According to a recent study by the Consumer Choice Center, the average wait for a GP appointment in the United States in 2023 was around three weeks, two to ten times longer than in Europe.
For example, in that year, the average waiting time for a medical consultation was two days in Switzerland, six days in France and ten days in the United Kingdom and Italy.
Despite Western sanctions and oil price caps, Russia continues to use an aging “shadow fleet” of tankers to circumvent restrictions, allowing for stable oil exports.
Russian oil is now primarily heading to ‘friendly markets’ like China, India, and Turkey.
In response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the European Union and several other Western countries imposed extensive sanctions on Russia, attempting to stop the trade of Russian oil. In December 2022, the G7 countries decided on an oil price cap. However, Russia has found ways to circumvent these sanctions, primarily through the creation of a “shadow fleet” of oil tankers.
Despite robust US Treasury sanctions targeting the shadow fleet, Russia continues to expand it by incorporating new tankers, allowing for stable exports and further evasion of oil price caps. Only 36% of Russian oil exports were shipped by IG-insured tankers. For other shipments, Russia utilized its shadow fleet, which was responsible for exports of ~2.8 mb/d of crude and 1.1 mb/d of oil products in March 2024.
Kpler data shows that in April 2024, 83% of crude oil and 46% of petroleum products were shipped on shadow tankers. The shrinking role of the mainstream fleet fundamentally undermines the leverage of the price cap.
The shadow fleet is a collection of aging and often poorly maintained vessels with unclear ownership structures and lack of insurance. The number of old, outdated ships departing from Russia has increased dramatically. The EU has recently introduced legislation aimed at cracking down on the sale of mainstream tankers into the Russian shadow trade, but the problem persists. Russia managed to expand its shadow tanker fleet, adding 35 new tankers to replace 41 tankers added to OFAC’s SDN list since December 2023. These tankers, all over 15 years old, are managed outside the EU/G7. With 85% of the tankers aged over 15 years, the risk of oil spills at sea is heightened.
The shadow fleet poses a significant and rising threat to the environment. The aging and underinsured vessels increase the risk of oil spills, a potential catastrophe for which Russia would likely refuse to pay. The vessels can cause collisions, leak oil, malfunction, or even sink, posing a threat to other ships, water, and marine life. With estimates suggesting over 1,400 ships have defected to the dark side serving Russia, the potential for environmental damage is substantial. For instance, since the beginning of 2022, 230 shadow fleet tankers have transported Russian crude oil through the Danish straits on 741 occasions. Also, a shadow fleet tanker on its way to load crude in Russia collided with another ship in the strait between Denmark and Sweden. Last year, a fully loaded oil tanker lost propulsion and drifted off the Danish island of Langeland for six hours. Recovery after any potential oil spill could take decades.
Added to the environmental issue, seaborne Russian oil is almost entirely heading to the Asian markets, with India, China, and Turkey being the biggest buyers. In 2023, 86% of oil exports went to friendly countries compared to 40% in 2021, and 84% of petroleum product exports compared to 30% in 2021. This shift in export destinations highlights the changing geopolitical landscape of the oil market due to the sanctions and the rise of the shadow fleet.
Several measures have been proposed to address the challenges posed by the shadow fleet. These include stricter sanctions on individual vessels, increased scrutiny of financial institutions involved in Russian oil deals, and fines that would limit sales or decommission tankers. The G7 countries are taking measures to tighten control over the price cap and further pressure Russia. The US has introduced a series of sanctions against ships and shipowners suspected of violating the price cap. However, concerns remain that these measures could lead to higher energy prices and escalate tensions with Russia. The Danish foreign ministry has stated that “The Russian shadow fleet is an international problem that requires international solutions.”
The shadow fleet has allowed Russia to circumvent Western sanctions and continue profiting from its oil exports, but it has come at a significant cost. The environmental risks posed by these aging and poorly maintained vessels are alarming, and the shift in oil trade patterns is reshaping the geopolitical landscape. Addressing this complex issue will require concerted international efforts and a delicate balance between maintaining sanctions and ensuring stable energy markets. The situation is unsustainable, and the need for action is becoming increasingly urgent.
