Aug 6 2025

Kremlin Embraces India Amid US Economic Warfare


Posted originally on Aug 6, 2025 by Martin Armstrong |  

PutinandModi

Economic warfare is dismantling free trade and turning friends into foes. This has nothing to do with trade tariffs, as the issue is the tariffs we are placing on nations for the sole purpose of political policy. The US is threatening India with sanctions if it continues to purchase Russian oil, and the Kremlin is using that to its advantage.

“We believe that sovereign countries should have, and have the right to choose their own trade partners, partners in trade and economic cooperation. And to choose those trade and economic cooperation regimes that are in the interests of a particular country,” Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov stated.

Around 35% to 40% of India’s crude oil now comes from Russia as the nation began drastically increasing its purchases when the Ukraine-Russia-NATO war began, since Russian crude was cheaper than what the Middle Eastern nations were charging. India has heavily profited from this deal, but the US would have done the exact same thing if it were in India’s position. The Trump Administration believes free trade is only free and fair if it directly benefits the United States.

“The targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) commented. “It is noteworthy that those nations criticizing India are themselves engaging in trade with Russia. In contrast to our situation, their trade does not constitute a critical national necessity.” The MEA also noted that the US and its allies reached out to India to purchase oil amid shortages that they themselves created. There is a clear double standard here that is making America look a bit foolish.

“India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA,” Donald Trump stated online, openly stating that these new tariffs are intended to shape India’s trade policy. Furthermore, Trump said India was “not a good trade partner” and dismissed the billions in trade between the two.

This arrogant stance is pushing India out of neutrality and into the arms of the Kremlin. There is nothing diplomatic about calling your trade partner worthless on the public stage and then bullying them with sanctions into changing their foreign policy. Trump has also been threatening economic warfare against nations that oppose Israel. I do not know who is currently surrounding Trump and permitting him to carry out these disastrous policies. Let us not forget that India is also a nuclear superpower—we do not want to turn India into an enemy nation.

Aug 6 2025

The Rare Earth Elements Crisis – Why isn’t America Digging in Ukraine?


Posted originally on Aug 6, 2025 by Martin Armstrong |  

MINERALS.Ukraine Mineral Resources_Site_Elements

America is desperate for rare earth minerals. China was supplying the US with around 70% of all such minerals, but they’re not going to supply them to an enemy nation to create weapons. As I mentioned yesterday, this is precisely why America is desperate to access Ukraine. I received a few comments asking why the US has not begun digging, and unfortunately, they are unable to reach those crucial minerals due to the ongoing war.

It is estimated that Ukraine holds 5% of the world’s critical raw materials. Ukrainian officials believe they have 19 million tonnes of graphite reserves and significant deposits of titanium, rare earth metals, and lithium. The current plan would require harvesting up to HALF of Ukraine’s minerals and rare earth materials.

On April 30, 2025, Ukraine and the US finalized a minerals deal and established a United States–Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund. Congress approved a $50 million defense package to Ukraine through direct commercial sales (DCS). Trump is a businessman first and foremost—the mineral deal had to be approved before he would approve of any aid package. The United States now has preferential rights to extract minerals from Ukraine.

Why hasn’t the US begun digging? An estimated 50% of Ukrainian minerals are in areas under Russian control. The Donbas region, the Donetsk and Luhansk are rich in critical minerals, rare earth minerals, coal, and gas. They host the Shevchenko lithium field. Russia currently controls 40% of Ukraine’s metal resources and 56% of its coal reserves. Other essential sites are within a 10-mile radius of occupied enemy territory. Dnipropetrovsk & Kharkiv have uranium, but they are unstable due to frontline advances. Zaporizhzhia has the rare earth elements that America is seeking but it is partially occupied by Russian troops and extremely dangerous. Central and Western Ukraine could be safe for extractions, but they are far less rich in minerals.

MineralsUkraine

Where else can the West turn? Europe faces the same crisis. Estonia has rare minerals, but not enough to meet demand, with the nation currently providing the US with 5% of its needs. Malaysia imports about 13% of US rare earth imports, with Japan providing another 6%. Japan has minerals, but still imports from China. They plan to begin extracting rare earth minerals from the Minami-Torishima Island in 2026, marking the world’s first large-scale mining operation 6,000 meters beneath the ocean. Scientists believe that the area could contain around 16 million tonnes of rare earth elements, but that is a mere estimate. Malaysia has a low mineral reserve in comparison to other nations and cannot be an alternative supplier. Malaysia hosts the Lynas Corporation, the biggest rare earths processor outside China, but the nation has modest reserves.

