Tag Archives: CBDC

Jul 27 2024

It’s a Recession Not a Depression


Posted originally on Jul 26, 2024 By Martin Armstrong 

Recession Global

The government insists that the economy is fine, thriving perhaps, and has asked the public to pay no mind to their current financial situation. No one, aside from those living off government assistance, are better off now than they were four years ago. Americans cannot be gas lit into believing the economy is sound when every social-economic group is suffering.

Americans have already lost confidence in the economy and, therefore, in the government.

A recent poll by Affirm found that 3 in 5 Americans believe the US is in a recession, and most believe that recession began in March 2023. Another poll from Guardian/Harris found that 56% of Americans feel that the recession has already arrived. Seven in 10 Americans have reported that they are unable to save for the future. About 68% of respondents from the Affirm poll believe inflation has caused the recession, but few realize what causes inflation.

Credit card debt has reached an all-time high, with 8.9% of balances falling into delinquency as of May 2024. Bankruptcies are on the rise both personal and corporate. A CNN poll discovered that 39% of Americans worry that they may no longer be able to pay their bills. The poll saw similar sentiments during the Great Recession when 37% of Americans feared the next round of bills. Moody’s Analytics believes that household spending has risen $925 per month compared to three years due to inflation. Sixty-five percent of respondents said that the cost of living crisis is the most significant issue our nation faces. Politicians would be wise to focus on domestic issues as the people are on the brink.

Americans are spending more on less as economic conditions have begun to impact the average person’s quality of life. CNN also reported that 35% of adults are taking on second jobs to combat the price of living. Sixty-nine percent are spending less on entertainment, a correlation we have seen with corporate bankruptcies primarily rising in non-essential sectors. Another 41% say they cut down on driving to save on energy costs. Sixty-eight percent of American families have had to cut back on grocery spending, despite US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen denying food inflation entirely.

Bidenomics failed. We are in a recession but not a depression. People hoard when they fear for the future, and that is happening not only as a result of economic conditions but geopolitical tensions and war will cause people to spend less. Then, to fund these wars and other spending packages, the government raises taxes, which is always recessionary. The computer had long warned that the American economy would turn down in May 2024 and not resurface until 2028.

Jul 26 2024

Living Your Greatness Podcast – Final Days of the Empire


Posted Jul 25, 2024 By Martin Armstrong 

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Jul 26 2024

June Home Sales Drop in Line with ECM


Posted Jul 25, 2024 By Martin Armstrong 

RealEstate

I noted that real estate in the United States would turn into a buyer’s market in May 2024 going into August 2028 in a reversal from the buyer’s market we’ve experienced since 2020. The 2007 high on the Shiller Index was the precise day of the Economic Confidence Model. So far, all the indicators have confirmed that we should have a recessionary trend into 2028 with this turn in the model on this wave.

The National Association of Realtors finally agreed that we are now amid a buyer’s market after June posted the lowest number of sales for 2024 despite a notable rise in inventory. Home sales fell 5.4% in June from May, when the market flipped, to 3.89 million units. This figure is also 5.4% lower than home sales in June 2023.

Gone are the days where buyers would forego inspections and entering bidding wars where the listing price was by no means the final sale price. Inventory from June 2023 to June 2024 has risen 23.4% to 1.32 million available units. Inventory is still a challenge, as are housing prices. The median home cost $426,900 last month, marking a new record-high as well as a 4.1% annual increase.

US_Residential_Real_Estate_Index_Analysis 12 13 23

Homes on the lower end of the spectrum have been keeping averages down. Single-family units between $200K and $350K rose 50% in the past year, according to Realtor.com. There are more homes available now than there have been since May 2020, when sellers reigned supreme. Mortgage rates are far higher than during the 2020 era, and Americans are seeing their available funds dwindling. It is harder for potential buyers to enter the market.