UN General Assembly Passes Resolution Demanding Israel Pull Out Of Palestinian Areas Within 12 Months
Despite intense US lobbying efforts in the other direction, the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to demand an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, approving a resolution demanding a total withdrawal within 12 months.
It passed with a final tally of 124 member states in favor, 14 against, and with 43 nations abstaining. The “no” votes include a handful of tiny island-nations which typically vote on the side of the United States. They are: United States, Hungary, Israel, Argentina, Czechia, Fiji, Malawi, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Tonga, and Tuvalu.
The resolution calls for all UN member states to “implement sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, against natural and legal persons engaged in the maintenance of Israel’s unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territory, including in relation to settler violence.”
It further asks nations to “take steps towards ceasing the importation of any products originating in the Israeli settlements, as well as the provision or transfer of arms, munitions and related equipment to Israel… where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that they may be used in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
The resolution further calls on Israel to completely end its military operations, in line with the recent ruling of the International Court of Justice.
On Tuesday Sky News Australia noted of the behind-the-scenes efforts of the US: “Joe Biden’s government is urging Australia to say no to a draft UN resolution by the Palestinian Authority (PA).” The US ambassador called on allies “to either reject or abstain from the vote.” Many US allies abstained.
The final resolution is essentially a call for nations to adopt principles of the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) Movement.
Israel blasted Wednesday’s outcome at the UNGA, with its UN ambassador Danny Danon calling it a “shameful decision that backs the Palestinian Authority’s diplomatic terrorism.” It also said it plans to retaliate against Palestine at the UN:
The resolution was sponsored by the “State of Palestine” and 29 other countries, mostly Muslim nations. The UAE was the only Arab country that has recognized Israel to decline adding its name to the sponsors (though it voted in favor of the resolution).
Below is the UN vote breakdown:
However, Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the UN, hailed the vote a turning point “in our struggle for freedom and justice.”
Some of Ukraine’s top military commanders opposed President Volodymyr Zelensky’s plans to invade Russia’s Kursk Oblast, but he went through with the assault anyway, POLITICO reported Tuesday.
The report, which cited Ukrainian military officials, said that Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, the former commander-in-chief and current ambassador to the UK, opposed the offensive when Zelensky first broached the idea earlier this year.
Zaluzhny opposed the offensive because there was no clear second step once the border was breached. “He never got a clear answer from Zelensky,” one of the Ukrainian officials said. “He felt it was a gamble.”
Another Ukrainian officer who opposed the invasion was Emil Ishkulov, the former commander of Ukraine’s 80th Air Assault Brigade. He was removed from his position in July, which drew protests from senior Ukrainian military officials, who said they didn’t understand why Ishkulov was dismissed.
Ukrainian media reported at the time of his dismissal that Ishkulov was removed because he “opposed a task that didn’t correspond to the brigade’s strength.”
Two senior Ukrainian military officials told POLITICO that Ishkulov opposed the Kursk invasion because he thought the brigade would be too exposed inside Russia and would suffer heavy casualties.
Russia recently began a counteroffensive in Kursk and has recaptured some villages. One purpose of the Ukrainian invasion was to distract Russia from the Donbas region, where Russian forces have been making steady gains. But that has failed as Russian troops continue to close in on the Donetsk city of Pokrovsk.
Another purpose of the invasion was to psychologically impact Russian civilians, a strategy that was praised by Richard Moore, the head of the British spy agency MI6, during a joint public appearance with CIA Director William Burns.
Moore said the operation was “typically audacious and bold on the part of the Ukrainians, to try and change the game” and that it had “brought the war home to ordinary Russians.”
“In questions of power then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.”
– Thomas Jefferson
Public trust in the government to “do what is right” understandably remains at an all-time low.
After all, how do you trust a government that continuously sidesteps the Constitution and undermines our rights? You can’t.
When you consider all the ways “we the people” are being bullied, beaten, bamboozled, targeted, tracked, repressed, robbed, impoverished, imprisoned and killed by the government, one can only conclude that you shouldn’t trust the government with your privacy, your property, your life, or your freedoms.
Consider for yourself.
