The Lunatic Fringe - Political Chat

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Martin Armstrong: Central Banks Trapped, Confiscations in EU, China World Financial Capital in 2032​

Paul Buitink talks to forecaster Martin Armstrong of Armstrong Economics, who developed the Economic Confidence Model.

He explains how central banks are trapped and interest rates will keep on rising with war. He talks about the impact of Moody's rating downgrade of the US and the origins of the Fed. Armstrong explains the bond markets and why the Fed is not the problem, but Treasury is.

States will go after CBDC for total control, but in the US it's unconstitutional. He laments the weaponization of the dollar and how it accelerates dedollarization. The socialistic system inherited from FDR will eventually collapse. We need a new political system not based on a debt Ponzi scheme.

We also discuss the unlucky fate of the EU and its failing leadership. He hints that confiscation of asset can happen in the Union of Ursula von der Leyen to fund the war in Ukraine. He expects US to withdraw from NATO and Ukraine to be broken up amongst ethnic lines.

At the end Martin talks about The Great Taking, how gold will rise with war and defaults and why young people should leave Europe because they risk being drafted.

More info about Martin Armstrong:

Home | Armstrong Economics

www.armstrongeconomics.com

62
 
The Senate on Thursday passed a joint resolution that would bar California from enforcing vehicle emissions standards that effectively phase out the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035.

In a 51-44 vote, the Senate passed a joint resolution that would nullify the waiver issued by the EPA during the final weeks of the Biden administration. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., joined all Republicans in backing the joint resolution under the Congressional Review Act.

In CRA first, Senate blocks an EPA waiver after procedural change - Roll Call

The Senate, in a first, used a fast-track procedure Thursday to nullify an EPA emissions waiver for California.
rollcall.com
 

Task Force Validates Successful DEI Elimination Throughout DOD​

A Defense Department task force has confirmed DOD's successful implementation of a departmentwide directive from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to eliminate all diversity, equity and inclusion offices and initiatives.

Having formed at the direction of Hegseth's Jan. 29, 2025, "Restoring America's Fighting Force" memorandum, the task force — led by senior civilian leaders from DOD's Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness — visited six military installations in April and early May.

During each visit, the RAFF task force validated the implementation of Hegseth's directive by meeting with personnel across a wide spectrum — from each installation's most senior military officials down to the most junior enlisted service members, according to Tim Dill, performing the duties of deputy undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness.

More:

 

Straight Down The Middle: The Qatari Jet​

May 22, 2025
The Trump Administration just formally announced it has accepted the gift of a jumbo jet from Qatar for use as Air Force One. Is that legal, or does it violate the Emoluments Clause? This episode has all the answers.

8:52
 

"This Is WAY Bigger Than I Thought… | Victor Davis Hanson"​

In this video, Victor Davis Hanson exposes the left’s contradictions in their attacks on Donald Trump and his trade policies. In this video, Hanson dives deep into how progressive critics consistently misrepresent Trump’s use of tariffs, portraying them as reckless or harmful without acknowledging their strategic purpose. He argues that the left’s opposition isn't based on economic facts, but on a broader ideological rejection of Trump's America-first agenda.

From renegotiating trade deals to holding China accountable, Hanson highlights how Trump’s tariff strategy was a deliberate effort to restore fairness and protect American industry—something past administrations failed to address. Meanwhile, the same critics who decried Trump’s tactics often supported similar measures under different presidents, revealing a clear double standard.

Hanson contends that Trump’s presidency didn’t just disrupt global trade norms—it exposed how deeply entrenched and emotionally charged the left’s narrative has become. Ultimately, this video unpacks how Trump’s unorthodox methods—and the left’s fierce reaction to them—shine a light on the deeper political and cultural divide in America.

Help by spreading this message! Leave a like and subscribe if you haven’t done so already.

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21
 
Hmmm this is starting to become interesting....

False flag attempt???


GPS—put the Israeli capital Jewish Museum shooter’s father at Barack Hussein Obama II’s Washington, D.C. residence (which is a quick 4 minute walk from The Islamic Center of Washington D.C..) back in March for 32 minutes.

And now we find out Democrats invited accused terrorist killer's DAD to Trump address just weeks before heinous crime

It is looking more and more like this was a very coordinated terrorist attack in Washington, DC. The Democrats inviting the father of Elias Rodriguez as their special guest this year.

