Rental Costs on the Rise Amid Diminished Supply


Armstrong Economics Blog/Real Estate Re-Posted Dec 23, 2021 by Martin Armstrong

Demand for rentals in the US is increasing at an alarming pace. Single-family rentals rose 10.9% in October year-over-year, according to a report by CoreLogic. There are simply not enough rental properties available to meet demand. Vacancy rates are at a 25-year low as those priced out of the buyer’s market search for housing.

Rentals in every price range are on the rise. The lower-priced homes that represent 75% or less the regional median rose 9.5%. Lower-middle priced homes that represent 75% to 100% of the regional median are up 10.1%. Higher-middle priced homes representing 100% to 125% of the regional median are up 11.3%, while the highest-priced homes (125%+) advanced 11.4%.

On a regional basis, Miami saw the largest spike with rentals increasing 29.7% in the past year. Phoenix (19.3%) and Las Vegas (16.5%) also experienced notable increases. Thanks to Lori Lightfoot, Chicago experienced the lowest annual growth among larger cities at 4.2%.

The National Association of Home Builders stated that housing starts specifically for rental units reached a high in Q3. However, there is simply not enough available housing to meet the growing demand. Additionally, numerous landlords are also now converting their spaces in desirable areas to Air BnBs and vacation rentals, further diminishing the supply. As remote work becomes prominent in American culture, people are flocking to the suburbs and areas that were not designed to host a growing population.

Joe Biden Says 200 Million Americans Vaccinated, Amid U.S. Population of 350 Million


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on December 22, 2021 | Sundance | 138 Comments

I don’t mean kick up a cloud of dust here, but something is weird again.  Last week we spotlighted information provided by media about the U.S. vaccination rate being considerably overstated {Go Deep}.  In essence, the CDC data was being revised downward to correct prior rates of vaccination that were not accurate.

During an ABC interview today (segment below), Joe Biden told ABC News’ David Muir that as of right now, there are “200 million people fully vaccinated.”  WATCH (1 min):

Counting illegal aliens, there are roughly 350 million Americans right now [Census Data].  If 200 million Americans are vaccinated (60%), that means there are approximately 150 million Americans NOT vaccinated (40%).

During his speech yesterday, Joe Biden said: “Thanks to the progress on vaccinations this fall, we’ve gone from nearly 90 million adults in July who had not even started their vaccination process to fewer than 40 million today.” [LINK]

There’s a big difference between 150 million unvaccinated and “fewer than 40 million” unvaccinated.  Can you reconcile the difference?

As we noted last week, with the CDC adjusting the numbers downward […] this would align with several tangential datapoints which have always seemed to be in conflict with the preferred government narrative.  Additionally, there’s also an obvious motive on behalf of the government to overinflate vaccination in order to generate peer pressure and the self-fulfilling prophecy needed to garner vaccine acceptance.

As now noted by Bloomberg:

[…] “CDC data show 240 million people with at least one shot, or about 72.5% of the population. But the agency says only 203 million are fully vaccinated, or 61.3%, an 11-percentage-point difference that is far larger than in other developed countries.

State and local officials say it’s improbable that 37 million Americans got one shot without completing their inoculations. Instead, they say, the government has regularly and incorrectly counted booster shots and second doses as first doses.” (more)

Perhaps this disparity reconciles why many people look quizzically at the high vaccine data while not finding any correlation to their own community, friends or family.  Indeed, there has always been a disconnect between the number of people the government reports as having been vaccinated, when contrast against the open admissions of those who have not wanted to participate in this wide-scale vaccination program.

Biden’s statement today aligns with the adjusted statements from the CDC of 200 million Americans being fully vaccinated.   However, Biden’s statement today does not reconcile against his statement yesterday of “fewer than 40 million Americans” remain to be vaccinated.

If the 200 million vaccinated number is accurate, then 150 million Americans are not vaccinated.