Don’t trust the government with your privacy, digital or otherwise. In the more than two decades since 9/11, the military-security industrial complex has operated under a permanent state of emergency that, in turn, has given rise to a digital prison that grows more confining and inescapable by the day. Wall-to wall surveillance, monitored by AI software and fed to a growing network of fusion centers, render the twin concepts of privacy and anonymity almost void. By conspiring with corporations, the Department of Homeland Security “fueled a massive influx of money into surveillance and policing in our cities, under a banner of emergency response and counterterrorism.”
Don’t trust the government with your property. If government agents can invade your home, break down your doors, kill your dog, damage your furnishings and terrorize your family, your property is no longer private and secure—it belongs to the government. Hard-working Americans are having their bank accounts, homes, cars electronics and cash seized by police under the assumption that they have allegedly been associated with some criminal scheme.
Don’t trust the government with your finances. The U.S. government—and that includes the current administration—is spending money it doesn’t have on programs it can’t afford, and “we the taxpayers” are being forced to foot the bill for the government’s fiscal insanity. The national debt is $35 trillion and growing, yet there seems to be no end in sight when it comes to the government’s fiscal insanity. According to Forbes, Congress has raised, extended or revised the definition of the debt limit 78 times since 1960 in order to allow the government to essentially fund its existence with a credit card.
Don’t trust the government with your health. For all intents and purposes, “we the people” have become lab rats in the government’s secret experiments, which include MKULTRA and the U.S. military’s secret race-based testing of mustard gas on more than 60,000 enlisted men. Indeed, you don’t have to dig very deep or go very back in the nation’s history to uncover numerous cases in which the government deliberately conducted secret experiments on an unsuspecting populace—citizens and noncitizens alike—making healthy people sick by spraying them with chemicals, injecting them with infectious diseases and exposing them to airborne toxins. Unfortunately, the public has become so easily distracted by the political spectacle out of Washington, DC, that they are altogether oblivious to the grisly experiments, barbaric behavior and inhumane conditions that have become synonymous with the U.S. government, which has meted out untold horrors against humans and animals alike.
Don’t trust the government with your life: At a time when growing numbers of unarmed people have been shot and killed for just standing a certain way, or moving a certain way, or holding something—anything—that police could misinterpret to be a gun, or igniting some trigger-centric fear in a police officer’s mind that has nothing to do with an actual threat to their safety, even the most benign encounters with police can have fatal consequences. The number of Americans killed by police continues to grow, with the majority of those killed as a result of police encounters having been suspected of a non-violent offense or no crime at all, or during a traffic violation. According a report by Mapping Police Violence, police killed more people in 2022 than any other year within the past decade. In 98% of those killings, police were not charged with a crime.
Don’t trust the government with your freedoms. For years now, the government has been playing a cat-and-mouse game with the American people, letting us enjoy just enough freedom to think we are free but not enough to actually allow us to live as a free people. Freedom no longer means what it once did. This holds true whether you’re talking about the right to criticize the government in word or deed, the right to be free from government surveillance, the right to not have your person or your property subjected to warrantless searches by government agents, the right to due process, the right to be safe from militarized police invading your home, the right to be innocent until proven guilty and every other right that once reinforced the founders’ belief that this would be “a government of the people, by the people and for the people.” On paper, we may be technically free, but in reality, we are only as free as a government official may allow.
Whatever else it may be—a danger, a menace, a threat—the U.S. government is certainly not looking out for our best interests, nor is it in any way a friend to freedom.
Remember the purpose of a good government is to protect the lives and liberties of its people.
Unfortunately, what we have been saddled with is, in almost every regard, the exact opposite of an institution dedicated to protecting the lives and liberties of its people.
“We the people” should have learned early on that a government that repeatedly lies, cheats, steals, spies, kills, maims, enslaves, breaks the laws, overreaches its authority, and abuses its power at almost every turn can’t be trusted.
So what’s the answer?
For starters, get back to basics. Get to know your neighbors, your community, and your local officials. This is the first line of defense when it comes to securing your base: fortifying your immediate lines.
Second, understand your rights. Know how your local government is structured. Who serves on your city council and school boards? Who runs your local jail: has it been coopted by private contractors? What recourse does the community have to voice concerns about local problems or disagree with decisions by government officials?
