Dec 18 2025

US Retail Spending in October Revised Down


Posted originally on Dec 18, 2025 by Martin Armstrong |  

Roll Cash

October retail sales were flat following a downwardly revised 0.1% rise in September, missing expectations yet again. This is precisely the type of number that gets spun as “resilient” or “temporary softness,” depending on the political agenda. But when you actually break the data apart, the internal contradictions tell us far more than the headline figure ever could.

Consumer spending feeds into GDP, and retail sales excluding food, autos, and gas surged by 0.8%. That is a strong rebound from September’s decline and above expectations. Consumers are spending albeit defensively.

Auto sales dropped sharply, down 1.6%, which should surprise no one. Auto affordability has collapsed under the weight of high interest rates, extended loan terms, and mounting delinquencies. People stop buying big-ticket items that require financing when confidence wanes and inflation persists.

Food services declined, consistent with job losses in the hospitality sector. Building materials and garden equipment also declined as house-related spending cools. Furniture, sporting goods, nonstore retailers, clothing, electronics, and general merchandise rose but we are in the midst of the Q4 holiday shopping rush.

We are transitioning from an inflationary shock phase into a confidence erosion phase. Spending does not collapse all at once. Rather, spending fragments as consumers become more selective. Smaller discretionary spending on items like merchandise seems more manageable than larger purchases that require financing. Policymakers will insist everything is fine because GDP has not collapsed, but we are witnessing a clear loss of momentum.

As we move toward 2026, the models continue to point toward rising volatility, weaker capital formation, and a growing divergence between what governments say and how people actually behave. Retail sales are telling a story of adaptation before contraction.

Dec 18 2025

Mamdani’s Socialist Logic


Posted originally on Dec 18, 2025 by Martin Armstrong |  

The above is a video representing the mind on socialism. “Free buses means that less drivers will get assaulted so the buses will become safer,” the newly elected New York City mayor concluded.

This is the same logic that believes defunding the police will equate to fewer arrests. It’s the same logic San Francisco used when telling citizens to leave their car doors unlocked to prevent thieves from smashing their windows. Toronto police suggested that citizens leave their car doors open to prevent home invasions. Socialists reframe crime as social injustice that couldbe eliminated through economic equality.

Inequality and capitalism are responsible for the crime rather than the criminal himself.

capitalismvssocialism

During the French Revolution of 1789 involved releasing prisoners in an event known as the Storming of the Bastille. Lenin famously emptied the prisons during the 1917 Russian Revolution. Destabilizing society gives the government a reason to expand. The criminal becomes the victim and crime explodes because there are no repercussions. Those who produce are punished through taxation as they believe YOUR wealth must be redistributed.

Economic injustice victims are needed for the Cloward-Piven strategy— overburden the bureaucracy to break the system, create controlled chaos, usurp power as civil unrest peaks, and offer government aid as the only solution.

“Once eligibility for basic food and rent grants is established, the drain on local resources persists indefinitely.” Cloward and Piven wanted to overburden the welfare system at the state level to eliminate state rights. Therefore, under this theory, government is encouraged to market a crisis, antagonize the people, and offer a solution. The only solution being to replace capitalism with socialism or communism by which the people would be entirely dependent on government. You will own nothing and be happy.

Dec 18 2025

Is Rep. Marilyn Strickland Advocating WWIII by Her Incompetence to Hold Office?


Posted originally on Dec 18, 2025 by Martin Armstrong |  

People who ask me if I would ever run for politics or accept a position the answer is ABSOLUTELY no way because if it was me testifying before Marilyn Strickland (born 1962) a Representative from Washington State, I would have made her day. She is so unqualified to hold any office it is why we are in such a crisis. She is the first member of the United States Congress of both Korean and African-American heritage, and the first African-American member elected from Washington. That was the cheering point – it was all about ethnic background and race – not qualification?

2025_03_25_09_05_50_When_Genocide_Is_Caught_on_Film_The_New_York_Times

Ukraine is the motherland of ethnic cleansing. They were killing Polish, Jews, and Russians. Hitler promised them a country, which they NEVER had, so they became Nazis and and began killing anyone who was not of Ukrainian blood. The CIA protected the Ukrainian Nazis because they also hatred Russia. So it did not matter how many Jews they killed. That was sanctions as long as they were also killing Russians. NOT a single Ukrainian was ever put on trial like the Germans for their wear crimes.