Smart money views mortgages as an alternative to unsecured government debt. Cash remains king with 28% of buyers who have the means opting to forego mortgages entirely, and often can decline high insurance premiums as well. We are also witnessing a mass migration from blue states into red states and should expect prices to decline where there is a dampened demand. It is difficult to view real estate from a national perspective in the United States as demand is up in red states as people continue to leave increasingly oppressive policies regarding taxation, crime, education, and business. If you were thinking of buying a new house right now, lock in the interest rate, for with war on the horizon, long-term rates will rise.

Jul 26 2024

Britain’s Perspective on World War III


Posted orginally on Jul 25, 2024 By Martin Armstrong 

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Britain believes the next world war against an “axis of upheaval” will begin within three years. General Sir Roly Walker has issued a warning that Russian President Vladimir Putin will seek revenge against the Western powers who supported Ukraine. He believes China, North Korea, and Iran will form an alliance against the West by 2027 to 2028

“The point here is when you think they [the Russians] are down, they will come roaring back to get their vengeance,” Walker said at a recent conference. “That is why you get to this point by… 2027-2028 this convergence may have reached some sort of mutual singularity and your ability to deal with them in isolation – a specific crisis that can be managed by the rules based system – I think is significantly diminished,” he said.

This is in line with our computer models that have long insisted we would see a rise in both international and domestic conflicts throughout most nations by 2027 going into 2028. Britain is already quietly at war with Russia. Our UK array on the 10-year shows higher volatility into 2025.

I explained at the London Seminar that the Brits are extremely effective secretaries and we have a massive amount of data that helps us to predict what is to come. Interest rates rallied up five years to the downtrend line, but during times of war, interest rates must go up. The pound could eventually fall to 80 cents – it’s a confidence factor. As long as people anticipate war, you’re looking at capital outflows.

Everything must be viewed from a global perspective. I also explained in London that Taiwan may cease to exist as a nation by 2028. “A problem in one area is likely to trigger a sympathetic detonation in another and therefore it is a global problem looked at from different perspectives around the world,” Sir Walker stated. The true problem is that the NATO Neocons cannot resist the desire to engage in warfare. They have already set up the stage to attack China over Taiwan. It is not a matter of China becoming sympathetic to Russia, but rather, China has long felt that the international community is interfering in their personal affairs.

The British army will be ready to fight and kill the new formation of axis powers by 2027. Sir Walker believes the British army is outdated in troops and strength and needs to rebuild. Every nation is increasing military spending. There is a cycle to war and sadly it will soon be time for the next conflict.

Jul 26 2024

Beyond Schoolhouse Rock – Understanding U.S. Government, 2024 Edition


Posted originally on the CTH on July 25, 2024 | Sundance 

Some people struggle to understand the relationships of the IC silo operation in Washington DC.  That struggle is completely understandable, because the modern functioning doesn’t come as an outcome of any constitutional or legislative framework.  The modern functioning was created by the Intelligence Community (IC).

To share an example and provide an accurate elevator speech, CTH assembles non-pretending metaphors.  Here’s the State Department and CIA joint silo operation. All of our foreign allies and enemies know and understand this metaphor.  I have discussed it with several and many smile in affirmation:

The U.S State Dept and CIA operation is like a restaurant.

The Dept of State is the front of the restaurant, with the Secretary as the Maitre D’.

The CIA is the back of the restaurant, the kitchen. The Director is the Chef.

The menus at the front, as well as the specific seating/tables available, are dependent on the status of each guest. Each table gets a different menu.

The Chef has the opportunity to kill the diner. The diners know this and those who understand the nature of the business model consider the Chef the most powerful person in the establishment.

The consulates are the wait staff. USAID are the food runners. The Dept of Defense are the bus boys.

Ukraine is a big tipper.

Jul 25 2024

See the Signals Through the Noise


Posted originally on the CTH on July 24, 2024 | Sundance

At the same time that Benjamin Netanyahu is in Washington DC to rally U.S. support for the ongoing Israeli conflict against Hamas in Gaza, FBI Director Chris Wray is informing congress of the potential for domestic Iranian interests to be involved in the assassination attempt against President Trump.

What does each narrative have in common?