Third, know the people you’re entrusting with your local government. Are your police chiefs being promoted from within your community? Are your locally elected officials accessible and, equally important, are they open to what you have to say? Who runs your local media? Does your newspaper report on local events? Who are your judges? Are their judgments fair and impartial? How are prisoners being treated in your local jails?
Finally, don’t get so trusting and comfortable that you stop doing the hard work of holding your government accountable. We’ve drifted a long way from the local government structures that provided the basis for freedom described by Alexis de Tocqueville in Democracy in America, but we are not so far gone that we can’t reclaim some of its vital components.
Local government is fundamental not so much because it’s a “laboratory” of democracy but because it’s a school of democracy. Through such accountable and democratic government, Americans learn to be democratic citizens. They learn to be involved in the common good. They learn to take charge of their own affairs, as a community. Tocqueville writes that it’s because of local democracy that Americans can make state and Federal democracy work—by learning, in their bones, to expect and demand accountability from public officials and to be involved in public issues.
To put it another way, think nationally but act locally.
As I make clear in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People and in its fictional counterpart The Erik Blair Diaries, there is still a lot Americans can do to topple the police state tyrants, but any revolution that has any hope of succeeding needs to be prepared to reform the system from the bottom up. And that will mean re-learning step by painful step what it actually means to be a government of the people, by the people and for the people.
The “Next AI Trade” Plays Out: Microsoft And BlackRock Join Forces On $30 Billion AI Infrastructure Fund
As we have been writing for the better part of the last year, the next AI trade continues to look like it’s going to be energy. And now, both BlackRock and Microsoft are making it known that they understand this, too.
Yesterday it was reported that the two industry giants are prepping the launch of a $30 billion AI investment fund that’ll see Microsoft build data centers and energy projects to meet the demands of AI, according to the Financial Times.
BlackRock’s new infrastructure investment unit, Global Infrastructure Partners, is launching a major investment fund with Microsoft and Abu Dhabi’s MGX as general partners. Nvidia will provide advisory on factory design and integration.
The FT wrote that the partnership aims to tackle the massive power and infrastructure needs of AI development, which is expected to strain current energy systems. AI’s computing demands far exceed past technologies.
The partnership seeks to raise up to $30bn in equity, with plans to leverage an additional $70bn in debt.
In a statement, Larry Fink said: “Mobilizing private capital to build AI infrastructure like data centers and power will unlock a multitrillion-dollar long-term investment opportunity.”
Brad Smith, Microsoft’s president, added: “The country and the world are going to need more capital investment to accelerate the development of the AI infrastructure needed. This kind of effort is an important step.”
Jensen Huang of Nvidia added: “Accelerated computing and generative AI are driving a growing need for AI infrastructure for the next industrial revolution.”
The upcoming fund is the latest by a major asset manager to address the rising energy needs of generative AI and cloud computing. Earlier this year, Microsoft committed $10bn to renewable energy projects with Brookfield Asset Management and aims for 100% zero-carbon energy by 2030, the Financial Times concluded.
The International Energy Agency predicts global electricity consumption by data centers could exceed 1,000 terawatt-hours by 2026, more than double the 2022 level.
In the U.S., which houses a third of the world’s data centers, electricity demand is surging for the first time in 20 years. A report from Grid Strategies shows five-year electricity demand projections in the U.S. have nearly doubled, from 2.6% to 4.7%.
For those who missed it, in our note “The Next AI Trade” from April of this year, we outlined various investment opportunities for powering up America, most of which have dramatically outperformed the market.
A favorite name of ours has been the Sam Altman-backed Oklo, which we have highlighted as the potential solution to the extreme forthcoming demands in energy as a result of artificial intelligence. It makes nuclear power plants, ranging from 15 MWe to 50 MWe, utilizing liquid metal reactor technology, in soon-to-be everywhere small modular reactors.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s article in The Wall Street Journal brings urgent attention to the chronic disease epidemic gripping the United States. Regardless of your thoughts on RFK, we can all agree that our children deserve to be healthy. While we may not all agree on the path to achieving that goal, it is clear that something must be done to change the current trajectory of our nation’s health.
