Confused Biden Conflates Wage Growth with Inflation, Claims Inflation is Having Less Money in Your Paycheck


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on September 26, 2022 | sundance 

Many people believe the people who are in charge of the economic policies destroying the middle-class have no idea how the Main Street economy actually works.  I disagree, I believe they know exactly what they are doing and why they are doing it.

From one perspective, inflation is a statistic that comes from a bureaucratic system quantifying prices.  They have no concept of how policy-driven price increases hurt consumers or working-class families.  Everything in their sphere is academic and esoteric.

However, that said, those who have designed policy know there are benefits to inflation, like lowering economic activity that supports their lowered energy production policies. Inflation also helps them pay their way out of the spending they create that drives the inflation. Make money worth less and debt is lessened, or so the theory is told.

Joe Biden made remarks today that “inflation” as he looks at it, is defined as the amount of money in a paycheck.  WATCH:

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Economic Policy Experts

Canada Scheduled to End Vaccination Border Requirements October 1st


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on September 26, 2022 | sundance

New Zealand, Australia and Canada retained the most restrictive policies on vaccination the longest. However, today Canada announced they are finally loosening the totalitarian fiats and permitting travelers to enter the country without proof of vaccination.

New measures begin October 1st.

(The Hill) — Canada is lifting its testing, quarantine and vaccination requirements at the border, a step in rolling back pandemic restrictions designed to stave off the spread of COVID-19, the government announced Monday.

Starting Oct. 1, international travelers will be able to enter Canada without providing proof of vaccination, taking a pre-arrival test or undergoing quarantine, according to a government release. Compulsory masking on domestic planes and trains will also end, as will a longstanding requirement to share health information with the Canadian government via its ArriveCAN application prior to entry.

The move comes as many countries attempt to ease out of the strict restrictions put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic even as the virus continues to circulate. (read more)

Beware of April 2023


Armstrong Economics Blog/Russia Re-Posted Sep 25, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

There is a serious question as to why the Western press has been putting out nothing but one-sided propaganda. I have been warned that my sources in Russia are concerned that the hardliners behind the scene have been critical of Putin for NOT being more aggressive. Of course, there is the youth protesting over the war and the Western press has been happy to project only that image.

Today, for the very first time, the New York Times has actually reported what I have been reporting for weeks:

“Powerful, well positioned and ideologically committed, they want a much more aggressive war effort. “

I am concerned that if Putin is overthrown, the propaganda of the Western press makes it sound like everything will be back to normal. That is so far from the truth, it is not even funny. The Pi Target from the fall of the Soviet Union will be April 6th, 2023. Zelensky stood up on February 23rd, 2022 and said he wanted to restore nukes in Ukraine in direct violation of all the agreements since 1991. The next day Putin invaded.

John McCain was there at Maidan promising US support to overthrow Yanukovich and to create a revolution against Russia. It was John McCain who was pushing to fund the proxy way against Putin in 2014. In December 2016 after Trump was elected, he traveled to Ukraine promising military support to wage war on Russia backing the neo-nazis. Trump rejected that and that is why McCain hated Trump. McCain has been pushing war with Russia all along. It was the US-installed “interim” government in 2014 that began the civil war attacking the Donbas and the Minsk Agreement was brokered by Germany and France to allow the Donbas to vote on their separation from Ukraine. Zelensky has refused to recognize that agreement.

Zelensky promised peace and the end of corruption. He has done the exact opposite. He rejected Henry Kissinger’s advice to let the Donbas vote. Zelensky would rather destroy his entire country than yield “one inch” to Russia.

I am deeply concerned that if Putin falls for any reason, we are looking at significant risk and our computer’s forecast back in 2013 that Ukraine will be the hot sport, is exactly on track. Russia has its hawks just as we have had to endure John McCain who has supported endless wars for his personal vendetta. Despite his death, other has taken up the agenda and are working hard for war with Russia and the Hawks are doing in Russia and China right now. The smartest play they can make is to attack Taiwan and go fully into Ukraine simultaneously. The West is economically too weak to support a war on two fronts simultaneously. I cannot believe our world leaders are this stupid.

Allow the Donbas to vote and monitor it by independent observers from both sides. The people are predominantly Russia and they are Russian Orthodox, which Zelensky has also outlawed their religion. It will be hands down that they vote for their independence. The alternative is not something we really want to head into cheering for our own destruction on both sides.

US Housing Due for a Correction?


Armstrong Economics Blog/Real Estate Re-Posted Sep 26, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

Fed Chair Jerome Powell stated that the US housing market would “probably” go through a “correction” period. It is of no surprise as home prices were steadily rising from 2020 until recently after mortgage rates rose and many were simply priced out of the market. The supply chain shortages continue to present a problem for builders. Investors with cash were able to outbid other buyers, and houses lasted less than a week on the market before being sold for above asking. Clearly, this is unsustainable in the long term.

