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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.
The Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday rejected the latest US-backed offering to end the Russia-Ukraine war, issuing a damming rebuff that illustrates that Putin would have to be insane to accept any peace deal at this stage in the game with Ukraine because it would NEVER resolve this conflict. Moscow’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs slammed the US-European proposal for security assurances for Ukraine, saying the protection plan amounts to “a true axis of war.” This is what I warned about on the Private Blog.
I warned that with the UK and France sending in troops as soon as a ceasefire is agreed was a guarantee that no such ceasefire would take place for this would be effectively sending in NATO troops into Ukraine. Europe has ZERO intension of EVER seeking peace or a normal relationship with Russia returning to the world economy. This is a guarantee of PERMANENT war. Russia’s comment was clear:
“The document turned out to be extremely far from a peace settlement. The declaration is not aimed at achieving a lasting peace and security but rather at continuing the militarization, escalation and further conflict aggravation.” “Its core element is the deployment of ‘a multinational force’ on Ukrainian territory that the coalition will have to form to contribute to the ‘rebuilding’ of the Ukrainian armed forces and ‘support deterrence’ following the cessation of the hostilities.”
The Ukrainian long-range strike campaign has continued hitting Russian oil, military and infrastructure targets. Importantly, for a 48-hour period this week, the Ukrainians were able to shut down all of the airports in the Moscow region and force the Russians to shut down their mobile phone networks across the same area. Given the massive population of the Russian capital, this will be noticed by the populace. Ukraine is is claiming it is defeating Russia shutting down Moscow’s airports and mobile networks for two days. That’s the action of a country with operational capability striking deep into enemy territory with impunity using targeting from the United States and UK. Clearly, this is like hiring a contract killer to eliminate someone and then claiming you did not pull the trigger. Ukraine has no long-range targeting capability without eyes in the sky.
The Venezuela Invasion:
The Monroe Doctrine was a cornerstone U.S. foreign policy statement, proclaimed by President James Monroe in his annual address to Congress on December 2nd, 1823. It declared the Western Hemisphere closed to future European colonization and interference, while pledging that the United States would not interfere in existing European colonies or in the internal affairs of Europe. Donald Trump has essentially asserted the same doctrine targeting both China and Russia to expel them from this hemisphere.
Ironically, to be objective, that justifies Russia taking all of Ukraine and it also justifies China taking Taiwan. We can’t have it both ways. But the Neocons see the US as dominating the world whereas Trump’s Chief of Staff Miller recognized that the world is divided among three empires – US, Russia, and China.
China’s Foreign Ministry has responded to U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement that he’d be “very unhappy” if Beijing attacked Taiwan.
“Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. How to resolve the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese ourselves. … This is China’s internal affair that brooks no external interference.”
What China will do now is most likely, if I were them, would impose a total embargo preventing anything from leaving or entering. I would suspect that it would take about 90 days. I would suspect that China has just been given the Green Light thanks to Donald’s Doctrine. They could act as soon as April.
The Tanker Seizure:
American Coast Guard and military forces (assisted by the UK) undertook a boarding operation to seize one of Russia’s shadow fleet tankers, the Bella 1, in the north Atlantic. This vessel was sanctioned by the U.S. under its counter-Iran sanctions, aimed at stopping Iran from fueling instability in the Middle East through the profits of illegal oil sales and was linked to international terrorism and crime including Hezbollah. Yet this is debatable. The ship went through the Suez Canal and a ship of this size could only do so if it was empty.
The United States with the aid of the UK just boarded and seized a Russian-flagged vessel on the high seas. Russia did nothing but the US agreed to send the two Russian crew members to Russia. This was clearly a strong-arm tactic against Russia. John Healey made the dumbest bullshit excuse I have ever heard in 50 years. How does an empty tanker on its way to Russia threaten Britain and the British people? This is the most absurd excuse I have ever heard. Then any empty tanker on its way to to or from Russia on the high seas threatens the British people?
