Tag Archives: 15 minute cities

Feb 7 2024

Tucker Carlson Goes to the Forbidden Zone to Interview Public Enemy #2, Vladimir Putin


Posted originally on the CTH on February 6, 2024 | Sundance

I’m not sure what provoked Tucker Carlson to actually follow through on this plan; I know he was deeply worried about being arrested in Russia.  However, Carlson did something every U.S. journalist should do, even though they are forbidden by the State Dept from doing it.

The reason the U.S. Government doesn’t want people traveling into Russia, is specifically because people will tell the experience of their time in Russia, and that will run completely counter to the acceptable narrative.  Tucker Carlson took the chance, and the intelligence apparatus is likely going bananas.  WATCH:

If we lived in a world governed by grown-ups, this interview would not be even slightly controversial.  Unfortunately, we live in a world choreographed by the U.S. intelligence apparatus to provide us only one skewed version of global reality.  When it comes to Russia, nothing… not a single thing…. is in alignment with what Western media proclaim is the reality.

Feb 7 2024

Tucker Carlson to Interview Putin


Posted originally on Feb 6, 2024 By Martin Armstrong 

Carlson_Interview_Vladimir_Putin

Tucker is correct. The world has a right to listen to BOTH sides and decide. Propaganda is when one side hides the comment of an opponent. I have read Marx and Hitler. You have to read even someone you disagree with to understand the thinking process of how they have arrived at their conclusions. It is imperative to listen to both sides to understand what is really at stake and how we are about ready to unleash World War III, which will end up nuclear.

Feb 7 2024

Fast Food Restaurants Abandon Value Customers


Posted originally on Feb 7, 2024 By Martin Armstrong 

mcdonalds

Fast food establishments originated as the cheap, quick alternative to a proper meal. Value customers earning under $45,000 annually were the target demographic until recently when inflationary pressures caused food prices to skyrocket. Minimum wage requirements, wage increases, and price gauging have all contributed to the rising costs and a drastic shift in the customer base. Fast food establishments are admitting that they are losing their value customer base amid record profits.

McDonald’s most recent earnings report surpasses EPS estimates by $0.12, with the stock rising over 11% in the past three months and 10.92% in the past year. The company admitted during its last earnings call that they are losing value customers as it is simply cheaper for consumers to cook at home. CEO Chris J. Kempczinski stated last year that the chain restaurant is now targeting middle- and higher-income consumers who, in turn, can no longer afford the higher-end establishments. “It’s clear that consumers continue to be more discriminating about what and where they spend,” he stated after the Q3 earnings announcement.

McDonald’s announced that prices are expected to rise 10% at a time when food prices are up 6.2%. CEO Kempczinski called this an opportunity for fast food to target new customers while providing bundled deals and smaller serving sizes to retain value customers, who are no longer needed as the main consumer base. The price of menu items varies by state, and a Big Mac combo could cost up to $18 in some areas.

The Economist established the Big Mac index in 1986 to establish a somewhat humorous gauge to determine purchasing power between nations. According to data from January 2024, Switzerland hosts the most expensive Big Macs in the world at around 8.17, compared to 5.87 in the EU and 5.69 in the US. Again, this is not meant to be a real gauge of PPP but an interesting comparison between nations.

Every fast food establishment, from Wendy’s, IHOP, Burger King, Chipotle, etc., is raising prices amid inflation, increased taxation, and minimum wage hikes. Yet the majority of establishments are posting record earnings each quarter and profiting big time on the middle class. Consumers are simply accepting high prices as the new norm and cannot differentiate price gouging from necessary increases due to inflation. The convenience of a meal on the go is now a luxury that the people who are preparing the food can no longer afford.

Feb 2 2024

Interview: Trump, CBDC, Global Tension and Investment Strategies


Posted originally on Feb 2, 2024 By Martin Armstrong 

Press Interview

Click here to watch the latest interview on 2 Vikings Podcast on Spotify.

A message from Frank Nilsen:

How does Martin believe central bank digital currencies will affect the future of finance, borrowing, and the overall economy? With rising government discontent and predicted collapses in confidence, what indicators should we watch to gauge the stability of government systems? What are the historical precedents for capital migration during times of war or conflict, and how are we seeing this take place today?

Martin A Armstrong is back on the 2 Vikings podcast again. He is a former financial advisor and hedge fund manager who gained prominence for his economic forecasting abilities. He started his career in the early 1970s and quickly became known for his unique approach to analyzing financial markets.   One of Armstrong’s notable contributions to the field of economics is the development of the Economic Confidence Model (ECM). The ECM is a cyclical model that aims to predict economic and political events based on a series of mathematical calculations. According to Armstrong, these cycles repeat over time and can be used to forecast market trends with remarkable accuracy. Armstrong’s forecasting abilities gained widespread attention in the late 1980s when he accurately predicted the Black Monday stock market crash of 1987. His model also successfully predicted various other major events, including the Japanese asset bubble collapse in the early 1990s and the Russian financial crisis in 1998.

