Join Us at the World Economic Conference in Orlando, Florida! Nov. 17-19, 2023
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:
- Event Admission: Enjoy reserved seating assigned based on the order of ticket sales, ensuring you have a prime view of every presentation.
- Presentation Slides: Gain access to the presentation slides from all speakers, allowing you to delve deeper into the topics discussed.
- 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.
- 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.
- Bonus Conference Materials: Get a package of bonus conference-related materials, including exclusive bonus reports and videos (as provided by Martin Armstrong).
- Morning Information Sessions: Don’t miss out on important morning information sessions, screened on-site in the meeting room on Saturday and Sunday.
- 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.
- Culinary Delights: Savor delicious breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday, prepared to keep you energized throughout the day.
- Cocktail Reception: Kick off the conference in style at our Friday evening cocktail reception. Meet and mingle with fellow attendees while enjoying refreshing drinks.
- 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.
NEW BOOK Now Available : "Mark Antony & Cleopatra"
"THE PLOT TO SEIZE RUSSIA - THE UNTOLD HISTORY"
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.
While the World Was Distracted by Epstein
While the world was distracted by the Epstein debacle, legislators introduced the GENUIS Act that would permit the US government to regulate stablecoins. The GENUIS (Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act), primarily sponsored by Senator Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), permits the government to oversee, regulate, and define the $250 billion stablecoin market.
Now, stablecoins differ from cryptocurrencies as they are pegged to a stable asset such as a fiat currency or commodity. Cryptocurrencies are allegedly allowed to freely operate on the market based on supply and demand. The GENIUS Act will peg stablecoins to the US dollar and require issuers to maintain a 1:1 reserve ratio in short-term treasuries or cash.
Issuers holding over $10 billion in outstanding stablecoins will be subject to federal regulation under a newly created oversight agency. These issuers will now be deemed financial institutions and required to meet the traditional banking regulations as well. Stablecoins can no longer pay interest or act as an alternative to bonds. Perhaps most notably, issuers must not meet anti-money-laundering (AML) regulations, which are set to provide the government with unlimited access to payments.
I just voted NO on the Rule for the GENIUS Act because it does not include a ban on Central Bank Digital Currency and because Speaker Johnson did not allow us to submit amendments to the GENIUS Act.
Americans do not want a government-controlled Central Bank Digital Currency.… pic.twitter.com/NnkeIOH0dE
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene?? (@RepMTG) July 15, 2025
So essentially, the government is turning the stablecoin into a digital dollar of sorts. The concern here is that this could delve into digitizing all currency and creating a CBDC. The act specifically provides the government with the authority to “block, freeze, and reject specific or impermissible transactions.”
“A permitted payment stablecoin issuer shall be treated as a financial institution [and]…shall be subject to all Federal laws applicable to a financial institution located in the United States including…policies and procedures to block, freeze, and reject specific or impermissible transactions that violate Federal or State
laws, rules, or regulations…”
This provision is not intended to protect the world against drug smugglers and thieves. This provision is intended to grant government unlimited control over how people spend stablecoins. The government could have easily frozen the accounts of those who refused the COVID-19 vaccination, for example, and the Biden Administration admittedly weaponized existing financial institutions to spy on Conservative Americans through their payment histories.
“Stablecoins are the bait and switch for direct-issued government CBDCs,” Bitcoin Magazine editor Mark Goodwin said, “Stablecoins can be programmed. Exactly like how we fear CBDCs will be programmed. They’re exactly the same tokenized mechanism… They can be taken out of your wallet. Your wallet can be blacklisted. A lot of the things that we fear about CBDCs are totally available within the tool set of Stablecoins.”
The GENIUS Act has received bipartisan support. Although Republican Hagerty championed the bill, he had bipartisan co-sponsors, including Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tim Scott (R-SC), and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY).
I warned that governments would NEVER allow any cryptocurrency or stablecoin to compete with their own currency. I long warned that government was merely tolerating these alternative currencies in the past as they posed no real threat. But now the government needs the ability to tax everything to support its perpetual spending. Every digital transaction is traceable. Every digital currency is controllable—the ultimate power grab.
One of Donald Trump’s main campaign promises was the prevention of CBDC. The headlines are enraged over his failure to release the Epstein files, but the GENUIS Act is a far deeper betrayal of the American people that has the ability to usher in a new monetary system.