The Strategic Message: Weakness Disguised as Strength
NATO is now claiming that Putin fired an Oreshnik at Lviv—a city less than 70 kilometers from the Polish border and NATO territory. The message was supposed to be: “We have hypersonic nuclear-capable missiles and we’re willing to use them close to NATO borders. Be afraid.” They are spinning this as Russia needed to demonstrate military capability because its credibility had collapsed across multiple theaters simultaneously. Venezuela, Syria, Iran—every Russian client is falling or under severe pressure. The shadow fleet is being seized. Ukrainian drones are shutting down Moscow. NATO insists that their military analysts are skeptical of Oreshnik’s actual battlefield value. While Putin keeps warning about nuclear war, they insist that this is all hype and pay no attention because they can take Russia with one hand tied behind their back.
The Oreshnik strike is the military equivalent of shouting “I’m still relevant!” while everyone watches Putin lose influence globally. NATO wasn’t impressed. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the strike shows that “Putin doesn’t want peace” and called it “meant as a warning to Europe and to the U.S.” Kallas is as ruthless as Zelensky. She represents why there can NEVER be any peace with Russia.
The U.S.-led efforts to end the war in Ukraine have entered a pivotal stage and is exposing that there will NEVER be peace between the EU abd Russia. This is critical. Peace negotiations are at this point pointless for the EU is seeking to install NATO troops into Ukraine under the pretense of peace-keeping when in fact it was Kiev that started this war 0 not Putin nor Russia.
John McCain, the godfather of Neocons, was there advocating the revolution in 2014 and lied to the people telling them this was about them and nobody else and it was about the peace that they deserved. There was peace with Russia. I believe McCain hated Russians because he was captured in Vietnam and was broken reading propaganda for the Vietnamese.
Robert McNamara admitted before he died that they assumed Russia was behind Vietnam but they were wrong. This has infected the Neocons who have grown up hating Russians all on a false assumption. This is what colored the Cold War and it is to this day warning that the European Union is seeking World War III because of people like Kallas who are wrapped up in personal hatred that she cannot see that she is condemning Europe and this EU experiment to its final destruction.
The Larger Pattern: The Cycle of Escalation
Russia used the Oreshnik missile on Lviv overnight January 8-9, 2026, hitting an underground gas storage facility in the first ballistic missile strike on Ukraine’s western region. This marks only the second use of Russia’s newest intermediate-range weapon system.Lviv is significant because it’s Ukraine’s westernmost major city—less than 70 kilometers from the border with the European Union. Hitting it with a nuclear-capable missile sends an unmistakable message to Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania: You’re within range despite NATO saying don’t worry.
But don’t be distracted by the technical capabilities or the psychological warfare. Focus on the strategic context: Russia deployed this weapon after suffering humiliating failures in Venezuela, Syria, and even Moscow itself. The strike represents Russia responding to the Donald Doctrine. NATO wants to claim this is an act of desperation or weakness. But this is boasting their strength and desire to invade Russia as soon as they can.
NATO insists that the mathematics show that Russia’s global position is weakening across multiple theaters simultaneously. Its client states are falling. Its deterrence is failing. Its economic warfare through shadow fleets is being countered. And its response is to fire expensive, irreplaceable missiles at gas storage facilities to prove it’s still dangerous.
However, if we assume that Russia is now weakened dramatically, then the behavior of a declining power trying to convince everyone—including itself—that it still matters is far worse. Like a wounded animal, it will fight to the death and is most dangerous when cornered. There are two sides to that coin.
The cycle suggests further escalation is coming. NATO likes to project Russia is just a injured fly to be swatted. When Kallas tried to threaten China to abandon Russia, Wang Yi respectfully stated that China had no intention of standing idly by and watching Russia lose. He stated that China believes that if Russia were defeated, the EU and NATO would turn on China next. This idea that the EU and NATO can destroy and break up Russia with no other impact is the linear thinking of madmen.
The NEOCONS have won. They used Ukraine to revive the Cold War that they want to make RED HOT. This has all been forecast by our computer and it is certainly nothing I would like to see. This is not my OPINION. I have long hoped that if I scream loud enough then perhaps I could prevent it. That has been a fool’s dream. I have never been able to defeat the computer yet.
Watch the next days carefully into February and then April followed by June/July. If peace talks are more likely to break down, and I would expect more Oreshnik strikes or similar escalatory moves. I just find it curious that NATO keeps claiming Russia is weak and there is no threat. They seem to be talking out of both sides of their mouth.
