Join Us at the 2023 World Economic Conference in Orlando, Florida!

? Dates: November 17, 18, and 19 ? Location: Orlando, Florida, USA (or tune in from home with our virtual ticket options)

Are you ready to unlock the future of economics and finance? Prepare for an unforgettable World Economic Conference experience in sunny Orlando, Florida! This premier event is your gateway to insights, networking, and valuable resources that will supercharge your understanding of the global economy.

?️ What’s Included for In-Person Attendees:

1. Event Admission: Enjoy reserved seating assigned based on the order of ticket sales, ensuring you have a prime view of every presentation.
2. Presentation Slides: Gain access to the presentation slides from all speakers, allowing you to delve deeper into the topics discussed.
3. Video Recording: Can’t make it to a session? No worries! You’ll receive access to video recordings of all conference presentations, so you can catch up at your convenience.
4. WEC Event App: Connect with the conference on a whole new level. Access presentation slides, bonus reports, recordings, and more via the official WEC Event App.
5. Bonus Conference Materials: Get a package of bonus conference-related materials, including exclusive bonus reports and videos (as provided by Martin Armstrong).
6. Morning Information Sessions: Don’t miss out on important morning information sessions, screened on-site in the meeting room on Saturday and Sunday.
7. Networking Opportunities: Exclusive access to the Event App Networking Feature allows you to connect with fellow attendees, both in-person and virtual, fostering valuable professional relationships.
8. Culinary Delights: Savor delicious breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday, prepared to keep you energized throughout the day.
9. Cocktail Reception: Kick off the conference in style at our Friday evening cocktail reception. Meet and mingle with fellow attendees while enjoying refreshing drinks.
10. Swag Bag: As a token of our appreciation, each in-person attendee will receive a swag bag filled with goodies, including an Armstrong Economics notebook, pen, and an event collector’s mug!

Unable to travel? We also have two different ticket options for those wishing to attend virtually! 

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a global gathering of economic and financial minds. Secure your spot at the World Economic Conference in Orlando, Florida, and gain the knowledge, connections, and resources you need to thrive in the world of finance and economics.

Space is limited, so act now and reserve your seat! Visit our Events page to register and join us in sunny Orlando this November.

Now available at all major retailers!

The eBook will be available shortly.

The second edition of “The Plot to Seize Russia – The Untold History” is now available for purchase in paperback and hardcover on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The ebook will be available shortly.

Book description:

“Take care of Russia,” Boris Yeltsin said as he departed his presidency in August 1999. These words were directed at current Russian president, Vladimir Putin. Yeltsin specifically picked Putin as his predecessor to prevent the takeover of Russia.

So, who was Yeltsin warning against? Newly declassified documents from the Clinton Administration prove that there was a plot to rig the Russian election of 2000. These never-before-seen documents confirm numerous attempts to implement pro-Western policies using the Russian oligarchy headed by Boris Berezovsky.

On the other side were the communists who desired a return to the glory days of the Soviet Union. As one of the largest international hedge fund managers, author Martin Armstrong found himself in the middle of perhaps the greatest espionage, or attempt at a regime change for Russia, in modern history.

The Plot to Seize Russia pulls back the curtain to expose the most extraordinary attempt to seize power in modern history, but with the pen rather than armies. These declassified documents reveal a plot that has altered our thinking about the relations between the United States and Russia. The thirst for power comes seething through every line of these papers that alter our perception of reality, change the course of history, and now threaten us with World War III.

I have warned that once geopolitical tensions ignite, they do not remain contained, and what we are now witnessing is the steady expansion of conflict lines as Turkey is being recast from a strategic NATO partner into a geopolitical threat by the very alliance it once helped anchor.

The European Union has now openly shifted its tone, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen effectively grouping Turkey alongside Russia and China, stating that Europe must ensure it is not influenced by “Russia, Turkey or China,” which is an extraordinary statement when directed at a NATO member and signals a clear break in strategic trust, especially when such language aligns closely with broader geopolitical narratives emerging from the Middle East.

