The Lunatic Fringe - Political Chat

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Post in thread 'Commodities, Business & Shipping (and Tariffs)'

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

Sorting Through The Chaos​

Apr 23, 2025 Doug Casey's Take

In this episode, we discuss navigating current confusing times, covering a wide range of topics from the ongoing war in Russia and US political uncertainties, to financial market trends and the declining value of the dollar. We delve into the impact of Trump's actions and inactions on domestic and international issues, the role of gold as a stable investment, and the societal implications of financial chaos in the US. Additional discussions...
 
Anyone want to make a bet?

I'm willing to put up an ounce of AU. Hell, let's make it two ounces.
I'll even go three if someone else really has that much conviction (pun intended) that something will happen.

Here's the initial general parameters of the bet:
Pick a reasonable date for the arrest and prosecution of even ONE "client" of Epstein/Maxwell.
Reasonable is not decades as the story mentioned as that is absurd.
If the arrest and prosecution happens I gladly eat crow and mail you two ounces.
If nothing happens you mail me two ounces.

I'm sure we can work out all the details/semantics.

Please do not IM. Please respond here, on this thread, as it lends to witnesses and can be used to hold each party accountable.
 
Could be dead wrong but I believe the door has closed on the Epstein / Maxwell case. Epstein is dead, Maxi is in jail and the names of the rich and powerful are hidden forever. It's back to business as usual for all involved.
 
great dialogue!

"This Mistake Will DESTROY Canada For Decades... | Victor Davis Hanson​


In this video, Victor Davis Hanson takes a hard look at the unraveling of Canada’s political and cultural foundations. He explores how decades of unchecked immigration, bureaucratic overreach, and progressive ideology have led to social fragmentation, economic stagnation, and rising insecurity across the continent.

Hanson argues that Canada’s elites, in their pursuit of globalism and moral relativism, have abandoned the very values that once made the West strong—reason, national identity, and civic responsibility. Instead, they have embraced a postmodern vision that undermines sovereignty and silences dissent.

From Paris to Berlin, Hanson reveals how the European project is crumbling under the weight of its own contradictions. He contends that Canada’s collapse is not just a regional issue, but a cautionary tale for the United States and the rest of the free world. This is a powerful and sobering analysis that challenges mainstream narratives and asks tough questions about the future of Western civilization.

19
 
To make sure there’s no hanky-panky for the wagering parties, I’m volunteering to be the escrow agent. Send me the 2 ounces soon and I’ll agree as a service to the forum by waiving any storage fees.
 

Might be wrong but I' don't think anything will come of this. I believe it's a way of trying to keep people quiet about Hegseth's incompetence and his constant use of Signal to chat up all sorts of neat military ops with peeps he's trying to impress.

Of course, I may be dead wrong. Take anything I say or post about politics fwiw and dyodd.
 

Ex-US Rep. George Santos sentenced to over 7 years in prison for fraud and identity theft​

Wow! Hell freezes over. They actually sentenced one of 'em to prison and didn't just let him off with probation and a stern warning.

Robert Menendez was sentenced to 11 years in prison in January for bribery, acting as a foreign agent, and obstruction offenses and now this.

I'm not getting my hopes too high but maybe, just maybe, there's a tiny bit of justice left in this country.

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) — Disgraced former U.S. Rep. George Santos, who lied about his life story and defrauded donors, was sentenced Friday to over seven years in prison, sobbing as he heard his punishment.

Santos, who pleaded guilty last summer to federal wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, appealed for mercy, telling a court through tears that he was “humbled” and “chastised” and realized he had betrayed his constituents' trust.

Remainder of article here:

Ex-US Rep. George Santos sentenced to over 7 years in prison for fraud and identity theft

Disgraced former U.S. Rep. George Santos, who lied about his life story and defrauded donors, was sentenced Friday to over seven years in prison, sobbing as he heard his punishment. Santos, who pleaded guilty last summer to federal wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, appealed for mercy...
www.yahoo.com
 
Nothing to see, can listen in one tab, play around the forum in a different tab. Take everything here fwiw and dyodd.

Time To Sell Gold?​

Apr 25, 2025 Doug Casey's Take

In this episode, Doug Casey addresses questions from paid subscribers of Crisis Investing and Phyle, a private membership group. The discussion spans a variety of topics including the potential fragmentation of the United States in light of economic pressures, the relevance of civil defense in modern times, and the dynamics of gold and silver markets. Doug also shares his opinions on geopolitical issues such as the China-Taiwan relationship and the impact on global markets. The episode delves into investment strategies, including the pros and cons of maintaining fiat currencies versus precious metals, and touches on the potential impact of AI on financial markets. Finally, listeners get insights into Doug's perspective on government overreach, climate policies, and his hypothetical choice of living in a fictional universe.