The great American dream of owning a home with a white picket fence sharply rose during World War II thanks to suburbs expanding and the GI bill that assisted service members in purchasing real estate. Homeownership during this time jumped to 65% from the Great Depression period. Surprisingly, home ownership actually increased during the Great Depression as well by 3.7% to 4%. Mind you, cultural dynamics were different back then. Women could not even open their own bank accounts. Living at home was common until marriage for both men and women, multi-family homes were more common, and people simply lived with less. The playing field is completely different today.

In 2021, the real estate industry accounted for 17% of GDP in the US. Investors, landlords, and house flippers did well during this housing boom, naturally. The average American suffered as rental prices are in line with monthly mortgage payments, but obtaining a house remains difficult for the middle class. Those with fixed low rates are not likely to sell. Shelter composes the majority of our household expenses, and countless people who did purchase at the height feel house rich but cash poor. The Fed is focusing on the demand side since it cannot control supply.

Conservative Nationalist Giorgia Meloni Wins Big in Italian Election, Certain to Become First Female Prime Minister


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on September 25, 2022 | Sundance 

GREAT NEWS – Looks like the Italians have decided to Make Italy Great Again and voted overwhelmingly to support Giorgia Meloni and the nationalist coalition.  With an anticipated 45% of the exit polls, this outcome will almost certainly make Giorgia Meloni the first female prime minister in Italy.

Giorgia Meloni’s electoral alliance is holding a wide lead in Italy’s national vote. Exit polls on state television are putting the ‘Brothers of Italy’ result around 45%, with an alliance of League leader Matteo Salvini and conservative former Premier Silvio Berlusconi resulting in a solid majority in Parliament.

Rai state broadcaster said the closest contender, the center-left alliance of former Democratic Party Premier Enrico Letta, has apparently garnered only 29.5% of the vote.

ROME, Sept 26 (Reuters) – Giorgia Meloni, head of the nationalist Brothers of Italy party, said on Monday Italian voters had given a clear mandate to the right to form the next government and called for unity to help confront the country’s many problems.

“If we are called upon to govern this nation, we will do so for all Italians, with the aim of uniting the people, of exalting what unites them rather than what divides them,” Meloni told reporters. “We will not betray your trust.” (link)

Lega (League) leader Matteo Salvini, Forza Italia leader Silvio Berlusconi and Brothers of Italy leader Giorgia Meloni

The European Union bureaucrats have lots of sad tonight.

Sunday Talks, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan States the U.S. Will Never Relinquish Control of Ukraine as a Proxy State


Posted originally on the conservative tree house September 25, 2022 | Sundance

Appearing on CBS Face the Nation today, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan proudly boasted of the $15 billion in weapons the U.S. has shipped into Ukraine, while restating the official position of the Biden administration that the U.S. will never permit Russia to hold the eastern part of our proxy state.

Ukraine is to the United States as North Korea is to China. WATCH:

[Transcript] – MARGARET BRENNAN: We turn now to White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. Good morning to you, Jake. Thank you for joining us.

NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR JAKE SULLIVAN: Thanks for having me.

MARGARET BRENNAN: President Zelenskyy told us that if this annexation happens, it will make diplomatic talks with Vladimir Putin impossible. They need artillery in Ukraine, he says, more air defense systems and tanks. Will they get it? And how significant of an escalation is this?

SULLIVAN: Well, Margaret, not only will they get it, but they’ve been getting it. The United States at this point alone has provided more than $15 billion in weapons, and that’s included air defense systems, hundreds of artillery pieces, hundreds of thousands, if not millions of rounds of artillery. And we facilitated the transfer of tanks from NATO allies who have the Soviet era tanks that the Ukrainians have trained on, we will continue to do all of that. As President Biden made clear on Friday, nothing that Russia has done with this mobilization of troops, with the sham referenda in the occupied regions, is going to deter us from providing Ukraine with the necessary means and technologies they need to defend themselves. And what Putin has done is not exactly a sign of strength or confidence, frankly, it’s a sign that they’re struggling badly on the Russian side. And we’re going to help the Ukrainians be able to take advantage of the gains they’ve made, and to continue to push back against the Russian forces that are brutally occupying portions of their country.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yesterday, Putin replaced one of the top logistics generals with a man who’s known as “the Butcher of Mariupol.” Are we seeing the beginning of the collapse of the Russian army?