Not so coincidentally, tensions are escalating rapidly between Turkey and Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly warned that Israel faces a widening circle of adversaries and must prepare for emerging threats across the region. Turkish officials have responded by accusing Israel of deliberately seeking its “next enemy,” with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stating that Israel “cannot live without an enemy.” Bibi has remained in control by posturing Israel as on the defensive against external enemies, yet he has become the aggressor. It is Netanyahu, not Israel, who could not survive without an enemy to ward off.

When you step back and examine Turkey under Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, this is a nation that has never accepted a subordinate role within Europe. Turkey has long viewed itself as a regional power with deep historical roots tied to the Ottoman Empire, and Erdoğan has made that posture explicit by declaring that no one can “threaten or bully Turkey,” reinforcing Ankara’s willingness to confront both Europe and its traditional allies when it perceives its sovereignty to be at risk.

What makes this situation far more dangerous is that Turkey is not a minor player that can simply be pressured into compliance, because it possesses one of the largest and most capable militaries in NATO, second only to the United States in manpower, with hundreds of thousands of active personnel, advanced drone capabilities, and a strategic geographic position controlling access between Europe, the Black Sea, and the Middle East, which makes any deterioration in relations far more consequential than policymakers appear willing to acknowledge.

Europe continues to depend on Turkey for migration control, regional security, and energy transit routes, yet it is now publicly labeling the nation as a threat. This is precisely how alliances fracture and friends turn into foes.

The growing hostility between Turkey and Israel introduces an additional layer of risk, because both nations operate militarily within overlapping regions such as Syria.

Europe’s decision to move against Turkey also risks pushing Ankara further away from the Western sphere and toward alternative alliances, including Russia and China, thereby accelerating the fragmentation of the global order and weakening NATO cohesion at a time when it is already under strain.

Broader conflicts are not triggered by a single event, but by a series of shifts in rhetoric, policy, all building momentum until the system reaches a breaking point. The reality is that Turkey is no longer treated as a reliable ally by Europe. As Israel elevates Turkey within its own threat framework, Europe appears to be following that trajectory, signaling a deeper realignment that will have far-reaching consequences for regional stability and the future of the Western alliance.

I have said for years that governments and institutions always begin with what people will accept and then gradually expand from there. What we are now seeing in educational technology is perhaps one of the most disturbing developments, because it targets children under the guise of learning.

Studies have now confirmed that roughly 90% of commonly used school apps are transmitting tracking data, even when they are not actively being used, and many contain hidden third-party trackers operating in the background. This is not simply about helping a student complete homework or communicate with a teacher; this is continuous data collection that records behavior, interaction patterns, and device activity regardless of whether the child is even aware it is happening.

For many reading this, particularly those who did not grow up in a digital classroom, it is important to understand how pervasive these platforms have become, as students today are required to use them for nearly every aspect of their education. Assignments, testing, communication, textbooks, and grading have all moved into apps and online systems, meaning participation is no longer optional, it is mandatory. Parents assume these tools exist to support education, yet behind the curtain, they are functioning as data collection systems layered into the daily routine of children.

I see this as no different from what we witnessed with Pokémon Go, where people believed they were simply playing a game, but in reality, they were contributing to a massive data collection operation. The difference here is that children are not choosing to participate, they are required to, and instead of mapping physical locations, these systems are mapping behavior, attention spans, learning patterns, and interaction habits from a very early age.

What is being built is not just an academic record, but a behavioral profile that follows the individual over time, capturing how they think, how they respond, how long they focus, and how they engage with information. Once that data is collected, it does not simply vanish, it becomes part of a broader ecosystem that can be analyzed, shared, and monetized in ways that are rarely disclosed in plain terms.

Many of these platforms rely on third-party integrations, which means the data is not confined to a single provider but is distributed across multiple entities, each extracting value from it. This creates a web of data collection that is nearly impossible for parents to fully understand or control, and the more these systems are adopted, the more normalized this becomes.

From my perspective, this is how control expands, not through force, but through normalization. When data collection is embedded into something like a game, people participate willingly, but when it is embedded into education, it becomes institutional. That is a very dangerous shift, because it removes the ability to opt out without consequence.

