabetical order and maintaining only essential workers during crises. They emphasize the importance of essential services, including police, road maintenance, and waste management, referencing similar strategies from Argentina and El Salvador. Political dynamics also take center stage as they speculate on potential vice presidential candidates for Donald Trump, particularly focusing on Ron DeSantis. They consider how political issues, notably abortion, could influence upcoming elections.

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The AI Effect: How Robots Are Shaping Economics, Interest Rates and Industry Evolution with Elliot Kallen

from Kerry Lutz's Financial Survival Network

Kerry and Elliot Kallen discussed a range of topics, including the influence of AI on businesses, the economic cycle and its potential impact on interest rates, and the potential ramifications of autonomous vehicles on various sectors. They explored the potential disruptions and job losses that AI could bring, particularly in the transportation and writing industries, while also highlighting the positive aspects of AI, such as increased efficiency and convenience. They also discussed the potential impact of AI and Bitcoin mining on energy consumption, emphasizing the significance of these factors for the future of energy utilities. Kallen presented a contrarian viewpoint on the economic cycle, expressing skepticism about the likelihood of a recession and the anticipated decrease in interest rates. He referenced his previous predictions and suggested that bond prices may experience only a minor softening. The conversation also touched on the potential future of US mail delivery, with Kallen expressing skepticism about the long-term sustainability of the US Postal Service and advocating for government downsizing. Overall, the conversation delved into the uncertainty surrounding the current economic climate and its potential implications for interest rates and bond prices, as well as the potential impact of AI and autonomous vehicles on various sectors.

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From Desk to Destination: Work Anywhere, and Live the Traveler’s Dream with Aaron Clements

from Kerry Lutz's Financial Survival Network

Kerry and Aaron Clements discussed the digital nomad lifestyle, highlighting its advantages and challenges. They talked about the freedom and independence it offers, as well as the potential loneliness and need for adaptability. Aaron provided valuable advice for those considering this lifestyle, emphasizing the importance of pursuing work that aligns with their passions and understanding their essential needs while traveling. He also promoted his book, “From Desk to Destination,” which provides a comprehensive guide for transitioning to the digital nomad lifestyle, including practical tips, mindset strategies, and insights on maximizing resources and opportunities.

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The Tax Free Business Owner with Mark Miller

from Kerry Lutz's Financial Survival Network

Kerry interviewed Mark Miller about his book, “The Tax-Free Business Owner,” which offers over 130 tax mitigation strategies. Miller emphasized the importance of proactive planning to reduce taxes and highlighted the need for formalized tax plans and working towards a zero tax bracket. The conversation also covered the significance of trusts and wealth strategies in minimizing taxes and building wealth, as well as the importance of estate planning and utilizing advanced investing strategies from the Hilton True Wealth portfolios. Miller also shared information about an upcoming book that will delve into the advanced investing strategies utilized by the Hiltons.

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Potential Future of Electronic Payment Systems with Jeremy Lessaris

from Kerry Lutz's Financial Survival Network

Kerry and Jeremy Lessaris discussed cost reduction in credit card processing. Lessaris explained his method of using machine learning to assess the profitability of current processors and negotiate lower fees without requiring businesses to switch processors. He emphasized the importance of regularly reviewing processing statements as pricing can change unpredictably. The conversation also delved into the intricacies of credit card processing fees, the predatory practices of companies, and the potential for alternative payment methods like cryptocurrencies and ACH transactions to offer solutions to these challenges. Paymentbrokers.com was mentioned as a resource for further information on these topics.

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Overcoming Fear: Tackling Failure, Public Speaking, & Digital Communications with Ron Koenigsberg

from Kerry Lutz's Financial Survival Network

Kerry and Ron Koenigsberg discussed various topics related to personal and business growth. They talked about the evolving real estate market and the importance of effective sales skills, emphasizing the significance of active listening, positive thinking, and enthusiasm. The conversation also touched on overcoming fear, particularly the fear of failure and public speaking, and the challenges of managing text messages. The speakers shared personal experiences and insights, highlighting the relevance of communication, resilience, and personal growth in achieving success in various aspects of life and business.