As soon as there was the 2014 Revolution which we instigated with John McCain there at Maidan advocating the overthrow of the government against international law and Victoria Nuland handing out sandwiches to the revolutionaries, and then handpicked the interim government which then they instructed to attack the Russian in the Donbas. That was NOT an elected government. This was a NEOCON installed government intended yo start this war with Russia.

May 2 2014 Odessa Trade Unions House

Strickland is ignorant of the facts as she wants total war with Russia pushed out of Ukraine and the Russians Russian people of the Donbas should then be subject to Kiev’s ethnic cleansing which started this mess. She is not interested in the fact and clearly is supporting the Ukrainian Nazis at this point.

Indepentent Neo Nazis

Many Ukrainians are still Neo-Nazis and hate Russians. They still march with images of the ethnic cleanser Bandara who had Polish, Russians, and Jewish pregnant women cut open, removed their babies, and sewn in live cats. This has all been documented.

Bandara Monument
Bandera in March

Bandara who start the ethnic cleansing in Ukraine is still a national hero. His picture was all over Maidan. This is why I do not want to EVER have any such position in government because I would not be so kind. I would have tore her apart on national TV and set the record straight and ask her so you support the same agenda as Adolf Hitler and the CIA to just kill Russians? So you agree with your Republican Adversary Lindsey Graham this is the best money we ever spent to kill the Russian people? What if you said that about Blacks, Muslims, Jews, or Christians?

Her statement that Russia will then attack a NATO nation. That is a Neocon propaganda. Russian went into the Donbas to protect Russians – not to conquer Ukraine. If you do not understand your enemy, you will lose in this war. Her stupidity is brining us closer to World War III with every stupid word.

wwiii ww iii
Dec 18 2025

Providence-area Radio Host Asks Brown University About Their Intentional Disabling of CCTV Systems


Posted originally on CTH on December 18, 2025 | Sundance

During a press conference on Wednesday, a Providence-area radio host, Chas Calenda, directly confronted Brown University officials and law enforcement with information he has received about the school intentionally disabling surveillance systems due to DEI concerns.

The response from university officials and the Providence Mayor indicate Mr. Chas Calenda’s informed accusation and question is directly on target.  WATCH:

In addition to information we previously shared {GO DEEP} reflecting requests from various “civil rights” and “humanitarian” groups who demanded Brown University disable their surveillance system, additional information about the issue comes via the Rhode Island ACLU making the same demand in October of this year [SEE HERE].

Brown University was under pressure from far-left groups as an outcome of concern the CCTV and school security system would be used by federal authorities to (a) identify radical leftists expressing antisemitic sentiments, and (b) identify the immigration status of persons on campus.  It is not just isolated to Brown University.

Multiple municipal governments, private and municipal agencies have received the same demand in an ongoing effort to block Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.  The mass shooting on Brown University is leading to a larger public awareness of an issue that has been spreading rapidly in the last several months.

The claim by Chas Calenda is that his local sources within law enforcement are confirming the university cowed to the concerns of the civil rights groups, including the removal of cameras.  This is why there is no recorded CCTV footage, and the university is talking gibberish in their efforts to avoid admitting what has taken place.

Brown University and Providence police have $8 billion liability reasons to be less than honest with the alarmed public. The political ramifications of the story are also complicating the issue for Brown University, as well as local and national figures.

Here is the full press conference.  The key question comes at the very end of the video 49:20.

Dec 18 2025

Do Not Look Away on This One


Posted originally on CTH on December 18, 2025 | Sundance

The ramifications are enormous here, not just to Brown University, Providence Rhode Island or local/state officials.  The ramifications here extend into every facet of the leftist operation to disrupt law and order in the United States.

Do not look away from the story of the targeted assassination on the campus of Brown University, or the coverup surrounding why information is not available.  Brown University was attempting to create the ultimate leftist locale where every leftist idea and outlook was affirmed, and all leftist policies were implemented. The implications here are extremely important.  Do not look away.  WATCH:

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Dec 18 2025

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino Confirms His Resignation – Will Be Leaving FBI in January


Posted originally on CTH on December 17, 2025 | Sundance 

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino confirms via his X account, that he will be leaving the FBI in January.