We are moving into a system where data is the new currency, and the earlier it is collected, the more valuable it becomes. Starting that process in childhood creates a lifetime of behavioral data that can be used to predict, influence, and potentially control outcomes in ways that most people do not yet fully grasp.

I have said for years that people misunderstand the global monetary system. It is not driven by trade balances. It is driven by capital flows and access to dollar liquidity. The discussion of a currency swap between the United States and the United Arab Emirates shows how the system actually works under stress.

The United States is now considering a currency swap with the UAE as tensions around Iran rise. This is not about trade policy. It is about liquidity. When uncertainty increases, capital begins to move. Countries need dollars to stabilize their financial systems and maintain confidence.

Currency swaps are often presented as technical tools. In reality, they are lifelines. They allow a foreign central bank to access U.S. dollars directly. This bypasses stressed markets and helps prevent a liquidity crisis that could trigger capital flight.

This is exactly what happens during geopolitical conflict. The Iran situation has raised concerns about the Strait of Hormuz. That region is critical for global energy flows. When energy is threatened, markets react immediately. Currency volatility rises and capital seeks safety.

The UAE is a strong economy, but it is still exposed. Its currency is pegged to the U.S. dollar, meaning it must maintain sufficient dollar reserves to function properly. When global stress increases, even strong economies seek direct dollar access. That is why a swap line becomes important.

There is also a geopolitical layer. Currency swaps are tools of influence. When the United States provides dollar liquidity, it reinforces alignment. If access is restricted, countries look for alternatives. That can include increasing use of other currencies like the Chinese yuan. The UAE has stated it would consider using the yuan if the U.S. denies them the opportunity to swap, but the issue has become polarizing.

“The war in Iran has already cost us dearly,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. Said to Treasury Secretary Bessent. “In addition to lives lost, we’re talking about over a billion dollars a day in taxpayer money, we’re talking about higher gas prices, higher prices overall, and now we understand that the UAE is asking you to provide them a swap line through the Exchange Stabilization Fund.”

The key point people miss, because this is not about whether a country is rich, it is about whether it has access to dollars when the system comes under stress. This is precisely what I have always explained about currency swaps, because they are not favors or political gestures, they are lifelines, and when a country fears losing dollar inflows, especially one tied to oil exports through a chokepoint like the Strait of Hormuz, it must secure liquidity or risk instability in its currency, its banking system, and ultimately its entire economy.

This is also where many misunderstand de-dollarization. The world is not abandoning the dollar. It is trying to create options as nations want flexibility as geopolitical risks rise. Currency swaps are central to that process because they determine access to liquidity.

Confidence drives markets. When confidence falls, capital moves quickly. Without liquidity, currencies weaken, and systems come under pressure. Governments respond with tools like currency swaps to restore stability.

The fact that this swap is being considered tells you pressure is already building. These agreements are not routine. They are signals that policymakers expect volatility and a continued crisis.

QUESTION: Mr. Armstrong, you said that Iran is the merger of Marxism and Islam. I believe you also said that the Shah did not realize that sending the youth to school in the UK and the US was a mistake, and that they returned to Iran, indoctrinated with Marxism. Was this the backdrop to Death to America?

Frank

REPLY: Absolutely. The Shah made the mistake of sending people to study in the West during the late ’70s when universities were taken over by the LEFT and indoctrinated students into this dangerous idea that has been behind the single most devastating upheaval in human history. No other theory has caused so much death as the LEFTISTS.

This merger of Marxism and Islam was unique to Iran. It involved revolutionary Shia clerics adopting Marxist language, leftist intellectuals reinterpreting Islam, and a tactical alliance against a common enemy. This collaboration was a key factor in the revolution’s success, though it proved to be short-lived. It has often been overlooked and just seen as an Islamic Revolution, which is NOT correct. This is part of the problem in negotiating with Iran currently. If we DO NOT understand that this is a merger of Islam reinterpreted by Marxists, good luck in trying to negotiate.