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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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Virtual Home Invasions: We’re Not Safe From Government Peeping Toms

by John W. Whitehead and Nisha Whitehead
The Rutherford Institute

“The privacy and dignity of our citizens is being whittled away by sometimes imperceptible steps. Taken individually, each step may be of little consequence. But when viewed as a whole, there begins to emerge a society quite unlike any we have seen—a society in which government may intrude into the secret regions of man’s life at will.” – Justice William O. Douglas

The spirit of the Constitution, drafted by men who chafed against the heavy-handed tyranny of an imperial ruler, would suggest that one’s home is a fortress, safe from almost every kind of intrusion.

Unfortunately, a collective assault by the government’s cabal of legislators, litigators, judges and militarized police has all but succeeded in reducing that fortress—and the Fourth Amendment alongside it—to a crumbling pile of rubble.

We are no longer safe in our homes, not from the menace of a government and its army of Peeping Toms who are waging war on the last stronghold of privacy left to us as a free people.

Continue Reading at Rutherford.org…

The Missing Piece of the Puzzle: Behind the Inexplicable “Strength” of U.S. Consumers is $700 Billion in “Phantom Debt”

from Zero Hedge

Yesterday we discussed the latest consumer credit data, which revealed that the amount of credit card debt across the US has hit a new record high of $1.337 trillion (even though it appears to have finally hit a brick wall, barely rising in March by the smallest amount since the covid crash), even as the savings rate has tumbled to an all time low.

To be sure, credit card debt is just a small portion (~6%) of the total household debt stack: as the next chart from the latest NY Fed consumer credit report shows, the bulk, or 70%, of US household debt is in the form of mortgages, followed by student loans, auto loans, credit card debt, home equity credit and various other forms. Altogether, the total is a massive $17.5 trillion in total household debt.

Continue Reading at ZeroHedge.com…

Goldman Sachs Shines Up Its Swamp Creature Reputation by Rehiring Robert Kaplan as Vice Chairman – The Guy Who Traded Like a Hedge Fund Kingpin While President of the Dallas Fed

by Pam Martens and Russ Martens
Wall Street on Parade

The swampiest trading house on Wall Street, Goldman Sachs, issued a press release on Tuesday which was revolting – even to Wall Street veterans who are familiar with its scandalous history. (See Related Articles below.)

The press release stated that “Rob Kaplan will rejoin the firm as Vice Chairman of Goldman Sachs and a member of the Management Committee. He will be a member of the Executive Office and will be based in Dallas.”

Robert (Rob) Kaplan is the man who scandalized the Dallas Fed and the Federal Reserve (the central bank of the United States) by flagrantly serving his own trading interests and violating financial reporting rules while trading like a hedge fund kingpin in S&P 500 futures for his own account during a declared National Emergency in 2020 (from the COVID-19 pandemic) while he was President of the Dallas Fed (one of the 12 regional Federal Reserve Banks).

Continue Reading at WallStreetOnParade.com…

The Consequences of Interest Rate Suppression

by Alasdair MacLeod
Gold Money

Decades of interest rate suppression have resulted in debt traps in both public and private sectors which will destroy faith in fiat currencies. This leads to higher, far higher interest rates and the escape into gold is only just starting.

Throughout European history, there has been a dislike of interest rates. For the last two millennia this was reflected in Christian (and Muslim) bans on usury. But interest is charged by a lender for good reason. A lender is ceding possession of money or credit to another, losing the facility to turn them into goods for his or her own consumption. That is worth compensation, and economists call it time-preference. And then there’s the risk that the borrower might default on the obligation to repay. That’s worth something as well. The fact of the matter is that the compensation a lender of money is due can only be decided on a case-by-case basis between lender and borrower.

Continue Reading at GoldMoney.com…

Chris Cuomo is Taking Ivermectin – We’re Being Trickle Truthed

Combine this with a sudden awareness of an open border to the south and the NYTimes recent discovery of vaccine injury (covered in yesterday’s Scouting Report) and we’ve got the makings of a proper common knowledge movement!

by Dr. Chris Martenson
Chris Martenson’s Peak Prosperity

This is how ‘trickle-truthing’ works. A little bit of a painful truth is leaked out over time. Each time a little more. The idea is that this causes less of an explosion than simply being truthful up front.

But ask any spouse who’s been cheated on if this method works. The answer is “no.”

Combine this with a sudden awareness of an open border to the south and the NYTimes recent discovery of vaccine injury (covered in yesterday’s Scouting Report) and we’ve got the makings of a proper common knowledge movement!

