Posted originally on May 30, 2025 by Martin Armstrong
Happening now: @GovRonDeSantis is in Apopka to sign HB 999 which “sets in motion #Florida’s full recognition of gold and silver as legal tender, giving Floridians the freedom to use precious metals for everyday transactions alongside traditional currency.”https://t.co/fRkQpDJE7Dpic.twitter.com/dOMajgwAsj
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared gold and silver legal tender. HB 999 maintains that these precious metals may be used in payments if they meet specific purity standards. The bill goes into effect on July 1, 2026, but many are confused as to what this will entail.
As stated in the legislation: “Legal Tender; Revising the sales and use tax exemption for certain coin or currency; specifying that a person who claims the sales tax exemption bears the burden for determining whether the gold coin or silver coin meets a specified definition; providing a presumption regarding the purity requirements of gold coin and silver coin, etc.”
“We are the first large state to step up and to get this done,” DeSantis said. “And this is right out of the Constitution of the United States. So this legislation will authorize money services business like check cashers or PayPal to transmit and accept payment in gold and silver.” State Rep. Bill Bankson sponsored the bill with the goal to “eliminate the tax burden and make it a functional means of transaction between willing parties.”
To begin, Florida is not the first state to declare gold and/or silver legal tender. Utah passed the Utah Legal Tender Act of 2011, which declared coins of either metal legal tender. Oklahoma passed Senate Bill 862 in 2014, recognizing U.S.-minted gold and silver coins as legal tender and exempting them from taxation. Kansas and West Virginia have similar policies. Texas has recognized these coins as legal tender and enacted legislation to protect them from state seizure. Wyoming treats gold and silver as currency and has exempted it from sales tax. South Carolina and Louisiana have similar policies.
Florida’s approach is a bit more structured. Gold coins must be at least 99.5% pure and silver coins at least 99.9% pure to qualify as legal tender. The weight and purity must be imprinted on the metal with the name or symbol of the mint refiner. Both will be exempt from sales tax. The state government may choose to accept silver and gold coins for payments on taxes, dues, charges, and debts. Yet, these transactions must be done electronically, and the coins will be held by a public depository while processing. A regulatory regime will be established to handle coinage, process insurance, record-keeping, licensing, and consumer disclosure agreements, which the Office of Financial Regulation will oversee.
Will Floridians see people using silver coins to check out at the grocery store? No. The law entails that payments in gold and silver coinage are entirely optional, and no person or business is required to accept them in payments. Merchants will not be required to attain knowledge on metal purity or have scales behind the cash register. The difference now is that businesses are allowed to accept them if they choose to do so. There are numerous tax benefits to choosing metal over cash.
If John Doe wants to purchase a boat from a dealership with gold, for example, the dealership must voluntarily accept the coinage but is in no way obligated to do so. Then the dealership has the burden of verifying the spot price of gold or silver rather than the state. However, if you go to a bank to cash a check, the bank will have the ability to offer clients payments in gold or silver coinage rather than cash. Another aspect to consider is that Florida will no longer add a sales tax on transactions in gold and silver, lowering the cost for businesses and consumers by around 6%.
This signals the ongoing loss of confidence in the federal government. States are rebelling against federal mismanagement and offering residents alternatives to move off the grid. People tend to hoard gold and spend paper. Gold and silver are not practical as daily commerce but are a symbolic store of wealth. We are entering a phase where sovereign debt will become toxic, and states will begin to prepare for the inevitable chaos coming from Washington.
Posted originally on May 30, 2025 by Martin Armstrong
Women across Build Back Better nations with open border policies are on high alert. The majority of migrants are single men who came from cultures vastly different from the West, with a particular disparity in how men view the opposite sex. Crime has been multiplying across these nations as unvetted unknowns fail to adjust to their new settings. In France, 80% of women would like the military to protect them from migrant criminals.
There has also been an uptick in drug trafficking due to unvetted foreigners. A CSA poll found that 76% of French citizens would like the army to begin battling drug trafficking in “disadvantaged neighborhoods.”