California imposed an exit tax for those wishing to flee the state, but with insufficient funding and desperation to maintain tax revenue, the state is considering legislation that would steal a portion of one’s net worth and redistribute it to social programs.
The Billionaire Tax Act would impose a 5% tax on the total wealth of state residents with a net worth over $1 billion. There are around 250 billionaires currently living in California. The law will apply to anyone who resided in California as of January 1, 2026, which means it is too late to get out.
Net worth includes unrealized gains—stocks, businesses, real estate, collectibles, etc. California is treating paper valuations as if they were cash sitting in a vault, but net worth is merely an estimate when the valuation has not been realized or set. These items are subject to drastic fluctuations and now residents will be penalized for holding onto appreciating assets. Taxing a temporary illusion of worth assumes permanence when that is simply not the case.
Economies grow through investment, risk, and innovation. When you impose a levy on wealth, you force entrepreneurs to sell assets, slow investment, or exit entirely. The tech boom created 50 new billionaires in the state in 2025 alone. Why would aspiring entrepreneurs remain in a state that continually penalizes success? This class has the ability to mobilize at whim, but others do not, and it a guarantee that the state will soon come for those with less.
The wealthy generate wealth when they deploy capital into productive ventures. These are the people creating jobs and propping up local economies. You can never leave California without paying the exit tax, and now, you cannot amass wealth in the state without being subject to a large penalty. California has become extremely hostile to capital, hence the mass exodus of private wealth and businesses in recent years.
Legislators claim they can take in $100 billion in revenue from the tax that will allegedly go toward California’s imploding healthcare budget. California is a welfare state that operates outside of the federal capitalistic system. There are simply too many social programs to maintain and too many ignorant politicians who believe others should redistribute their wealth to float failing policies.
President Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the withdrawal of the United States from 66 international organizations, including 35 non-United Nations (UN) organizations and 31 UN entities, “that operate contrary to U.S. national interests, security, economic prosperity, or sovereignty.” America’s sovereignty was at risk under the past administration that partook in the Build Back Better globalist agenda. Taxpayers will no longer be forced to pay to prop up globalist causes that do not benefit them in any form.
The international community has used America as its piggybank, top financier since the end of World War II. Billions are sent overseas every year to organizations claiming to promote world peace and health through global governance. We have nothing to show for the money funneled out of the nation. World peace is certainly not a reality. There is no cohesive “international community” as every nation unbound to a centralized government is operating in a way that serves its best interests. These globalist organizations assess what each nation must pay them, with the US always on the hook for the highest contributions.
The American people voted for nationalism and domestic prioritization. These globalist agencies override democracy and do not coincide with traditional American values or interests. We saw the extent of their reach during the pandemic with regulations shifted society. Unelected officials created rules for everyone to abide by, and member nations, their pawns who pay for the privilege of being overridden, are gaining control.
Part of Agenda 2030 clearly dictates that America can no longer be a superpower; in fact, no one nation can be a superpower, as all power will be held by the elite few. These non-government, unelected entities are openly attempting to remove all human rights. The United Nations openly discusses how it will take sovereignty from all member nations. They believe that nations should give up sovereignty for anything they deem an emergency to push out their goal for the New World Order.
According to our models, the United Nations, as we know it, will come to an end by 2031, following the old League of Nations. Agenda 2030 and the Great Reset will fail. Individual nations are struggling to remain united; centralized government powerhouses cannot last. Civilization works only when we all benefit.
With every day that passes, we are edging closer and closer to 2032, where our computer is forecasting the collapse of our present form of Republican government, and the light at the end of the tunnel is that we get to hold another Constitutional Convention. This time, we get to correct all the mistakes of our Founding Fathers.
DEM GOV. TIM WALZ: "I have a very simple message: We do not need any further help from the federal government."
"To Donald Trump and Kristi Noem: You've done enough."
"I've issued a warning order to prepare the Minnesota National Guard. We have soldiers in training and prepared… pic.twitter.com/zWpwQIERuF
— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 7, 2026
Tim Walz openly called for an insurrection and threatened to use the state National Guard to contest federal agents. “We do not need any further help from the federal government. To Donald Trump and Kristi Noem, you’ve done enough. I’ve issued a warning order to prepare the Minnesota National Guard,” Walz said in a press event. “We have soldiers in training and prepared to be deployed if necessary. I remind you, a warning order is a heads-up for folks,” Walz said. “Minnesota will not allow our community to be used as a prop in a national political fight.”