Nearly 50 percent of children and 60 percent of adults are living with chronic illnesses such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. As health care costs skyrocket and life expectancy stagnates, it’s clear that the current system is not addressing the root causes of these issues.
In his article, RFK Jr. outlined several key reforms to address these problems, including overhauling pharmaceutical regulations, banning harmful pesticides, and promoting preventive health education in medical schools. While these reforms are crucial steps toward tackling the crisis, I believe we must go even further to truly reverse the chronic disease epidemic and transform the nation’s health.
For those who haven’t read RFK Jr.’s plan, here is a quick summary of his main points:
Reform the Prescription Drug User Fee Act to reduce pharmaceutical industry influence on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Prohibit U.S. Department of Agriculture nutrition panel members from profiting from food or drug companies.
Review and possibly limit direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising.
Prevent National Institutes of Health (NIH) funds from going to researchers with conflicts of interest.
Cap drug prices to align U.S. costs with international standards.
Restrict Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from being used to buy unhealthy foods such as soda.
Revisit U.S. pesticide and chemical standards to align with stricter global regulations.
Require nutrition education and functional medicine in medical schools.
Reform crop subsidies to promote healthier food production.
Reinstate Presidential Fitness Test standards for American physical health.
Allocate more NIH research funds to preventive and holistic health approaches.
Expand Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) to give Americans more control over health care choices.
Expanding on RFK Jr.’s Ideas: A Comprehensive Plan for America’s Health
While I agree with much of what RFK Jr. proposes, I believe the plan does not go far enough to address the deep-seated health issues facing the United States today. Below are additional strategies I would recommend to create a healthier America and truly tackle the chronic disease epidemic.
National Emergency Declaration for Health
The first step in making America healthy again should be to declare a national health emergency addressing the chronic disease crisis. This would allow for the launch of a National Wellness Campaign, similar to past anti-smoking or COVID-19 efforts. The campaign would focus on public education about diet, exercise, and mental health and allocate substantial funds toward prevention and wellness, rather than just treatment.
Recreate the Food Pyramid: A Simpler, Healthier Approach
It’s time to overhaul the outdated food pyramid and replace it with a simpler, more effective model that prioritizes real, whole foods, and cooking at home. At the base of the new pyramid should be fresh, locally sourced, and organic foods—fruits, vegetables, eggs, regenerative and free-range animal products. The next tier should consist of lightly processed foods, such as whole grains, beans, and dairy, which retain their nutritional integrity. At the very top, the smallest section, should be heavily processed foods, which should be consumed sparingly. The focus should be on simplicity: eating fresh, local, organic foods whenever possible and emphasizing home-cooked meals. This approach would guide people to make healthier choices and foster a deeper connection with food and cooking.
Tax Incentives for Healthy Living
To encourage Americans to adopt healthier lifestyles, the government could offer tax breaks or credits for individuals who maintain a healthy lifestyle. This could be verified through annual check-ups, and deductions could be provided for gym memberships, healthy food purchases, and participation in community sports. These incentives would create a financial reward for healthy behavior. Providing a universal HSA as proposed above is a great adjunct to tax deductions
Corporate Wellness Mandates
Companies with more than 100 employees should be required to offer wellness programs that include fitness classes, nutritional counseling, and mental health services. To encourage participation, tax breaks or insurance discounts could be offered to employees who take advantage of these programs.
School Reform: Physical Activity and Healthy Nutrition
School environments play a critical role in shaping children’s health habits. We should reform school lunch programs to remove processed foods, excess sugars, and artificial dyes, replacing them with fresh, nutrient-dense options. In addition, schools should increase physical activity time and require that every school maintain gardens that produce fruits and vegetables for students.
Educational Reform for Health Literacy
True health education must be mandatory from elementary school through high school. This curriculum would focus on nutrition, physical fitness, mental health, and first aid, equipping children with the knowledge and habits they need to live healthier lives.
Urban Planning and Urban Agriculture for Health
New urban developments should include green spaces and community gardens, bike lanes, and pedestrian-friendly zones to encourage physical activity. Community gardens should also be promoted as a way to increase access to fresh, locally grown food. City council positions could be created to plan and maintain these gardens, providing fresh food and educational opportunities for communities. Every community across the United States should be encouraged to create a food garden that produces local, regenerative food.
