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

from Kerry Lutz's Financial Survival Network

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

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

from Kerry Lutz's Financial Survival Network

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

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The Rise of Artificial Intelligence in Investment Finance with David Marra

from Kerry Lutz's Financial Survival Network

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

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

from Kerry Lutz's Financial Survival Network

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

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

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

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

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How Inflation Impacts Cash, Stock Markets, Investments and a Possible Housing Market Crash with John Grace

from Kerry Lutz's Financial Survival Network

Kerry and John Grace discussed the changing role of utilities in the context of electric vehicles and artificial intelligence trends. The speakers emphasized the need for increased stations and the limitations of solar and wind power. They also explored the potential of battery power to stabilize the grid and address the challenges faced by millennial first-time homebuyers. The conversation provided insights into the changing landscape of utilities and real estate, shedding light on the implications for both industries in the current market. John and Kerry also discussed the significance of consumer age in shaping buying and selling behavior, drawing attention to the historical trends in home purchasing and the age at which individuals typically make significant property investments. The speakers highlighted the impact of life expectancy on housing market dynamics, emphasizing the need for forward-looking asset management strategies. The discussion also delved into the challenges of selling a property that has doubled in price, with considerations for relocation and the financial implications. Overall, the conversation emphasized the importance of being prepared for market fluctuations and making strategic decisions to safeguard assets.

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Rethinking Retirement: Planning for Life After 65 with Eric Mangold

from Kerry Lutz's Financial Survival Network

Eric Mangold and Kerry discussed the importance of reevaluating the traditional retirement age of 65 and having a clear plan for life after work. They explored the reasons behind the shift in retirement trends and the impact of increased life expectancy on retirement decisions. The conversation also delved into the significance of staying mentally and physically active during retirement to avoid depression, and the role of caregiving in providing purpose and activity for retirees. Additionally, they highlighted the importance of avoiding excessive news consumption and maintaining a healthy lifestyle during retirement.

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The Decline of Credit Scores: Buy Now, Cry Later with Paul Oster

from Kerry Lutz's Financial Survival Network

Kerry talks to Paul Oster about a range of financial topics, including declining credit scores, evolving pricing strategies of retail stores, student loan debt, housing market concerns, psychological and societal factors in financial decision-making, budgeting for groceries, and debt repayment and financial planning. Speakers emphasized the need for individuals to take control of their financial situation by cutting expenses, accelerating debt elimination, seeking help from financial planners, and making deliberate financial choices. They also highlighted the importance of addressing high-interest credit card debt, conducting an insurance protection audit, and creating a household budget to mitigate the challenges posed by the changing economic landscape. The speakers underscored the pervasive influence of societal pressures, such as advertising and social media, on consumer behavior, and the emotional allure of luxury purchases. They emphasized the need for individuals to confront the reality of their financial limitations and make conscious, disciplined choices about spending. The discussion also touched on the significance of setting and adhering to a budget as a means of maintaining fiscal responsibility in the face of external pressures. Overall, the meeting provided practical insights and actionable advice for improving financial well-being and taking control of one’s finances.

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Questioning the Government’s Economic Narrative: A Critical Analysis of Inflation, PPI Numbers, and the Federal Reserve’s Response with Ed Siddell

from Kerry Lutz's Financial Survival Network

Kerry and Ed Siddell discussed the recent inflation and PPI numbers, expressing skepticism about the government’s narrative of a healthy economy and the Federal Reserve’s ability to address economic challenges. They also touched on the growing disparity between Main Street and Wall Street, the potential impact of future rate adjustments by the Federal Reserve, and the need for prudent investment decisions. The conversation also explored the potential of commodities such as gold and silver as safe havens, the impact of the halving event on Bitcoin, and the emergence of new investment opportunities in the global market. The discussion briefly touched on the news of OJ Simpson’s death, before delving into a detailed analysis of treasury rates and the inverted yield curve. Finally, they discussed the evolving perception of the government and the importance of staying informed through various platforms.