When you import the third world, you become the third world. France has moved to a point system for residency whereby points are awarded for French language proficiency, education, work experience, skills in high-demand fields, and so forth. Migrants are now required to take a test to demonstrate knowledge of French culture, laws, and traditions. Citizenship is no longer a guarantee, and migrants must live in the nation for seven years in most instances before seeking permanent residency.
‘”Street rapes” are a minority; nationally, most sexual violence is by French nationals,” has been a common claim by the globalists on the left who are attempting to dismiss the horrific crimes against women perpetrated by migrants. Women across Europe are afraid to walk in their own neighborhoods. The government’s attempt to curb migration is far too little, too late. Ten percent of France’s population, and therefore culture and traditions, has been replaced by foreigners who were outright encouraged to invade.
originally on Posted May 30, 2025 by Martin Armstrong
The US economy contracted by 0.2% from January through March of 2025. This is the second Q1 estimate provided by the US Commerce Department, with a third on the way on June 26.
Imports surged into the US during Q1 as corporations aimed to avoid incoming tariffs. The 42.6% uptick in imports marked the fastest pace of goods arriving in the US since Q3 2020. Business investment rose 24.4% in Q1, with business inventories adding 2.6 percentage points to overall GDP. Federal government spending fell by 4.6%, the largest drop in three years, but a deduction from overall GDP calculations.
Real consumer spending rose by 1.2%, albeit far less than the 4% posted during Q4 2024 and revised down from the first reading of 1.8%. Other reports indicate that Americans are spending far more on the essentials like utilities, health care, and housing. The Fed’s preferred inflation measure (PCE price index) rose 3.6%. Persistent inflation has led to cautious consumer behavior and a decline in demand for goods, contributing to the overall weakened reading for Q1.
Discretionary retail fell by 3% this quarter to 23% as consumers are less likely to purchase items like clothing, furniture, and electronics. Durable goods experienced a significant decline of 19%. The University of Michigan’s survey noted that decreased confidence has caused the demand for big-ticket items to decline. A lot of the demand we did see in Q1 was spending to offset anticipated tariffs. Autos, for example, rose by 11% YoY in March alone, and Q1 saw an overall 4.8% in auto purchases. That trend is not expected to continue as consumer sentiment is low.
April’s 2.3% CPI reading was the smallest annual increase since 2021, yet still above the 2% target set by the Fed years ago. The Fed isn’t fighting inflation. That phase is over. What they’re really fighting now is a collapse in confidence in the bond market, the dollar, and in the entire public sector. There will be no soft landing as once anticipated, as we are currently in a stage of stagflation.
Meanwhile, Fed Chair Jerome Powell met Trump at the White House on Thursday to declare that rate decisions would be based on “careful, objective, and non-political analysis.” “I’ve never asked for a meeting with any president, and I never will,” Powell said. “I wouldn’t do that. There’s never a reason for me to ask for a meeting. It’s always been the other way.” Trump invited Powell to the White House to encourage him to cut rates at the June meeting. The markets were pricing in a rate cut in June but now that does not seem as likely.
Trump fails to realize that the Fed is attempting to preserve confidence in the US, primarily in the debt market. We are witnessing cash deficits of over $1 trillion per quarter. Moody’s recently downgraded the US and no longer believes that Treasuries are a certain bet. The government is broke and the Fed must maintain the illusion of solvency.
Posted originally on CTH on May 29, 2025 | Sundance
Pushed far enough, decisions are reached.
[VIA TRUTH SOCIAL] “The U.S. Court of International Trade incredibly ruled against the United States of America on desperately needed Tariffs but, fortunately, the full 11 Judge Panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Court has just stayed the order by the Manhattan-based Court of International Trade. Where do these initial three Judges come from? How is it possible for them to have potentially done such damage to the United States of America? Is it purely a hatred of “TRUMP?” What other reason could it be?
I was new to Washington, and it was suggested that I use The Federalist Society as a recommending source on Judges. I did so, openly and freely, but then realized that they were under the thumb of a real “sleazebag” named Leonard Leo, a bad person who, in his own way, probably hates America, and obviously has his own separate ambitions. He openly brags how he controls Judges, and even Justices of the United States Supreme Court — I hope that is not so, and don’t believe it is! In any event, Leo left The Federalist Society to do his own “thing.” I am so disappointed in The Federalist Society because of the bad advice they gave me on numerous Judicial Nominations. This is something that cannot be forgotten!
