Posted originally on CTH on October 3, 2025 | Sundance
The heart of the European industrial economy is Germany, and there’s major trouble afoot within the largest industrial sector within Germany.
Following the “Build Back Better” agenda, the EU went all in for green energy proposals. EU banking and finance followed suit, funding investment capital for electric vehicles (EVs) to replace combustion engines. Unfortunately, this put the EU, specifically Germany, in the position of competing against the largest EV industrial base in the world, China.
The second major flaw was capital only flowing to the EV sector, and Europeans -along with the majority of the industrial west- are just not buying EVs at a production capacity to match prior investment.
Put it all together and Germany is trying to compete with China to produce a product their consumer base doesn’t want.
GERMANY – ZF Friedrichshafen’s announcement that it is cutting 7,600 positions adds to the German supplier industry’s troubles as parts makers struggle to manage the shift to EVs, along with falling demand for combustion engine components and increased competition from Chinese suppliers.
Including job losses at Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche, the German auto industry is expected to eliminate nearly 100,000 jobs by 2030, according to an analysis by Bloomberg.
Bankruptcies among German suppliers are climbing sharply, with 30 percent more expected in 2025 compared with last year, according to a report from consultancy Falkensteg.
Between January and August, Falkensteg recorded 36 supplier bankruptcies, up from 33 the previous year. The report tracked suppliers with revenue of at least €20 million ($23.5 million) until 2024.
In the second quarter, the automotive supply and electrical engineering industries each recorded 11 corporate insolvencies, the highest number across all sectors, according to the survey, which was reported in Automotive News Europe’s sibling publication Automobilwoche. In the first quarter, 18 supplier bankruptcies were registered. (read more)
Against the simultaneous backdrop of major European countries banging Ukraine/Russia war drums, and against historic reference points, it is a little unnerving to hear about severe contraction within the German economy.
Posted originally on Oct 2, 2025 by Martin Armstrong |
The US government shut down once again as our public servants refused to work in a partisan fashion. Over 2.1 million civilian federal employees will be affected, with 750,000 furloughed without pay. Naturally, Congress will still receive a paycheck and their lobbying checks. The duration of the shutdown is unknown, but estimates state the bickering could cost the US economy up to $2 billion per week.
Non-essential offices, websites, and services are unavailable. National parks and museums are closed to visitors. Passport processing will be delayed. The daily cost of compensating the furloughed workers is $400 million. Military members may face delayed pay, while contractors face layoffs.
Most concerning is the data blackout—the Bureau of Labor Statistics will be unable to release its September non-farm payroll report slated for October 4. Data regarding the consumer price index and producer price index will be delayed. Retail sales, housing starts, every piece of data compiled by the federal government will be delayed and amplify uncertainty. The key information the Federal Reserve and investors rely on will be unavailable, and if the shutdown carries on for more than two weeks, there will be a massive spike in volatility and a potential delay in rate cuts. The Fed will be forced to rely on private estimates like the ADP jobs report that are less reliable.
The Democrats insist on expanding COVID-era funding for Obamacare, and insist the GOP reverse the decision to cut the Medicaid budget. Neither side is willing to compromise. Leaders are begging Congress to simply stay in Washington until a decision is reached.
“There isn’t any substantive reason why there ought to be a government shutdown. This is something that has been done routinely, as I said, 13 different times when the Democrats had the majority. But we are not going to be held hostage for over $1 trillion in new spending on a continuing resolution,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said ahead of the vote.
The Medicaid cuts alone are expected to save the government $840 billion over the next decade. Cutting the premium tax credit extension could save $350 billion over the same period, and work and eligibility restrictions could save another $344 billion. Additional recessions and funding cuts to government agencies are expected to save up to $9 billion in 2025 alone.
Non-citizens without access to other coverage DO benefit from these extensions. US taxpayers have spent billions on providing health coverage to migrants. Those earning between 100% to 400% of the federal poverty level will also benefit, as will anyone earning 400% above the threshold if their premiums exceed 8.5%.