EU Proposed €2 Trillion Defense and Climate Budget – Another Crack in the Bloc
The European Union has just proposed a staggering €2 trillion budget over seven years, with a major focus on military defense spending. Once again, Brussels is proving that when governments face internal collapse, they do not turn toward reform. Rather, they turn toward militarism.
The war cycle is intensifying. The proposal would allocate 2 trillion euros ($2.31 trillion USD) over the next seven years into 2028—a pivotal year on the war cycle. Of that figure, 131 billion euros will go toward militarization. This budget is five times the current amount the EU is spending on defense.
“This is a budget for the realities of today, as well as the challenges of tomorrow,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said during a press conference. Around 35% of the budget will go toward climate and biodiversity projects, she said.
The “challenges” von der Leyen is referencing are the looming sovereign debt crisis. They are not actually concerned about Russia invading Europe. Militarization is a political too,l and climate initiatives are the most lucrative tax grab. Brussels sees that it is failing amid a rising wave of nationalism. The net-zero climate change agenda has failed, along with the attempted globalization from the World Economic Forum. The people have lost confidence in their government, and as history goes, leaders will arm up before they step aside.
Socrates has been forecasting this exact shift. The war cycle is peaking into 2027–2028, with the effects being truly felt in 2028. Europe should be more concerned about internal conflict among EU member states than foreign enemies. Brussels forced members to abandon domestic objectives. They’re feeling it now with the energy crisis, migrant crisis, and looming military conscription. Taxes must rise to pay for these failing policies, and member nations must continually contribute more to both the EU and NATO. Confident leaders are beginning to realize that they’ve lost control of the reins on this runaway horse, but those are the leaders who are being silenced and demonized. Civil unrest, separatist movements, and loss of confidence in government will erupt across the continent.
March 2028 marks the beginning of a major shift in the Economic Confidence Model that may signal the start of the sovereign debt crisis in Europe. From 2028 to 2032, confidence in Western governments will completely collapse. The European Union will fragment once the debt crisis hits and it becomes clear that the unity was an illusion.
The Stripper Index
One company has been looking to one of the world’s oldest professions to gauge the state of the economy—sex work. “The ‘stripper index’ is an unconventional economic indicator that correlates changes in sex work revenue, such as escort pricing, strip club tips, and related search interest, with broader economic cycles,” Erobella states on its website. “It operates on the premise that sex work, being a discretionary luxury, is among the first sectors to feel the pinch during economic downturns.”
Now this is a bit tongue-in-cheek, but everything does, in fact, operate on a cyclical basis. We have those who look at the pizza index for signs of geopolitical turmoil in Washington, and lo and behold, there is some form of a correlation.
Oddly, the creators believe that “economic confidence” is directly tied to the price men are willing to pay for these services. They claim that there was a downturn in searches for sex work ahead of the 2022 downturn, and yet another downturn in searches for “escort” around New York City ahead of the 2008 crash. “Sex work is the ultimate discretionary spend,” it notes. They also stated that cash payments are the primary driver of this industry, causing the industry to be particularly sensitive to downturns ahead of the headlines.
The creators of this unconventional gauge believe that June’s data indicates signs of trouble ahead, with all sex worker-related metrics declining. They found that escort pricing across the UK has declined, and Google searches for “escort” are notably down. Sadly, there is an increase in new hires in the industry as well.
The New York Post also noted that websites such as OnlyFans experienced a decline in revenue during 2022 at the height of inflation.
I would not use this index as a gauge for the economy; it’s more of an interesting concept. Indeed, discretionary spending is the first item to decline ahead of economic downturns. This is one of countless signs that confidence is declining, and consumers are not willing to spend frivolously on extracurricular items to say the least.
Market Talk – July 16, 2025
US/AMERICAS:
US Market Closings:
- Dow advanced 231.49 points or 0.53% to 44,254.78
- S&P 500 advanced 19.94 points or 0.32% to 6,263.7
- Nasdaq advanced 52.69 points or 0.26% to 20,730.49
- Russell 2000 advanced 22 points or 1% to 2,227.05
Canada Market Closings:
- TSX Composite advanced 98.83 points or 0.37% to 27,152.97
- TSX 60 advanced 8.31 points or 0.52% to 1,615.08
Brazil Market Closing:
- Bovespa advanced 191.18 points or 0.14% to 135,441.28
Judge Rules Medical Debt Must Appear on Credit Reports
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) may no longer remove medical debt from credit scores, a federal judge has ruled. This is yet another example of political cycles dictating economic policy, as the Trump-era judge dismissed the Biden-appointed mandate. Today, regulators expand; tomorrow, courts shrink. Millions of Americans will be affected by this ruling.