Walz mistakenly believes those “soldiers in training” are there to protect his own self-interests. State authority cannot override federal authority. The Minnesota National Guard would not openly start a Civil War by listening to Tim Walz over the Commander-in-Chief.
The governor announced he would not seek re-election amid the $9 billion and counting Somali-led scheme to defraud taxpayers under the guise of social programs. The recent ICE shooting in Minneapolis occurred less than a mile from where George Floyd overdosed during an arrest, and had there not been video evidence, the city would have burnt down once more. Guard units are currently on standby, while the Minnesota State Patrol has already mobilized members of its Mobile Response Team in anticipation of civil unrest. Walz asked residents to display “peaceful resistance” before threatening an actual civil war.
Tim Walz seemingly wants to go full scorched Earth before he exits politics. “Game’s over for [Republicans], now. It was all me, I was the bad guy or whatever, well, put up or shut up now and tell us what you’re going to do to make this state better,” Walz told reporters.
Walz is merely one example of a governor boldly defying federal law, inciting civil unrest, and displaying precisely why the United States cannot remain united. Other state leaders have barked back at Washington. The Democrats are losing favor with voters and becoming unhinged. These cracks will ultimately result in a full division of the United States as we move toward 2032.
US/AMERICAS:
DJIA advanced by 270.03 points (0.55%) to 49,266.11
S&P 500 advanced by 0.53 points (0.01%) to 6,921.46
NASDAQ declined by 104.26 points (-0.44%) to 23,480.016
Russell 2000 advanced by 28.34 points (1.10%) to 2,603.765
Canada Market Closings:
TSX Composite advanced by 243.76 points (0.76%) to 32,379.25
TSX 60 advanced by 16.43 points (0.87%) to 1,896.11
Brazil Market Closing:
Bovespa advanced by 786.01 points (0.49%) to 162,761.25
China became Venezuela’s largest oil purchaser through oil-for-debt deals. Socialism failed, and the nation was desperate for funds, especially after being ostracized from Western trade. Beijing supplied Venezuela with credit in exchange for heavily discounted crude. China’s access to cheap oil from Venezuela came to a sudden halt after the US takeover.
China was purchasing around 778,000 barrels a day before Maduro’s capture. Venezuela had borrowed up to $100 billion from China in loans since 2007, using PDVSA crude sales to ChinaOil as collateral. Venezuela agreed to ship fixed volumes of crude to Chinese buyers through small “teapot” refineries. While the average output was 778,000 bpd DAILY, exports reached 952,000 bpd at the end of 2025. These flows accounted for 4% of China’s total oil imports.
China is now looking to Iran and Russia for crude, furthering the disconnect between the East and West. Cargoes secured in Asian waters can cover two and a half months of China’s demand, easing any immediate shocks. Yet, Venezuela still owes China around $19 billion in outstanding debt that was largely secured by long-term crude imports.
China is enraged. Foreign Ministry spokespeople Mao Ning and Lin Jian demanded Venezuela retain “full and permanent sovereignty” over its natural resources and accused the US of “seriously breaching” international law. China’s “legitimate rights and interests in Venezuela must be protected,” according to state media. China’s United Nations representative reiterated this statement, demanding that the US “cease its bullying and coercive practices.”
??????? U.S. TRIES TO SEIZE VENEZUELAN OIL TANKER, SO RUSSIA RESPONDS WITH A SUBMARINE
You thought this was just about oil? It’s now a full-on naval showdown.
The U.S. is actively trying to seize the Marinera, a Russian-flagged tanker (formerly Bella 1) carrying sanctioned… pic.twitter.com/5BNUO9qtmx
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) January 7, 2026
Russia stepped in to protect China’s short-term investments using a military submarine to protect an oil carrier from US forces. However, US forces successfully boarded and seized the cargo ship. There was no direct conflict between Russia and the US, but “direct” is key as Russia is showing its willingness to oppose Western influence.
PURE INSANITY
Mark Carney claims Venezuelan Oil is Welcome ZERO risk to Canada ??
WHY?