“It is unclear how long Democrats will maintain their untenable posture, making the duration of the shutdown difficult to predict,” Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought penned in a memo. “Regardless, employees should report to work for their next regularly scheduled tour of duty to undertake orderly shutdown activities.”
“We can do things during the shutdown that are irreversible, that are bad for them and irreversible by them, like cutting vast numbers of people out, cutting things that they like, cutting programs that they like,” President Trump warned.
Trump could possibly lay off more federal employees in non-essential roles, and a hiring freeze is already in place. The president has the authority to cut funding to programs favored by the Democrats such as social services and environmental programs. Sanctuary cities or jurisdictions could see funding withheld. The federal government will not spend on non-essentials during this shutdown, but that will only anger Democrats who refuse to budge.
Congress serves no purpose. They represent private lobbying interest groups and serve the invisible hand rather than the people of the United States. A private company would never shutter its office over a fiscal budget disagreement. Our public servants must reach a resolution immediately, and I see no reason why they deserve pay during a deadlock. These individuals are on taxpayer-funded vacation for the majority of the year and refuse to perform the minimal work they are expected to do. It seems they are unfit for the job. Fire everyone and start fresh.
Posted originally on Sep 29, 2025 by Martin Armstrong |
A new report by Eurostat has found that Croatians feel safer than people in any other European Union nation, with only 1.4% of the population reporting anti-social activity. Lithuania and Poland ranked close behind Croatia. In contrast, Greeks feared the most for their safety with over 20% of citizens reporting crime. What is the common denominator?
Citizens in EU nations with stricter immigration policies feel safer than those with open borders or whose nations are situated as a landing point. Croatia cracked down on immigration policies this year, leading to a 70% decline in work permit approvals. Yet, that is not the population in question. Over 26,000 migrants passed through Croatia in 2024, but most continued on to other EU nations. The border with Bosnia is monitored with drones and an active police force. “Only 3.6% of the people who declared their intention to apply for international protection in the Republic of Croatia actually make a formal application,” the Interior Ministry in Zagreb told DW. “We have no information about the countries to which these people went.”
Then you have Greece, unfortunately, a landing spot for migrants arriving by boat. The EU Pact was intended to provide safeguards to migrants to streamline the process. Brussels provided Greece with over 5 billion euros in funding over the past decade to manage migration, but the off is no longer worth the risk. Greece finally took a hardline on migration in 2025 and began implementing harsh penalties including imprisonment and ankle tag monitoring for those awaiting deportation. The EU has accused Greece of violating international law by returning migrants to Turkish waters and operating detention centers. Yet, due to the extreme nature of open border policies, these measures were crucial to regain control over the nation.
The nations who openly welcomed migrants are facing the highest rates of migrant-related crime. Migrants tend to be lone males who do not integrate well into European society. Take Germany, for example, the hub for migrants thanks to Angela Merkel’s policies some ten years ago. Violent crime peaked to a 15-year high in 2023, and migrants were responsible for 40% of all violent crimes. Nationalist sentiments are growing throughout Europe because the people are experiencing the repercussions of open borders.
Posted originally on Sep 28, 2025 by Martin Armstrong |
The entire English Legal System has abandoned everything that once made Britain the beacon of human rights and liberty in the world. There is absolutely nothing left for Britain even to hold its head upright. This man, pretending to be a judge, ASSUMES what he said is racist, without acknowledging that the immigrants are NOT all of a particular race. Then he PRESUMES that those words instigated someone else to violence with ZERO evidence of that being the case at all. This is NOT the rule of law, and when that crumbles, the ONLY solution becomes revolution and violence, for there is no court of law that can ensure that society remains civilized.
Perhaps this “judge” who is obviously violating the English Bill of Rights should turn to Confusus. His legal doctrines are far better than this nonsense. Even Jesus Christ addressed a gathering of Jews and told them: “And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” Not in Britain. The truth will get you tax-free living in prison for 7 years.
The most famous trial where a jury stood up refusing to find the defendant guilty in the face of a corrupt government was that of William Penn (1644-1718), the founder of Pennsylvania. Penn was the leader of the Quakers in London, and you can see why people fled to America. The sect was not recognized by the government and was forbidden to meet in any building for the purpose of worship. In 1670, William Penn held a worship service on a quiet street, which a peaceful group of fellow Quakers attended. Penn and another Quaker, William Mead, were arrested for disturbing the king’s peace and summoned to stand trial.