So while Ukraine may hold nearly $15 trillion worth of crucial minerals and 15% of the world’s reserves, they cannot be accessed due to the ongoing war. China and Russia are abundant in minerals and have no restrictions when it comes to weapon production. China has pioneered molten salt reactors to produce uranium and convert it into nuclear energy. America’s enemies have a notable advantage right now and there are no reliable alternatives.

Aug 6 2025

Bureau of Labor Statistics Data has ALWAYS Been Problematic


Posted originally on Aug 6, 2025 by Martin Armstrong |  

Erika McEntarfer, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) commissioner, has been fired by President Donald Trump due to the weak jobs report. Trump accused the Biden-appointee of manipulating jobs data “for political purposes” and claimed the numbers were “rigged.”

McEntarfer was appointed as the Commissioner of Labor Statistics in January 2024, but the numbers were indeed rigged long ago. There should have been a serious shake-up at the BLS when the agency admitted it fabricated one-third of the newly created jobs in 2023.

At the time, the BLS claimed that conditions had changed too rapidly for them to calculate the number of jobs accurately. “By the time you include all the monthly revisions and the annual benchmark revision, about one-quarter of all the jobs we thought were added last year have been revised away,” E.J. Antoni, a research fellow at the Heritage Foundation’s Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget, told the DCNF. “That pattern of consistent downward revisions has happened in two prior recessions. It is a result of market conditions changing too rapidly for the BLS to adjust its methodology, which in turn causes consistent errors in measuring nonfarm payrolls.”

The BLS has continually tailored its method for calculating employment. One of the key surveys used is the Current Population Survey (CPS), which is a monthly survey of households conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for the BLS. The unemployment rate is calculated as the number of unemployed individuals divided by the labor force, multiplied by 100. BLS creates occupational employment projections in a product called the National Employment Matrix, which describes the employment of detailed occupations within detailed wage and salary categories, including those who are self-employed or employed by a private household. The BLS also develops participation rate projections using data from the CPS conducted by the Census Bureau. So there is inaccurate data coming from multiple places.

In 2023, the agency made changes to its calculations, including the implementation of a new weight smoothing procedure for state and metropolitan area employment data. They have recalculated this figure for Q1 of 2024 and checked back to see if the numbers were where they wanted them to be.

accounting numbers

The agency also claims its statistical calculations are subject to a widening difference between preliminary and final releases. They say that the 10 to 16-day range between data collection prevents businesses from accurately reporting, and many employers who pay monthly instead of biweekly miss the deadline entirely. The BLS stated that its average rate of collection begins at 68.3%, advances to 89% for the second publication, and rises to 92.8% by the third revision.

The BLS publishes the Business Employment Dynamics (BED) census as well on a quarterly basis. The sample size is 12 million or 17 times the size of the monthly nonfarm payrolls report. Now, the BLS also releases a quarterly census report on employment and wages. The BLS determines its annual benchmark by comparing these varying reports and reevaluating its monthly estimates. Every March, the BLS looks at the Current Employment Statistics, or CES, survey, and looks at administrative records of employees covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI). Around 97% of employment falls under the CES scope, and the remaining 3% is analyzed by looking at County Business Patterns or other sources like the Railroad Retirement Board. The March survey determines the “universe” count and adjusts the prior year’s monthly estimates, recalibrating the data to match the universe figure.

NonFarmPayrolls.Aug24

(August 2024 revision)

Why bother to release inaccurate data before the figure is beyond a passing grade? I explained in May that the BLS revised its data so significantly that it was forced to admit Bidenomics FAILED and the job market contracted under the Biden Administration, despite the agency claiming jobs were abundant. We live in an age where data collection is power—the United States government has the ability to track absolutely everyone and everything. Yet, they somehow drastically miss the mark when it comes to reporting on jobs. One person cannot be blamed for the gross inaccuracy of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which has become nothing more than a tool to manipulate public perception.

Aug 6 2025

President Trump Threatens to Federalize DC Law Enforcement Following Brutal Attack on Edward Coristine (DOGE “Big Balls”)


Posted originally on CTH on August 6, 2025 | Sundance 

President Trump responded to a brutal attack on Edward Coristine, the DOGE employee known as “Big Balls.”

“Crime in Washington, D.C., is totally out of control. Local “youths” and gang members, some only 14, 15, and 16-years-old, are randomly attacking, mugging, maiming, and shooting innocent Citizens, at the same time knowing that they will be almost immediately released. They are not afraid of Law Enforcement because they know nothing ever happens to them, but it’s going to happen now!

The Law in D.C. must be changed to prosecute these “minors” as adults, and lock them up for a long time, starting at age 14. The most recent victim was beaten mercilessly by local thugs.