[SOURCE]

This announcement does not come as a surprise to those follow the details of corrupt systems closely and who have watched the scale of the problems surface through the years.

The problems within the FBI as an institution are systemic.  Both Kash Patel and Dan Bongino faced a monumental challenge in trying to get their arms around the scale of the problem within the institution.  There is no apple, only worms.

Any type of institutional confrontation at this scale can only succeed if the problems are first admitted. Bongino faced a big challenge with Director Patel refusing to accept institutional corruption was the biggest issue.  You cannot correct problems of great consequence until you admit the core of the problem.  No admission was made. The problems remain.

Inasmuch as we all wanted Dan Bongino to succeed, we must also admit to ourselves he did not possess sufficient skills that neuter the attack vectors that would be exploited against him.  Training that skillset first starts with an inward conversation.

Easily identified attack vectors are mechanisms deployed by those who retain corrupt activity within the institution.

We knew from the outset the corrupt FBI actors would seek to remain in control by manipulating the leadership Trump dispatched to confront them.

Kash Patel’s primary attack vector comes as an outcome of his ego, desire for affluence and delusions of grandeur.

Dan Bongino’s attack vector was/is his emotional need to be liked and appreciated by his audience.  As a broadcast personality an internal codependency heading is good for business.  However, in an institutional leadership position that same a codependency mindset is the opposite of the skillset needed to confront a corrupt audience.

Emotional dependency, definitions of self-worth determined by an external audience, creates vulnerability.  Corrupt FBI actors know how to exploit a personality that needs to be liked (Bongino), and corrupt FBI actors know how to exploit a personality that assigns value to the indulgences of position (Patel).  This was the non-pretending baseline for easy to predict failure.

Former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz held a worldview that was counter to the perspective of President Trump. He did possess the skillset; he just held the wrong mindset.  For Dan Bongino it was the opposite. Bongino holds the same mindset as President Trump, he just didn’t have the skillset.

Misaligned outlook or misaligned skillsets, when combined with easily identifiable attack vectors, creates manipulative opportunities for those who intend to continue corrupt endeavors within big institutional systems.

We wish Dan Bongino all the best as he returns to private life.

We will continue praying for Mr Bongino’s physical and emotional health, and we sincerely thank him for his efforts.

Dec 18 2025

President Trump Delivers an Address to the Nation


Posted originally on CTH on December 17, 2025 | Sundance 

President Trump delivers remarks to the nation, outlining the challenges left by years of intentional erosion of American values and law and order by those who controlled the Biden administration.  WATCH:

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Dec 18 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin Responds to Zelenskyy and EU During Remarks to Defense Ministry


Posted originally on CTH on December 17, 2025 | Sundance 

During a speech to the Russian Defense Ministry, Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin responded to the generally-public-outline of the Zelenskyy-EU plan to end combat operations against Russia.

Remarkably, President Putin began his statement by thanking North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un for sending supportive troops to assist the Russian army in the Donbas region.  Putin held a moment of silence for the fallen soldiers from the DPRK.

The entire speech transcript IS HERE.  Below I am pulling out the excerpt that specifically pertains to the current line of conflict in Ukraine and the position of Russia as it pertains to a cessation of hostilities.

VLADIMIR PUTIN – […] “Today, we can see that the geopolitical situation remains tense throughout the world, and even critical in some regions. NATO countries are actively building up and modernizing their offensive forces, and creating and deploying new types of weapons, including in outer space.

Meanwhile, people in Europe are being indoctrinated with fears of an inevitable confrontation with Russia, with claims that preparations must be made for a major war. Various figures who have held or continue to hold positions of responsibility appear to have simply forgotten what that responsibility entails.

They are whipping up hysteria, guided by momentary, personal or group political interests rather than the interests of their people. I have said many times that this is a lie and an irrational narrative about an imaginary Russian threat to European countries. But they are doing this deliberately.

The truth is that Russia has always, until the last possible moment tried, even in the most complicated circumstances, to find diplomatic solutions to differences and conflicts. Responsibility for the failure to use these chances lies squarely with those who believe that they can use the language of force with us.

We continue to call for developing mutually beneficial and equal cooperation with the United States and European countries, and for creating a joint security system in the Eurasian region. We welcome nascent progress in our dialogue with the new US administration, which cannot be said of the current leaders of the majority of European countries.