As the two men entered the courtroom, a bailiff ordered them to put their hats, which they had removed, back on their heads. When they complied, they were called forward and held in contempt of court for being in the courtroom with their hats on. Penn discovered that contempt of court is a personal prerogative of the judge and an infliction of punishment by a judge who becomes the legislator, jury, and sentencing judge.
Penn demanded to know what crime he was being charged with preaching – the cornerstone of Due Process. The judge refused to supply any information as to his crime and instead referred vaguely to common law. When Penn protested that he was entitled to a specific indictment (NOTICE), he was removed from the presence of the judge and jury and confined in an enclosed corner of the room known as the bale dock.
Penn could neither confront the witnesses who accused him of preaching to the Quakers nor ask them questions about their charges against him. Several witnesses testified that Penn had preached to a gathering, which included Mead, but one showed some hesitancy as to whether Mead had been present. The judge turned to Mead and questioned him directly. In effect, the judge became the prosecutor, as he asked Mead if he was guilty. Mead invoked the common-law privilege against self-incrimination, which provoked hostile comments from the judge. The court then sent Mead to join Penn in the bale dock out of the sight of the jury and witnesses.
Finally, after the testimony, the court concluded that the judge had instructed the jury to find the defendants guilty as charged, dictating what verdict he had expected. Penn tried to protest but was silenced and again sent out of the courtroom. The jury, for its part, proved sympathetic to the two defendants and refused the judge’s command to find the defendants guilty.
At this point, the judge became so enraged, as I would expect from Judge Juan Merchan, and sent the jury back to reconsider their verdict. When they returned with the same verdict, the court criticized the jury’s leader, Bushnell, and demanded “a verdict that the court will accept, and you shall be locked up without meat, drink, fire, and tobacco…We will have a verdict by the help of God or you will starve for it.”
After that, the jury was sent back three more times but returned with the same verdict. Finally, the jury refused to reconsider. The judge then fined each jury member forty marks and ordered them imprisoned until the fine was paid. Penn and Mead went to prison anyway, held in contempt for obeying the bailiff’s order that they put on their hats.
Later, the jury members won a writ of habeas corpus and were released from prison. Penn and Mead left England after their release from prison, having a taste of English justice, and sailed to America. (Earl Warren, “A Republic, If You Can Keep It”, p. 113-115). Thus, Pennsylvania was founded. This was the Bushel’s Case(1670) 124 E.R. 1006, a famous English decision on the role of juries and that they possessed the independence to decide the validity of the law being prosecuted.
Where is the Magna Carta Right to a Trial by Jury of Your Peers?
This guy is forced to plead guilty to a non-crime because if he dares go to trial and the Judge refuses to allow the jury to nullify this insane Starmmer law, then he will be given the maximum time of 7 years+ for demanding a fair trial.
Posted originally on CTH on September 25, 2025 | Sundance
Other than the broad announcement to around 600 to 800 U.S. Generals and flag officers from around the world, no one is exactly sure why Secretary Pete Hegseth has requested they come to the U.S for a meeting.
According to reports from CNN and various news outlets, Secretary of the War Department, Pete Hegseth has sent a notice for all of them to travel back to the U.S. for a meeting in Virginia at the War Department’s Quantico facility.
WASHINGTON – Hundreds of US generals and admirals around the globe have been called to Virginia for a meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth next Tuesday, several US officials told CNN, though the reason for the meeting is unclear.
The meeting is expected to be held at the military installation in Quantico, Virginia, multiple officials said, adding that no one seems to know what the meeting is about, including the general and flag officers themselves, or why it was suddenly added to the calendar.
One source familiar said they’d heard theories ranging from a group physical fitness test, to receiving a briefing on the state of the Defense Department, to a mass firing of officers, but regardless of the reason the sudden convening of so many senior military officers is highly unusual.
“It’s being referred to as the general squid games,” one official quipped. (read more)
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