The Biden Administration was not attempting to wipe out medical debt; rather, the ruling would have changed how medical debt impacted credit scores. U.S. District Judge Sean Jordan, a Trump appointee, argued that the Fair Credit Reporting Act does not permit the CFPB to decide what debt it will and will not report.
Consumer advocates see this as punishment for those who fall ill to no fault of their own. The credit industry believes that payment is due when it is due. The medical industry would likely demand upfront payments, which has become a more common practice. None of this addresses the root cause—healthcare costs are obscene in the United States. Yet, lobbyists continue to line the pockets of politicians, and meaningful change never occurs despite politicians on both sides acknowledging the growing problem.
Currently, one in 12 adults living in the United States has medical debt exceeding $250. Over 14 million Americans, 6% of all adults, owe $1,000, while 3 million people, or 1% of the adult population, have medical debt exceeding $10,000. Medical debt is the leading cause of bankruptcies in America. As of late 2024, Americans were collectively behind on $220 billion worth of medical debt. Around 66.5% of all bankruptcy filings are a direct result of medical bills, affecting over 550,000 Americans annually.
The stop‑start volatility undermines both consumer confidence and market stability. The law is subject to change with each regime change, and the people are unprepared for the rug pull that happens with each new administration. The root of this issue has been entirely ignored and will contribute to the consumer debt crisis facing the nation, which spills into the overall economic growth of the nation.
US Inflation Rises in June
Core inflation’s mild “only” 2.9% annualized rise is not cause for relief. Government agencies, central banks, and regulators all react to data. The Fed, having held rates steady since May, will now sit on its hands until reports confirm if inflation gets a firm grip. Jerome Powell has come out once more to state that the FOMC would have lowered rates if not for Trump’s tariffs. Trump is in opposition with the Fed as fiscal policy blames monetary policy, and no one opens their eyes to see the underlying problem.
A massive systemic risk looms on the horizon as consumer stress intensifies. Medical services, shelter, apparel, food, and everything else have been significantly more expensive since the pandemic, although the trend began five years ahead of COVID. These structural moving parts are more than mere statistics, as they are a sign of social stability and confidence.
Core inflation rose 0.2% for the month, representing a 2.9% annualized increase. The consumer price index rose by 0.3% in June, bringing the 12-month inflation rate to 2.7%.
I’ve repeatedly warned that the inflationary trend, which has become stagflation, would be blamed on Trump’s policy. “In effect, we went on hold when we saw the size of the tariffs and essentially all inflation forecasts for the United States went up materially as a consequence of the tariffs,” Powell said at the European Central Bank forum in Sintra, Portugal.
I’ve said it once, and I will say it again– Prices have simply not returned to what they once were before the global economy came to a standstill during COVID. Every nation has been affected. The lockdowns and supply chain cracks were exacerbated by a massive increase of government spending. Then the government doubled down on green policies, causing energy prices to rise, and lit the situation ablaze amid the Ukraine war and Russian sanctions. The world was already amid a sovereign debt crisis before COVID, and in fact, the Economic Confidence Model clearly stated that the landscape would permanently change after the Big Bang target of October 1, 2015 (2015.75)—the peak in government confidence.
The Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) has even issued a report that found PCE consistent across core goods, excluding energy, over the past three years. The CEA found “no clear break” in trend despite the headlines. Inflation has been above target for years and the Fed simply cannot control the trend.
Expect a cautious Fed. And expect politicians to blame their opponents, as always, rather than seeking the actual cause. Those politicians merely turn to academics who do not understand how the economy functions at its core and rely on outdated concepts that do not reflect the current landscape. The real culprit is cyclical history repeating itself—trade policy swings, inflationary follow-through, central bank reaction, and then economic slowdown.
Socrates is already flagging this cycle rising. And in 2026, we’ll look back and see that June 2025 was merely the early tremor of a system-wide shift.
Japan & MNRA Studies
Some people are reporting that Japanese researchers were able to obtain vaccine and death records for 21 million people, and determined that those who died from MNRA came in “death waves” that took place 3-4 months after the injections, not right away. The data also reveal how long it takes for your death risk to return to normal, following a covid jab. This does not appear to be verifiable.