With all of that being said, I am very proud of many of our picks, but very disappointed in others. They always must do what’s right for the Country! In this case, it is only because of my successful use of Tariffs that many Trillions of Dollars have already begun pouring into the U.S.A. from other Countries, money that, without these Tariffs, we would not be able to get. It is the difference between having a rich, prosperous, and successful United States of America, and quite the opposite.
The ruling by the U.S. Court of International Trade is so wrong, and so political! Hopefully, the Supreme Court will reverse this horrible, Country threatening decision, QUICKLY and DECISIVELY. Backroom “hustlers” must not be allowed to destroy our Nation!
The horrific decision stated that I would have to get the approval of Congress for these Tariffs. In other words, hundreds of politicians would sit around D.C. for weeks, and even months, trying to come to a conclusion as to what to charge other Countries that are treating us unfairly. If allowed to stand, this would completely destroy Presidential Power — The Presidency would never be the same!
This decision is being hailed all over the World by every Country, other than the United States of America. Radical Left Judges, together with some very bad people, are destroying America. Under this decision, Trillions of Dollars would be lost by our Country, money that will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. It would be the harshest financial ruling ever leveled on us as a Sovereign Nation. The President of the United States must be allowed to protect America against those that are doing it Economic and Financial harm.
Thank you for your attention to this matter!” (source)
To truly understand the anger, you must remind yourself that MAGAnomics, the construct of every economic policy and strategy, is entirely controlled by President Trump. There is not one component of the larger economic policy agenda that he delegates to another.
The economy and building American wealth are his primary focus. It is the entire reason Donald Trump decided to be in politics.
Posted originally on CTH on May 29, 2025 | Sundance
The current Canadian Prime Minister is genuinely a walking meme of a Canadian Prime Minister parody.
During his remarks to parliament today, Prime Minister Carney waxed gleefully about the U.S. federal trade court ruling against President Trump’s tariffs, just moments before the federal appeals court stayed the opinion of the lower court. It’s a little funny.
PM Carney doesn’t seem to recognize the reality of the economic landscape before him. He complains about blocked access to the U.S. consumer base with a level of entitlement that’s genuinely humorous. Meanwhile, the Canadian economy around him is collapsing. WATCH:
♦ BACKGROUND – Following the 2024 presidential election, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau traveled to Mar-a-Lago and said if President Trump was to make the Canadian government face reciprocal tariffs, open the USMCA trade agreements to force reciprocity, and/or balance economic relations on non-tariff issues, then Canada would collapse upon itself economically and cease to exist. In essence, in addition to the NATO defense shortfall, Canada cannot survive as a free and independent north American nation, without receiving all the one-way benefits from the U.S. economy.
To wit, President Trump then said, if Canada cannot survive in a balanced rules environment, including putting together their own military and defenses and meeting their NATO obligations, then Canada should become the 51st U.S state. It was following this meeting that President Trump started emphasizing this point and shocking everyone in the process. However, in the emotional reaction to Trump’s statements, no-one looked at the core issues outlined by Trudeau that framed President Trump’s opinion.
Representing Canada, Justin Trudeau was not expressing an unwillingness to comply with fairness and reciprocity in trade with the USA, what Trudeau was expressing was an inability to comply.
Quite simply, after decades of shifting priorities, Canada no longer has the internal economic capability to comply with a fair-trade agreement (FTA). Trudeau was not lying, and President Trump understood the argument; hence his 51st state remarks.
This is where it becomes important to understand the core reason why Trump, Ross and Lighthizer (2017) did not structurally want to replace the NAFTA agreement with another trilateral trade deal. Mexico and Canada are completely different as it pertains to trade with the USA. President Trump would rather have two separate bilateral agreements; one for Mexico and one for Canada.
♦ Firstly, Canada is a NATO partner, Mexico is not. As President Trump affirmed to Justin Trudeau during the meeting, it would be unfair of President Trump to discuss NATO funding with the European Union, while Canada is one of the worst offenders. Trump is leveraging favorable trade terms and tariff relief with the EU member states, as a carrot to get them into compliance with the 2.0 to 2.5% spending requirement for their military.