In addition to his economic forecasting work, Armstrong also founded Armstrong Economics, a research firm that provided economic analysis and consulting services to clients worldwide. The company’s clients included governments, central banks, and major corporations.   While he gained recognition for accurately predicting major market events, he also faced legal troubles and was convicted of contempt of court. Armstrong spent several years fighting the charges against him and was ultimately convicted of contempt of court for refusing to hand over computer files related to his forecasting models. He was sentenced to prison in 2000 and remained incarcerated until 2011. You can see his story in the documentary “The Forecaster.” During his time in prison, Armstrong continued to write about economics and finance. He gained a following of supporters who believed in his forecasting abilities and viewed him as a victim of government persecution. Armstrong’s writings, which were published on his website, often delved into topics such as market manipulation, government corruption, and the flaws of the financial system. Since his release from prison, Armstrong has continued to publish his economic insights and analysis on his website. He has also been involved in various legal battles related to his case and has become an advocate for reforming the justice system. Armstrong continues to share his economic insights through his website but remains a controversial figure in the field of economics.

We talk about: 00:00 Allegations of election interference and financial corruption. 09:14 Discoveries made by accident, not intentional pursuit. 15:39 Refusing to sell, setting off chain of events. 17:32 Russia’s large natural resource reserves are tempting. 28:15 Congress to vote, circumventing, dangerous power grab, inflation. 31:15 Became largest institutional advisors in the world. 35:03 Historical revolts sparked democracy, not communication speed. 42:48 Urgent need for CBDCs to control debt. 48:12 Decrees make no sense, unsustainable federal spending. 51:20 Shocking dinner conversation at Mar a Largo. 58:18 Rising discontent may lead to stock market pullback. 01:04:21 High priest determined leap year, leading to corruption. 01:10:42 Gold brokers indicative of upcoming restrictions, collapse. 01:17:11 Migration increases traffic, taxes and bribery issues. 01:18:58 Model predicts war but people want peace. 01:24:09 AfD leader supports Brexit model for Germany. 01:32:28 Colombians pay for heart transplant to escape. 01:34:09 Government funds for medical procedures exploited. Enjoy!

Feb 2 2024

Mona Lisa & Climate Change


Posted originally on Feb 2, 2024 By Martin Armstrong 

Mona Lisa

Last weekend, some Climate Change Activists entered the Louvre Museum in Paris and splashed carrot soup on the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. Those involved in this Climate Change agenda are complete fools, and it is easy to see how brainwashed these people are, just like some young Arab convinced he will get 73 virgins if he blows himself up. I know someone who interviewed one of the masterminds behind terrorism, and he concluded that they would never do what they tell these young kids to do by killing themselves.

Linseed Oil

These people are so brainwashed that they are attacking famous oil paintings to protest against fossil fuels, which were not even discovered until hundreds of years after these paintings were made. Another brainwashed idiot did the same thing at the Whitney Museum in New York City. Oil paintings are not made with crude oil but Linseed oil, also known as flaxseed oil or flax oil, obtained from the dried, ripened seeds of the flax plant. I suppose they should go to Greece and protest making olive oil. That must surely be risking total extinction.

Climate Activist

The Mona Lisa wasn’t damaged because it is behind bullet-proof glass. Still, there is something seriously wrong with the Climate Change lunatics. They are attacking art because they are oil paintings. Yet these idiots will never amount to anything in life and would also blow themselves up if some guru told them to do so.

Feb 2 2024

SAF – NYPD Believe 5 Illegal Aliens, Who Beat Cops Then Received Bail, Left Town on Charity Bus Heading to Sanctuary in California


Posted originally on the CTH on February 1, 2024 | Sundance 

The only reason this story gained traction was because CCTV video was involved.  With tens of millions of violent illegal aliens throughout the country, just imagine how much crime is occurring without detection or without widespread public knowledge.

In New York City, five illegal aliens acting as a pack of wild dogs were caught-on-camera attacking two NYPD cops in Times Square.  They were tracked down and arrested.  However, after appearing in court, they immediately received bail.

As noted by the NY Post, “Footage of the incident on West 42nd Street shows an NYPD officer and lieutenant telling a group of migrants to move along before a scuffle breaks out. The officers sustained kicks and punches as they attempted to wrestle some of the individuals to the ground.”

In an update, after receiving bail the five assault criminals have now hopped a charity bus heading to California to avoid prosecution.

NEW YORK – Four of the migrants cut loose without bail after allegedly ganging up on two NYPD cops near Times Square may be on the run, The Post has learned.

Cops believe the group hopped on a bus bound for California on Wednesday after giving phony names to a church-affiliated nonprofit group that helps migrants get rides out of the city, according to law enforcement sources.