Supreme Court Accepts and Schedules Hearing on Biden Vaccine Mandate for January 7


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on December 22, 2021 | Sundance | 360 Comments

BREAKING TONIGHT – The Supreme Court has announced [LINK HERE and LINK HERE] it will hold a special hearing next month to consider challenges to the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for large employers and a separate coronavirus vaccine mandate for health-care workers.

[Order 595 LINK]

Both vaccine mandates have been partially blocked from going into effect by lower courts after challenges from states, business and religious coalitions.

Justices Alito and Kavanaugh both received requests, both affirmed acceptance, and then both cases were consolidated by THE COURT.  The court will hear oral arguments for one hour on Friday January 7, 2022, just before the court begins regularly scheduled oral arguments. [SCOTUS Order Link]

Additionally, earlier today a Florida judge blocked the federal contractor mandate writing in part:

“The extent of any absenteeism attributable to COVID-19 among contractors and subcontractors is unexplained.  The frequency and duration of any procurement delay attributable to COVID-19 is unexplained. The extent of any cost increases attributable to COVID-19 is unexplained.”

“In other words, the extent of any procurement problem, past or future, attributable to COVID-19 is undemonstrated and is merely a hastily manufactured but unproven hypothesis about recent history and a contrived speculation about the future. Obviously, no massive extension and expansion of presidential power is necessary to cure a non-existent problem and certainly neither ‘good cause’ nor ‘urgent and compelling circumstances’ exists to justify summary disregard of the requirements of administrative law and rulemaking.”

U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday 12/22/21

U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday granted a motion filed by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody for a preliminary injunction against the vaccine requirement for federal contractors in Florida.

The Economy is Doing So Well, the White House Extends Loan Repayment Freeze for 90 Days


Posted originally on the conservative tree house December 22, 2021 | Sundance | 132 Comments

The White House occupant cannot afford to lose the little support he has left from the fractured sheeple masses and special interest groups.

With polling collapsing Biden’s influence on an almost daily basis, Chief of Staff Ron Klain deployed the puppy strategy. Not surprisingly that fell flatter than curling ice, and making matters worse, people realized to the Biden family dogs are politically disposable tools for optics only.  Add on the rebuke of the Build Back Better spending boondoggle and, well, there’s panic in the corps.

According to the White House, the U.S. economy is doing great, things are perfect and getting better.  The economy is doing so well, students can’t afford or find jobs to pay back their loans.  Wait a min.., wha… huh?

WHITE HOUSE – […] “today my Administration is extending the pause on federal student loan repayments for an additional 90 days — through May 1, 2022 — as we manage the ongoing pandemic and further strengthen our economic recovery. Meanwhile, the Department of Education will continue working with borrowers to ensure they have the support they need to transition smoothly back into repayment and advance economic stability for their own households and for our nation.” (read more)

Pay no attention to the conflicted messaging.  You are not allowed to ask the question: if the economy is so great, then why do former college students need even more time to start paying back their loans?   Remember, in order for moonbat Democats to continue advancing their insane ideology, they must pretend not to know things.

We have another three months before we need to find a job, cool.

Considering the COVID Rules, Vaccine Mandates and Censorship of Opinion…


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on December 22, 2021 | Sundance | 322 Comments

…Are we in an abusive relationship with our own government?

You decide.

Military Thinning Due to Mandate


Armstrong Economics Blog/North America Re-Posted Dec 22, 2021 by Martin Armstrong

The Marine Corps reportedly discharged 103 Marines for not taking the mRNA vaccine. The highest refusal rate among the military branches, 10,000 Marines may now be discharged from the service. Around 5,700 Air Force and Space Force troops are not vaccinated.  Over 6,200 Army troops have received temporary exemptions, but 3,900 remain unvaccinated. The Navy and National Guard pushed back their vaccine mandates until June. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said that there is still an opportunity for troops “to do the right thing.”

The Defense Department admittedly has no idea what impact this will have on the US military at large. Kirby admitted that they are simply hoping the men and women who risk dying for their country will “do the right thing” and put their lives at risk once again.  “I just don’t think we’re at a point now where we can draw a line and say, ‘OK, this is exactly what impact the separations are having on the force,’” Kirby said. “I just don’t know that we’re there yet because there are still opportunities here for people to do the right thing.”