Market Talk – July 15, 2025
US/AMERICAS:
US Market Closings:
- Dow declined 436.36 points or -0.98% to 44,023.29
- S&P 500 declined 24.8 points or -0.4% to 6,243.76
- Nasdaq advanced 37.47 points or 0.18% to 20,677.8
- Russell 2000 declined 44.68 points or -1.99% to 2,205.05
Canada Market Closings:
- TSX Composite declined 144.71 points or -0.53% to 27,054.14
- TSX 60 declined 9.68 points or -0.6% to 1,606.77
Brazil Market Closing:
- Bovespa advanced 55.7 points or 0.04% to 135,354.69
Digital IDs Are Necessary – But So is Abuse
QUESTION: Martin,
The United States federal government also has a significant exit tax that applies to certain individuals (“covered expatriates”) based on the current value of their assets, not on future earnings.
The Exit Tax (Mark-to-Market Tax):
This tax applies if you meet the definition of a “covered expatriate” when you renounce. It treats all of your worldwide assets as if you sold them for their fair market value on the day before your expatriation date. You calculate a hypothetical capital gain on this “deemed sale.” The first $821,000 (for 2024, adjusted annually for inflation) of this net gain is excluded. Any net gain above this exclusion amount is subject to capital gains tax (currently up to 23.8% including the net investment income tax) as if it were realized income on the day before expatriation.
Crucially, this tax is on the unrealized gains in your assets up to the date of expatriation. It is NOT a tax on income you expect to earn in the future after you are no longer a citizen. However, let’s say you started a company, they would argue what it would be worth if you went public and demand a tax on that fictional amount. This gets very complicated. You are being taxed on inflation – the depreciation of the currency over time, not purchasing power. The bottom line is that we all have a tattoo on our ass when born, declaring we are the property of the government for them to tax as an economic slave, and how dare you expect any rights or anything in return? Even Switzerland has a global wealth tax. You are taxed on the value of foreign assets annually based on currency fluctuations, no less.
So while a digital ID is ultimately necessary, the government will abuse every chance they get because they view us as economic slaves, not much different from the Slavery of the 1860s. Freedom can be bought, but only at a stiff price. Here is the head of the European Central Bank admitting they will control what you can buy or sell. If you are considering resigning your citizenship, it is advisable to consult an expert. This is much more complicated than just what appears on the surface.
We are the enemy – the Economic Slaves to Support Their Aspirations of Glory
UK Data Use and Access Act – Digital Wallets Coming
The Data (Use and Access) Act, also known as the DUA Bill, has provided the UK government with the ability to roll out a series of programs that will eventually force citizens to participate in a digital ID program. The law was enacted with the premise of reinforcing security and providing convenience for businesses and individuals, with the true goal of surrendering all data and control to government authorities.
The UK government has eased the public into the concept by launching digital verification services. Phase one enabled citizens to voluntarily create a digital identity to streamline the right to work and the right to rent procedures and provide access to age-restricted products. Phase two will create a foundation for Digital Verification Services (DVS) and government oversight of digital identities. Approved services will receive a trust mark to note that they have been verified by the government. The program is currently in a pilot phase but the government plans to move full speed ahead by the end of the year.
“This independent certification process has given lots of organisations across the UK economy the confidence to start accepting digital identity. In some parts of the economy though government or businesses need extra assurance, beyond the requirements in the trust framework, before a digital identity can be used,” the government noted, later adding, “We estimate that hundreds of thousands of right to work, right to rent and disclosure and barring checks each month are now taking place using digital identity services providers; but that’s just the small step towards a much bigger transformation we want to enable through our work.”
In two years, after people are accustomed to creating and using their digital identity, the government plans to launch a digital wallet (GOV.UK Wallet) that will store citizens’ official government-issued documents. The Home Affairs Committee launched an inquiry into the risks associated with this digital ID, with industries and watchdog services raising a red flag over concerns regarding government overreach and surveillance. Critics are also concerned about the true security measures a centralized database could offer as data breaches and unauthorized access are possible. The initial attempt to create GOV.UK failed and cost the government £200 million and there is no currently publicly disclosed total cost of the plans to create a new version.
Government never implements a policy without expansion. There are already discussions of incorporating tax information into GOV.UK in the future, for example. Digital ID is not about convenience. It’s about CONTROL. The entire agenda is to monitor everything you do, say, and spend in real-time. They need Digital IDs to enforce CBDCs. Without it, they can’t control how you spend money. Every nation will attempt to create its version of a digital ID before they are combined into one centralized database, per United Nations guidelines. There will be public resistance toward these systems as government trust erodes. The plan will never be voluntarily repealed once implemented and overreach will expand until all freedoms are forcibly surrendered.