Today's show discusses several economic reports indicating US economy is entering a period of instability. Labor Dept. reports 911,000 fewer jobs were created March 24-March 25 (before summer jobs crash) than were reported by its monthly jobs reports; Consumer prices rising again since April (especially services); US Census Bureau reports household real incomes (averages and median) have not changed since 2019 except for the wealthiest 5% households; US poverty levels back up to 2019 levels; 27 million still without any health insurance (before Trump cuts to Medicaid and ACA take effect). The show also comments on the popular uprising occurring in France (as Europe starts cutting social benefits to pay for military expansions and Ukraine). And concludes with what's behind the media hype that Russia has attacked Poland with drones.
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58:02
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58:02
Alternative Visions- August Jobs Report: US Recession 2026?
Latest jobs report shows Employment is no longer a 'lagging' indicator. Summer jobs (last 3 mos) virtually stagnant at 12k per mo. Total unemployment 8.1% officially (U-6). Inflation higher than 2.7% official number (4%) and real wages barely growing 1-1.5% when 50m part time/temp/gig workers included. Review of Europe's economy shows major Europe economies now contracting or stagnant (Germany, UK, France). Entire EU area GDP stalled at 0.1% (officially and actually contracting). Europe trade head says EU can't afford to buy $750 billion of US oil and gas per recent US-EU trade deal; US producers say can't drill that much as well. What next for Trump's US-EU trade deal? Main reason why Trump has sent US naval taskforce to Venezuela.
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57:58
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57:58
Alternative Visions- How America Spends $2 Trillion on War Every Year
US Mainstream Media and politicians keep saying US 'defense' spending annual is about $850 billion. Why that's just an initial budget proposal and just for Pentagon spending. Today's show shows what US annual actual defense (e.g. war) spending is $2 trillion a year. The show then reviews the condition of the USA and EU economies and why GDPs are much lower than reported. A quick review of emerging global conflicts is also reported in Venezuela, Armenia-Iran, India, etc.
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59:37
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59:37
Alternative Visions- USA's Twin Crises: Why US Monetary Policy & US Democracy Are Both Broken
Why Trump is now stacking the Federal Reserve bank's ranks of 7 Governors and threatening Fed chair Powell to force lower Fed interest rates. Why rates will start lowering in September. Why US monetary policy has been broken since 2008 due to changes in 21st century capitalism. The second half of the show discusses Texas and California's pissing match to further gerrymander the US House of Representatives which is already 90% non-competitive. The show discusses why the latest bout of gerrymandering is only part of a bigger picture of decline of US democratic institutions and practices since 2000. Concluding the show, what are the main takeaways of Trump's meetings last week with Putin in Alaska and with European leaders and Zelensky in Washington last Monday?
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59:10
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59:10
Alternative Visions- Strategies Post Putin-Trump Alaska Meeting
Today's show addresses key strategic questions in the Ukraine war post-Alaska Trump-Putin meeting: What are the strategic objectives of Trump, Putin, and Ukraine-Europe in the wake of the Putin-Trump meeting? Why are the US neocons+Europe+Zelensky opposed to any compromise settlement to the war? Who are the Neocons (Deep State) enabling the Europe-Zelensky opposition to ending the war? Why did Trump cancel his draconian sanctions (due Aug 8) and shift from 'ceasefire first' to a compromise settlement with Russia and a general 'peace deal'? What's the Europe strategy now? Putin's? Dr. Rasmus also revisits his early 2025 prediction that the Ukraine army will begin to collapse along several fronts by November 2025 due to insufficient reserves and multiple Russian tactical encirclements.
Netherlands