SULLIVAN: I think it’s too soon to make comprehensive predictions like that. I think what we are seeing are signs of unbelievable struggle among the Russians, you’ve got low morale, where the soldiers don’t want to fight. And who can blame them because they want no part of Putin’s war of conquest in their neighboring country. You’ve got Russia having depleted its stores of prec- precision guided munitions. You’ve got Russia disorganized and losing territory, to a capable Ukrainian force. And you’ve got a huge amount of infighting among the Russian military leadership, and now the blame game has started to include these replacements. So Russia is struggling, but Russia still remains a dangerous foe, and capable of great brutality, as we’ve seen with these mass graves outside of Izium. So we continue to take that threat seriously. And we continue to see our obligation, being providing Ukraine all that it needs to be able to effectively defend itself and defend its country and defend its freedom. That’s what we’re intent on doing. And we are not taking our eye off the ball.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Vladimir Putin will carry out this annexation of eastern Ukraine within the next few days. If Russia is expanding its nuclear umbrella over this part of the country. Does that put the US in more direct conflict with Russia? And does a nuclear weapon being used there, p-put Russia in conflict directly with the US and NATO?

SULLIVAN: We have been crystal clear up to and including President Biden that we will not recognize the sham referenda, they in no way represent the will of the Ukrainian people. And we will treat this territory for what it is – Ukrainian territory, not Russian territory. And we will continue to support the Ukrainians as they seek to deoccupy this territory. So we’ve been clear, we’re not going to stop or slow down our support to the Ukrainians, no matter what Putin tries to do with these-these fake elections and fake referenda and annexation. Now, when it comes to the question of nuclear use, President Putin’s been waving around the nuclear card at various points through this conflict the last few days are not the first time–

(CROSSTALK)

MARGARET BRENNAN: –But he hasn’t been as cornered as he is now.

SULLIVAN: It’s true, and it is a matter that we have to take deadly seriously because it is a matter of paramount seriousness – the possible use of nuclear weapons for the first time since the Second World War. We have communicated directly, privately, at very high levels to the Kremlin, that any use of nuclear weapons will be met with catastrophic consequences for Russia, that the United States in our allies will respond decisively. And we have been clear and specific about what that will entail. We have, in public, been equally clear, as a matter of principle, that the United States will respond decisively if Russia uses nuclear weapons and that we will continue to support Ukraine in its efforts to defend its country and defend its democracy.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Russia has been talking about this nuclear power plant rather than nuclear weapons just for the past 24 hours. Where does that fall? Is this an escalating threat?

SULLIVAN: So, for your viewers, there is a nuclear power plant that is in Russian occupied portions of Ukraine. It has been put into cold shutdown to make it less likely that there’s some kind of catastrophic incident at the plant. It is actually still being operated by the Ukrainian operators who are essentially at gunpoint from the Russian occupying forces. And the Russians have been consistently implying that there may be some kind of accident at this plant. We’ve been working with the International Atomic Energy Agency and with Ukrainian energy regulators to try to make sure that there is no threat posed by a meltdown or something else from the plant. We will continue to do that, but it’s something we all have to keep a close eye on.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Jake, you’re a busy man watching the world right now. There’s a lot I want to ask you, but I have to ask you about Iran. And these protests led by women after the death of this 22-year-old woman who didn’t have her hair covered properly in the view of the morality police. She died. How significant is this, and is it making you reassess the offer you put on the table to lift sanctions on Iran in regard to its nuclear program?

SULLIVAN: Well, first, Margaret, the fact that we are in negotiations with Iran on its nuclear program is in no way impacting our willingness and our vehemence in speaking out about what is happening on the streets of Iran. President Biden went to the floor of the UN General Assembly and said that we stand with the brave citizens and the brave women of Iran as they stand for their rights and their dignity. We have in fact taken tangible steps to sanction those morality police –

MARGARET BRENNAN: Right.

(CROSSTALK)

SULLIVAN: – who caused the death of Mahsa Amini. We’ve taken steps to make it easier for Iranians to be able to get access to the internet and access to communications technologies that will allow them to talk to one another and to talk to the world. So, from our perspective, we will do all that we can to support the brave people the brave women of Iran –

(CROSSTALK)

MARGARET BRENNAN: – I was asking you, though, about the offer to lift sanctions off of Iran in regard to its nuclear program, because that would allow for the regime to have a financial lifeline.

SULLIVAN: Well, I think it’s important for everyone to understand that at the height of the Cold War, as Ronald Reagan was calling the Soviet Union “the evil empire” –

(CROSSTALK)

MARGARET BRENNAN: Right. Arms control.

SULLIVAN: – he was also negotiating an arms control with Russia. So that’s– that is what we’re talking about here. We’re talking about diplomacy to prevent Iran from ever getting a nuclear weapon. If we can succeed in that effort, and we are determined to succeed in that effort, the world America and our allies will be safer. And that will not stop us in any way from pushing back and speaking out on Iran’s brutal repression of its citizens and its women. We can and will do both.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay, so I understand the offer is still on the table. Strategy hasn’t changed. Jake, thank you very much for your time. We’ll be right back with a lot more Face the Nation. Stay with us.