When outgoing President Barack Obama had his final “transition” meeting with incoming President Donald Trump, he informed the incoming administration the biggest geopolitical threat to national security interests comes from North Korea. President-elect Trump asked President Obama if he had ever spoken to Chairman Kim Jong-un.  The response was that U.S. policy is not to reward aggressors with direct contact.  As the story is told, those types of discussions are perceived within the USG as rewarding our adversaries.

That was that.

Subsequently, and in a complete departure from national security norms and USG policy as created by those who run USG policy – ie. The Deep State, President Trump told his national security team to arrange contact with Chairman Kim.  I will not repeat the week-to-week events, but not surprisingly, things radically changed.

The intelligence community (IC), the true control elements of the deepest part of our USG Deep State, were not happy.  When President Trump spoke to Chairman Kim, he violated one of the governing sacraments constructing the walls around the compartmented Silos.

If a president is told it is raining outside while sitting in a room without windows, is it really raining?

….Back to the IC and Iran.

Today while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is warning about the great threat that Iran represents, Director Chris Wray is telling congress of the likelihood that domestic Iranian influences might, repeat – might, have been associated with contact toward Thomas Crooks, the Trump assassin.

Netanyahu is warning congress.  Wray is warning congress.  Both warnings seemingly identify the same “enemy.”

President Netanyahu is going to Mar-a-Lago to tell President Trump the same message.

Should we see a signal through the noise, or just brush it off?

Again, it is irrelevant for the purposes of this discussion whether it is true or untrue.  What matters is who is assembling the information that Chris Wray is telling congress?

Chris Wary maybe a willing salesperson, willfully blind, or just an idiot who speaks to the constructed analysis of those within the IC who relay information to his office.  Again, it matters not.

If the assassin had succeeded, at the end of a long and painful period of investigation, would the 1,500-page report on the assassination of Trump, the ‘mistakes were made dissertation’, eventually end with the 17-agency IC conclusion that Iran was a culprit?  Thankfully, we will never know.

I return to the originating example….

… Would President Donald Trump in 2025 ever be allowed to make contact with the leaders in Iran?  Would he try?  Are all of these current elements trying to ensure such a proposition never takes place.

We can easily predict that President Trump will stop the Russia -vs- Ukraine conflict very quickly, because the USA is essentially the unspoken source of that conflict.

A change in USA policy completely changes the dynamic in Ukraine.  However, the same domestic political voices that are beneficiaries of that Ukraine conflict are the same domestic voices who are beneficiaries of the Israel/Gaza conflict.  The difference is that we clearly see the former, the latter is only just starting to surface.

The IC most likely won’t be able to stop Trump from ending the Russia/Ukraine war, but they will try.  However, the IC might be able to stop Trump from ending the Iran/Israel war.

Is that what we are seeing.

When Chris Wray is being informed, who is informing him?

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[ See the Signals Through the Noise ]

Jul 25 2024

Something New – FBI Director Chris Wray Provides Actual Details About FBI Investigation – Video Segments


Posted originally on the CTH on July 24, 2024 | Sundance

Whoa, this is a little unexpected and catches Suspicious Cat a little off-guard.  FBI Director Chris Wray actually answers some detailed questions about the attempted assassination of President Trump and the ongoing investigation.

Beware of voices who are saying we should not be paying attention.  I am providing some segments below so we can all catch up. WATCH:

“8 Cartridges” – “No other suspects”

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Jim Jordan gets specific in the next segment:

Drone Recovery in vehicle, with controller – Flight of the drone took place between 3:50 to 4:00pm around the area, approximately 200 yards from the stage – Approximately 11 minutes of drone flight, with livestream –  Three explosive devices in both the vehicle (two) and residence (one) – There were receivers with devices and the suspect had the transmitter – Receivers were not turned on, they were in the “off position” – Encrypted platforms relate to social media networks on suspects phone, Signal, Telegram, encrypted messaging apps.

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F**king Congress breaks to take votes !!….. Grrr….