Four migrants were charged with assault on a police officer and obstruction immediately after the shocking, caught-on-video attack Saturday in Midtown: Darwin Andres Gomez, 19, Kelvin Servita Arocha, 19, Wilson Juarez, 21, and Yorman Reveron, 24.

All were released without monetary bail, though Reveron, who had prior arrests on his rap sheet, was put on supervised release.  A fifth asylum-seeking suspect, Jhoan Boada, 22, was hit with the same charges and also released without bail Wednesday. (read more)

We know it is only going to get worse.  Almost none of these released illegal aliens have an independent financial support system.  Considering the cultural norms and outlooks held by the mostly young adult males, as the reality of their situation hardens, we can expect extreme antisocial behavior to manifest throughout the country.

To gain a perspective on how quickly this is happening, head to your local indoor shopping mall.  Sit on a bench as an observer, maintain full situational awareness and look around.  You’ll see it just as clear as you are reading this type.  The “slowly at first” is currently metastasizing and spreading throughout most population centers.

Be aware of your surroundings, and if you have young vulnerable females in the family – be extremely diligent with their safety.

Feb 1 2024

Soros Meddling in Texas


Posted originally on Feb 1, 2024 By Martin Armstrong 

Soros one world government

George Soros is using his fortune to support the establishment once again and now has his sights set on Texas. Amid the Texas border standoff, Soros has spent nearly $3 million to support five separate groups in Texas determined to flip the state blue.

Texas Majority PAC, funded solely by Soros and his Democracy PAC II, has been operating off the radar since December 2022. “Texas Majority PAC is a research and development institution dedicated to flipping Texas blue by building year-round Democratic infrastructure in the key regions of Texas,” the description notes. “TMP invests in partners running voter engagement and turnout programs in an effort to bring their work to the scale required to win statewide office in Texas.”

Those affiliated with the group are confident they will continue to receive funding. Soros personally provided the group with $1.4 million and funneled an additional $850,000 through his Democracy PAC II. “We need millions of more dollars and hundreds of more full-time staff to do this,” the group’s executive director, Katherine Fischer, told The Texas Tribune. “Texas Majority PAC works with partners across the state to create the conditions that will make flipping the state possible.”

Soros Austin Defund Police

What conditions are required to flip Texas? The group has been extremely vague but there are numerous theories. Again, this is only one of FIVE known groups that Soros is bankrolling.

Texas is a Republican state, but Trump barely secured the Lone Star State in 2020 when he defeated Joe Biden by a mere six percentage points. Donald Trump received 52.06% of the total vote, which amounted to 5,890,347 votes. On the other hand, Joe Biden received 46.48% of the total vote, which was 5,259,126 votes.

Texas Majority PAC is run by staffers from  Beto O’Rourke’s 2022 failed campaign. O’Rourke lost the 2018 Senate race against Ted Cruz and has not sought any office since. Ted Cruz is up for re-election this year, and rest assured this PAC will do everything to prevent him from winning. O’Rourke was an outspoken advocate for illegal immigration and removing any border between the US and Mexico.

Texas is narrowly holding on to its red state values. One of the “conditions” that could flip Texas is the very issue Governor Abbott is fighting to prevent – illegal migration. These globalists will continue the invasion of Texas in a sinister attempt to flip the state, thereby removing any barriers that would prevent illegal immigrants who they see as future blue voters.

Jan 31 2024

Tucker Carlson Interviews Russell Brand, Discussing the Era of Information Warfare and Government Targeting


Posted originally on the CTH on January 30, 2024 | Sundance

Russell Brand is a former lefty who took the red pill and over time joined the great awakening.  As an outcome of his current perspectives and influence, Brand is currently labeled a dissident threat and targeted by the globalist system.

Tucker Carlson invited Brand to appear on his broadcast for a discussion of the big picture amid the current era of information warfare.  Brand is an eloquent voice who frames the arguments very clearly and quickly, thus his growing influence represented a threat to the system and a process of Lawfare attacks was launched against him.  The British government then asked all Big Tech platforms to remove Brand from visibility.  The only tech platform that refused to acquiesce to the Five-Eyes demand was Rumble.

This is a very good interview, well worth the 40 minutes of time.

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Jan 30 2024

Europe’s Digital Decade – 2030


Posted originally on Jan 30, 2024 By Martin Armstrong 

2030DigitalDecade

The year 2030 will mark the beginning of Europe’s “Digital Decade,” according to the European Union, where our data and personal interactions will be digitized. The European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (EDIC) will act as the legal foundation to assist member states in developing their own digital programs and objectives. The Digital Decade policy programme [sic] is expected to be released in, you guessed it, 2030.