The common language of Anti-Imperialism and Social Justice was merged. The main bridge between these two seemingly opposed worldviews was their shared commitment to anti-imperialism and social justice. For many in Iran, the Shah’s regime was presented as a symbol of Western imperialism and gross economic inequality. That’s where Marxism came in, where everyone should have the same. Marxism provided a sharp critique of capitalism and imperialism, while a newly radicalized version of Shi’a Islam, often called “Liberation Theology,” framed the struggle against the Shah as a fight for the oppressed (mostaz’afin). This overlap in goals created the initial common ground for an alliance.

Ali Shariati was the Intellectual Architect. He is regarded as one of the most influential Iranian intellectuals of the 20th century. He has been referred to as the “ideologue of the Islamic Revolution,” and was the most important figure in forging this ideological blend of Marxism & Islam. Ali Shariati, of course, was a French-educated sociologist who was converted to Communism by Marx himself. Shariati was not a Marxist per se, but he was deeply influenced by Marxist concepts of class struggle, which he artfully integrated into his reinterpretation of Shi’ism. He argued that the original, revolutionary Shi’ism was a religion of the oppressed, which he called “Red Shi’ism,” in contrast to the passive, established “Safavid Shi’ism” of the religious establishment. By presenting Islam as a modern, revolutionary ideology, he offered a powerful native alternative to Marxism, making the anti-Shah movement both religiously authentic and socially radical.

Beyond Shariati’s intellectual synthesis, the revolution against the Shah was driven by a loose but effective alliance of convenience between various political groups. The Clergy & Khomeini: Although Ayatollah Khomeini was deeply anti-communist, he and his clerical followers were skilled politicians. They adopted popular Marxist slogans like “economic equality” and “struggle against imperialism” to tap into widespread anti-Shah sentiment, successfully channeling this energy into their own vision of an Islamic state.

Islamic-Marxist Guerrillas (MEK) became the most literal fusion of the two ideologies that occurred within the Mojahedin-e-Khalq (MEK). Founded in 1965, the MEK explicitly described its ideology as a “combination of Islam and Marxism.” The group argued that a “true Muslim” was naturally aligned with socialist and anti-imperialist goals. They fought alongside Khomeini’s forces during the revolution but were purged soon after.

Secular Marxists (Tudeh Party), was Iran’s largest communist party, and was originally wary of Khomeini’s religious movement. However, their fervent anti-Shah position eventually led them to support the revolutionary coalition, hoping to influence its outcome from within.

The alliance was purely pragmatic. Once the Shah was overthrown in 1979, the fundamental incompatibility between Marxism (which is atheist) and an Islamic state (which is theocratic) became immediately clear. Khomeini’s regime quickly moved to eliminate its leftist allies in what has been called a “counter-revolutionary” purge. Marxist and Islamic-Marxist groups, including the Tudeh party and the MEK, were ruthlessly suppressed, with thousands of members executed or forced into exile.

It became a Revolutionary Synthesis, rather than a merger of Marxism and Islamic fundamentalism, which was a revolutionary synthesis, not a permanent fusion. For a brief period, their shared opposition to the Shah united them in a powerful coalition to achieve the revolution. However, their fundamental differences proved irreconcilable, leading to a violent and decisive break in the revolution’s aftermath.

Religion aside, what I find curious is that Marxism is expressly forbidden in the Ten Commandments, confirming that this has been an inherent problem within human civilization for thousands of years. Just counting Russia and China, the death toll thanks to Marxism and the LEFT is estimated at Deaths under regimes that identified with Marxism–Leninism (e.g., the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin, China under Mao Zedong, Cambodia under Pol Pot, etc.) is estimated between 50 and 90 million deaths, and that is just China and Russia. It has been the deadliest theory ever promoted by formal education.

Some argue that Sparta did not wage war against Athens because of communism vs. capitalism. They fought for power, fear, and security—as Thucydides documented—within the very different political and economic realities of the 5th century BC. However, the economics tells a different story. Sparta was a communist state. It never issued coins to discourage individual wealth.