Senator Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma has attempted to stop the vaccine mandate for troops. “I believe we should suspend the vaccine mandate until the Department of Defense can answer basic questions about the impact the mandate will have on the total force,” Senator Inhofe of Oklahoma stated to US News. “I have yet to receive a response.” The mandate is a potential risk to national security. The military elites know what will happen if they lose tens of thousands of troops but they’re willing to put the country at risk to promote the larger agenda.

Did you know any of this was going on? I didn’t. Florida a Sovereign State? Hell, yes, let’s go for it – screw D.C. 


I got this from a friend yesterday.

Oklahoma is the only state that neither Obama nor Biden won even one county in their last election… While everyone is focusing on Arizona’s, Georgia, and Texas’ new laws, look what Oklahoma has been doing!!!!      

Illegals, round them up and ship them back to where they came from unless they want to get a green card and become an American citizen. They all scattered. (HB 1804.) This was against the advice of the Federal Government, and the ACLU, they said it would be a mistake.  

Guess what………. Oklahoma did it anyway.  

Recently Oklahoma passed a law to include DNA samples from any and all illegal’s to the Oklahoma database, for criminal investigative purposes. Pelosi said it was unconstitutional (SB 1102) 

Guess what……… Oklahoma did it anyway.  

Several weeks ago, they passed a law, declaring Oklahoma as a Sovereign state, not under the Federal Government directives. Joining Texas , Montana and Utah as the only states to do so. More states are likely to follow: Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Carolina’s, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, West Virginia, Mississippi and Florida. Save your confederate money, it appears the South is about to rise up once again. (HJR 1003.)  

The federal Government has made bold steps to take away our guns. Oklahoma, a week ago, passed a law confirming people in this state have the right to bear arms and transport them in their vehicles. I’m sure that was a setback for the criminals The Liberals didn’t like it.

But….Guess what……….. Oklahoma did it anyway.  

Just this month, the state has voted and passed a law that ALL drivers’ license exams will be printed in English, and only English, and no other language. They have been called racist for doing this, but the fact is that ALL of the road signs are in English only. If you want to drive in Oklahoma, you must read and write English.   Really simple. By the way, the Liberals don’t like any of this either .  

Guess what……… Oklahoma is doing it anyway.  

Guess what …… the people I’m sending this to, will send it on. Well, at least the ones who love and believe in freedom will!

Populism/Democracy Must be Terminated!


Armstrong Economics Blog/Politics Re-Posted Dec 22, 2021 by Martin Armstrong

The LEFT knows it is in serious trouble. This is why Biden had his Democracy Summit, which was a joke. Biden’s polls have collapsed. California is in crisis mode. The LEFT has defunded police, and violent crimes have exploded. Stores are subjected to organized gang shoplifting. So now we find that the LEFT is crying democracy will end by 2024, and this is coming from Hillary Clinton, Adam Schiff, and other elite intellectuals on the LEFT, including the media. These dire predictions about democracy are in preparation for them declaring that the elections were rigged by Trump’s minions. Democracy is dead in Europe already. The people do not vote for the European Commission that makes the laws nor for the head of Europe. Nobody with power ever faces the people in an election. Europe is not even a Republic.

Back in 1985, when this Private Wave began at 1985.65, I warned that historically (1) the first time a non-career politician could win would be 31.4 years into this wave. That marked the very day that Trump was elected. Trump faced opposition from the LEFT, who were so angry their hair was on fire. But Trump’s most fierce opposition was from the career Republicans such a John McCain and others. As I have warned, after more than 40 years of advising governments, what became clear was that in Washington, they do not like anyone in the White House who is not from Washington. They were even upset when Ronald Reagan was elected because he was a governor and not a Washington insider.