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GATA Correctly Shreds Jeffrey Christian’s Gold Commentary

by Dave Kranzler
Investment Research Dynamics

CPM Group’s Jeffrey Christian did a Youtube podcast in which he mocked the view that most if not all of the gold in “Ft Knox” has been used by the Fed and the U.S. Treasury to help control the price of gold since the late 1960’s (London Gold Pool). The best proof those of us who are convinced that the Treasury’s gold plus an unknown quantity of gold held of behalf of foreign Central Banks has been hypothecated in the Fed’s effort to suppress the gold price is two-fold: 1) Contrary to Christian’s claim, there has not been a bona fide, independent audit of the Fed’s gold holdings since Eisenhower was the President: 2) the U.S. flinched, embarrassingly, when Germany requested the repatriation of half of the gold the Fed has “safekept” for Germany since the end of WW2; the U.S. balked then eventually agree to return 300 tonnes of the custodied gold, or 20% over seven years. Why not in just a couple of months similar to Venezuela’s repatriation of 200 tonnes of gold the prior year?

With the sanctions imposed on Russia by the U.S., along with the U.S.’ confiscation of Russia’s assets held at western Central Banks, eastern hemisphere Central Banks have been repatriating gold held in London vaults as well as adding to their existing gold stock.

Continue Reading at InvestmentResearchDynamics.com…

“Something Will Have to Give”

by Brian Maher
Daily Reckoning

“Something will have to give.”

So the International Monetary Fund warns us.

Yet what must give? And why must it give?

These are the questions that seize our attention today. Reports Bloomberg:

The International Monetary Fund leveled an unusually direct criticism at U.S. policymakers Tuesday, saying the country’s recent standout performance among advanced economies was in part driven by an unsustainable fiscal policy.

Continue Reading at DailyReckoning.com…

Ukraine-Israel Aid Bill Includes ‘$3.5 Billion to Supercharge Mass Migration From the Middle East’

by Neil Munro
Breitbart.com

President Joe Biden’s pro-migration border chief is opening new processing centers for Muslim migrants, amid pro-HAMAS riots in U.S. cities and just after Congress granted $3.5 billion more for migration within the $95 billion aid package for Ukraine and Israel.

“Not only did the ‘Foreign Aid’ package do nothing to secure our own border, it included $3.5 Billion to supercharge mass migration from the Middle East,” said a tweet from Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO).

“The Biden-Harris administration set the refugee admissions ceiling for fiscal year 2024 at 125,000 refugees,” said an April 23 release from the Department of Homeland Security’s visa-granting agency, adding:

Continue Reading at Breitbart.com…

Bitcoin Mining and Icelandic Bananas

by Joakim Book
The American Institute for Economic Research

In a throwaway line of green marketing for her country, Iceland’s Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir told the Financial Times in late March that her island in the mid-Atlantic should use its abundant energy not for bitcoin mining but for… growing corn(!).

In praising food sovereignty in a world of energy crises and supply chains and wars, she extended her current affairs talking-point bonanza by saying that “bitcoin is an issue worldwide,” that “data centres in Iceland use a significant share of our green energy,” and that under a new energy plan for the future, bitcoin would have no part in it.

We can learn a lot about trade, energy, agriculture, bitcoin mining, and political grandstanding from Ms. Jakobsdóttir’s statements, so let’s delve in.

Continue Reading at AIER.org…

Congress Yet Again Abuses ‘Emergency Spending’ for Non-Emergency Purposes

Let’s just call this what it is: another gimmick for Congress to escape its own budget limits and avoid having a conversation about tradeoffs.

by Veronique de Rugy
Reason.com

This week, Congress moved closer to passing four separate bills with $95 billion in funding for Ukraine, Israel, Indo-Pacific allies, and the domestic submarine industrial base. This funding has been debated for months, with much of it intended for wars that have been going on—and likely will continue—for a while. In other words, it’s not new or surprising. Yet once again, it will be labeled “emergency spending,” a tool allowing legislators to double down on their fiscal irresponsibility.