Sparta never issued coins. All they had were iron “oboloi”, which were intended to be impractical to prevent the accumulation of wealth. Sparta did not issue coinage for centuries due to a deliberate set of ideological laws, known as the Lycurgan Reforms, designed to create a perfectly disciplined, militaristic, and egalitarian society. The state actively used its monetary system to enforce these values.

According to ancient historians like Plutarch, the legendary lawgiver Lycurgus banned the use of gold and silver coins, replacing them with heavy, cumbersome iron bars to stifle corruption, greed, and the pursuit of luxury.

The Spartan currency, called Pelanor (also referred to as ‘obeloi’ or spits), was deliberately made impractical. A single piece weighed around 1.5 pounds (0.68 kg) but had very little value, so even a small sum would require a cart to move.

The iron was deliberately made brittle by quenching it in vinegar while red-hot, rendering it useless for making tools or weapons. This ensured the currency had no purpose other than trade. This was an early communist state with “Anti-Money” by design.

This cumbersome system suppressed foreign influence, reduced theft (because of the difficulty of concealing the large bars), and curbed corruption by making bribery nearly impossible. More importantly, it discouraged the accumulation of private wealth and helped enforce the “equal” lifestyle of the Spartiate citizen class, which was essential for military discipline.

While the iron currency worked for internal trade among citizens, Sparta was not a closed economy. The Perioikoi (a subordinate class of free inhabitants) managed trade and used foreign currency, and the Spartan state itself famously used Persian gold coins to build its navy and ultimately defeat Athens in the Peloponnesian War.

While Athens was the power that defeated the Persians and rose to form its own empire, indeed, Sparta was jealous of that power. But at the root was also this difference in social theory. Athens was capitalist and free, with art, expression, and philosophy. These were characteristics that were at odds with the philosophy of Sparta.

The lesson here is that when dealing with Iran, we must understand that at the very basic core, they remain anti-capitalist/imperialist. This is how they see the USA and Israel. There is a basic fundamental difference in philosophy, and until we stop judging Iran by what we would do, we will never understand the adversary.

You can never achieve social justice where everyone earns the same, still have personal liberty and freedom even to speak, and economic efficiency all simultaneously. It has NEVER worked from ancient times to China and Russia, and it is suppressing Europe into an economic depression. It tore Iran apart at the seams. This Marxist interpretation of Islam destroyed Iran, which ranks in the top three energy reserves in the world for oil and gas, though it is undeniably a global energy superpower.

The Islamic Revolution was responsible for completing and solidifying the nationalization of Iran’s energy sector. The key to understanding this lies in the early 1950s. In 1951, the democratically elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mossadegh, nationalized Iran’s British-controlled oil industry. However, this bold move led to a CIA and MI6-backed coup in 1953, which ousted Mossadegh and reinstated the Shah. After the coup, control of Iran’s oil industry effectively returned to Western companies

PRIVATE BLOG – Copper & Iran War

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When Pokémon Go was released, it appeared to be a harmless game encouraging people to go outside and explore, yet beneath that surface was a far more sophisticated system that directed human movement into very specific locations where data was needed most, turning millions of users into mobile data collectors. The placement of Pokémon, Gyms, and PokéStops was not random, but concentrated around landmarks, businesses, and dense urban corridors, meaning players were repeatedly funneled into high-value mapping zones, often returning to the same locations over and over again, capturing them from multiple angles, at different times of day, and under varying conditions, which is exactly how high-quality spatial datasets are built.

For many reading this, particularly those who never played the game, it is important to understand what this actually looked like in practice, because this was not some passive background process, it required people to physically walk through neighborhoods, parks, shopping districts, and even residential areas while holding up their phones, actively scanning their surroundings to “catch” virtual creatures that did not exist. The game encouraged users to point their cameras at real-world objects, move around them, and interact with the environment. The system was capturing detailed imagery not just of public landmarks but also of surrounding areas, including streets, entryways, and private homes, all embedded in what appeared to be a simple entertainment experience.

The scale of what was collected is staggering and now confirmed by the company itself, with Niantic stating that its system has been built on roughly 30 billion real-world images gathered through its augmented reality games, each tied to precise data such as GPS location, camera angle, and device movement. These images are not random snapshots but structured data points, captured repeatedly at more than a million key locations globally, many of which were photographed from multiple perspectives and under varying environmental conditions, enabling the system to build highly accurate three-dimensional models of real-world environments.