Hillary Clinton has declared that if Trump wins in 2024, “Democracy as we know it will come to an end.” Adam Schiff claims that in the 2022 midterms, the Republican Party is out to turn America into an autocracy, which is a government by a single person having unlimited power; despotism. That is precisely what the Democrats are doing with Biden. He is not governing from the middle. He makes Obama look like a Republican. Biden is already preparing to push for COVID vaccines in 2022 for children under 5-years-old. All of this for a disease that is no more lethal than the flu to the same group of people.

I used to respect Brian Williams years ago, but that vanished. Despite claiming, “I am not a liberal or a conservative. I’m an institutionalist,” his slant became more and more to the LEFT, which is not what this country was founded upon.  Williams continued: “I believe in this place and in my love of country I yield to no one. But the darkness on the edge of town has spread to the main roads and highways and neighborhoods. It is now at the local bar and the bowling alley, at the school board and the grocery store. And it must be acknowledged and answered for.”

This entire investigation into January 6th and calling it an “insurrection” is political posturing to use this to claim that a Republican victory in 2022 will be rigged. It will be the Democrats who will advocate violence, for it is their way or no way. Videos clearly show there were other people in there who were not the protesters. There are videos claiming a pipe bomb was left, yet the person who planted it was never found. This is all political posturing to force their LEFT agenda and to overthrow the Constitution.

From the moment Trump was elected, suddenly DEMOCRACY became POPULISM, which was simply unacceptable. Yes, democracy is coming to an end. This is how all great empires die — they commit suicide from within. All you have to do is look at the 2030 Agenda from the World Economic Forum. They have bluntly stated they want to end the right of the people to have any say whatsoever because we are too stupid to vote. “Populism” must end.  It was John Kerry at Davos who was “warning of the dangers of economic populism,” and added that politicians, like Trump, should not listen to the people. “It’s really dangerous to play to the lowest common denominator of American, of global political life.” We are the Great Unwashed!

This is the sentiment in the White House right now!

Anthony Fauci Says Unvaxxed Relatives Not Worthy Enough to Attend Family Christmas Gatherings


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on December 21, 2021 | Sundance | 397 Comments

Dr. Anthony Fauci is a thin-skinned, unstable ideologue with visions of grandiosity.  He has wreaked havoc on our nation and permeated a major crisis on the global stage with his poor advice on COVID-19.   He personifies a mentally and emotionally unstable person within his worldview.

Fauci is representative of a group of psychologically unstable people who need a career operating in government systems and institutions, because they could never be successful in the private sector.  They can only succeed in academia and institutions without merit-based structures.

These are very disturbed people who have allowed a taste of power and influence to fuel an underlying narcissism. Their disorder exhibits as vengeful bitterness, the result of adolescent isolation and no emotional balance.  History will not look well upon Anthony Fauci any more than history reflects well upon Josef Mengele.

In this short Q&A snippet, Anthony Fauci reveals his bitter worldview by saying unvaccinated people should be told to stay away from family events this Christmas.  Notice the reference point of the response is that people should appreciate being in his presence.    WATCH (18 Seconds):

Notice how Fauci doesn’t have that “tell them not to show up” outlook toward unvaccinated illegal aliens entering the country?

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Announces Omicron Prevention 10 Minute Policy, After Ten Minutes Must Show Proof of Vaccination ID


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on December 21, 2021 | Sundance | 176 Comments

Comrade citizens, Chicago Mayor Beetlejuice announced today that anyone entering a gym, bar, restaurant, fitness or entertainment venue must show proof of vaccination if they are going to be located in the facility for longer than ten minutes.  Apparently, after 9 minutes and 59 seconds the Omicron variant will swoop in an get you.  WATCH (first minute):

Food stores, supermarkets and other businesses are exempt from the citywide executive order.  However, indoor dining will now require a vaccination identification to enter, unless you are simply picking up food.

It would appear union leadership for the Omicron variant organisms have entered into an agreement with city officials and agreed to hover in/around these facilities for ten minutes before operating to infect.  There is no current end date for the order.