If the NATO member states contribute more to their own defense, the U.S. can pull back spending and save Americans money. However, Canada is currently 26th in NATO funding, spending only 1.37% of their GDP on defense (link).
Canada would have to spend at least another $15 billion/yr on their defense programs in order to reach 2.0%. Justin Trudeau told President Trump that was an impossible goal given the nature of the Canadian political system, and the current size of their economy ($2.25 trillion).
♦ Secondly, over the last 40 years Canada has deindustrialized their economy, Mexico has not. As the progressive political ideology of their politicians took control of Canada policy, the ‘climate change’ agenda and ‘green’ economy became their focus. The dirty industrialized systems were not compliant with the goals of the Canadian policy makers.
The dirty mining sector (coal, coking coal, ore) no longer exists at scale to support self-sufficient manufacturing. The dirty oil refineries do not exist to refine the crude oil they extract. Large industrial heavy industry no longer exists at a scale needed to be self-sufficient. Instead, Canada purchases forged and rolled steel component parts from overseas (mostly China). Making the issue more challenging, Canada doesn’t even have enough people skilled to do the dirty jobs within the heavy manufacturing; they would need a national apprenticeship program. Again, all points raised by Trudeau to explain why bilateral trade compliance was impossible.
♦ Thirdly, the trade between Canada/U. S and Mexico/U. S is entirely different. The main imports from Canada are energy, lumber and raw materials. The main imports from Mexico are agriculture, cars and finished industrial goods. Mexico refines its own oil; Canada ships their oil to the USA for refining. There are obviously some similar products from Mexico and Canada, but for the most part there is a big difference.
♦ Forth, USA banks are allowed to operate in Mexico, but USA banks are not allowed to operate in Canada. USA media organizations are allowed to broadcast in Mexico, but USA media organizations are regulated and not permitted to broadcast in Canada. The Canadian government has strong regulations and restrictions on information and Intellectual Property.
All of these points of difference highlight why a trilateral trade agreement like NAFTA and the USMCA just don’t work out for the USA.
Additionally, if President Trump levies a tariff on Chinese imports, it hits Canada much harder than Mexico because Canada has deindustrialized and now imports from China to assemble into finished goods destined to the USA. In a very direct way Canada is a passthrough for Chinese products. Canada is now more of an assembly economy, not a dirty job manufacturing economy.
When Trudeau outlines the inability of Canada to agree to trade terms, simply because his country no longer has the capability of adhering to those trade terms, a frustrated President Trump says, “then become a state.”
There is no option to remain taking advantage of the USA on this level, and things are only getting worse. Thus, the point of irreconcilable conflict is identified.
Because the Canadian government became so dependent on their role as an assembly economy, they enmeshed with China in a way that made them dependent. The political issues of Chinese influence within Canada are a direct result of this dynamic. In fact, China was the big winner from the outcome of the recent election because all of their investments into Canada are grounded on retaining Liberal government dependency.
If Trump targets China with punitive tariffs, the Canadian economy will be collaterally damaged. Canada will end up paying a tariff rate because they use cheap Chinese component parts in their finished goods. Canada has structurally designed their economy to do this over multiple years.
Understanding the unique nature of the Canadian economic conundrum, the only way to address the issue is to break out the USMCA into two separate bilateral trade agreements. One set of trade terms for Mexico that leverages border security, and one set of trade terms for Canada that leverages NATO security and border security. The only substantive similarity between them will be in the auto and agriculture sector.
If you think the multinational corporations, political leftists and UniParty Republicans in the USA are strongly opposing Trump now, just wait until later this year when the Trump administration proposes the elimination of the trilateral North American trade agreement, USMCA.
According to the World Bank, the USA economy is $27.3 trillion. Canada is $2.1 trillion.
Do the math!
[…] The expectation, according to two people close to the White House, is that negotiations to permanently remove the threat of painful 25 percent tariffs on Canada — which Trump mostly rolled back earlier this month — and other sector-specific tariffs are likely to be folded into the upcoming review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. That review is due in 2026, but the Trump administration wants to accelerate to this calendar year.