Continue Reading at PeakProsperity.com…

Welcome to the Warfare State

by Doug Casey
International Man

War is one of the few things that only the State can do. Indeed, as Randolph Bourne said, “War is the health of the State.” Let’s briefly discuss the nature of the State to see why World War 3 is on the way.

The State is like any other living entity: its prime directive is to survive and grow. Bear in mind that the State—the government—is not at all the same thing as the country or society, even though it claims to be. It’s not “We the People”; it’s a distinct entity with its own discrete interests. And that’s actually too mild an assertion. While individuals and companies prosper by providing goods and services to others through voluntary exchange, the State specializes in coercion.

There’s nothing voluntary about the State. Its main products have always been pogroms, persecutions, confiscations, taxation, inflation, censorship, harassment, repression—and war. The State is not your friend.

Continue Reading at InternationalMan.com…

Ad-Tech Outfit DoubleVerify Plunges 40% Today, -62% From Peak, 3 Years After IPO. Nabs Wolf Street Downgrade to “Should Have Never Bought”

by Wolf Richter
Wolf Street

We have a special place in our heart for DoubleVerify because it blacklists WOLF STREET in the “brand safety” services it touts to advertisers.

Shares of DoubleVerify Holdings [DV] plunged 40% today, to $18.25 at the moment, after it had reported earnings last night. Shares are now down by 62% from their intraday high on June 29, 2021, and far below the IPO price of $27 in April 2021.

The ad-tech company has wedged itself between advertisers and internet publishers, trying to extract money from both for various services that it touts with dubious claims. Before today’s mishap, its market cap was $5.3 billion, now down by $2.1 billion, to $3.2 billion.

Continue Reading at WolfStreet.com…

More Slowing Signals

by Craig Hemke
TF Metals Report

It’s another slow news day but, because of that, the weekly jobless claims data got far more attention than usual. And it’s a good thing, too, as the weekly totals finally budged off of the ridiculously stable 212,000 number for the first time in weeks.

For this data to have any relevance at all, it has to eventually begin showing the impact of the hundreds of thousands of corporate layoffs. Oh sure, maybe a “white collar” job loss comes with some sort of temporary severance package that forestalls a claim for unemployment insurance. But those severance checks run out eventually and, if you haven’t found a new job, you’re going to end up in line at your local employment office.

Continue Reading at TFMetalsReport.com…

The Arrest of Samourai Wallet Developers Shows the U.S. Government Hates Privacy and Freedom

by Andrea Togni
Mises.org

On April 24, two lead developers of Samourai Wallet (SW), the most-advanced privacy-centric wallet in the bitcoin ecosystem, were arrested and charged with money laundering and money transmitters offenses by order of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). This is just the latest assault of an escalating war waged by US regulators on financial privacy and freedom.

Other examples are the arrest of Tornado Cash developers—a privacy protocol developed for Ethereum and other blockchains—and the pressure exerted by three-letter agencies on centralized exchanges to delist privacy-centric cryptocurrencies such as monero. Regulation by arrest and intimidation is the strategy deployed by the US government to drain liquidity from privacy-preserving money, which is perceived as a threat to the hypersurveilled fiat monetary system.

Continue Reading at Mises.org…

Today’s Key Factors Influencing Tomorrow’s Precious Metals Market

by Sprott Money
Sprott Money

Amid declining stock and real estate markets in China, investors, facing a depreciating currency, increasingly turned to precious metals, with significant purchases of jewelry, bars, and coins reported. Although the exact numbers are uncertain, all hard data pointed to a dramatic shift towards physical metals.

Simultaneously, India saw remarkable activity in the silver market. In February, they purchased approximately 75 million ounces of silver—more than a month’s global supply, followed by another 35 to 40 million ounces the next month, indicating unusually high demand. This trend reflects a growing global distrust in currencies and government and central bank policies, particularly the prolonged zero interest rates in North America and Europe, which were unprecedented and not based on any economic textbook. Find out, what concerns such policies raise and what could be the effects of stopping these economic stimuli—this and much more in today’s precious metals podcast with Eric Sprott and Craig Hemke.