Regulation of Food Industry Marketing
To protect children, stricter regulations should be implemented on the marketing of unhealthy foods, especially during children’s television programs. We should also ban the use of cartoon characters to promote sugary snacks.
National Sugar Tax
Introducing a nationwide tax on processed sugar, including sugar-sweetened beverages and high-sugar processed foods, could help reduce consumption. The revenue from this tax could be directed toward public health initiatives such as nutrition education and wellness programs. This was done with smoking and it can be done with processed sugar.
Health Care Provider Incentives for Preventive Care
The health care system must shift from a focus on treating illness to preventing it. Reimbursement models should reward preventive care, encouraging doctors to focus on lifestyle interventions that keep patients healthy. Health care providers should be incentivized to collaborate with nutritionists, therapists, and fitness counselors, ensuring comprehensive preventive care.
End Political and Corporate Conflicts of Interest
To reduce conflicts of interest, a five-year waiting period should be implemented, preventing FDA officials or pharmaceutical executives from moving into senior roles in the other sector. Additionally, Big Pharma, Big Food, and Big Health companies should be prohibited from funding political campaigns.
Insurance Coverage for Preventive Services
Insurance companies should be required to cover preventive health services, including exercise classes, gym memberships, nutrition counseling, and wellness programs. This could be capped at a reasonable amount annually, to ensure that more Americans can afford to prioritize their health.
Transitioning Monocrop Subsidies
Over the next one to two decades, the government should gradually shift subsidies away from monocrop farming (such as corn, wheat, and soy) and toward healthier food production, including small family farms. Farmers transitioning to sustainable and organic practices should receive financial rewards to promote healthier, environmentally friendly agriculture.
Leadership for Future Health Policy
In shaping the future of health policy, we need leaders who stand outside the influence of Big Pharma and Big Food, and who genuinely care about the well-being of our children. Two such individuals are Calley Means and Dr. Casey Means, both of whom should be offered prominent positions in shaping the country’s health policies, if they are interested. Their vision for health is deeply rooted in love, care, and an unparalleled understanding of the systemic issues that drive the chronic disease crisis. They are among the few, in my opinion, who prioritize making children and adults healthier, rather than lining their pockets or being swayed by corporate interests. Their clear, coherent, and realistic health plan offers hope for a brighter, healthier future for the United States. By giving them a platform in government, I believe we can move closer to real, lasting change that prioritizes health over profit.
Conclusion
By expanding on RFK Jr.’s proposals with a stronger focus on prevention, nutrition, and holistic wellness, we can take meaningful steps toward reversing the chronic disease epidemic in the United States. These additional strategies offer a comprehensive approach to transforming our nation’s health, ensuring future generations are empowered to lead healthier, happier lives.
Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times or ZeroHedge.
Legendary financial and geopolitical cycle analyst Martin Armstrong predicted less than a month ago that there would be another assassination attempt on Donald Trump’s life, and the Deep State was going to do everything possible to start a war with Russia.
He was right on both counts. All the chaos, debate fraud and push for World War III comes down to the Deep State knows it cannot cheat enough to put Kamala Harris into the White House in November.
Forget the phony polls where they all say Kamala is running neck and neck with Trump.
Armstrong says his “Socrates” computer program shows Kamala’s real approval rating is around 10%, and all his computer models say Kamala is going to lose big in November no matter how much they cheat. Armstrong says, “Just about everybody in politics looks at Socrates now because its track record on politics has been phenomenal for 30 years. They know what is going on.”
So, is the Biden Administration panicking with this second clumsy attempt to assassinate Trump while playing golf? Is our own government trying to kill Trump because they know they cannot win?
Armstrong says, “I believe so. . . . Look, these people have been warmongers. . . . This is their power.”
” They have gotten so close to destroying Russia, which is their end goal here. Handing long-range missiles to Ukraine, this is like hiring somebody to kill your spouse and then saying, well, he shot, I didn’t. . . .
Trump and RFK Jr. are against war…My concern here is they need to create war before January, if not even before the election. I think this is what all this stuff is about with the long-range missiles to shoot into Russia. If Trump does get in, they have to trap him into war.