“It makes sense to separate out Canada and Mexico from the rest because they are going to want to redo the USMCA,” said one of the people close to the White House, who were granted anonymity to discuss ongoing deliberations. “They’re going to have separate tariffs that focus specifically on Mexico and Canada, and they’re going to take some actions to squeeze them a little bit.” [LINK]
PPosted originally on CTH on May 29, 2025 | Sundance
Shortly before the federal appeals court decision to stay the lower court intervention, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett appeared on Fox Business with Maria Bartiromo to discuss the frustrating trade court decision and the pending legislation on budgets and taxes.
Director Hassett is always a solid analytical mind to follow because his job is to look into the future and see if current alignment of economic policy retains the objective of economic growth, and he does it well. Within the interview a key point made by Hassett on the trade/tariff conflict with the court is that USTR Jamieson Greer has multiple legal pathways to support the intent of the tariffs as applied.
This is a point CTH will continue to make; both the USTR and the Dept of Commerce Secretary have alternate legal trade tools that support the tariffs. The bottom line is that whether IEEPA is used or Sec.301/302 are used the tariff outcome remains the same, the only difference is the amount of time for the countervailing duty to trigger; put another way, ‘optimal solutions.’ WATCH:
Despite the noise and media drumbeat, Kevin Hassett continues to carry the maganomic agenda forward with a smile. He is able to do this because all of the economic policy is grounded in America-first realism. It can be achieved, and it will be achieved, entirely because it is achievable. Remember that!
When you reach frustration, ask yourself, “is there bread in the kitchen?” If yes, then focus on solving the immediate non-critical problem; do not allow the dark imaginings to disrupt your focus. It’s the guys like Kevin Hassett who are keeping the bread in the kitchen.
Posted originally on CTH on May 29, 2025 | Sundance
Like I said last night, the Trump team followed their legal due diligence in several aspects of the tariff/trade deficit reset strategy, and it did not appear the New York trade court looked at any of the supportive material from the USTR and the Dept of Commerce.
Today, a full panel of U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit granted a “stay” and paused the lower court ruling pending full appeal outcome and possible Supreme Court intervention. [Ruling pdf Here] The President Trump trade tariffs remain in place, and the ridiculous court-ordered refunding of previously collected tariffs is set aside.
The court is suspending the lower court decision until the appeals motions are filed and reviewed. The multinational corporations have until June 5th to file their responses to the appeal, and the Trump administration has until June 9th to file their full appeal brief.
VIA CNBC – A federal appeals court on Thursday granted the Trump administration’s request to temporarily pause a lower court ruling that struck down most of President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
The Trump administration had earlier told the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit that it would seek “emergency relief” from the Supreme Court as soon as Friday if the tariff ruling was not quickly put on pause.
The judgment issued Wednesday night by the U.S. Court of International Trade is “temporarily stayed until further notice while this court considers the motions papers,” the appeals court said in its order.
The pause gives the Trump administration some breathing room as it prepares to argue that the trade court’s ruling should be halted for the duration of the appeals process.
The appeals court gave the plaintiffs — a group that includes state attorneys general and a handful of domestic businesses — one week to respond to the administration’s bid for a stay pending appeal. The U.S. will be able to reply to that response by June 9.
“This is merely a procedural step as the court considers the government’s request for a longer stay pending appeal,” said Jeffrey Schwab, a lawyer for the business plaintiffs, in a statement.
“We are confident the Federal Circuit will ultimately deny the government’s motion shortly thereafter, recognizing the irreparable harm these tariffs inflict on our clients,” Schwab said. (read more)
NBC is claiming the court, “barred the administration from making any future modifications to the tariffs in question.” However, I do not see that in the order. That looks like wishful thinking on behalf of the parent company who owns NBC.
Like I said last night…. Stay Calm. Be angry, but stay calm and frosty. Good, smart people are rapid firing legal analysis, supportive documents and strong ‘standing’ strategic information into the pipeline to assist.
For now, at least, the tariffs remain in place as they were before the trade court intervention.
Posted originally on CTH on May 29, 2025 | Sundance
Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino appears on Fox and Friends morning show to outline some of the historical events under a re-review.