The Police State Is Here (Ep. 1850) – The Dan Bongino Show


The Dan Bongino Show Published originally on the conservative tree house on September 13, 2022

In this episode, I address the shocking new moves by the deep state to intimidate and frighten team Trump. I also show disturbing video about digital currencies and how they plan to use them.

The History Books Will Prove This is an Industrial Example of The Great Pretending


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on September 24, 2022 | Sundance 

This is epic. This is like listening to Grandpa rail against the Federal Reserve and central banks without realizing the motive behind what the Federal Reserve and central banks are doing.   This is the best example to date of the misconception behind ‘The Great Pretending.’

U of Penn, Wharton Business School professor of finance, Jeremy Siegel, rails against Jerome Powell and the central bankers for raising interest rates into a collapsing western global economy.  Everything, everything he outlines, is essentially accurate about the damage being done to western economies. …. Except the biggest realization and acceptance is missing…. It’s being done by design.  The people he outlines are not making a mistake, they are doing it on purpose.  First, WATCH:

The U.S, EU, CA, AU and western economic central bankers did not respond sooner to the inflation crisis (2021) because the central banks were waiting for the politicians in their systems to establish the energy policy that their pre-planned action was intended to support.  [<- Reread that if needed].

Once the collective Build Back Better/Climate Change energy policy was established (2021), and after the resulting inflation created the justification for the central bank action, then -and only then- did the central bankers trigger the next phase of raising interest rates (2022) to reduce western economic activity and support the Build Back Better agenda.

All of this was by design.  None of this was by mistake.  The process, strategy and timing were all part of the Build Back Better agenda.  Purposefully created inflation, the result of the energy policy, was planned and used by the central banks to justify the rate increases.  It was a self-fulfilling prophecy built into the Build Back Better roadmap.

Now these ‘bankers’ are trying to collapse the economy to meet the reduction in energy production.  The bankers are supporting the political motives of the politicians.  This is all intentional.  Jeremy Siegel misses this core and fundamental aspect.   However, some of the lesser ideological western leaders (politicians) are starting to get ‘cold feet.’

The U.S, EU, France, Canada and Australia/New Zealand are ‘all-in.’   Joe Biden (U.S.), Justin Trudeau (CA), Jacinda Ardern (NZ), Emmanuel Macron (FR) and Ursula von der Leyen (EU) are unwavering and all in.  All of their central bank control officers are also all-in, including Christine Legarde (EU).  These unflinching ideologues are not going to budge, but some of the politicians within their economic systems are starting to get cold feet.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was the first to express reservations about the collective goal to sink their economy.  German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is also realizing he may not survive unless he cuts the cord tying him to the Build Back Better anchor of un-survivable renewable energy policy.  The recently installed British Prime Minister Liz Truss is also trying to untangle the knot tied by Boris Johnson, as her nation now suffers with double digit energy price increases.  These are the first fractures in the coalition since the Build Back Better agreement was made.

Jeremy Siegel is correct as to the outcome, but he -like almost all western financial pundits- are blind to the true motive.  Siegel is blaming it on incompetence, instead of going back to the original Build Back Better design as openly expressed by the central banks and politicians in 2020.   They were not hiding it.

The collective western leadership openly said this exact scenario was what they were going to do coming out of the useful COVID-19 pandemic.

The Western leaders openly stated they were going to use the time of lowered economic activity (created by the pandemic) as a gauge to measure and deploy a permanent change to the global system of energy development.  They were going to exit the pandemic with a new focus on climate change and new energy systems.

That pandemic “exit” was the gateway into the “economic transition” that all of the western leaders then began describing.

Throughout 2021 traditional oil, coal and natural gas exploitation was reduced by policy.  Inflation skyrocketed while the central bankers waited like kids playing double-dutch jump rope.  Wait,…. summer 2021…..  wait, fall 2021….. wait, winter 2021… wait, spring 2022…. and then, after the energy policy cemented,…   “NOW” run in and jump – Summer 2022, with the rate hikes.   The timing was by design.

Can you see it now?

Interview: The Plot to Seize Russia & Make It a NATO Vassal


Armstrong Economics Blog/Armstrong in the Media Re-Posted Sep 23, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

See above or click here to watch my latest interview with Geopolitics & Empire.

A message from Hrvoje Moric:

“Martin Armstrong discusses his new book based on declassified documents where in the 1990s the West, NATO, and Russian oligarchy plotted to seize Moscow, loot Russia, and takeover its natural resources. Yeltsin turned to Putin who was not a communist and is not an oligarch. The Moscow apartment bombings or propaganda surrounding them being a false flag would likely have come from Boris Berezovsky. The Great Reset is basically a debt default and the EU is a disaster that will fall apart. At this point most of the attack on Russia is related to “climate change” and to shut down fossil fuels.”