The whole nonsense about Russia Gate and all the rest was because Trump is against war…
The neocons called Trump Putin’s puppet because Trump will not engage in war against Russia. This is what this is all about.”
Will the demonic Deep State try yet another assassination of Trump?
Armstrong says, “I would not put it past them. Maybe next time they use Monkey Pox or Bird Flu.”
” Look, Trump represents a real threat to their power. If Trump gets in, the neocons are out. Who wrote that recent article for the Washington Post that said Trump would be a “dictator”?
It was Victoria Nuland’s husband. Why? Because Victoria Nuland was thrown out of Trump’s Administration.
She has been in every administration except Trump’s. . . . This is the neocons against the American people. The computer has been showing that this may be the very last election we have. Just look at the chaos that has been going on at this stage.”
Armstrong is afraid that Putin may be overthrown in Russia because his response has been too timid against NATO.
Armstrong says, “Putin knows the neocons want war, and he won’t take the bait.” Armstrong is also afraid that if Putin does get booted out of office, then the people who replace him will be far worse, and brutal war would follow.
Armstrong says the evil people in Washington will hide in bunkers when the atomic weapons drop on the rest of America. He thinks a big problem coming will be shortages in everything –including food. If there is bigger war, the economy will plunge, and interest rates will skyrocket. Greatest Depression here we come.
In closing, Armstrong says, “The Deep State is scared to death of Trump winning in November because he now knows how to play the game. . . . and Secretary of State Tony Blinken is running the country” because we know Joe Biden is not.
There is much more in the 50-minute interview.
Join Greg Hunter of USAWatchdog.com as he goes One-on-One with Martin Armstrong as he gives his analysis on trying to kill Trump and starting a world war before the 2024 Election for 9.17.24.
Fed/Powell Unleash Chaos Across Markets With ‘Not A Crisis At All’ 50bps Rate-Cut
50bps cut… uber-dovish Dots… Powell pushed back… stocks end red, dollar and yields end higher.
“The US economy is in a good place and our decision today is designed to keep it there,” said Fed Chair Pay Powell during the press conference.
So a crisis-level 50bps rate-cut at record highs for stocks and home prices, just two months ahead of the election is warranted because the “economy is in a good place.”
The next time the Fed meets, voters will have already cast their vote for the next president.
Powell on incorporating political factors into Fed decisions:
“We just don’t do that.”
But Kamala liked it:
“The Fed’s rate decision is welcome news for Americans.”
And none other than Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters of California applauded the Fed’s rate cut in a statement:
“I am pleased that the Fed has not only remained independent, but shown the importance of remaining independent as it followed the data and not politics.”
Republican Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota criticized the Fed’s move in a post on social media:
“The Federal Reserve claims political independence. They could have waited to move rates until after the election to confirm it. 25 basis points would’ve received minor grumblings, but the claim rings hollow with 50 basis points.”
It’s a good job The Fed is “strongly independent”!!!
Was it Trump or Biden who promised in April that “before the year is out there’ll be a rate cut?” https://t.co/F8XjS8JmYt
The kneejerk reaction across all markets reversed considerably during Powell’s presser as he poured a little cold water on expectations.
“The committee is not in a rush,” said Powell, and with that stocks started to puke lower as he added that “we will move as fast or as slow as we think is appropriate.”
Powell stole the jam out of the equity market’s donut when he tilted hawkish by noting that “no one should look at the 50bps cut and say this is a new pace.”
But realistically, the DOTs said it all, with members desperately lurching lower in rate-cut expectations.
In June, 4 FOMC members expected no rate-cuts in 2024, 7 members expected 1 rate-cut in 2024, 8 members expected 2 rate-cuts.
In September, only 2 FOMC members had priced in 2 rate-cuts by year-end, 7 more saw 3 rate-cuts, 8 more saw 4 cuts by the end of 2024 and one lone uber-dove (Goolsbee?) expected 5 rate-cuts in 2024…
Source: Bloomberg
So much can change in 3 months when the government is fooling most of the people with fake data all the time
US Jobs Revised Down By 818,000 In Election Year Shocker, Second Worst Revision In US History https://t.co/IZ6b2StAMB
And Fed rate expectations for 2024 tumbled (and 2025 dropped too – though was already pricing in a super dovish Fed)…
Source: Bloomberg
Additionally, Powell pissed in the punchbowl by stating that we’re probably not going back to the era when trillions of dollars worth of sovereign bonds were trading negatively and says the neutral rate is probably much higher than it used to be – but doesn’t know where that level is.