The European Commission and their unelected officials aim to provide the illusion of choice and empowerment. “All users, from childhood to old age, should be empowered and protected,” the Commission claims, stating that data will be secure and safe. Safety includes “a fair online environment,” such as removing disinformation and altering the truth as they see fit. Censoring the internet is essential for controlling the narrative.

Censors

The fact of the matter is that you will not have a choice. In order to participate in society, you must have a digital ID. They want 100% of public services to be digitized, including all medical records. As Queen Maxima of the Netherlands said at Davos, digitizing medical records will alert governments “who actually got a vaccination or not.” She said that every public service down to school enrollment should be linked to digital IDs, which is one of the reasons why they will force your children to have their own digital identification at birth, if not sooner.

“To reach the digital targets and objectives, the European Commission will accelerate and facilitate the launch of multi-country projects, large-scale projects that no single Member State could develop on its own,” the EC stated. The goal is to eventually move each member nation to a “Digital Single Market” to push Europe closer to being a nation rather than a continent. Hence, they say the Digital Single Market will change European culture entirely.

https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/corporateplayer/index.html?video=I-203147&language=EN

They throw in goals about sustainability and climate because it cannot be quantified or questioned at this stage. The Important project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) plans to implement 10,000 “climate-neutral highly secure edge nodes” in its “interoperable and accessible European data processing technologies, enabling a cloud to edge continuum across multiple providers.” In other words, they want 75% of European companies to use a centralized cloud database and grant government backdoor access. Seven member states are already working on mobilizing this program, with €1.2 billion in public funding granted to them in December 2023, following an additional €1.4 billion in private investments.

The first step is to acclimate the public to the idea of going digital, personally, as they wish to create a global digital identity. The World Trade Organization (WTO) and World Economic Forum (WEF) published a report that encourages the use of a global digital identity program for persons and objects. “End-to-end trade digitalization requires a global approach to digital identities of natural and legal persons as well as of physical and digital objects sending or receiving electronic information to avoid creating digital identity silos,” the 2022 report stated. The only reason to trace persons as if they were objects is control.

America, Canada, the EU, and every nation deceived by globalist agenda has a plan to create a digital ID. This will begin as an independent endeavor for each nation. Europe has made it known that they will consolidate each member nation’s platform, but it has not been revealed that EVERY nation will be linked to the same universal database. Who will control the database that will contain all of your information and finances? The one-world government — the ultimate goal of the globalist elites who desire to rule the world.

The computer models indicate that justice will prevail and these power-hungry tyrants will ultimately be defeated, but our way of life as we have known it will change in the process.

Jan 29 2024

No Cash Accepted


Posted originally on Jan 29, 2024 By Martin Armstrong |

cashless society electronic money

Businesses are increasingly preventing customers from using cash as NO CASH ACCEPTED signs line Main Street. No federal law requires businesses to accept cash, but some states and cities have implemented laws mandating businesses to do so. COVID accelerated the push toward a cashless society, as physical cash was seen as unhygienic. Then the US mint faced a physical currency shortage as Americans hoarded their cash. Cashless businesses are now widely accepted and normalized in our society.

Around 6 million Americans who do not have a bank account, and therefore are blocked from participating in our cashless society. This particularly impacts the poorest in our nation, as a recent survey found that 40% of unbanked individuals do not have enough liquidity to meet the minimum balance required by banks. The FDIC found that one-third of respondents simply do not trust the banks and prefer cash for privacy purposes.

Then there are those who use prepaid cards or tools like CashApp that fall in “underbanked” bracket. The latest estimate found that 19 million households fall under this category. Combined, one in five Americans are either unbanked or underbanked, and according to the government, these individuals are merely attempting to avoid taxation.

Another lesser known fact is that banks often charge stores for physical currency. Additionally, the costs of providing and handling physical currency, such as the need for security, transportation, and storage make it more costly for businesses to use cash. The crime wave across blue cities is a contributing factor as well, as it is not uncommon to see signs stating that a business does not have cash on hand to deter thieves.

There is no federal law that requires banks to charge for change, but federal law generally allows banks to charge non-interest charges and fees. Interchange fees are transaction fees that the merchant’s bank must pay whenever a customer uses a credit/debit card to make a purchase, which is why you will often see a surcharge of around 3% at certain businesses to cover this expense. So businesses are faced with fees for all transactions whether they go the cash or card route.

JunkFeesBanking

The 2010 Dodd-Frank ruling permitted businesses to set a credit card minimum of $10, as the interchange fees nulled the profits on small purchases. Debit cards are treated as cash, whereby there is no set minimum by law.

They will soon force the unbanked and underbanked into the banking system, which is one of the reasons why the Biden Administration continually talks about erasing junk fees so that the 40% who claim they cannot meet the minimum balance are not excluded from government oversight. The push for a cashless society is a global phenomenon tied to the DPI and other initiatives that aim to centralize our individual data.