At the same time, we realize that our Armed Forces remain the key guarantor of Russia’s sovereignty and independence in any international situation. As I have stated, we must work consistently to strengthen them.

What I would like to emphasize here are the objectives to be set in the area of military development, taking into account the dynamics of the situation along the line of contact, among other factors.

First. The goals of the special military operation will undoubtedly be achieved. We would prefer to accomplish this and address the root causes of the conflict through diplomatic means. However, if the opposing side and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive dialogue, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means. The task of creating and expanding a security buffer zone will also be carried out consistently.

Second. Work on modernizing the Armed Forces must continue at a rapid pace and to a high standard, primarily within the framework of the new State Armament Programme for 2027˗2036, which is currently under development.

As I have repeatedly emphasized, the experience gained during the special military operation, emerging trends in combat tactics, and rapidly developing military technologies must be fully taken into account.

Key areas of the state programme include air and missile defense systems, command and control systems, electronic warfare capabilities, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operating in all environments.

Of course, improving our strategic nuclear forces remains a priority. As before, they will play a decisive role in deterring aggression and maintaining the global balance of power.” (READ MORE)

Dec 18 2025

Brown University Received a Letter from 34 Human Rights Groups in August Requesting They Disable Their CCTV System


Posted originally on CTH on December 17, 2025 | Sundance

The question is: Did Brown University acquiesce under pressure from far-left human rights groups to disable their CCTV systems, in advance of the mass shooting on campus?

[SOURCE – AUGUST 19, 2025]

As originally reported in August 2025 {SOURCE}, a group of far-left human rights advocates sent a letter to 150 U.S. colleges and universities asking them to disable the CCTV systems to protect “free expression and academic freedom across the country,” because “the Trump administration has launched an aggressive campaign against US academic institutions.”

The motive for the request to disable CCTV systems as stated: “Right now these tools are facilitating the identification and punishment of student protesters, undermining activists’ right to anonymity––a right the Supreme Court has affirmed as vital to free expression and political participation.” {SOURCE}

The letter from ‘Fight For The Future‘ (August, 2025) came after an earlier campaign by the same group seeking to stop the use of facial recognition cameras on college campuses. {SOURCE}

The Brown University President and school officials have been giving ridiculous answers to questions about the 800 cameras on the campus and the fact that no current footage exists of the shooter walking around inside the campus or inside the buildings therein.

The question is really a simple one.  Did Brown University follow the requests of the hardline leftist groups who asked the school to disable the functioning of their surveillance network in order to protect the identity of the students on campus?

Obviously, this potential explanation would answer a lot of seemingly irreconcilable questions about the lack of surveillance footage available to local law enforcement, state police and FBI investigators.  The only current footage of the shooter is from privately owned doorbell cameras and CCTV systems from businesses near the campus.  No footage of the shooter on campus has been identified.

Against the factual evidence of Brown University receiving requests to disable their surveillance cameras, someone needs to ask the right question.

Everyone can see the potential ramifications here, along with the severity of the legal risk Brown University would be facing.  Perhaps that dynamic is what’s behind the twisted wording and explanations coming from university and local officials.

A targeted political assassination of a young, female conservative vice-chair of the Brown University Republican group takes place.  The ideological shooter benefits from the lack of school security and surveillance.  That lack of security was intentionally created by ideological school administrators and officials bowing to pressure from ideologically aligned leftist organizations.

If accurate, this is quite a scenario on many levels; including a considerable legal risk, intentional and willful negligence, and massive lawsuit exposure in the aftermath of two deaths and 9 injured students.  Brown University has an $8 billion endowment.

As everyone understands, a University like Brown creates a local economy unto itself. College towns like Providence, Rhode Island are college towns for a reason.  The college is a considerable foundation for the economic wealth of the community.  As an outcome, the local officials would be in full protection mode over their economic foundation.  In this case, there are billions at stake.

Perhaps this dynamic explains all the conflicts and seemingly bizarre statements by local and university officials.  WATCH:

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Dec 17 2025

BILL FEDERER: The Most Important Thing Is To Bring People To Christ, But The Second Most Important Thing Is To Preserve The Freedom To Do The Most Important Thing


Posted originally on Rumble on Bannon War Room on: December 16, 2025