Triggering the sympathy nerve, Mr Bongino repeatedly notes that work pressure upon him is creating ancillary pressure on his personal life, his wife and family. Unfortunately, decades of visible corruption within his agency have numbed the public sympathy nerve. Accepting this, we must elevate beyond our frustration, pray for Dan Bongino, for his ability to remain effectively focused, and for his family.
Regarding the message conveyed by the Deputy Director, he appears to accept there is no longer a public “trust” from which to draw. It is the responsibility within Mr Patel and Mr Bongino’s appointed positions to quench American thirst for truth, righteousness & justice. Put earnest and honest sunlight upon the agency. Do something about the corruption we all know exists; get out of the box; be creative, be ferocious, color outside of the lines – do whatever it takes.
Sean Hannity’s highly caffeinated girlfriend is very concerned about the FBI being pulled away from safe children initiatives. Meanwhile Deputy Bongino states the agency under their leadership has discovered a cache of previously hidden information and documents that will shed light on several previously dismissed investigative issues. WATCH:
The FBI intentionally hid information as to ensure the public never knew about it?
Think about what that indicates about how the institution operates.
REFORM? …Try this.
#1) Send out an email to every field office, agent, division and contractor within the FBI asking every participant in Crossfire Hurricane or the Mueller investigation to report to the auditorium in DC on XXX date.
#2) Have big buffet and coffee set up. Now, with all of them seated in the audience, take their cell phones, laptops and electronic devices away, and give each of them a piece of paper and ask them to write down the names of every single person they interacted with during their investigative duty. Give them one hour to complete the task.
#3) Retrieve their notes. Send them to lunch (provided), as you review the lists. [Cell phones, laptops and electronic devices remain on side of the room where they placed them.]
#4) When they return, tell them all to stand up as you read the names from the lists. As their name is called, they can sit down.
#5) At the conclusion of reading the list, almost everyone should be seated, correct? Those who remain standing are unknown to the FBI investigators in the room. Tell those standing people to leave and assemble in an adjacent room, under watch.
#6) After the small group departs (if any), ask these questions:
A) If you were aware, or if you suspected, you were participating in a fraudulent investigation motivated by politics, please stand up.
=> Announce those people are fired for cause. Fired for violating their oath of office.
Escort them out.
Turn back to those remain seated.
A) If you *DID NOT KNOW* you were participating in a fraudulent FBI investigation, motivated by politics, please stand up.
=> Announce those people are fired for cause. Fired for not being smart enough to carry out their oath of office.
Escort them out.
The room should be empty.
#7) Now… the final detail. Perhaps you now have an adjacent room with a few people that no one in the FBI knows who they are or what they were doing there. These people were not named on any list created by the FBI employees who conducted “Crossfire Hurricane” or the “Mueller probe.”
Posted originally on CTH on May 29, 2025 | Sundance
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will be holding a press briefing today at 1:00pm ET. There is a lot of news and controversy swirling the white house as the financial system that feeds the swamp fights back against President Trump’s efforts to put American interests first.
Into this fray comes Karoline Leavitt, pushing back against the narratives promoted by the multinational media conglomerates and their domestic beneficiaries in congress. Don’t worry, it will likely get much worse – face the storm fearlessly. Livestream Links Below:
Posted originally on CTH on May 29, 2025 | Sundance
The President of the United States, representing the executive branch, takes aggressive emergency action on tariffs and trade to protect American fiscal sovereignty and solvency. Both chambers of the U.S. congress, the house and senate representing the Legislative branch, affirm the action through legislative support. Yet, a single court in the judicial branch intervenes on behalf of multinational corporate interests to block trade policy.
That is the framework of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s main point in a discussion with Fox News Bret Baier. WATCH:
On the DOGE issue, listen to how a well-versed professional executive with years of experience in institutional reform discusses taking the DOGE team effort and integrating them into his massive agency as part of an operational efficiency overhaul.
Compare Secretary Bessent’s approach to other cabinet officials who have yet to grasp and execute the efficiency model that has been handed to them by the DOGE effort. The contrast is remarkable.
I have created this site to help people have fun in the kitchen. I write about enjoying life both in and out of my kitchen. Life is short! Make the most of it and enjoy!
This is a library of News Events not reported by the Main Stream Media documenting & connecting the dots on How the Obama Marxist Liberal agenda is destroying America
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