Continue Reading at SprottMoney.com…

The Mass Exodus to “Red America”

by Michael Snyder
End of the American Dream

In recent years we have literally seen millions of Americans relocate from blue states to red states. In some cases, there is simply a desire to be around other like-minded people. In other cases, specific political policies that have been enacted in certain states have motivated large numbers of people to relocate. This was particularly true during the pandemic. Of course there are also many that are just trying to escape the crime, drugs, homelessness and violence that are plaguing so many major cities in blue states. For those that are trying to raise a family, finding a safe environment for their children is often of the utmost importance. As a result of the factors that I have just mentioned, we have been witnessing a “mass exodus” to “Red America” that is unlike anything we have ever seen before. Vast numbers of people have been moving from blue states such as California, New York and Illinois to red states such as Florida, Idaho and Montana…

Continue Reading at EndOfTheAmericanDream.com…

No, Unions Aren’t Having a Resurgence – and That’s Good for Workers

Private unions have every right to exist, but that doesn’t mean they’re actually beneficial on net.

by Veronique de Rugy
Reason.com

Unions are said to be having a moment. The story goes something like this: Helped by a presidential administration that touts itself as the “most pro-union in history,” labor unions—after decades of decline—are winning big victories against anti-union corporations and extracting impressive concessions for their workers. But is it all true?

There has certainly been a lot of union activity. Last year we witnessed a significant increase in strikes and threats of strikes. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the country lost 16.6 million labor days to work stoppages last year. You have to go all the way back to 2000 to find this level of union disturbance.

In addition, the United Auto Workers (UAW) reached an agreement with Ford that included wage hikes of 25 percent.

Continue Reading at Reason.com…

Jack Smith Has Admitted to Violating the Same Law Used Against January 6th Defendants

by Andrea Widburg
American Thinker

Special Prosecutor Jack Smith has just admitted that he and other DOJ and FBI minions manipulated documentary evidence underlying the Mar-a-Lago case against Donald Trump. Everybody from Judge Aileen Cannon on down realizes this is bad. Still, I wonder how many people have noticed that Smith has admitted to doing what the J6 defendants are accused and have been convicted of doing: Violating 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(2). The statutory charges against the J6 defendants are a specious abuse of the law but they perfectly fit Smith’s admitted conduct.

One of the main tools in the DOJ arsenal against anyone near the Capitol on January 6, 2021, is § 1512(c)(2), which the DOJ claims means imprisonment for a person who “corruptly…obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding…” That is what the DOJ claims happened when ordinary Americans (a) exercised their rights of free speech and (b) usually inadvertently, entered onto Capitol land after masked agitators had removed “no trespassing” signage and fencing and after the Capitol police had opened the building’s doors. The penalty is fines and/or imprisonment, with the latter potentially as long as 20 years.

Continue Reading at AmericanThinker.com…

The Covid “Vaccine” Truth Comes Out

by Dr. Paul Craig Roberts
PaulCraigRoberts.org

Yes, We were told lies about the safety and effectiveness of the Covid “vaccines.”

Chris Cuomo who led the presstitutes in their ignorant attack on Ivermectin is now taking Ivermectin trying to recover from the adverse effects of the Covid “vaccine” that he stupidly took.

Cuomo says the Fauci/Big Pharma/medical establishment attack on the real cure was because there was no profit in Ivermectin. So for profit Big Pharma, its NIH, CDC, and FDA shills, and the corrupt American medical establishment killed and maimed people for money.

Cuomo says, ” We were given bad information about Ivermectin. The real question is, why?”

He then answers his question, saying that the reason Ivermectin was so vehemently rejected was that there was no profit in a drug that was already inexpensive and widely distributed.

Continue Reading at PaulCraigRoberts.org…

Pessimism About the U.S. Economy is Going to Have an Absolutely Massive Impact On the Outcome of the Election in November

by Michael Snyder
The Economic Collapse Blog

Americans are extremely pessimistic about the state of the U.S. economy, and that is really bad news for Joe Biden. Despite the glowing economic numbers that the Biden administration has been relentlessly feeding us, there is an overwhelming consensus among the American people that the economy is rapidly heading in the wrong direction. Prices continue to rise, mass layoffs are happening all over the country, loans are going bad at a staggering rate, homelessness and poverty are spiking, and economic activity is slowing down all around us. According to a poll about the economy that was recently conducted for Newsweek, the percentage of Americans that believe that the economy is going in the wrong direction is twice as high as the percentage of Americans that believe that the economy is going in the right direction…

Continue Reading at TheEconomicCollapseBlog.com…