51:21

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:11 The Future of the US Amid Hyperinflation
02:48 Civil Defense and Modern Threats
05:05 Gold-Silver Ratio and Market Dynamics
11:38 Retirement and Career Prospects
13:33 Potential Conflicts and Market Impacts
15:28 Fiat Currencies vs. Precious Metals
18:58 Government Actions and Economic Speculations
23:26 Gold Investment Strategies
25:25 Ignoring the Brazilian Stock Market
27:31 US Dollar Denominated Instruments and Currency Risks
28:55 Trump's Unpredictable Policies
30:21 China, Tariffs, and the BRICS
33:56 Gold, Silver, and the Casey Free Ride
36:55 Living in a Book: Ideal Characters
39:39 Thoughts on Martin Armstrong and Hong Kong's Success
42:24 Crypto vs. Gold as Alternative Currencies
45:35 Global Emissions Taxes and Climate Communism
50:39 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Guest
 
Bessent: We're going to fix the Bretton Woods agreements - bringing balance back to world economies...

Pretty good insight on what's been going on among nations and what's planned to fix it.

Treasury Secretary Bessent Just Revealed The USA's Grand Masterplan.​

21
 
Nothing to see, can listen in one tab, play around the forum in a different tab. I listened as some background noise while exercising. Some interesting ideas. 51 mins long. Take it fwiw and dyodd.

The Countdown to WWIII – Martin Armstrong’s Urgent Forecast​

Apr 25, 2025 #MartinArmstrong #EconomicCycles #SovereignDebtCrisis

In this conversation, Armstrong breaks down how centuries of historical data, political shifts, and rising debt pressures are converging into a major global reset. From sovereign defaults to civil unrest, he explains why the patterns are undeniable—and what they mean for the future of markets, governments, and society itself.

The Countdown to WWIII – Martin Armstrong’s Urgent Forecast​

 

Straight Down The Middle Ep. 15: The "Epidemic" of Nationwide Injunctions​

Apr 26, 2025

Join Professor Jed Rubenfeld as he breaks down the "epidemic" of nationwide injunctions.

12:31
 
Bingo!

Gold Isn't Going Up—Your Money is Just Losing Value​

Inflation is caused by the growth of the money supply, and gold is a strong hedge because it rises alongside it.​

Whenever gold rises and I get excited as a gold investor, I’m often met with the familiar refrain: “Gold isn’t really going up—the dollar is just losing value.” I used to brush that off as a cliché or a semantics game, and honestly, it annoyed me. But eventually, I decided to dig deeper. I started analyzing the data visually—my favorite way to learn—and that’s when it really clicked: they were right. Gold wasn’t so much soaring as fiat or paper currencies were quietly eroding. Since then, I’ve made it a mission to help others see this clearly too—through compelling charts that drive the point home. And that’s exactly what I’m going to show you today.

more

Gold Isn't Going Up—Your Money is Just Losing Value

Inflation is caused by the growth of the money supply, and gold is a strong hedge because it rises alongside it.
thebubblebubble.substack.com
 
Philadelphia Inquirer

‘Can’t sit back’: U.S. Department of Defense employees in Philly protest Trump effort to strip union rights from federal workers​


Some days when Sally Schuster goes to work at her office in Northeast Philadelphia, she and her coworkers light boots on fire.

Other days, they test camouflage visibility at different wavelengths. And sometimes, they simply make sure uniform colors match.

“Basically we ensure troop safety,” said Schuster, a chemist at a Defense Logistics Agency product test center.

Schuster and about two dozen other members of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 62 stood in the rain on Cottman Avenue near Bustleton Avenue on Saturday afternoon to protest President Donald Trump’s efforts to fire federal workers and strip them of their collective bargaining rights. Chanting “What’s disgusting? Union busting!” and holding signs, they sought the attention of passing drivers, many of whom honked their approval.

More:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/worl...S&cvid=ff39ed7a40264c619a458cca8af10ae8&ei=17
 

NEW: Over 100 Illegals Arrested in Rocky Mountain DEA Raid on Underground Night Club in Colorado Springs (VIDEO)​

by Jordan Conradson Apr. 27, 2025

Rocky Mountain DEA and other federal agencies executed a raid on a Colorado Springs nightclub early Sunday morning, seizing drugs and weapons and arresting more than 100 illegal aliens.

According to the agency, 114 illegal aliens were arrested and placed “on buses for processing and likely eventual deportation.”

DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen shared in a press conference that the investigation on the nightclub had been ongoing for several months, and they had uncovered evidence of drug trafficking and prostitution, along with Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gang members. They estimate that over 200 people, some of whom had outstanding arrest warrants, were in the nightclub during the raid, and over 100 people were taken into ICE custody. Pullen told reporters that over ten federal agencies and local police agencies assisted with the operation.