Father of alleged Jewish Museum shooter came face-to-face with Trump

The father of the accused gunman who shot and killed two Israeli staffers at the Capital Jewish Museum was a special guest of a Democratic congressman.
dailymail.co.uk

To be proven...
 
Last edited:

Gold is the Safe-Haven of Choice with U.S. Debt Back in Focus​

David Erfle
Friday May 23, 2025, 09:27 EST

Kitco Commentaries | Opinions, Ideas and Markets Talk
Late last Friday, Moody's Investment Service joined all the other credit rating agencies in downgrading U.S. debt from Aaa to Aa1, limiting some super-safe money funds from investing in America.

The move also signals the formerly risk-free U.S. debt market is no longer risk-free, and that gold is now the lone safe-haven of choice.

Following a healthy 11% correction from an extreme overbought all-time high at $3500, Gold Futures reacted in kind this week, moving above initial resistance at $3300.

Geopolitical concerns, a growing sovereign debt crisis, and evidence of stagflation setting in during an ongoing trade war have been the principal drivers for gold becoming the safe-haven of choice.

Looking ahead, Moody’s said it sees little hope that government spending will materially change. At the current trajectory, the nearly $37 trillion deficit is expected to advance from 5.4% of GDP in 2024 to around 9% by 2035.

The agency believes the U.S. still offers “exceptional credit strengths,” but debt and payment ratios are now “considerably higher than those of similarly rated sovereign entities.”

As interest rates remain over 4%, the government pays an astronomical fee to simply service its debt, with projections from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) for 2025 slated to be $952 billion as the Trump administration seeks to extend tax cuts.

The CBO's long-term debt outlook in March assumed a 2025 10-year Treasury yield of 4.1%. But the yield has averaged 4.4% for the year to date and is going in the wrong direction.

Interest payments on the debt are through the roof, while 70% of the exponentially rising federal debt is accumulative interest. But in a crisis, the Fed can only print more money to pay off old maturing debt with new debt. Perpetually issuing new debt to pay for the old is equivalent to a Ponzi scheme that will eventually fail.

 

A bit more.

Fetterman, Often Absent From Senate, Says He Has Been Shamed Into Returning​

The first-term Pennsylvania Democrat said his openness about his mental health issues has been “weaponized” against him, prompting him to start showing up for votes and hearings he considers useless.

May 24, 2025, 5:00 a.m. ET

When Senator John Fetterman, Democrat of Pennsylvania, showed up at a hearing on May 8 with Sam Altman, the chief executive of OpenAI, his colleagues were surprised to see him. Until then, his chair on the dais of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee had sat empty all year.

But under intense scrutiny about his mental health and his ability to function in his job, Mr. Fetterman has been in damage control mode, attending hearings and votes that he had been routinely skipping over the past year. His colleagues, some of whom have privately described him as absent from the Senate and troubled when he is there, are trying to be supportive.

More:

 

Straight Down The Middle -- Trump's War on Harvard​

May 24, 2025
Can the Trump administration prohibit Harvard from enrolling international students? I break it down -- and explain why this latest salvo in Trump's war on Harvard is probably unconstitutional.

14:48
 

Energy sanctions on Russia and seizing ships on the high seas​

0:00 - Introduction to the discussion on energy and sanctions
2:29 - Analysis of U.S. sanctions on countries trading with Russia
5:04 - Impact of sanctions on India and its reliance on Russian oil
6:14 - European dependency on Russian commodities beyond oil and gas
9:08 - Global oil supply dynamics and potential market disruptions
12:00 - U.S. refinery challenges with heavy sour crude oil
15:08 - Consequences of diesel shortages on U.S. logistics
18:02 - Impact of Russian diesel on global supply and U.S. inflation
20:26 - British energy costs and the effects of closing Russian gas pipelines
26:00 - Misunderstandings in maritime insurance and shipping logistics
31:04 - Decline of Western shipbuilding and implications for global trade
33:00 - Potential geopolitical tensions involving Russian ships
35:04 - Technological advancements in maritime warfare and its implications
39:19 - Russian views on sanctions and international legal structures
47:04 - Challenges of enforcing sanctions and their global impact
51:02 - Russian economic resilience and localization strategies
54:14 - Misconceptions about the effectiveness of sanctions on Russia
55
 