Canada offers DECARBONIZED oil. That makes our Product 10X more competitive.
WTF is he SMOKING ? pic.twitter.com/BeigJnogbD
— Marc Nixon (@MarcNixon24) January 6, 2026
Canada’s Carney chimed in to offer clean Canadian oil as an alternative. No one cares if the oil is clean; everyone wants the best deal.
Rest assured China will ensure it is repaid. Yet, the Trump Administration may not permit repayment in crude. The situation is unfolding and tensions are rapidly rising. The international community is split on America’s actions, with even America’s European allies condemning the move. Europe is now painting Trump with the same brush as Putin by insisting he will continue nation-building and expanding the great American Empire. The models pointed to geopolitical upheaval during the first week of January as we move toward the pinnacle of the panic cycle set to explode in 2026.
The dawn of AI began years ago with data collection. Commercialism has become pinpointed. Inputting phone numbers during every commercial transaction, “free” search engines, social media platforms sending user information to companies—everything we buy is documented, everything we do is tracked and noted by governments and companies alike.
The announcement that AI platforms will now collect personal medical records under the banner of “helping people manage their health” is being sold as progress. But history shows us that every time information is centralized, it is eventually weaponized — either politically, financially, or legally.
“ChatGPT Health is another step toward turning ChatGPT into a personal super-assistant that can support you with information and tools to achieve your goals across any part of your life,” Fidji Simo, CEO of applications at OpenAI, wrote in a post on Substack. Smartwatches will now connect to larger centralized databases. Your every step is calculated and tracked.
The creators claim the data will not be used for training. They claim enhanced privacy and safeguards. Governments and institutions always make these claims at the beginning of every cycle, not the end. The real issue is not what they intend today, but what the system will demand tomorrow.
Health data is not merely personal information it is a source of leverage and power. Once digitized and centralized, it becomes subject to subpoenas, regulatory capture, political agendas, and social engineering. People forget that HIPAA does not protect you from the government. Every database has been hacked at some point in time. Health records are sensitive information that people would not willingly share. Accessing that information could wield tremendous power. The company stated that “hundreds of millions” of ChatGPT users ask health-related questions every week. What if those questions were publicized? The government demands backdoor access to every platform and will undoubtedly demand access to these records.
The danger here is not artificial intelligence. The danger is centralization without accountability. AI itself is neutral and has acted as more of a search engine, but one must wonder how they provide such a service for “free.” The problem is who controls the switch when political pressure inevitably arrives. No system remains voluntary once it becomes essential.
Unemployment will be a pivotal piece of economic information in the new year. The first ADP report of 2026 shows a modest increase of 41,000 jobs, beneath forecasts of 47,000. Yet, the report comes on the heels of an extremely weak November report with a revised loss of 32,000 jobs as hiring lagged in Q4.
Do not take these figures at face value or as proof of a recovering job market. A 41,000 uptick is far below the strong payroll growth seen earlier in the decade. We are witnessing a structural slowdown. Businesses are fragile and adjusting to higher costs in both rates and goods. Workers have become more expensive for businesses to retain in the once deemed “entry level” roles that have been adjusted to meet arbitrary price standards instead of productivity. Manufacturing remains weak despite every administration focusing on bringing production back to America. The most recent report showed a decline of 5,000 positions in manufacturing and another 3,000 gone in the goods-producing industries overall.
Large businesses are not hiring. They’re at capacity based on the economic reality of an economy in stagflation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the closely monitored nonfarm payrolls report this Friday for the first time since the government shutdown. The Fed may look to determine rates, but lower borrowing costs will not suffice as employers simply do not have confidence in the economic landscape of tomorrow.
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US/AMERICAS:
DJIA declined by 466.00 points (-0.94%) to 48,996.08
S&P 500 declined by 23.89 points (-0.34%) to 6,920.93
NASDAQ advanced by 37.10 points (0.16%) to 23,584.275
Russell 2000 declined by 7.47 points (-0.29%) to 2,575.424
Canada Market Closings:
TSX Composite declined by 271.53 points (-0.84%) to 32,135.49
TSX 60 declined by 16.17 points (-0.85%) to 1,879.68
Brazil Market Closing:
Bovespa declined by 1,688.64 points (-1.03%) to 161,975.24