Niantic has been explicit about the purpose of this dataset, explaining that it is building what it calls a “Large Geospatial Model,” a system designed to allow machines to understand and navigate the real world. One executive stated, “We look at the player data as very high-quality ground training data,” making clear that the information gathered through gameplay is being used to train artificial intelligence systems.

The game was an immediate success as the Pokemon franchise has lasted throughout generations with both children and adults eagerly playing along. The reach of this operation is global, spanning nearly every major city on the planet and millions of individual locations, with new data continuing to be added at a rate of roughly one million scans per week. This was not a static dataset but a constantly evolving, real-time mapping system built through ongoing participation.

Companies like Google spent years deploying fleets of Street View vehicles equipped with specialized cameras to capture imagery from roads and highways, a process that was expensive, slow, and inherently limited to where vehicles could physically travel. Pokémon Go achieved something far more granular by using millions of people on foot, inside buildings, parks, and residential neighborhoods, collecting data from angles and locations that vehicles could never reach. Niantic even charged users to unlock advanced gaming features, profiting while secretly using the system to create a on-the-ground map of the world.

What Niantic created was effectively a pedestrian-level mapping system that surpassed traditional methods in density and perspective, because every image was captured at human height, from within the environment itself, rather than from a passing vehicle, and when those billions of images are layered together, the result is a dataset that can pinpoint a user’s position to within centimeters based on surrounding visual cues, a level of precision that conventional GPS systems struggle to achieve in dense urban environments.

The game itself was the mechanism that made this possible, because it incentivized behavior that would otherwise require massive investment, placing rare Pokémon and rewards in specific areas so that players would voluntarily travel to those locations, linger there, and capture detailed visual data, effectively turning curiosity and competition into a distributed workforce that operated at global scale.

This was perhaps the largest data collection operation in history. Participation was voluntary, and the implications were never fully understood; the result is a system that has quietly built a high-resolution, continuously updated model of the physical world using data supplied by hundreds of millions of users in every corner of the globe.

Niantic has outlined multiple industries where this data will be deployed, including logistics, warehousing, construction, and spatial planning, all of which rely on understanding physical environments in real time. The reality is that this data is now being commercialized, integrated into robotics, licensed for enterprise use, and positioned as the backbone for future AI systems that interact with the real world, meaning what began as a game has evolved into one of the most valuable spatial datasets ever created.

Remember: if something is free, YOU are the product.

The Bank of Korea has now made its position unmistakably clear, and this is precisely what I have been warning about for years. In his very first address, Governor Shin Hyun-song did not merely suggest innovation in digital finance, he explicitly prioritized a system built around central bank digital currencies and bank-issued deposit tokens, while deliberately omitting stablecoins entirely from the discussion. What you are witnessing is not competition in money, it is the consolidation of control.

They are trying to rebrand this as modernization, but behind the curtain this is about power. Shin outlined that CBDCs and deposit tokens will form the core of South Korea’s future monetary system, reinforcing a structure where the central bank and regulated banking institutions remain the gatekeepers of all financial activity. This is not accidental. Deposit tokens are essentially programmable bank liabilities tied directly into a centrally controlled system, ensuring that even when money becomes “digital,” it never leaves the institutional framework.

What stands out is not what he said, but what he refused to say. Stablecoins, which represent a competing form of digital liquidity outside direct state control, were entirely absent from his inaugural speech despite ongoing legislative efforts in South Korea to establish a domestic stablecoin market. That omission speaks volumes. Central banks do not fear volatility, they fear competition.

Even when pressed previously, Shin made it clear that stablecoins would only play a “supplementary” role, not a foundational one. In other words, private digital money may exist, but only within boundaries defined by the state. This is the same pattern we are seeing globally. Governments will tolerate innovation only to the extent that it does not threaten their monopoly over money and taxation.