Washington, D.C., must be safe, clean, and beautiful for all Americans and, importantly, for the World to see. If D.C. doesn’t get its act together, and quickly, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City, and run this City how it should be run, and put criminals on notice that they’re not going to get away with it anymore.

Perhaps it should have been done a long time ago, then this incredible young man, and so many others, would not have had to go through the horrors of Violent Crime.

If this continues, I am going to exert my powers, and FEDERALIZE this City. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”  ~ President Donald Trump

VIDEO BELOW:

Aug 6 2025

Letters and Documents Purposefully Leaked by Main Justice Indicate Russiagate Investigation is Not Serious


Posted originally on CTH on August 5, 2025 | Sundance

The entire grand jury process is extremely protected as the 5th amendment requires. Fullstop.

Unfortunately, we have a long and painful history with the Trump-era Main Justice system, intentionally leaking information to satiate the MAGA base and tamp-down demands for reform and accountability.  For seven years various Trump officials have claimed to be working to bring accountability. None has been delivered.

Also unfortunately, the pattern of bread and circuses is repeating.  The Dept of Justice leaked a letter to The Federalist, in order to affirm their performance.

[SOURCE]

Obviously, The Federalist is well aware of who the assigned “prosecutor” is.  However, telling the audience that name does not support the ongoing ‘clickbait’ performance as orchestrated by Pam Bondi’s Dept of Justice.  After all, there’s the important public opinion to be shaped.

The DOJ sending this letter to journalist Sean Davis is a case study in exactly what ‘Bread and Circuses’ looks like.

The DOJ providing this letter directly to The Federalist, indicates the purpose of Pam Bondi’s DOJ action is performative; not substantive.  If the DOJ does not want to compromise their grand jury case, then why are they leaking their letters? Simply, think about it.

The compromise and motive to note is not in the reporting per se’; it’s in the DOJ selective (purposeful) leaking. And in this example, it indicates a profound lack of seriousness.

It’s likely the DOJ knows the challenge of the case is a very high bar and they are unlikely to clear it. So, what they are doing is appeasing the ‘Russiagate’ crowd, with the performance of the investigation itself.  However, this is a very dangerous approach to take given the nature of seven years of bread and circuses in the background.

If the cases were perceived as solid and serious, there would be no reason for Pam Bondi’s DOJ to be leaking internal documents to Fox News, Mollie Hemmingway, John Solomon, Sean Davis or any other media outlet.

Fox News originally broke the story of the Grand Jury after they were sent documents from Bondi’s authorization of a prosecutor to review evidence and empanel a grand jury.  Now Pam Bondi’s assigned prosecutor is sending copies of his/her letters to The Federalist.

Does this sound like serious investigative action taken by serious Main Justice leadership?  No, unfortunately it sounds like a profoundly unserious ‘tick-tock’ screenplay is being delivered, because that is exactly what these actions indicate.

We have experienced seven-years of ‘tick-tocking’, and intentional leaks, orchestrated for a purpose other than truth and justice. We The People deserve better.

If the DOJ is going to leak letters and documents to ‘CONservative’ media for clickbait excitement, the outlook for serious legal accountability is not good.

…”are you not entertained?”

Aug 6 2025

DNI Tulsi Gabbard Provides Update on Current Russiagate Declassification and Investigation


Within this interview, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard states she has met with the assigned federal prosecutors from the Department of Justice to hear their requests for information as the investigation begins.

This interview is well worth watching as Director Gabbard outlines the nature of the battle within the DC corrupt state as it exists.  There is an institutional struggle taking place as each agency of government now has a political battle within it.

*NOTE* At this moment I do believe Tulsi Gabbard is an honest broker in this battle against the Intelligence Community. It is because she is against their interests that the Fourth Branch of Government is attacking her.

That said, I do not put the same level of honesty around Main Justice specifically because the DOJ is headed by a corrupt and deceitful liar.  All indications from the process issues currently underway, highlight the motive of the DOJ is to put on a performance, not actually deliver accountability.  I will give direct examples in the next post.

Aug 6 2025

James Comer Issues House Subpoenas for Epstein Files and Witnesses


Posted originally on CTH on August 5, 2025 | Sundance

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has issued a series of subpoenas for records and testimony from former government officials that pertain to Jeffrey Epstein.

The House Oversight Committee is usually the place where investigations go to die.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: October 9; Former President Bill Clinton: October 14; Former U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland: October 2; Former FBI Director James Comey: October 7; Former U.S. Attorney General William Barr: August 18; Former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales: August 26; Former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions: August 28; Former FBI Director Robert Mueller: September 2; Former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch: September 9; and Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder: September 30.