“We actually have a few other operations pending right now across the city. We’re waiting to determine if there’ll be other arrests from those,” he said.

WATCH:

NEW: Over 100 Illegals Arrested in Rocky Mountain DEA Raid on Underground Night Club in Colorado Springs (VIDEO) | The Gateway Pundit | by Jordan Conradson

A recent DEA raid on a clandestine nightclub in Colorado led to the arrest of over 100 individuals, shedding light on the troubling intersection of illegal immigration and drug trafficking linked to organized crime.
www.thegatewaypundit.com
 

China rolls out plan to promote its own payment system as US trade war simmers​

The country aims to reduce its reliance on the dollar-based global financial system as it confronts Washington’s aggressive trade policies

Luna Sunin Beijing
Published: 10:00pm, 22 Apr 2025Updated: 10:28pm, 22 Apr 2025

China has released an action plan to promote the use of the yuan and its own payment system in international trade, as it seeks to reduce its dependence on the dollar amid an escalating trade war with the United States.

The plan – jointly released by the Shanghai municipal government, the People’s Bank of China and the country’s financial regulators on Monday – aims to leverage Shanghai’s role as a global financial hub to promote the use of the Chinese currency, especially in trade involving countries in the Global South.

Shanghai will “enhance the functionality” of the Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) – China’s alternative to the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (Swift) payment system – and continue expanding the global coverage of the CIPS network, according to the policy.

paywall

China rolls out plan to promote its own payment system as US trade war simmers

The country aims to reduce its reliance on the dollar-based global financial system as it confronts Washington’s aggressive trade policies.
www.scmp.com


BRICS: India Plays ‘Double Game’ With the US Dollar?​


Vinod Dsouza
April 23, 2025

India first grouped with its BRICS members and sought to find an alternative to the US dollar for cross-border transactions. The Modi-led government then took a U-turn after Trump won the White House and threatened to impose trade tariffs. As the tariff threats grew stronger and Canada, Mexico, and China faced the heat, India slowly backtracked from the de-dollarization agenda. The first move was to protect its economy from tariffs as it could impact the country’s imports and exports sector.

Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar made multiple statements this year citing that India has no plans of advancing the de-dollarization agenda. The U-turn comes after Trump’s threats of tariffs forced them to backtrack on the ideology. Read here to know how India not only rejected de-dollarization but also embraced the US dollar. India contradicted the BRICS bloc’s ideology of ditching the US dollar and fell in line with Trump’s threats.

more

BRICS: India Plays 'Double Game' With the US Dollar?

Is BRICS member India playing double games with the US dollar by embracing it publicly and looking to replace it privately?
watcher.guru
 

This year, the US will run a deficit of about 7.5% of GDP. If we don’t cut that to 3% of GDP, we’re likely to face a significant debt crisis in the next few years.

This is not an issue that can wait. We need to do these cutbacks and adjustments while things are relatively good, otherwise the debt will continue to accumulate and the problem will get worse.

Policymakers and politicians must work together to recognize the reality we face and take steps to address it, and soon.

I lay out the framework and calculations underlying my thinking in my new book, How Countries Go Broke. I look forward to stress testing my perspective with all of you so together we can identify the best path forward.

#principles #howcountriesgobroke #economics #Geopolitics
 

Former Bush administration official Catherine Austin Fitts on how America’s leaders gave up on the country in the 1990s, began stealing trillions and built a digital prison to control the population.

(0:00) Introduction
(1:11) The Attempts to Control the World’s Currency
(12:09) The Two Things That Lead to Inflation
(16:17) Central Bankers vs. the West
(25:01) What You Should Know About the Bank of International Settlements
(29:48) The Banker’s Plan to Conquer Space
(32:27) Are We Approaching an Extinction Event?
(35:57) Secret Underground Bases All Across the US
(44:49) The Government’s Secret Energy Sources
(56:42) Who Are the Masterminds Behind the Central Banks?
(58:26) The Real Reason American Universities Are Failing
(1:06:25) The Global Depopulation Plan
(1:13:20) The Housing Crisis
(1:24:40) How to Stay Joyful in Dark Times
(1:25:37) The Missing $21 Trillion
(1:30:30) America’s Debt Is a Symptom of Something Much Bigger
(1:39:36) Global Money Laundering
(1:45:06) Where Can People Learn More About This?
 
Goldhedge said:
Rumor has it they attempted to change over to Green energy...
Click to expand...

They certainly have been doing that. And it looks like that was the cause. They have enough Solar and Wind power, however, they've shut down too much of the old base load type power. So it looks like temperature/use differences in regions caused the High Voltage lines to stop going in the right direction. It should be like a one way street for the waves to roll in but it briefly started to waver, frequencies dropped and that caused equipment and things to start breaking / tripping off.

And they have also broken the markets because Electricity prices have been going negative at times in Europe.
 
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