The Bank of Korea is already expanding real-world testing through initiatives like Project Hangang, aiming to integrate CBDCs and deposit tokens into everyday transactions and even government spending. This is how it always unfolds. First comes the pilot program, then limited adoption, and finally full integration under the justification of efficiency and stability. By the time the public realizes what has happened, the infrastructure is already in place.

They will argue this is about improving payment systems, reducing friction, and enhancing transparency. But transparency for whom? Governments will gain unprecedented visibility into every transaction, every movement of capital, and ultimately every individual’s economic behavior. The original promise of cryptocurrency was decentralization and financial sovereignty. What is being constructed here is the exact opposite.

First, they marginalize private alternatives like stablecoins. Then they elevate bank-issued tokens tied directly into the regulatory system. Finally, they introduce CBDCs as the ultimate settlement layer, where all money flows can be monitored, restricted, or even reversed.

South Korea is simply one piece of a much larger global shift. The same debate is playing out in Europe, in the United States, and across Asia. The technology may differ, the language may vary, but the objective is consistent. Governments are moving toward a system where money is no longer just a medium of exchange, but a tool of policy enforcement.

This is why I have repeatedly stated that the future battle is not about inflation, it is about control. Once money becomes programmable, it ceases to be neutral. It can be conditioned, restricted, and weaponized. The danger is not that CBDCs will fail, but that they will succeed exactly as intended.

The public is being told this is innovation. In reality, it is the redesign of the monetary system from the ground up, and once implemented, there is no easy way back.

New York is now set to lose roughly $73.5 million in federal transportation funding. The state refused to revoke nearly 33,000 questionable commercial driver’s licenses issued to non-domiciled immigrants. Many of these licenses remained active despite expired or unverifiable documentation. This is not just paperwork. This is a failure of basic regulatory integrity.

New York has been at the center of the migrant surge in the United States. Hundreds of thousands have entered the system, and the state declared itself a sanctuary. As pressure mounted, enforcement weakened and state government bended the rules to protect the occupiers.

These vehicles can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and require strict training, certification, and oversight. When the state cannot properly verify who someone is, it cannot verify their driving history, qualifications, or whether the license itself was issued based on valid credentials. There have already been incidents tied to improperly vetted commercial drivers, which is what triggered federal scrutiny in the first place. This is not about politics, it is about basic safety. If identity and documentation cannot be confirmed, then neither can competency, and putting unverified drivers behind the wheel of heavy commercial vehicles creates a direct risk to everyone on the road.

This migrant crisis has strained every layer of the system. Housing has been overwhelmed. Public services are stretched. New York City alone has spent billions trying to manage the situation. Shelters are beyond capacity, and emergency measures have become permanent solutions. Yet the state continues signaling that it remains open.

The economic consequences are now beginning to surface. Losing federal funding shows that the federal government is willing to enforce compliance when safety standards are ignored.  Businesses and residents have already been leaving high-tax states like New York. That trend is accelerating as uncertainty rises.

The Trump Administration is prepared to continue withholding federal funds to pressure these states into complying with federal law. Taxpayers in every state are on the hook for the migrant crisis and denying federal funds is a point for “no taxation without representation.” There are discussions of revoking airport customs checks at airports in sanctuary cities. States that have gone rogue will be left high and dry, and perhaps then citizens will see that their elected leaders have pandered to open borders over their own constituents.

US President Donald Trump reversed himself again as he continues to look for a way out of this quagmire, which has become a deeply unpopular conflict that’s driven up gas prices and threatens to plunge Europe into its own Great Depression.  The Iranian government appears divided, and the military seems to be assuming power, declining to yield to the political faction.

The Neocons, who lack the ability to engage in strategy beyond the tip of their noses, routinely see only myopically and are simply incompetent, incapable of even adding 2 + 2. They proved that the lack of strategy with Iraq. They only focused on removing Saddam and never gave a second thought to what came afterward. That was Tony Blair’s apology.