So let’s survey the damage…
Stocks kneejerked higher with Small Caps exploding almost 2.5% at their highs on the FOMC statement and SEP. The S&P 500 also briefly hit a new record high. However, once Powell started speaking, all the majors reverted lower (back into the red)…
The footprint of Small Caps pump and dump was very evident in the ‘most shorted’ basket today…
Source: Bloomberg
The Dollar Index puked bigly on the FOMC statement but rallied all the way back as Powell spoke…
Source: Bloomberg
USDJPY may help clarify the flip-flop as FX markets start pricing in the next US inflation surge as the yen spiked on the FOMC statement then puked hard on Powell’s prevarications…
Source: Bloomberg
Gold exploded up to a record high $2600 before sliding back as Powell spoke…
Bonds and stocks remain in world’s of their own still since the last FOMC meeting in July – stocks slightly higher (no recession, soft landing), bond yields down dramatically (recession, hard landing)…
Source: Bloomberg
Treasury yields all tumbled on the FOMC statement and pushed back higher as Powell spoke.The 2Y remained lower (unchanged on the day) while the long-end rose 7bps on the day!
Source: Bloomberg
The yield curve (2s10s) crashed into ‘inversion’ briefly before bear-steepening back up to recent highs…
Source: Bloomberg
Bitcoin kneejerked up above $61,000 before sliding back to unchanged on the day…
Source: Bloomberg
Crude prices declined on the day, whipsawed around by the DOE dats showing a big draw at Cushing and then by Powell and his pals going full dove-tard!
Source: Bloomberg
Finally, will Powell’s legacy be that of Arthur Burns?
Source: Bloomberg
Of course, let there be no doubt that if inflation re-accelerates from here, you can bet on the fact that Trump will get the blame completely.
California Governor Gavin Newsom passed a tough new law to crack down on politically-themed artificial intelligence deepfakes during elections.
It comes only weeks after Elon Musk re-posted a parody of a Kamala Harris campaign ad on X that garnered millions of views and used AI-powered voice manipulation to make it seem Harris called herself an incompetent presidential candidate.
In late July, Newsom specifically pointed to Musk’s post and vowed to sign a bill “in a matter of weeks” banning the practice.
The governor of California just made this parody video illegal in violation of the Constitution of the United States.
The new law, known as AB 2839, takes effect immediately and effectively bans people and groups from knowingly sharing election deepfakes and other “materially deceptive content.”
Existing laws only prohibit the distribution of materially deceptive audio or visual media of a candidate within 60 days of an election. The new law expands the ban to 120 days before an election in California and, in some cases, 60 days after an election is held.
Newsom also signed two other laws aimed at taking down political AI deepfakes on the same day, though they won’t be in effect until January.
One of the laws, AB 2355, will require labels to be put on political advertisements generated or substantially altered with AI.
The other, AB 2655, requires social media platforms with more than one million California users, such as Facebook and X, to block deceptive content relating to elections during specified periods.
It will also make platforms liable for failing to remove content within 72 hours of receiving a report from a user.
All three laws only apply to California, and it is understood that the governor signed the bills during a fireside chat with Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff at the Dreamforce conference in San Francisco.
“It’s very different from other bills that have been put forth,” Ilana Beller, an organizing manager of the democracy team at consumer advocacy organization Public Citizen told The New York Times.
Meanwhile, Newsom signed an additional two bills, AB 1836 and AB 2602, on Sept. 17, which aim to give greater protection to performers over the use of their digital likenesses.
Gavin Newsom (bottom left) signs AI bills to protect performers against AI misuse. Source: Instagram
The fake Harris campaign parody ad, posted on July 26, has reached 25.4 million views on X alone and is still available on the platform today.
Musk later defended his retweeting of the original post at the time, mocking Newsom:
“I checked with renowned world authority, Professor Suggon Deeznutz, and he said parody is legal in America”