Whole Financial System Is Going To Lock Up | Gregory Mannarino​

Gregory Mannarino returns to discuss the escalating global financial crisis, emphasizing the symbolic but significant downgrade of U.S. debt. Mannarino warns of an irreversible downward spiral fueled by unchecked debt expansion, currency devaluation, and artificially low interest rates—all designed to protect central banks at the expense of the public. He likens the current economic state to a “parasite system,” siphoning wealth from the middle class while inflating bubbles in stocks and real estate that defy fundamentals. The conversation also explores how systemic risk is being offloaded from governments and corporations onto individuals through pension schemes, market ownership laws, and manipulated inflation data. Mannarino calls for urgent reforms to restore purchasing power and accountability, asserting that without them, the financial system’s collapse will be both inevitable and catastrophic.

INTERVIEW TIMELINE:
0:00 Intro
1:38 Debt problems
15:00 The Great Taking
24:30 Gold & silver
26:50 Dollar crisis
30:30 Making a difference
33:40 Online resources
34:40 Weekly specials

36
 

Straight Down The Middle -- Supreme Court Round-UP​

May 26, 2025
The Supreme Court has some major cases coming down in the next month or two. Here's a summary of some of the biggest to watch out for.

8:12
 

Straight Down The Middle: The President's Power to Fire Agency Heads​

May 27, 2025
Trump opponents are saying the Supreme Court just gave the President unprecedented dictatorial powers when the Justices let Trump fire a Biden-appointed head of the NLRB. I break it down and explain why Trump looks to me like he's in the right.

26:16
 
Doug Casey's Take Nothing to see. Can listen in one tab, play around the forum in a different tab.

About The Big Beautiful Bill Act​

In this episode, we return from a week off to discuss the latest political and economic happenings. They delve into the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that has been passed by the House, although not yet by the Senate. Highlights of the bill include permanent tax cuts, adjustments in the child tax credit, and increased defense spending. The conversation also covers Elon Musk’s struggles with government cuts, the convoluted student loan system, and the rise of AI regulations. With in-depth analysis, they discuss the geopolitical tensions involving Russia and Ukraine, and Israel and Iran. Additionally, they explore the intricacies of the Golden Dome defense project, rising cyber attacks, and the concerning state of mining companies in the market. The episode concludes with discussions on nonprofit oversight, the controversial portrait of Donald Trump on a government building, and notable figures like Rahm Emanuel considering a presidential run.

About The Big Beautiful Bill Act
 
We're from the government and we're here to help................

 


Trump Scores Another Legal Win in Lawsuit Against NYT and 'Washington Compost' in His Case Against Pulitzer Board and Their Award for Fake News Reporting | The Gateway Pundit | by Jim Hoft

President Donald Trump has secured another victory in his ongoing battle against “fake news” and “the Russia collusion hoax.” On Wednesday night, President Trump cheered the news that the Florida Appellate Court “viciously rejected” the defendant’s attempt to halt the case.
www.thegatewaypundit.com
 

BRICS, Bullion & the Monetary Endgame with Dr. Jim Willie​

Economist Dr. Jim Willie, publisher of *The Golden Jackass*, unleashes a no-holds-barred breakdown of the global monetary unraveling.

From the slow death of the Petrodollar to BRICS’ stealth gold revolution, Jim digs into hidden vaults, secret alliances, and the gold-backed shift already underway. But it’s silver that could deliver the real shock. He explains how decades of manipulation have built a powder keg inside the bullion system and why a sudden collapse could trigger a global chain reaction.

This is the financial endgame. Who’s behind it, who stands to fall, and what might rise from the rubble.

55
 
Nothing to see, can listen in one tab, play around the forum in a different tab.

They're Coming for Your Retirement Funds​

May 30, 2025 Doug Casey's Take

In this episode we discuss recent financial news including the UK's potential mandate for pension funds, and delve into the implications for US and Canadian investors. We cover a range of topics directed by questions from private group members, including the necessity of backup financial plans, the philosophy of good and evil in state politics, the reliability of certain investment metrics, and the choice of citizenship by investment programs. Doug also shares personal anecdotes about his move from Aspen to Virginia and offers advice on making wise investment choices given the current global economic and political climate.

They're Coming for Your Retirement Funds
 
The Big Taking?
 
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