Before I explain my objection to their behavior, I would like to make two points. The first one might be the most important: I don’t want you readers to get the impression that Congress is only irresponsible when using the emergency label to spend money. Congress is irresponsible all the time. Legislators have accumulated $34 trillion in debt without any real collective thinking about how to pay for it. The deficit is at 5.6 percent in a time when America is at peace and the economy is growing. They have done much of this deficit spending outside of the emergency process.

Continue Reading at Reason.com…

It Took Ten Years for Powerful People to See That Leftism Has Crossed a Red Line

by Bob Parks
American Thinker

I’ll preface my commentary with the obvious: All of the “mostly peaceful” protests by our “college educated” on campuses nationwide that are clearly pro-Hamas and aimed at Jewish students are wrong, illegal, and all involved should either go back to the classes their parents and taxpayers are funding or be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

But why the sudden sanctimonious outrage from the media and pundit class, billionaire donors, business leaders, and politicians? Why are the harassment and threats against Jewish students a red line that’s been crossed and now found to be totally unacceptable? It’s only because the current violence hits too close to home.

Several major donors have called a hard stop to their past donations:

Continue Reading at AmericanThinker.com…

NYU ‘Pro-Palestine’ Demonstrators Have No Idea What They’re Protesting

“I wish I was more educated”

by Steve Watson
Modernity News

Video captured at New York University shows that some of the students protesting there have no idea why.

NYU is one of several campuses where so called ‘Gaza camps’ have been formed with students refusing to disperse.

Yet it seems that the students don’t really know what they are doing it for.

In the footage below, the videographer asks one of the protesters “What would you say is the main goal with tonight’s protest.”

She responds “I think the goal is just showing our support for Palestine and demanding that NYU stops – I honestly don’t know all of what NYU is doing.”

Continue Reading at Modernity.News…

Why Are There So Many Americans That Can’t Find a Job Even Though They Are Desperate to Be Hired?

by Michael Snyder
The Economic Collapse Blog

According to the absurd numbers that the government feeds us, the unemployment rate is very low and there are lots of jobs available. But if what they are telling us is true, why are so many Americans not able to find work? As you will see below, some people haven’t been hired even though they have literally applied for hundreds of jobs. There seems to be an enormous disconnect between what is actually happening in the real economy and the economic narrative that they are constantly pushing. By the time you are done reading this article, I think that you will agree with me.

Earlier this week, I received an email from a reader that has not been able to find work after seven months of searching.

He gave me permission to share part of that email with you, and it is certainly quite heartbreaking…

Continue Reading at TheEconomicCollapseBlog.com…

Divide and Conquer: The Government’s Propaganda of Fear and Fake News

by John W. Whitehead and Nisha Whitehead
The Rutherford Institute

“It is the function of mass agitation to exploit all the grievances, hopes, aspirations, prejudices, fears, and ideals of all the special groups that make up our society, social, religious, economic, racial, political. Stir them up. Set one against the other. Divide and conquer. That’s the way to soften up a democracy. – J. Edgar Hoover, Masters of Deceit

Nothing is real,” observed John Lennon, and that’s especially true of politics.

Much like the fabricated universe in Peter Weir’s 1998 film The Truman Show, in which a man’s life is the basis for an elaborately staged television show aimed at selling products and procuring ratings, the political scene in the United States has devolved over the years into a carefully calibrated exercise in how to manipulate, polarize, propagandize and control a population.

Take the media circus that is the Donald Trump hush money trial, which panders to the public’s voracious appetite for titillating, soap opera drama, keeping the citizenry distracted, diverted and divided.

Continue Reading at Rutherford.org…

This “Emperor” Has No Clothes

by James Rickards
Daily Reckoning

Does the Fed even matter that much to the real economy and investor portfolios?

That’s an important question that doesn’t get nearly enough scrutiny. It’s possible that neither the Fed nor the reporters who cover the Fed want to ask hard questions about what the Fed really does.

Could it be the case that the emperor has no clothes?

Financial journalists often refer to a Goldilocks economy (“not too hot, not too cold, just right!”) as a tribute to the Fed’s finesse in handling rates. It’s also called the “soft landing” scenario because the Fed supposedly tamed inflation without causing a recession.