Jul 25 2024

FBI Director Chris Wray Testifies to House Judiciary Committee on Trump Assassination Effort – 10:00am Livestream


Posted originally on the CTH on July 24, 2024 | Sundance 

Today, FBI Director Christopher Wray will face questions about the FBI role in the attempted assassination of President Trump and their investigation in the aftermath.

To date, despite the significance of the event, no official press conference with the heads of Secret Service, Dept of Homeland Security or the FBI have taken place.  There have been ZERO official press conference where USSS, DHS or FBI would answer questions.  In the absence of this protocol, which is intentionally missing, congress has stepped into the role of the media and trying to get answers.  It’s all sketchy; all of it.

Director Wray appears before the House Judiciary Committee today at 10:00am. Unfortunately, given the long history of the FBI claiming they cannot speak due to never-ending ongoing investigations, I do not anticipate much substantive progress. We are all very frustrated. Livestream Links Below.

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Jul 24 2024

Hungary Being Pushed out of the EU?


Posted Jul 24, 2024 By Martin Armstrong

The European Union has revoked Hungary of its right to host the next summit. The EU supposedly has a rotating presidency of council to maintain the appearance that each state has an equal say in the direction of the bloc. The truth of the matter is that the unelected elite in Brussels control all of Europe and will silence dissenters, as Hungray’s Viktor Orban recently learned.

The next EU summit was to take place  August 28-29 was slated to be Hungary’s opportunity to share its ideas for matters like foreign policy with the rest of the bloc. EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell planned a “formal” council meeting on the exact dates of Hungary’s summit to undermine the country’s voice in the bloc. Now, Borrell is revoking Budapest’s ability to host the next meeting and moving it to Brussels.

“We have to send a signal, even if it is a symbolic signal, that being against the foreign policy of the European Union … has to have some consequences,” Borrell told reporters. His reasoning is that Brussels vehemently disapproved of Orban’s “peace mission” after he met with leaders in both Russia and China this July. Borrell believes “all member states — with one single exception — are very much critical about this behavior,” adding that he believed it was “appropriate to show this feeling and to call for the next foreign and defense council meetings in Brussels.”

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Simply put, Orban wants to end the war in Ukraine, which is completely against the narrative of those in Brussels who want to promote the idea of Russian aggression to promote an escalation in war. “My job is to convince them to shift from the pro-war policy to a pro peace policy,” Orban said. “They believe that they can destroy the military [of the] Russians … but I don’t believe this at all, because I know the Russians, I know the Soviet Union, I know the Ukrainians. I’m belonging to a neighboring country. I know the whole context. It’s impossible to find a solution on the battlefield, we will lose every day thousands of innocent people,” Orban told CNBC, also adding that “human life is the most precious thing we can lose,” citing the thousands who have already died in this endless war.

Add to this the trade tensions between Ukraine and Hungary. Hungary and Slovakia are exempt from the EU ban on Russian crude oil. These landlocked neighbors are to receive oil through the Druzhba pipeline, but Ukraine has prevented these nations from receiving shipments. Lukoil may be the main supplier using this line, but Russneft, Tatneft, and Gazprom also utilize this line, leading Ukraine to intervene.

“The EU sanctions, which we have disputed on several occasions, and which in this case have again been shown to have a greater negative impact on Slovakia and the EU than on Russia itself, clearly state that Slovakia has an exemption for oil imports until the end of the year,” Slovak Juraj Blanár explained in a joint-statement he made to the European Commission with his Hungarian counterpart, Péter Szijjártó. “It is strange that a country aspiring to be integrated with the EU is seriously jeopardising the energy supplies of two member states,” Péter Szijjártó commented. Will the European Commission side with its members or Ukraine? What is the benefit of being in a “union” that does not support you in any form?

Szijjártó said that Ukraine should forget the blocked €6.5 billion in EU aid as they will not vote to help Ukraine as it threatens their energy supply. Hungary has been demonized by Brussels for blocking additional aid to Ukraine, with neocon Borrell still pushing to send Ukraine €1.4 billion by the beginning of August. There is no European Union. There is a European authority within the pretend union that controls all members.