Trump is desperate to exit this war, but publicly, he will NEVER admit it was a mistake or that he was influenced by Netanyahu’s constant propaganda to annihilate all of his enemies using the US military and American soldiers to die for his persistent hatred of his adversaries. I would expect Netanyahu to now stage some sort of false flag to not only get Trump back in this war, but also because his own critics are now saying he lacks the courage to stand up to Trump. With elections in the wings, Netanyahu is not likely to go quietly into retirement.

As mentioned, we are seeing factions emerge internally within Iran. This should eventually expand, and we would expect Iran to fracture politically in early 2027. To some extent, this is why Trump’s latest turnabout. I do not believe that Trump is receiving realistic information about the future. The Neocons must be breaking out in a cold sweat and on the verge of foaming at the mouth.

Even General Wesley Clark confirmed that after 911, he was told that the Neocons intended to invade the Middle East and take 7 countries. This has been their deranged dream. These people never care about the country, the people, or the consequences. This is always about their agenda.

I have previously warned how this war has left the United States vulnerable to being defeated. The US military has significantly depleted its stockpile of key missiles during the war with Iran. We are faced with a serious near-term risk of running out of ammunition, and we are extremely vulnerable to another confrontation, especially if Trump decides to bomb Iran into capitulation. The US military has expended at least 45% of its stockpile of Precision Strike Missiles; at least half of its THAAD missile inventory, which is designed to intercept ballistic missiles; and nearly 50% of its Patriot air defense interceptor missiles. If China were to invade Taiwan, we lack the firepower to defend the island. Other SE Asian countries are realizing that they cannot be defended by the USA, and behind closed doors, they are seeking consideration with China.

While the US likely has enough bombs and missiles to continue combat operations against Iran. However, if Trump gives the OK to try to eliminate the Persian Civilization, the US will not be able to defend a fishing boat in the near future. The US stockpiles are no longer sufficient to confront a near-peer adversary, like China or Russia, and it will likely take YEARS before the inventory of those weapons can be restored. This is what I warned was the downside of high-tech.

Iran has sent waves of cheap drones costing as little as $20,000 to force Israel to shoot two interceptors at a cost of nearly $7 million. Iran has cleverly fought a war of attrition. Something that the Neocons never even thought about.

Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, said the country would lift the restrictions to help prevent the “outbreak of conflicts” and safeguard its own security by working with other nations, opening the door for deadly weapons sales with 17 countries sharing defense agreements with Japan. In other words, Japan is entering the arms race. They realize that the US has shot itself in the foot with the war against Iran for Netanyahu. There was no immediate threat from Iran and even if they had a nuke like Pakistan, it would be a deterent to prevent Netanyahu from attacking their country.

Now sorces confirm that 7 other countries are now going to pursue nuclear weapons including Poland. The lessen from Iran is that if you have nukes,  that is a deterent against an invasion like North Korea, which is far more of a threat than Iran.

The global airline industry is facing a significant disruption due to a sharp rise in jet fuel prices, driven by the conflict in the Middle East. This has led to flight cancellations, route suspensions, and the introduction of new fees by over 30 airlines worldwide. This is a severe crisis that will undermine summer vacations, even in the United States.

Air Canada suspended six routes, including to New York’s JFK. KLM (Dutch) canceled 160 European flights. Lufthansa canceled some 20,000 flights. United has cut 5% of its flights starting in the 2nd quarter, and most airlines are now imposing baggage surcharges.

Trump’s blockade will only make this situation worse. The ongoing closure of the Strait is increasing the risk of a global recession with a Depression in Europe. This conflict is sapping economic growth and oil demand, and we expect the situation to get even worse. Not only will renewed attacks ensure the Straut will not reopen, but Iran holds the cards, and they can attack the Gulf States to seriously prevent production, which will send oil prices over $200.  That is in addition to a brewing Sovereign Debt Crisis that will also undermine the global economy.

On top of all of this is the escalating Sovereign Debt Crisis that is undermining Trump’s policy of Making America Great Again. Jules ‘Jay’ Hurst, performing the duties of Pentagon comptroller, told reporters that the $1.5 trillion request from Trump was a budget that does not include the cost of Iran. Hurst to the press on Tuesday: “This budget was formulated, honestly, before we went into conflict with Iran.”