WASHINGTON DC – The House Oversight Committee on Tuesday issued subpoenas for Department of Justice records on the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, as well as for interviews with a slate of former government officials in connection to the case.

Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) announced that he was summoning nearly a dozen former officials to appear for depositions on the Epstein investigation — a list that includes former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Comer was required to send the subpoenas after a Democratic-led subcommittee vote in July.

The move is the latest in a broader battle over the Epstein files, which took the Trump administration by storm last month as anger boiled over from within MAGA circles about the administration’s handling of the case. (read more)

Suspicious Cat remains, well, increasingly suspicious.

Aug 6 2025

President Trump Talks to Reporters from Roof of the White House


Posted originally on CTH on August 5, 2025 | Sundance

President Trump was reviewing the symmetry of architecture as the plans for the White House ballroom are being finalized.  Apparently, President Trump wants to make sure the details on both wings of the White House are in compliment to each other with the new addition coming.

As a result, President Trump climbed onto the roof of the White House to review the overall design elements himself.  The journalists noticed him up there and started asking questions.  lol

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Aug 6 2025

CNBC Questions President Trump About Banking Discrimination – Trump Leaves Them Speechless


Posted originally on CTH on August 5, 2025 | Sundance

President Donald Trump called in to CNBC for a discussion of current events and factors impacting the economy.

It is a lengthy interview and there’s a very interesting part at 23:07 when Andrew Ross Sorkin asks President Trump to justify his claim that banks discriminate against conservatives, because Sorkin is meeting with the head of Bank of America later today.  What happens next in the interview leaves Sorkin speechless.

President Trump outlines his personal experience where JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America debanked Donald Trump.  Sorkin quietly disappears and the conversation quickly switches topics.  WATCH (prompted):

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Aug 6 2025

MAKES SENSE – Devin Nunes: The Raid on Mar-a-Lago Was to Retrieve Declassified HPSCI Report That Deconstructed Obama/Brennan ICA


Posted originally on CTH on August 5, 2025 | Sundance

Former House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes appeared for an interview with Grant Stinchfield and walks through the timeline of the Russiagate hoax.

Within the interview, Devin Nunes makes a solid argument that the FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago was due to their belief President Trump had the only copy of the HPSCI report, outside IC control; the outcome of a two-year investigation into how John Brennan and the CIA manipulated the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA).

It is important to remember that even though Representative Nunes knew the HPSCI investigators were looking at the construct of the ICA, no one -not even Devin Nunes- had ever seen the finished report as assembled in 2020.

~ SEE HPSCI REPORT HERE ~

Despite efforts by Donald Trump to declassify the HPSCI report before leaving office, the CIA never released it.  No one except the internal Intelligence Community (CIA/DNI) had seen the HPSCI report until Tulsi Gabbard released it on July 22nd.  This is a key point, because the HPSCI report touches on all of the other declassified evidence recently released.

The authors of the HPSCI report had reviewed all of the same information John Durham reviewed.  The HPSCI report walks through the entire construct of the Intelligence Community Assessment ordered by President Obama on December 6, 2016.

Arguably, because of the underlying evidence reviewed to produce it, the HPSCI report is the most critical of the declassified release in the last few months. The HPSCI report walks through the timeline as the ICA was created between early to late December 2016.

It was this manipulated ICA that underpinned the January 5, 2017 briefing with President Obama documented in the Susan Rice “by the book” memo.  This manipulated ICA was then used to brief President-elect Trump the next day, January 6, 2017.  The two-year HPSCI investigation and final report destroys the construct of the ICA as a propaganda tool of a weaponized intelligence product.

Knowing only the CIA, DNI and likely bad elements of the FBI had seen the HPSCI report, it makes sense this was what the FBI was seeking during the raid on Mar-a-Lago.  The Intelligence Community during the Biden administration wanted to maintain the ICA ruse, and that required keeping the HPSCI report hidden.

The FBI knew Trump had declassified it, but they didn’t know if he held a physical copy of it when he left office in 2021. WATCH:

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This predicate could also explain reports of the DOJ considering Florida as the venue for a grand jury.  There is a possibility Main Justice is evaluating whether the Mar-a-Lago raid, in context with this declassified report and the FBI retrieval for it, may extend the venue options for criminal charge exploration into Florida as the place with the last act within a conspiracy.

It’s a little bit of a Lawfare-stretch to turn away from the 95% activity, that took place in DC, and use the 5% that took place in Florida to create a legal venue outside the DC defense walls.   But, with the right legal arguments, it could be possible.

If you read the 46-page report, you understand why the FBI and CIA wanted to keep it hidden.

[SOURCE]