Jul 24 2024

Who Really Controls Your Access to Politicians? The SWAMP!


Posted originally on Jul 24, 2024 By Martin Armstrong 

QUESTION: Marty, I watched Rep. Anna Paulina Luna interrogating the questionable Secret Service Director Cheatle. Paulina accused her of perjury. She says that Garland probably told her to stonewall. Pailina is your representative. Why has she not asked the Inspector General to investigate your case with all the evidence you presented in the Plot to Seize Russia? It seems with Hillary sniffing around the presidency, if she is really gun-ho, she should be championing what you have uncovered.

FD

ANSWER: Let me explain how Washington really works. The UNELECTED bureaucrats run the show – NOT your representative. They stand guard, and you will NEVER be beyond them if it is an issue that they do not want to raise. I doubt that Paulina is even aware of who I am, and I live in her district. I have been in contact with the bureaucrats who surround her, but that is as far as you ever get unless THEY approve of whatever issue is discussed – not the politician. So, without 10,000 letters stuffing her mailbox, the bureaucrats (SWAMP) guard the gates, and you will never get past them, for their real job is to defend the SWAMP!

Trump firs Bolton

I voted for Paulina. I think she is smart and has a fire in her belly, as they say. But the bureaucrats that form a ring around your access to any representative are there to DEFEND the SWAMP – not democracy as they claim. This is true for Democrats and Republicans. The UNELECTED bureaucrats are the ones who stuffed Trump’s cabinet with people like John Bolton. Our current political system will crash and burn from its internal corruption driven by protecting the SWAMP at all costs. Bolton did everything in his power to keep waging endless wars to overthrow Russia. You will never get to anyone in Washington unless the bureaucrat who guards them likes the issue. They are the ultimate filter in this corrupt political system.

Bidens Neocons
Stand Down Let it Happen

The Secret Service clearly stood down, and Paulina was correct that it was Attorney General Merrick Garland, who is already in contempt of Congress, who told Director Cheatle not to answer questions. Garland had gone after Trump and had a conflict of interest with Victoria Nuland and Blinken. It is NOT that they are Jewish, but that they all claim that Russians persecuted their families. They use the antisemitism attack on anyone who dares to question what they are doing. I have plenty of Jewish friends. What are the odds of three people claiming Jewish heritage in the Ukraine region and their families being persecuted by Russians?

There have been plenty of Jewish high level people in Washington. None of them claimed personal injuries by Russians. Remember Henry Kissinger, America’s first Jewish Secretary of State, who advised Nixon on opening China.  There was James Schlesinger, who became America’s first Jewish Secretary of Defense. Then there was Arthur Burns, who was America’s second Jewish Chairman of the Federal Reserve and presided over the collapse of Bretton Woods. Herbert Stein was America’s second Jewish Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors. There was also  Casper Weinberger, who was OMB Director and Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. Oscar Straus was the first Jew appointed as Secretary of Commerce by Theodore Roosevelt back in 1906. Herbert Hoover appointed Eugene Meyer as the first Jewish Chairman of the Federal Reserve in 1930. The mere fact that all three are Jewish is not the issue. They are raising the shield of antisemitism to prevent anyone from investigating their personal conflict of interest, and with Garland in contempt and instructing Director Cheatle to hide the truth, our country is on a serious rise because of these three individuals.

Swamp

This is what I mean: The unelected bureaucrats control the country—NOT the people, not even our politicians. This is the REAL SWAMP that is by no means the people we elect. It is far more sinister than that, and it runs much deeper – hence the Deep State. These people are always there and remain regardless of the administration. Why is Garland in contempt of Congress? He knows only the DOJ can criminally charge him, and he controls that. He has directed all the prosecutions against Trump. Now, Garland is apparently telling Director Cheatle to stonewall and commit perjury. Only he can prosecute her. This is a giant conspiracy, and they still will never tell the truth about the SWAMP’s assassination of JFK more than 60 years ago.

This smells like JFK all over again!