These narratives have no factual foundations; they’re just stories designed to get you to buy stocks and pump up stock prices.

Continue Reading at DailyReckoning.com…

The Fed Tallies Up a Big Threat to Financial Stability in the U.S.: “Runnables” at $21.3 Trillion

by Pam Martens and Russ Martens
Wall Street on Parade

Last Friday, the Federal Reserve released its semi-annual Financial Stability Report. In the prior five years, the spring edition of the Fed’s Financial Stability Report was released in May. This year, for reasons we can only guess at (nervously), the Fed released the spring edition early, in April.

Given that last spring the second, third and fourth largest bank failures in U.S. history occurred, handing over $30 billion in losses to the federal Deposit Insurance Fund, and one of those banks (Silicon Valley Bank) experienced the fastest run on its deposits in U.S. history, one particular item in the new report that caught our attention was this:

“Overall, estimated runnable money-like financial liabilities grew 8.8 percent to $21.3 trillion (75 percent of nominal GDP) over the past year, as a decline in uninsured deposits was more than offset by an increase in assets under management at MMFs [Money Market Mutual Funds]. As a share of GDP, runnable liabilities remained above their historical median.”

Continue Reading at WallStreetOnParade.com…

Banks Wage War On Gun Ownership

by Martin Armstrong
Armstrong Economics

The government has successfully weaponized the banks against the people. Major banks are voluntarily sharing customers’ private transactions with the federal government “as part of a wildly overbroad financial surveillance scheme intended to identify domestic terrorists,” a group of attorneys general wrote in a letter to Bank of America in regards to discrimination against Christian organizations. The American Accountability Foundation (AAF) is now exposing how banks are cracking down on legal firearm ownership as Washington moves to nullify the Second Amendment.

“Over the last decade, significant media attention has been paid to the left’s obsession with using banks and asset managers to end fossil fuels. Unfortunately, very little attention has been given on the left’s use of certain banks to chip away at legal private ownership and use of firearms,” the AAF Research Team wrote to Fox Business. “Unfortunately, law-abiding Americans who exercise their 2nd amendment rights have a proverbial bullseye on their backs placed there, in large part, by certain banks and their left-wing comrades who want to undermine Americans’ constitutional right to keep and bear arms.”

Continue Reading at ArmstrongEconomics.com…

Cities’ “Doom Loops” Are Even Worse Than You Imagined

by Charles Hugh Smith
Of Two Minds


This is why those who understand these dynamics are getting out, even though the city was their home.

A correspondent who prefers to remain anonymous sent me this account of the “doom loop” that is playing out in many American cities. The correspondent makes the case that the Doom Loop is not limited to specific cities, but is a universal dynamic in all US cities due to the core causes of the Doom Loop: financialization and the multi-decade decay of cities’ core industrial-economic purpose / mission.

I have edited the text slightly, with the correspondent’s approval.

The context of the Doom Loop is the process and politics of this decay are the second-order results of central bank easy money (free fiat). That led to financialization becoming the city’s core function and the subsequent loss of the city’s previous mission. The people living in cities just haven’t gotten the message yet.

Continue Reading at OfTwoMinds.com…

Here They Come! And They Want To Criminalize Your Words.

There is not one single historical example of collectivist/communist/authoritarian states that didn’t end up with mass atrocities, reduced prosperity and generally awful living conditions for the masses. We’re on that road again…

by Dr. Chris Martenson
Chris Martenson’s Peak Prosperity

You would have thought that after the massive Covid debacles, where government misinformation and disinformation led to untold thousands of unnecessary deaths and gaps within childhood development and education, “they” would have been chastened. Maybe slinked off to hide from their fellow humans out of shame.

But, no, that’s not how ‘they’ work. They double down when caught.

With Scotland’s recent “hate speech” laws somewhat out of the news, now it’s Canada’s and Australia’s turn to pick up the mantle of awful laws and rulings.

Not to be outdone, a quorum of traitors in the US Congress and Senate decided to extend and vastly expand the warrantless spying on US citizens, after carefully excluding themselves, of course.

Continue Reading at PeakProsperity.com…